USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 8
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 8
USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 8
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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 canse 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
64
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 prohibition 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 DesMoines, 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, which, 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.
2
65
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 commenee 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
. 22,589
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
Y
G
66
HISTORY OF IOWA.
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- eing 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 snecessful 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
R form 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 much 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- eations. 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- snit of happiness," not only nnfettered by legal disabilities, but also nntrammeled 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 aeres; 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
67
busy on all her water-conrses, 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- nated. 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 l' 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.
1880.
Adair.
984
3,982
11, 199
A dama
1,533
4,614
11, 188
Allamakee
777
12, 237
17,868
19,791
Appanooae
3.131
11, 931
16, 456
16.636
Audubon
451
1,212
7,448
Benton
672
8.496
22, 454
24,888
Black Hawk
135
8, 244
21,708
23,913
Boone
735
4,239
14,584
20,838
Buchanan
517
7.906
17,034
18, 547
Buena Vista.
57
1,585
7, 537
Butler
3,724
9,951
14,293
Calhoun
147
1,602
5,595
Carroll
281
2, 451
12.351
Casa ...
1,612
5.464
16,943
Cedar.
1, 253
3,94]
12, 949
19, 731
18,937
Cerro Gordo.
940
4,722
11, 461
Cherokee.
58
1,967
8.240
Chickasaw
4,336
10,180
14,534
Clarke
709
5, 427
8, 735
11, 512
Clay ..
1, 101
3,873
20,728
27,771
28,829
Clinton.
821
2, 822
18, 938
35,357
36,764
Crawford
383
2,530
12,413
Dallaa
854
5,244
12, 019
18, 746
Davis
7,264
13, 764
10, 565
16,468
Decator
965
8,677
12, 018
15, 336
Delaware
168
1,759
11, 024
17, 432
17,9:2
Des Moines
5,577
12, 988
19, 611
27,256
33,099
180
1,389
1,901
Dubnqne
3,059
10,841
31,164
38,969
42, 997
Emmett
105
1,392
1,550
Fayette
825
12,073
16, 973
22, 258
Floyd
Franklin
10,248
Fremont
1,244
5,074
11,174
17, 653
Greene
1,374
4,627
12, 725
Grunly.
793
6,399
12,63
Guthrie
3,058
7,061
14,863
.
52
1,523
4,248
Clayton
4 915
12,528
14.0-1
Bremer
Dickinson
3,744
10. 768
14.677
1,309
4,738
HISTORY OF IOWA.
Y
68
HISTORY OF IOWA.
CENSUS OF IOWA-Continued.
COUNTIES.
1840.
1850.
1880.
1870.
1680.
Hamilton ..
1,699
6, 055
11,252
Hancook
179
999
3, 453
Hardin
5,440
13,684
17,808
Harrieon
3,621
8,931
16,649
Henry.
3,772
8,707
18, 701
21,463
20,826
Howard
3,168
6, 282
10,837
Humboldt
332
2, 596
6,341
Ida .
822
8,029
16,664
19, 221
Jackson
1, 411
7,210
18, 493
22,819
23,771
Jasper
1,280
9,883
22, 116
25,962
Jefferson
2, 773
9,904
15,038
17,839
17,478
Johneon
1, 49 L
4,472
17,573
24,898
25,429
Jones
471
3, 007
13,308
19, 731
21,052
Keokuk
4,822
13,271
19, 434
21, 259
Kossuth
416
3,351
6, 179
Lee ..
6, 093
18, 861
29, 232
37,210
34,859
Linn
1,373
5, 444
18,917
28,852
37,235
Loniea
1,927
4,939
10, 370
12, 877
13, 146
Lncae
471
5, 766
10,328
14,530
Lyon
1,179
7,339
13, 884
17, 225
Mahaska
5,9=9
14,816
25.518
25, 201
Marion
5,483
16,813
24,436
25, 111
Marshall
338
6,015
17,576
23, 752
Mille
4,481
8,718
14,135
Mitchell
3,409
9,582
14.361
Monona
833
3,654
9,055
Monroe.
2 884
8,612
12,724
13, 719
Montgomery
5,731
16, 444
21,688
23. 165
O'Brien.
Osceola.
551
4,419
9,975
19,667
Palo Alto.
132
1,336
4,131
Plymouth
148
2,199
8,567
Pocahontas
103
1.446
3, 713
Polk
4,513
11, 625
27,837
42,395
Pottawattamie
7.828
4,963
16, 893
39,846
Poweehiek
615
5,668
15,581
18, 936
Ringgold
246
1,411
8,771
Scott
2,140
25,959
38, 509
41,270
Shelby
10
570
5, 426
Sioux
4,051
11,651
16,966
Story
8
5, 283
16, 131
21,5-5
Tama
201
3,590
6,989
15, 635
Taylor.
2 012
5,9-6
14 980
Union
17,081
17,672
17,042
Van Buren
6,116
8,471
14.518
22, 346
25,284
Warren
961
10. 221
17, 980
19,578
Washington
4, 97
14, 235
18,952
16, 127
Wayne .
340
6, 46 9
10, 484
15, 950
Webster ..
168
1,526
4,917
Winnebago.
:46
13,942
23, 570
23, 937
Winneshiek
1,119-
6, 172
14, 997
Woodbury
75%
2, 892
7,953
Worth
653
2,392
5.062
Wright.
Total.
43, 112
192, 214
674,913
1, 191, 792
1,624, 463
1,942
8
715
4,155
2,219
Page
2,923
5,691
12, 085
Sac ..
5,986
¿18
2, 549
12, 696
1, 256
5,934
15, 895
Mnecatine
`221
1,968
Madison
43
226
4,382
Iowa
e
12, 270
Wapello
20,375
1,594
11, 287
2, 504
HISTORY OF IOWA.
69
CHAPTER VII.
-
GEOLOGY-TOPOGRAPIIY-WATER COURSES.
Geologists divide the soil of Iowa into three general divisions-drift, bluff and alluvial. The drift occupies a much larger part of the surface of the State than both the others. The bluff has the next greatest area of surface, and the alluvial least. All soil is disintegrated rock. The drift de- posit of Iowa was derived, to a consider- able extent, from the rocks of Minnesota; but the greater part of Iowa drift was de- rived from its own rocks, much of which has been transported but a short distance. In northern and northwestern Iowa the drift contains more sand and gravel than elsewhere. In southern Iowa the soil is frequently stiff and clayey. The bluff soil is found only in the western part of the
State, and adjacent to the Missouri river. Although it contains less than one per cent. of clay in its composition, it is in no re- spect inferior to the best drift soil. The alluvial soil is that of the flood plains of the river valleys, or bottom lands. That which is periodically flooded by the rivers is of little value for agricultural purposes; but a large part of it is entirely above the reach of the highest flood, and is very pro- ductive.
The stratified rocks of Iowa range from the Azoic to the Mesozoic, inclusive; but the greater portion of the surface of the State is occupied by those of the Palæozoic age. The table below will show each of these formations in their order:
BYSTRMB. AGE8.
GROUPS. PERIODS.
FORMATIONA. EPOCHS.
THICKNESS IN FEET.
( Post Tertiary
Drift.
10 to 200
Cretaceons.
( Ioocersmous Bed.
50
Lower Cretaosons.
Woodbury Sandstone and Shales.
130
( Nisbnabotany Sandstone
100
( Upper Coal Measures.
200
Coal Measures.
Middle Coal Measures
20
( Lower Coal Measures
200
Carboniferous.
(St. Louis Limestone.
75
Keokuk Limestone
90
Burlington Limestone
196
Kinder hook Beds.
175
Devonian
Hamilton
Hamilton Limestone and Shales
200
Upper Silurian
Niagara
Niagara Limestone
350
CincinnatL
Maquoketa Shales
80
Trenton.
Galena Limestone.
250
Lower Silnrian.
( St. Peter's Sandstone
80
Primordial
Lower Magnesiau Limestone
250
( Potsdam Sandstone
300
Azoio
Huronian'.
Sioux Quartzite.
50
0
Trenton Limestone.
200
Subcarboniferons
6
Y
70
HISTORY OF IOWA.
7
AZOIC SYSTEM.
The Sioux quartzite is found exposed in natural ledges only upon a few acres in the extreme northwest corner of the State, upon the banks of the Big Sioux river, for which reason the specific name of Sioux quartzite has been given them. It is an intensely hard rock, breaks in splintery fracture, and of a color varying, in different localities, from a light to deep red. The process of metamorphism has been so complete throughout the whole formation, that the rock is almost every- where of uniform texture. The dip is four or five degrees to the northward, and the trend of the outcrop is east ward and westward.
LOWER SILURIAN SYSTEM.
Primordial Group .- The Potsdam sand- stone formation is exposed only in a small portion of the northeastern part of the State. It is only to be seen in the bases of the bluffs and steep valley sides which border the river there. It is nearly value- less for economic purposes. No fossils have been discovered in this formation in Iowa.
Lower Mugnesian Limestone. - This formation has bnt little greater geographi- cal extent in Iowa than the Potsdam sand- stone. It lacks a uniformity of texture and stratification, owing to which it is not generally valnable for building purposes. The only fossils found in this formation in the State are a few traces of crinoids, near McGregor.
The St. Peters sandstone formation is remarkably uniform in thickness through-
out its known geographical extent, and it occupies a large portion of the northern half of Allamakee county, immediately beneath the drift.
Trenton Group -With the exception of the Trenton limestone, all the limestones of both Upper and Lower Silurian age in Iowa are magnesian limestone - nearly pure dolomites. This formation occupies large portions of Winneshiek and Allama- kee counties and a small part of Clayton. The greater part of it is useless for eco- nomic purposes; but there are some com- pact, even layers that furnish fine material for window-caps and sills. Fossils are so abundant in this formation that in some places the rock is made up of a mass of shells, corals and fragments of trilobites, cemented by calcareons material into a solid rock. Some of these fossils are new to science and peculiar to Iowa.
The Galena limestone is the upper form- ation of the Trenton Group. It is 150 miles long, and seldom exceeds 12 miles in width. It exhibits its greatest develop- ment in Dubuque county. It is nearly a pure dolomite, with a slight admixture of silicous matter; good blocks for dressing are sometimes found near the top of the bed, although it is usually unfit for such a purpose. This formation is the source of the lead ore of the Dubuque lead mines. The lead region proper is confined to an area of about 15 miles square in the vicinity of Dubnque. The ore occurs in vertical fissures, which traverse the rock at regular intervals from cast to west; some is found in those which have a north and south direc- tion. This ore is mostly that known as Galena, or sulphuret of lead, very small
71
HISTORY OF IOWA.
quantities only of the carbonate being found with it.
Cincinnati Group -The surface occu- pied by the Maquoketa shales is more than 100 miles in length, but is singularly long and narrow, seldom reaching a mile or two in width. The most northern exposure yet recognized is in the western part of Winneshiek county, while the most south- erly is in Jackson county, in the bluffs of the Mississippi. The formation is largely composed of bluish and brownish shales, sometimes slightly arenaceous, sometimes calcareous, which weather into a tenacious clay upon the surface, and the soil derived from it is usually stiff and clayey. Several species of fossils which characterize the Cincinnati Group are found in the Maquo- keta shales, but they contain a larger num- ber than have been found anywhere else in these shales in Iowa, and their distinct faunal characteristics seem to warrant the separation of the Maquoketa shales as a distinct formation from others in the group.
UPPER SILURIAN SYSTEM.
Niagara Group .- The area occupied by the Niagara limestone is 40 and 50 miles in width, and nearly 160 miles long, from north to south. This formation is entirely a magnesian limestone, with a considerable portion of silicious matter, in some places, in the form of chert or coarse flint. A large part of it probably affords the best and greatest amount of quarry rock in the State. The quarries at Anamosa, LeClaire and Farley are all opened in this forma- tion.
DEVONIAN SYSTEM.
Hamilton Group .- The area of surface occupied by the Hamilton limestone and
shales is as great as those by all the form- ations of both Upper and Lower Silurian age in the State. Its length is nearly 200 miles, and width from 40 to 50. A large part of the material of this is quite worth- less, yet other portions are valuable for economic purposes; and, having a large geographical extent in the State, is a very important formation. Its value for the production of hydraulic lime has been demonstrated at Waverly, Bremer county; the heavier piers and other material re- quiring strength and durability. All the Devonian strata of Iowa evidently belong to a single epoch. The most conspicuous and characteristic fossils of this formation are brachiopodes, corals and mullusks. The coral Acervularia Davidsoni occurs near Iowa City, and is known as "Iowa City marble" and "Bird's Eye marble."
CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM.
Of the three groups of formations that constitute the carboniferons, viz: the sub- carboniferous, coal measures and Permian, only the first two are found in Iowa.
Subcarboniferous Group .- This group occupies a very large area of surface. Its eastern border passes from the northeast- ern part of Winnebago county, with con- siderable directness in a sontheasterly direction to the northern part of Washing- ton county. It then makes a broad and direct bend nearly eastward, striking the Mississippi at Muscatine. The sonthern and western boundaries are to a consider- able extent the same as that which separates it from the real field. From the southern part of Pocahontas county it passes south- east to Fort Dodge, thence to Webster City, thenoe to a point 3 or 4 miles north-
72
HISTORY OF IOWA.
east of Eldora, in Hardin county, thence southward to the middle of the north line of Jasper county, thence southeastward to Sigourney, in Keokuk county, thence to the northeastern corner of Jefferson county, thence sweeping a few miles eastward to the southeast corner of Van Buren county. Its arc is about 250 miles long, and from 20 to 50 miles wide.
The Kinderhook Beds .- The most south- erly exposure of these beds is in Des- Moines county, near the mouth of Skunk river. The most northerly now known is in the eastern part of Pocahontas county, more than 200 miles distant. The princi- pal exposures of this formation are along the bluffs which border the Mississippi and Skunk rivers, where they form the eastern and northern boundary of DesMoines county; along English river, in Washing- ton county; along the Iowa river in Tama, Marshall, Hamlin and Franklin counties, and along the DesMoines river in Hum- boldt county. This formation has consid- erable economic value, particularly in the northern portion of the region it occupies. In Pocahontas and Humboldt counties it is invaluable, as no other stone except a few boulders are found here. At Iowa Falls the lower division is very good for building purposes. In Marshall county all the limestone to be obtained comes from this formation, and the quarries near Le Grand are very valuable. At this point some of the layers are finely veined with peroxide of iron, and are wronght into both useful and ornamental objects. In Tama county the oolitic member is well exposed, where it is manufactured into lime. Upon exposure to atmosphere and frost it crum-
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