USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 32
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that the pale Queen of Night, disclaiming to take her accustomed place in the heav- ens, had dispatched ten thousand messen- gers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun, and that now they were speeding on the wings of the wind to their appointed stations. As I gazed on that mighty conflagration, my thoughts re- curred to you, immured in the walls of a city, and I exclaimed in the fullness of my heart:
' O fly to the prairie in wonder, and gaze, As o'er the grass, sweeps the magnificent blaze; The world cannot boast so romantic a sight, A continent flaming, 'mid oceans of light.'"
Behold, how changed the scene ! Where the rude wigwam of the red man once stood, a palatial-like residence is seen; where once the sons of the forest gathered together for the worship of Manitou, the " Great Spirit," the handsome church edifice is erected, in which assemble those of another race, worshipping the God of their fathers. Change is written upon every hand. How this change was wrought, the various steps by which the wilderness has been transformed into habitations for civilized man, is the duty of the histo- rian to show; and in the following pages the attempt is made, with the hope that the facts contained therein may be of in- terest, and the lessons of the past may be instructive to each and every reader.
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
233
CHAPTER II.
THE BEGINNING
Hardin county was created by an act of the General Assembly approved January 15, 1851. At that time the whole north- western portion of the State was in a wild state, and what is now Hardin county had less than a dozen families in it.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first settlement made in what is now Hardin county was in 1849, and to Greenberry Haggin belongs the honor of being the first white man who drove his stakes, erected a cabin, and made for him- self a home in what is now one of the finest and best counties in the State. Mr. Haggin was from Keokuk county, and a native of Kentucky. He was a typical pioneer who felt it his .duty to get out upon the outskirts of civilization, where, with pure air, a wholesome climate and plenty of room, he could grow up with the country. For some cause he.remained here but a few years, but long enough to see several towns spring up and the country being rapidly settled by a thrifty and en- terprising race.
During the winter of 1849-50, Mr. Hag- gin was the sole resident of Hardin county. Like Robinson Crusoe, he could say-
"I am monarch of all I survey,
My right there is none to dispute;
From the center all 'round to the sea, I am lord of the fowl and the brute."
In the spring of 1850 came James Daw- dy, William Robinson, Abram Grimsley, Samuel Smith, Sr., Samuel Smith, Jr., Alexander Smith, T. N. Hauser, Jacob Miller, Jacob Kidwiler, each of whom, save Kidwiler, settled in the neighborhood of Haggins, township 86 north, range 19 west of the 5th principal meridian, known now as the township of Union. As sketches of these inen are given elsewhere in this work, it is unnecessary to say more in this connection.
Jacob Kidwiler and family effected a settlement, in the spring of 1850, in what is now Jackson township.
The third settlement made in this county was in township 87 north, range 19 west, in what is now known as Eldora township. Samuel Smith, Jr., the present President of the Old Settlers' Association of Hardin county, was the first settler. He located his claim and erected his cabin in the fall of 1850. His nearest neighbor at that time was Jacob Miller, about six miles south.
These were all the settlements made in 1850, and were the beginning of the white settlement of the county of Hardin. In the township histories the details of the settlement of each are given.
234
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
Prior to its organization, Hardin county was attached to Marshall for judicial pur- poses.
In February, 1853, a petition of the legal voters of the county was presented to the County Judge of Marshall county, who ordered an election, on the 2d day of March, for county officers. Prior to this, the County Judge of Marshall had divided Hardin county into two townships or election precincts. The south half was named Latham township, and its first election ordered held at the house of Henry Abrams, now the Peet farm, near the town of Gifford. The north half of the county was called Morgan, and the first election ordered held at the house of Thomas Huff, who then resided on section 13, in what is now Jackson township.
At this election Alexander Smith was elected County Judge; Samuel Smith, Recorder and Treasurer; James D. Put- nam, Clerk of the District Court; Thomas Bennett, Sheriff; William Shafer, School Fund Commissioner. Each of the fore- going duly qualified, except William Shafer. Samuel R. Edgington was subse- quently appointed to fill the vacancy, and was.therefore the first School Fund Com- missioner of Hardin county.
For some cause no poll was opened in Morgan township. Latham township polled 32 votes.
A convention was held at the house of Reuben King, south of the present town of Eldora, in the latter part of February, 1853, for the purpose of placing in nomina- tion candidates for the various offices to be voted for. This was the first convention ever held in Hardin county. A committee
was appointed to select candidates, and not wishing to hurt the feelings of any one, they presented two sets of names for the offices mentioned. This was entirely satis- factory to the convention, and the report of the committee was adopted.
LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT.
Hardin county was duly organized, but its county officers had no abiding place. In June, 1853, John Hockett, of Marshall county, and Mr. McDaniels, of Story county, were appointed by William Mc- Kay, Judge of the Fifth Judicial District, of which Hardin county formed a part, commissioners to locate a county seat for the county. They met here in the latter part of that month, and selected the present site, which was centrally located as regards settlements then made. After selecting the site they called upon Mrs. S. R. Edgington to name the town, and she gave it the name of Eldora.
SECOND ELECTION FOR COUNTY OFFICERS.
In August, 1854, the second election for county officers, was held. As Col. Edging- ton was so fortunate as to preserve the poll book, the names of the voters are here given:
John Ellsworth, David Yeisley, Jacob Smith, Wm. Bailey, H. H. Smith, James Zieger, Thos. Blair, John Shepherd, David Stillwell, B. F. Miller, Edward Clinkinbeard, Jonathan Edging- ton, B. J. Reece, Henry Abrams, Thomas N. Hauser, Thomas Bennett, John G. Parham, L. W. Price, James Putnam, John Marling, Sam- uel Smith, Sr., Henry Ellsworth, Jonathan Conger, Morris H. Hughes, Wm. Bailey, Jr., Wm. Robinson, Louis D. Drain, William Patton, William Smith, John Lane, Peter S. Miller, Jas. A. Dawdy, Jacob Miller, John Duke, John B. Finley, Thomas Y. McClure, Jacob Fetter,
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
235
Alexander Smith, Cavender Geer, Isaac S. Moore, James W. Miller, R. G. King, Cyrus Rowell, Washington Asher, F. B. Stout, Wm. Lockard, Henry Graham and Samuel Smith, Jr.
The following is the record of the vote:
SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONERS.
Wm. Lockard 23
S. R. Edgington. 24
SURVEYOR.
John Shepherd.
32
J. F. Simons.
14
Q. F. Simons.
1
Dr. Simons
1
1
CHAPTER III.
--
OFFICIAL ACTION.
When Hardin county was organized, the county judge performed all the duties now performed by the Board of Super- visors of the county. Upon that officer devolved the organization of the town- ships and to decide upon their boundaries. The records of the county judge have been lost, and the early records of many of the townships are also lost, so that nothing is known officially of the organization of the various townships until 1861. At that time there were ten townships, as follows:
Union, comprising township 86, north of range 19, west of the 5th principal meridian.
Providence, township 86, ranges 20, 21 and 22, or three full congressional town- ships.
Eldora, township 87, range 19, and the east half of township 87, range 20.
Pleasant, the west half of township 87, range 20, and all of township 87, ranges 21 and 22.
· Clay, township 88, range 19. Jackson, township 88, range 20. Ellis, township 88, ranges 21 and 22. Etna, township 89, range 19.
Hardin, township 89, range 20, and the east half of township 89, range 21.
Alden, the west half of township 89, range 21, and township 89, range 22.
The General Assembly in the winter of 1859-60, passed an act which was approved by the Governor, creating county Board of Supervisors, and providing for one from each civil township. The first
.
John G. Parham
32
Samuel L. Higenbotham.
8
CORONER.
Luke Randall
23
Joshua Ball.
17
Jonathan Conger
1
RECORDER.
Samuel Smith.
27
Thomas Y. McClure.
21
SHERIFF.
236
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
election for members of the Board occur- red at the general election in November.
ACTIONS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
The first meeting of the Board of Super- visors was held at the court house in El- dora, January 7, 1861. On motion of A. McIntyre, of Pleasant township, A. E. Arnold, of Hardin, was made temporary chairman. A committee of three was then appointed on credentials, consisting of J. D. Gourlay, A. McIntyre and Madison Greer, who reported the following named as duly elected members of the Board, and who had qualified according to law:
T. N. Hauser. . Union
J. S. Hadley. Providence
A. E. Arnold Hardin
Madison Greer Jackson
A. McIntyre. Pleasant
Nelson Gibbs. Alden
Luther Nott. .Pleasant
L. E. Campbell Clay
G. McMillan. Ellis
J. D. Gourlay. Eldora
A. G. Barnum. .Etna
On the classification of members, T. N. Hauser, J. S. Hadley, A. E. Arnold, L. Nott, J. D. Gourlay and A. G. Barnum each drew one year, and M. Greer, A. Mc. Intyre, N. Gibbs, L. E. Campbell and G. McMillan drew for two years.
James Speers, Clerk of the District Court, who was ex-officio clerk of the Board of Supervisors, was required to give bond for the faithful performance of the duties of the latter office in the penal sum of $4,000.
A great deal of business was transacted at this session of the Board of a preliminary nature, such as adopting rules for its gov- ernment, and appointment of committees.
A resolution was adopted directing the Clerk of the District Court, to enter into a contract with W. P. Hepburn as agent for Hardin county, to proceed to Washington and prosecute the claims of the county to swamp-lands, scrip and money; Mr. Hep- burn to receive for such services two per cent. on the value of all lands, scrip and money actually secured to the county.
· The second regular session of the Board was held at Eldora, beginning Monday, June 3.
The first business transacted was the ap- pointment of a Clerk of the District Court, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of James Speers. J. M. Boyd received the appointment.
At this meeting the Board equalized the assessments for taxes for the ensuing year, and fixed the percentage. The taxable property of the county was reported at $1,326,727. The committe on equalization reported the assessment per acre of land in different townships as follows:
Alden $2 77
Eldora 3 97
Ellis. 4 02
Jackson 3 00
Tipton
2 55
Clay. 3 60
Providence. 2 88
Union. 4 02
Hardin. 3 02
Pleasant.
3 00
Etna. 3 00
The committee on the probable ordinary expenses of the county for the current year reported the same at $6,630.
A special meeting was held July 11th, when, on motion, the sum of $150 was ap- propriated to "furnish suitable clothing for the military company known as the
257
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
'Union Guards.'" Three hundred dollars were also appropriated to assist in equip- ping a company known as the "Hardin Cavalry," provided the company was mus- tered into the United States service.
At the regular session, in September, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That each Supervisor of this Board be appointed a committee, each one for the. township he represents, to superintend and see to the families of volunteers in each of the sev- eral townships; to afford temporary relief to each family in need, according to their necessi- ties; to purchase, or allow each family to pur- chase for themselves, goods as their wants may demand; but in no case shall families be allowed to purchase goods without a written order of the Supervisor, which shall be produced by the creditor as a voucher for his claim on the county.
On the 6th day of January, 1862, the Board met, with the following named new members in place of those whose terms had expired: A. M. Mulford, Providence; T. Y. McClure, Eldora; J. H. Weiland, Har- din. Little business was transacted at the session of a public nature.
In August a called session of the Board was held, at which the following resolu- tion was adopted:
Resolved, That the Clerk of the Board is here- by authorized and directed to issue an order on the Treasurer for the sum of twenty dollars to each volunteer that is, at the time of enlistment a resident of Hardin county, that has or may volunteer under the last call for 300,000 for three years or during the war; and also the fur- ther sum of two dollars per month to the wife of each volunteer, and the sum of one dollar for each child of said volunteers under the age of fourteen years; and that an order for ten dollars of the first mentioned sum be issued on the pre- sentation of the certificate of a recruiting officer; and that an order for the other ten dollars be
issued on the presentation of the certificate of the captain of the company that said volunteer has been mustered into the service of the United States; and that the above allowance to the wife and children be paid monthly to the wife of said volunteer during the term of his service in the United States, and that said sums be paid only upon the order of the volunteer.
Commissioned officers were excluded from the benefits of the foregoing resolu- tion.
On the 5th day of January, 1863, the Board met, with the following named new members:
I. M. B. Oviatt. . Ellis
E. C. Crippen .Jackson
John Lytle. Pleasant
The Board at this session appointed David Hunt County Surveyor, to fill the vacancy caused by the failure of George P. Griffith to qualify within the time pre- scribed by law.
At a called session of the Board, held December, 1863, the following resolution was adopted by the Board:
Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of Har- din county, and State of Iowa, That the said county will pay a bounty of one hundred and seventy-five dollars for volunteers to fill the quota of the county under the last call of the President for 300,000, to be furnished by the 5th day of January, 1864; fifty dollars of said sum to be paid when the recruit is accepted and mus- tered into the service of the United States; twenty-five dollars to be paid on the first day of August, 1864; twenty-five dollars to be paid on the first day of January, 1865; fifty dollars to be paid on the first day of August, 1865; and twenty-five dollars to be paid on the first day of January, 1866; and in addition thereto a monthly allowance to the families of volunteers, of two dollars per month to wife, and one dollar to the child of each voluntcer under fourteen years of age, and to be paid during the term of service of said volunteer.
238
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
At the January session, 1864, the fol- lowing named were the new members of the Board:
D. A. Cobb. Eldora
O. B. Chapin Union
I. S. Moore. .Tıpton
On the re-organization of the Board, Nelson Gibbs was elected Chairman.
The following resolution was adopted: Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of Har- din county, Iowa, That the county will pay a monthly allowance of two dollars per month to the wife and one dollar per month to each child under fourteen years of age of all volunteers from the county of Hardin now in the service of the United States, who have not received said allowance during their term of service; said allowance to commence on the 1st day of Janu_ ary, A. D. 1864. The families of commissioned officers are excepted from this allowance.
At a called session held Feb. 25, 1864, the Board resolved to continue the pay- ment of bounties made at the special December session up to the 1st of March, 1864; payments to be made in sums of $25 each on the 1st day of January and 1st day of August in each year, until the amount of $175 was paid.
In June the following resolution, offered by I. S. Moore. was adopted:
Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of Har- din county, Iowa, That the county will continue to pay a bounty of two dollars per month to the wife, and one dollar per month to each child under the age of fourteen years, whose husbands or fathers have been killed, died or disabled, or may hereafter be killed or disabled in the service of the United States, that have enlisted from the county, until such families get relief from the General Government. The allowance of those who have not received aid from the county, to commence January 1, 1864 ..
At the September session, 1864, J. M. Scott tendered his resignation as Clerk of
the District Court, which was accepted, and R. F. Ripley appointed to fill the vacancy.
At the same session, J. D. Hunter re- signed the office of Treasurer and Recorder, and J. D. Gourley was appointed to fill the vacancy.
At the November term, E. Richards took the oath of office, having been elected as Supervisor of Eldora township, in place of D. A. Cobb, resigned.
The appropriation of two dollars to the wife, and one dollar to each child under fourteen years of age, was extended to drafted men and volunteers under call of President for 500,000 men.
At the January meeting, 1865, the fol- lowing named new members answered to their names and took the oath of office:
DeRoy Ellsworth Pleasant
S. Peck. .Ellis
E. S. Ensign. . Clay
J. H. Weiland was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.
Again the question of soldiers' bounties was brought before the Board. The gov- ernment was now making a last grand effort to put down the rebellion, and the President had made an urgent call for 300,000 more men. The Board passed the following resolution:
Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of Har- din county, Iowa, That the county will pay a bounty of $200 to all persons who may volun- teer to fill the quota of Hardin county under the call of the President of the United States for 300, - 000 men; said vlounteer to be entitled to draw said sum when he shall have been accepted and mustered into the service of the United States. Said sum to be paid in installments as follows, to-wit. $50 t > be paid August 1, 1865; $50 to be paid January 1, 1866; $50 to be paid August 1, 1866; $50 to be paid January 1, 1867.
239
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
I. S. Moore, who voted against the fore- going resolution, offered one providing for the payment of the sum of $200 to all volunteers from Hardin county, who had never received any of the benefits of boun- ties heretofore voted. The resolution was laid over till the June meeting.
Mr. Greer having resigned as a member of the Board of Supervisors, the Board, at its June session, appointed J. N. Bradfield to fill the vacancy.
DeRoy Ellsworth also resigning, Al- pheus McIntyre was appointed in his stead.
At this meeting the Board refused to become a party to the county-seat contest.
(See article on this question elsewhere in this work.)
Mr. Moore withdrew his resolution in relation to bounties, and presented another, which was acted upon at the September term. This resolution called for the pay- ment of $175 to every volunteer from the county during the war, save to commis- sioned officers and one hundred days' men. The resolution was lost.
A committee having been appointed to draft a resolution pertaining to soldiers' bounties, reported the following:
WHEREAS, Hardin county has paid to some soldiers credited to her to the amount of $175, and to others smaller amounts, and to others none at all; and, as justice would seem to require that all should receive alike, and as this would require the sum of $50,000, and the Board of Supervisors being unwilling to impose a burden of taxation upon the tax-payers of Hardin county without their consent; therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Board of Supervisors of Har- din county, Iowa, that, at the October election, 1865, the question be presented to the loyal voters of Hardin county, whether the county
will pay to all soldiers from Hardin county a bounty equal to the sum- of $175, except com- missioned officers who have received pay as commissioned officers more than one year; also, all one hundred days' men, and all volunteers who have received bounties from private indi- viduals, to the amount of $175; and all who have been dishonorably discharged or deserted from the service of the general government. In case of the decease of any soldier entitled to the benefits of this resolution, said bounty is to be paid to his wife, children, or to his aged parents, in case the parent or parents were dependent upon said soldier for their support.
The resolution further provided for the payment in installments, and for the sub- mission of the question to a vote. The resolution was adopted.
I. S. Moore, having removed from Tip- ton township, offered his resignation, which was accepted, and Thomas J. Hunter was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The following named new members an- swered to their names at the January ses- sion, 1866:
M. Frisbie Jackson
E. Kilgore. Eldora
O. B. Chapin . Union
G. Dennis .Etna
C. Benbow .Providence
DeRoy Ellsworth. Pleasant
John A. Dean Tipton
P. S. Gray Hardin
Nelson Gibbs, of Alden township, was elected chairman for the ensuing year.
The vote upon the equalization of sol- diers' bounties having carried, the follow- ing preamble and resolution was adopted by the Board at this session:
WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors, at the September session, 1865, passed a resolution, and submitted the same to the legal voters of the county, pertaining to the equalization of the bounty to all soldiers who have volunteered from Hardin county; and,
-
240
HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.
WHEREAS, There is no law authorizing the Board of Supervisors to levy a tax to pay said bounty; therefore,
Be it resolved by this Board, That we request our Representative, Thomas B. Knapp, to pro- cure the passage of an act authorizing this Board to levy a tax sufficient to pay such bounty.
S. Peck having resigned as a member of the Board from Ellis township, George McMillan was appointed to fill the va- cancy. .
The Board appointed N. Gibbs, D. Ells- worth and G. Dennis a committee to super- intend the erection of a vault for the safe keeping of the records of the county, said vault to be completed by the first day of June, 1866.
The Treasurer was also authorized to procure a fire and burglar proof safe for the use of his office.
John A. Dean, at the June session, 1866, resigned as a member of the Board, and William Howell was appointed to fill the vacancy.
At the January session a committee was appointed to investigate the accounts of J. H. Cusack, J. D .. Hunter and J. D. Gourlay, ex-Treasurers of the county, who reported, at the September session, that each were deficient in their accounts, but that Mr. Hunter and Mr. Gourlay promptly paid the amount on notification. The Board then notified the Clerk to commence suit against Mr. Cusack for the amount of his defalcation.
At the January session of the Board, in 1867, a committee appointed to confer with Mr. Cusack and his attorneys to ascer- tain upon what terms a settlement could be effected, reported that having conferred with Judge Porter, attorney for Mr. Cu-
sack, the latter offered to pay the sum of $1,276, with interest from the time of the tender, to the Board in September, 1866, and all costs in the suit. The committee then made the following recommendation to the Board:
"Your committee, after considering the matter, would reccommend that if the said J. H. Cusack will pay into the county treasury the sum of $1,500 before the adjournment of this Board, and pay the costs of the suit in the District Court, the Clerk of this Board is hereby authorized to dismiss suit, and discharge said Cusack from all further liabilities to this county."
The recommendation of the committee was concurred in by the Board, and upon the fifth day of the session the Clerk re- ported to the Board that Mr. Cusack had paid the $1,500 and all costs in the suit. It was therefore orderded by the Board that the defendant in the suit be discharged, and said suit ordered discontinued, the Clerk being instructed to make out a transcript of the resolutions adopted, and file them in the office of the District Court.
The first day of the January session, 1867, the following named new members took the oath of office as members of the Board from their respective townships:
L. L. Durham .Ellis
A. Greer. Jackson
S. B. Cunningham . Clay
I. S. Moore. Pleasant
T. J. Sheldon .Tipton
N. Gibbs was elected chairman for the ensuing term.
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