USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > History of Poweshiek County, Iowa: a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume 1 > Part 10
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The building has stood now over half a century, and has probably outlasted its usefulness. At the time of its erection, probably some twenty thousand dollars was spent, which was at the time a large sum of money in the eyes of the average taxpayer, but today Poweshiek county is one of the wealthiest and most prosperous commonwealths in the state of Iowa and is entitled to a modern temple of justice. No doubt this could be readily secured if the ques- tion of the permanency of the county seat was absolutely settled.
THE JAIL.
Strange to say it was all of a quarter of a century after the organization of Poweshiek county before it had a building in which to incarcerate its de- linquent citizens. It was not until 1876 that a building was erected. Then the contract was let to J. L. Myers for the sum of $4,500, and the total cost of the building was $4,900. Thomas Morgan, Henry Sherman and J. A. Saunders composed the members of the board at the time.
The building is constructed of brick and has steel cells. It is a structure not uncomely in appearance and meets the necessities of the county, for it must be said of Poweshiek that its criminals are few, and cause the county but very little trouble and expense.
COUNTY INFIRMARY.
"The poor ye have with you always" is an expression that must be applied to Poweshiek as well as any other community, but there are not many of them in the county and for those who are here a proper place has been provided for their care and well-being. In 1872 a farm of eighty acres south of Montezuma was purchased, upon which buildings had been erected for the shelter and care of those unfortunates, for which no other provisions had been made. This farm is practically self-sustaining and the affairs of the institution are conducted in a thorough and business-like manner, under the watchful supervision of the board of supervisors.
COUNTY JUDGE.
The county judge of 1851 may be called the county king, the county sovereign with few limitations.
He was made the financial officer of the county, to be its "general agent," to have the custody of all its property not specifically assigned to others, to superin- tend its fiscal concerns and to see that they were managed in the best manner, audit all claims, draw all warrants, to settle with those in charge of public funds, to supervise all highways, changing them at his discretion, and to provide for the erection of all county buildings, determine all county taxes, and see that they
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were collected, must issue marriage licenses and was authorized to perform marriage ceremonies.
The county judge had general charge of the insane and of paupers and of their property, could hear habeas corpus cases and issue injunctions sometimes. He could also hold preliminary trials in criminal cases.
Under the law of 1853 he had charge of county swamp lands, of their sale and the use of the proceeds for roads and bridges in the county, and by the prohibitory law of 1855 he was empowered to employ local agents to sell liquors for medicinal, mechanical and sacramental purposes, and to determine their salaries. In 1858 the county judge was required to publish laws of local im- portance which might be enacted. These were only a part of his duties.
The law of 1855 as to the sale of liquor was repealed two years later, and the county judgeship was abolished in 1861.
This system of county government was somewhat similar to the Virginia plan, but Virginia entrusted such power to eight men and never to one.
It soon became unpopular or a source of offense in Iowa. It may not have been entirely the fault of the judges. The duties were too varied and too numerous for one man. Dishonesty and corruption were often charged in private conversation, but Poweshiek county found little occasion for complaint until its railroad bonds were sold and the county was obliged to pay them not- withstanding the failure of the railroad to fulfill its part of the contract. The county would have escaped paying those bonds if their payment had been con- ditional in the bonds themselves on the completion of the road into the county.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
The local government in the south was by the county; in New England it was by the township. When territorial and state governments were organized in Iowa, southern sentiment prevailed in the state and in the county, and when counties and townships were organized the same influence was in the ascendency. In Iowa we now have a mingling of the two systems.
The first government in the county after the state was oragnized was the commissioner system. Richard B. Ogden, James Yeager and Martin Snyder were the first commissioners. (As the early county records have been lost there are, doubtless, many deficiencies of record and many of memory as to the events of those early years. They may appear here although we shall seek to avoid them).
The work of the commissioners was a large one, especially when, as here, the country was so new, and so many beginnings must be made. The county roads must be laid out and bridges built, county buildings must be begun, officials must learn their duties and how to perform them, and private citizens must cooperate in public work.
The county commissioners seem to have met in Union township at first, and in Montezuma when that was made the capital of the county in 1848. They bought the land for the county seat by the aid of Isaac G. Wilson, made arrange- ments for erecting a courthouse, employed William English to assess the entire
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county for five dollars. Surely money must have been scarce and work abounded, to bring the assessor's compensation down to five dollars for such service.
A plain, two-story frame building was begun for a courthouse and finished when the county judge superseded the commissioners in 1851.
The county judge would find enough for one man to do and Richard B. Ogden was the only man who seemed clearly qualified for the place. He had served during the six years of the commissionership and given complete satis- faction. During the six years to come he was "the whole thing" in county government. It is said that only one man in that office throughout the entire state was false to his great trust, and Judge Ogden was not that one.
The first term of court was held in the courthouse in Montezuma, October 6, 1851. The first entry in the records is as follows :
"Now at this day came Stephen Moore, clerk of the Board of County Com- missioners, and presented his account for services rendered on account of making out copy of assessment roll and calculating tax on the same for the year 1851, for the sum of twenty-six dollars, which is allowed by the court.
"And now on this day comes Stephen Moore and presents his bill for stationery by him furnished for the clerk's office, for the sum of one dollar, which, after being duly inspected by the Court, is hereby ordered to be paid out of the county treasury.
"And now at this day comes Stephen Moore, Clerk of the District Court, and presents his fee bill in the case of the State of Iowa v. H. McDonald and the case of the State of Iowa v. William Woodward, for the sum of four dollars and twenty-five cents, which, after being duly inspected by the Court, is hereby ordered to be paid out of the county treasury.
"Now, at this day, came the Clerk of the District Court and presented the following list of Grand Jurors who were in attendance at the September term of the District Court, who are entitled to the sums attached to their respective names for one day's services and mileage :
Daniel Swemes, I day and 9 miles. $1.90
John S. Sheeley, I day and 6 miles 1.60
Stephen R. Moore, I day and 6 miles 1.60
Henry James, I day and 6 miles. 1.60
Neri Bryan, I day and 21/2 miles
1.25
Joseph W. Satchell, I day and 6 miles 1.6c
Thomas Fry, I day and 15 miles. 2.50
Robert Manatt, Jr., I day and 15 miles 2.50
Daniel Orcutt, I day and II miles. 2.10
Nathaniel Lattimer, I day and 14 miles. 2.40
Total $19.05
"Which, after being duly inspected by the Court, it is
"Ordered, That they be allowed the sums annexed to their respective names out of the county treasury.
"Ordered, That Robert Manatt, Sr., William Scott and John Manatt each be allowed the sum of one dollar each for their services as judges of August elec- tion, 1851, in Bear Creek township.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
"And now, at this day, came the Clerk of the District Court and presented the following list of Petit Jurors who were in attendance at the September term of the District Court, and who are entitled to the sums annexed to their respective names, for one day's attendance and mileage :
Thomas Manatt, I day and II miles. $2.10
Albert L. Morgan, I day and 10 miles 2.00
William Butt, I day and 5 miles. 1.50
George Snook, 1 day and 15 miles. 2.50
Elias Brown, I day and 572 miles.
1.55
Robert F. Steel, I day and 6 miles.
1.60
James Manatt, I day and II miles 2.10
Joseph Hall, I day and 4 miles. 1.40
Samuel Favour, I day and 14 miles 2.40
William English, I day and 10 miles 2.00
George W. Beeler, 1 day and 10 miles 2.00
Total $21.15
"Which, after inspection by the Court, it is
"Ordered, That they be allowed the sum annexed to their respective names out of the county treasury."
Orders were also granted for the payment of judges and clerks of election in Sugar Creek, Jackson, and Bear Creek townships, for services at the August election, 1851. These three townships, at that time, it will be remembered, were the only civil townships organized, and included the entire territory of the county.
James W. Wilson was allowed the sum of seventeen dollars, for summoning two panels of jurors. Mr. Wilson was county sheriff at the time.
Isaac G. Wilson was allowed the sum of seven dollars and twenty-five cents, for guarding John Snow, a prisoner, for five days. Snow seems to have been the first prisoner who fell into the hands of the officers of Poweshiek county.
James W. Wilson was allowed two dollars and fifty cents, for receiving and discharging the same prisoner, and Gideon Wilson was allowed the sum of one dollar and twenty-eight cents, for lodging said prisoner.
Washington B. Hardin was allowed four dollars, for making seal press for the clerk's office.
The county judge, clerk and recorder made an exhibit of the amount of fees by them respectively received, and the same was found to amount to $15.40, which was equally divided between them, as a part of their salary.
The foregoing is a very full synopsis of the record made at the first term of the county court. The second term, a special one, was held December 23. 1851. At this term there was nothing done, but the granting of sundry bills.
The third term was held on the 6th of January, 1852. We glean the follow- ing from the record of that term:
"The County Judge, Clerk, and Recorder made an exhibit of fees received, which were found to amount to the sum of $21.80.
"David Cassidy was allowed one dollar, for work done on the courthouse, and James B. Johnson was allowed two hundred and five dollars, for plastering
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
the courthouse, from which we are led to suppose that the building of the court- house was commenced by the County Commissioners, and was yet in an uncom- pleted condition, at the beginning of the County Judge's administration."
In the record of the February term, we find the following rather ambiguous order :
"Ordered, That John Redmond be allowed the sum of fifty cents, for his services as Coroner, in the case of The State of Iowa vs. John Snow."
In the record of the court for the August term, 1852, we find the following :
"Now come Alexander Caldwell, and Minerva, his wife, residents of the County of Poweshiek, and State of Iowa, and show to the Court that Phoebe Matilda Caldwell, their natural daughter, aged eleven years, is blind, and en- titled to the benefits of the Code, in relation to deaf, dumb, and blind persons.
"It is therefore ordered that the Clerk certify that fact, together with the name and age of the unfortunate, and the names of her parents, to the Superin- tendent of Public Instruction."
Judge Ogden's term of service was terminated in August, 1857, when Alanson Jones was elected his successor. Mr. Jones held the office for two years. Among other things, we notice the order for the payment of the claims of the township officers, for services at the election, August 3, 1857. We give the names of the officers :
Bear Creek township-Trustees: Thomas Farquar, Jesse Drake, J. J. Wat- son. Clerks: Robert Talbot, John E. Skinner.
Madison-Trustees: Silas Frank, Stephen Young, Jacob Harmon. Clerks : William H. Wood, Henry E. Bagentos.
Jefferson-Trustees : James Sumner, Norman Parks, Eli M. Doughty. Clerks : J. R. Duffield, J. R. Crawford.
Warren-Trustees: Isaac Drake, T. B. Switzer, Crandall Rosecrans. Clerks : Robert C. Shiner, John Clark.
Sugar Creek-Trustees: D. W. Nichols, R. L. Steel, John McDowell. Clerks : Joseph Applegate, William Crow.
Grinnell-Judges: George W. Crane, O. M. Perkins, Abraham Whitcomb. Clerks: A. F. Gillette,
Jackson-Judges : W. B. Harden, William Beason, J. M. Dryden. Clerks : Cyrus Rayburn, Thomas Oldham.
Deep River-Judges: Ephraim Cox, John Morgan, Asa Coho. Clerks : Myron Whitney, Thomas Harris.
Washington-Trustees: G. M. Beeler, G. F. Robberts, D. D. Prosser. Clerks: R. C. Carpenter, A. H. Higgett.
Judge Jones went out of office in 1859, and was succeeded by John M. Talbot, who served till 1861. In 1861 the office of county judge ceased to be the head of the executive affairs of the county, those duties being, after that time, lodged with the board of supervisors. The office, however, was continued till 1868, when it was abolished. The duties of the county judge from 1861 to 1868 were very similar to those now discharged by the county auditor.
Judge Jones served two years, 1857 to 1859. The most important act of his administration was the issuance of county bonds to the amount of $100,000, to aid in the building of the Mississippi & Missouri railroad through the county.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
This was authorized by the vote of the county for the bonds. The bonds were issued promptly, and seem to have been sold promptly to "innocent purchasers." The Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company failed to complete the road to the county at the time indicated in the contract. The county declined to pay the interest and repudiated the obligation. The state courts sustained the county. The federal court reversed the state decision. The board of. supervisors (con- sisting of one from each township, then having taken the place of the county judge) refused to levy the tax necessary to raise the money, the court issued a "writ of mandamus" ordering them to levy the tax. They declined to obey and sixteen of the most respectable "criminals" were sent from Poweshiek county to prison. They had gone to the limit of resistance, and yielded in 1868. The bonds were paid excepting a few which were compromised by some of the smaller holders.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, 1861-1871.
The board of supervisors followed Judge Talbot. This board represented the county by having each member represent his township. Their term was two years excepting those of the first group, one-half of whom served only one year. The title of county judge was continued till 1868, although he was shorn of most of his power. The board of supervisors held most of that while he retained substantially what now belongs to the auditor.
The first board consisted of thirteen members, as there were then, in 1861, but thirteen townships in the county. They were as follows :
William Boswell, Jackson, served I year.
John Moore, Union, served I year.
A. F. Page, Sugar Creek, served 2 years.
P. S. Pearce, Washington, served 2 years.
Q. A. Gilmore, Grinnell, served 1 year.
J. W. Sherman, Chester, served I year.
P. P. Raymond, Malcom, served 2 years. John Swaney, Bear Creek, served I year.
Robert Manatt, Warren, served 2 years. Uriah Jones, Madison, served I year. John Wilson, Jefferson, served 2 years.
L. D. Musseter, Deep River, served 2 years.
John Cassidy, Pleasant, served I year.
John Cassidy was chosen chairman. The townships chose an unusually strong body of men, who performed their duties very acceptably. Their five standing committees were as follows :
Finance: Q. A. Gilmore, P. P. Raymond, Uriah Jones.
Claims : Peter S. Pearce, J. W. Sherman, A. F. Page.
Roads : William Boswell, John Wilson.
County Buildings : L. D. Musseter, John Swaney.
Poor: John Moore, Robert Manatt.
Ordinarily this board gave special attention to the interests of the county as a whole. It may have been sometimes influenced to serve one side, or to favor
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
a township represented by a particularly strong man. Such is human nature. However few or many are on the board, a man does not expect a favor from his township unless he shows himself willing and able to serve it. The number on the board rose to sixteen. It seemed large, rather too large. The state went back to three.
A BOARD OF THREE IN 1871-TO THE PRESENT.
The county had tried three six years, one ten years, sixteen for a time, and now returned, as a surveyor says, "to the point of beginning." The voters be- came more careful in the choice of three than of sixteen. The three felt more deeply their personal responsibility. The choice of a wiser and a broader man for supervisor has often been made than for a member of the legislature. The supervisor has often thought that his neighbor, whose vote he desires, sees every- thing he does. The legislature often thinks that his votes are cast far from home and some of them will be unnoticed by his constituents. This county has been fortunate in having so many who have served in the legislature and on the board, and so many more whose business sagacity has fitted them for both. Men like C. G. Carmichael, Q. A. Gilmore, John Moore, Uriah Jones, Erastus Snow, John Manly, and others we might name, do not always serve us as supervisors. When they do, they do well. Many went from our county legislature to the general assembly or to congress.
GROWTH OF COUNTY, 1843-1848.
The white population of the territory of Iowa in 1843 was about 65.000, and of the state in 1848 it had risen to about 130,000. The county began with no white inhabitants in 1843, and when it was organized it had about 300 probably. We know that in 1850 there were 615 here.
During the years of its attachment to Iowa and Mahaska counties, the in- habitants had their cabins to build, their claims to break, the streams to bridge, while the women worked in doors and out, and the men were their own tailors, farmers, carpenters, shoemakers, blacksmiths, "jacks at all trades," but very poor tailors, carpenters, etc., they were. They used the clothes, the harnesses, con- veyances and the tools they could make, for they made what they used. Should we enter their old-time cabins, we should see on their proper hooks the shot gun that peppered the prairie chickens, and the rifle that brought down the deer and captured the bear. They secured them their fine coon skin caps, and their elegant deer skin breeches, and filled their larders with bear ham and deer steak, before they could take pork steak or the lucious mutton from their own yards.
When R. B. Ogden came to Union Prairie in the fall of 1843, he had a chill- ing anticipation for the winter. He was the solitary man in the county. He was genial and fond of company, and an old settler says his entertainments made him a poor man till his death, but when others came in they choose him to hold the most important office through many a year. From what we know of the man their choice was excellent.
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
He came here in the fall of 1843, and supposed he was the only man in the county for months afterwards. But another man came here from Iowa City-Henry Snook, at about the same time that Ogden arrived in 1843, but neither was aware of the presence of the other for months. Snook was drawn eastward, while Ogden went to Mahaska for company, cooperation and supplies. Snook's Grove was on Bear creek, east of Brooklyn, at Carnforth, and its population increased more slowly than did Forest Home, where the settlers perpetuated the pleasant memories of their new "home" by its name. Mr. Ogden's popularity is evidenced by his election as the first county com- missioner and by his holding that office till the county judge superseded the commissioners, and he was then made judge, holding the office three terms.
Mr. Ogden was joined in the spring by two brothers, Daniel Satchell and James W. Satchell, who came here directly from Illinois, and earlier from Ohio and Maryland. The first of the family who came to Maryland from England was the father of Daniel and Joseph W., who built their cabins in this county in 1843, and commenced their pioneer life here in 1844.
Mr. Ogden was born in Virginia, and came to Iowa by way of Ohio and Illinois, where he resided for a time.
The Cheesemans, Felix and Richard, came here from Maryland about the time the Satchells arrived, and are said to have brought the first horses into the county. Felix seemed fond of travel, at least, he made a wide tour through South America, and returned to die in this county. The Moores, Stephen and John, came from Illinois in 1844, and became county officials in due time.
Others deserve notice who came here before we had a self-governing county. Elias J. Williams was the first blacksmith in the south part of the county. He manifested no special land hunger. He entered no land before 1850, although he may have held a claim. On the contrary, John H. McVey believed in Iowa land, acquired a good amount, was prosperous and influential. William Butt came here from Virginia, was a quiet, useful citizen, a royal entertainer, as the writer has had occasion to acknowledge often.
Rev. William H. Barnes was very noteworthy, a Methodist minister, first pastor of the church in Union township, married the first couple in Union and Deep River, exceedingly frank, an "abolitionist." so-called, yet very well liked.
Before 1848 William English arrived in Sugar Creek in time to be elected the first sheriff, a prosperous and active man, a native of Pennsylvania. Near him settled John and James McDowell, and James became a public benefactor by erecting the first flouring mill in that vicinity.
Elias J. Brown and Samuel G. Dement were prominent men in early days but moved farther west.
Daniel Satchell, son of Joseph Satchell, of Maryland, who emancipated his slaves because he disliked slavery, came to this county, after lingering in Ohio and in Illinois near Peter Cartwright and Abraham Lincoln in their days of early distinction, in 1844, and located in Union township. One evening the tinkling of his sheep bell was heard near them. They must be brought home. His son Wilson, about ten years old, went for them. The boy did not return. A search was made that night and it was renewed in the morning. All in vain. Sixty hours passed. "Indians have taken him or wolves have eaten him."
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY
He is brought back the third day from Mahaska county. Wilson was not the only child lost. Children were sometimes "belled" in early days to keep them within hearing.
Samuel and his brother Joseph brought here the first sheep and Samuel had the first cook stove, one of the three first pumps, which he paid for by breaking land with five yoke of oxen.
"Uncle Daniel" was the familiar name of honor for him as the years passed by before he removed to Marion county, where he died. Born among slaves and knowing of their treatment in the families in Maryland, he thought "Uncle Tom's Cabin" gave too much of the dark side of slavery, although he was a republican, enlisted in the Union army and was represented there by four sons, two step-sons and a son-in-law. He was a devoted Methodist and always a genial man.
Henry Snook "staked out a claim" at Carnforth in 1843, spent the winter of 1843-4 in Iowa City, with his family returned to Carnforth in 1844. broke forty acres there and built a pioneer house and barn and then spent the next winter in Iowa City. In 1845 he brought his family to Warren and began what would be his permanent residence there, as he then believed. It is said that he brought also, three yoke of oxen, a span of horses, some cows and hogs and was well supplied for a life, far from neighbors. He settled first on sec- tion 27, remained there four years, sold to a Mr. Scott and moved on the ad- joining section, 22, where he remained till 1854.
He had the pleasure of welcoming John F. Talbott with his thirteen chil- dren, to his vicinity in 1846, the year that Iowa assumed statehood. That was carrying out the plan that Talbott had formed the year before and after he had staked out a claim near Des Moines. He was not looking for state capitals, and even if he had been, he would hardly have located on the Raccoon river in competition with the grove on Bear creek some six miles by two, where deer were so numerous and so fat, the land so rich and the groves so tempting to the pioneer. Mr. Talbott brought with him two yoke of oxen, five horses, several cows and hogs. He saw the need of a sawmill and erected one in 1847, which supplied the community with lumber some twenty years, when the sawing material was exhausted. His voting point was five miles west of Montezuma at first. He entered land immediately after it was surveyed in 1847. He was of great service to the settlers in many ways until his death in 1849, and on that occasion the funeral dirge of the Musquakies encamped near, attested their sorrow at the loss of their white friend. The Talbott family has been among the first in the county in time, in ability and in public service.
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