USA > Iowa > Page County > History of Page County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Page County, constitution of the state of Iowa, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 43
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The population of the county in 1880 was as follows:
Amity township
1,384
Buchanan township
1,044
Clarinda, town of
2,020
Colfax township
1,037
Douglas township
905
384
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
East River township
1,131
Fremont township -
-
1,118
Grant township, exc. Shenandoah
697
Harlan township
937
Lincoln township
943
Morton townships
707
Nebraska township -
499
Nodaway township, exc. Clarinda
1,593
Pierce township
813
Shenandoah, town of
1,385
Tarkio township
935
Valley township
1,918
Essex, town of -
626
Washington township
880
Total
- 20,574
VALUATION OF THE COUNTY FOR 1880.
TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS.
LANDS.
LOTS.
PERSONAL.
TOTAL.
Valley
$
191,797|$
2,695 $
61,215|$
255,707
Douglas
208,561
59,494
268,055
Fremont
208,316
60,242
268,558
Pierce -
162,040
114
43,475
205,629
Essex
11,286
60,033
56,610
128,229.
Grant
216,624
55,857
272,481
Shenandoah
11,568
119,657
120,010
251,235.
Tarkio
187,852
62,413
250,265
Nodaway
349,192
16,959
102,000
468,151
Clarinda
7,719
274,237
164,813
446,769
Nebraska
89,599
9,296
39,850
138,745.
East River
182,180
250
47,861
230,291
Harlan
187,991
381
49,419
237,791
Lincoln
180,006
57,393
237,399
Morton
183,670
45,457
229,127
Washington
161,898
453
67,635
229,986
Colfax
159,888
73,131
233,019
Amity -
183,219
55,946
239,165
College Springs
420
42,539
30,737
73,696
Buchanan -
178,685
3,586
64,527
246,798
Grand total
$ 3,062,511 $ 530,200 $ 1,318,385 $ 4,911,096
Total valuation of railroad property in the county $143,627.
-
385
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
The foregoing compilations will give the reader a fair idea of the growth of the county from 1850 to 1880, covering a period of thirty years. In that time vast changes have taken place in our country at large, and none the less true is this in connection with Page county. It has grown since the first named period, when it had but 551 inhabitants, until now it takes rank among the first counties of the state, both in wealth and population, and with its agricultural resources it is bound to keep pace with its sister counties in the future as it has in the past. The tables we have presented in connection with this subject, can be studied by all of the citizens of the county at the present time with much interest, as they follow the county from the time it was struggling in its infancy-when its citizens were com- pelled to go to Savannah, Maryville and often to St. Joe to do their trad- ing, and when hogs and cattle were driven as far as Eddyville before reaching a railroad-up to, and through the war period, and from that time until the present.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
The county was formally organized in 1851, by William Hudson, who had been appointed organizing sheriff by the third general assembly of the state. With regard to the origin of dividing individual states into county and township organizations, which in an important measure should have the power and opportunity of transacting their own business and govern- ing themselves, under the approval of, and subject to the state and general government of which they each formed a part, we quote from Elijah M. Haines, who is considered good authority on the subject.
In his "Laws of Illinois, Relative to Township Organizations," he says the county system " originated with Virginia, whose early settlers soon became large-landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living apart in almost baronial magnificence on their own estates, and owning the labor- ing part of the population. Thus the materials for a town were not at hand, the voters being thinly distributed over a great area.
"The county organization, where a few influential men managed the whole business of the community, retaining their places almost at their pleasure, scarcely responsible at all, except in name, and permitted to con- duct the county concerns as their ideas or wishes might direct, was more- over consonant with their recollections or traditions of the judicial and social dignities of the landed aristocracy of England, in descent from whom the Virginia gentleman felt so much pride. In 1834 eight counties were organized in Virginia, and the system extending throughout the E
386
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
state, spread into all the southern states, and some of the northern states; unless we except the nearly similar division into 'districts' in South Car- olina, and that into ' parishes' in Louisiana, from the French laws.
" Illinois, which with its vast additional territory, became a county of Virginia, on its conquest by Gen. George Rogers Clark, retained the county organization, which was formally extended over the state by the constitution of 1818, and continued in exclusive use until the constitution of 1848.
" Under this system, as in other states, adopting it, most local business was transacted by those commissioners in each county, who constituted a county court, with quarterly sessions.
" During the period ending with the constitution of 1847, a large por- tion of the state had become filled with a population of New England birth or character, daily growing more and more compact and dissatisfied with the comparatively arbitrary and inefficient county system. It was maintained by the people that the heavily populated districts would al- ways control the election of the commissioners to the disadvantage of the more thinly populated sections-in short that under that system, 'equal and exact justice' to all parts of the county could not be secured.
" The township system had its origin in Massachusetts, and dates back to 1635.
"The first legal enactment concerning this system 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,' therefore, '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 appurtenances of said town, to grant lots, and to make such orders as may concern 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 relieved the general court of a mass of mu- nicipal details, without any danger 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.
"The New England colonies were first governed by a 'general court,' or legisluture, composed of a governor and a small council, which court con- sisted of the most influential inhabitants, and possessed and exercised both legislative and judicial powers, which were limited only by the wisdom of the holders.
"They made laws, ordered their execution by officers, tried and decided
4
387
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
civil and criminal causes, enacted all manner of municipal regulations, and, in fact, did all the public business of the colony.
"Similar provisions for the incorporation of towns were made in the first constitution of Connecticut, adopted in 1639; and the plan of town- ship organization, as experience proved its remarkable economy, efficiency and adaptation to the requirements of a free and intelligent people, be- came universal throughout New England, and went westward with the emigrants from New England into New York, Ohio and other western states."
Thus we find that the valuable system of county, township and town organizations had been thoroughly tried and proven long before there was need of adopting it in Iowa, or any of the broad region west of the Missis- sippi river. But as the new country soon began to be opened, and as east- ern people continued to move westward across the mighty river, and form thick settlements along its western shore, the territory and state and county and township and town organizations soon followed in quick succession, and those different systems became more or less modified and improved, . accordingly as deemed necessary by the experience and judgment and de- mands of the people, until they have arrived at the present stage of ad- vancement and efficiency.
In the settlement of the territory of Iowa the legislature began by or- ganizing counties on the Mississippi. As each new county was formed it was made to include, under legal jurisdiction, all the country bordering west of it, and required to grant to the occidental settlers election priv- ileges and an equal share in the county government with those who prop- erly lived in the geographical limit of the county. The counties first or- ganized along the eastern border of this state were given, for a short time, jurisdiction over the lands and settlements adjoining each on the west, until these different localities became sufficiently settled to support organizations of their own; and finally, at the first session of the legislature, after the Indians sold out, the newly acquired territory, including all northwestern Iowa, was laid off into counties, provisions were made for their respective organizations when the proper time should arrive, and these were severally named.
At the time of the organization there were but two townships in the county-Buchanan, running up the divide between East river and Bu- chanan creek, and Nodaway, which included all the balance of the county. The organization was completed by the election of the following officers:
Commissioners-S. F. Snyder, John Duncan and William Shearer.
District Clerk-John Buckingham.
Sheriff-Robert Stafford.
The election, it is hardly necessary to say, had nothing of the nature of a political contest. The object was simply to organize the county, and
388
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
political differences had not yet appeared. But very soon there came a change. The citizens were then generally quiet, industrious and peacea- ble with one another. Occasional differences and disputes arose, which in the main were soon overlooked, or forgotten on account of their neces- sary and natural dependence for aid and convenience, as well as for com- mon defense in their pioneer homes.
Dissensions and enmities, however, began to creep in gradually, as the settlement progressed, and continued to increase in working mischief very much in proportion as the settlement became more indepenently situated and more exclusive in their devotion to self-interest and advancement.
The unwelcome spirit of dissension began to manifest itself to the public most clearly, perhaps, about the time the proclamation of the or- ganizing sheriff announced the organization of the county, which would create numerous offices to be filled from the ranks of first voters.
These offices, during the first term, of course, presented no great in- ducement for being very eagerly sought after, so far as the salary was concerned; but then they afforded positions of influence and preference, and they might, in the near future, prove very convenient stepping stones to more lucrative and influential positions; beside, it was no mean thing to be elected to fill the first offices created in the new county. In this regard they afforded considerable inducement for being sought after by those who were at all inclined toward official distinction, and they called forth numerous aspirants.
At that time as well as now, doubtless, there was a good per cent. of worthy, influential citizens, who, so far as their own desires for official po- sition were concerned, were entirely disinterested in the political canvass. These persons sought no such positions for themselves and would not ac- cept one if offered. Public applause and criticism was not at all coveted by them. Nevertheless they were as deeply interested in the welfare of the county as any other citizens, and had a decided preference for those who should receive their votes. They desired to entrust the county govern- ment to efficient, trust-worthy men, who. were willing to assume the re- sponsibility, and capable of conducting it in an efficient and acceptable manner; while they themselves were content to engage in some other de- partment of the county's progress, more congenial to their tastes and dis- positions. On the other hand, there were always enough of those who would accept these official positions-more or less reluctantly or cheer- fully-if duly elected, or urged a little to fill them; so that it was soon found the various offices were not sufficient to give each of the aspirants a position. Evidently some of these must gain the honored distinction, while others must be left out, part of whom, doubtless, would be disap- pointed not a little over their defeat.
Who, then, of these various aspirants, were the best qualified to fill
389
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
these several positions? Who had the most deserved claim on the public support? Who were the shrewdest political tricksters and wire-pullers? Who, of all the number, could wield the most extended and effective in- fluence, either by honorable, or, it may be, by unfair means in securing the majority vote. These, and many other questions of similar character, would quite naturally arise, even in the minds of early settlers, as the memorable first election day drew near, when they must each receive a decisive answer at the ballot-box.
EARLY COURTS.
The first district court in Page county convened at the house of Philip Boulware, September 22, 1851, James Sloan presiding as judge. A. H. Farrens was clerk; R. W. Stafford, sherriff, and the court appointed Jacob Dawson prosecuting attorney. The other attorneys present were George P. Stiles, and A. C. Ford. About the only business which seems to have been transacted was the admission of one Eberhand Frederick Gammel, of the kingdom of Wirtemburg as a citizen of the United States upon the testimony of G. W. Farrens and William Roach.
The second term should have been held in April, 1852, but Judge Sloan had in the meantime resigned, leaving the sixth judicial district without a head. The records show that the clerk and sheriff were present, and that the clerk adjourned court until such time as might thereafter be fixed by the proper authority. On the 12th of July, 1852, Honorable Allen A. Bradford, having been appointed district judge by Governor Hempstead, appeared and held the second term of the district court in Page county. Johnathan Shepherd was appointed prosecuting attorney for the term. The attorneys enrolled were C. P. Brown, L. Lingenfelter, James M. Dews and B. Rector. Several cases were disposed of, mostly indictments for assault and battery. The grand jurors were: P. B. Johnson, Joshua Brown, James Murray, William Robbins, Thomas Nixon, Peter Baker, Hiram Beach, James Huggins, A. B. Quimby, Joel Davidson, Jesse Majors, Ira Cunning, John Brock and Henry D. Farrens. William Robbins was appointed foreman.
At the September term, 1853, John Wilson and M. K. Skidmore, upon examination, were admitted to the bar. A large proportion of the business of the term seems to have been prosecution for the unlawful sale of intox- icating liquors.
All the courts up to the April term, 1854, were held at Boulware's mill. The attorneys who practiced in the district courts of this county from its organization up to 1858, were as follows: L. Lingenfelter, Benjamin
390
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Rector, S. E. McCracken, J. M. Dews, John Wilson, J. L. Sharp, H. P. Bennett, D. H. Solomon, William Kelsey, E. H. Sears, C. E. Stone, Joseph Murphy, H. H. Harding, R. L. Dodge, J. M. Russell, J. Burwick, A. H. East, J. A. Hughes, W. S. Graff, William Herron and John H. Ware.
FIRST LAND ENTRIES.
The first land entries of Page county took place in the year 1853, the land office then being located at Council Bluffs. Prior to that date the lands were held by the settlers under the claim and pre-emption laws. By the year 1853 the first settlers had, as a general thing, accumulated enough to enable them to enter forty and eighty acres, while some of them were enabled to enter as much as one hundred and sixty acres of land. The greater portion of the lands of the county were entered in 1854. Below we present the names of a majority of the residents of the county who en- tered their land in 1853:
Akin, Joshua, September 10th, 1853; southwest quarter of northeast quarter of section 10, township 68, range 38; 40 acres.
Baker, George, June 1st, 1853; north half of northwest quarter of sec- tion 3, township 69, range 36; 80 acres.
Buckingham, John, December 1st, 1853; northeast quarter of southwest quarter of section 12, township 69, range 36; 40 acres. -
Beaver, Henry, December 9th, 1853; west half northwest quarter of section 21, township 70, range 36; 80 acres.
Bussy, John A., June 29th, 1853; west half of southwest quarter of sec- tion 21, township 70, range 36; 80 acres.
Burge, Wm., December 1st, 1853; southwest quarter of southwest quarter of section 36, township 69, range 37; 40 acres.
Collier, Abraham, September 15th, 1853; southwest quarter of south- west quarter section 14, township 69, range 36; 40 acres.
Casady, Jefferson, September 15th, 1853; southwest quarter of south- west quarter section 30, township 69, range 36; 42 acres.
Campbell, James, June 21st, 1853; east half of northeast quarter sec- tion 35, township 69, range 36; 80 acres.
Davidson, Goolman, October 4th, 1853; north half of northeast quarter section 32, township 68, range 36; 80 acres.
Dodson, John, May 23d, 1853; south half of southwest quarter section 35, township 69, range 37; 80 acres.
Davidson, Samuel, July 16th, 1853; south half of northeast quarter of section 26, township 67, range 36; 80 acres.
.
391
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Davidson, Wayne, July 16, 1853; southwest quarter of northeast quar- section 24, township 67, range 36; 40 acres.
Fruits, Sebastian, June 21, 1853; north half of southeast quarter section 32, township 68, range 36; 80 acres.
Farrens, H. D., July 16, 1853; south half of southeast quarter section 29, township 69, range 36; 80 acres.
Fleming, Thomas, December 24, 1853; southeast quarter of southeast quarter section 26, township 67, range 36; 40 acres.
Goldsmith, John G. H., March 22, 1853; northeast quarter of southeast quarter section 18, township 68, range 36; 40 acres.
Graves, Wm., December 29, 1853; southeast quarter of southeast quar- ter section 13, township 69, range 36; 40 acres.
Hamilton, Charles B., May 27, 1853; south half of northeast quarter and north half of southeast quarter section 1, township 67, range 36; 160 acres.
Houston, Thomas M., December 29, 1853; east half of southeast quar- ter and northwest quarter of southeast quarter section 25, township 67, range 36; 120 acres.
Hull, Erastus W., March 27, 1853; southwest quarter of northeast quarter section 31, township 69, range 36; 40 acres.
Hampton, Abijah, June 4, 1853; northwest quarter of northeast quarter section 10, township 69, range 36; 40 acres.
Johnson, Eli B., May 25, 1853; southwest quarter of section 25, town- ship 69, range 36; 160 acres.
Jones, Edmund W., July 2, 1853; southwest quarter of southeast quar- ter and southeast quarter of southwest quarter section 30, township 69, range 36; 80 acres.
Kenyon, B., July 4, 1853; east half of southeast quarter section 3, town- ship 70, range 39; 80 acres.
Lee, Hendrix, December 6, 1853; northeast quarter of southwest quar- ter section 11, township 68, range 37; 40 acres.
Lavering, Wm., September 5, 1853; southeast quarter of northwest quarter section 29, township 69, range 36; 40 acres.
Martin, George, December 1, 1853; southwest quarter of northwest quarter section 12, township 70, range 39; 40 acres.
Nixon, Thomas, July 16, 1853; northwest quarter of southeast quarter and southeast quarter of southeast quarter section 6, township 67, range 36; 80 acres.
Nixon, Mary, July 16, 1853; southwest quarter of section 17, township 67, range 36; 160 acres.
Nixon, Samuel, July 16, 1853; northwest quarter of section 31, town- ship 68, range 36; 182 acres.
392
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
Parker, Wm., June 28, 1853; northwest quarter of southwest quarter section 10, township 68, range 37; 40 acres.
Reed, Ann, June 21, 1853; west half of northeast quarter section 35, township 69, range 36; 80 acres.
Roach, Thomas, May 25, 1853; northwest quarter of section 35, town- ship 69, range 36; 160 acres.
Snodgrass, Robert, July 16, 1853; west half of northeast quarter section 3, township 67, range 36; 81 acres.
Short, Cornelius R., December 29, 1853; lot No. 1, section 36, township 67, range 36; 47 acres.
Scarlett, Wm. W., September 9, 1853; southeast quarter of northeast quarter section 13, township 68, range 36; 40 acres.
Sparks, Wm., July 23, 1853; north half of north half of northeast quar- ter section 15, township 68, range 37; 40 acres.
Stafford, Robert W., December 17, 1853; east half of northwest quar- ter and northwest quarter of northwest quarter section 27, township 69, range 36; 120 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 town- ships 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 included 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 re- quired 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 consti- tute one municipal 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."
393
HISTORY OF PAGE COUNTY.
"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 ' 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 so much of said county as may be included in congressional township num- ber 68, and 69, north of range 38 and 39, be and the same are hereby de- clared to constitute one municipal township, which shall be known and designated '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 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 town- ships Nos. 68 and 69, north of range No. 37 west, and also so much of said county as may be included in congressional townships No. 68 and 69, north of range 36 west, and west of a line running north through said townships last mentioned, from the southeast corner of section 32 in said township 68, north of range 36, on the eastern boundary of said town- ships and range last aforesaid, then east on the southern boundary of said section 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 town- ship 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 township and range last aforesaid, be, and the same is hereby declared to constitute one municipal township, which shall be known and designated as Noda- way 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.
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