USA > Iowa > Cerro Gordo County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 30
USA > Iowa > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo counties, Iowa and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races > Part 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105
262
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
placed corn in the front rank. Of late years flax has been raised quite extensively. Rye, barley and all the cereals common to this latitude do well-vegetables and small fruits thrive where well cultivated. At an early day it was supposed that apples could not be successfully raised in this part of Iowa, but the county, in 1883, had many fine, thrifty orchards, which proved quite the contrary.
The following comparative statistics have been gathered:
In 1856, there were 2,477 acres of im- proved land in the county, and 20,043 unimproved. There were but fifty-eight acres of wheat raised that year, producing 761 bushels; eighty-three acres of oats, yielding 1,767 bushels; corn, 675 acres, yielding 18,625 bushels; potatoes, twenty- three acres, producing 3,682 bushels. The number of hogs sold from the county was 170, valued at $550; cattle sold, 171, valued at $5,230; pounds of butter made, 5,900. At that date there were 133 dwell- ing houses and 149 families in the county. The heads of the families were engaged in the following occupations: Farmers, 149; blacksmiths, 2; carpenters, 3; wagon- maker, 1; cabinet-maker, 1; tailor, 1; shoemaker, 1; harness-maker, 1; trader, 1; doctors, 3; lawyer, 1; gunsmiths, 2; cooper, 1, and surveyor, 1.
In 1875, Franklin county had 69,859 acres of improved land and 43,046 of un- improved Of the former, 31,096 acres were in wheat, which harvested 445,909 bushels, or an average of about fourteen bushels per acre; of corn, there was 24,066 acres, yielding 758,983 bushels, or thirty- one bushels per acre; oats 9,532 acres, averaging thirty and one-half bushels per
acre; potatoes, 622 acres, which produced 52,887 bushels. The same year there were 12,280 hogs slaughtered and sold for slaughtering purposes in Franklin county. Number of horses sold for exportation, 122; milch cows, 3,208; pounds of butter made, 222,336. There were 1,007 dogs at that time according to the census report.
From the census report of 1880-the latest-the following facts are gleaned:
Total population in 1880. 10 249
Native population. 8 261
Foreign population. 1 988
Number of farms in Franklin Co. 1 429
Number acres of improved lands. 179 142 . . Value of farms, including lands, fences, buildings. . $3,886 408 Value of farm implements and ma- chinery $282 984
Value of live stock, June 1, 1880. $935 679
Estimated value of all farm produc-
tions, sold, consumed or on hand for 1879. .$1,131 214
Number of horses. 6 335
Number of mules and asses. . 227
Number working oxen
4
Number milch cows
5 845
Number other cattle.
14 484
Number sheep. 2 253
Number swine
38 276
Number gallons milk produced in 1880
13 955
Pounds of butter 402 969
Pounds of cheese. 18 967
Bushels of barley harvested. 24 033
Bushels of buckwheat. 919
Bushels of corn 2,117 940
Bushels of oats. 600 039
Bushels of rye. 5 748
Bushels of wheat. 507 482
Pounds of tobacco. 2 630
Value of orchard products $3 047
Tons of hay 30 516
Bushels of potatoes. 91 852
From the abstract of assessment for 1883, the following facts are gleaned: There were 362,346 acres of land subject
265
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
to taxation, valued at $2,117,789; town lots, $123,030; cattle, 20,060, valued at $99,595; horses, 6,680, valned at $126,913; mules and asses, 238, valued at $5,032; sheep, 1741, valued at $866; swine, 16,- 635, valued at $15,560; vehicles 430, val- ued at $7,542; merchandise, $56,954; man- ufacturers, $1,936; moneys and credits, $79,260. The total personal property amounted to $414,418; total taxable prop- erty, $2,877,858.
STOCK RAISING.
As has been stated heretofore in this chapter, a few years ago this region, and, in fact, the whole great west was almost wholly devoted to the cultivation and pro- duction of the cereals common to this lati- tude. The time was when agriculture was pursued to the almost entire exclusion of all else. But to-day this is all changed. A revolution has swept over Iowa and the west since the war, which has had its effect upon business, settlement and com- merce in such a manner as has brought the State forward among the ranks of its sister States with rapidity unequalled in the history of the past. Iowa to-day oc- cupies a position among the foremost of ยท States, of which her citizens may well be proud. Of course this progress cannot be credited particularly to any one produc- tion or branch of industry, but more to the natural resources and wealth of soil which dame nature has been so profuse in bestowing, together with that of stock- raising. Nearly all portions of the State of Iowa are admirably adapted to the rais- ing of stock. Franklin county, lying in the very best portion of the State, is unsurpassed in this respect. It has all the natural advantages, an abundance
of water and excellent grazing land, while the soil is unsurpassed for the pro- duction of corn. The region of the Iowa river valley has justly achieved a wide reputation as a stock-raising country, the attention of farmers being turned almost wholly toward the raising of corn and stock, with success that is proven by the many fine stock farms to be seen in all parts of the county.
To show the growth of the business of raising stock in Franklin county, the sta- tistics which are presented in this connec- tion, have been compiled. It must be remembered that the value given is the assessed value and is really less than one- fourth of the actual worth.
The first report of statistics for Franklin county was made in 1856. During this year the number of acres of corn raised was 675, yielding 18,625 bushels. The number of hogs sold were 170, valued at $550. There were 171 head of cattle sold, valued at $5,230. During the year there were 5,900 pounds of butter made.
Ten years later, in 1866, there were 4,294 acres of corn planted, which yielded 100,199 bushels. There were in the county 2,500 hogs; 2,650 head of cattle; 993 milch cows; 60,336 pounds of butter made; 5,- 910 pounds of cheese made; 4,439 sheep, yielding 17,390 pounds of wool; 1,155 horses; 28 mules and asses.
In 1868 the number of cattle assessed in the county was 2,471, valued at $31,821; horses, 1,361, assessed at $54,534; 23 mules, assessed at $800; 2,764 sheep, valued at $2,113; 1,146 hogs, valued at $1,015.
In 1871 the number of cattle assessed was 4,417, at $29,702; 2,552 horses, assessed at $58,526; 67 mules, assessed at $1,833;
15
.
266
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
1,505 sheep, assessed at $547; 2,771 hogs, assessed at $2,163.
Two years later, in 1873, there were 5,- 911 head of cattle, assessed at $36,070; 3,148 horses, assessed at $70,298; 56 mules, assessed at $1,519; 1,232 sheep, assessed at $443; 5,342 swine, assessed at $1,548.
In 1875 there were 8,082 head of cattle in the county, assessed at $51,153.10; 3,- 638 horses, assessed at $86,982.80; 106 mules, assessed at $2,451.60; 831 sheep, assessed at $1,127.80; 7,281 hogs, assessed at $9,461.46.
In 1877 there were 8,415 head of cattle in the county, assessed at $52,623; 4,382 horses, assessed at $103,879; 157 mules, assessed at $4,122; 12,229 hogs, assessed at $16,653.
In 1879 there were 9,901 head of cattle in the county, assessed at $48,110; 4,951 horses, assessed at $105,008; 181 mules, assessed at $4,173; 1,592 sheep, assessed at $793; 19,872 hogs, assessed at $16,361.
In 1881 there were 16,102 head of cattle in the county, assessed at $77,073; 5,902 horses, assessed at $117,139; 250 mules, assessed at $5,422; 2,207 sheep, assessed at $1,060; 14,706 hogs, assessed at $12,897.
From the last report, for the year 1883, it is found there were 20,060 head of cat- tle, assessed at $99,595; 6,680 horses, assessed at $126,913; 238 mules, assessed at $5,032; 1,741 sheep, assessed at $866; 16,635 hogs, assessed at $15,560.
The following is the report of 1883, made to represent the estimated actual value : 20,060 head of cattle, valued at $501,500; 6,680 horses, valued at $534,400; 16,635 hogs, valued at $207,937.50; total estimated value of cattle, horses and hogs in the county in 1883, $1,243,837.50.
THE FIRST FAIR.
About the first fair in Franklin county was held at Hampton, in 1859. The ex- hibition was made on the public square, and the court house was used as the fine art gallery. There was a good display of everything, and the fair was well at- tended, all of the farmers, throughout al- most the entire county, turning out. No admission was charged, and the premiums consisted almost wholly of cer ificates and ribbons. The officers were : President, J. M. Soper; secretary, J. T. McCormick. Among the most prominent workers in the enterprise were George W. Hansell, James Thompson, C. Gillett and David Church. FRANKLIN COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society held its first fair in Octo- ber, 1860, after which the first regular offi- cers were elected for the ensuing year, as follows: President, Samuel Carbaugh ; sec- retary, C. Gillett ; treasurer, L. H. Mor- gan. Under the constitution of the soci- ety, each township was entitled to a repre- sentative or director, and the following were chosen at this meeting : Clinton township, E. H. Wing ; Ingham, J. R. Hartgrave ; Reeve, J. M. Soper ; Geneva, W. Ward; Osceola, W. Richardson ; Morgan, E. A. Howland ; Washington, A. Gillett.
Officers for 1862-President, William G. Beed; secretary, N. B. Chapman ; treasurer, C. J. Mott ; directors, Morgan township, F. H. Munson ; Washington, D. W. Dow ; Reeve, A. T. Reeve ; Clin- ton, B. D. Robinson ; Geneva, George Hansell ; Ingham, G. H. Ingham ; Osceo- la, R. T. Blake.
Officers for 1864-President, William G. Beed; vice president, Samuel Car-
267
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
baugh; secretary, George Beed; treasurer, C. J. Mott; directors, Washington town- ship, C. H. Ingham ; Geneva, George Hansell ; Reeve, Henry Shroyer ; Morgan, E. A. Howland ; Osceola, William Rich- ardson ; Clinton, H. H. Grinnell ; Ingham, A. T. Little.
Officers for 1865-President, Samuel Carbaugh ; vice president, William G. Beed ; secretary, George Beed ; treasurer, C. J. Mott ; directors, Reeve township, Isaac Miller ; Washington, O. F. Kitehell; Clinton, B. C. Robinson; Ingham, H. C. Graves ; Geneva, D. Church, Osceola, J. M. Pierce ; Morgan, J. M. Baker.
Officers for 1866-President, David Church ; vice-president, C. J. Mott; sec- retary, George Beed , treasurer, G. H. Ingham ; directors, Reeve township, Wil- liam Birkett; Washington, N .. B Chap- man ; Clinton, B. Colt ; Ingham, J. O. Crapser ; Geneva, D. Carbaugh ; Osceola, J. W. Ward ; Morgan, J. M. Baker.
Officers for 1867-President, David Church ; vice- president, James Thomp- son ; secretary, George Beed ; treasurer, G. H. Ingham; directors, Reeve town- ship, A. Reed ; Washington, C. J. Mott ; Clinton, G. W. Hemming ; Ingham, W. H. Hoxie ; Geneva, D. G. Carbaugh ; Os- ceola, James Whiteside ; Morgan, E. A. Howland.
Officers for 1868-President, John I. Popejoy ; secretary, L. B. Raymond ; treasurer, H. C. Clock ; directors, Reeve township, A. T. Reeve ; Washington, James Thompson ; Clinton, R. Mckenzie; Ingham, W. H. Hoxie ; Geneva, William Ward ; Osceola, John Fahey ; Morgan, E. A. Howland ; West Fork, Henry Meyers.
Officers of 1869-President, A. T. Reeve, ; vice-president, James Thomp- son ; secretary, L. B. Raymond ; treasu- rer, H. C. Clock ; directors, Clinton town- ship, H. H. Grinnell ; West Fork, A. T. Little ; Ingham, W. H. Hoxie ; Washing- ton, S. C. Rose ; Geneva, William Ward; Reeve, Ira Hodges ; Osceola, John Fahey; Morgan, E. A. Howland.
Officers for 1872-President, D. G. Car- baugh ; vice-president, C. J. Mott ; secre- tary, S. J. Reeve ; treasurer, H: H. Grin- nell ; directors, Washington township, W. H. Hoxie ; Reeve, J. D. Parks ; Gen- eva, D. Church ; Clinton, E. B. Richards; West Fork, H. Bushyager; Ingham, D. W. Mott ; Osceola, H. Ingraham ; Grant, W. Brogan ; Lee, D. C. Mott ; Oakland, J. I. Popejoy ; Morgan, E. A. Howland ; Hamilton, Robert Hamilton.
Officers for 1873-President,D. W. Mott; vice-president, L. P. Holden; secretary, J. M. Wait; treasurer, George Beed; di- rectors, Washington township, D. G. Car- baugh; Clinton, N. Ebersole; Richland, H. H. Grinnell; West Fork, H. Bushya- ger; Ingham, H. Clark; Geneva, D. Church; Osceola, R. T. Blake; Grant, W. Brogan; Lee, B. R. Fitch; Oakland, E. A. Smith; Morgan, E. A. Howland; Hamilton, J. W. Wallace; Reeve, E. L. Clock.
No officers were elected in 1874 and 1875, but in 1876 the society again re- vived and the following were elected: president, C. J. Mott; vice-president, J. W. Wallace; secretary, E. C. Grinnell; treasurer, H. D. Harriman; directors: West Fork township, E. Esslinger; Clin- ton, W. A. Alexander; Richland, William Ward; Marion, G. R. Minor; Washington, N. C. Cummings; Ingham, D. W. Mott;
268
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
Geneva, D. Church; Reeve, A. B. Hudson; Hamilton, R. D. Hamilton; Morgan, R. E. Train; Oakland, E. A. Smith; Lee, O. P. Lee; Grant, W. Brogan; Osceola, S. French.
Officers for 1877-President, G. W. Han- sel; vice-president, J. B. Peck; secretary, J. M. Snider; treasurer, W. W. Thayer, di- rectors, West Fork township, Henry Bush- yoger; Clinton, R. S. Sullivan; Richland, E. C. Grinnell; Marion, G. R. Minor; Washington, John McNeal; Ingham, Frank Berry; Geneva, D. Church; Reeve, J. M. Soper; Hamilton, D. Elliott; Mor- gan, E. J. Mendell; Oakland, J. I. Pope- joy; Lee, J. W. Slocum; Grant, W. Bro- gan; Osceola, James Whiteside.
Officers for 1878-President, William Parks; vice-president, Joe Atkinson; sec- retary, J. M. Snider; treasurer, W. W. Shroyer; directors: Washington township, J. B. Peck; Reeve, J. M. Soper; West Fork, H. Bushyager; Ingham, G. W. Han- sell; Geneva, D. Church; Osceola, S. G. Walters; Lee, B. S. Eddy; Grant, W. Bro- gan; Oakland, E. A. Smith; Morgan, S. J. Mendell; Hamilton, J. W. Wallace; Mar- ion, L. Elseffer; Richland, A. G. McMil- len; Clinton, R. Wilde.
THE RE-ORGANIZED SOCIETY.
At the annual meeting held on Dec. 9, 1878, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, R. S. Ben- son; vice-president, S. J. Mendell; treas- urer, B. S. Brown; secretary, J. B. Peck. 'The several townships were represented by the following: West Fork, George Ott; Clinton, W. A. Alexander; Richland, D, Vought; Ingham, D. W. Mott; Mott, J. A. Atkinson; Washington, J. F. Lattimer; Marion, G. Shaver; Scott, J. D. Merriss;
Geneva, James Pierce; Reeve, W. J. Shroyer; Hamilton, R. J. Elliott; Morgan, W. H. Weaver; Osceola, G. Dart; Grant, Nelson Salley; Lee, J. W. Trayer; Oak- land, E. A. Purdy.
The society appointed a committee to examine the records and inquire into the organization of the agricultural society to see whether it was a legal corporation or not This committee consisted of J. W. Mckenzie, D W. Dow and John T. Stearns At the next meeting of the so- ciety this committee reported the follow- ing :
"We, your committee, beg leave to re- port that we have examined the books, constitution and papers of the society and find that this association is not complete, in that its constitution, organization and by laws have never been recorded."
After this report a committee was ap pointed to revise the by-laws and consti tution of the Franklin County Agricultural Society. This committee consisted of D. W. Dow, J. T. Stearns and W. W. Thay er. Under the new organization there were eighty six life members enrolled, new constitution and by-laws were framed and adopted, and the society thus placed on legal footing. The society, however, had become much involved, and by a re- port made in June, 1883, it was found that it owed the Citizens' Bank, at Hampton, $319 besides costs on same. At a meet ing held that month, A. T. Reeve pre. sented the following resolution:
" Resolved, That the president and sec retary of this society shall negotiate a loan for the purpose of paying off the present indebtedness of the society, provided, that
-
269
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
two-thirds of the life membership shall vote to do so "
Officers for 1880 : President, R. S. Ben- son; secretary , E. S. Patterson; treasurer, J. B. Peck. Patterson failed to qualify, and E. C. Grinnell was appointed in his place.
The following were township directors: West Fork, Henry Busnyager ; Ingham, George Hansell; Geneva, David Church ; Osceola, S. A. French ; Lee, O. P. Lane ; Grant, W. Bullis ; Reeve, W. C. Haines ; Washington, D. W. Dow; Mott, J. At-
kinson; Ross, A. S. Ross; Clinton, J. G. Zimmerman ; Richland, Robert Seeney ; Marion, George R. Miner ; Hamilton, R. J. Elliott ; Oakland, E. A. Smith; Morgan, A. Quasdorf ; Scott, J. D. Demaras.
Officers for 1881: President, R. S. Ben- son ; vice-president, David Church ; sec- retary, Walter Church ; treasurer, B. S .: Brown.
Officers for 1882 : President, C. J. Mott; vice-president, David Church , secretary, C. L. Clock ; treasurer, B. S. Brown.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE PRESS.
Franklin county has had abundant op- portunities to test the value of newspapers as aids in building up business centres, and making known its resources to the outer world, while the civilizing influence is almost unlimited ; and as a general thing, its citizens have always manifested a lib- eral spirit or purpose towards the various journalistic enterprises that have been inaugurated in their midst. It must be truthfully said that in dispensing their patronage to the press, they have been tolerant and magnanimous, as they have been reasonably generous to journals of all parties. It may be difficult to cor- rectly estimate the advantages derived by Franklin county, in a business point of view, from the influence of the press,
which at various times has called into requisition respectable, if not eminent talent in the advocacy of local inter- ests, which have had a tendency to in- spire its citizens as well as friends, far and near, with hope and confidence in its prosperity.
In every community there are shriveled souls whose participation in the benefits of enterprise is greater than their efforts to promote the public welfare. These are the men who will never subscribe for a newspaper, but will always be on the alert to secure, gratuitously, the first perusal of their neighbor's papers. These per- sons are the croakers, who predict evil and disparage enterprise. But with very few exceptions, the press of this re-
-
270
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
gion, or the community through which they circulate, has never been cursed with such drones. On the contrary, as patrons of the press, Franklin county citizens have established a good name. As records of current history, the local press should be preserved by town and county govern- ments, in their archives for reference. As these papers are the repositories wherein are stored the facts and the events, the deeds and the sayings, the undertakings and achievements that go to make up his- tory. One by one these things are gath- ered and placed in type; one by one these papers are issued; one by one these papers are gathered together and bound, and an- other volume of local, general and individ- ual history is laid away imperishable. The volumes thus collected, are sifted by the historian, and the book for the library is ready.
There should be some means devised by which press records might be preserved and made accessible. This of course, is attempted in all offices; but, as a general thing, files are sadly deficient; still by dil- igent search and much inquiry, enough data has been gleaned to supply a toler- ably accurate record of the county press; but if any inaccuracies or omissions are noticeable, they may be attributed to the absence of completeness in the files.
THE FRANKLIN RECORD.
The first delinquent tax list published, of Franklin county lands, was in the fall of 1858, when T'homas Drummond, at that time, one of the editors and proprietors of the Vinton, (Benton county) Eagle, came to Hampton and secured the printing of the tax lis' of that and preceeding years,
in his paper. Stephen M. Jones was one of the hands in the Eagle office, and in the "office of the Benton county Democrat, pub- lished also at Vinton, was a young man man named M. S. Bowman. Drummond persuaded Jones and Bowman into the notion that it would be a good scheme for them to buy the material of the old Eagle, as the proprietors wished to put in a new office, and bring it up here and start a paper. Accordingly they did so, and about the middle of February, 1859, George Ryan, Isaac Miller and James Thompson having each sent down a team, Bowman came up with the material. Jones fol- lowed about two weeks later, with his family, and the material was put into a building, fitted up for an office, that stood on the vacant lot next east of the Baptist church, and between there and G. G. Clemmer's residence. Here on Monday, the 28th of March, 1859, the first number of the Franklin Record saw the light. It 1 was a six column folio, and as this was be- fore the days of "patents," all printed at home. It compared very favorably in ap- pearance with county papers in Iowa at that time. On the first page were quite a number of business cards. Among the cards, one is copied entire. Here it is:
CANNAM HOUSE.
The subscriber invites public attention to this establishment, which he has lately re-opened and refitted, and intends to keep as nearly as possible "up to the handle." He will use his 'best endeavors to make his house a pleasant spot by the way-side, and solicits the patronage of all "hungry, starved souls," promising them that they shall have the best that can be pro- cured in this region. He professes to be a knight of the ribbons, and accordingly takes the best possible care of the ''nags"-having the
271
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.
largest and best stable in Franklin county, and an 'ostler who knows how to "do the thing up brown."
A. J. CANNAM, Proprietor.
Hampton, Franklin Co., Iowa. The second, or editorial page, had the salutatory, which is given hereafter, and several other items. Like the papers of the day, it had no local page, such matters as were of local significance finding place on the editorial page. There is also, on the same page, a column and a half from W. N. Davidson, county superintendent of schools, upon the educational matters of the county, in which he states that "with the exception of Morgan township, every district has one or more schools, and a majority of them are well attended and conducted." According to his report, Geneva had one school, Ingham two, Clin- ton one, Osceola one, Reeve three, and Washington four; total, twelve in the county. He adds to his report, that owing to high water he was unable to visit one of the schools in Ingham and the one in Osceola. Among the news items on this page it is found that "Old Ossawotamie Brown, of Kansas notoriety, has arrived in Fremont county, this State, with a com- pany of twenty men and several liberated slaves " Then there are two items warn- ing people against "dangerous counter- feits" on certain banks, and a large num- ber of "news items," all of them evidently a month old.
The third page has two columns of reading matter, the leading article being an extract from a Chicago paper warning people against going to Pike's Peak, pronouncing the reports of gold discover- ies there and on "Cherry creek" humbugs, gotten up by traders at out-fitting posts.
On this same page is a list of advertised letters at Maysville, signed "Wmn. C. Boyles, postmaster." Thompson & Beed have a column advertisement on this page. The Franklin Recorder job printing office, half a column; about half a column of prospectuses and quite a fair showing of legal notices.
The fourth page has a little over a column of miscellaneous reading matter, mostly on the funny order, selected it is presumed by W. N. Davidson. Several fonts of type used in printing its pages are yet in the Recorder office, and must have been in use several years even then.
In introducing their paper to the public the editors presented the following:
SALUTATORY.
"We here present the public, and espe- cially the people of Franklin and adjoin- ing counties, with the first number of the Franklin Record. And a decent respect for the opinions of those whose names we wish to enroll as the list of our patrons, induces us to define our position before them.
"The Record will be the organ of no party, faction, or particular locality; but will advocate those principles not incorporated in political platform, which we conceive to be right without fear or favor; and in so doing we shall hold ourselves amena- ble to no power except that of public opinion. In short, while the political journals of the country are fighting over the various isms and favorites of party, we shall take it for granted that the Union is safe, notwithstanding the assertions to the contrary-that the country, so far as partisan interests are involved, is going on swimmingly; that is to say, it
272
HISTORY OF FRANKLIN COUNTY. .
matters nothing to the Record and its pro- prietors whether Douglas, or Sumner, Brown, or Muggins, is Presidentin 1860- whether the democrats or republicans, hardshells or softshells, woolies, locofo- cos or hunkers are in power. We intend to chronicle important events as they transpire, give our readers a general miscellany of news, fun, statistics of va- rious kinds, and furnish a paper which, although smaller than many others, will be readable and useful.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.