USA > Iowa > Madison County > History of Madison County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 18
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The committee, having been appointed January 5th, completed its work dur- ing that month and a special meeting of the board was called to meet February 1, 1864. to ratify its report.
To complete the story such portions of the proceedings are given of the special session as seem material :
"Clerk's Office of Madison County, "February ist, 1864.
"The Board of Supervisors met by request of majority of the members at 10 o'clock A. M. President in the chair. Members not all being present on motion Board adjourned until I o'clock P. M.
"Board met pursuant to adjournment, President in the chair, all the members being present. After hearing report of the committee appointed by said Board at its late meeting to confer with the American Emigrant Company in relation to the sale of Swamp Lands of said County and matters pertaining thereto motion was made and carried to receive and adopt the report of said Committee which is as follows :
"To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Madison County :
"We, your Committee appointed to settle the Swamp Land claim of this County with the American Emigrant Company. respectfully report : That upon a careful examination of the decisions of the Department of the Interior we find that we have neither a claim for Swamp Lands nor for indemnity on the General Government in consequence of the provisions of the Act of Congress passed March 3, 1857, and even if the County had any claim the actions of the Board of Supervisors, we ascertained by. consultation with able lawyers, assigned that claim to the American Emigrant Co. ; thereupon, we concluded an agreement with the Emigrant Co. upon the following terms: The Board of Supervisors are to
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make a quit claim deed of said lands to the said Company and the said Com pany are to pay the expenses of this your Committee and of convening the Board of Supervisors to amount not exceeding one hundred dollars. (Signed. )
"B. F. Roberts, chairman. C. D. Bevington, C. S. Wilson, Committee."
The record further contains a copy of the quitclaim deed, in which is set forth a reaffirmation of sale and transfer to Albert West of "all the swamp and overflowed lands of said County and claim for the same on the United States which instrument has been sold and transferred by said West to the American Emigrant Company." The deed goes on to covenant that in future "any lands that shall be located under or by any serip. so-called, which may be claimed on said claim" the county shall convey in like form to said company. The deed is of great length and seems to fully cover everything in the way of title of over eighteen thousand acres of land in Madison County, therein particularly de- scribed, and "claim on the United States for indemnity to such lands as have been sold for cash or entered with land warrants."
The deed bears date of February 1. 1864, and is signed by all the members of the board, to wit: William MeDonald, chairman; Thomas H. Pendleton. A. Hood, M. M. McGee, A. Bennett, Simeon Hamblin, S. A. Ross, E. 11. Venard, Samuel Ralston, J. C. Scott, Van B. Wiggins, Samuel Harter, W. J. Davis. 11. Haun, Oliver Crawford, IL. C. Smith, Abihu Wilson.
The $too to be paid as costs for the deed was distributed as follows: Board of supervisors, $51.82: clerk, M. R. Tidrick, for services making deed, postage. etc., $5.85; committeemen, C. D. Bevington, $21, B. F. Roberts, $10.6612: C. S. Wilson, $10.661/2.
The lands covered by the deed and particularly described therein were located in the several townships as follows: In Ohio, 1.130.20 acres ; South, 3,160: Wal- nut. 900; Scott, 766.13: Monroe, 240: Grand River, 595.54; Crawford, 5.978.64; 1.ce. 1,243.03; Union, 1,272.47; Jefferson, 1,884.58; Douglas 120; Madison, 440; Lincoln, 280; total. 18,070.59 acres.
No lands appear to have been described as in the townships of Webster, Jack- son and Penn.
The record of the board of supervisors for January 8, 1868, shows the fol- lowing item :
"The clerk was authorized to inform the American Emigrant Company that the Board is ready to convey the lands patented to Madison County as indemnity for swamp and overflowed lands therein."
January 27, 1868, "The Board then proceeded to execute to the American Emigrant Company a special warranty deed for all lands received in lieu of swamp lands in Madison County." Board all present, to wit: D. F. Turney, C. Hughart, T. W. Stiles, William Anderson, William McDonald, Eli Cox, Q. C. Bird, B. F. Brown. J. D. Whitenack, James Goare, 1. N. Ilogle, 11. H. Harris, Daniel Francis, O. B. Bissell, A. M. Hart, Joseph J. Greer, J. McLeod, Sr.
Thus another board, and nearly four years later, went the previous boards one better and gave a warranty deed to the company for the swamp lands of Madison County.
October 12, 190.1, there yet remained on the books of the General Land Office unadjusted, scattering tracts in Madison County, originally claimed by the state for Madison County as swamp and overflowed lands. Of these there were
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16 forty-acre tracts that belonged to the cash indemnity class and 30 forty-acre tracts of the land indemnity class. Evidently, these tracts were abandoned for some reason by the American Emigrant company, or the state, at the time of the settlement with the Government in 1866-7. The department desired to close the account and balance the books with the State of Iowa. Accordingly, its special agent, Fred Hoisington, of Ohio, was assigned to the work. November 1. 1904, he requested the board of supervisors to investigate the character of these tracts and then waive claims to all those not swamp. The board declined to take any action in the matter. In July, 1905, the same special agent repeated his request to the board with like result. Upon this the special agent gave the board thirty days' notice of a hearing, set for August 11, 1905, at the office of the board in the courthouse at Winterset, at which date the board might present proof of the swamp and overflowed character of the unadjusted tracts named in the list. The day of hearing arrived, the Govern- ment's representative, Fred Hoisington, was on hand, but the board failed to appear. In the meantime the special agent had made personal inspection of each tract, and in his report to the department said in effect that none of the tracts were within the law and the instructions. The commissioner of the General Land Office thereupon canceled the tracts and thus the swamp land account of Madi- son County was forever closed.
CHAPTER XIX LOST AND FORGOTTEN TOWN SITES By H. A. Mueller
The first settlers in Madison County, who came between the years 1846 and 1848, were principally from the State of Missouri. They had lived in a sparsely settled country, were a simple living folk, caring for little beyond their immediate wants, hence they were no town builders.
In 1848, 1849, and 1850 and later there was a large influx of settlers from Indiana, Ohio and the eastern states. They were more ambitious and visionary than the first settlers. They saw the possibilities of towns springing up on the broad prairies of Iowa. Thus, as the county began to settle up, some one would lay out and plat a town site and offer lots free to those who would start some business. Soon a general store would be started, a postoffice established and a blacksmith and wagon shop set up.
The first town laid out in Madison County was Winterset, the county seat. Three commissioners were appointed by the Legislature to locate the county seat of Madison County. They performed their duty in June, 1849, in locating the present location of the county seat of Madison County. The county commis- sioners then proceeded to have the town surveyed and laid out in lots. This was donc July 19, 1849, by A. D. Jones, and the town was called Winterset.
Then other towns were laid out on some public highway leading from the county seat town to Des Moines, or to some other larger town. Railroads were not thought of at that time so far West.
The first town platted that afterwards became obsolete was the Town of Richmond. Dr. Emanuel J. Henkel, a brother of John Henkel, and of Mrs. O. M. Archer, of Truro, came to Madison County about 1848 and took a claim on Jones Creek about where the N. P. Pomeroy farm is located. Later he took a claim in the southeast quarter section 12, Scott Township, and on July 25, 1849, had A. D. Jones to lay out the Town of Richmond, in the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 12, Scott Township, which land is now owned by Lot Eldridge. This is west of the Hogan Queen stone house. The plat consisted of four blocks. of eight lots each. The streets were sixty-six feet wide, except Broadway, which was 8212 feet wide. The streets running east and west were called lligh, Broad- way and Grove ; those running north and south, Line, Center Avenue and Spring Street. Ile gave to A. D. Jones, the surveyor, all the lots in blocks i and 3. The streets and alleys were dedicated and donated to the public so long as the town shall exist. This was done July 30. 1849, and the plat was recorded by Enos Berger, recorder, August 27, 1849. Mr. Henkel then built a double log cabin for a store building. A postoffice was established here July 16, 1850, with Emanuel J. Henkel as postmaster. The postoffice was called Amazon. The doc-
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tor attended to the postoffice and practiced medicine, while he had a man to operate his store. The postoffice was discontinued October 31, 1851 ; the store removed, and this was the end of Richmond. The doctor moved to Union County, Iowa, and before the War of 1861, went to Arkansas, and after the beginning of the war was never heard from. His relatives think that he was foully dealt with for being a northern sympathizer.
Fairview .- In the fall of 1850. Samuel Comstock had Simmons Rutty lay out a town in the northeast part of the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 24, South Township, about one-fourth mile northeast of the present Town of St. Charles, on land now owned by H. P. Anderson. He named it Fair- view. He built a log store 16x24 feet late in the fall, then went to Oskaloosa for his stock of merchandise. On his return with the goods it was winter, and the cabin store not being finished he kept the goods in the house of Joel Clanton, who lived west of the present site of St. Charles. Samuel Fife acted as his clerk. Mr. Comstock sold what he could, but the settlers being few and money scarce, and having purchased his goods on time, he was not able to meet his bills when they became due, so his creditors came the next spring and took what he had left. The records at Winterset do not show that the plat was ever recorded. The store building was never finished and was later sold to Uncle John Byars, who moved it to St. Charles after that town was laid out in the fall of 1852. It was the first building erected in the Town of St. Charles, being moved and put up on lot 7, northwest section, where Joseph Vanscoy conducted a restaurant for several years. Mr. Comstock left and thus ended the Town of Fairview.
Brooklyn .- About 1850 and earlier there came to Madison County from Ohio the Guiberson family, who took quite an active part in the early days in the up- building of this country. E. R. Guiberson was county judge and representative of Madison County : Israel Guiberson was a lawyer and held the office of recorder, dying early ; Nathaniel Guiberson was a prosperous farmer in Union Township, dying a few years ago ; John W. Guiberson was a farmer and Methodist preacher in Walnut Township. On May 29. 1855, he had William Davis, the county sur- veyor, plat the Town of Brooklyn, which plat was signed and dedicated September 6, 1855, and approved by Judge Pitzer, April 15. 1856, and plat ordered recorded. It is described as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 14. 74-27. thence running south 30.40 chains, east 16.75 chains, north 15-75 chains, east 3.15 chains, north 14.58 chains, west 19.90 chains to the place of beginning. The town consisted of eleven blocks of eight lots each, each block seventeen rods square, and there were also nine outlots. The land is at present owned by Leroy Clifton. The town was located on the main traveled road from Winterset to Osceola, and the stage stopped here. From 1856 to 1860 Brooklyn was quite a thriving town. There were two general stores run by John W. Guiberson and William Mills, respectively ; one blacksmith shop operated by Asa Roberts ; and a brickyard by William Quick. The Methodist circuit rider. Rev. J. B. Rawls, lived here ; also John Hilton, Lee Nunn, David Drake, a Mr. Gillespie. Smith Jones, son-in-law of J. W. Guiberson : William Rhyno, Mr. Flanagan, father of the late John Flanagan, deputy auditor under G. W. Poffin- barger. J. Vance Walker taught singing school two winters in this village.
A postoffice was established February 19. 1857, with William Quick as the first postmaster. followed in succession by William Mills, John W. Guiberson and D. D. Vol. 1 -10
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Drake, under whose incumbency it was discontinued June 15, 1860. About this time Mr. Guiberson moved to California. Later it was discovered that the title to the lots was not good on account of an incumbrance that was against the land before it was platted. The original plat is on file in the recorder's office at Winter- set, but it does not appear to be made a matter of record. During the 'oos the vil- lage began to decline ; people began to leave ; some taking the buildings away, others abandoning them or disposing of them the best they could. until finally all the buildings were removed. Fred Beeler bought the last building left stand- ing and moved it to his farm. The last transfer of lots was made by William S. Quick to Margaret Hilton, April 12, 1865. Today scarcely a trace can be found where back before the war once stood a thriving village of fifty or more souls.
Grand View .- This town, located in Monroe Township, was platted by John Bullock and Maxwell MeCants, August 15, 1855, and dedicated to the public December 4, 1855. The plat was approved by County Judge Pitzer and recorded April 4, 1856, in Book "E" on page 337. It is described as beginning at the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 22, 74-28, thence west 8.375 chains, south 11.50 chains, east 16.75 chains, north 11.50 chains, west 8.375 chains to the place of beginning. Mr. Bullock owned the west half and Mr. MeCants the east half of the town. At present Robert Garrett owns the west part and Samuel Boling the east half of the okdl site. John Bullock was the father of Manville Bullock and J. D. Bullock, who lived many years in Monroe Township as respected citizens, and died there. Ile was also the father of Mirs. Marilda Witt, of Winterset, and Mrs. Mahala Tincher, of Jackson Township, War- ren County, lowa. Samuel Boling stated that two small buildings, a dwelling and a store, were built, but the settlers being few, the store did not remain long. A few lots were soll, but as the town did not prosper the lots that were sold reverted or were resold to the original owners.
Lavega .- This town was surveyed and platted by William Davis, surveyor, October 12, 1855, at the request of William W. Keeney, the chain carriers being Ethan E. Pindell and William Richardson. This plat is on file in the recorder's office, but was never recorded. The description of the survey is as follows : Beginning at the northwest corner of section 15. township 74, range 29, thence south 11.50 chains, east 11.50 chains, north 11.50 chains, west 11.50 chains, thus making the plat forty-six rods square. This town was divided into four blocks of eight lots each. Each lot was 66x132 feet ; the streets were sixty-six feet wide and alleys 161/2 feet wide. The streets running east and west were Clay, Wash- ington and Monroe ; those running north and south, Jefferson, Polk and Webster. This town was in the northwest part of Section 15, Grand River Township, at present occupied by a part of the original plat of Macksburg, lying east of the public park, a part of Barker's Addition to Macksburg, and a part of the farm now owned by Capt. E. G. Barker.
Nothing was done except the staking out of the town. It is believed a Mr. Ilurd laid out the town, but the plat shows it was Mr. Keeney. Rev. Hiram Pearce, of Afton, who was an okl settler of Grand River Township, remembers the laying out of the town, but states no attempt was made to build it up or any one to start a store. Macksburg has superseded this lost town.
Grandview .- About 1856 or 1857 there came from Greene County, Pennsyl- vania, William Heaton, a very eccentric man, who always did things very different
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from any one else. Later he became a prominent citizen of Madison County, and a leader of the greenback party in Madison County. During its palmy days he defended its principles everywhere and all the time, with all the power of speech at his command. Mr. Heaton was familiarly called "Uncle Billy" Heaton, and was well known in this part of the state. He was an idealist and a dreamer. He bought large tracts of the best prairie land in Lee Township, and conceived in his mind the building of a town and the establishment of a seminary on the broad prairie between Badger Creek and North River. Ile laid out a town in the north- east township, in Madison County, in the northeast part of the northwest quarter of section 27 and called it Grandview. The site at present is owned by John Mclaughlin. The town was surveyed by J. M. Laird, October 5, 1857, and was deeded to the future lot holders, April 14, 1858, which deed was approved by the county judge, John Pitzer, and recorded June 1, 1858, in Book "E," page 527. The town was laid out in forty-two blocks of twelve lots each; each lot is 56x168 feet. Two streets running through the town are 100 feet wide; the other streets are each eighty feet wide.
William Heaton then proceeded to sell town lots in Grandview under the following contract : He obligated himself to invest the entire proceeds, less the expense of the sale of these lots, for the purpose of instituting and maintaining a seminary of the highest grade, in which shall be taught all branches usually taught in similar literary institutions, the proceeds to be invested as follows :
(1) One block to be reserved for the seminary building.
(2) One-quarter of a block to be reserved for a primary school buikling.
(3) One-quarter of a block each for three churches, the denominations to be selected by a majority vote of those who may purchase the other forty blocks.
(4) All the remainder to be invested in the erection and maintenance of the seminary.
Then there followed a long agreement as to appraisement, selection and pay- ment of these lots. Purchasers were to meet 12 M., June 15, 1858, to make selec- tion of lots. It was also to be inserted in the deed that if owner permitted the sale of intoxicating liquors, or gambling, he would forfeit said lots for use of the seminary.
Herman Mueller has in his possession one of these contracts made with Ira C. Walker, October 5, 1857, signed by William Heaton and Ira C. Walker. Said Heaton agreed that on the 18th day of June, 1858, or when the purchasers met to select said lots, that he would file a bond for $50,000.00, to faithfully dispose of funds coming into his hands by said sale of lots. Davies' History states that in the summer of 1858 Mr. Heaton and quite a large number of citizens met on the ground, and speeches were made by B. F. Roberts and others, setting forth the great importance of a seminary of learning at this point, etc.
"From some cause, the praiseworthy enterprise was abandoned and there is nothing to this day to show for the Town of Grandview but the stakes that were driven in the ground to mark the lots." Davies' History was published in 1860, eleven years later. Mr. Heaton lived in Lee Township until about 1885 or 1886, when he returned to Illinois, where he was a large property owner. He died several years ago. His son, Daniel Heaton, lived at Greenfield, lowa, for many years ; another son, Abner, lived on the Lee Township farm and now lives at Greenfield. A son, Jester Heaton, lives at Winfield, Kansas. The old settlers
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in Lee Township can relate many stories and anecdotes concerning the eccentrici- ties of "Uncle Billy" IIeaton.
Worthington .- This town was laid out and platted by John Todd and George T. Nichols, November 5. 1857, and was recorded March 31, 1858. This plat consisted of eight blocks, four blocks on either side of the public highway running south of the present Worthington Church. The location is as follows: Com- mencing at the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 32, township 77, range 28, Madison Township, thence running east 5.25 chains, thence south 21 chains, thence west 10.50 chains, thence north 21.05 chains, thence east to the place of beginning. John Todd owned the west four blocks and G. T. Nichols the east four blocks. The land is at present owned by D. H. Tough and Christian Frey. Mr. Todd was an uncle of John M. Hurst. a son of Iliram Hurst, who was the first settler in Madison County. George T. Nichols was the father of Mrs. Walter Vance, of Winterset, and Vinton Nichols and Charles Nichols, who lived in Madison Township for many years. Some lots were sold in this new town as shown by the transfer book in the auditor's office. Several dwelling houses were built, in which families lived, and also a store building was put up by John Todd and William Hudson, father of Tom lludson, of Winterset, in 1859. Soon after Mr. Iludson died, so no store was ever conducted at that time. John Whitenack bought the store building and moved it to his farm and used it for a dwelling. Dave Parsons, Frank Clampitt and Wil- liam Clampitt lived in the town at one time. There were two blacksmith shops in this place at one time. The following is taken from the Madisonian, Vol. 2, No. 11. issued Saturday, September 18, 1858:
"Worthington .- This is the name of a new town recently laid out in Madison Township, this county, through the enterprise of Messrs. Todd and Nichols, the gentlemanly proprietors. It is beautifully located on a smooth prairie on the State Road leading from our city to Panora, and about midway between these places. We expect in time it will make a thriving village. The place has lately received a new accession in the shape of a two-horse, big-fisted, double-breasted blacksmith, and he has thrown out a banter that he will wrestle or run with any man that wants his horse shod, and if he is thrown down ( the other to take his choice of holdl), or outrun, he will shoe the horse for nothing, but if he is the victor he is to have double pay. The match is to come off at Worthington next Saturday, and a large concourse will undoubtedly witness the fun."
Possibly some of the old settlers can furnish the name of that blacksmith and tell whether the match ever came off.
A postoffice was established June 19, 1801, called North P. O., with Alexander Kirkland' as the first postmaster. On October 18, 1863, William H. Clampitt became the postmaster, holding his position until March 13, 1866, when George T. Nichols took over the responsibility. A. M. Clements received the appointment April 30, 1868, and the postoffice was discontinued Angust 4. 1809. This was about the time that the Rock Island Railroad was built west from Des Moines to Omaha. Earlham was laid out and a postoffice was established there. . AH hopes of building a town at Worthington had vanished now. However, the neighborhood still retains the name of Worthington. The plat was recorded in deed record "E" on page 505.
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The widow of George T. Nichols died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Vance, January 2, 1909.
Some time about 1853 or 1854 the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company made their first survey from Davenport to Omaha, passing through Madison Township, south of the present road. Derrick Bennett having entered the northeast quarter of section 16, in 1852, and thinking that he would be the first to grasp the opportunity, laid out a town site on his land in 1854. He had the stakes set to hold the site, but the next survey of the railroad was made about a mile farther north than the first one, running up and along Bulger Creek, now the present line of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, leaving Mr. Bennett's town out on the prairie. No notes of the surveyor were kept, so no record is to be found. All the information came direct from Mr. Bennett himself. lle sold the farm in 1855 to "Uncle Billy" Barnett, who lived on it until his death a few years ago. Mr. Bennett moved to Winterset, where he lived until a few years ago, when he went to Des Moines. He died recently at the home of his son.
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