USA > Iowa > Marion County > History of Marion County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 10
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
"Therefore, Resolved by the board of supervisors of Marion County, Iowa, that said offer be accepted and that contract for the erection and construction of said building, so modified as above stated in said offer, be let to and made with the said Charles A. Moses, and that he be required to execute a bond as provided in the printed instructions to bidders, signed by the chairman of said board and the county attorney of said county."
The next day the board ordered the issue of county bonds to the amount of $80,000, and Mr. Moses immediately began work on the new courthouse. Early in the year 1896 arrangements were made with the Masonic fraternity to lay the corner-stone. A stone was prepared by the contractor, under the direction of the county attor- ney, with appropriate inscriptions showing when and by whom the
89
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
stone was laid. It seems there was some objection to this plan, and on February 25, 1896, the board adopted the following resolution :
"That the board will lay the corner-stone of the new courthouse on March 3, 1896, and that they deposit the following named articles therein : One Bible, one copy of each newspaper published in the county ; and that each church organization and each secret charitable society organization be invited to place in the hands of the members of the aforesaid board copies of their by-laws and constitutions to be deposited in said stone; also that there be a list of the names of all county and township officers, naming their respective offices, de- posited therein, and that all banking institutions of the county be invited to deposit a list of the names of their officers and a list show- ing the amount of capital invested, if they so desire; and that the Masonic names, figures and inscriptions be erased and in lieu thereof 'A. D. 1896' be cut in large letters and figures."
The courthouse was completed and accepted by the board on December 30, 1896. It is a substantial stone edifice, three stories in height, surmounted by a tower in which is a large clock that strikes the hours upon a bell that can be heard all over the city. The first and second floors are devoted to the county offices and the third floor is fitted up for court and jury rooms, etc.
THE JAIL
For many years after Marion County was organized no attempts were made on the part of the county authorities to build a county jail. Perhaps the oldest entry in the county records relating to the subject of a jail is that of December 31, 1857, to-wit :
"Now on this day is taken up the matter of payment for building a house to be used as a county jail, for the use of Marion County in the State of Iowa; and whereas
"E. G. Stanfield, mayor, and C. G. Brobst, recorder, of the city of Knoxville, in said county, having constructed on the east end of the middle one-third of lot No. 3, in block No. 1, in said city, a house or place suitable for a house of imprisonment, and having conveyed to said county the right and use of said house of imprison- ment for the use and benefit of said county for the term of two years from the ist day of September, 1857, with an understanding that the county aforesaid is to have a perpetual right to the house and the right to use the same on the above described premises for the term of two years from the Ist day of September, 1857, with the under- standing on the part of said county that it is to be the place of im-
90
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
prisonment, or the county jail within and for said county, and that the said county shall pay the said recorder or mayor for the use of the incorporation of said city the sum of fifty-six and sixty-six one hundredths dollars ($56.66) for the rights and privileges above men- tioned. Therefore, it is
"Ordered, That the same house aforesaid be used as the county jail of said county, and that a warrant issue to said recorder for the use of the said city or incorporation thereof, for the amount afore- said.
F. M. FRUSH, County Judge."
Block No. 1 in the original survey of Knoxville is located directly south of the public square. The building referred to in the above order of the County Court had been erected by the city authorities for a municipal prison. The records do not show whether the arrangement between the county and city was renewed at the expiration of the two years, though the county may have continued the use of the building for a longer period. On January 9, 1864, on motion of George W. Martin, the following resolution was adopted by the county board of supervisors :
"Resolved, That the chairman of the board be, and he is hereby, authorized to contract with the city council of the City of Pella for the use of their calaboose, to be used as a county jail, and report his doings in the premises at the next regular meeting of the board."
A careful search of the minutes of the "next regular meeting" fails to reveal any report from the chairman, but it is known that some sort of agreement was made with the City of Pella and that the county prisoners were for a time confined in the Pella city prison.
About 1879 a proposition was submitted to the voters of the county to erect a county jail, but it was defeated at the polls. In June, 1881, the board of supervisors ordered that the question be again submitted to the voters at the November election in that year. The majority of votes again defeated the proposition and still Marion County was without a jail. A little later an arrangement was made with the supervisors of Monroe County by which prisoners from Marion County could be confined in the jail at Albia. This con- tinued for some time, when a room in the courthouse at Knoxville was fitted up with cells and used as a jail. On December 15, 1896, the board allowed Charles L. Wund the sum of $481 for placing jail cells in the new courthouse, where county prisoners were incar- cerated until the erection of the present jail, in the southern part
91
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
of the City of Knoxville, under the following resolution of April 3, 1900:
"Be it resolved by the Board of Supervisors of Marion County, Iowa, at their regular April session, to construct a county jail for the use and benefit of said county. Having a proposition on file by the Pauly Jail Manufacturing Company to erect and complete said jail ready for occupancy as per plans and specifications now on file in the auditor's office, said jail not to cost exceeding $4,583, on motion of John D. Bates, seconded by R. A. Pilmer, to award said Pauly Jail Company said contract, was carried unanimously by said board, said jail to be ready for occupancy by August 15, 1900."
The jail was completed and occupied in September, 1900. It is a plain, substantial brick structure, with stone foundation, iron roof and doors and steel cells, and while not as large as the jails of some other counties, it has so far been ample for the needs of the county. By the order of the board of supervisors on January 16, 1902, the sheriff was directed to employ the prisoners in the jail upon the streets of the City of Knoxville and the public highways; to purchase such tools as might be necessary, and to appoint a special deputy, to be approved by the board of supervisors, to guard the prisoners while at work or in going to and from the jail.
THE COUNTY FARM
Most of the early settlers of Marion County were of that hardy, robust type, well calculated by nature and training to overcome the difficulties to be found in a frontier settlement, and were as a rule self-sustaining. There were a few, however, who became public charges through misfortune, such as ill health, etc., and these unfor- tunates were boarded by the county in private families. Aid in the way of fuel and provisions was supplied by the county to families partially indigent, and sometimes a pauper was sent out of the state at the public expense.
This plan of caring for the poor was found to be quite expensive and subject to abuse. It is said that in some cases the county has paid as high as $+ per week for boarding a pauper, when others were obtaining equally as good accommodations for three-fourths that sum. Provisions, clothing and other supplies bought and paid for by the supervisors, commissioners or County Court, fre- quently helped to support those who were physically able to earn a living. Under these conditions it was proposed to establish a home for the poor.
92
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
The first record that can be found pertaining to the subject of a poor farm is that of October 15, 1861, when a committee of the board of supervisors, appointed to investigate the matter, reported. W. P. Cowman and William Blain, a majority of the committee, reported : "That owing to the great pecuniary depression we would not recommend any proceedings in regard to the purchase of a farm for the poor at present."
This report was rejected by the board and the minority report (name of committeeman submitting it not given) was adopted, recommending the purchase of a farm and the erection thereon of a poor house, etc. The next day the board appointed J. F. Baldwin, Joseph Clark and J. B. Davis a committee "to ascertain the most suitable location for a poor farm," the cost of which was not to exceed $2,000. On January 11, 1862, the committee reported in favor of buying Samuel Fortner's farm of 220 acres, located five and one-half miles east of Knoxville. The report also stated that there were valuable coal deposits on the farm, and that the property could be bought for $3,000, or perhaps a little less. As this sum was in ex- cess of that authorized by the board and the nation was then involved in civil war, which entailed heavy expense upon every county in the Union, no further action was taken and the question of establishing a home for the poor was permitted to lie dormant until the close of the war.
To enable the county board to meet the necessary expenditures incident to the building and equipment of a county infirmary, it was decided to levy a special tax upon the property of the county. But no special tax could be levied without first receiving the approval of those who would have to pay such tax. Consequently the question was submitted to the voters of the county in 1865, when a majority expressed themselves in favor of the establishment of such an insti- tution. D. F. Young, Joseph Metcalf and David T. Durham were appointed a committee to select and recommend a location. They reported in favor of a tract of land belonging to Elisha Elliott, located in section 14, township 75, range 20, about two miles south- west of the City of Knoxville. This tract was purchased on Decem- ber 15, 1865, for a consideration of $1,200. In the spring of 1866 the land was fenced and a part of it was broken for cultivation. In July of that year a contract was awarded to Jacob Reichard for the erection of a three-story frame building for $4,450. In this build- ing the lower floor was arranged for kitchen, dining room and stores, and the second and third floors were fitted up for living rooms and sleeping apartments.
93
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Such was Marion County's first poorhouse. The original build- ing is still standing, but a large addition has since been erected and more land purchased, so that the farm now consists of 280 acres. A heating plant was installed a few years ago, at a cost of over fifteen hundred dollars, and a waterworks system, at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. The value of the entire property, as given in the auditor's report for 1913, was $42,000, and the income from the farm for that year amounted to $2,303.63. The total cost of maintenance for the year was $6,797.57. While some of the other counties of the state may have more imposing structures for housing the poor, the accommodations offered by Marion County are of such a character that a comfortable home is assured to those who, through misfor- tunes, are unable to support themselves. But not all the poor of the county are kept in the institution established for their benefit. Dur- ing the year 1913 nearly as much money was expended by the county in caring for the poor outside of the infirmary as was expended in its support, the amount, according to the auditor's report, being $6,590.98.
HOME FOR THE AGED
While this is not a public institution in the sense that it is sup- ported by the county, it is of such a character that it is entitled to a place in this chapter. The Home for the Aged is located at Pella and is under the control of an organization known as the Christian Benevolent Association, which was incorporated on April 30, 1907. Article 3 of the articles of incorporation sets forth that:
"The object and purpose of this corporation shall be to erect and provide a comfortable house, which shall be named 'Home for the Aged,' and to that end it shall have the power to raise money by subscription, and to acquire title to both real estate and personal property of whatsoever nature, by gift, purchase, bequest or devise, and to hold and dispose of the same for the benefit of the corpora- tion and to borrow money and execute notes and mortgages on its property therefor. The object is also to acquire title to the 'East Market Square' in the City of Pella, Marion County, Iowa, accord- ing to the plat thereof recorded June 12, 1848, and to erect a 'Home for the Aged' and other buildings thereon for the use of those who may become its inmates under the provisions of its by-laws."
'Title to the East Market Square was acquired and before the close of the year 1907 a building was erected thereon for the "Home," at a cost of $12,000. Subsequently a $4,000 addition was built, the
94
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
money for the original building and the addition having been raised by subscription. The institution is under the management of a board of twelve directors-eight men and four women-but is under the immediate supervision of a "Father and Mother," who are subject to certain rules and regulations. In 1914 J. Dykstra was president of the board of directors; J. S. Rhynsburger was secretary, and Mr. and Mrs. A. Bliek held the positions of father and mother. The annual election of directors is held on the first Tuesday in May. Every person who contributes one dollar or more annually is entitled to vote. A life membership in the association may be obtained for twenty dollars, and the directors have the power to issue stock, not exceeding $10,000 at any one time, for the purpose of perpetuating the institution. Persons sixty years of age or older are eligible for admission to the home, upon payment of a certain sum and agreeing to abide by the rules and regulations laid down by the board. The institution has been a popular one from the beginning and has been kept constantly filled to its capacity, with a number of applications on file for admission.
THE INEBRIATE HOSPITAL
Although this is a state institution, it is located at Knoxville and its history constitutes a part of that of Marion County. In 1888 the Legislature made an appropriation of $1,000 and appointed commissioners to investigate and report on the best method of fur- nishing employment to the adult blind within the State of Iowa. Upon the reception of their report the Legislature passed an act, which was approved by the governor on April 23, 1890, appropriat- ing $40,000 to build and equip an "Industrial Home for the Blind," with a capacity of 200 inmates. Half the appropriation was to be expended on workshops and a steam heating plant; $4,000 for a men's building and a similar sum for a women's building, the re- mainder to be used as the commissioners might elect. The act also authorized the governor to appoint five commissioners, one of whom should be a woman, to select a location and erect the buildings.
It was also provided in the act that the commissioners might purchase a site, in case a suitable one was not donated by some county or city that wanted the institution. The people of Knoxville became interested and offered the commissioners fifty acres of land, which was accepted and the Industrial Home for the Blind was opened on January 1, 1892, with F. S. Whiting as superintendent. The first board of trustees consisted of J. H. Nichols, L. T. Rich- mond, John B. Elliott, Miss Lorana Mattice, John Killen and
95
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Robert Colbert. The first three as above named were president, secretary and treasurer of the board, respectively.
Mr. Whiting was succeeded as superintendent by M. C. Gebhart, who served until 1896, when Cambridge Culbertson, of Knoxville, was appointed and held the position until the institution was aban- doned in 1900. During the time the home was in existence its in- mates made brooms, hammocks, cane chair seats, bead work and some other articles. The institution was intended as a home for such adult blind as were able to work at some occupation, but the opinion be- came prevalent that it was intended for all the adult blind, without regard to whether they were workers or not, and this may have had some influence upon the situation that led to the discontinuance of the home by the state.
By the act of the Legislature, approved on April 12, 1902, it was provided that "dipsomaniacs, inebriates and persons addicted to the excessive use of narcotics" might be treated in one or more of the insane hospitals of the state. After trying this plan for about two years the state decided, through the Legislature, to convert the abandoned home for the blind into a hospital for such cases. Ac- cordingly, on April 6, 1904, Governor Cummins approved an act, the first section of which is as follows :
"The Industrial Home for the Adult Blind at Knoxville shall hereafter be called the State Hospital for Inebriates and shall be used for the detention, care and treatment of all male dipsomaniacs, inebri- ates and persons addicted to the excessive use of morphine, cocaine or other narcotic drugs."
An appropriation of $125,000 was made for the purchase of ad- ditional land, domestic animals, tools, implements, etc., and before the summer was over the new institution was opened for the recep- tion of patients. Since then 300 acres of land adjoining the original site have been purchased, giving the hospital a tract of 350 acres immediately outside the city limits of Knoxville to the northwest. Additional buildings have been erected, an artesian well drilled, and in 1914 a large clay working industry was established. At the time the institution was discontinued as the Industrial Home for the Adult Blind it had thirty-seven inmates, who were returned to the counties from which they had been admitted at the expense of the state. At the beginning of the year 1915 the number of inmates in the Inebriate Hospital was 187, with Dr. George Donahoe in charge as superin- tendent. About that time Doctor Donahoe was appointed superin- tendent of the Cherokee State Hospital and was succeeded in the Knoxville institution by Doctor Mackin.
PUBLA ABRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
CHAPTER VI
TOWNSHIP HISTORY
INTRODUCTION OF THE TOWNSHIP SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES - ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZING CIVIL TOWNSHIPS IN IOWA -MARION COUNTY DIVIDED INTO TEN TOWNSHIPS IN JANUARY, 1847-LIST OF TOWNSHIPS IN 1914-CLAY-DALLAS-FRANKLIN -INDIANA-KNOXVILLE-LAKE PRAIRIE - LIBERTY - LOCATION AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EACH-EARLY SETTLERS AND INCIDENTS - PRESENT-DAY CONDITIONS - SCHOOLS - RAILROADS, ETC.
The township system in the United States dates back to 1635, when the Massachusetts General Court enacted that, "Whereas, par- ticular townships have many things which concern only themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs and disposing of business in their own town, the freemen of every township, or a majority part of them, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appurtenances of said town, to grant lots, and to make such order as may concern the well-ordering of their own towns not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the General Court."
Four years later the system was introduced in the Connecticut colony, and as civilization extended westward the township was made a component part of each new state. On January 10, 1840, while lowa was still a territory, Governor Lucas approved an act of the Territorial Legislature providing for the division of the sev- eral organized counties of lowa into civil townships. Marion County was not organized until five years after the passage of this act, but it was under its provisions that the first civil townships were established in the county.
In March, 1846, as narrated in Chapter IV, the county was di- vided into voting precincts, but these subdivisions did not take the name of townships. The first townships were erected by the board of county commissioners on January 6, 1847, when the county was divided into ten civil townships, to-wit: Cincinnati, Clay, Indiana, Vol. I -- 7
97
98
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Jefferson, Knoxville, Lake, Liberty, Pleasant Grove, Red Rock and Washington. The name of Cincinnati Township was subsequently changed to Perry, and other townships have been created until there are now fifteen, viz: Clay, Dallas, Franklin, Indiana, Knoxville, Lake Prairie, Liberty, Perry, Pleasant Grove, Polk, Red Rock, Summit, Swan, Union and Washington.
CLAY TOWNSHIP
This township is one of the eastern tier. As originally established by the order of January 6, 1847, it embraced "That part of town- ships 75 and 76, range 18, lying south of the Des Moines River," and it is one of the few townships in the county that retains the original boundary lines. It is bounded on the north by the Des Moines River, which separates it from the Township of Lake Prairie ; on the east by Mahaska County; on the south by Liberty Township, and on the west by Knoxville and Polk. Its area is about thirty-five square miles. English Creek flows eastwardly across the northern part and empties into the Des Moines River near the Town of Harvey, Cedar Creek crosses the southeast corner. Its principal tributary is Walnut Creek. Along the streams the surface is somewhat broken, but the greater part is undulating prairie with a fertile soil, well adapted to all the crops grown in this section of the state. At the time the township was erected a large majority of the voters were admirers of the celebrated Kentucky statesman, Henry Clay, and it was named in his honor.
It is believed that the first white men to attempt a settlement in what is now Clay township were David T. Durham and Andrew Foster, who visited that part of the county in the summer or fall of 1842, in company with a man named Clark. The following year Durham and Foster returned to the claims they had selected and Andrew Foster built the first house in the township. Clark sought a residence elsewhere. Closely behind these two pioneers came Thomas Kirtan, John Linpod, Benajah Williams and Matthew Ruple, all of whom settled in the township in 1843. The next year the little colony was increased by the addition of John and Garrett G. Harsin, Thomas Gregory, Andrew C. Sharp, Thomas Tong. Squire B. Zane, Jasper Koons, John Wise, David Gushwa, Francis A. Barker and a few others.
Matthew Ruple's daughter Frances, born on Aug. 26, 1843, was the first white child born in Marion County. She grew to woman- hood in Clay Township and became the wife of Albert Spaur.
MR. AND MRS. SPAUR
Mrs. Frances (Ruple) Spaur was the first white child born in Marion County. Date of birth. August 26, 1843.
TI
99
HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY
Prior to its organization as Clay Township, this section of the county was a part of Cedar precinct. The first election held in that precinct was on the first Monday in August, 1846, when Benajah Williams and Sennet Ramey were elected justices of the peace and Elias Williams constable, within the limits of what is now Clay Township. When the township was organized the house of Jasper Koons was designated as the place of holding the first election, at which John R. Whaley and Garrett G. Harsin were chosen justices of the peace, and David T. Durham, clerk. The first election of which a full and accurate record can be found was held at the house of Jasper Koons on April 2, 1848. Thomas Gregory, Elias Moore and Andrew C. Sharp were elected trustees; John Randall, justice of the peace ; David T. Durham, clerk; Francis A. Barker, inspector, and Jasper Koons, treasurer.
Among the pioneers of this township were two men-David Dur- ham and Francis A. Barker-who became somewhat prominent in the affairs of the county. Mr. Durham was born in Belfast, Maine, July 7, 1792, and in 1828 removed to Morgan County, Ohio. He was later employed at Ramey's salt works, on the Muskingum River, until he learned the business, when he engaged in the manufacture of salt on his own account. In 1838 he decided to go farther west, and settled in Jefferson County, Iowa. Five years later he located in what is now Clay Township, and when the county was organized in 1845 he was elected a member of the first board of county com- missioners. He was also the first mail carrier between Oskaloosa and Knoxville. His death occurred on March 15, 1866.
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.