USA > Iowa > Jefferson County > History of Jefferson County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 24
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A public mill, as Depew's, was one grinding for toll. Those who brought grain to be ground were served in turn in the order of their coming. It was the duty of the miller "to give due and punctual attention" when his mill was not out of repair, a much too common occurrence, and to assist in the unloading and loading. He was accountable for the grain, or for the flour or meal made from it, and for the bags or casks in which it was received, if they were "distinctly marked with the initial letters of the owner's name." His pay was in kind, termed toll. This toll was one-eighth part for grinding and bolting wheat or rye, for grinding malt, and for chopping all kinds of grain, and one-seventh part for grinding Indian corn, oats, barley and buckwheat, not requiring to be bolted.
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For years, many settlers took their grists of wheat to Brighton, Deedsville or Bonaparte for grinding.
The Town of Glasgow was laid out on July 10, 1840, by Thomas Miller and Ephraim Glasgow. It consisted of four blocks of twelve lots each. Its location was on the northeast quarter of section twenty-one of Round Prairie Township and was about halfway between Salem and Fairfield. The plat was acknowledged before Daniel Sears, J. P., by John Ross, surveyor, and by Miller, one of the proprietors. Miller and Glasgow conducted here a general store.
The Town of Monroe was laid out on July 21, 1840, by William L. Houghton. It consisted of nine blocks each containing eight lots. The central block was donated for a house of worship. This town was situated on the unsurveyed lands of the United States. It did not pass out of the paper stage. Its precise location is not known. It may have been near the center of Des Moines Township, where Cutting and Gordon's store at a later date was located. David Switzer, the deputy of John Ross, was the surveyor. He acknowledged the plat on July 25th before Elijah Chastian, J. P.
The Town of Pleasant Plain was laid out on March 21, 1841, for Isaiah Hin- shaw the proprietor by David Switzer, deputy surveyor. It was situated on parts of sections two and eleven in Penn Township. It was platted as a rectangle divided into twelve blocks of eight lots each. There were three rows of blocks east and west and four rows north and south. The plat was acknowledged on July 6th by Hinshaw before Henry L. Notson, J. P.
The Town of Libertyville was platted on March 19, 1846, by David Switzer, county surveyor. It was located partly in section seven and partly in section eighteen of Liberty Township. It was of triangular form arranged about the intersection of the road from Fairfield to Iowaville with the road from Fort Madi- son to the Agency. The plat was acknowledged on the 24th by John Jewett, the proprietor, before Charles F. Alden, an "acting justice of the peace."
The Town of Creesville, as Batavia was first named, was platted on August 22, 1846, by David Switzer, county surveyor. It had three owners, William M. McKee, Henry Creese and Elijah Obanon. It was located on the west side of the northeast quarter of section thirty-one of Locust Grove Township. It con- sisted of eight blocks, four on either side of the Agency road each containing four lots. Lots Nos. I to 8 and 29 to 32 inclusive were held by Obanon; lots Nos. . 9 to 24 inclusive were held by Creese, and lots Nos. 25 to 28 inclusive were held by McKee. The plat was acknowledged before John E. Pitzer, county clerk, on September 12th by Creese and McKee, and on the 16th by Obanon.
Though irregular and intermittent, there was no lack of religious instruction. Itinerant and local preachers, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Christian and Presbyterian, ministered to spiritual needs. Itinerants, impelled by the fervency of their zeal, "rode circuits" of hundreds of miles. Wherever listeners could be found or gathered together, in cabin, shop, or barn, or in the shade of trees under the open sky, they held their simple, earnest and impressive services. Their enthusiasm was a living force matched often against trials and discouragements and without hope of material reward: their offering a dedication of body and spirit.
Among this pioneer clergy were Samuel Hutton, Jolm M. Cameron, Jacob Spainhower and B. F. Chastian.
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Late in the autumn of 1839, Rev. Joseph L. Kirkpatrick, a Methodist minister of the "Iowa District," which Bishop Morris that year had established, arrived at the cabin of James Westfall in the Round Prairie settlement. His calling and mission were made known. Neighbors were called in to participate in divine worship. At the conclusion of his sermon, he formed a "class" composed of James Westfall, Mrs. Westfall, James O. Kirkpatrick, Mrs. Kirkpatrick, Eli Jones and Mrs. Jones. This was probably the beginning of actual religious organization.
In December, 1839, there came to Fairfield a Congregational missionary, Rev. Reuben Gaylord, who preached the first sermon addressed to the people of the town. On the 21st, in the courthouse, he organized a Congregational Church. Those who then covenanted were Ebenezer S. Gage, James W. Cole and Harriet Cole, Jeremiah S. Waugh and Deborah Waugh, William P. Hitchcock, Charles R. Hitchcock, Jared B. Hitchcock, Louisa Hitchcock, Caroline Hitchcock and David Hitchcock. On November 28, 1840, Rev. Julius A. Reed became its pastor. On February 5, 1842, it was decided to erect a place of worship. Jeremiah S. Waugh donated for a building place the west half of lot No. 6 in block No. 14. As this was not considered a proper location, an exchange was made with Rev. Julius A. Reed for the west half of lot No. 7 in the same block. On this ground, in 1843, was put up a modest frame structure paid for by a fund of $323.40 se- cured by subscription. On October 19, 1844, Phillips Academy of Andover, Mass., . presented the society with a library; on August 2, 1845, the gift was formally accepted. The difference in the dates tells the slowness of transportation. In August, 1845, Reverend Reed resigned his charge, and on November Ist was suc- ceeded by Rev. W. A. Thompson.
In March, 1840, Rev. Jesse Herbert visited Fairfield in the line of his duty as a Methodist minister of the "Iowa District." He conducted religious exercises at first in Thomas Dickey's Hotel. There, on March 16th, he formed a "class" composed of Elizabeth Dickey, David Bowman, Mrs. Bowman, Nancy Shields, Joshua N. Herrington and Elizabeth A. Culbertson. On his circuit were several other "classes" within the county limits. Among these were one in Round Prairie, one in Locust Grove, one at Blue Point, one near Germanyille, and one at Rich- woods. He was succeeded in the fall by Rev. Moses F. Shinn. Both men while with this charge lived at Richwoods. Following these, each serving a year in turn, came, in 1841, Rev. William B. Cooley and, in 1842, Rev. Robert Hawk. In 1843, a Methodist Mission was founded at Fairfield to provide regular periodic ministrations. Rev. Joel Arrington was then assigned to the Fairfield circuit. On April 2, 1844, Captain Thomas D. Evans presented the society with lot No. 4 in block No. 21. The trustees who accepted the deed of gift were Alexander Fulton, Thomas D. Evans, Rolly Taylor, Job C. Sweet, David Sollanbarger, Ben- jamin T. Hoxie and Charles Negus. Although its membership had increased to twenty-eight, it was unable for several years to build a home. It continued to hold its meetings at the houses of its members, and in the courthouse and in the Presbyterian Church, when these places were available. In 1844, Rev. Hugh Gib- son was appointed minister. The work. of the charge so increased that in 1845 two men were sent to care for it, Rev. Micajah Reader, and Rev. Alvin Rucker as assistant. At the expiration of their year of service, the circuit was divided into
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the Fairfield and Locust Grove missions. The next to come to Fairfield was Rev. Joseph Brooks. Methodism was well established.
On October 2, 1841, Rev. Lancelot Graham Bell organized in Fairfield a Presbyterian Church. The members were Solomon Montgomery, Mrs. Solomon Montgomery, John Montgomery, Sullifand S. Ross, Mrs. Sullifand S. Ross, John Hopkirk, Jonathan Young, Mrs. Jonathan Young and James Young. In October, 1842, Rev. Bell assumed the pastorate which he retained until 1849 at a maximum salary of $150 a year. His work, however, was not confined to this place. In 1843, he undertook the task of erecting a building in which to hold religious services. Bills for lumber and nails he personally guaranteed. Labor of all kinds was contributed. It was a frame structure 24 feet wide and 34 feet long. It stands in its original location on lot No. 8 in block No. 2, and with some addi- tions and alterations remains in use as a residence. With commendable generosity, "Father Bell," as he was familiarly known and called when not occupying his pul- pit, freely opened it to the people and preachers of other denominations.
Early in 1841, the Friends who had settled in the vicinity of Pleasant Plain "built a meeting house of hewed logs, 18x24 feet, with clapboard roof." It was "warmed with charcoal burned in the center of a square of earth left with- out flooring." Prominent among the sect at this date were William Pickerell, Isaiah Hinshaw, Amos Hoskins, John Jones, John Beals, William Pickering, Jesse Arnold, Phineas Huston, Joseph Roberts, John Andrews, Benjamin C. Andrews, Mary C. Andrews and Jonathan McConnell. Lydia McConnell was their first minister.
In 1843, a German Lutheran Church was founded and a building erected at Germanville. In the same year a Christian Church with fifteen members was or- ganized at Abingdon by Rev. Robert Long, its first preacher. Other particulars of these societies are unknown.
In 1844, Elder George Wolf, of Illinois, a noted minister of his day, effected the first congregation of Dunkers in Iowa Territory. The meeting was held in a barn near Libertyville. There were eight members. John Garber and Peter Lutz were chosen preachers. At later date, a church was built in Des Moines Township.
In December, 1844, Rev. William Elliott conducted a service in the Presby- terian Church and organized a Society of Baptists. The members, as long after- ward recalled by A. H. Brown, were himself and wife, their children Isaac H. Brown and Ellen Brown, one Smith and wife, "who had settled beyond Cedar Creek in Liberty Township," George W. Vance and wife, William Bunnell and wife, and William McKay. For some length of time the meetings of this church were held only at irregular intervals. In the fall of 1845, Rev. M. J. Post was installed as their pastor. It was he who in 1847 guided the commissioners of the "Holland Pilgrims" from Fairfield to the place which they selected for the abode of their people and where Pella was founded.
At the very close of 1844, Solomon Montgomery and others withdrew from the Presbyterian Society of Fairfield and established one at Richwoods. This became the Presbyterian Church of Salina.
An organization of Cumberland Presbyterians was early formed in the south- eastern part of Liberty Township. The date has not been ascertained. Eleanor Steel, on November 11, 1845, deeded it a site for a church in section twenty-seven.
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The trustees were John M. Cameron, presumably the minister, Greenup Smith, Anthony T. Prewitt, Luke Kunce and Samuel G. Latimer.
There early appeared in the territory a strong sentiment against intoxicating liquors. On November 14, 1839, its advocates held a convention in the hall of the House of Representatives in Burlington. Many prominent men were present. Judge Charles Mason presided. "The Iowa Territorial Temperance Society" was organized with Governor Lucas as president. The immediate progress of the movement was interrupted by the Missouri Boundary war which excited and engaged the public mind.
Toward the end of 1840, interest in the subject revived. On February 22, 1841, a meeting in the temperance cause was held in Fairfield. Rev. Julius A. Reed made the principal address. Forty-eight persons then pledged themselves "to abstain from the manufacture, sale and use of intoxicating liquors, except for mechanical, medical and sacramental purposes, and not to allow their use in our families, nor provide them for the entertainment of our friends, nor for persons in our employment, and in all suitable ways to discourage their use in the com- munity." A "County Temperance Society" was organized with Alexander A. Wilson as president, George B. Hitchcock as vice president, and Henry B. Not- son as secretary.
A peculiar political attitude of the period is given expression in a resolution adopted Wednesday evening, April 8, 1840, at an anti-caucus meeting in the court- house at Fairfield. Alexander A. Wilson presided. Richard Irwin was secretary. A committee, on motion of Charles F. Emery, was named to formulate their opin- ions. Its members were Dr. J. S. Waugh, Thomas Mitchell, Gen. J. D. Learned, Judge Philip Viele and Benjamin F. Gilmore. Their report met with approval and follows.
"Whereas the people of this territory have no voice in the approaching election of President of the United States, and are more deeply interested in laying the foundation for a wholesome system of Laws, and a judicious form of State Gov- ernment, whenever they shall be required to ask for admission into the Union, than they are in fomenting political jealousies and bitter party distinctions.
"Therefore it is Resolved, by this meeting composed of citizens of Jefferson County and its neighborhood,
"That we deprecate the attempts that have been made, and are daily being encouraged by many of our citizens, who profess to be the friends of the present administration of the National Government, to draw the line of party distinction between the citizens of this Territory, as a measure that our political interests do not require, and one that is mischievous in its tendency, and wholly uncalled for."
The Fairfield Lyceum was "a seminary of learning for the instruction of youth of both sexes in arts, science and literature." This quoted description shows the broad and comprehensive view taken of its purpose by its founders. It was established by the Third Legislative Assembly of the territory by an act approved on December 31, 1840, by Governor Lucas. "Its funds, privileges, and immuni- ties could be used for no other purpose than that of education." The incorporators were Samuel Shuffleton, Jeremiah S. Waugh, F. B. Fitch, Charles D. Jones, Henry Temple, James F. Rice, Richard Irwin, William M. Lyons, Charles E. Emery, L. W. Sanders, David Laughery, J. L. Scott, J. F. Chambers, J. P. Cheek, C. W.
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David, G. M. Fox and T. G. H. Gray. What service, if any, it rendered the community has passed wholly from memory.
The Fifth Territorial Legislature in 1843 established and defined the boun- daries of new counties in the lands then recently ceded by the Sac and Fox Indians. Two of these, Wapello and Kishkekosh, the latter now Monroe, were attached for judicial, revenue and election purposes to Jefferson County. It was the duty of the county commissioners, who were E. J. Gilham, B. S. Dunn and Thomas Mitchell, to have their boundaries surveyed and marked out. At a special session of their official body on April 18th they authorized David Switzer, the county surveyor, "to employ five good and sufficient hands to carry chain, mark, blaze, etc., and a team of cattle or horses, sufficient for the conveyance of the necessary tools, provisions, etc., and to proceed" to fix these boundaries. The "hands" were to be allowed $1.50 per day each and Switzer "a reasonable bill for his own services, including the expense of teem, provisions, etc."
On August 21st, the return of the survey was accepted and the fee-bill approved. The "hands" are named as Andrew Kenedy, Samuel Allender, Stephen Cooper, James Chandler and Jonathan Turner, who furnished the "teem." They were out twenty-four days. They were paid $36 each. Turner was paid an equal sum for the use of his "teem." Switzer received $75 for twenty-five days. The cost of "boarding" was $32.50. One dollar went to Martin Tucker for "ferriage." The total expense of the expedition was divided among the three counties accord- ing to their respective interests, Jefferson paying $67.60, Wapello $108.17, and Kishkekosh $148.73. In this transaction, Jefferson County acquired about fifty square miles of additional territory.
According to a contemporary account, on July 4, 1844, occurred the first cele- bration of the anniversary of American independence and the first unfurling of the Stars and Stripes in Fairfield.
The day was opened by firing thirteen guns. At 10 o'clock in the morning a procession was formed to proceed to the grove where the exercises were to take place. Capt. Samuel Shuffleton and Capt. Samuel Evans were the marshals. A Revolutionary soldier, whose name unfortunately is not mentioned, was given the place of honor.
The formal proceedings were of the usual character. Col. William Ross offi- ciated as president. Rev. Julius A. Reed pronounced the invocation. Major J. B. Teas read the Declaration of Independence. C. W. Slagle delivered the oration.
There was a public dinner prepared by Thomas Dickey. After this, a num- ber of toasts were read, the most significant one being, "The Mississippi Valley- peopled by men who know their rights and knowing them dare maintain them- the march is onward." These were followed by volunteer toasts offered by Sam- uel Shuffleton, J. P. Rice, D. V. Cole, William G. Ross, J. G. Crocker and George Acheson.
The holiday had a greater value than its pleasure and entertainment and the cultivation of patriotic instincts. It brought the settlers and their families together in close social intercourse. It induced and promoted comparisons of views and developed a sense of a community of interest. It was a melting-pot for ideas assembled from many sections.
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Prairie wolves abounded. They were the same, or very like, the coyotes of the plains. Gray wolves occasionally appeared. While the presence of these carnivorous animals indicate an abundance of game on which they fed, it is prob- able that they committed depredations upon young domestic stock. In July, 1844, the county commissioners began paying bounties for their scalps. The scalp of a wolf under six months old drew 50 cents, of an adult prairie wolf $1.00, and of an adult gray wolf $2.00. Hunting them was not alone an amusement but a quite profitable occupation as well. Properly attested certificates were often assigned and helped to meet debts which otherwise might not have been extinguished. Some of the most successful hunters were Daniel Vorhies, Butler Delashmutt, Jonathan Dyer, Samuel Whitmore, Joseph Scott, Morgan Keltner and William Mckay. About $1,000 were expended for wolf scalps in less than a decade.
On January 6, 1845, "on petition of divers citizens" residing on the two west- ern tiers of sections in township number seventy-two north range ten west, it was ordered by the county commissioners that the township line dividing ranges ten and eleven west be the boundary line between Fairfield and Locust Grove townships, and that the old line be annulled. This no doubt was a suggestive cue to the residents in the northwest corner of the county. On the 28th of the month, township number seventy-three north range eleven west, at a special ses- sion of the county commissioners, was set off from Blackhawk Township and called Polk Township. The election place was fixed at the house of George Emer- ick. James B. Davis, Isaac Campbell and Robert Long were named as the judges.
This year an effort was made to have the Legislative Assembly of the terri- tory change the eastern boundary line of Jefferson County from the range line to the channel of Skunk River through townships numbers seventy-two and seventy-three, Lockridge and Walnut. On May 15th, Norton Munger, a member from Henry County, presented in the House of Representatives a petition of thirty-eight citizens of Henry County and a petition of ninety-three citizens of Jefferson County, both praying for this petition. The latter is a choice collection of autographs. The petitions were referred to the committee on township and county boundaries. At this point activity in the matter ceased. Although Ruben R. Harper, the representative from Jefferson County, and Charles Clifton, a rep- resentative from Henry County, were the ranking members of the committee, no action was taken.
On September 13th, a company of immigrants, twenty-five in all, having walked from Burlington, found a temporary home in a deserted roofless log cabin on Brush Creek in Lockridge Township. These folk, who spoke a strange language, were objects of curiosity to the neighboring settlers. They were Swedes, the first of that nationality to effect a permanent settlement in the Mississippi Valley. With a touch of homesickness, it may be assumed, or with grim irony, they called this stopping-place "Stockholm." They had few possessions and little money. When their situations was realized, help with sympathy, that touch of nature which makes the whole world kin, was freely and generously extended them. Sturdy, industrious, economical and honest, they won respect and prospered. Two among them, Frank O. Danielson and Andrew F. Cassel, boys just entering their teens, rose to substance and wide influence. To the latter came the enviable distinction of representing the county three times in succession in the General Assembly of the State.
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The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was the first of the secret societies to be established in the county. Jefferson Lodge, No. 4, was organized at Fair- field on March 10, 1846, under a charter issued on June 25, 1845, by authority of the Grand Lodge at Baltimore, Maryland, directed to W. I. Cooper, W. L. Orr, T. D. Evans, C. Kiefer and N. W. Wiles. In order to accomplish the or- ·ganization, Orr, Kiefer and Wiles were obliged to go to Burlington to be pre- viously initiated. W. I. Cooper was installed Noble Grand and T. D. Evans, Vice Grand.
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CHAPTER XXX
THE STATE CONSTITUTION
Governor Robert Lucas, in his message of November 5, 1839, to the second Territorial Legislature, advised that it might "with propriety proceed to measures preparatory to the formation of a Constitution and State Government." The sug- gestion had its advocates but was not then acted upon. At a special session of the same body in July, 1840, a bill was passed providing that a poll of the voters be taken at the general election "for the purpose of obtaining the wishes of the people of the Territory of Iowa as to preparatory steps for admission into the union as a state." Those who favored such action were to write on their ballots "convention ;" those who opposed it were to write on their ballots "no conven- tion." "The wishes of the people," as expressed in this manner in the election of October 5th, were not uncertain. In all there were 937 votes for a convention and 2,907 votes against a convention. In Jefferson County alone, 47 voters approved a convention, 173 voters opposed a convention, and some 200 voters were indifferent in the matter.
Governor John Chambers, in his first message addressed on December 8, 1841, to the fourth Territorial Legislature, recommended, as of paramount importance, legislation necessary to the ascertainment of the wishes of the people of the ter- ritory touching admission into the union of the states. An elaborate enactment followed providing "for the expression of opinion of the people of the Territory of Iowa upon the subject of the formation of a state constitution and govern- ment, and to enable them to form a constitution for the State of Iowa." This expression of opinion was taken at the general election in August. A viva voce vote was required. Each qualified elector as he deposited his ballot was asked by the judges whether he was in favor of or against a convention. His name was then entered by the clerks in a column headed "convention" or "no convention" to accord with his answer. The result showed "a majority in every county, and a large aggregate majority, against a convention." In Jefferson County there were 260 votes recorded for it, and 542 votes recorded against it. These were cast in the several townships as follows: In Round Prairie, 37 votes for, 17 votes against ; in Lockridge, I vote for, 12 votes against; in Walnut, II votes for, 42 votes against ; in Liberty, 34 votes for, 25 votes against; in Fair- field, 131 votes for, 323 votes against ; in Penn, 5 votes for, 60 votes against; in Des Moines, 28 votes for, 41 votes against; in Locust Grove, 13 votes for, 15 votes against; and in Blackhawk, 7 votes against. Cedar Township does not appear in the returns. It seems to have been the single precinct in the territory failing to report.
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