USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 18
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68.20 Field E & W.
78.40 Leave same E & W.
80.76 Intd line 43 L N. Land hilly & broken. Timber same.
West 40.38
Corrected line Var 11º 22. Set qr. sec. post. W. Oak 30 S 6772 E 96. W. Oak 10 S 12 E 147.
East Random between Sec's 4 & 9 Var IIº .. Run 10 L N E.
47.10
W. Oak 22 in dia.
Sec. cor.
52.50
Leave field.
69.00 Leave prairie & enter grove N W. Run 10 L North.
West 81.63
75.00 78.30
Enter field N & S.
80.00 Intd. line 54 L N of post. Land rolling, 2nd rate, in grove Br. Oak, Hickory & Lynn.
West Corrected line Var 11º 37'.
40.00 Set qr. sec. post and made mound of earth & sod Pit 4 L E. Sec. cor.
East 41.63
80.00
North Between sec's 4 & 5 V 10.30'. 81.63
20.50 Enter field E & W.
June 18th. 1846.
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168 40.60 79.70
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
Leave same S E.
Intd at post. Land same.
34.00 40.00
Leave same.
Set qr. sec. post and made mound of earth & sod Pit 4 L E.
Marked line black 11º 8'.
43.00
Leave prairie S W. Br. Oak 18 in dia.
47-47
75.00
Rock Cr. 50 L N E.
Enter prairie Ę & W.
Intd. N B 93 L W of post and set post cor. sec. 4 & 5.
Linden 18 S 20 E 283. Elm 12 S 25 W 205.
Land in prairie same in grove. Br. Oak & R Oak, Hickory, Linden . and Elm.
June 17th. 1846.
65.80
Same 10 L N E.
80.00 Set post cor. of sec. 8. 9, 16 & 17 & made mound of earth & sod, Pit 4 L S. Land same.
40.00 Set qr. sec. post.
W. Oak 18 N 26 W 25.
W. Oak 18 S 79 E 157. Run 10 L S E.
80.00 Set post cor. of sec's 29, 30, 31 & 32. W. Oak 10 S 65 W 48. W. Oak 10 S 55 E 23. Land rolling & broken W. Oak & some Hickory, poor 2nd rate, soil.
North Sec. 8 & 9.
Creek 12 L S.
80.00 Set post cor, of sec. 4, 5, 8 & 9 made mound of earth & sod, pit 4 L S. Land same.
41.50
80.76
Random between sec's 30 & 31. Intd. W B at post. J. Oak 8 N 70 E 39. J. Oak 8 S 70 E 48. Land rolling W. Oak Some B. Oak & Hickory.
Marked line V 11.20'. Set qr. sec. post. Hickory 2D N 20 W 39. Br. Oak 18 S 21 W 75. Sec. cor.
West 39.85 Set qr. sec. post and made mound of earth & sod Pit 4 L E. Sec. cor.
169
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
North Between sec's 29 & 30 V 10° 30'.
East
Random between Sec. 17 & 20 V 11° 14'.
12.25 Run 3 L NE.
25.50 Run 10 L S E.
6.50
Leave field N & S.
26.98 Birch 18 in diam.
16.75
Run 3 L S.
40.00 Set qr. sec. post. Br. Oak 14 S 88 E 218. Br. Oak 12 N 57 W 312.
51.00
Leave same and enter road from Burlington to Ottumwa N W & East.
80.00
Set post vor. of sec. 19, 20, 29 & 30.
Br. Oak 15 N 55 W 51.
53.50
Well & house 25 L North.
Br. Oak 15 S 68 E 271. Land rolling S of Run N of Run Br. Oak, openings.
80.58
Intd. line 8 L N of post. Land rolling & level prairie, soil znd rate.
East Random between Sec. 20 & 29 V 11º 20'.
40.29
Corrected line Var 11º II'. Set post qr. sec. cor. & made mound of earth & soil Pit 4 L E.
47.20
Creek 2 L S E.
80.58 . Sec. cor.
62.00
Field S E.
West
Random between Sec's 18 & 19 V IIº 14'.
69.00
Leave same N E.
8.65
Leave field N & S & enter brush. Run 10 L S E.
40.00
West Marked line back V 11º 20'. Set qr. sec. post. Br. Oak 18 S 70 E 83. Br. Oak 20 N 50 W 31. Sec. corner.
East
Corrected line Var 10° 49'. Set qr. sec. post.
80.00
West Random between 19 & 30 Var 11º 20'.
81.92
44.40 69.50
Run 3 L S.
North Between sec's 17 & 18 V 10 20'. Leave field E & W.
82.08 Intd. W B. 13 L South.
8.90
Hickory 14 N 30 E 57.
21.50
Road from Burlington to Ottumwa N W.
East 42.08
Corrected line Var 11º 14'. Set qr. sec. post. Br. Oak 12 N 15 E 05. J. Oak 6 S 57 W 63. Sec. cor.
Set post cor. of sec. 7, 8, 17 & 18 & made mound of earth & sod Pit 4 L South. Land mostly level, 2nd rate prairie. June 19th, 1846.
North Between sec. 19 & 20 V 10° 40'.
West
Random between sec. 8 & 17 V 11º 14'.
21.26
W. Oak 36 in dia.
56.60
Enter field N & S.
27.00 Run 10 L S E. 40.00 Set qr. sec. post.
78.53
Leave same.
80.48 Intd. line 38 L N of post. Land same as: last mile.
69.75
J. Oak 6 S 62 W 71. J. Oak 4 N 10 W 64. Enter field E & W & enter prairie S E.
Corrected line Var 10º 58'.
80.00 Set post vor. of sec's 17, 18, 19 & 20, and made mound of earth in cornfield Pit 4 L S. Land before entering prairie, saie in prairie, good 2nd rate soil.
80.48
West
Sec. cor. Random between sec. 7 & 18 V 10° 57'.
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80.00
Intd. at post. Land rolling & broken 2nd rate, soil. Timber scattering Br. Oak.
44.50
57.50
Run 3 L NE.
81.92
Intd. W B. 58 L E of post. Land rolling, Brushey prairie, 2nd rate soil.
41.92
Br. Oak 12 N 50 W 174. J. Oak 6 S 50 E 52. Sec. cor.
Br. Oak 12 S 76 E III. Land rolling, Br. Oak, openings 2nd rate, Soil.
40.00
Set qr. sec. post and made mound of earth & sod, Pit 4 L E.
55.28
Run 4 L N E.
80.00
82.08
Run 3 L S.
West
40.30
Enter field N E.
West 40.24 Set qr. sec. post & made mound of earth & sod Pit 4 L E.
170
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
35.00 42.35
Enter field N E. Leave same.
81.69 Intd. W B 48 L S of post. Land same.
East Corrected line Var 10° 36'.
41.69 Set post qr. sec. cor & made mound of earth & sod Pit 4 L E.
81.69 Sec. cor.
North Between Sec's 7 & 8 Var 8° 46'.
34.90 Run 3 L N E & enter field E & W.
40.00
Set qr. sec. post & made mound of earth & sod Pit 4 L E.
Leave field E & W enter grove.
76.50 80.00 Set post cor. of sec's 5, 6, 7 & 8. Br. Oak 20 S 80 W 27. Br. Oak 10 S 70 E 86.
Land rolling 2nd rate in grove, Hickory, Br. & B. Oak. June 20th. 1846.
East Random between sec 5 & 8 V 10° 36'. Run 3 L N E.
20.25
46.50
Leave grove & enter prairie N & S.
80.10
Intd. at post. Land same as last mile.
West Marked line back Var 10º 36'.
40.05 Set qr. sec. post.
80.10
Br. Oak 12 S 5 W 158. Br. Oak 14 N 65 W 210. Sec. Cor.
West Random between sec. 6 & 7 V 10.36'. 18.60 Run 5 L NE.
37.00
Spring run North.
84.04
Intd. W B 45 L S of post.
Br. Oak 12 S 41 E 317.
Hickory 12 N 41 E 254. Land rolling some broken, W & Br. Oak, & Hickory, U G Hazel.
East Corrected line Var 10° 17'. 44.04 Set qr. sec. post. B. Oak 10 S 32 E 90. B. Oak 9 N 55 E 136. Sec. cor.
84.04
North Between Sec's 5 & 6 V 10° 10'.
6.08 W. Oak 24 in dia.
13.50 Creek 20 L N E.
40.00 Set qr. sec. post. Br. Oak 12 S 87 E 180. No other near.
41.00
Run 3 L S E & enter prairie S E.
87.77 Intd. N B 88 L W of post, made mound of earth & sod, Pit 4 L S. Land S1/2 part rolling timbered, W. Oak etc. Part brushy, Hazel, etc. Ny2 roll- ing and rate, prairie. June 22nd 1846.
Lies between the Des Moines river & big Cedar, much the greater portion, smooth prairie extending from a short distance within the Des Moines, timber on the north to a considerable distance in places. Within the Cedar timber on the South mostly in cultivation on the margin of the prairie- Land good 2nd rate soil, gently rolling, & the whole susceptible of cultivation & a dense settlement being only from two to three miles from the centre of the prairie, to the timber on either side. The timber bordering on the prairie, rather poor. Short Red and White Oak, Elm, Hickory etc. quite brushy within the timber generally-
P. C. JEFFRIS, D. S.
I Paul C. Jeffries Deputy Surveyor do hereby swear that in pursuance of a con- tract with George W. Jones Surveyor Gen- eral of the United States, for Wisconsin and Iowa, bearing date the 21st day of April 1846, and instrict conformity to the laws of the United States, and the instructions of said Surveyor General I have surveyed and subdivided into Sections, Township No. 71, North, Range II, West in the territory of Iowa. And I do further swear that the fore- going are the true and original Field Notes of the said Survey and subdivision, exe- cuted as aforesaid.
PAUL C. JEFFRIES, Deputy Surveyor. JOHN FORD, IRA COFLIN, Chainmen. CHARLES F. BLAKE, BENJAMIN JEFFRIES, Markers. Subscribed and sworn to by Paul C. Jef- fries, D. S. before me this 7 of Nov. 1846. Bela White Justice of the Peace for Wa- pello County, Iowa Territory.
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CHAPTER XXIII
ACQUIRING TITLE
Under the organic law of the Territory of Iowa and of the State of Iowa the primary disposal of the soil and the right to provide the necessary regulations to secure its title in bona fide purchasers were reserved to the United States.
The settlers early perfected and employed a system to protect themselves in holding and transferring the lands they improved until the time arrived when they could acquire legal titles. It was an essential feature of the development of the country. Real estate was bought and sold with the same freedom and formal regularity that now prevails. The conveyances were in the form of quit claims. It was understood in these transactions that the consideration represented only the values of the advantages in location and the improvements made and did not include anything for the interest of the government. The deeds in fact conveyed nothing but an asserted right of priority in purchasing the land when offered for sale by the United States, a right maintained by the entire community.
In June, 1838, Congress acted. Two land offices were then created in the Iowa district. One was located at Dubuque, one at Burlington. For the latter Augustus Cæsar Dodge was appointed and confirmed as register, and Ver Planck Van Antwerp as receiver of the public moneys. For his clerk the register selected Bernhart Henn.
All three of these men are prominently identified with the early history of Iowa. Henn was twice honored by election to Congress from the first district. Van Antwerp was an active figure in affairs affecting the future state, profoundly influenced its constitution, and was named as worthy of a senatorship. Dodge filled various high positions and was chosen as the first senator of the state.
On July 6th, was issued the proclamation of the first public sale of land within the Territory of Iowa. Twenty-five townships, running from number sixty-seven to number seventy-seven and from range one to range ten, were named, three of which were in the County of Jefferson. On August 4th, Dodge entered upon the duties of his office. The first purchase was made on October Ist by John H. Murphy of Des Moines County. Prior to the public sale there were in all 220 preemptions. Three of these were secured by citizens of Jeffer- son County. On the 16th of October, Isaac L. Whitaker purchased in section twenty-nine of township number seventy-one north range nine west; on the 29th, John R. Parsons purchased in section thirty of township number seventy-two north range eight west; and Rhodham Bonnifield in section four of township number seventy-one north range eight west. The 19th of November was the date set for opening the public sale. Not only were the settlers directly interested present, but many others also.
171
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172
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
"Before the land sale commenced," says an account in the Burlington Patriot, "Governor Lucas addressed the People from the Register's and Receiver's office In the course of his remarks he hoped there would be no collision among the settlers-that the preemtion law was inadequate-that it was necessary for them to enter into some agreement to secure their natural rights-that this was doing to our neighbor as we would wish him to do to us. We have no doubt that through his influence many disputed claims were arbitrated satisfactorily to the parties which might otherwise have caused much trouble and disturbance."
Coming from the governor, this was encouragement of a reassuring kind. His advice no doubt lessened their anxiety as it clearly pointed to approval of their well known purposes. Upon the main issue at least the settlers were agreed. The manifest intent of the law was that the lands should be sold to the highest bidder. This meant ruinous competition and success to the longest purse. In this lay the opportunity of the speculator to obtain with his ready cash valuable improvements at slight cost. Possessing little money and few means of getting it, the settler viewed this trading upon their necessities as rob- bery. The houses, the fences, the soil cleared and broken for tillage, the making it habitable and productive, were the products of their energy and toil and self- denial. They held on account of these things they were entitled to a prior right of purchase at the minimum price fixed by the Government. They properly reasoned that to permit competitive bidding was to compel the actual settler to lose, if unable to pay the higher price, or to purchase the values he had created. They were determined this should not be.
At this time it is probable the organizations of the settlers were largely informal. They were effective because unified by the stress and excitement of the moment. Events soon crystallized the movement, which became deliberate and formal. The unit. of organization was the township.
Settlers' organizations were too common to suppose there were none in Jef- ferson County. although there appear to be no existing records of their meet- ings. The action taken in township number seventy-one north range seven west adjoining the present Township of Round Prairie on the east may be taken as a typical example. On August 17, 1839, a meeting of the settlers in that township was held at Ristine and Wamsley's mill. This mill was situated on Big Cedar Creek. Thomas O. Wamsley was called to the chair. Thomas D. Thomp- son was appointed secretary. A preamble and resolutions were adopted, which express their views of the situation, set out the rights and duties involved, and establish machinery for the protection of their interests.
"Whereas, Congress has by repeated acts of preemtion encouraged in the western pioneer the privilege of settling on the unsold lands of the Government of the United States, a policy to which the western country owes much of its present worth and prosperity.
"And whereas, the late preemption laws do not suit our various and diver- sified necessities, and believing it to be the wish of Congress that every man should have a spot of land to call his own,
"We therefore feel it to be our duty to organize and associate ourselves together, so that there will be no misunderstanding among the settlers of this township at the ensuing land sales,
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173
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
"Therefore, be it Resolved, That individually and alone we can do nothing, but experience has taught us that a body acting together in concert for the accom- plishment of a legal and beneficial object, can perform wonders; it therefore becomes our duty to unite upon some plan of action to give force and efficiency to our measures.
"Resolved, That the organization of the claimants now existing in this town- ship be continued and extended, so as to secure to all claimants their just rights.
"Resolved, That for the adjustment of all disputed claims, there shall be a committee of five disinterested men, residents of the township, appointed by the president of the township, whose duty it shall be to examine and decide between the disputants and report their decision to the president of the township; and there shall be no appeal from their decision.
"Resolved, That it shall be the duty of each claimant to report to the presi- dent of the township by the 20th of October next the amount of land claimed by him, with its exact situation, number and boundaries, in order that it may be properly adjusted and registered upon the township record.
"Resolved, That there shall be a township president and a township register appointed to attend to the various duties assigned them.
"Resolved, That there be a bidder and assistant bidder appointed for this township to attend the ensuing land sales at Burlington.
"Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the bidder of this township to meet in convention with the bidders of other townships, if any should be instructed so to do, for the still better and more effectual security and defense of the set- tlers of this township."
Thomas O. Wamsley was chosen president; Dr. Paschal Watson, register; Barnet Ristine, bidder ; and Elisha B. Bell, assistant bidder.
The method of conducting the land sale was a simple one. The bidder, pro- vided with a map of his township showing the names of the settlers and the exact location of their claims was stationed near the register. That official, taking the sections in numerical order, called the several subdivisions. The bidder, if there were no claimant, was silent; if there were a claimant, he named the minimum price. The register responded, "sold," and entered the settler's name. There was no delay to invite interruption. No bids were anticipated save those previously arranged for. Only in a few instances were there attempts at overbidding. Happily these resulted in little actual violence. The offenders quickly realized the seriousness and possible danger in such efforts and withdrew their offers.
In the articles of compact in the ordinance of 1787, it is declared that "relig- ion, morality, and knowledge being necessary to good government and the happi- ness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." In partial fulfillment of this declaration section sixteen in every township was reserved for school purposes and was not subject to entry. This reservation placed those settlers who honestly but unintentionally had located in this sec- tion at a disadvantage. The territorial Legislature memorialized Congress for their relief. The act of June 12, 1840, relieved them to the extent that they were then authorized "to enter at the minimum price any other quarter sec- tion of the public lands lying in the same land district, to which no other per- son had the right of preemption."
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174
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
Not the least difficult problem confronting the settlers was securing ready money against the day when their claims had to be paid for. There was almost no market for their products. Trade was chiefly confined to bartering one com- modity for another. If a difference in value called for money, then a gold or silver piece, or Spanish coin, or bank note of questionable worth occasionally would appear. Under such conditions, some managed it by long and careful saving, some by disposing of their stock at a great sacrifice, and some by agree- ing to an incredible rate of interest. The Government would accept in payment only the gold and silver, the Spanish coin, and the notes of certain designated banks. Having other paper, if it were not altogether worthless, meant at best a heavy discount. Yet the first public sale at Burlington netted $295,495.61 obtained from these impecunious pioneers. In a substantial way it expressed that longing and desire to own their homes which characterized all their efforts.
On November 21st, township number seventy-one north range nine west, as it. is technically described, (Cedar) was placed on sale. As has been noted, Isaac L. Whitaker had already secured his claim at private entry. James L. Scott was bid- der. The first purchaser was W. G. Coop, who entered a part of section one. The other purchasers at this time were James L. Scott, James Manning, Rice Duncan, Richard F. Barrett, Sylvenus Herrington, Thomas Hardisty, Wm. McIntyre, John H. Armstrong, Charles Hutton, Lyne Sterling, Arnold Bonnifield, Bernard S. Merrian, Benj. B. Johnson, Jarius Fordyce, Isaac L. Whitaker, Wm. S. Whit- aker, Samuel Taylor, Solomon Redman, Jehu Carter, Hosea Hall and Wm. Green. It lacked but a few months of seventeen years before the last piece of land remaining unsold after this sale passed to private ownership. This was pur- chased on April 7, 1855, by David E. Eckert, and was forty acres in section twenty-three. On July 30, 1864, the state issued its last patent to land in section sixteen to Wm. Daugherty.
On November 23d, township number seventy-one north range eight west, (Round Prairie), was placed on sale. As previously noted, Rhodam Bonni- field had already secured a claim at private entry. Frank Gilmer was bidder. Lewis Benedict purchased eighty acres in section one. The other purchasers at this time were Wm. Bonnifield, Rolly Taylor, John R. Parsons, Richard F. Barrett, Samuel Ritchey, Rice Duncan, John Huff, James Lanman, Lewis Doo- little, James Henderson, Stephen Sumner Phelps, Alfred Wright, James Oliver Kirkpatrick, Jacob Elliot, Daniel Sears, Joseph Parker, Richard Stewart, Thomas N. Johnston, Wm. Walter, Alexander Kirk, Richard Warfield Jones, John Stout, Wm. Stout, Daniel Riggs Stout, James R. Westfall, Eli Jones, John Newton Gilham, Wm. Cline, John R. Reager, Harding Butler, Benj. D. Workman, Cager Litton, James Henry Walker, James Tilford, Thomas Lambirth, Jonathan Hos- kins, Dillon Hoskins, Wm. Andrew, Ezekiel Gilham, Charles Hutton, and Lincoln Goodale. From the date of this sale to the date of the final sale of the public land remaining was not quite seventeen years. The last purchase was made on July 30, 1855, by Christopher Watkins and was forty acres in section twenty-eight.
Also on November 23d, township number seventy-two north range eight west (Lockridge), was placed on sale. Before this, as already stated, John R. Par- sons had secured a claim at private entry. The first purchase at this time was made in section one by Richard F. Barrett. The other purchasers were Henry Boardman, Elijah Adams, Samuel Taylor Berry, Archer Green, Jonathan Tur-
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175
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
ner, Henry Adams, Sanford Berry, John H. Berry, Charles Stice, Sullifand S. Ross, Lewis Benedict, Gregory Bonnifield, William Green Coop, Robert S. Par- sons, Isaac Tebay, Joseph Hickenbottom, Samuel M. Harris, Rhodham Bonni- field, Samuel Bonnifield, Joseph S. Chandler, Conrad Beck, Wm. Hopkirk, John Hopkirk, David Hopkirk and John Phillips. Of the lands then unsold the final purchase was made fifteen years later, on December 9, 1853, by John Jacobsen. It was about seventy acres in section four.
Not all the settlers in these townships were able to pay the minimum gov- ernment price for their claims. These were for safety compelled to borrow. The principal money loaners were Lewis Benedict of Albany County, New York; Richard F. Barrett of Sangamon County, Illinois, and Lyne Sterling of Franklin County, Ohio. They made the entries in their own names, but executed bonds to deed the lands to the claimants at the end of two years on payment of double the entry cost. These names, therefore, represent pioneers who were willing to assume a burdensome debt in order to acquire a little ground to hold as their very own. It was the irony of fate that Barrett, having himself borrowed a large sum from the State Bank of Illinois, was partially repaid after the bank's failure in its depreciated paper which cost his debtors but one-half its face.
On March 18, 1840, township number seventy-three north range eight west, (Walnut), was placed on sale. Prior to this there had been some preemptions. On October 19, 1839, a claim was purchased in section thirty-six by Joseph York. On March 7, 1840, claims were purchased in section twenty-five by Thomas W. Small and by Andrew Turner, and in section thirty-six by Joseph Hampton. The purchasers at the sale were Josiah Smart, Daniel Creegan, Elias Buell, Zachariah Williams, Nathan W. Bond, Sexton Mount, John G. Mount, Charles W. Wood, Jonas Reed, Ebenezer Cherry Eddy, Gilbert Walker Tuel, John Lewis, John Beals, Josiah Lee, Thomas E. Purrington, Jacob Spainhowr, John Oswalt, Peter Jones, John Wiatt, Margaret Lyon, Jonathan J. Morris, Adam Stever, Hugh Johnson, John Pheasant, John Park, George Hanawalt, Thomas Allington, Andrew Johnson, David Courtney, Cephas Fisher, Benjamin Mount, Asbury B. Porter, and David Williams. Of the lands unsold at this time, the last forty acres, located in section nineteen, were bought on June 25, 1854, by Mathias Steffany.
On June 30, 1842, the land office was closed at Burlington and on August Ist opened again at Fairfield with William Ross as register and John Hawkins as receiver. For a dozen years it made Fairfield an important center. Ross died in office. The position was then filled in turn by Arthur Bridgeman, Bernhart Henn, George Wilson, Francis Springer and James Thompson. Hawk- ins was succeeded by V. P. VanAntwerp, W. H. Wallace and J. W. Culbertson in the order named. In 1856, the land office was removed to Chariton.
In 1840 and again in 1841, Congress enacted amendments to the preemp- tion laws to the advantage of actual settlers. The immediate consequence of the more liberal provisions was a considerable increase in the number of preemp- tions. The effect was noticeable in the private sales made in township number seventy-one north range ten west (Liberty). The first purchase was made in section six on June 4, 1842, by Isaac McCleary. Between that date and the date of the public sale, purchases were made by Elijah Smith, Samuel Kirk- patrick, John Mitten, Wm. Precise, Charles Purvine, Daniel Rodabaugh, Thomas
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176
HISTORY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
Porter Cameron, Daniel Carter, Wm. Dustin, Joel Arrington, John Miller Cam- eron, Job Clinkenbeard, Fielding Clinkenbeard, John Jackman Smith, George Fisher, Jr., and David Noggle. On February 8, 1843, the township was put on sale. Most of the preemptors made additional purchases. Other purchasers were Peter Andrew, Henry Terril, Levi Mossman, Joseph A. McKemey, Wm. Harrison Pool, Carlisle Smith, Peter Avery, John J. Mudgett, Michael F. Peebler, Wm. Keech, John Jewett, Wm. Low Peebler, Wm. Buzick, Hiram Smith, James M. Slagle, Isaac B. Power, Jonathan Dyer, John White, George W. Smith, Dan- iel Clark, Thomas H. Prather, Israel Burgoyne, Solomon Redmond, Wm. Loomis, John Harrison, Edwin Manning, John Steel, Eleanor Steel, Abraham Schwartz, James McGuire, George W. Johnson, John Cassiday, David Laughlin, Joseph McClintic, Joseph Stanley, Minor Hotchkiss, Christian Rodabaugh, Hezekiah Robertson, John Day Robertson, James Alexander Robertson, John Harrison, and L. M. Boggs. Of the land then unsold the last piece to be disposed of was a part of section twenty-nine. It was bought on September 13, 1854, by James J. Walker.
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