USA > Iowa > Tama County > History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history, portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 36
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 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123
272
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
every one to aid in subduing rebellion and wiping traitors from the face of this fair land ; "Therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Board of Supervi- sors of Tama county pledge themselves and the county for the support of the fam- ilies of residents of the county who may volunteer and be called into service by the government as long as they are de- tained in such service ; also, all other ap- propriations that may be required of us to aid in maintaining the government and enforcing the laws."
On the 25th of July, 1861, D. D. Ap- pelgate, clerk of courts, issued the follow- ing notice and call for a special meeting of the board of supervisors, viz. :
"WHEREAS, The undersigned Clerk of the District Court of Tama County, łowa, has been requested in writing by a major- ity of the members of said board to call a special meeting for the object hereinafter set forth :-
Notice is hereby given that there will be a special meeting of the Board at the Court-Ilouse in Toledo Iowa, said county and State, on Monday, August 5, A. D., 1861, at 12 o'clock M., of said day, for the purpose of taking into consideration the matter of making an appropriation for the organization of a Military Company from Tama County for the war, and the support of the families of Volunteers, and other matters connected therewith."
Accordingly at the appointed time the Board convened with all the members present. On motion Messrs. Forker and T. Walter Jackson were invited to ad- dress the Board, the latter complying. On motion of Mr. Mason, Daniels, Gallagher and Hall were appointed a committee of
three, to report the amount necessary to equip the "Tama county Rifles, " as ree- ommended in the Governor's circular. Mason, Peterson and Rogers were appoint- ed a committee of three, to report a plan for the support of families of volunteers.
The committee last named made a report which was adopted by the Board as fol- lows :
Resolred, That for the purpose of sup- porting the families of volunteers during their service from the time of enlistment until they are discharged, that there be, and hereby is, appropriated out of the County Treasury the sum of five dollars per month for the wife and two dollars per month for each child under twelve years of age, of each volunteer.
" Resolved, That when a father or moth- er is dependent on a volunteer for support, they shall receive five dollars per month each, and also when a brother or sister un- der twelve years of age are dependent, they shall receive two dollars per month each, during his time of service. "
" Resolved, That all volunteers who shall be entitled to the above appropriations shall file with the County Clerk, their affidavit as to the number of their family and age of their children.
" Resolved, That said appropriations be paid monthly upon orders of the clerk of the Board of Supervisors, who shall keep articles of elothing as recommended in the Governor's circular, making an aggre- gate of six hundred and thirty-seven dol- lars and fifty cents. Also that the sum of one hundred and twelve dollars and fifty cents be appropriated and placed in the hands of the clerk of this Board, for the purpose of clothing a further number of
273
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
men as above, until the number of men reaches one hundred and one, the amount drawn for each man to be seven dollars and fifty cents, and we would further rec- ommend that an agent be appointed to go to Chicago and make the purchases. " It was then
Resolred That B. A. Hall, act as agent to go to Chicago. Thus the company was {uly organized and equipped.
Jolın Connell was also special agent for a time to purchase clothing and supplies for volunteers. The following entry re- lative to his agency is rather amusing :
" A statement was also received from Mr. Connell in regard to his expenses in going to Chicago to buy the elothing, showing that he had expended thirty-one dollars and forty cents, and had received from the county the sum of thirty dollars. On motion the account was considered square." Then on motion Mr. Connell was tendered a vote of thanks for the manner in which he discharged his duties. On the third of September, 1861, the Board passed the following resolutions :
First-"That we do not consider it ex- pedient to make a specific appropriation tor the support of families of volunteers who may hereafter enlist in the service of the State or Government during the pres- ent war, from this county."
Second-"Resolved that the appropria- tions now made for the support of the families of the volunteers of Tama county be extended during the war to the families of those volunteers who now receive the benefit of said appropriation, who may be killed or die while in the service of the United States."
The first resolution was presented by
G. G. Mason and the latter by J. A. Willey.
Just before the Board adjourned G. G. Mason, presented the following which was adopted:
"Resolved, that we will grant aid to the families of volunteers who may hereafter enlist for the war from this county as far as we may judge to be for the interest of all parties concerned."
S. C. Rogers followed by presenting the following concerning the soldiers, which was adopted:
"Resolved, that we are highly gratified with the comfortable quarters furnished for the military company from this county, and pleased that the soldiers aequiesee in the strict discipline enjoined upon them, and sincerely hope that all will be faithful in every respect to their superiors and their Country.
At the October session the Board passed additional resolutions relative to furnish- ing aid to the families of volunteers. This closed the labors of the Board for the year 1861.
The second annual meeting of the Board of Supervisors convened at the court house in Toledo on the 6th day of January 1862, as required by law. The following newly elected members qualified and took their seats:
John A. Tenny. Iudian Village.
Adam Harbaugh ltoward.
W. B. King. Spring Creek.
G. G. Mason. Oneida.
N. Lewis Otter Creek.
Jonathan Peterson. . Carlton.
T. F. Clarke .Geneseo.
Amos Kile. .Perry.
T. S. Talmage .Clark.
G. W. Morehouse. Lincoln.
274
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
The Board then proceeded to organize by the election of B. A. HIall as chairman for the ensuing year, and by the appoint- ment of the various committees.
At this session a committee appointed to examine the county property, reported that: "having viewed the county buildings would say that although they are not what we should like to see in our county, still we find them in a passable condition; we think there is a little, and but little repair- ing required at the present time."
On the same day the following resolu- tion was adopted by the Board: " Whereas, the county of Tama in response to the call of the Governor furnished the "Tama county Rifles" with a fatigue dress at an expense of upwards of $800 or thereabouts, Therefore, Resolved that the clerk of this Board be instructed to present to the legis- lature a bill of particulars of clothing fur- nished and expenses incurred by the county and that our Senator, IIon. Joseph Dysart, and our Representative, llon. Leander Clark, be requested to use all proper efforts to have the same promptly adjusted."
It will be remembered that August 5, 1861, the Board passed a resolution, appro- priating $5.00 per month for the wife and 82.00 per month for each child of volun- teers. At this session, January 1862, it was reported that according to the provis- ions of the act named, there had been paid $1,047, up to December 12, 1861. This was for the families of members of the "Tama county Rifles."
Another relief appropriation was resolv- ed by the Board October 16, 1861, for the support of the families of the company raised by William H. Stivers, known as
Company G. of 14th, Iowa Regiment, the wife to receive $4.00 per month and the children $1.00; no family to receive more than $7.00 per month.
The committee appointed for the pur- pose of summing up, reported. "We find the whole amount expended for clothing, sustenance and transportation of said com- pany to Marengo (Rifles), $1,052.14.
We have received from the U. S. Disbursing officer. $ 205 00
Wc further expect the State will refund about. 847 94
There has been expended for the sup- port of the families of volunteers:
For the first company up to December 12th
1861 $ 1,047 00
For the second company. 94 00
Total. 1,141 00
This will amount in one year to. 3,984 00 County Order No. 1 was issued at this session to John Allen, for the sum of. . 7 45 No. 2 and No 3 to D. D. Applegate.
At the opening of the June session in 1862, the Chairman announced the vacancy in the office of Supervisor from Carlton township occasioned by the death of Jona than Peterson, and presented the ereden- tials of James Roakes, who had been ap- treasury, pointed. Mr. Roaks appeared, qualified and took his seat as a member.
On the fourth of June the Board de- clared the office of county Judge vacant, occasioned by the removal of John Allen from the county, and appointed T. F. Bradford, to fill the vacancy.
On the following day Mr. Forker of- fered the following resolution which was adopted :
" Resolved, That the families of commis- sioned officers of the 'Tama county Rifle
Thermas Murray
277
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
company' shall not be allowed to receive any more of the appropriation made August 5th, 1861, by this board from the county Treasury from June Ist, 1862, unless said families become in neady circumstances."
Mr. Rogers, presented the following vote of thanks which was adopted :
"Resolved, that the thanks of this board be tendered to Orrin Burright, of Crystal township, for his gratuitous services as drummer, together with the use of an omnibus and for horses in carrying volun- teers to different points in the county for the purpose of soliciting volunteers and finally to Marengo."
On the 18th of August, 1862, a special session of the Board of Supervisors was held for the purpose of taking steps to fill the quota of the county in answer to the President's call for 600,000 men. It re- sulted in appropriating the sum of $25 to each volunteer who should enlist under the present call of the president." At the next meeting of the board, in Septem- ber, it was resolved that the act above re- ferred to did not express fully the inten- tions of the Board, and it was declared that, the intention was to give this bounty of $25, only to residents of the county.
Mr. Tenny at the same session offered the following resolution which was at once adopted : Whereas Isaac Butler has, in view of the condition of officers of our county, and the wants of the families of those who are now fighting the battles of the country, generously offered to give his fees as Justice in all State cases previous to this date, amounting to about nine dol- lars for the benefit of said families there-
fore resolved that the thanks of this board be tendered him for his generosity."
It seems that the Adjutant general had credited Iowa county with thirty-six vol- unteers, who had enlisted from Tama county, and at the September session S. C. Rodgers was appointed agent of the coun- ty, to go to the office of the adjutant Gen- eral and have the mistakes rectified.
At the opening of the October session, in 1862. Samson Strong presented his credentials of appointment as Supervisor from Carlton township in place of James Roakers who had gone to the war. Mr. Strong qualified and took the seat.
The third annual meeting of the board convened at the court house on the 5th of January, 1863, and organized by the selection of B. A. Hall as chairman for the ensuing year. The following were the newly elected members:
B. A. Hall. .Toledo
R. Johnston. Ilighland
Peter McRoberts Carroll
J. S. Townsend.
.Crystal
J. A. Willey. Salt Creek
Geo. W. Selvy . York
G. W. Morrison
Columbia
T. Forker.
Richland
D. Connell
Buckingham
G. D. Berry. Howard
Nothing of special interest transpired until December of this year when, on the 21st day of the month, a special meeting of the board was held for the purpose of offering bounties to volunteers, and to provide in the best manner that the board should see fit for the families of those enlisting. The following was unanimous- ly adopted by the board being presented by T. Forker:
6
278
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
"Be it Resolved by the Board of Super- visors of Tama county, Iowa, that the sum of ten thousand dollars or so much there- of as may be necessary, be and the same is hereby appropriated from the funds to be hereinafter raised for the purpose of paying bounties to persons who have or may hereafter enlist in the service of the United States under the last call made by the President for 300,000 volunteers; that a tax of four mills on the dollar shall be levied on the taxable property of said county at the next regular meeting of said board for levying county taxes for the special purpose of paying the appropria- tion hereby made; and further, that each volunteer under said call shall receive a warrant on the Treasury of the county for the sum of $100 payable at the office of the county Treasurer of said county on or before January Ist, 1866, with ten per cent. interest from January 1, 1864. But the Board of Supervisors shall have the right to order said warrants paid at any time after they are issued by giving thirty days notice in some newspaper published in said county, if there be one, and if not by causing a notice for the same length of time to be posted on the court house door, after which time all interest on said war- rants shall cease; and be it further resol v- ed * * that the family of each volunteer, who are residents of said county enlisting under said call, shall be entitled to draw, the same amount from the County Treasury, as the families of the members of Com- pany G, 14th Regiment Iowa Volunteers, upon filing of affidavits and complying in all respects with the regulations made
for the members of said Company "G."
It seems that at this term there was a little difficulty in regard to the seat of one of the members. The record states : " Mr. James A. Miller presented his cre- dentials as member from Lincoln town- ship in place of Mr. Morehouse, who had removed from the township ; Mr. More- house contested the right of Mr. Miller to appear as a member of said Board from Lincoln township- Mr. Forker moved that Mr. Miller be entitled to his seat as a member of this Board, carried and Mr. Miller came forward and qualified."
J. T. Shugart presented his credentials as a member of the Board of Supervisors from York township in place of Mr. Selvy who had removed from the county. Ile qualified and took his seat.
The fourth annual session of the Board convened at the court house in Toledo, January 4, 1864. Peter MeRoberts was made chairman pro-tem., and the follow ing members elect appeared and qualified, representing the townships named :
Indian Village. .A. Bricker
Howard. Wm. Gallagher, Jr
Spring Creck V. S. Bartlett
Oneida Josiah Thomas
Otter Creek A. Tompkins
Carlton. Wm. Conant
Geneseo .. T. F. Clark
Perry.
Daniel Connell
Clark. Joseph Dysart
Lincoln J A Miller
The Board then proceeded to effeet a permanent organization by the election of B. A. Ilall, chairman for the ensuing year.
At this session a committee was in- structed to investigate the matter of buy- ing a poor farm for the county. Another
279
IIISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
committee was instructed to issue a proc- lamation that at the next general election the question would be submitted whether sheep and hogs should run at large or not.
It was also resolved that bonds of the county to the amount of $7500, be issued to pay bounty warrants.
At the June session Mr. Taplin was ap- pointed as supervisor from Indian Village township.
The Board resolved at its September session 1864. to submit the question of building a court house. The proclama- tion read:
"Whether the Board of Supervisors shall on or before the first day of June, 1865, order and contract for the erection of a court house within the village of Toledo, the county seat of said county; probably costing over $2,000, provided that in no case and under no circumstances shall the said contract for the building and finishing and furnishing of said court house exceed the sum of $20,000. The proposition was defeated at the polls.
The Fifth annual meeting of the Board convened at Toledo on January 2nd 1865, and organized by the election of P. L. Sherman Chairman, for the ensuing year. The following newly elected members ap- peared and took their seats, viz
Geneseo. P. L. Sberman.
Buckingham . G. Jaqua. Lincoln A. C. Brockway.
Carroll. S. Doolittle. Toledo. W. F. Johnston
York.
L B. Dodd.
Salt Creek S. Prill,
Columbia J. Ross. llighland. E. M. Poyneer. It was ordered that $5.00 be the bounty paid for wolf scalps.
The war committee made a report at this session stating that "upon a careful examination of the books in the clerk's office we find that there has been paid on relief warrants for the benefit of soldiers families the sum of $9,155.66, for the year ending January 1st, 1865; also that the amount paid during the month of Decem- ber last is $785 which is less than the av- erage monthly expenditures for the year past; from which we infer that this branch of the county expenses has reached its maximum and is gradually on the de- crease."
On the 5th of January, 1865, Hon. Jos. Dysart offered the following resolution and moved its adoption.
Whereas, "The President of the United States, has issued his proclamation calling for 300,000 volunteers to be enlisted before the 15th day of February 1865. There- fore, be it resolved, that each volunteer drafted man or substitute mustered into service of the United States under said call shall be entitled to receive a county warrant of the denomination of $200, pay- able January 1st 1868, with interest at six per cent from the 15th day of February, 1865, provided that no warrant shall be issued until the certificate of the Provost Marshal of this district or that of the Aj't. General of lowa be filed in the office of the Clerk of this Board, showing that the person claiming the same, shall have been credited to some township in Tama county; and provided further that the number of warrants issued to volun- teers, drafted men or substitutes of any township, shall not exceed the quota of volunteers, demanded of such township un- der the above named call, and further be
280
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
it resolved that a tax of two mills on the dollar, on the taxable property of Tama county shall be levied by the Board of Supervisors of said county at the time of levying taxes in 1866, and every suose- quent year thereafter until said warrants with the interest thereon are paid.
The power to direct the payment of the whole or any part of the warrants that may thus be issued is reserved by the Board of Supervisors, by giving thirty days notice by publication in some newspaper in Tama county, or posting such notice on the court house door, and all interest there- after shall cease."
The resolutions were unanimously adopted.
At the June session C. N. Knapp pre- sented bis appointment as Supervisor from Spring Creek township; John Ransdell from Richland township, Mr. Anthony, from Oneida, and all qualified and took their seats.
The war committee on the 8th of June, 1865, reported "that the amount now be- ing paid out of the relief fund monthly for the benefit of soldier's families is $748.
At the September session a resolution was passed to the effect that a proposition be submitted to the legal voters of Tama county at the general election held in October, 1865, for the purpose of deter- mining whether or not said county will donate the swamp lands and the proceeds of the swamp lands and the proceeds of said swamp lands belonging to the county or held by the county, to the lowa Central Railroad Company, provided, said road would build through the county. (See Railroad Chapter.)
At the same term the bond of the county
Treasurer was fixed at $60,000.
The railroad matter came up m different form at the same session and was decided that the following question be submitted to the voters of the county; whether the people would donate the sum of $40,000 to the Iowa Central R. R. Company to be used in building the same in this county, and a tax of four mills on the dollar be levied in the years 1866, 1867 and 1868, to pay the same. It carried at the polls.
A resolution was passed about the same time offering a bounty of 10 cents upon each pocket gopher killed. This was pre- sented by Mr. Tompkins.
The war committee consisting of A. N. Poyneer, L. B. Dodd and Wm. Gallagher, again reported this term, but treated of nothing except local matters.
G. G. Mason appeared at the October session and qualified as Supervisor from Oneida township.
The sixth annual session of the Board commenced on January 1st 1866, at the court house in Toledo, and Mr. Johnston was chosen temporary chairman. The following named appeared and qualified as members from their various townships, they being the members-elect:
Geneseo. P. L. Sherman
Clark. .Joseph Dysart
Richland
.Turner Forker
Perry
. James Wilson
Indian Village.
A. C. Tenny
('arroll.
B. Dickerson
Salt Creek A. B. Hancox
Howard. .W. Gallagher
York. Z. T. Shugart
Oneida Nathan Harmon
Spring Creek.
C. N. Knapp
Otter Creek J. H. Brooks
Carlton A. Donaldson
Lincoln. W. C. Thomas
*
281
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
The Board permanently organized by the election of P. L. Sherman chairman for the ensuing year.
It was resolved that each Supervisor con. stitute a committee of one in their respec- tive townships, for the purpose of seeing that none of the families of soldiers suffered.
Nothing of especial interest transpired during this year.
The Board convened at its Seventh Annual session on the 7th of January 1867, A. Donaldson took the chair pro tem and upon the roll being called the following named gentlemen were found to be pres- ent representing their townships:
Otter Creek. .James Brooks
Columbia . William Cory
Oneida B. Dickerson
Clark. Joseph Dysart
Carlton. A. Donaldson
Richland. T. Forker Crystal. .C. C. Guilford
Howard William Gallagher
Toledo. W. F. Johnston
Buckingham. .W. T. V. Ladd
Lincoln. Greenwood Prescott Carroll. Joseph Powell
Highland. A .. N. Poyneer
Geneseo. P. L. Sherman
Indian Village A. C. Tenny, Jr.
Perry. . James Wilson
The record states of York, Salt Creek and Spring Creek "no representatives." The matter of electing a permanent chair- man was then taken up and resulted in the re-election of P. L. Sherman, over James Wilson and A. Donaldson.
The matter of erecting a court house received attention at the September ses- sion 1867, when the following resolution
was presented and read by Mr. Johnston, and adopted by the Board.
Resolved, "By the Toledo court house Association that for the consideration here- inafter expressed, the said Association do hereby release to Tama county the "One Hundred Dollars" heretofore contracted to be paid as rent for said house by said county and agree to furnish said building according to the plans and specifications as soon as said building can be reasonably completed, and then to give the full con- trol of said building and grounds to said county so long as said county shall use the same for county purposes. Provided said county shall appropriate the sum of $5,000 * to help finish said building. *
W. F. JOHNSTON, President, A. J. FREE, Secretary.
The sum of $5,000 was then appropriated in compliance with the resolution of the Association, and the court house became county property.
At the October session 1867, the county officers were authorized to move into the court house as soon as possible.
For 1868 the Board commenced their year's labor on the 6th of January. Mr. Tompkins was chosen temporary chairman and the following new members sworn in: Geneseo P. L. Sherman
Oneida Martin Leavens
Spring Creek. I. P. Willard
Howard. Wm. Gallagher
Clark. Joseph Dysart
Otter Creek A. Tompkins
Carlton. C. Bratt
Indian Village. A. C. Tenny, Jr.
Salt Creek James A. Willey
Perry .W. Rogers
P. L. Sherman was unanimously elected
282
HISTORY OF TAMA COUNTY.
chairman for the ensuing year.
At the June session R. J. Hall appeared and qualified as Supervisor from Crystal township in place of Mr. Guilford who had removed from the township.
The township of Grant was created on the 2nd of June, 1868, the resolution read- ing as follows:
Resolved, "That this Board do grant the prayer of the petition of John W. Flem- ming and others asking that the congres- sional township described as township 86, range 15, be set off from Buckingham township and be organized into a civil township to be known as "Grant." That the Clerk of this Board be directed to re- cord the boundaries of said township as required by law. That he issue a warrant for holding the next general election."
At the same session the Board passed a resolution encouraging the cultivation of shade trees.
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.