History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 25

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Iowa > Scott County > History of Scott County, Iowa > Part 25

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FIRST SETTLEMENT.

At the close of the Black IIawk war, in 1832, there were no settle- ments npon the Iowa side of the river. The purchase from the Sac and Fox tribe of Indians of the Territory, now comprising Scott County, was made in common with all the river counties, on the 15th of September, 1832, the treaty being held with Gen. Scott np- on the site of the buildings of the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific · Railroad freight depot.

In the spring of 1833 Captain Benjamin W. Clark, a native of Virginia, who had settled and made some improvements on the Illinois shore, where is now the town of Andalusia, came across the Mississippi, planted a crop, built a large cabin, and moved across in December following and commenced a settlement upon the pres- ent site of the town of Buffalo, and was doubtless the first settler on the soil of Scott County. He had been a captain of a company of mounted volunteer Rangers in the Black Hawk war, under Gen. Dodge. Here, in Buffalo, he made the first claim, erected the first cabin, broke the first ground, planted the first corn, and raised the first produce in the county. His nearest neighbors at this time, upon the Iowa shore, then known as the " Black Hawk purchase,"' were at Burlington and Dubuque.

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

OTHER EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

In the fall of 1833 Roswell H. Spencer built a log cabin upon the bank of the river a little below the ferry landing from Hampton, afterward established, on the opposite side of the river to Valley City, a town laid out upon the Iowa side. This was the first settle- ment in what is now Pleasant Valley township.

In February, 1834, George W. Harlan built a cabin within the limits of the present city of Le Claire, and was the first actual set- tler of the township. Eleazer Parkhurst came next. Nathan and Martin W. Smith also came the same year.

In the year 1834 Antoine Le Claire settled upon his "reserve " at Davenport. He was followed by others in due time, and one more settlement was formed. Thus began the settlement of Scott County, now one of the wealthiest and most populous counties in the State.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

The county slowly grew in numbers until it became evident there was a number living within its boundaries large enough to entitle them to a county organization, when the Legislature of the Territory, then Wisconsin Territory, in the winter of 1837-'38 passed an act creating the county, the boundaries of which were as follows:

" Beginning at a point in the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi River, where the line dividing townships 1 and 2, east of the fifth principal meridian intersects the same; thence north with said range-line to the line dividing townships 78 and 79 north; thence west with said line to the fifth principal meridian; thence north with said meridian to the line dividing townships 80 and 81 north; thence east with said line to a point where the said line intersects or crosses the Wapasipinica River; thence down the main channel of said river to its month; thence due east to the middle of the main channel to the place of beginning; shall be, and the same is hereby constituted, a separate county, to be called Scott."

It will be seen by reference to the map that the county lacks a township in the south west corner of being square. The reason of this is easily explained. In the first Territorial Legislature that convened at Burlington in December, 1837, the act was passed cro- ating the boundaries of Scott County as well as many others. Un-

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

fortunately for the well-being of many a town site and village, this honorable body had too many speculators in town lots among its members. Dr. Reynolds, then living three miles above Bloomington, now Muscatine, had laid off a town ealled Geneva, upon which all his efforts for the conn ty were eentered. The manner and extent of laying off counties were to decide the destiny of many a town site which had been made especially for the county seat. The object of Dr. Reynolds was to press the upper line of Muscatine County up the river as far as possible, so as to make Geneva central, and lessen the chances of Bloomington, which was an applicant for favor. The Davenport and Rockingham member, Alex. W. Mc Gregor, knew that if the Scott County line ran too far down the river, Buffalo, then a rival. and by far the most populous and important town above Burlington, would stand too great a chance, so that a com- promise was entered into, and this township given to Muscatine County.

COUNTY SEAT CONTEST.

The act by which the county was organized also provided for holding an election for the county seat on the third Monday in February, 1838. Rockingham and Davenport were the only points to be voted for. The contest was a warm and exciting one on the part of the representatives of eae h town. The leading men on the Rockingham side were Dr. Barrows, Willard Barrows, Gen. G. B. Sargent, Ebenezer Cook, John P. Cook, Benjamin W. Clark, of Buffalo; Mr. Robertson, John Sullivan and John S. Sheller. Un- der the Davenport standard were rallied G. L. Davenport, James Mc Intosh, Antoine Le Claire, G. C. R. Mitchell, Levi S. Colton, D. C. Eldredge, Sheriff Wilson and Captain Litch.

The great importance of the county seat election is apparent. The fortunate town in the election was to become important from hav- ing the seat of justice. The matter had been before the Legislature, and an attempt was made to locate it by that body, but a scheme of bribery and corruption among some of its members was brought to light, and an act then passed to leave it to the people. The Rockingham advocates were confident that if a fair election was held, that towni would be victorious in the contest. The southern part of the county at that time was the most populous, and could poll more votes than Davenport, besides which the Le Claire town- ship, at the head of the rapids, took sides with Rockingham,

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

expecting at some future time to efleet au alteration in the county lines on the north, so as to make Le Claire more central, and, of course, it was policy to vote for the most southern point in the eleetion.

The returns of the election were to be made to Gov. Dodge, of Wisconsin, Iowa then being a part of that Territory. The act speci- fied that the place having the largest number of votes should be declared the county seat, and that it should be the duty of the gover- nor upon such return being made, to issue his proclamation accord- ingly. It is said that a few days before the close of the contest, the Davenport people suddenly became aware that they were in need of more laborers, and in order to seeure them, Dr. Bellows, of Dubuque, was authorized by the Davenport people to send as many as he could gather together. He succeeded in securing the Services of several sleigh loads, according to Willard Barrows, " of the most wretched looking rowdies that had ever appeared in the streets of Davenport. They were the dregs of the mining districts of that early day; filled with impudence and profanity, soaked in whisky and done up in rags." According to the same anthority, when the election was over "the Dubuque delegation of miners returned home, having drank 10 barrels of whisky and cost the contracting parties over $3,000 in cash."

Davenport polled a majority of votes and the rejoicing was most enthusiastic. Bonfires and illuminations were exhibited, and the result was considered a great and final triumph. But while these rejoicings were going on in Davenport, Dr. E. S. Barrows and John C. Higgins were on their way to Mineral Point, Wiscon- sin, to see Gov. Dodge, with documents sufficient to prove the fraud that had been perpetrated at Davenport. Upon this expos- ure, the governor refused to issue his certificate of election.

Thus things remained, until the Legislature met in June, at Burlington, at which time they passed an act for another election for the county seat, between Davenport and Rockingham, to be held in the following August. This act more particularly defined the manner in which the election should be held, and voters were required to have a residence of 60 days. The returns of this election were to be made by the county commissioner's clerk, Ebenezer Cook, to the sheriff of Dubuque County, and he was to count the votes in the presence of the county commissioners of that county. The place having the greatest number of votes was to be entered on the books ot the county commissioners, and such place to become the seat of justice. Says Mr. Barrows:

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

" At this election, Rockingham, feeling rather sore under its treatment at the last election, laid aside all conscientious seruples in relation to the whole matter, and chose to fight the enemy in its own way, well knowing that the aet, by its wording, did not require legal votes. The campaign opened with vigor. The note of preparation was sounded and the contending parties summoned to the field. The county was canvassed and the unstable and wavering were brought into the ranks on one or the other side. Building lots were proffered and accepted for influence and for votes, in both places. Col. Sullivan employed many extra hands around his mill just about that time. The struggle was harder than before, and the corruption much greater, though carried on in a different manner. The day of election came. The officers appointed to attend the polls were either not sworn at all or sworn illegally, so that in case of defeat a plea might be set up for a new election. The ballot-box was stuffed. Illegal voting in various ways was permitted. Non-residents of Scott County swore they were "old settlers," while the poll-books and ballot-box showed a list of names that no human tongne was ever found to answer to.

"A great mystery seemed to hang over the Rockingham polls. They had been watched by the Davenport party, and yet when the ballot-box was emptied of its contents it showed most astonishing results. The committee sent down from Davenport to watch the polls could never explain where all the votes came from! The names in the box and on the poll-books agreed, but the great diffi- eulty seemed to be that the settlement did not warrant such a tre- mendous vote. This, however, was afterward explained as being in strict conformity with the oath taken by some of the judges and clerks of the election, which was that they should 'to the best of their ability, see that votes were polled to elect Rockingham the county seat.'

" The election being over, the returns were made to the sheriff of Dubuque County, and counted in the presence of the commis- sioners, as provided in the aet, when a majority was found for Rockingham. The commissioners, for some eause, failed to make the entry upon their records, as required by the act, but during the week took the liberty of 'purging the polls,' throwing out a sufficient number of votes to give Davenport the majority by two votes. One of the votes thus thrown out was that of John W. Brown, who settled on Black Hawk Creek in 1835, and was still living there. By this proceeding Davenport was declared the

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

county seat. Thereupon the Rockingham party made application to the Supreme Court for a mandamus, directed to the County Commissioners of Dubuque County, requiring them to make the proper entry upon their records of election in Scott County, in ac- cordance with the act of the Legislature. On the final hearing of the case, the court decided that they had no original jurisdiction over the case, but at the request of the parties, the case having been fully argued upon its merits, the court examined the whole question and gave an opinion. the effect of which was that Rock- ingham was the county seat."

The affair not being settled to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned, the Legislature passed an aet for another election. At this election there were two other points added to Davenport and Rockingham as aspirants for the county seat. One was the *geo- graphical center," and the other was a quarter-section of land at the month of Dnek Creek, called . Winfield." Before the election the geographical center was dropped. Davenport and Rocking- ham then commenced offering town lots, and money for the use of the county, in case the county seat should be located on their ground. Thousands of dollars and donations of lots and lands were made, and bonds given to secure it to the county, in case of the selection of the point desired by either party. At length Rockingham, tiring of the contest, withdrew her claims, and the election was left for decision between Davenport and the " Duck Creek cornfield, " as it was called.

As an illustration of the indneements held out for the location of the county seat the following is given. The first was placed in the hands of the county treasurer by parties interested in securing the county seat for a section near the month of Duck Creek:

" A donation of 90 acres of land is offered the county at the month of Duck Creek, provided that point should be selected at the first election. In addition to the land which the donators have agreed to give, sell and convey to the connty, they also offer $825, mostly materials. The people have both propositions before them, and they will be enabled to decide as to the amount donated for cach point. A tax of $6.000 or $5,000 on the inhabitants of the county would be oppressive in our present infant and embarrassed state, and it is hardly supposed any person would vote for such a tax when they have the offer of a donation nearly if not amply sufficient to cover all expenses."

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

Davenport offered the following :

DAVENPORT, August 3, 1840.

Whereas, the question of the location of the county seat in Scott County is to be settled by a vote of the people of said county, the points to be voted for being Davenport, Rockingham, and a place in Pleasant Valley near the mouth of Duck Creek ; and whereas, Rockingham and said point in Pleasant Valley, near the mouth of Duck Creek, have each proposed donations to the county to erect public buildings therein, to be paid by the place in which the county seat should be located ; this proposition the subscribers believe to have been made with a view of influencing the voters of said county to vote for said points instead of Daven- port; and believing Davenport is the most suitable place, and wishing to counter- act said undue influence, for the purpose of making a sum equal if not greater than that offered by either of those points, we, the subscribers, agree, and hereby bind ourselves to give and convey in fee simple to the County Commissioners of Scott County the property described by each of us, to he disposed of in raising a fund for the benefit of the county, to be applied exclusively to the erection of a court-house and jail, on condition that the town of Davenport shall be the point selected as county seat of Scott County ; and we who do not give lots or land, bind ourselves to pay in cash, or the manner stipulated, the sum affixed opposite our respective names, on the terms therein stated. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals.

By virtue of a resolution passed by the mayor, recorder and trustees of the town of Davenport, authorizing the mayor, on behalf of the corporation, to sub. scribe the sum of $500, to aid in defraying the expense of erecting a court-house and jail in the town of Davenport, I, John II. Thorington, Mayor of the town of Davenport, do promise on the part and in behalf of said corporation, to pay to the Commissioners of Scott County, on or before the first day of August next, the sum of $500 provided, and it is expressly understood, that the above stipulated subscription is binding only upon condition that the said town of Dav- enport shall be selected as the permanent seat of justice for Scott County, and not otherwise.

The town of Davenport, by John A. Thorington .$500.

I. Autoine LeClaire, promise to convey, on the condition before stipulated, the following described lots and lands, to-wit: Lot 3, block 15; 2, block 38; 3, 4 and 6, block 39; 1, block 12; 8, block 28; 8, block 32; 7, 8. 9 and 10, block 7. Outlots Nos. 3, 10, 19, 22, 24, containing four acres each. ANTOINE LECLAIRE.

I, Antoine LeClaire, Attorney for P. G. Hambough, promise to convey, on the conditions above stipulated, the following described lots : 5 and 6, block 14; 5 and 6, block 25; 1 and 2, block 37.

P. G. HAMBOUGH, By Antoine LeClaire.

I, George Davenport, promise to convey on the conditions above stipulated, tl e following described lots, to-wit: West half of block 23; lots 4, 5 and 6, block 11 ; 1, 2, 7 and 8, block 35; 5, block 3. GEORGE DAVENPORT.

I, John Macklot, promise to convey on the conditions above stipulated, the fol- lowing described lots, to-wit: Lots 1, 2, 7 and 8, block 36, if the court-house is placed on Bolivar Square.

JOHN MACKLOT.

Antoine LeClaire, agent for James May, promises to pay on the conditions he- fore stipulated, the following described lots to-wit : block 39; 7 and 8, block 37; 3, block 13.

Lots 1 and 2, block 13: 1. ANTOINE LECLAIRE.

Agent for James May.

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

We, James and Robert MeIntosh, promise to convey on the conditions before stipulated, the following described lots: 7 and 8, block 12; 3 and 4, in block 14; 7 and 8 in block 36; 5 in block 39; 2 in block 35. J. & R. MCINTOSH.

INDIVIDUAL, SUBSCRIPTIONS.

James Hall $150

E. V. Kerr and G. Tait. : 10

N. Squires, carpenter work. 300

W. W. Dodge 25

H. Leonard, in brick 300

W. B. Watts 25

E. Hulse. . 200

Alfred Carter 100

A. Logan 50

Geo. L. Davenport 50

S. B. Steele 10

Seth F. Whiting 25

Thomas Foster 40

James O. Kelly 10

A. Green, by R. Bennett 25

W. McCammon. 30

Philip Cody. 20

W. W. Whittemore 25

Eldridge & McCord.

50 | Thomas Dillon

I, John Liteh, agree to give one good, handsome lot in the lower part of Dav- enport (in Powers' addition), as soon as Davenport shall be made the county seat.

JOHN LITCH.

George Bowers $ 20

James Rumbold $ 50

W. Parmele. 20

Charles Leslie. 25

John Cronkite.

A. L. Beattie. 10

C. C. Alvord 10

llenry Wright 15

William M. Moran 5

R. S. Craig. 10

W. G. Ruby. 10

John W. King. 10

HI. J. Chapman 25

James M. Bowling 30

John F. Boynton. 10

J. M. Witherwax 50

John Wilson 100

William S. Collins

William Nichols 50

Strong Burnell. 20

Asa Hale 10

Timothy Dillon 20

A. W. Perry 25

John Pape .. 25

Peter Porter and A. Perry 25

Samuel Armitage.

George Francis. 12

Franklin Culver 5

I. J. Center for J. Remer 25

William McDade 5

L. J. Center 10

W. B. Arnold. 6

James Miller 5

Isaac Squires. 20

D. Hoge ..

William Lovell 10

T. S. Hoge 50

John D. Evans 20

Alex. W. McGregor. 25

Walter B. Warren 10

George Colt. 5

George W. Warren 20

J. M D. Burrows 50

John Owens. 50

William Harmon. 15

llenry Powers

1, George Davenport, hereby promise to pay to the County Commissioners of Scott County, in lieu of the lots offered above, to aid in erecting the public build. ings, the sum of twelve hundred dollars ($1,200), should the commissioners prefer, the same to be paid in installments, as may be required in the progress of the buildings, provided the same shall be erected on Bolivar Square.

GEORGE DAVENPORT.

John Evans 10

Lewis Ebert. 10

J. W. Parker. 100

A. J. Dawes 5

John HI. Thorington 25

Riddle & Morton 100

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

I, Antoine LeClaire, hereby promise to pay to the Commissioners of the County of Scott, in lieu of the lands and lots offered above, to aid in erecting the public buildings, the sum of three thousand dollars in cash, or its equivalent, should the said Commissioners prefer the same, to be paid in such installments as may be required in the progress of the building, as witness my hand and seal this 10th day of August, 1840. ANTOINE LECLAIRE.

Davenport gained the election, erected the public buildings free of all cost to the county, according to her contract, and thus termi- nated one of the most exciting questions that had ever disturbed the quiet of the peaceful community. Says Mr. Barrows, a friend of Rockingham :

" The battle was long and spirited. The contending parties with- drew from the bloodless field with happy triumph, each having out- generaled the other, and found that even when a victory was won the laurels are not always sure. A peace treaty was held at the Rockingham Hotel in the winter of 1840, where the most promi- nent actors in the last scenes met as mutual friends, and buried the hatehet forever, ratifying the treaty, as it was called, by a grand ball, where more than 40 couples mingled in the dance and seemed to forget at once all the strife and biekerings of the past, and seal their friendships anew with earnest and willing hearts. During the whole of this controversy, singular as it may appear, the utmost good feeling and gentlemanly conduct prevailed. No personal feuds grew out of it, and to this day, it is often the source of much merriment among the old settlers, and is looked upon as only the freaks and follies of a frontier life."

FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' COURT.

The act providing for the holding of au election for the county seat on the third Monday in February, 1838, also provided for an election two weeks afterward for county officers, at which election Rockingham elected her candidates. The commissioners elected were B. F. Pike, Alfred Carter, and A. W. Campbell, with Eben- ezer Cook for county clerk.

The first session of the Commissioners' Court was held at the store of II. W. Higgins, in Rockingham. The following are the proceedings of this first meeting:

" Present-Benj. F. Pike, and Andrew W. Campbell.

" The board proceeded to the appointment of a elerk.

"Ordered-That Ebenezer Cook be appointed clerk to the board.

"Ebenezer Cook having appeared in pursuance of his appoint- ment, and taken the oath of office, entered upon his duties as clerk.

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

"Ordered-That the clerk take the necessary steps to procure from the Secretary of the Territory, a seal for the use of this board.

" Ordered-That this board do meet, at its April session, in the town of Rockingham.

" Ordered-That Benj. F. Pike be allowed three dollars for one day's service as county commissioner.

"Ordered-That Andrew W. Campbell be allowed three dollars for one day's service as county commissioner.

" Ordered -- That Ebenezer Cook be allowed three dollars for one day's service as clerk.

" And the board adjourned to session in course."

At the April session, 1838, the county was divided into election precinets, and polls were ordered open at Rockingham Hotel, Rockingham and Marmaduke. S. Davenport, William Lings, Lewis Ringlesby. appointed judges of election; at Davenport Hotel, Davenport, Ira Cook. John Forest, Adam Noel, judges of elec- tion; at house of Caleb II. Gardener, West Buffalo, Elias Moore, M. M. Bosworth, James Williamson, judges of election; at house of Roswell II. Spencer, Pleasant Valley, Stephen Henley, Jabez 1. Birchard. John Work, judges of election; at house of Thomas Hubbard. Elizabeth City, Josiah Scott, William Rowe, Daniel Hyers, judges of election; at honse of Ezra Allen, Allen's Grove. Lester Hines. John K. Spicer, Isaiah Hurlburt, judges of election.

Christopher Rowe was appointed county treasurer, but failing to qualify, Ira Cook was appointed at the May term of the board, and at once entered into bonds, and the discharge of the duties of the office.

At this same session Ira Cook was appointed and qualified as assessor in place of Joseph Mounts, who had previously been appointed, but failed to qualify.

The editor of the lowu News, published at Dubuque, was allowed six dollars for advertising an election to be held for the location of the county seat.

At this session, the board took it upon itself to regulate the price of ferriage across the Mississippi and Wapsipinecon Rivers, the rates of which may be found in another chapter of this work upon the subject of " Ferries."

The county was divided into 11 road districts; the first, second and third begins as follows:

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HISTORY OF SCOTT COUNTY.

Road Distriet, No. 1, to comprise all the territory lying within the following limits: Townships 77 and 78, range 2 east. except the east tier of sections.

Road District, No. 2, the east tier of seetions, townships 77 and 78, and sections 36 and 25, township 79, the west half of townships 77 and 78, range 3, and sections - 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, township 79, range 3.

Road District, No. 3, one half of township 78, and southeast quarter of township 79, range 3; the west tier of section in town- ship 78, range 4, and seetions 19, 30, 31, township 79, range 4.

Mathias Mounts was appointed supervisor of District No. 1; Otto G. MeClaim, of No. 2; John Forrest, of No. 3.

Polls were ordered opened at the town of Parkhurst, and Martin W. Smith, Eleazer Parkhurst and Thomas C. Eads appointed judges.

Polling places were also established for Clinton County, which was attached to Scott County at this time.

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History of Scott County, Iowa, Part 25

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co. Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1280