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 64
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 64
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After a hotly contested campaign, the election day came. It was one of the most bitter elections that has taken place in the history of the county, but the Li- vonia people were badly beaten, the vote standing : Mason City, 155 ; Livonia, 48. Thus Mason City received a majority of 107, and was declared the county seat. To the chagrin of Livonia, the county records were moved back to Mason City, where they have since remained, and to-day nothing marks the former site of the once promising Livonia, except perhaps a few decayed corner lot stakes, recalling to mind the greatness of former years, and thoughts of what might have been.
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605
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
CHAPTER V.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT AND OFFICIAL MATTERS.
THE COUNTY COURT.
The records do not give an account of the first term of the county court, but, as known, it convened, with Judge J. B. Long on the bench, and Henry Martin, clerk. As no business presented itself, the court adjourned. The judge's minute book A, is the earliest record of court proceedings. The first item states that a warrant was issued to A. P. Luse & Co., for $458.25, on the 29th of December, 1855. This was in payment for county books, seals, and other necessary material for the use of the county officials. J. B. Long was county judge at this time, and drew his salary, amounting to $15.30. C. W. Scott, clerk of court, also drew his salary, which amounted to the same sum.
. Under the date of August 8, 1856, it is stated that James Dickirson, the county coroner, received the sum of $6 for hold- ing an inquest over the body of John Van- Aiken, who froze to death in 1855. A warrant was also issued to J. L. McMillen, in the sum of $4 in consideration of his having been "a jewry" on the same.
On the 16th of August, 1856, Judge Long drew an order in favor of himself, to the amount of $32.30 in payment of his salary. J. S. Church received a warrant in the same sum in payment of his salary as treasurer and recorder. N. W. Stack- house received $3 for services in serv- ing and obtaining a jury to set and try
the case of John Van Aiken, who froze to death. Warrant eighteen, for $2.50 was issued in favor of C. C. Church, to pay him for carrying the chain on the county road from Mason City to Owen's Grove.
Among others who received warrants about the same time were : Mark Dex- ter, $8.75 for making table for recorder ; James Simpson, services as deputy sur- veyor, $6; H. A. Stiles, for assessing Lake township, $43; John Belt, ser- vices as justice of the peace in case of People vs. T. Burris, $9.65 ; N. W. Stack- house, salary as sheriff, $50.95 ; William Kerns, assessing Canaan township, $45.50; A. H. Lunger, for making coffin for Van Aiken, and one to J. C. Bonar.
The first regular term of county court, as shown by the judge's record, convened on the 1st of September, 1856, with J B. Long as county judge, and E. D. Huntley as clerk. On that date a petition was presented from the citizens of Clear Lake asking for the vacation of that village. Twelve days later the judge ordered its vacation in accordance with the petition.
The second term of court convened Oct. 6, 1856, but as no business appeared, it adjourned at once.
The first case to come before the county court was entitled John N. Bell vs. George W. Henderson, a petition for habeas corpus. The attorneys are stated as being
606
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
"Harwood and Paun Broker" (Poindexter). The court decided that from a technicality it had no jurisdiction over the case. This was Sept. 18, 1858.
Even at this early date in the history of the county, action was taken to secure a railroad through Cerro Gordo county, and on the 25th of September, 1856, Judge Long issued a proclamation for an election to be held Oct. 27, 1856, for the purpose of voting on the question of the county's taking $130,000 stock in the Mc- Gregor, St. Peter & Missouri Railroad.
At this time the county was divided into three townships, Canaan, Lake and Owens. The vote in these townships was unanimous for the purchase of the stock ; Canaan casting forty-five votes ; Lake, thirty-nine votes and Owens, six votes. The total vote was ninety. This is the only election in the history of the county in which the vote of the county was unani- mous. The board of canvassers at this election was composed of J. B. Long, Elisha Randall and S. Zewer.
In November, 1856, J. S. Church suc- ceeded J. B. Long as county judge. He was a much better penman than Long and the records greatly improved when his administration began.
On the 17th of December, 1856, Judge Church re-divided Cerro Gordo county into townships, increasing the number from three to four. These were named : Mason, Falls, Lake and Owen.
These townships embraced territory as follows :
Mason comprised congressional town- ships 96 and 97, range 20, and the east half of townships 96 and 97, range 21. This territory is now embraced in the
civil townships of Mason, Lime Creek and the east half of Lincoln and Lake.
Lake comprised the territory of town- ships 94, 95, 96 and 97, range 22, and the west half of townships 94, 95, 96 and 97, range 21. To-day the territory named makes up the civil townships of Grant, Clear Lake, Union, Grimes, and the west half of Pleasant Valley, Mount Vernon, Lake and Lincoln.
Falls comprised congressional township 97, range 19, and the north half of town- ship 96, range 19. This now comprises the territory of Falls and the north half Portland.
Owens embraced congressional town- ships 94 and 95, and the south half of 96, range 19 ; townships 94 and 95, range 20, and the east half of townships 94 and 95, range 21.
The places for holding the first election in the different townships were fixed as follows : Owen township, at the residence of A. C. Owen ; Mason township, at Mc- Millen's hall ; Lake, at the residence of R. O. Sirrine ; Falls, at the residence of A. J. Glover.
In July, 1857, a warrant was issued to John Porter, afterwards district judge, in the amount of $100, for forty days' ser- vices in assessing the county.
At the October election, in 1857, the question was submitted to the voters of whether the salaries of the county officers should be increased to $300 It carried by a large majority.
On the 1st of February, 1858, court con- vened at Mason City, but immediately ad- journed to Liv onia.
By order of Judge Church, in February, 1858, the general form of the townships
CA. B. Butlle
4.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Aster, Lenox and lilden Foundations.
609
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
of Cerro Gordo was much changed, but in number and name they remained the same as at the previous division. At the March term in 1859 the form was again much changed.
In January, 1860, George Vermilya suc- ceeded J. S. Church as county judge.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
In 1859 an act was passed by the Gen eral Assembly, which changed the form of local government in the various coun- ties throughout the State. By it a body termed the board of supervisors was created to supercede the old system of county court, and was vested with nearly all the authority formerly held by that body. The board consisted of one super- visor from each organized township, mak- ing six members in all, as the county was divided into six townships.
The board of supervisors convened at Mason City, Jan. 7, 1861, in the office of the clerk of court, who, by virtue of his office, was clerk of the board. On motion of A. C. Owen, Elisha Randall was elected chairman for the ensuing year. The board then proceeded to draw lots for the long and short terms of service, which re- sulted as follows: E. Randall, two years, Mason; J. J. Rogers, two years, Genesco; A. C. Owen, one year, Owen; John M. Hunt, one year; John Gardner, one year, Lake; C. W. Tenney, Falls.
H. B. Gray was sworn in as clerk of the board. Chairman Randall appointed committees as follows: Roads and bridges, J. J. Rogers, John M. Hunt and A. C. Owen; county buildings, John M. Hunt, A C. Owen and J. J. Rogers. The board was in session for five days. At this time the county officers were situated in the
stone store of Jarvis S. Church, in Mason City. By an act of the board, the county officers were authorized to rent that por- tion of the building needed for $200 per year.
One of the most important acts of this session of the board, was to secure the legal services of W. P. Hepburn, in set- tling the vexed question of Cerro Gordo county swamp land scrip, with the United States land office at Washington, D. C. They made a contract with Mr. Hepburn, which read as follows: "The county board of supervisors and W. P. Hepburn, authorizing said Hepburn to pro- ceed to Washington, and there to use all dilligence, to bring about a speedy adjust- ment of the swamp land interest of said county, for which services said county is to pay the sum of $200, in hand paid and the balance of $1,000. When the county shall receive the said swamp lands or this equivalent in scrip or cash." Mr. Hepburn then entered into the bonds to the amount of $200 for the faithful per- formance of his duty, which was signed by D. E. Coon and C. H. Huntley.
That these "County Fathers" had the best interests of the county at stake, may be inferred from the following resolutions passed by them in January, 1861:
Resolved, That we will not grant any petition for the erection of any bridge, any publie building of any kind or description, nor for the performance of any act, over which this board has jurisdiction, asking for an appropriation of more than $300, unless the said petition be duly signed by at least a majority of the legal voters of the county."
50
610
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
The first county printing done in the county was by order of the board, also, who contracted with the Cerro Gordo county Republican to publish the proceedings for fifty cents per 1,000 "ems." But a little later in the year they accepted an ยท offer from the editor of said paper J. H. Ayls- worth to do all the printing connected wi h the county supervisors and that of county clerk, including blanks for the latter, for one year at $250.
The spirit of patriotism was beginning to mature-a body of Home Guards had been organized, known as the Cerro Gordo County Guards, Capt. G A. Fuller commanding. And during the June ses- sion of the board of supervisor, a bill was presented by C. W. Tenny, asking for an appropriation of $100 from the county treasury, with which to purchase two tenor drums, one bass drum and two fifes, the same to be kept and cared for by the county clerk, and to held as the prop- erty of said county. The board made the appropriation.
The board convened at its second annual .meeting, Jan. 6, 1862, at the office of the clerk of court, and organized by the elec- tion of E. Randall to the chair for the ensuing year. At this time the board consisted of the following gentlemen: E. Randall, Mason; J. J. Rogers, Geneseo; Gabriel Pence, Lincoln; David Butts, Falls; Edgar Osborn, Owen; E. A. Tuttle, Lake.
The supervisors in the August session, in 1862, the beginning of the dark days of the rebellion, issued the following reso- lution regarding a county bounty to be given to volunteers who should enlist in the United States service:
V. HIEREAS the present condition of our country demands the immediate and decisive co-operation of every individual and every corporation for the purpose of sustaining our government and preventing its final overthrow. And, whereas, the most efficient means of suppressing the re- bellion is a vigorous and uncompromising prose- cution of the war. And, whereas, humanity and justice demands that those of us who are mag- nanimously and patriotically offering their servi- ces to our common country in this the darkest and most perilous hour, should be encouraged and sustained in their noble enterprise. Therefore, be it enacted by the board of supervisors of Cerro Gordo Co., Iowa, that the sum of $100 be, and the same is hereby appropriated out of the county funds, to each volunteer, who has or may enlist into the United States service, under the late call of the President for 600,000 men- which said volunteers must be bona fide resi- dents of Cerro Go do county. And that the sum of $400 be paid to the wife of each volun- teer every month, and also $100 per month for each child of such volunteer each month, which are under the age of fifteen years.
As kerosene oil has become such a cheap article in these days it may be of interest to note its cost in the earlier days of this county. In the proceedings of the board of supervisors in session December, 1862, the following record is found:
"On the 28th day of December, 1862, H. B. Gray, clerk of the board of supervi- sors, bought one gallon of kerosene oil for the use of the county at $1. A war- rant is hereby issued for the same."
The third anuual meeting began on the 5th of January, 1863. The board organized by the election of J. J. Rogers as chair- man. A vote of thanks was tendered to E. Randall for the candid, impartial and gentlemanly manner in which he had acted as presiding officer during the pre- vious year. The members present at this meeting were: J. J. Rogers, Geneseo;
611
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Edgar Osborn, Owen; Elon A. Tuttle, Lake; Gabriel Pence and Wm. Totten, Lincoln; David Butts, Falls; E. D. Hunt- ley, Mason.
On the 4th of January, 1864, the board of supervisors convened in its fourth an nual session, at the office of the clerk of court in Mason City. J. J. Rogers was re-elected as chairman. H. G. Parker qualified as clerk of the board. The fol- lowing is a list of the members present : J. J. Rogers, Geneseo ; Gabriel Pence, Lincoln ; E. D. Huntley, Mason ; Theron Palmeter, Lake; George O. Morse, Falls ; S. M. Richardson, Owen.
On the President's call for 300,000 more soldiers, December, 1864 the board of su- pervisors of Cerro Gordo county saw that a draft would follow unless some measure was adopted to obtain more recruits to make up their quota of men, hence they passed this resolution : "Resolved that a bounty of $500, be paid to a sufficient number of volunteers to fill the quota of this county under the present call for 300,000 men, and that the said volunteers, when mustered into service, shall receive the above sums in warrants upon a special fund to be created for that purpose, said warrants to be paid in one and two years, with interest at eight per cent."
The board at this time consisted of six members, and the vote upon the passage of the above resolution was as follows : Yeas-S. M. Richardson, T. Palmeter, J. J. Rogers, George O. Morse, William Totten. Nay - George W Henderson. The records contain a copy of Mr. Hen- derson's protest in regard to this matter, which shows that it was not because he was not in sympathy 'with, and loyal to
the government, but because he deemed it too a great a tax to impose upon the people, who were then heavily burdened. The board appointed from their number Theron Palmeter, S. M. Richardson and George W. Henderson, as a committee to co-operate in securing the county's full quota, under the call.
The fifth annual session of the board commenced Jan. 2, 1865. The meet- ing was called to order by J. J. Rogers, and S. M. Richardson was elected chair- man for 1865. The members present were : J. J. Rogers, Geneseo; S. M. Rich- ardson and Alonzo Willson, Owen; T. Pal- meter, Lake ; George O. Morse, Falls ; George W. Henderson, Mason; William F. Totten, Lincoln.
During this year the townships of Clear Lake and Portland were set off and or- dered organized.
At the session on the 20th of December, 1865, the board appropriated $150 from the county funds, to aid in the railway survey of the Central Railroad of Iowa.
The year's work of 1866 was inaugu- rated by the board's meeting Jan. 1, 1866. George W. Henderson was elected temporary chairman, and W. C. Stanbery was chosen as chairman for the ensuing year. The following composed the board at this time : James Goodwin, Lake; George W. Henderson, Mason; R. Morris, Falls; W. C. Stanbery and W. B. Stillson, Owen; W. F. Totten and Gabriel Pence, Lincoln; J. J. Rogers, Geneseo.
On Jan. 7, 1867, the board of super- visors convened for its seventh annual session. James Goodwin was unanimously elected chairman for the ensuing year. The following were the members of the
612
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
board during the year ; J. H. Valentine, Mason; Daniel Dougherty, Geneseo; Wil- liam B. Stilson, Owen; Squire Humphrey, Lincoln ; James Goodwin, Lake; R. Morris, Falls.
The eighth annual session of the board began with the meeting on Jan. 6, 1868. Organization was effected by the election of J. H. Valentine, of Mason, as chairman for the ensuing year. The representa- tives of the townships this year were the following: James Goodwin, Lake; J. H. Valentine, Mason; Thomas Perritt, Falls; Daniel Dougherty, Geneseo; Squire Humphrey, Lincoln; B. W. Up- dike, Owen; H. G. Gregory, Portland; Oscar Stevens, Clear Lake. Oscar Stevens and H. G. Gregory, being members elected from the new townships of Clear Lake and Portland, drew lots for the long and short terms, resulting in Stevens drawing the short term, and Gregory the long.
In June, 1868, the board appropriated $300 to aid in the completion of the Cen- tral Railway of Iowa survey.
During this year the board called a special election for the purpose of sub- mitting the question of deeding the swamp lands to the McGregor & Sioux City Railroad Company. The proviso was that said company should build their road through the county within a specified time, and locate stations at certain places ther(- in. The people voted the grant on these con- ditions: The donation consisted of 30, 153 acres of swamp lands belonging to the county, but which was in litigation with the county and the American Emigrant Company, who claimed title to these lands by virtue of some old contract be- tween that company and the United
States Government. By reason of this the citizens of Cerro Gordo county did not value them highly. But the Railroad Company agreed to take said lands and guarantee them against all expense con- nected with the imperfect title-so vir- tually they simply gave the company a quit-claim deed for said lands. The recorder's description of these lands was very long. There and was $15.50 worth of United States revenue stamps attached thereto.
At the January session the board ap- pointed the county auditor, C. B. Senior, and George W. Henderson, as a committee to visit other counties and investigate the plan of working poor farms and poor houses.
On the 4th of January, 1869, the board convened to inaugurate their year's work. James Goodwin was elec ed chairman for the year. The following were the mem- bers: James Goodwin, Lake; H. G. Greg- ory, Portland; Thomas Perrett, Falls; E. M. Brown, Owen; Oscar Stevens, Clear Lake; B. T. Hartshorn, Mason; Daniel Dougherty, Geneseo; Joseph Chartier, Lincoln.
Under the jurisdiction of this board Grant township was set off and ordered organized.
The tenth annual meeting commenced on Jan. 3, 1870. An organization was effected by the election of James Goodwin of Lake township, as chairman. The board was composed of the following gentlemen : James Goodwin, Lake; Oscar Stevens, Clear Lake; Thomas Law, Sr., Lincoln; M. Dexter, Grant; Thomas Perrett, Falls; L. W. Reed, Portland; A. R Stilson.
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HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
Owens; B. F. Hartshorn, Mason; D. Dougherty, Geneseo.
In 1871 the system of county govern- ment throughout Iowa was changed. The board of supervisors, instead of consisting of one member from each township, was to be composed of three members, elected by the county at large.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SINCE 1871.
As nothing of special interest has trans- pired, the time of the board being occu- pied with routine business, the list of members from 1871 to 1883. inclusive, will suffice. They drew lots one, two and three years.
1871-Thomas Perrett, chairman; James Goodwin and H. G. Parker.
1872-Thomas Perrett, chairman; W. W. Knapp and James Goodwin.
1873 - James Goodwin, chairman; Thomas Perrett and W. W. Knapp.
1874-W. W. Knapp, chairman; Thom- as Perrett and C. B. Seabury.
1875-Thomas Perrett, chairman; C. B. Seabury and George L. Herrick.
1876-C. B. Seabury, chairman; George L. Herrick and Thomas Perrett.
1877-George L. Herrick, chairman; Thomas Perrett and H. J. Willis.
1878-Thomas Perrett, chairman; H. J. Willis and Francis McMullen.
1879-H. J. Willis, chairman; Francis McMullen and J. B. Dakin.
1880 .- Francis McMullen, chairman; J. B. Dakin and H. J. Willis.
1881-J. B. Dakin, chairman; H. J. Willis and Albert Bruce.
1882-H. J. Willis, chairman; J. B. Dakin and Albert Bruce.
1883-Albert Bruce, chairman; J. B. Dakin and H. J. Willis.
POPULATION.
In 1851 the territory which now com- prises Cerro Gordo county contained two souls. For several years afterward the settlement was very slow. The first entries of land were made in 1854. In 1856 and 1857 all of the choice govern- ment land in the county was taken up. During the latter part of the decade be- tween 1850 and 1860 there was quite an immigration to this region. Land was run up in price to a maximum which was not again reached for fifteen years there- after. When the war broke out every- thing stood still; business was paralized, money scarce, and land could be bought for almost nothing. There were no arrivals, and the very bone and sinew of this region was drawn into the service. The war closed, and everything began to look brighter. Emigration set in and the county filled up rapidly. Railroads brought eastern markets to easy access, and within a few years Cerro Gordo county discarded her frontier garb and became one of the banner counties of the great Hawkeye State.
In this connection are presented statis- tics compiled from various census reports, which will show by comparison the growth of the county.
In 1856 the population of Cerro Gordo county was 632; in 1859, 855; in 1860, 940; in 1863, 1,007; in 1865, 1,311; in 1867, 1,988; in 1870, 4,722; in 1875, 6,685, and in 1880, 11,461.
In 1860 the population was 940. Of this number, eighty-one were of foreign birth and 859 of American birth. There was not a colored man or woman in the county.
614
HISTORY OF CERRO GORDO COUNTY.
In 1867 Cerro Gordo county had a population of 1,988; 1,000 males and 988 females. Of these, 444 were voters; 292 were militia men; eight were unnaturalized foreigners. There were 326 dwelling houses in the county.
In 1870 the county had a population of 4,722; of this number 3,767 were natives and 955 foreign born. There were four colored persons in the county.
In 1875 Cerro Gordo county had a popu- lation of 6,685. Of this number 1,913 were born in Iowa: 3,693 in other States, and 1,079 in foreign countries; seventeen of the number were colored. Of the white population, 3,507 were males and 3,161 females. There were 1,335 dwell- ing houses in the county, and 1,344 fami- lies.
In 1880-the date of the last census- the county had a population of 11,461; of which 1,964 were of foreign birth, and 9,497 of native birth; twenty-three were colored. This number were divided among the townships and cities of the county as follows:
Bath .. 411
Clear Lake township, including village. 1,536
Clear Lake City 1,095
Dougherty 454
Falls. 1,112
Geneseo 773 Grant 370
Lake.
599
Lime Creek. 700
Lincoln 552
Mason township, including city 3,077
Mason City. 2,510
Mount Vernon 266 Owen. 451
Pleasant Valley 319
Portland
629
Union
212
FIRST INSTRUMENTS RECORDED.
The first warranty deed placed "upon record in Cerro Gordo county, was dated Sept. 22, 1855. It was a conveyance from W. T. Ford to B. S. Fellows, of the north- east quarter of the southeast quarter of section 34, township 97, range 20, lying on the north and east side of Lime creek. The consideration was $500. The deed was acknowledged before John L. Mc- Millen, a justice of the peace.
The first mortgage placed upon record was dated Dec. 10, 1855. It was from B. S. Pearson, of Rockford, Ill., to Charles H. Spafford, and related to a tract of land on section 36, township 96, range 21.
MATRIMONIAL.
It has often been said that, "it is not well for man to be alone;" and so, in going back to the creation, we find the economy of nature completed and fulfilled in Adam being granted a helpmeet in the person of Eve. The marriage relation is therefore the natural state of man, as i' carries out the grand first principles of our creation. It has received the sanction and benediction of the highest authority in Heaven and earth; it is the most solemn relation in which a being may be placed, and as such should be sacredly protected "What God has joined together let no man put asunder." In various lands the marriage rite is solemnized in different ways and different cermonies peculiar to each country. In all, the acts of the con- tracting parties must be understood by each, and by the community in which they live, as being a mutual agreement to hold the relations toward one another as man and wife. In this State a license has always been required.
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