USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 23
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In 1843 the attention of the settlers was diverted from their public needs to the opportunities for acquiring lands in the new cession. Little thought in consequence was given to roads. Only two roads in fact were established. On March 27th, in response to a petition presented by Samuel Harrah, one was granted to start where the road from Fairfield to Goodspeed's and Standi- fird's Mill crossed the middle of section fifteen in Cedar Township and pro- ceeded thence east a distance of about three miles on the middle of the section line until it intersected the Madison road running to Fairfield. Joel Bradshaw, John Harper, Sr., and Thomas Standifird were named as viewers. The peti -. tioners were required to pay all expenses. On the 28th in response to a peti- tion of many citizens, a road was granted to commence on the street south of the courthouse and to run thence west on the best possible route to Mark's Mill on Cedar Creek. Within city limits this is identical with West Burlington Street. Alfred Seevers, M. D. Springer and Stephen Cooper were named as viewers and Samuel Whitmore as surveyor.
In 1844, changes were made in the road running from Fairfield to Junkin and Pitkin's Mill, in the road running from Fort Madison to Fairfield between James A. Galliher's and Daniel Sears', in a road in the western part of Round Prairie Township, in the road from the Van Buren County line to Clinken- beard's Mill in order to put it on a township line, and in the road from Fair- field to Pringle's. These illustrate the process of development already out- lined. The viewers to relocate the road from Fairfield to Junkin and Pitkin's Mill were Grinder Wilson, William Vinson and Alexander J. Majors. To the route they selected Rolly Taylor filed a remonstrance. Daniel Carter, George Moffit and Alexander Fulton were appointed to assess the damages. For their services they received $1.50 each. They estimated the damages at $30 which were promptly paid by the petitioners. The new route was then declared a public highway and the original survey void.
On July 15th, the survey of a road was authorized to run from Benjamin McCleary's claim in a northeasterly direction across Cedar Creek near Joseph Clinkenbeard's to intersect the Agency road near Benjamin Gordy's. Enos Ellmaker, Charles F. Alden and Horace Gaylord were named as viewers and Yol. 1-14
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Robert Brown as surveyor. On October 7th, two petitions received favorable consideration. David Brown, Martin Byerly and David Carter were appointed viewers and David Switzer surveyor to locate a road commencing near the house of George Bond, thence running partly on the section line through the farm of John Koons, thence to William Marlow's, crossing Competine Creek below the mouth of Coon Creek in Locust Grove Township. John Howell, Samuel S. Walker and Abram VanWinkle were appointed viewers and William Bonnifield, surveyor, to locate a road commencing at Glasgow, thence running east to James Gilmore's, thence to the section line between sections fourteen and twenty-three, and thence east on or as near this line as practicable to the line dividing the counties of Henry and Jefferson at the corner of sections twenty-three and twenty-four to intersect a road in Henry County.
This year also marks a stage in local road development. In the beginning "all male persons between twenty-one and fifty years of age who had resided one month in this territory," except those exempt by law, were liable yearly to perform in person or by substitute three days' work on the public roads. In 1842, this requirement was reduced to two days' work where it yet remains. At the same time, provision was made to permit county commissioners to levy for road purposes a tax on all property taxable by the revenue laws. This tax could be not less than five cents nor more than twenty-five cents on the hundred dollars' valuation. The purpose of this legislation was rightly to place a part of the burden upon nonresident land owners who would profit most by the "unearned increment." While they were given opportunity to work out this tax as residents were, they could not hope to avail themselves of the priv- ilege. That they would be found delinquent and so compelled to pay in money was anticipated. All moneys received from this source were to be applied "to the making or repair of bridges or improvement of roads." These funds, it will be noticed, could not be employed in opening roads. Naturally as values rose they automatically increased both the labor and the money that were available for these specific purposes. Advantage was now taken of this law. On July 18th, a tax of ten cents on the hundred, dollars was laid for road pur- poses in the respective road districts.
In 1845 changes in the locations of a number of roads were authorized. It would be difficult and tedious to follow them in detail. Several new roads were projected deserving of mention On January 6th, Philander Chandler, George W. Weyand and John Park were named as viewers and Sexton Mount as surveyor to locate a road, limited to forty feet in width, beginning on the eastern line of the county eighty rods south of the northeast corner of section twelve, crossing Skunk River at Shiverly's Ford near the northwest corner of the section, running thence west on the line between sections to the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of section nine, thence south eighty rods, thence in the direction of Fairfield passing between H. K. McCalla's and John Hodg- ins' until near Alexander Blakely's it intersect the road leading from Fairfield to Deed's Mill. This was in Walnut Township. It will be observed the descrip- tion is largely in terms of the survey. The cost of laying it out was $43. On the 7th, Joseph M. Parker, Benjamin McCleary and Adley Hemphill were named as viewers and John Snook as surveyor to locate a road to run from Fairfield to the county line of Wapello at or near the center of the east side of
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township number seventy-three north range twelve west "on the nearest. and best ground that a road can be got without damaging any person's farm." The cost of laying it out was $53.75.
On April 8th, John Rager, John Pheasant and John Clinton as viewers and Robert Brown as surveyor were appointed to locate a road commencing at the northwest corner of section twenty-six in township number seventy-two north range ten west, Fairfield, running south to the Agency road and thence on the best route to Depew's Mill, having due respect to private property. Depew's Mill was earlier known as Troxell's Mill. Daniel McLean, E. S. Gage and William Alston asked damages. The assessment made by George C. Parker, Nelson J. Herring and Elijah Smith, caused the commissioners to refuse to grant the road. Horace Gaylord and others on the bond were then required to pay the costs. On this day also Joseph M. Parker, Jonathan Turner and Abraham Landers as viewers and Sexton Mount as surveyor were appointed to mark a road from Deed's Mill on Skunk River to cross Walnut Creek at the old fording in section twenty-eight of township number seventy-three north range eight west, Walnut, and from thence to the Town of Fairfield "so that the same may be legally recorded." On the 9th, Alfred Wright, Jonathan Dyer and John Davis were named as viewers and John Snook as surveyor to locate a road running from Junkin and Pitkin's Mill to Greenup Smith's, thence on the nearest and best route until it struck the half mile corner between sec- tions twenty-six and twenty-seven in Liberty Township, thence south on the section line until it struck the line of Van Buren County. On the same date, James Lanman, Samuel Cornell and M. T. Shelton were named as viewers and John Cassiday as surveyor to locate a road to run from the territorial road west of Jonathan Wolgamott's "by John Steel's and to the northeast corner of John Cameron's orchard," and thence to Smith's Ford. This also was in Liberty Township.
On July 7th, George W. Troy, Jacob B. Smith and David Laughery were named as viewers and John Smith as surveyor to locate a road beginning at a point on the Fairfield and Brighton road between sections fourteen and fifteen in township number seventy-three north range nine west, Penn, and proceed- ing by Caleb Cooper's, James A. Galliher's and the residence of the widow Parker to Goodspeed's Mill on Cedar Creek. This road passed through the land of Alexander Blakely, who deemed it an injury. Benjamin Mount, John R., Parsons, and Samuel J. Bonnifield were appointed to assess the damages. They. were found to be $15, which amount was paid by W. D. Clapp, thus removing. the difficulty. On the same date, Noah Wright, Samuel Harrow. and William Dunham were named as viewers and David Switzer as surveyor to locate a road to run from Troy's Point about seven miles west to Depew's Mill.
On October 6th, Henry Hardin, William G. Coop and David Bowman as viewers and John Snook as surveyor were appointed to locate a road from the northwest corner of the town plat of Fairfield north to the northwest corner of section thirteen in township number seventy-three range ten west, Blackhawk, thence to the north line of the county in the direction of Richland in Keokuk County. On the 7th, Isaac Blakely, S. G. Finney and John W. Culbertson as viewers and Samuel Whitmore as surveyor were appointed to locate a road commencing at the northwest corner of section twenty-five in township num-
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ber seventy-two north range ten west, Fairfield, and running thence west on the section line until it intersect a road at William Vinson's. Although Hial Spicer and William Stilwell asked for damages, their objections in some man- ner were removed or satisfied.
The need of bridges over Cedar at Depew's Mill and at Junkin and Pitkin's Mill it seems was sufficiently felt in the spring of this year to occasion some agitation for them. On May 2d, the commissioners proposed to pay one-half the expense of building bridges at these places. They also instructed the clerk to post notices that on the 17th they would meet with subscribers of each dis- trict to consider the best plans. Possibly as a result of that conference a con- tract was entered into with A. H. Brown for the erection of a bridge at Junkin and Pitkin's Mill. On July 23d, an advancement of $50 was made him by the county. He proved unequal to the undertaking or at least failed to meet its obligations. After a dilatory year the commissioners with excusable impatience at their July meeting in 1846 allowed him ten days in which to arrange with C. C. Van or some other responsible person to finish the work. Despite this order and the arrangement, the delay continued. Having legally announced that they would receive "proposals for the completion of the bridge" if it did not progress to their satisfaction, on November 2d, they empowered H. W. Sample and B. B. Tuttle to go on with its construction, applying all the materials on the ground to that use, filling up the abutments with gravel or other suitable "substantials," and securing it from danger of flood. The filling was done by E. D. Skinner who was paid $92.50 therefor. On February 10, 1847, the com- missioners made an examination of the bridge. It was then agreed by all parties that Joel Thorne, Stephen Bonnell and Jesse Byrket decide and report in writ- ing whether it was finished according to the contract. They found it was. On the 13th, settlement in full was effected. The whole cost of the bridge proper, including fees, was $251.95.
In 1846, numerous alterations were made in existing roads, but little was accomplished in the establishment of new ones. On January 6th, John Howell, William J. Stout and James Reed were named as viewers and William Bonni- field as surveyor to lay out a road from the county line north of Ziegler's Mill in Van Buren County, thence north as near as practicable to intersect a road from Glasgow's Mill to Wilson's Mill by way of Wamsley's Mill in Henry County. On the 26th, Henry Terrell, Jacob Frederick and David Laughery were named as viewers and Robert Brown as surveyor to lay out a road "commencing at the town of Fairfield at the Public Square, thence on Robinson's survey to the corner of Baldwin's field, thence on the section line to the old crossing of a steep hollow near the corner of Thorne's pasture, thence to a large cottonwood tree above the mouth of Sharp's spring branch, thence to John Young's by way of Isaac Sharp's, thence through Trocksell's field on a line splitting two forty acre lots south of Neffell Leech's field, thence through Jacob Plough's lane to a small jackoak tree, thence the nearest and best route to intersect the old ter- ritorial survey by A. Fleenor's leading to Oscaloosa in Mahaska County by the way of Bonnet's Point to the county line." Uncertain as this description would seem to be, no doubt all the points referred to were then well known and even now could be determined from the field notes without much difficulty. This
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survey cost $33.621/2. Damages were claimed in such amounts that the road was rejected as not of sufficient importance to the public.
In the ten years succeeding the admission of Iowa to the Union in 1846, the several General Assemblies established many state roads, so many in fact that they constituted an abuse of authority. Sixteen of these enactments related to Jefferson County. The curious may find them set out with minuteness in the various session laws of that period. To but two of them will particular reference be made. One was the relocation in 1847 of a part of a territorial road authorized in 1844 to run from Fairfield to the Indian boundary line in the direction of the Indian Agency at the Raccoon Forks of the Des Moines River. A county road proposed in 1846 was also essentially the same. As described it started at the northwest corner of the Town of Fairfield, pro- ceeded thence north to the middle of the first lane running west; thence west one hundred and sixty rods; thence north to the first section line; thence west to a point thirty rods west of Henry Evan's house; thence the nearest and best route to the northeast corner of Sharp's farm; thence the nearest and best route to the northeast corner of N. Leech's farm; thence to the brick school- house of school district No. I, in Locust Township, in Jefferson County; thence to the most northerly corner of William Spurlock's prairie field; thence to or near Maylen Wright's; thence the nearest and best route to intersect the old survey where it crossed the Mahaska line. The commissioners were John Howell, George W. Troy and Samuel Shipley. As before there were claims for damages which, when assessed, were in the judgment of the county com- missioners in excess of the value of the road. They therefore refused to declare it a public highway. This refusal to approve this road was brought to the atten- tion of the next General Assembly and resulted in the passage of an act in 1848 declaring the county commissioner of Jefferson County shall not have power to change the relocation of the road from Fairfield to Fort Des Moines.
The second state constitution adopted in 1857 denied the General Assembly the right to pass special enactments relating to roads. Henceforth all roads were treated as a local institution. As permanency of location was secured, they were drained and graded. Their improvement proceeded as a gradual growth, at times hastened, and at times delayed by general needs and conditions.
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CHAPTER XXIX
IN TERRITORIAL DAYS .
Many of the important happenings in the days of the "Iowa Territory," if not altogether lost, are veiled in obscurity. Only occasional and tantalizing glimpses are to be obtained of them.
Revenue for the current expenses of the county were derived from a poll tax and taxes on lands and personalty, from fines and from licenses for retailing gro- cries, defined as "spirituous liquors," vending merchandise, hawking wooden or brass clocks, and running ferries. The sheriff was the tax-collector. William Hueston took out on July 29, 1839, the first license to vend merchandise. Others licensed during the year were John W. Edwards, Sullifand S. Ross, David Switzer, Miller and Glasgow, Nathan Beadle and Joseph Cole. The receipts in 1839 were $540.89 from these several sources. The separate amounts have not been pre- served. In 1841, there were received $202.50 from all licenses. Until 1843, 5 per cent of the gross amount of county taxes were set apart as due the territory ; beginning with 1843 one-quarter mill was assessed for territorial purposes. The annual return to the auditor of public accounts makes a reasonably correct basis for estimating the wealth of the time and its growth. In 1839, this return was $29.89; in 1840, $55.57; in 1841, $86.57; in 1842, $58.92; in 1843, $139.13; in 1844, $226.31 ; in 1845, $240.56; and in 1846, $350.00. There can be no better evidence of financial "leanness" than is shown by these figures.
Exchanges of labor and property were carried on in primitive ways. Two typical transactions appear of record. Joseph Cole on March 10, 1841, agreed to sell "one sorrel horse, one gray horse and one wagon," and Charles Wells agreed to buy them by delivering "5000 rails before the Ist of April," and a second "5000 before the Ist of June," at Cole's farm two miles east of Fairfield. William Blankenship on April 15th agreed to make "5000 good shingles eighteen inches long, cut, score and hew the logs for a house eighteen by twenty-six feet," one and one-half stories high, with a long partition twelve feet from one end in the lower story, "sleepers and joists sufficient," and "one thousand feet of good flooring," and deliver them before the 25th of June to Samuel Robb on his claim. For doing all this he was to get "a mare and colt."
In the fall of 1841, the merchandise account of E. S. Gage, who was conduct- ing a general store in Fairfield, shows a stock containing books, drugs, groceries, boots, shoes, drygoods, hardware, tinware, and peltries. The peltries were coon, fox, mink, muskrat and deer skins taken in barter.
The personal accounts in Gage's ledger give the selling prices of many articles. Jesse Mitten is charged $1.75 for a pair of shoes. John Young is charged 37 cents for scissors, 25 cents for a bedcord, 25 cents for butts and screws, and 12
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cents for a pint bottle. David Bowman is charged 19 cents for pegwood and nails, a purchase indicating that he was a cobbler. Andrew J. Majors is charged $1.00 for a scythe snath. J. F. Chambers is charged 63 cents for two bushels of pota- toes. William Peebler is charged 13 cents for six ounces of madder and 40 cents for two ounces of indigo. There were many sales of these pigments which were used in dyeing. William Olney is charged 75 cents for a tin pail. J. W. Nesmith is charged 19 cents for a yard of sheeting, 31 cents for a butcher-knife, 75 cents for a dictionary, $1.00 for five pounds of coffee, $1.00 for eight pounds of sugar, and $1.38 for a bushel of salt. William Waugh is charged 6 cents for an almanac and 13 cents for an elementary spelling book. G. M. Fox is charged 37 cents for a pound of ginger and 25 cents for two almanacs. The difference in the prices of almanacs suggests different publications. Richard Quinton is charged 25 cents for a pound of saleratus, 40 cents for two pounds of candles, 13 cents for six skeins of thread, 12 cents for a twist, 13 cents for a dozen buttons, and 62 cents for a yard of flannel. Ose Mathews is charged 35 cents for a yard of cambric and L. Junkin 38 cents for a yard of calico. Jonathan Turner is charged 25 cents for a yard of muslin, $1.25 for ten pounds of nails, and $4.50 for a pair of boots. Rev. Julius A. Reed is charged 6 cents for a pane of glass, 13 cents for a whetstone, and 75 cents for twenty-five pounds of flour.
These accounts disclose how little money was in actual circulation. J. T. Moberly settled a debt of 37 cents "by his medical bill." Joseph Frasey balanced a sum of $10.00 "by dressing buckskins." Even small balances were closed by due bills or notes. A due-bill for $2.67 given by T. M. & H. B. Mitchell and a note for $3.59 given by J. W. Culbertson are illustrative instances. Such paper passed locally from person to person, much as checks do now, until finally redeemed. When Gage in November, 1842, purchased for $1,000 John Troxell's eighty-acre lot west of the town quarter and an eighty acre claim of timber on Cedar Creek, he made a large part of the payment with more than fifty notes like these. The face of the smallest one was but 87 cents, and of the largest but $50.
It is said that Mrs. Sarah A. Lambirth in 1836 brought with her appleseeds, which planted in proper season grew, thrived, and in due time bore fruit. Others whose names are not associated with the fact, may have done the same thing. However this may be, orchards were soon set out. A nursery at Salem in 1840 was reputed to contain 40,000 trees. Its existence indicates a considerable demand for them. John M. Cameron's orchard is referred to in 1845 in a road descrip- tion. By the early '50s, the bearing trees were furnishing an abundance of cher- ries, peaches, pears and apples.
In 1838, Sullifand S. Ross began the operation of a sawmill he had erected the previous winter on Brush Creek in Lockridge Township. A few months later Hosea Hall erected a sawmill on Big Cedar Creek. This was afterward used as a flouring mill also. It is sometimes called Goodspeed's Mill and sometimes Standi- fird's Mills, these names indicating successive owners. Its site is in section thirty-six of Cedar Township. From one of these two mills must have come the lumber used in the construction of the courthouse.
A dam was the visible hope of a mill.
In January, 1839, the Territorial Legislature authorized John Carter to erect a dam on Big Cedar. Its site is on the northeast quarter of section thirty-three in Cedar Township. In January, 1840, the Territorial Legislature authorized
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both John Troxell and Joseph Clinkenbeard to erect and keep dams across Big Cedar at the points where they had commenced building. The indefiniteness of these locations was because they were on lands as yet unsurveyed. Troxell's site is on the southeast quarter of section three in Liberty Township and Clinken- beard's on the northwest quarter of section thirty-two in Center Township.
This same legislative body in its regular session authorized William Inger- soll, and in its extra session in July also James Wilson, each to build a dam with a lock twenty-five feet wide across Skunk River. Ingersoll's site is in section one and Wilson's site in section twelve of Lockridge Township. The require- ment of the locks was to keep the stream open to navigation. It was not the- oretical but actual conservation.
The enactment of a general law relating to mills placed the authority to grant the right to build dams in the District Court. Deed's flouring mill, erected as early as 1842, Mark's sawmill, erected as early as 1843, and Junkin and Pit- kin's sawmill, erected as early as 1844, were all probably constructed under this regulation. Deed's site is on Skunk River in section thirty-six of Walnut Town- ship; Mark's site is on Big Cedar in section thirty-four of Locust Grove Town- ship; and Junkin and Pitkin's site is on Big Cedar in section twenty-four of Liberty Townshp.
Troxell's Mill because it was to be a flouring mill and because it was sit- uated near the center of the county aroused much interest. The public was invited to the "raising," which was made a gala event. There was plenty to eat for all who came and a barrel of whiskey on tap for those who cared to partake. Hilarity and jollity ruled the day. A dance in the new structure completed the celebration.
The dam was of logs pinned together to make a crib which was filled with clay; the building was of logs; the burrs were of native boulders. At best it was a crude affair. It served to crack corn and to produce a coarse meal, which was the limit of its usefulness. Even so it was not be despised. It did not long give service. In the late summer it was partially destroyed by high waters. This discouraged Troxell who disposed of the property to Wesley Depew. Depew con- verted what remained of the original structure into a sawmill, and on this as a foundation, in 1841, erected above it a frame story for a grist mill, running both with the same water-wheel. Finding the water-power uncertain, he later installed a steam-engine. Here was ground many a bushel of meal. To Depew is credited the distinction of first bringing to the county a pair of French buhrstones which greatly improved the character of the grinding.
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