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 8
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In the summer of 1854 there was a tacit coalition or union of the Whig and Free- Soil elements of the State. Alarmed at
the aggressive spirit manifested by the ad- herents of the peculiar institution, the Free-Soilers, who almost held the balance of power in the State, readily adopted as their candidate the Whig nominee for Gov- ernor. Many of the old-line Whigs aban- doned their party because of this coalition, but many strong and able men among the Democrats co-operated with it. James W. Grimes was the nominee of the Whigs, and Curtis Bates, of Polk county, was the nominee of the Democratic party. Grimes was then in the vigor of his manhood, and all the energies of his being appeared to be aroused by what he denominated the aggressions of the slave power. He was thoroughly in earnest, and canvassed most of the organized counties of the State. The people flocked by the thousands to hear him, and were electrified by his elo- quence. No one of the opposition at- tempted to meet him in debate. The re- sult was his election by a majority of 1,404 in a vote of 21,794. A majority was also secured in the General Assembly on joint ballot of the two Houses in opposition to the Democratic party. The opposition party in 1854-'5 were known as anti-Ne- braska Whigs. A caucus of this opposing element nominated James Harlan as their candidate for United States Senator, Geo. G. Wright for Chief Justice, and Norman W. Isbell and Wm. G. Woodward for Judges of the Supreme Court.
A portion of the opposition, however, refused to go into this c_ucus, or to abide by its decision as to the United States Sen- ator. They were the personal friends of Ebenezer Cook, of Scott county.
A joint convention was secured, and the Judges of the Supreme Court were elected.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
After frequent balloting and adjournments, it was at last understood that Cook's friends had yielded, and would support Mr. Harlan. When the hour arrived to which the joint convention had adjourned, messengers were sent to the Senate by the House, to inform that body that the House was ready to meet them in joint conven- tion. Before this message could be de- livered, the Senate had adjourned over until the next day. The anti-Nebraska Senators, however, entered the ball of the House and took their seats in joint conven- tion. Much confusion prevailed, but finally a President pro tem of the conven- tion was chosen, and Mr. Harlan was elected. His seat was contested, and his eltetion declared invalid by the United States Senate.
At the next session of the General As- sembly, held in 1857, Mr. Harlan was re- elected, and was permitted to take his seat.
The year 1856 marked a new era in the history of Iowa. In 1854 the Chicago & Rock Island railroad had been completed - to the east bank of the Mississippi river, opposite Davenport. In the same year the corner-stone of a railroad bridge that was to be the first to span the "Father of Waters," was laid with appropriate eere- monies, at this point. St. Louis had re- solved that the enterprise was unconstitu- tional, and by writs of injunction made an unsuccessful effort to prevent its comple- tion. Twenty years later in her history St. Louis repented her folly, and made atonement for her sin by imitating Iowa's example. January 1st, 1856, this railroad was completed to Iowa City. In the mean- time two other railroads had reached the east bank of the Mississippi-one opposite !
Burlington and one opposite Dubuque- and these were being extended into the interior of the State. Indeed, four other lines of railroads had been projected across the State, from the Mississippi to the Mis- souri, having eastern connections.
May 15th, 1856, Congress passed an act granting to the State, to aid in the con- struction of railroads, the publie lands in alternate sections, six miles on each side · of the proposed lines An extra session of the General Assembly was called in July of this year, that disposed of the grant to the several companies that pro- posed to complete these enterprises. The population of łowa was now 500,000. Pub- lic attention had been called to the neces- sity of a railroad across the continent. The position of Iowa, in the very heart and center of the republic, on the route of this great highway of the continent, began to attract attention. Cities and towns sprang up through the State as if by magic. Capital began to pour into the State, and had it been employed in devel- oping the vast coal measures and establish- ing manufactories, or if it had been expended in improving the lands, and in building houses and barns, it would have been well. But all were in haste to get rich, and the spirit of speculation ruled the hour.
In the meantime, every effort was made to help the speedy completion of the rail- roads. Nearly every county and city on the Mississippi, and many in the interior, voted large corporate subscriptions to the stoek of the railroad companies, and issued their negotiable bonds for the amount. Thue enormous county and city debts were incurred, the payment of which these mu-
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
nicipalities tried to avoid, upon the plea that they had exceeded the constitutional limitation of their powers. The Supreme Court of the United States held these bonds to be valid, and the courts, by man- damus, compelled the city and county authorities to levy taxes to pay the judg- ments recovered upon them. These debts are not all paid, even to this day; but the worst is over, and the incubus is in the course of ultimate extinction. The most valuable lessons are those learned in the school of experience, and, accordingly, the corporations of Iowa have ever since been noted for economy.
In 1856 the Republican party of the State was duly organized, in full sympathy with that of the other free States, and at the ensuing presidential election the elec- toral vote of the State was cast for John C. Fremont. The popular vote was as follows : Fremont, 43,954; Buchanan, 36,- 170, and Fillmore, 9,180. This was 1,396 less than a majority for Fremont. The following year an election was held, after an exciting campaign, for State officers, resulting in a majority of 1,406 for Ralph P. Lowe, the Republican nominee. The Legislature was largely Republican in both branches.
In June, 1854, a Board of State Com- missioners contracted with the DesMoines Navigation Railroad Company, au organ- ization composed principally of New York capitalists, to undertake the work, agree- ing to convey to the company lands at $1.25 au acre for all moneys advanced and expended. In the meantime difficul- ties arose in regard to the extent of the grant. The State claimed lands through- out the whole extent of the river to the
north line of the State. The Department of the Interior changed its rulings under the several administrations. The Com- missioner of the General Land Office cer- tified to the State about 320,000 acres of land below the Raccoon Fork of the river, and about 270,000 acres above it prior to 1857, when he refused to certify any more. This led to a settlement and compromise with the Navigation Company in 1858, whereby the company took all the land certified to the State at that date, and paid the State $20,000 in addition to what they had already expended, cancelled their con- tract and abandoned the work.
The General Assembly granted to the DesMoines Valley Railroad Company the remainder of the grant to the State line, to aid in building a railroad up and along the DesMoines Valley ; and Congress, in 1862, extended the grant, by express enactment, to the north line of the State.
The most injurious result to the State, arising from the spirit of speculation pre- valent in 1856, was the purchase and entry of great bodies of Government land within the State by non-residents. This land was held for speculation, and placed beyond the reach of actual settlers for many years.
From no other one cause has Iowa suf- fered so much as from the short-sighted policy of the Federal Government in sell- ing lands within her borders. The money thus obtained by the Federal Government has been comparatively inconsiderable. The value of this magnificient public do- main to the United States was not in the few thousands of dollars she might exact from the hardy settlers, or that she might obtain from the speculator who hoped to
64
HISTORY OF IOWA.
profit by the settlers' labors in improving the country. Statesmen should have taken a broader and more comprehensive view of national economy, and a view more in harmony with the divine economy that bad prepared these vast fertile plains of the West for the "homes of men and the seats of empire." It was here that new States were to be builded up that should be the future strength of the nation against for- eign invasion or home revolt. A single regiment of Iowa soldiers during the dark days of the Rebellion was worth more to the nation than all the money she ever ex- acted from the toil and sweat of Iowa's early settlers. Could the statesmen of forty years ago have looked forward to this day, when łowa pays her $1,000,000 annu- ally into the treasury of the nation for the extinction of the national debt, they would have realized that the founding of new States was a greater enterprise than the retailing of public lands.
In January, 1857, another Constitutional Convention assembled at Iowa City, which framed the present State constitution. One of the most pressing demands for this con- vention grew out of the prohibition of banks under the old constitution. The practical result of this prohibition was to flood the State with every species of "wild-cat" currency. Our circulating medium was made up in part of the free-bank paper of Illinois and Indiana. In addition to this, we had paper issued by Iowa brokers, who had obtained bank charters from the Ter- ritorial Legislature of Nebraska, and had their pretended headquarters at Omaha and Florence. Our currency was also well assorted with the bills from other States, generally such as had the best reputation
where they were least known. This paper was all at 2, and some of it from 10 to 15 per cent. discount. Every man who was not an expert in detecting counterfeit bills, and who was not posted in the history of all manner of banking institutions, did business at his peril. The new constitution made ample provisions for house banks under the supervision of our own laws. The limitation of our State debt was en- larged to $250,000, and the corporate in- debtedness of the cities and counties were also limited to five per cent. upon the valu- ation of their taxable property.
The Judges of the Supreme Court were to be elected by the popular vote.
The permanent seat of government was fixed at DesMoines, and the State Uni- versity located at Iowa City. The qualifi- cations of electors remained the same as under the old constitution, but the schedule provided for a vote of the people upon a separate proposition to strike the word "white" out of the suffrage clause, which, had it prevailed, would have resulted in conferring the right of suffrage without distinction of color. Since the early or- ganization of Iowa there had been upon the statute books a law providing that no negro, mulatto or Indian should be a com- petent witness in any suit or proceeding to which a white man was a party. The Gen- eral Assembly of 1856-'7 repealed this law, and the new constitution contained a clause forbidding such disqualification in the future. It also provided for the education of "all youth of the State" through a sys- tem of common schools. This constitution was adopted at the ensuing election by a vote of 40,311 to 38,681.
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IHISTORY OF IOWA.
October 19, 1857, Gov. Grimes issued a proclamation declaring the City of Des- Moines to be the capital of the State of Iowa. The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once and con- tinued through the fall. It was an under- taking of no small magitude; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the work, and the season was unusually dis- agreeable. Rain, snow and other accom- paniments increased the difficulties, and it was not until December that the last of the effects,-the safe of the State Treasurer, loaded on two large "bob-sleds," drawn by ten yokes of oxen,-was deposited in the new capitol. Thus Iowa City ceased to be the capital of the State after four Territo- rial Legislatures, six State Legislatures and three Constitutional Conventions had held their sessions there.
In 1856 and 1858 large appropriations were made for the erection of public build- ings and the support of the unfortunate classes, and a loan of $200,000 was author- ized.
During the years 1858-60, the Sioux In- dians became troublesome in the north- western part of the State. They made frequent raids for the purpose of plunder, and on several occasions murdered whole families of settlers. In 1861 several com- panies of militia were ordered to that por- tion of the State to hunt down and expel the thieves. No battles were fought, the Indians fleeing as soon as they ascertained systematical measures had been adopted for their punishment.
In 1870 the General Assembly made an appropriation and provided for the appoint- ment of a Board of Commissioners to commence the work of building a new cap-
itol. The corner-stone was laid with ap- propriate ceremonies November 23, 1871. The building is a beautiful specimen of modern architecture.
When Wisconsin Territory was organ- ized, in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced in the State of Iowa, was 10,531. The Terri- tory then embraced two counties, Dubuque and DesMoines, erected by the Territory of Michigan, in 1834. Since then, the counties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population in 1880 was 1,624,463. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory :
Year. Population.
1838
22,589
1840
43,115
1844 75,152
1846 97,588
1847. 116,651
1849
152,988
1850
191,982
1851 .204,774
1852 .230,713
1854. .326 013
1856
5:9,055
1859 638,775
1860 .674,913
1863.
.701,732
1865
.750,699
1867
.902,040
1869
1,040,819
1870.
1,191,727
1873.
1,251,333
1875 1,366,000
1880. 1,624,463
The most populous county is Dubuque, 42,997. Polk county has 41,395, and Scott 41,270. Not only in population, but in
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
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everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty-five years its wild but beautiful prairies have advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civilized commonwealth, embra- cing all the elements of progress which characterize the older States.
The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in January, 1861 The completion of three others soon followed.
In 1854 there was not a mile of railroad in Iowa. Within the succeeding twenty years, 3,765 miles were built and put in successful operation.
The present value of buildings for State institutions, including the estimated cost of the capitol, is as follows :
State Capitol .$2,500,000
State University . 400,000
Agricultural College and Farm. 300,000
Institution for the Blind. 150,000
Institution for the Deaf and
Dumb. 225,000
Institutions for the Insane. 1,149,000
Orphans' Home 62,000
Penitentiaries 408,000
Normal School. 50,000
R form School 90,000
The State has never levied more than two and one-half mills on the dollar for State tax, and this is at present the consti- tutional limit. The State has no debt.
No other influence has contributed so much to the progress and development of Iowa as the newspapers of the State. No class of men have labored more assiduously and disinterestedly for the development of the State and the advancement of her ma- terial interests, than her editors. There
are now published in Iowa 25 daily papers, 36+ weekly papers, and 13 monthly publi- cations. These are as a rule well supported by the people.
Such is briefly a summary of the history and resources of I wa. There is perhaps no other country on earth where so few people are either rich or poor as in Iowa; where there is such an equality of condi- tion, and where so many enjoy a compe- tence. The law exempts from execution a homestead to every head of a family. Every sober, industrious man can in a short time acquire a home. Iowa is the home for the immigrant. The children of the laboring man have no prejudice of caste to overcome in the effort they may choose to make for the improvement of their condi- tion in life. Here all men enjoy the alien . able blessings of "life, liberty and the pur- suit of happiness," not only unfettered by legal disabilities, but also untrammeled by those fixed conditions of social and busi- ness life that elsewhere result from accu- mulated wealth in the possession of the few. As education is free, so also the ave- nues of success are open in every pursuit and calling. The highest incentives exist to exertion. Labor and effort, whether manual or mental, are held alike honorable; and idleness and crime are alone consid- ered disreputable.
Thriving cities and towns dot the land; an iron net-work of thousands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres; 10,000 school-houses, in which more than 500,000 children are being taught the rudi- ments of education, testify to the culture and liberality of the people; high schools, colleges and universities, are generously endowed by the State; manufactories are
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busy on all her water-courses, and in most of her cities and towns.
We quote from Judge Nourse: "The great ultimate fact that America would demonstrate is, the existence of a people capable of attaining and preserving a su- perior civilization, with a government self- imposed, self-administered and self-perpet- nated. In this age of wonderful progress, America can exhibit nothing to the world of mankind more wonderful or more glo- rious, than her new States-young empires,
born of her own enterprise, and tutored at her own political hearth-stone. Well may she say to the monarchies of the old world, who look for evidence of her regal grandeur and state: 'Behold, these are my jewels !' And may she never blush to add: 'This one in the center of the diadem is called Iowa !" '
The following is the census of Iowa by counties, as taken by the National Gov- ernment at each decade:
CENSUS OF IOWA.
COUNTIES.
1840,
1850.
1860.
1870.
18:0.
Adair
984
3,982
11, 199
Adams
1,533
4,614
11, 188
Allamakee
777
12. 237
17, 868
19, 791
Appanoose
3,131
11,931
16, 456
16,636
Audubon
672
8.496
22, 454
24, 888
Black Hawk
135
8, 244
21,706
23,913
Booue
735
4,232
14, 584
20, 838
Bremer
4 915
12,528
14.0 1
Buchanan
517
7,906
17, 034
18, 547
Buena Vista.
57
1,55
7,537
Butler
3, 724
9,951
14, 293
Calhoun
147
1,602
5,595
Carroll
281
2, 451
12 351
Cass
1,612
5 464
16,943
Cedar. .
12, 949
19, 731
18,937
Cerro Gordo
940
4, 722
11, 461
Cherokee
58
1,967
8, 240
Chickasaw
709
5,427
8, 735
11, 512
Clay ..
3,873
20,728
27,771
28,829
Clinton
2, 822
18,938
35,357
36,764
Crawford
383
2,530
12, 413
Dallas
854
5,244
12, 019
18, 746
Davis
7, 264
13, 764
15, 565
16, 468
Decatur
965
8.677
12,018
15, 336
Delaware.
168 5,577
12, 988
19,611
27.256
33,099
180
1,389
1,901
Dubuque
3,059
31, 164
38,969
42, 997
Emmett
£25
12,073
16, 973
22, 258
Floyd
Franklin
1,309
4, 738
10,248
Fremout
5,074
11, 174
17,653
Greene
1,374
4,627
12, 725
Granly.
793
6,399
12, 639
Guthrie
3,058
7,061
14, 863
11,024
17, 432
17,9 2
Des Moines
Dickinson
10,84]
105
1,392
1,550
Fayette
3,744
10. 768
14,677
4,336
10, 180
14,534
Clarke
52
1,523
4,248
Clayton
821
451
1,212
7.448
Beuton
1,253
3,941
1,101
1, 759
1,244
HISTORY OF IOWA.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
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CENSUS OF IOWA-Continued.
COUNTIES.
1840.
1850.
1860.
1870.
1880.
Hamilton.
1,649
6, 055
11,272
Hancook
179
999
3,453
Ilardin
5,440
13, 6=4
17, 20×
Harrison
3,621
8,931
16,649
Henry.
3,772
8,707
18, 701
21, 463
20,826
Howard
3,163
6, 282
10,837
Humboldt
332
2,596
6,341
Ida
Iowa .
829
8,029
16, 664
19, 221
Jackson
1, 411
7,210
18, 493
22.619
23, 77E
Jasper
1,280
9, 883
2., 116
25, 962
Jefferson
2, 773
9,904
15, 018
17,-39
17, 478
Johnson
1,49€
4,472
17,573
24,898
25,429
Jones
471
3, 007
13,306
19, 731
21,052
Keokuk
4, 822
13,271
19, 414
21,254
Kossuth
416
3, 351
6,179
Lee
6,093
18, 261
29,232
37,210
34,2700
Linn.
1,373
5,441
18,947
28. 852
37,235
Louisa
1,927
4,939
10,370
12, 877
13. 146
Lucas
471
5, 766
10,3-8
14,530
Lyon
221
1, 968
Malison
1.123
7,339
13,884
17, 225
Mahaska
5,9~9
14, 816
25.5 8
25, 201
Marion
5,483
16, 213
24, 436
25, 111
Marsball
33g
6, 015
17,526
23, 7.2
Mills .
1, 4×1
8,718
14,135
Mitchell
3,409
9,582
14.361
Monona
832
3,654
9,055
Mo: 108
2,884
8,612
12,724
13, 719
Montgomery
1, 256
5,934
15, 895
Muscatine ..
5,731
16, 444
21,64%
23.16-
O'Brien.
715
4,155
Osceola.
551
4,419
9,975
19,667
l'alo Alto.
132
1,336
4, 131
Plymouth
148
2,199
8.5+7
Pocahontas
103
1.446
3,713
l'olk
4,513
11. 625
27, 857
42,395
Pottawattamie
7,828
4.968
16, 893
39,846
Powechiek
615
5,668
15, 581
18, 936
Ringgold
2, 923
5, 691
12, 0-5
Sac
246
1,411
8,771
Scott
2,140
25,959
88,509
41, 270
Shelby
≥18
2,549
12, 646
SIoux.
10
570
5,426
Story.
4,051
11, 651
16,966
Tama
8
5,295
16, 131
21,5-5
Taylor
201
3,590
6, 989
15,635
Uuion
2 012
5,9-6
14 980
Vau Buren.
6.146
17, 081
17,672
17,042
Wapello
8,471
14.518
22,346
25, 282
Warren
961
10,281
17,980
19,578
Washington
4,957
14, 235
18, 952
20,375
Wayne
340
6, 409
11, 2×7
16, 127
Webster ..
2, 504
10,484
15, 950
Winnebago
168
1,526
4,917
Winneshiek
546
13,942
23,570
23,9.37
Woodbury.
1,119
6. 172
14, 997
Worth
75%
2, 892
7, 953
Wright.
653
2, 392
5.062
Total
43, 112
192, 214
674,913
1,191,792
1,624,463
43
2.26
4,382
1,942
8
2, 219
Page
5,986
12, 270
1,594
1
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
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CHAPTER .VII.
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GEOLOGY-TOPOGRAPHY-WATER COURSES.
Geologists divide the soil of Iowa into three general divisions-drift, bluff and alluvial. The drift occupies a much larger part of the surface of the State than both the others. The bluff has the next greatest area of surface, and the alluvial least. All soil is disintegrated rock. The drift de- posit of Iowa was derived, to a consider- able extent, from the rocks of Minnesota; but the greater part of Iowa drift was de- rived from its own rocks, much of which has been transported but a short distance. In northern and northwestern Iowa the drift contains more sand and gravel than elsewhere. In southern Iowa the soil is frequently stiff and clayey. The bluff soil is found only in the western part of the
State, and adjacent to the Missouri river. Although it contains less than one per cent. of clay in its composition, it is in no re- spect inferior to the best drift soil. The alluvial soil is that of the flood plains of the river valleys, or bottom lands. That which is periodically flooded by the rivers is of little value for agricultural purposes; but a large part of it is entirely above the reach of the highest flood, and is very pro- ductive.
The stratified rocks of Iowa range from the Azoic to the Mesozoic, inclusive; but the greater portion of the surface of the State is occupied by those of the Palæozoic age. The table below will show each of these formations in their order:
SYSTEMS. AGE8.
GROUPS. PERIODS.
FORMATIONA. EPOCHS.
THICKNESS IN FEET.
Post Tertlary
Drift
10 to 200
Cretacsona
( Inoceramons Bed.
50
Lower Cretaceous.
Woodbury Sandstone and Shales.
130
Nishnabotany Sandstone ...
1011
Upper Coal Measures
200
Coal Measures
Middle Coal Measures
20
( Lower Coal Measurea ..
200
Carboniferous.
(St Lonis Limestone
75
| Snbcarboniferous
Keokuk Limestone
90
Burlington Limestone.
196
[ Kinderhook Beds
175
Devonisn.
Hamilton
Hamilton Limestone and Shales
20
Upper Silurlan.
Niagara
Niagara Limestone
350
Cincinnati
Maquoketa Shales
80
Trenton.
S Galena Limestone
250
Lower Silurian.
( St Peter's Sandstone
80
Primordisi.
Lower Magneaian Limestone.
250
( Potsdam Sandstone.
300
Azolo
Sioux Quar zite
50
Huronian ;.
Trenton Limestone
200
2
70
HISTORY OF IOWA.
7
AZOIC SYSTEM.
The Sioux quartzite is found exposed in natural ledges only upon a few acres in the extreme northwest corner of the State, upon the banks of the Big Sioux river, for which reason the specific name of Sioux quartzite has been given them. It is an intensely hard rock, breaks in splintery fracture, and of a color varying, in different localities, from a light to deep red. The process of metamorphism has been so complete throughout the whole formation, that the rock is almost every- where of uniform texture. The dip is four or five degrees to the northward, and the trend of the outerop is east vard and westward.
LOWER SILURIAN SYSTEM.
Primordial Group .- The Potsdam sand- stone formation is exposed only in a small portion of the northeastern part of the State. It is only to be seen in the bases of the bluffs and steep valley sides which border the river there. It is nearly value- less for economic purposes. No fossils have been discovered in this formation in Iowa.
Lower Magnesian Limestone. - This formation has but little greater geographi- cal extent in Iowa than the Potsdam sand- stone. It lacks a uniformity of texture and stratification, owing to which it is not generally valuable for building purposes The only fossils found in this formation in the State are a few traces of crinoids, near McGregor.
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