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 8

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002

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 8

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report of their proceeding to the Governor. The bill passed both Houses by decisive votes, received the signature of the Gov- ernor, and became a law. Soon after, by "An act to locate and establish a State University," approved Feb. 25, 1847, the unfinished public buildings at Iowa City, together with the ten acres of lands on which they were situated, were granted for the use of the University, reserving their use, however, by the General Assembly and the State officers, until other provisions were made by law.

The Commissioners forthwith entered upon their duties, and selected four sec- tions and two half sections in Jasper county. Two of these sections are in what is now DesMoines township, and the others in Fairview township, in the southern part of that county. These lands are situated between Prairie City and Monroe, on the Keokuk & DesMoines railroad, which runs diagonally through them. Here a town was platted called Monroe City, and a sale of lots took place. The number of 415 lots were sold, at prices that were not con- sidered remarkably remunerative. The cash payments (one-fourth) amounted to $1,797.43, while the expenses of the sale and the claims of the Commissioners for services amounted to $2,206.57. The Com- missioners made a report of their proceed- ings to the Governor, as required by law, but the location was generally condemned.

When the report of the Commissioners, showing this brilliant financial operation, had been read in the House of Represent- atives, at the next session, and while it was under consideration, an indignant member, afterward known as the eccentric Judge McFarland, moved to refer the report to a

HISTORY OF IOWA.

select committee of five, with instructions to report "how much of said city of Mon- roe was under water, and how much was burned." The report was referred, with- out the instructions, but Monroe City never became the seat of government. By an act approved January 15, 1849, the law by which the location had been made was re- pealed, and the new town was vacated, the money paid by purchasers of lots being refunded to them. This, of course, re- tained the seat of government at Iowa City, and precluded for the time the occu- pation of the building and grounds by the University.

At the same session $3,000 more were appropriated for completing the State building at Iowa City. In 1852, the fur- ther sum of $5,000, and in 1854 $4,000 more were appropriated for the same pur- pose, making the whole cost $123,000, paid partly by the general Government and partly by the State, but principally by the proceeds of the sale of lots in Iowa City.

After the adjournment of the first Gen- eral Assembly, the Governor appointed Joseph Williams, Chief Justice, and Geo. Green and John F. Kinney Judges, of the Supreme Court. They were afterward elected by the second General Assembly, and constituted. the Supreme Court until 1855, with the exception that Kinney re- signed in January, 1854, and J. C. Hall, of Burlington, was appointed in his place. Hall was one of the earliest and ablest lawyers of the State, and his memory will long be cherished by the early members of the profession. Some changes having occurred by death and removal, the Gov- ernor was induced to call an extra session of the General Assembly in January, 1848,

with the liope of an election of United States Senators. The attempt, however, was again unsuccessful. At this session, Charles Mason, William G. Woodward and Stephen Hempstead were appointed Com- missioners to prepare a code of laws for the State. Their work was finished in 1850, and was adopted by the General As- sembly. This "code" contained, among other provisions, a code of civil practice, superseding the old common-law forms of actions and writs, and it was admissible for its simplicity and method. It remained in force until 1863, when it was superseded by the more complicated and metaphys- ical system of the revision of that year.

The first Representatives in Congress were S. Clinton Hastings, of Muscatine, and Shepherd Leffler, of DesMoines county.

The second General Assembly elected to the United States Senate, Augustus Cæsar Dodge and George W. Jones. The State government, after the first session, was under the control of Democratic ad- ministration till 1855. The electoral vote of the State was cast for Lewis Cass, in 1848, and for Franklin Pierce in 1852. The popular vote shows that the Free-Soil element of State during this period very nearly held the balance of power, and that up to 1854 it acted in the State elections to some extent with the Democratic party. In 1848 Lewis Cass received 12,093 votes, Zachary Taylor 11,043, and Martin Van Buren, the Free-Soil candidate, 1,226 votes, being 176 less than a majority for Cass.

In 1852, Pierce received 17,762 votes, Scott 15,855, and Hale (Free-Soil) 1,606, being for Pierce 301 votes more than a majority.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

The question of the permanent location of the seat of government was not settled, and in 1851 bills were introduced for its removal to Fort DesMoines. The latter appeared to have the support of the major- ity, but was finally lost in the House on the question of ordering it to its third reading.

At the next session, in 1853, a bill was again introduced in the Senate for the re- moval of-the seat of government to Fort DesMoines, and, on final vote, was just barely defeated. At the next session, how- ever, the effort was more successful, and January 15th, 1855, a bill relocating the Capital within two miles of the Raccoon Fork of the DesMoines, and for the ap- pointment of Commissioners, was approved by Gov. Grimes. The site was selected in 1856, in accordance with the provisions of this act; the land being donated to the State by citizens and property-holders of Des Moines. An association of citizens erected a building for a temporary capitol, and leased it to the State at a nominal rent.

The passage by Congress of the act organizing the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, and the provision it contained abrogating that portion of the Missouri bill that proh bited slavery and involuntary servitude north of 36 ° 30' was the begin- ning of a political revolution in the North- ern States, and in none was it more marked than in the State of Iowa. Iowa was the "first free child born of the Missouri com- promise," and has always resented the de- struction of her foster parent.

In the summer of 1854 there was a tacit coalition or union of the Whig and Free- Soil elements of the State. Alarmed at

the aggressive spirit manifested by the ad- herents of the peculiar institution, the Free-Soilers, who almost held the balance of power in the State, readily adopted as their candidate the Whig nominee for Gov- ernor. Many of the old-line Whigs aban- doned their party because of this coalition, but many strong and able men among the Democrats co-operated with it. James W. Grimes was the nominee of the Whigs, and Curtis Bates, of Polk county, was the nominee of the Democratic party. Grimes was then in the vigor of his manhood, and all the energies of his being appeared to be aroused by what he denominated the aggressions of the slave power. He was thoroughly in earnest, and canvassed most of the organized counties of the State. The people flocked by the thousands to hear him, and were electrified by his elo- quence. No one of the opposition at- tempted to meet him in debate. The re- sult was his election by a majority of 1,404 in a vote of 21,794. A majority was also secured in the General Assembly on joint ballot of the two Houses in opposition to the Democratic party. The opposition party in 1854-'5 were known as anti-Ne- braska Whigs. A caucus of this opposing element nominated James Harlan as their candidate for United States Senator, Geo. G. Wright for Chief Justice, and Norman W. Isbell and Wm. G. Woodward for Judges of the Supreme Court.

A portion of the opposition, however, refused to go into this caucus, or to abide by its decision as to the United States Sen- ator. They were the personal friends of Ebenezer Cook, of Scott county.

A joint convention was secured, and the Judges of the Supreme Court were elected.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

After frequent balloting and adjournments, it was at last understood that Cook's friends had yielded, and would support Mr. Harlan. When the hour arrived to which the joint convention had adjourned, messengers were sent to the Senate by the House, to inform that body that the House was ready to meet them in joint conven- tion. Before this message could be de- livered, the Senate had adjourned over until the next day. The anti-Nebraska Senators, however, entered the hall of the House and took their seats in joint conven- tion. Much confusion prevailed, but finally a President pro tem of the conven- tion was chosen, and Mr. Harlan was elected. His seat was contested, and his elt ction declared invalid by the United States Senate.

At the next session of the General As- sembly, held in 1857, Mr. Harlan was re- elected, and was permitted to take his seat.

The year 1856 marked a new era in the history of Iowa. In 1854 the Chicago & Rock Island railroad had been completed to the east bank of the Mississippi river, opposite Davenport. In the same year the corner-stone of a railroad bridge that was. to be the first to span the "Father of Waters," was laid with appropriate cere- monies, at this point. St Louis had re- solved that the enterprise was unconstitu- tional, and by writs of injunction made an unsuccessful effort to prevent its comple- tion. Twenty years later in her history St. Louis repented her folly, and made atonement for her sin by imitating Iowa's example. January 1st, 1856, this railroad was completed to Iowa City. In the mean- time two other railroads had reached the east bank of the Mississippi -- one opposite

Burlington and one opposite Dubuque- and these were being extended into the interior of the State. Indeed, four other lines of railroads had been projected across the State, from the Mississippi to the Mis- souri, having eastern connections.

May 15tlı, 1856, Congress passed an act granting to the State, to aid in the con- . struction of railroads, the public lands in alternate sections, six miles on each side of the proposed lines. An extra session of the General Assembly was called in July of this year, that disposed of the grant to the several companies that pro- posed to complete these enterprises. The population of Iowa was now 500,000. Pub- lic attention had been called to the neces- sity of a railroad across the continent. The position of Iowa, in the very heart and center of the republic, on the route of this great highway of the continent, began to attract attention. Cities and towns sprang up through the State as if by magic. Capital began to pour into the State, and had it been employed in devel- oping the vast coal measures and establisli- ing manufactories, or if it had been expended in improving the lands, and in building houses and barns, it would have been well. But all were in haste to get rich, and the spirit of speculation ruled the hour.

In the meantime, every effort was made to help the speedy completion of the rail- roads. Nearly every county and city on the Mississippi, and many in the interior, voted large corporate subscriptions to the stock of the railroad companies, and issued their negotiable bonds for the amount. Thus enormous county and city debts were incurred, the payment of which these mu-

HISTORY OF IOWA.

nicipalities tried to avoid, upon the plea that they had exceeded the constitutional limitation of their powers. The Supreme Court of the United States held these bonds to be valid, and the courts, by man- damus, compelled the city and county authorities to levy taxes to pay the judg- ments recovered upon them. These debts are not all paid, even to this day; but the worst is over, and the incubus is in the course of ultimate extinction. The most valuable lessons are those learned in the school of experience, and, accordingly, the corporations of Iowa have ever since been noted for economy.

In 1856 the Republican party of the State was duly organized, in full sympathy with that of the other free States, and at the ensuing presidential election the elec- toral vote of the State was cast for John C. Fremont. The popular vote was as follows : Fremont, 43,954; Buchanan, 36,- 170, and Fillmore, 9,180. This was 1,396 less than a majority for Fremont. The following year an election was held, after an exciting campaign, for State officers, resulting in a majority of 1,406 for Ralph P. Lowe, the Republican nominee. The Legislature was largely Republican in both branches.

In June, 1854, a Board of State Com- missioners contracted with the DesMoines Navigation Railroad Company, an organ- ization composed principally of New York capitalists, to undertake the work, agree- ing to convey to the company lands at $1.25 an acre for all moneys advanced and expended. In the meantime difficul- ties arose in regard to the extent of the grant. The State claimed lands through- out the whole extent of the river to the

north line of the State. The Department of the Interior changed its rulings under the several administrations. The Com- missioner of the General Land Office cer- tified to the State about 320,000 acres of land below the Raccoon Fork of the river, and about 270,000 acres above it prior to 1857, when he refused to certify any more. This led to a settlement and compromise with the Navigation Company in 1858, whereby the company took all the land certified to the State at that date, and paid the State $20,000 in addition to what they had already expended, cancelled their con- tract and abandoned the work.

The General Assembly granted to the DesMoines Valley Railroad Company the remainder of the grant to the State line, to aid in building a railroad up and along the DesMoines Valley ; and Congress, in 1862, extended the grant, by express enactment, to the north line of the State.

The most injurious result to the State, arising from the spirit of speculation pre- valent in 1856, was the purchase and entry of great bodies of Government land within the State by non-residents. This land was held for speculation, and placed beyond the reach of actual settlers for many years.

From no other one cause has Iowa suf- fered so much as from the short-sighted policy of the Federal Government in sell- ing lands within her borders. The money thus obtained by the Federal Government has been comparatively inconsiderable. The value of this magnificient public do- main to the United States was not in the few thousands of dollars she might exact from the hardy settlers, or that she might obtain from the speculator who hoped to

HISTORY OF IOWA.

profit by the settlers' labors in improving the country. Statesmen should have taken a broader and more comprehensive view of national economy, and a view more in harmony with the divine economy that had prepared these vast fertile plains of the West for the "homes of men and the seats of empire." It was here that new States were to be builded up that should be the future strength of the nation against for- eign invasion or home revolt. A single regiment of Iowa soldiers during the dark days of the Rebellion was worth more to the nation than all the money she ever ex- acted from the toil and sweat of Iowa's early settlers. Could the statesmen of forty years ago have looked forward to this day, when Iowa pays her $1,000,000 annu- ally into the treasury of the nation for the extinction of the national debt, they would have realized that the founding of new States was a greater enterprise than the retailing of public lands.

In January, 1857, another Constitutional Convention assembled at Iowa City, which framed the present State constitution. One of the most pressing demands for this con- vention grew out of the prohibition of banks under the old constitution. The practical result of this probibition was to flood the State with every species of "wild-cat" currency. Our circulating medium was made up in part of the free-bank paper of Illinois and Indiana. In addition to this, we had paper issued by Iowa brokers, who had obtained bank charters from the Ter- ritorial Legislature of Nebraska, and had their pretended headquarters at Omaha and Florence. Our currency was also well assorted with the bills from other States, generally such as had the best reputation

where they were least known. This paper was all at 2, and some of it from 10 to 15 per cent. discount. Every man who was not an expert in detecting counterfeit bills, and who was not posted in the history of all manner of banking institutions, did business at his peril. The new constitution. made ample provisions for house banks under the supervision of our own laws. The limitation of our State debt was en- larged to $250,000, and the corporate in- debtedness of the cities and counties were also limited to five per cent. upon the valu- ation of their taxable property.

The Judges of the Supreme Court were to be elected by the popular vote.

The permanent seat of government was fixed at Des Moines, and the State Uni- versity located at Iowa City. The qualifi- cations of electors remained the same as under the old constitution, but the schedule provided for a vote of the people upon a separate proposition to strike the word "white" out of the suffrage clause, whichi, had it prevailed, would have resulted in conferring the right of suffrage without distinction of color. Since the early or- ganization of Iowa there had been upon the statute books a law providing that no negro, mulatto or Indian should be a com- petent witness in any suit or proceeding to which a white man was a party. The Gen- eral Assembly of 1856-'7 repealed this law, and the new constitution contained a clause forbidding such disqualification in the future. It also provided for the education of "all youth of the State" through a sys- tem of common schools. This constitution was adopted at the ensuing election by a vote of 40,311 to 38,681.

HISTORY OF IOWA.

October 19, 1857, Gov. Grimes issued a proclamation declaring the City of Des- Moines to be the capital of the State of Iowa. The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once and con- tinued through the fall. It was an under- taking of no small magitude; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the work, and the season was unusually dis- agreeable. Rain, snow and other accom- paniments increased the difficulties, and it was not until December that the last of the effects,-the safe of the State Treasurer, loaded on two large "bob-sleds," drawn by ten yokes of oxen,-was deposited in the new capitol. Thus Iowa City ceased to be the capital of the State after four Territo- rial Legislatures, six State Legislatures and three Constitutional Conventions had held their sessions there.

In 1856 and 1858 large appropriations were made for the erection of public build- ings and the support of the unfortunate classes, and a loan of $200,000 was author- ized.

During the years 1858-60, the Sioux In- dians became troublesome in the north- western part of the State. They made frequent raids for the purpose of plunder, and on several occasions murdered whole families of settlers. In 1861 several com- panies of militia were ordered to that por- tion of the State to hunt down and expel the thieves. No battles were fought, the Indians fleeing as soon as they ascertained systematical measures had been adopted for their punishment.

In 1870 the General Assembly made an appropriation and provided for the appoint- ment of a Board of Commissioners to commence the work of building a new cap-

itol. The corner-stone was laid with ap- propriate ceremonies November 23, 1871.

The building is a beautiful specimen of modern architecture.

When Wisconsin Territory was organ- ized, in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the State of Iowa, was 10,531. The Terri- tory then embraced two counties, Dubuque and DesMoines, erected by the Territory of Michigan, in 1834. Since then, the counties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population in 1880 was 1,624,463. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory:

Year.

Population.

1838 . 22,599

1840.

.43,115

1844

. 75,152

1846.

. 97,588

1847

116,651

1849.

. 152,988

1850 191,982

1851. . 204,774

1852

.230,713

1854.

. 326,013

1856

519,055

1859

. 638,775

1860

.674,913

1863.

. 701,732

1865

750,699

1867

. 902,040

1869

1,040,819

1870.

1,191,727

1873. 1,251,333

1875

1,366,000

1880 1,624,463

The most populous county is Dubuque, 42,997. Polk county has 41,395, and Scott 41,270. Not only in population, but in

HISTORY OF IOWA. 1

everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty-five years its wild but beautiful prairies have advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized commonwealth, embra- cing all the elements of progress which characterize the older States.

The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in January, 1861. The completion of three others soon followed.

In 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in Iowa. Within the succeeding twenty years, 3,765 miles were built and put in successful operation.

The present value of buildings for State institutions, including the estimated cost of the capitol, is as follows :

State Capitol $2,500,000

State University . 400,000

Agricultural College and Farm. 300,000

Institution for the Blind . .. 150,000

Institution for the Deaf and

Dumb. 225,000

Institutions for the Insane 1,149,000

Orphans' Home 62,000

Penitentiaries 408,000

Normal School 50,000

Reform School 90,000

The State has never levied more than two and one-half mills on the dollar for State tax, and this is at present the consti- tutional limit. The State has no debt.

No other influence has contributed so muchi to the progress and development of Iowa as the newspapers of the State. No class of men have labored more assiduously and disinterestedly for the development of the State and the advancement of her ma- terial interests, than her editors. There

are now published in Iowa 25 daily papers, 364 weekly papers, and 13 monthly publi- cations. These are as a rule well supported by the people.

Such is briefly a summary of the history and resources of Iowa. There is perhaps no other country on earth where so few people are either rich or poor as in Iowa; where there is such an equality of condi- tion, and where so many enjoy a compe- tence. The law exempts from execution a homestead to every head of a family. Every sober, industrious man can in a short time acquire a home. Iowa is the home for the immigrant. The children of the laboring man have no prejudice of caste to overcome in the effort they may choose to make for the improvement of their condi- tion in life. Here all men enjoy the alien . able blessings of "life, liberty and the pur -- suit of happiness," not only unfettered by legal disabilities, but also untrammeled by those fixed conditions of social and busi- ness life that elsewhere result from accu- mulated wealth in the possession of the few. As education is free, so also the ave- nues of success are open in every pursuit and calling. The highest incentives exist to exertion. Labor and effort, whether manual or mental, are held alike honorable; and idleness and crime are alone consid- ered disreputable.

Thriving cities and towns dot the land; an iron net-work of thousands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres; 10,000 school-houses, in which more than 500,000 children are being taught the rudi- ments of education, testify to the culture and liberality of the people; high schools, colleges and universities, are generously endowed by the State; manufactories are

busy on all her water-courses, and in most of her cities and towns.

We quote from Judge Nourse: "The great ultimate fact that America would demonstrate is, the existence of a people capable of attaining and preserving a su- perior civilization, with a government self- imposed, self-administered and self-perpet- uated. In this age of wonderful progress, America can exhibit nothing to the world of mankind more wonderful or more glo- rious, than her new States-young empires,

born of her own enterprise, and tutored at her own political hearth-stone. Well may she say to the monarchies of the old world, who look for evidence of her regal grandeur and state: 'Behold, these are my jewels !' And may she never blush to add: 'This one in the center of the diadem is called Iowa !" '

The following is the census of Iowa by counties, as taken by the National Gov- ernment at each decade:

CENSUS OF IOWA.

COUNTIES.

1840.

1850.

1860.

1870.

18c0.

A dair

984

3,982

11, 199

Adams

1,533

4,614

11, 188

Allamakee

777

12, 237

17, 868

19,791

Appanoose

3,131

11, 931

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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 8

Author: Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1002

Author:
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1002