USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county, Vol. 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 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
.
91
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Snodgrass, Robert, July 16, 1853; west half of northeast quarter, sec- tion 3, township 67, range 36; eighty-one acres.
Short, Cornelius R., December 29, 1853; lot No. I, section 36, township 67, range 36; forty-seven acres.
Scarlett, William W., September 9, 1853; southeast quarter of north- east quarter, section 13, township 68, range 36; forty acres.
Sparks, William, July 23, 1853; north half of north half of northeast quarter, section 15, township 68, range 37 ; forty acres.
Stafford, Robert W., December 17, 1853 ; east half of northwest quarter and northwest quarter of northwest quarter, section 27, township 69, range 36; one hundred and twenty acres.
THE FIRST TOWNSHIPS.
As we have before stated, only two townships, Buchanan and Nodaway, were organized at first. This was long before the organization of the county. As the county grew older and the population began to increase, it became necessary in a short time to organize new townships. As near as we can ascertain, there being no records in existence prior to 1858, Tarkio and Nebraska townships were next organized. January 20, 1858, the townships were again reorganized, as follows :
"Be it known that on this, the 20th day of January, 1858, it is ordered by the judge of Page county, Iowa, that so much of said county as may be in- cluded in congressional township number 70, north of range 36 west, be, and the same is hereby declared to constitute one municipal township, to be known and designated 'Dyke township,' in which the elections required by law shall be holden at such place in said township as the trustees thereof may direct.
"Be it known that on this the 20th day of January, 1858, it is ordered by the judge of the county of Page, in the state of Iowa, that so much of said county as may be included in congressional township number 70, north of range 37, and 38 west, be and the same are declared to constitute one mu- nicipal township, which shall be known and designated 'Douglas township,' in which the elections required by law shall be holden at such place in said township, as the trustees thereof may direct.
"Be it known that on this the 20th day of January, 1858, it is ordered by the judge of the county of Page, in the state of Iowa, that so much of said county of Page as may be included in congressional township number 70. north of range number 39 west, be and the same is hereby declared to constitute one municipal township, which shall be known and designated as 'Pierce township,' in which the elections required by law shall be holden at such place in said township as the trustees thereof may direct.
"Be it known that on this the 20th day of January, A. D., 1858, it is or- dered by the judge of the county of Page, in the state of Iowa, that as much of said county as may be included in congressional township number 68, and 69, north of range 38 and 39, be and the same are hereby declared to constitute one municipal township, which shall be known and designated
92
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
'Tarkio township,' in which the elections required by law shall be holden at such place in said township as the trustees thereof may direct.
"Be it known that on this the 20th day of January, A. D., 1858, it was ordered by the judge of the county of Page in the state of Iowa, that so much of the county of Page as may be included in congressional townships Nos. 68 and 69, north of range No. 37 west, and also so much of said county as may be included in congressional townships Nos. 68 and 69, north of range 36 west, and west of a line running north through said town- ships last mentioned, from the southeast corner of section 32 in said township 68, north of range 36, on the eastern boundary of said townships and range last aforesaid, then east on the southern boundary of said sec- tion 16, eighty rods; thence north parallel with the western boundary of said section 16, until an extension of said line shall intersect the base line ; then west on said base line to the southeast corner of section 33, in township 69, north of range 36 west ; then north on the eastern boundary of said section last aforesaid to the northeast corner of section 4, in town- ship and range last aforesaid, be, and the same is hereby declared to con- stitute one municipal township, which shall be known and designated as Nodaway township, in which the elections required by law shall be holden in said township at such place as the trustees thereof may direct.
"Be it known that on this the 20th day of January, A. D., 1858, it is ordered by the judge of the county of Page, in the state of Iowa, that so much of said county as may be included in the congressional township, No. 69, north of range 36, west, east of a line running north from the southeast corner of section 33, to the northeast corner of section 4 in said township and range be, and the same is hereby declared to constitute one municipal township to be known and designated as Nebraska township, in which the elections required by law shall be holden at such place in said township as the trustees thereof shall direct.
"Be it known that on this the 2d day of March, A. D., 1858, it was ordered by the judge of the county of Page in the state of Iowa, that so much of the township of Dyke as may be west of the congressional sec- tion line running north through congressional township number 70, north of range 36 west and commencing at the southeast corner of section 32 in said congressional township be, and is hereby stricken from said Dyke township, and attached to and made a part of the township of Douglas.
"Be it known that on this the 20th day of January, 1858, it is ordered by the judge of the county of Page, in the state of Iowa, that so much of said county as may be included in congressional townships, number 67, north of range, 37, 38 and 39 west, together with one-half mile in width off of the full length of the west side of township 67, north of range 36 west, be and the same is hereby declared to constitute one municipal town- ship, which shall be known and designated 'Amity township,' in which the elections required by law shall be holden at such place in said municipal township as the trustees thereof shall direct.
"Be it known that on this the Ist day of November, A. D., 1858, in open court, is ordered by the county judge of said county that a new municipal
93
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
township be created to be known as Washington township, to be bounded as follows: beginning at the northeast corner of section 25 in township 68, north of range number 38 west, thence west with the section line to the county line between Page and Fremont counties, thence south to the county line, thence east along the county line until a prolongation of said line inter- sect the range line between townships 37 and 38, thence north to the place of the beginning."
On the county judge's minute book under date of June 7, 1858, appears the following :
"And now a petition is presented, signed by Lewis Hunt and a majority of the citizens of Pierce township, Page county, asking the court that so much of Douglas township as may be west of section line dividing sections 32 and 33, and extending north may be stricken from said Douglas town- ship and attached to Pierce township, whereupon the court ordered such change and decreed that so much of Douglas township, as now constituted, as lies west of said section line dividing sections 32 and 33, be and the same hereby is constituted a part of Pierce township."
August 3, 1858, there was filed in the county judge's office a petition, asking that the name of Dyke township be changed to that of Valley, and consequently on the 6th day of September, 1858, a petition was granted and the township has since been known and designated as Valley township.
October 1, 1860, by order of J. Simonton, county judge, the boundaries of the various townships were again changed, his order reading as follows :
"Congressional township 67, range 38 and range 39, shall constitute the municipal township of Washington.
"Congressional township 67, range 37, shall constitute the mnuicipal township of Amity.
"Congressional township 67, range 36, shall constitute the municipal township of Buchanan.
"Congressional township 68, range 36, shall constitute a new municipal township, to be known and hailed as East River township, in which the first election shall be held at the house of John Fisher, and afterwards at such place as the trustees thereof may designate.
"Congressional township 68, range 37, except sections I and 2 and the north half of sections II and 12, shall constitute a new municipal township, to be known and hailed as Harlan township, in which the first election shall be held at the house of Eli McNutt and afterward at such place as the trus- tees thereof may designate.
"Congressional township 68, range 38 and range 39, shall constitute a new municipal township, to be known and hailed as Lincoln township, in which the first election shall be held at Skinner's schoolhouse, and afterwards at such place as the trustees thereof may designate.
"Congressional township 69, range 38 and range 39, shall constitute the municipal township of Tarkio.
"Congressional township 69, range 37, also the west half of township 69, range 36, and section 27, and the north half of section 34, and southwest quarter of section 34. in township 69, range 36, also sections I and 2 and
94
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
north half of sections II and 12, in township 68, range 37, shall constitute the municipal township of Nodaway.
"The east half of congressional township 69, range 36, except section 27 and the north half of section 34, and southwest quarter of section 34, shall constitute the municipal township of Nebraska.
"Congressional township 70, range 36, shall constitute the municipal township of Valley.
"Congressional township 70, range 37, shall constitute the municipal township of Douglas.
"Congressional township 70, range 38, shall constitute the municipal township of Fremont.
"Congressional township 70, range 39, shall constitute the municipal township of Pierce."
EARLY COUNTY COURT.
Prior to 1861 Iowa had a county judge system and this judge was a sort of supreme ruler of the county realm. Major Connor was the first judge, his term being carried out, however, by William L. Burge. S. F. Snider served from 1853-55 ; John Wilson 1855-57 ; and S. F. Snider, 1857-58. A. H. East, prosecuting attorney, filled out Snider's last term and I. H. Walker was elected in 1858 and Jacob Simonton in 1859. From 1861 on each township had one supervisor and that board made the laws for the county and the county judge simply did probate business until 1869, when the office was entirely abolished. The first record of a county court appears as follows.in the minute book :
State of Iowa,
Page County.
Be it known that on the night of the 12th of January, 1858, all the books and papers belonging to the office of County Judge of Page county, to- gether with the building in which they were kept, were destroyed by fire. It is therefore ordered by this court that there be furnished new books in which to keep the record of said court.
In testimony hereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of Page county. Done at Clarinda in said county this the fifteenth day of January, 1858.
A. H. EAST,
Prosecuting Attorney and ex officio County Judge.
It will be understood that no earlier county records are obtainable on account of the above fire. At the January term of 1858, what was styled Dyke township, was set off. It comprised congressional township number 70, of range 36 west. It was named valley township the next September, by a petition presented to the county court.
At this same January term the following subdivisions of Page county were set apart as civil townships :
Douglas, comprising congressional township number 70 north, of ranges 37 and 38 west.
95
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Pierce, comprising congressional township number 70 north, of range 39.
Tarkio, comprising congressional townships number 68 and 69 north, of ranges 38 and 39.
Nodaway, comprising congressional townships number 68 and 69 north, of range 37 west ; also that in 68 and 69 north, of range 36 west.
Nebraska, comprising congressional township number 69 north, of range 36 west, east from a line running north from the southeast corner of section 33 to the northeast corner of section 34 in said township and range.
Amity township was formed of congressional township number 67 north, of ranges 37, 38 and 39, with a fractional strip a half mile wide on the east.
At the November term Washington township was created, beginning at the northeast corner of section 25, in township 68 north, of range 38 west, thence west with the section line, between Page county and Fremont county, thence south to the county line, thence east along said line, until it intersects the range line between townships 37 and 38, thence north to place of be- ginning.
At this time the board of equalization consisted of Hon. S. F. Snider, county judge; Jacob Loy, sheriff ; L. H. Wilder, district clerk; and John Buckingham, assessor. They agreed on the following assessment on Page county lands :
Township
Range
Improved
Unimproved
67
36
$6.00
$3.00
68
36
6.00
3.00
69
36
7.00
4.00
70
37
6.00
3.00
67
37
6.00
3.00
68
37
5.00
3.00
69
37
6.00
4.00
70
37
4.00
3.00
67
38
4.00
3.00
68
38
4.00
3.00
69
38
4.00
3.00
70
38
4.00
3.00
67
39
5.00
2.00
68
39
5.00
2.00
69
39
5.00
2.00
70
39
5.00
3.00
The total assessed valuation of all property in Page county in August, 1859, was one million, one hundred and eighty-one thousand, six hundred and twenty-eight dollars.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.
There was but little of importance took place in the county court through- out the years 1859 and 1860. January 1, 1861, found a new era ushering it- self in on the management of county government all over Iowa. The pre-
96
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
vious legislature had enacted a new law by which a board of county supervi- sion took many of the former duties and responsibilities of the county judge, who had been sole ruler of his people. Under this law each township in the county was entitled to a representation by a member of the board.
The board for 1861 consisted of the following: P. West, Valley township ; J. L. Black, Douglas township; Wilson Bellis, Fremont township ; M. A. Jones, Pierce township; George Miller, Tarkio township: George Ribble, Nodaway township; Elisha Thomas, Nebraska township: Moses Thompson, East River township; William Butler, Harlan township; John Monzingo. Lincoln township; James Hamill, Washington township; J. A. Reed, Amity township; Robert Maxwell. Buchanan township.
Charles Linderman was clerk of the board. The oath each member was required to take was as follows:
"We do solemnly swear that we will support the Constitution of the United States and of Iowa, and will faithfully and to the best of our ability discharge the duties of a county supervisor. So help me. God."
It should be remembered that this oath had much significance before the next four years of the Civil war had passed.
George Ribble was chosen as chairman of the first board of supervisors.
Board of 1862: William Orme, of Valley; J. L. Black, of Douglas : Wilson Bellis, of Fremont; C. W. Foster, of Tarkio: William Graves. of Nebraska : Moses Thompson, of East River ; William Butler, of Harlan : D. C. McCord, of Washington : George Ribble (chairman), of Nodaway.
At the September session of 1862, D. C. McCord, of Washington town- ship, offered the following preamble and resolutions :
Whereas, Many of our citizens have left their homes and families and are now engaged in battling for the maintenance of the laws of our country and to suppress the present rebellion : and whereas, we deem it our absolute duty to provide for the wants of the families of our soldiers who are in need. and therefore be it resolved, that we hereby assure our friends absent in the field, that their families shall not suffer for the want of sympathy, or for the necessaries of life to make them comfortable while they are absent or in case of their death.
Second: That we do hereby appoint and constitute the members of the board from each township a special agent to enroll the names of the families of soldiers in their several townships, and report the same to the board. That they shall inquire after the condition of and make provision for the wants of such families and report at the next meeting of the board of super- visors.
Third: That if necessary for the procurement of any article deemed necessary for the family of any soldier from Page county, the clerk of the board be and is hereby authorized to draw a warrant on the treasurer for the amount designated by the agent of the township where the destitute person or family reside, and the same to be expended for such purpose.
Fourth : That an appropriation of the sum of one thousand dollars, or so much of it as may be needed to carry out the provisions of this act, be and hereby is made.
97
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
Upon the vote for this measure, the board stood with a unanimous voice.
Board of 1863: George Ribble (chairman), Nodaway; William Orme, of Valley ; J. L. Black, of Douglas; W. Bellis, of Fremont ; D. S. Hunt, of Pierce; C. W. Foster, of Tarkio; William Graves, of Nebraska; Moses Thompson, of East River; William Butler, of Harlan; John Monzingo, of Lincoln ; James Hamill, of Washington ; Joseph A. Reed, of Amity ; Robert Maxwell, of Buchanan.
At the September session the board sold the swamp land interest of Page county to the American Emigration Company, for the sum of two thou- sand, five hundred dollars.
At their December (1863) session, William Butler of Harlan township, offered the subjoined resolution :
That the board of supervisors of Page county do hereby appropriate the sum of fifty dollars to each person who will volunteer in the Union army, to fill the quota of this county at the present call, or to fill any call that may hereafter be made, said sum to be payable one-half July 1, 1864, and one- half July 1, 1865, with six per cent interest from date of warrant.
Resolved: That a special tax of four mills be levied on the assessed valuation of the property in Page county as a means of raising funds for the relief of soldiers' families and to pay volunteers.
The above was enacted without a dissenting vote.
Board of 1864: D. T. Hunt, of Pierce; John Monzingo, of Lincoln ; James Hamill, of Washington ; J. A. Reed, of Amity ; Robert Maxwell, of Buchanan ; Ed. Hollis, of Valley : George Otte, of Douglas; Wesley Hall, of Fremont ; George Miller, of Tarkio; J. H. Buckingham, of Nebraska ; Moses Thompson, of East River ; and William Butler, of Harlan.
At their January session the board resolved as follows :
Whereas, Our country is engaged in a great struggle for the very ex- istence of our government and laboring to suppress the most infamous of all rebellions ; and whereas, our county has been called on to furnish, in ad- dition to the troops already furnished, sixty-four men :
And whereas, We believe it our duty to sustain the administration in putting down this rebellion by aiding those who shall volunteer from Page county, and those who shall be drafted, who are the heads of families, to fill the present call for three hundred thousand men :
Therefore be it resolved, That the board of supervisors of Page county, Iowa, levy a special tax of four mills on the dollar, using the assessment of 1863 as a base and at a rate sufficient to raise the amount of one hundred dollars to each man required from this county, the same being in addition to the sum of fifty dollars heretofore appropriated by the board.
Board of 1865: Ed. Hollis, George Otte, George Miller, J. H. Bucking- ham, Moses Thompson, George Ribble, Wilson Bellis, D. T. Hunt, D. M. Farrens, G. R. Davidson.
George Ribble of Nodaway township was elected as chairman.
Among the official acts of 1865, the board looked after the various bridges and newly laid highways. They also agreed on the following tax levy :
98
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
State tax, two mills on a dollar; county tax, three mills ; school purposes, one mill; relief fund, two mills ; bridge fund, one mill.
Board of 1866: George Ribble, of Nodaway ; G. R. Davidson, of Lin- coln (chairman) ; W. Bellis, of Fremont; D. M. Farrens, of Buchanan : James Sheppard, of Valley ; G. W. Newsome, of Douglas ; Daniel Chesshire, of Tarkio; J. H. Buckingham, of Nebraska; Moses Thompson, of East River ; J. W. Pruyn, of Harlan ; W. W. Russell of Washington ; George Mc- Cullough, of Amity.
Aside from routine bridge and road work but little was accomplished by the board, but such duties were hard and to the good judgment of these men we owe much for the excellent public thoroughfares we enjoy in Page county today. The bridge and road ways located by them are used by the thousands of people of today, who seldom think of or give credit to this early board who performed their every known duty so well.
Board of 1867: J. Sheppard, of Valley; G. W. Newsome, of Douglas ; J. H. Buckingham, of Nebraska; A. J. Chantry, of Fremont ; J. R. Hinch- man, of Nodaway ; M. Thompson, of East River ; J. W. Pruyn, of Harlan ; G. R. Davidson, of Lincoln ; S. G. Wright, of Amity ; Robert Maxwell, of Bu- chanan ; W. W. Russell, of Washington. The last named was chosen chair- man.
At their September session the board voted to submit the question of vot- ing a tax to aid in the construction of the then proposed railway, extending from Afton, in Union county, to Nebraska City, Nebraska. Also to aid in one projected and known as the St. Louis, Chillicothe & Omaha Railroad.
Board of 1868: T. A. Prest, A. J. Beavers, A. J. Chantry, Levi Reeves, I. J. Jones, E. Miller, J. R. Hinchman, T. A. McAlpin, J. C. Harris, L. Conner, G. R. Davidson, W. W. Russell (chairman) and Robert Maxwell.
At the first session of this board the question of voting aid toward rail- road building came up. The matter was finally submitted to the voters of the county, March 4. The same was carried by a majority of two hundred and nine votes.
Board of 1869: William Butler, A. J. Beavers, Wilson Bellis, I. J. Jones, John Aiken, I. A. McAlpin, J. P. Harris, J. W. Turner, J. B. Short, T. A. Prest, I. N. Tomlinson, L. Conner.
Board of 1870: Daniel McCoy. Levi Reeves, Wilson Bellis, T. A. Mc- Donald, T. J. Garnett, A. Loranz (chairman), J. P. Harris, William Mc- Lane, J. W. Turner, J. B. Short, T. A. Prest and N. C. Martin.
At their June session of 1870 the board had the following proceedings :
Be it resolved that there shall be submitted to the qualified electors of Page county, at an election in 1870, the question "Shall Page county erect a court house, which building shall be built at the county seat, and cost not to exceed fifty thousand dollars?" That to provide for the building of the same, the county to issue bonds bearing ten per cent interest, payable semiannually. on or before ten years from date, at the option of the county. That a tax of three mills be levied on the taxable property of said county annually, to pay the interest on said indebtedness, and to pay up said bonds.
NORTH SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE, CLARINDA, ABOUT 1866
GOODS
WEST SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUARE. CLARINDA, ABOUT 1867
997678
101
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY
The above proposition was voted upon by the people. The measure re- ceived five hundred and nine votes as against eight hundred and nineteen against it.
The tax levy for 1870 was as follows: State, two mills on the dollar ; county, four mills ; school, two mills ; bridge, three mills ; insane, one mill.
In 1870-71 the county supervisor system was changed from a represen- tation by each township to three members, who were to draw lots for the long and short term of office. The old system was more expensive and at the same time fraught with many difficulties it being harder for twelve or sixteen men to arrive at conclusions than for three.
Board of 1871: F. J. Bracken, William McLean (chairman), Isaac Damewood and A. Loranz.
When the new board met in June, 1871, they contracted with the United Presbyterian church for the use of their church as a place for holding court. The county paid the society one hundred dollars a year for it.
Board of 1872: William McLean (chairman), F. J. Bracken and J. W. Turner. At the June session they allowed over fifty ex-Union soldiers the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars each, under the act of the board of su- pervisors of January, 1863, regarding bounties, the total amount paid being six thousand, nine hundred and fifty dollars. It seems that for some reason these amounts had not been claimed by those entitled to them. It was a ques- tion claiming legal attention but was finally decided in favor of the soldiers.
Board of 1873: William McLean, J. W. Turner and John Griffith.
Nothing of great importance came up before the board during the early part of the year. In June they advertised for bids for rooms to hold court in, the court house question again coming up for consideration. The board finally submitted the matter to a vote of the people at the general election of 1873. The proposition was for the erection of a court house to cost not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars. The vote stood five hundred and eighty-three for, one thousand, one hundred and fifty-eight against the measure. After three or four times submitting the question to the people and each time being defeated, the county "Dads" got tired and took the mat- ter into their own hands, doing about all they could and keep within the law controlling them.
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.