USA > Iowa > Fremont County > History of Fremont County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistic, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Fremont County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 48
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74.50
325.14
7019.30
Total.
72.05
24760.86
6723.10
9092.25
213 30
2259.081
545.86
4095.73
1607.00
5535.50
111207.73
State Railroad.
56.31
Grand Total.
$111663.04
. . .
.
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
415
416
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
Thus it is evident that as the world moves the tax-gatherer moves with it; but while the immense increase in taxation is noted, it must not be for- gotten that there has been an immense increase in the wealth of the county and in the extent of its public business. The indebtedness of the county is considerable. There is one factor which, however, should be allowed its due weight, and that is the nature of the surface as constantly "necessi- tating expenditure on roads and bridges. The soil, is light and very slight rains frequently cause great ravines to be washed out across the roads, and sometimes undermine the smaller and less substantially built bridges. The bridge and road taxes will always, from these purely nat- ural and unavoidable causes, be a source of constant large expenditure to the county, while retrenchment may here be needed their necessity will never be superseded.
Statement of Indebtedness of Fremont County, Iowa, August 31, 1880.
Outstanding Bonds.
$21200 00
County Warrants 4152 30
Bridge Warrants 1186 00
Total $26538 30
Total indebtedness of Fremont county as appears of record in my office. Wit- ness my hand and seal officially this 4th day of October, 1880.
[SEAL]
A. P. STAFFORD,
County Auditor.
To meet these demands on the county the property assessed in its sev- eral townships and cities appears to be as follows:
F
417
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
ABSTRACT OF ASSESSMENT FOR 1880.
Abstract of the Assessment ef Fremont County for the Year 1880, as Re- quired by Section 833 of the Code of 1873, and Chapter 5, Title 10, of said Code.
Lands exclusive of Town Property 321,542 acres,
Valuation. $2874213 00
TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.
Val. of Re- alty in Towns.
Sidney City ..
$ 50463 00
Hamburg City
126952 00
Riverton City
40526 00
Farragut
31849 00
Tabor
40097 00
Fremont City and Bartlett
28515 00
East Port and Percival
5631 00
...
Randolph .
4966 00
Farmers City.
935 00
Aggregate value of Realty in Towns.
329934 00
Aggregate value of Railroad Property as assessed by
Executive Council under Chapter 5, Title X of the Code of 1873.
341299 00
Aggregate value of Personal (including Horses, Cat- tle &c.).
1067686 00
Total valuation of the County.
$ 4613132 00
LIVE STOCK.
Number.
Aggregate
Valu'tion.
Cattle assessed in the county.
25650|$ 330934 00
Horses assessed in the county
2518
258310 00
Mules assessed in the county .
1717
63514 00
Sheep assessed in the county .
2174
2724 00
Swine assessed in the county .
29620
39301 00
Total valuation of Live Stock.
$694789 00
1 certify the foregoing to be a full and complete abstract of assessments of said county, as required by law, and as corrected by the county board of equalization.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this 17th day of June, 1880.
A. P. STAFFORD, County Auditor.
7
418
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY. / COUNTY INSTITUTIONS.
POOR FARM.
Charitable institutions, ever since the earliest dawn of history, have ex- isted to ameliorate the unhappy and sorrowful phases of human life. With the advance in knowledge, and the increased duty thereby resting on men to care for their fellows, there has resulted a better understanding of the needs of humanity and better methods of meeting them. Institu- tions of a charitable nature have sprung up in every clime, more or less perfect in their organization and administration; all of which are doing a noble work for humanity. But, as is more interesting to us, our own land is in no respect behind other lands in its care for the sick and sore, the poor and the unfortunate. In every state there are numerous institutions, cared for at its expense, and in nearly every county the same feeling of kindness finds expression in the maintenance of a home for the same classes. In this county the poor farm is a recent institution, the first direct legislation bearing the date of February 6, 1877, and is as follows:
" Now on this 6th day of February, A. D., 1877, it being the day set there- tore for the selection of a poor farm in and for Fremont county, Iowa, and there being several farms offered for sale, the matter being taken into consideration, and after due investigation in the premises and the board being fully advised. it was then resolved by the board of supervisors that the farm owned by W. P. Wyatt (the same being offered for sale) be selected and adopted for the said poor farm, it being the cheapest and best location for the purpose, taking in con- sideration all the improvements thereon, and the same is hereby described as fol- lows, to-wit: the northeast } of section 15 and part of south } of southeast } of section 10, all that part lying east of the branch, all in township 68 N., range 42, containing 200 acres more or less. The consideration and contract for the payment of the above described farm are as follows: $2,400.00 to be paid April, 1847, it being one-half of the purchase money, and the remainder, $2,400 to be paid in one year from the Ist of April, 1877, with 10 per cent. interest from date, and the chairman of the board of supervisors is hereby authorized to exe- cute two promissory notes to said W. P. Wyatt, in behalf of Fremont county, for the amount and time above specified, on the reception of a warranty deed from the said W. P. Wyatt and wife to Fremont county."
This farm is now in most excellent condition, and is almost self-sustain- 1. ing. It is made to produce as abundantly as any farm of similar capac- ity in the county.
POOR FARM REPORT.
The following is a statement of receipts and expenditures for the poor farm for the year ending January 1, 1880.
F
419
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
RESOURCES:
Live stock. $ 1,314.00
Wagons, implements, etc.,. 322.65
Grain and provisions. 1,236.77
Household furniture 624.75
Cash for hogs sold. 383.40
$ 3,881.57
Value of farm (200 acres). 6,000.00
Total $ 9,881.57
Total expenses.
$ 2,881.56
No. of inmates January 1, 1880 26
Average No. for year 1879. 20
THE COUNTY JAIL.
The criminal list of this county has been unusually large, and for many years from the earliest days to the building of the old brick jail the pris- oners were taken to other counties for incarceration. A substantial brick edifice was erected in 1855 or 1857, which served for jail purposes until two years ago, when, failing to present the proper conditions to warrant the safe keeping of prisoners, it was deemed a matter of necessity to erect a new and safe structure. The old jail now stands in the western side of the city of Sidney, being used as a private residence. It stands as a monu- ment of the criminal annals of the county, for within it have been placed the noted criminals that have figured on its records-but unfortunately none of those who have "figured " with them. The present jail was builded in 1868, in pursuance of an order passed by the board of super- visors in the year previous. In the January proceedings, 1878, appears the following :
Now on this 8th day January, 1878, the board after examination of the county jail, the same being condemned by the grand jury term after term for years, and deeming it for the best interest of the county, have this day contracted for the building of a county jail with P. J. Pauley & Brother, of St. Louis, Mo., for the sum of $5,000.00 when completed to the entire satisfaction of the board, in ac- cordance with the plans and specifications now on file in this office.
The jail stands now nearly a block east of the court house, and is a neat two story frame building. In architecture it is exceedingly unpre- tentious, which, however, casts no reflections on its usefulness. It is well suited to the needs of the county, and will answer its purpose for years.
BRIDGES.
Owing to the numerous water-courses in the county, and the many bayous along the bottom lands of the valleys, the need of bridges in the
EXPENDITURES.
Medical attention . $ 217.58
Live stock for farm. 60.00
Dry goods and groceries . . . 1,019.96
Improvements and repairs. 356.13
667.51
Labor on farm and imp ....
Supt.'s salary 500.00
Funeral expenses. 20.00
Conyeying paupers to farm . 40.00
420
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
county has been pressing. For many years the county has been at work supplying this need and has substantially bridged all the larger and many of the smaller streams. This has necessitated an almost constant expendi- ture, and placed the county somewhat in debt, as may be seen from the last statement of the county finances. The total indebtedness of the county in the matter of bridges is $1,186. The bridge has taken the place of the old-time ford and ferry, and is more expeditious and safe. There are no really costly bridge structures within the county limits, but such as do exist are strong and safe.
RAILROADS.
Somebody once wrote a book-" The World on Wheels"-the title of which is very suggestive of the conditions of progress. The days of the lumbering coach, of delayed mails and freights, of toilsome travel, have long since ceased to be in this county. The iron horse puffs its way over hill and through valley, from the extreme north of the county to its southern limits. Railroad communication by three distinct lines afford ample facilities by which to carry its produce to the great marts of the west.
The first movement made by the county in attempting to secure rail- road facilities was in February, 1854. A proposition was then carefully canvassed concerning the granting of $100,000 to the Fort Madison, Bloomfield & Missouri River Railroad Company, to enable the construction of the contemplated line. This road was commonly known as the "Drake Road," and was favorably viewed by the citizens of this county. On May 1, 1854, the following proclamation was issued by the county judge, in obedience to the expressed wishes of many of the most influential citi- izens:
To the Voters of Fremont County:
Whereas, a public meeting of the citizens of Fremont county, holden on the 18th day of February last, made a request upon the county judge of said county, asking him to submit to a vote of the people of said county the proposition whether the county of Fremont will aid in the construction of a railroad from Fort Madison, on the Mississippi river, via Bloomfield and Sidney, to a point on the Missouri river, opposite Old Fort Kearney, by authorizing the county judge of said county to subscribe for $100,000 stock in said road for said county.
Now, therefore, in order that the sense of the voters of said county may be taken in the premises, and in compliance with the 114th and 115th sections* of the Code of Iowa, it is ordered that the following proposition be submitted to the
*Since renumbered.
421
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
voters at the election to be holden at the several precincts in said county on Monday, the 7th day of August next, viz .: Shall the county judge of Fremont county be authorized to take stock in the railroad from Fort Madison via Bloomfield and Sidney to a point opposite Old Fort Kearney, on Missouri river, to the amount of $100,000, for and in behalf of said county. And it is further ordered that the voting be by ballot, and the form of the ballot shall be " For subscribing $100,000" or "Against subscribing $100,000," and shall be on the ballots voted on that day for state and county officers. Should a majority of the votes cast be in favor of subscribing $100,000, the measure will be considered as carried, and the judge will be authorized to subscribe said amount of stock. If a majority of the votes are against subscribing, the measure will be deemed rejected. And it is further ordered that the laws governing the general election shall be, as far as applicable, applied to the election herein ordered.
This election proclamation was duly scattered about the county and posted in conspicuous places, so that the county was well advised as to the nature of the question on which they were to pass judgment. When it came to the test at the polls there were cast 288 votes bearing on the subscription, of which 174 were for, and 118 against it. It was, there- fore, " declared that the vote is in favor of such subscription."
Notwithstanding the liberal-even generous-response of the county the road was never built, and Fremont suffered still from its need.
The next railroad scheme to engage the attention of the county, and which became the subject of another ballot was the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Railroad. The company working under this style was organized May 18, 1858. The articles of incorporation were signed by Enos Lowe, A. D. Richardson, S. L. Nuckolls, Allan A. Bradford, Ira D. Blanchard, William Street, Frank Street, L. Nuckolls, Addison Cochran, James A. Jackson, Samuel S. Bayliss, Samuel S. Curtiss, James D. Test, George Doughty, George Parks, Thomas H. Benton, Jr., Hadley D. Johnson, Martin W. Riden, Horace Everett, and Benjamin Rector. The capital stock of the company was to be one million dollars, to be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each. The affairs of the company were to be managed by a board of nine directors, to be chosen by the stockholders, from among their own number, on the second Monday in July and annually thereafter. The directors were to elect from their own number a president, vice-president, and treasurer, each to serve one year. The directors were also to elect a secretary annually, and to provide for the appointment and employment of such other officers, attorneys, agents, engineers, clerks, and laborers, as might be needed to manage the affairs of the corporation, and build and operate a railroad. The object of the company was to build and operate a railroad from Council Bluffs to some point on the Missouri state line, there to connect with a railroad from St. Joseph, Missouri. The articles of incorporation were filed for record in
422
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
the recorder's office in the county of Pottawattamie, May 18, 1858, and filed in the office of the secretary of state, July 2, 1858.
The company was organized under the forty-third chapter of the Code of Iowa, entitled "Corporations for Pecuniary Benefit," approved February 5, 1851, and was to continue fifty years. The principal place of business was Council Bluffs, in the county of Pottawattamie. May 19, 1858, a convention was held at Council Bluffs to further the objects of the company. At this convention four counties in Iowa, two in Nebraska and three in Missouri were represented by delegates. The first board of directors was composed of Enos Lowe, S. F. Nuckolls, B. F. Rector, J. W. Coolidge, L. Nuckolls, L. W. Babbitt, James A. Jackson, J. D. Test and Addison Cochran. The board organized by the election of the fol- lowing officers: President, S. F. Nuckolls; Vice-President, Horace Everett; Treasurer, L. Nuckolls; Secretary, Samuel S. Curtiss. H. C Nutt was appointed Chief Engineer. He made preliminary survey from Council Bluffs south to the state line, and made his first report to the first annual meeting of the stockholders, held at Council Bluffs, July 12, 1858. The chief engineers successively appointed by the company, prior to 1865, were H. C. Nutt, Col. Peabody and Edward Everett. November 6, 1859, the first ground was broken for the railroad at Council Bluffs, near the present depot of the K. C., St. Jo. and C. B. railroad. On the following evening a railroad meeting was held in Concert Hall, in Council Bluffs, at which speeches were made by Col. Peabody, engineer of the road, and the territorial governor of Nebraska, Samuel W. Black. The road was put under contract from Council Bluffs to the Iowa state line. Considera- ble grading was done in Pottawattamie and Mills counties, and several thousand ties delivered.
The contractors were Charles Hendrie and John Jones, of Council Bluffs. J. S. Andrews was general agent of the company for obtaining aid, managing real estate and right of way, soliciting stock subscriptions, and supervising the work. The war, commencing in April, 1861, soon stopped operations on this railroad, and during its continuance no progress - . was made. The organization of the company was carefully maintained. On July 13, 1861, the following persons were elected directors: James A. Jackson, J. T. Baldwin, Horace Everett, J. P. Casady, Samuel Knepper, Edward Gilliland, W. C. Sipple, S. F. Nuckolls and R. L. Douglass. The same directors were annually elected during the continuance of the war, with but few changes.
By virtue of an ordinance of the city council of the city of Council Bluffs, passed and approved November 14, 1859, a city election was held December 8, 1859, to decide on the proposition for the city to subscribe $25,000 to the capital stock of the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Railroad Company. The subscription was carried by a vote of 243 to 15. City
423
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
bonds were to be issued, as the work on the road progressed, and given to the company in payment of the stock. The bonds were to bear ten per cent interest, and the principal was to be paid in ten years from date. Seven thousand dollars of these bonds were issued during the progress of the work on the road under the Hendric-Jones contract, and eighteen thousand dollars of the bonds were issued in 1866, and in consideration of said bonds, stock in the company, amounting in the aggregate to $25,000, was issued to the city at different times. These bonds have all been paid off, principal and interest.
Pursuant to a proclamation of J. P. Casady, county judge of Pottawat- tamie county, dated January 10, 1860, a contract, dated January 9, 1860, between the county and the Council Bluffs and St. Joseph railroad com- pany, for the transfer to the company of the swamp lands of the county and the proceeds thereof, under the provisions of chapter 132 of the acts of the general assembly of Iowa, passed at the session of 1857-58, was submitted to a vote of the people of the county at a special election held February 15, 1860. The election went in favor of the contract and trans- fer by a vote of 373 to 133. The contract was signed by J. P. Casady, county judge, and S. F. Nuckolls, president of the railroad company. The transfer was to be made subject to the provisions of the swamp-land act of Congress, approved Sept. 28, 1850, and the state and county were released from liabilities for draining and reclaiming said lands. April 13, 1860, J. P. Casady, county judge, executed a deed conveying to the rail- road company 8,032.37 acres of land, valued at $1.25 per acre. There was also assigned to the company the claim of the county against the United States for indemnity lands and money due on account of swamp lands sold by the government; and by virtue of these assignments the company received in cash $10,000 and 4,351.75 acres of land in Kossuth county, Iowa, and 400 acres of land in Pottawattamie county, on which this county held judgments, were also all given to the company. This real estate and money were valued at $40,000, and certificates of stock in the company to that amount were issued to the county. May 7, 1860, John Doniphan and B. M. Hughes, of St. Joseph, conveyed to the com- pany ten acres of land in a square form in the northwest corner of e. ¿ of nw. ¿ of 1-74-44, for depot purposes at Council Bluffs, on condition that the company should maintain a freight and passenger depot on the prem- ises for ten years after the completion of the road. The conditions were accepted by L. W. Babbitt, vice-president of the company. April 11, 1860, the Pacific City land company conveyed to the railroad company 300 lots in Pacific City on condition that there be no other depot for ten years in Mills county than Pacific City, and also leased to the railroad company 220 acres of timber land, which was sold to Charles Heddire,
424
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
contractor, for $1,320. The Pacific City lots did not turn out to be of much value, and the station has been abandoned for business reasons.
A similar proposition was submitted to the voters of Fremont county, January 30, 1860, but was defeated by a vote of 492 to 41.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders in July, 1865, the following persons were elected directors: R. L. Douglass, L. W. Babbitt, J. P. Casady, Horace Everett, S. S. Bayliss, James A. Jackson, A. H. Harris, Edward Gilliland, and J. W. Coolidge.
R. L. Douglass was elected president; J. P. Casady, vice-president; Horace Everett, treasurer; and Samuel Jacobs, secretary.
September 23, 1865, the company entered into a contract with Willis Phelphs, of Springfield, Mass., for the completion of the road in two years -the Hendric-Jones contract being surrendered and canceled. By this contract the road passed into the hands of Mr. Phelphs and his associates. All the property, real and personal of the company, all its capital stock, except about twenty shares and excepting the Council Bluffs city and Pottawattamie county stock, were to be surrendered to him.
During the winter of 1855-6 the road was resurveyed and relocated by a new chief engineer, E. G. Ferris, who remained until the completion of the work. Ties and other material were also obtained. March 1, 1856, the first mortgage was put upon the road, being signed by Robert L. Douglass, president; and executed to Horatio N. Case and Ephraim W. Bond, of Springfield, Mass., as trustees, to secure the payment of $500,- 000 in bonds to be issued in sums of $1000 each, bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent per annum, payable semi-annually-July 1st and January 1st of each year-the principal payable January 1st, 1880. Release was filed February 25, 1880. Previous to this mortgage there was no incumbrance upon the road.
The road was completed from Council Bluffs to the north line of Fre- mont county by January 1, 1867, and on January 15, 1867, trains com- menced running regularly between Council Bluffs and Bartlett. Part of the iron for this portion of the road was brought up the Missouri river is steamboats from St. Joseph and landed at Stillary's in Mills county, a | town long since washed into the river. Later in the fall the iron was brought to Woodbine, in Harrison county, then the terminus of the Chi- cago and Northwestern railroad, and taken to Council Bluffs in wagons. In 1866 and 1867 the floods in the Missouri river delayed the progress of the work, and in 1867 the trains were stopped seventy days on account of damages by the floods.
In 1867, Pottawattamie county and the city of Council Bluffs surrend- ered their stock to the company in consideration of the completion of the road to the Fremont county line, and the agreement of Mr. Willis Phelps to complete and open the road to the Missouri state line by January 1,
425
HISTORY OF FREMONT COUNTY.
1868. July 1, 1867, a second mortgage on the road was executed to George B. Phelps, as trustee, of $150,000 to be issued in bonds of three denominations; 130 bonds of $1000 each; 30 bonds of $500 each; and 50 bonds of $100 each. They were all to bear interest at ten per cent, pay- able semi-annually-July 1 and January 1 of each year-principal payable July 1, 1872.
The annual meeting of the stockholders was held at Council Bluffs, July 8, 1867, and adjourned to meet at Council Bluffs, July 23, 1867, at which, besides the election of directors, the following resolution was offered and passed: "Resolved, That the second clause of article (10) ten of the original articles of incorporation of the Council Bluffs and St. Joseph railroad company be and the same is hereby rescinded." The clause rescinded made Council Bluffs the headquarters of the company. It was ordered that the forgoing change in the articles of incorporation be pub- lished and recorded as prescribed in chapter 52, of the revision of 1860.
The road was completed to the Missouri state line, December 30, 1867. The last annual meeting of the stockholders was held at Council Bluffs July 13, 1868.
In the summer of 1866 a contract was made between the company and the county of Otoe, in the then territory of Nebraska, that provided that the railroad should be built on the line then staked out, not to be further than a mile and a quarter from the bank of the Missouri river, opposite the foot of Main street in Nebraska City. Within which stated distance the company was to build and maintain a freight and passenger depot for all time to come, unless the river should so wash the railroad as to render it necessary to remove to another convenient point. In consideration of this agreement the county agreed to issue, and did issue, and deliver to the railroad company county bonds to the amount of forty thousand dol- lars, bearing ten per cent. interest, payable semi-annually; the principal to be paid in twenty years. These bonds were issued and disposed of by the company before the organization of the Kansas City, St. Joe & Council Bluffs Railroad Company. It is understood, however, that the interest on the bonds was paid for some years; and that afterwards the county resisted and still resists the payment of either interest or principal.
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