USA > Iowa > Lucas County > History of Lucas County, Iowa containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc > Part 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82
1868-G. W. Redlingshafer, Benton; Hugh Larimer, Chariton; G. P. Turner, Jackson; Wm. H. Ashley, Otter Creek; Alex. Poston, Union; G. W. Platts, Washington; David J. McCoy, Cedar; Samuel Stewart, Liberty; C. A. Walker, Pleasant; Lot Curtis, Warren, elected chairman; D. M. Funk, White Breast; James H. Brown, English.
1869-G. W. Redlingshafer, Benton; D. J. McCoy, Cedar; Hugh Larimer, Chariton; J. H. Brown, English; G. P. Turner, Jackson; Sam- uel Stewart, Liberty, elected chairman; W. H. Ashley, Otter Creek; F. H. Boggess, Pleasant; Lot Curtis, Warren; Thomas Hellyer, Washing- ton; D. M. Funk, White Breast; Stanford May, Union.
Thus the board of supervisors continued until 1870, when the Thir- teenth General Assembly reduced the membership from one, chosen by the electors of each township, to three, chosen from the county at large at the general election, for the term of three years, no two of whom should be taken from the same township.
At the October election of 1870, the first board was thus chosen, con-
Dig zedby Google
433
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
sisting of H. H. Day, of Jackson; J. W. Sprott, of Union, and Jacob Myers, of Benton townships. At its first meeting held on the first Mon- day in January, 1871, H. H. Day was chosen chairman, and the mem- bers determined the tenure of their terms of one, two and three years, by lot. The following are the succeeding boards under the reduced county system of three members, of which one is chosen each year.
1871-H. H. Day, Jackson township, elected chairman; J. W. Sprott, Union; R. P. Meek, English.
1872-J. W. Sprott, Union; R. P. Meek, English; H. H. Day, Chari- ton, re-elected chairman.
1873-H. H. Day, Chariton, re-elected chairman; R. P. Meek, English; Stephen Julian, Cedar.
1874-H. H. Day, Chariton, re-elected chairman; Stephen Julian, Cedar; John Murray, Warren.
1875-Stephen Julian, Cedar, elected chairman; John Murray, Warren; Hugh Larimer, Chariton.
1876-John Murray, Warren; Hugh Larimer, Chariton; Stephen Julian, Cedar, re-elected chairman.
1877-Hugh Larimer, Chariton; Stephen Julian, Cedar, re-elected chairman; James G. Woodard, Otter Creek.
1878-Stephen Julian, Cedar; J. G. Woodard, Otter Creek, elected chairman; Isaac Kinsey, English.
1879-James G. Woodard, Otter Creek, re-elected chairman; Isaac Kinsey, English; H. H. Day, Chariton.
1880-Isaac Kinsey, English; H. H. Day, Chariton, elected chairman; Sidney Wells, Cedar.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATIONS.
The township system is a very old sub-division of a county. It origi- nated in Massachusetts as far back as 1635. "The first legal enactment concerning this system," says Mr. E. M. Haines, in his comprehensive work on 'township organization,' " provided that, 'whereas, particular towns have many things which concern only themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own town,' there- fore, 'the freemen of every town, or the majority part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appur- tenances of said town, to grant lots, and to make such orders as may con-
8
Dlg zedby Google
434
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
cern the well-ordering of their own towns, not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the general court.'
"They might also, " says Mr. Haines, "impose fines of not more than twenty shillings, and 'choose their own particular officers, as constables, surveyors for the highways, and the like.' Evidently this enactment re- lieved the general court of a mass of municipal details, without any dan- ger to the power of that body in controlling general measures of public policy. Probably also a demand from the freemen of the towns was felt for the control of their own home-concerns."
Wherever New England people settled, or their system extended in the early period of new states, its township system of managing local affairs has prevailed, and more especially so, as the populations of states and counties became more dense. The county system alone becomes too un- wieldy, too distant from the people; and often endangers "equal and ex- act justice" by the densely populated sections, including towns, overcom- ing the sparsely settled sections, in elections, improvements, as well as in other similar matters. In many of the older and thickly settled states, township organizations are as independent of the county, as the county is of the state. They collect their own revenue; provide for their own schools; take care of their own poor; make, and keep in repair their own highways and bridges. And thus it will be in the newer states of the great west, as fast as their population becomes dense enough, and uni- formly distributed throughout their domain.
The first move made by the board of county commissioners toward organizing the townships of Lucas county, was prior to the session of April 7, 1851, though no record of it is found. But at this session of the board, the following action occurred:
Ordered, that the bill of George Wilson of $36, for making plats of twelve townships, 812; for copying field notes of twelve townships, included in Lucas . county, $24.
Thus armed, the county court, at its term of February, 1852, by defin- ing their boundaries and giving them names, also created each township thus defined and named, an election precinct, and provided for the organ- izing election therein as follows:
CHARITON TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-two, range twenty-one, be organized into one election precinct, the first election to be holden on the first Monday in April, A. D. 1852, at the court house in Chariton; said precinct will be known as Chariton precinct; said township to conform to the congressional sur- vey of said township, to-wit: six miles square, containing thirty-six sections.
...
Diq zedby Google [
435
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
ENGLISH TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-three, range twenty-two, be organized into an election precinct; the first election to be holden on the first Monday in April, A. D. 1852, at the house of Ransom Davis. Said precinct will be known as English precinct. Said precinct, or township to conform to the congressional survey of said township, to-wit: six miles square, containing thirty-six sections.
At the March term, 1852, of the county court, the following addition al townships were organized:
CEDAR TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-two, range twenty, be organized into an election precinct, or township proper, bounded as follows: commencing at the northeast corner of section one in said township, thence east to the north- west corner of section six, thence south to the southwest corner of section thirty- one, thence east to the southeast corner of section thirty-six, thence north to the place of beginning, containing thirty-six sections. The first election in said township to be held on the first Monday in April, 1852. The place of holding elections in said township will be at the school-house near McDermit's. Said township, or precinct, will be known and designated as Cedar township. Ordered further by the court, that township seventy-three, north of range twenty west, be attached to the aforesaid township for election purposes.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the county court, that township seventy-one, range twenty-three, be organized into an election precinct proper, bounded as follows: commencing at the northeast corner of section one in said township, thence west to the north- west corner of section six, thence south to the southwest corner of section thirty- one, thence east to the southeast corner of section thirty-six, thence north to the place of beginning, containing thirty-six sections; the first election in said township to be held on the first Monday in April, 1852. The place of holding elections in said township, will be at the house of Jacob Fudge, in said town- ship. Said township or precinct will be known and designated as Union pre- cinct. Be it further
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-three be attached to the afore- said township, for election purposes.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-one, range twenty, be organized into an election precinct proper, bounded as follows: commencing at the north- east corner of section one, in said township, thence west to the northwest corner of section thirty-one, thence east to the southeast corner of section thirty-six, thence north to place of beginning, containing thirty-six sections; the first elec- tion in said township to be held on the first Monday in April, 1852. The place
Dlg zedby Google
436
1
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
of holding elections in said township will be at the house of Francis Chaney, of said township. Said township will be known and designated as Washington township. And it is further
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-one, north of range twenty-one west, be, and the same is hereby attached to the above township for election purposes.
WARREN TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-one, north of range twenty-two west, be, and the same is hereby organized into an election precinct, or town- ship, for election purposes; bounded as follows: commencing at the northeast corner of section one, thence west to the northwest corner of section six, thence south to the southwest corner of section thirty-one, thence east to the southeast corner of section thirty-six, thence north to the place of beginning, containing thirty-six sections. The time fixed by the court for holding the first election in said townsbip, will be on the first Monday in April, 1852. The place of holding elections in said township, will by at the house of Jesse B. Wells, Esq. Said township will be known and designated as Warren township.
WHITE BREAST TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-two, north of range twenty-two west, be, and the same is hereby organized into an election precinct or town- ship, bounded as follows: commencing at the northeast corner of section one in said township, thence west to the northwest corner of section six, thence south to the southwest corner of section thirty-one, thence east to the southeast corner of section thirty-six, thence north to the place of beginning. The time fixed by the court for holding the first election in said township, will be on the first Mon- day in April, 1852. Said election will be held at the house of James Mitchell, Esq., in said township. Said township will be known and designated as White Breast township.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-three, range twenty-two west, be organized into an election precinct or township, bounded as follows: commenc- ing at the northeast corner of section one in said township, thence west to the northwest corner of section six, thence south to the southwest corner of section thirty-one, thence east to the southeast corner of section thirty-six, thence north to the place of beginning. The time fixed for holding the first election in said township will be on the first Monday in April, 1852. Said election will be held at the house of Joseph Dibert, in said township. Said township will be known and designated as Liberty township.
At the following July term, 1852, of the county court, it was-
Ordered, That sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32, township
Di zedby Google
437
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
seventy-one, range twenty-one, be, and the same are hereby detached from Washington township and added to Warren township for election purposes.
At the March term, 1853, of the county court,
OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP
was organized, as follows :
. Ordered, By the court, that township seventy-three, range twenty-three west, be, and the same is hereby detached from township seventy-three, range twenty- two, for election purposes. That the said township seventy-three, range twenty- three, be organized into a township proper; that the place of holding the first election in said township will be at the house of John Moore, in said town- ship. The name of said township will be known as Otter Creek township.
BENTON TOWNSHIP.
Ordered, By the county court, that township seventy-one north, range twenty-one west, be, and the same is hereby organized into an election precinct proper; that the first election in the said precinct will be held at the house of Samuel P. Martin, Esq., in said township, on the first Monday in April, 1853. Said precinct will be known as Benton precinct.
At the May term, 1853, of the county court, it was
Ordered, By the court, that so much of township seventy-two, north of range twenty-three, as lies north of White Breast creek, be, and the same is hereby detached from Union township, and attached to Otter Creek township for elec- tion purposes.
At the July term, 1853, of the county court, it was
Ordered, That that part of White Breast township that lies south of Chariton river, be, and the same is hereby attached to Warren township for election pur- poses.
At the February term, 1855, of the county court,
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP
was organized, as follows :
Ordered, That township seventy-three, north of range twenty west, be organ- Z nto an election precinct, or township proper, containing thirty-six sections. The first election in said township will be held on the first Monday in April, 1855. The place of holding elections will be at the house of Andrew Morehead. Said township will be known and designated as Pleasant township.
At the July term, 1855, of the county court,
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
was organized, as follows:
Ordered, That township seventy-two, north of range twenty-three west, be
Dlg zedby Google
438
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
organized into an election precinct, or township proper. The first election in said township will be held on the first Monday in August, 1855. The place of holding said election will be at the house of William Quinn. Said township will be known and designated as Jackson township.
At the April session, 1876, of the board of supervisors, which super- seded the county court in January, 1861, a petition was presented, asking that a new township be created from the rural portion of Chariton town- ship, to be called
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
At this session the proposition was considered, and the prayer of the petitioners granted, as will more fully appear from the following action of the board :
The petition of W. M. Copeland and others, asking that all that part of Char- iton township lying outside of the corporate limits of the city of Chariton be stricken off from said city, and formed into a separate township, was taken up and considered; and it appearing therefrom that the law in relation thereto has been complied with, on motion, said prayer was granted. The board thereupon proceeded to a further compliance with the provisions of the Code of 1873, with reference to the new township thus formed, and, on motion, the name thereof was declared to be " Lincoln;" and the boundaries thereof as follows: com- mencing at the northeast corner of congressional township seventy-two, north of range twenty-one west, thence south to the southeast corner of said township seventy-two, range twenty-one, thence west to the southwest corner of said township seventy-two, thence north to the northwest corner of said township seventy-two, and thence west to the place of beginning, except so much of the territory embraced in the above mentioned lines as is included in the corporate limits of the city of Chariton, bounded as follows: commencing at the northeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section twenty, township seventy-two, range twenty-one west, running thence west forty-four rods; thence north twenty-five and one-half rods, thence east forty-four rods, to the east line of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section twenty, township seventy-two, range twenty-one west; thence north to the northeast corner of said northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section twenty, township seventy-two, range twenty-one; thence north to the northeast corner of the south half of the northeast quarter of section nineteen, township seventy- two, range twenty-one west; thence west to the northwest corner of said south half of the northeast quarter of section nineteen, township seventy-two, range twenty-one west; thence south 192 rods, thence east 20 rods, thence south 27 rods, thence west 104 rods, thence south 80 rods, thence east 96 rods, thence south 48 rods, thence east 36 rods, thence north 48 rods, thence east to the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section twenty-nine, township seventy-two, range twenty-one; thence south to the
Di zedby Google
439
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
southwest corner of the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section twenty-nine, township seventy-two, range twenty-one; thence east to the south- east corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section twenty- nine, township seventy-two, range twenty-one; thence north to the northeast corner of the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section twenty-nine, township seventy-two, range twenty-one; thence west to the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section twenty-nine, town- ship seventy-two, range .twenty-one west, thence north to the place of begin- ning. The school house in the independent school district of Fairview, in Char- iton township, is where the first election will be held in November, 1876; and Matthew Johnston, H. L. Dukes and S. L. Bestow are hereby appointed judges of said election, and J. C. Best and W. K. Larimer clerks thereof.
With this addition of Lincoln, there are now thirteen townships in Lucas county, as the corporate town of Chariton still retains its township status.
The material . development of these townships, in their various rela- tions, will appear farther on in this work.
EARLY RECORD EVENTS.
There is not only interest in the antiquity of early record events, but also a curiosity involved in their occasion, and the rude manner in which they are frequently made-all illustrating that the white man was early on the abandoned trail of the red man; and in his rapid pursuit he did not forget that marriage was an important step in building up homes on the frontier.
THE FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE
was issued by the clerk of the district court November 10, 1849, under which James Peck, who, with Elijah K. Robinson, were the first two jus- tices of the peace in Lucas county, chosen at the August election of the same year, performed the first marriage ceremony in the county as shown by the following
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE.
SAMUEL A. FRANCIS,
AND
LOUISA J. WAYNICK.
This is to certify that I joined together as husband and wife, Mr. Samuel A. Francis and Miss Louisa J. Waynick, on the fifteenth day of November, A. D., 1849.
JAMES PECK, Justice of the Peace.
Dig zedby Google
440
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
The example thus being set by the first couple married in the county, others followed in the order named below:
Mr. Joseph C. Welter to Miss Mary Ann Salesbury, by Elijah K. Rob- inson, J. P., June 27, 1850.
Daniel M. Fudge to Miss Elizabeth Holmes, by Elijah K. Robinson, J. P., July 3, 1850.
Mr. Jonathan C. Prather to Miss Elizabeth M. Roland, by Elijah K. Robinson, J. P., October 13, 1850.
Mr. Samuel D. Huston to Miss Marena Mckinley, by Elijah K. Rob- inson, J. P., June 10, 1851.
It was not so easy a matter to assume the marital relation in those early . days as some may imagine; especially with the younger element, as will be observed by the following antique papers found in the " abandoned archives" of the court-house garret: .
I hereby certify that I have no objection to the marage of George B. Colver to Mary Margaret Sellers, this twentieth day of October, 1851.
EDMOND COLVER.
The foregoing is the consent of the father of the bridegroom, who appears to have been under legal contracting age; and the following is the consent of the father of the bride:
STATE OF IOWA, 88. LUCAS COUNTY.
I, H. P. Sellers, do hereby certify that Mary M. Sellers is my daughter, and that she is eighteen years of age, and I give my free and voluntary consent to a mar- riage between her and George Colver.
October 20, 1851.
H. P. SELLERS. Attest: D. D. WAYNICK.
Upon the foregoing certificates the proper authority granted a license under which the anxious twain could be joined as husband and wife for the battle of frontier life. And here comes Esquire Robinson and per- sormed the feat in approved early-day style:
STATE OF IOWA, LUCAS COUNTY.
This is to certify that I have joined together as husband and wife, Mr. George Colver, aged nineteen years, to Miss Mary M. Sellers, aged seventeen years, at the house of H. P. Sellers, all of said county, on the 30th day of October, A. D. 1851.
ELIJAH K. ROBINSON, Justice of the Peace.
Instead of the marriage-license-granting authority becoming more slack
Dig zedby Google
441
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
in the observance of the law, it appears to have increased its vigilance in this regard, as will appear from the following:
I, Isaac Malone, Do Solmonly Sware That I am acquanted With Edward hafferday and mis Catharing twiggs and knows them to Be of lawfull age living in this county.
ISAAC MALONE.
Sworn to and Subscribed Before me this nineteenth day of may, A. d. 1857. MILTON DOUGLASS, County Judge.
However vigilant these officials may have become, they do not seem to have improved in official qualifications.
THE FIRST WARRANTY DEED
recorded in Lucas county was some three or four months after the organ- ization of the county, which is given in full as follows:
Know all whom it may concern, that we, Hugh W. Sample and. Esther J. Sample, his wife, of the county of Lee, State of Iowa, do hereby by these presents, bargain and sell to John Howard of the county of Jefferson, and State aforesaid, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars, lawful money, to us in hand paid by the said John Howard, the receipt of which is hereby fully acknowledged, do, by these presents, convey to the said John Howard, his heirs or assigns, a certain tract of land, lying and being in the county of Lucas, state above said, known and designated as east half of section 32, in township 72, north of range 21; containing three hundred and . twenty acres more or less, together with all the improvements and appurtenances there- unto belonging and appertaining; the said Howard, his heirs and assigns, to have and to hold the said described lands with appurtenances, to and for the only use of himself, his heirs and assigns forever. And the said Hugh W. Sample and Esther J. Sample his wife, do hereby covenant and agree to and with the said Howard, his heirs and assigns, that we have never encumbered the above des- cribed lands in any manner whatever, and that we will forever warrant and defend the title to the same against the lawful claims of all, every person or persons claiming by or through us, or either of us, in any manner whatever.
In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals, at Keokuk, in this, the 29th day of November, A. D. 1849.
HUGH W. SAMPLE, [SEAL]. ESTHER J. SAMPLE, [SEAL].
Attest: L. E. JOHNSON.
STATE OF IOWA, LEE COUNTY,
„ZOWA, } ss.
Before me, Lyman E. Johnson, a notary public in and for the county and State aforesaid, personally came Hugh W. Sample and his wife Esther J. Sample, who are personally known to me to be the persons who signed and executed the fore-
Dlg zedby Google
442
HISTORY OF LUCAS COUNTY.
going conveyance, and acknowledged the same to be their act and deed for the purposes therein expressed, she, the said Esther J. Sample, having been by me first interrogated separate and apart from her said husband, acknowledged that she had executed the same of her own free will and accord, and thereby relin- quishes her right of dower in said land without compulsion or under influence of her husband.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my notarial seal, at Keokuk, on this, 29th day of November, A. D. 1849.
LYMAN E. JOHNSON, Notary Public of Lee County.
Recorded this twentieth day of December, 1849.
SAMUEL MCKINLEY, Recorder of Lucas County, Iowa.
THE FIRST MORTGAGE .
executed and recorded in Lucas county was made by Thomas Wilson, a pioneer and a member of the board of county commissioners in 1850, to Seth Richards, to secure the payment of money due the latter, of which the following is a copy:
Know all men by these presents: That I, Thomas Wilson, of the county of Clarke, and State of Iowa, for and in consideration of seven hundred and twenty dollars, to me paid by Seth Richards, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do grant, bargain and sell unto the said Seth Richards, his heirs and assigns, the following described land in the county of Clarke, and in Lucas, Clarke county being attached to Lucas, and State of Iowa, to-wit: the northwest quarter of sec- tion thirteen, in township seventy-one, north of range twenty-four west, being in Clarke county; and the northeast fractional quarter of section five, in town- ship seventy-one, north of range twenty-one, west, containing one hundred and eighty-three acres, being in Lucas county, State of Iowa, aforesaid; and coven- ants that he shall quietly enjoy the same free from encumbrance; and that I do warrant, and will forever defend the same to him against all lawful claims; pro- vided, however, and the above conveyance is upon the express condition; whereas, I am justly indebted to the said Seth Richards in the full sum of seven hundred and twenty dollars, which is to be paid as follows-in two years; but if paid in one year to be satisfied with six hundred dollars. Now, if the said Thomas Wilson shall well and promptly pay, or cause to be paid, to the said Seth Richards, his heirs or assigns, when the same shall become due, the said amount of money with the interest thereon, then the above conveyance to be null and void, otherwise to be and remain in full force and effect.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.