USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc. : a biographical directory of many of its leading citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men, history of Iowa and the Northwest, map of Taylor County, Constitution of the United States, reminiscences, miscellaneous matters, etc > Part 48
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THE COUNTY JAIL.
The criminal list of this county has been fairly large, and for many years prior to the building of the old jail it was customary to take the prisoners and incarcerate them in the jails of other counties. It is a fact that Taylor county has, of all its neighbors, been the last to move in matters of this nature, and then only when absolutely imperative, and delay was criminal.
The first movement seems to have been, according to the records, in the June session of the board of supervisors for 1874. It was then
Resolved, That D. B. Hoover, together with the auditor, be empowered to ascertain the cost of erecting a building on the southeast corner of the public square, 20x24 feet, and two stories high, the lower part to have two cells, 10x12 feet, to be cased with iron, to be used as a jail, and if the probable cost, completed, including ironing and foundation, will not ex- ceed $1,200, that they proceed to let the contract for the erection of said building.
This resolution was adopted, and the jail built. Further information than this is not attainable.
Subsequently it was deemed necessary to build another jail and measures were accordingly taken in 1880. The report of the committee in the jail matter bears the date of January, 1881, having been made to the board 8
434
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
of supervisors during the session of that month. Following is the report :
On the 17th of September the committee contracted with P. J. Pauly & Bro., through their agents, Blackmar, Dorr & Co., for two steel-clad cells; also an iron outside door and window guards, the cost of same to be $3,815.
December 18th the committee met, and after a careful examination of the jail cells, they were accepted, and the contract price-$3,815-was paid to Blackmar, Dorr & Co., agents of said P. J. Pauly & Bro. In addition to the foregoing there has been $14 freight paid on window guards and outside door, making a total cost of the iron work on jail and cells of $3,829.
On October 9th the committee met and contracted with Harley Greenlee to build a jail building for the sum of $750, all of which is respectfully submitted.
W. P. SHERWOOD, Chairman Building Committee.
And so was completed the present building. It is suited to the needs of the county, and the iron cells will endure for many years.
THE POOR-FARM.
Charitable institutions, ever since the earliest dawn of history, have ex- isted in some form to ameliorate the unhappy and sorrowful phases of human life. With the advance in knowledge, and the increased duty thereby resting on men to care for their fellows, there has resulted a better under- standing of the needs of humanity and better methods of meeting them. Institutions of a charitable nature have sprung up in every clime, more or less perfect in their organization and administration; all of which are doing a noble work for humanity. But, as is more interesting to us, our own land is in no respect behind other lands in its care for the sick and sore, the poor and the unfortunate. In every State there are numerous institutions, cared for at its expense, and in nearly every county the same feeling of kindness finds expression in the maintenance of a home for the same clas- ses. The care of this county for the unfortunate in life has ever been most kind. Busied with individual cares and necessities, as its inhabitants have been, they nevertheless found opportunity to pause and inquire into the con- dition of the poor of the county. It was the custom in the earlier days to place a family in charge of one or more unfortunates, paying them a stated sum in consideration for which they were to provide certain articles both of clothing and food, and were required to give bonds for the faithful per- formance of their duty. A case in point, serving to illustrate all these par- ticulars is found on the records of this county affecting, however, Ringgold county, then under the jurisdiction of Taylor. The entry is transcribed verbatim et literatim.
435
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
OCTOBER 18 DAY 1852.
Know all men by these presents that i Jerry Harper of the county of Ringgold and the State of Iowa for and in ConsidEration of the sum of one Hundred dollars to Me in hand paide is held and firmly Bound unto Sarey Ann-of the County and State a fore Said to fur- nish the said Sarey Ann-all the nesesary provisions and Clothing for her self and her foure Children and all Necessary fuel for the fire and all the Nesesary midisens and Employ all phisians and pay all Reasonable Doctrs bills and log all the heavy Wood for the fire for the termination of foure years from this present date for the payment of the above obligation I have Executed my Note.
Attes: LOTT HOBS.
JERY HARPER.
Private families often cared for persons in this way, and this is but one of the numerous instances of the past. The attention of the county was aroused to the matter, and the first official action relative to providing a home for this class was in the year 1868. At the September session of that year Supervisor Hamblin offered the following, which was adopted:
Resolved, That the committee on paupers be and hereby is requested to take the neces- sary steps to find suitable location for a farm of not less than 160 acres, upon which to build a county poor-house and report at the next session of this board.
This committee reported in the November session of the board, and rec- ommended the purchase of the sw } of section 29, township 69, range 33. This report was accepted and a committee appointed to make the purchase of this land "or other suitable premises for a poor-farm, and report at the next meeting." The record of the January session of 1869 contains the following entry:
The special committee on poor-farm report that they have purchased the sw 14 of Sec. 29, township 69, range 33, for $960 cash, or $1,000 in county warrants, and recommend to · purchase the same for $980; $490 cash, and $490 in warrants. Adopted.
"The records show no further action relative to this matter until the June session of 1878. The following entry was then made, from which it is gathered that more land had been required and its purchase authorized by the supervisors:
Comes now W. D. Blackburn, committee on poor-farm, and reports that on April 23, 1878, he purchased of John S. Boyd, for Taylor county, to be added to the poor-farm of said county, the northeast quarter of section 29, township 69, range 33, containing 173.51 acres at $15.00 per acre. Adopted.
It subsequently became necessary to add to the buildings on the poor- farm, and the proper committee was appointed, which reported in the Jan- uary term of 1881 as follows:
To the honorable board of supervisors of Taylor county, Iowa:
GENTLEMEN-I have the honor to submit the following report, as chairman of the build- ing committee appointed by the board of supervisors for the purpose of building a house and barn on the Taylor county poor-farm, and a jail in the town of Bedford:
436
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
On August 14, 1880, the committee contracted with R. H. Delmege to build a house and barn, to correspond with plans and specifications submitted by W. K. Ball, for the sum of $4,917, the house to cost $4,127, and barn to cost $790.
On December 14 the committee accepted the house and barn and paid the contract price, $4,917, and $260.51 for additional work done on house and barn not specified in plans and specifications, making a total cost of both buildings of $5,177.51.
W .. P. SHERWOOD, Chairman Building Committee.
The founding of the poor-farm ought always to be a source of congratu- lation to the citizens of the county. With one of the finest farms within its limits, and under able management, the institution is nearly or quite self-sustaining, a circumstance calling for renewed self-approval. The in- mates have a comfortable and pleasant home, and the county the conscious- ness of justly and fully caring for those who need its care, and aiding those on whom affliction has laid a heavy hand.
BRIDGES AND ROADS.
Improvements of this nature have been very liberal throughout the county. The great number of small water-courses has rendered necessary a large number of bridges, some large, others small. Across larger streams substantial bridges have been built, and all within convenient distances of each other. The roads are everywhere good and well cared for. Almost the first business of the county court was the ordering of a new road. In view of the interest that attaches to this first step of the new born county to care for its material prosperity the record in the matter is here fully transcribed. The petition asked for a "road from Thomas's mill by Daniel McCouplin's, John Kroutz's, Ann Reed's, John Lowe's, Russel L. Thompson's and thence on the old route to Maryville." Immediately following the petition is the entry :
The above petition is granted, provided that the review can be made without any expense to the county.
Following this entry is the appointment of "reviewers," as follows:
STATE OF IOWA,
TAYLOR COUNTY. S SS.
We, the commissioners of Taylor county, Jowa, appoint John Krout, Preston B. McQuin . and Benjamin Trome as viewers of said road.
JOHN HAYDEN, Clerk.
September 1st, 1851.
1
437
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
POPULATION AND FINANCE.
The census for 1851, the first taken in the county, has been elsewhere given, as a part of the early proceedings of the board of county commis- sioners. The next census was taken in 1856, but is not attainable. In 1859 the following record appears on the minute-book of the county court:
Memoranda of returns from the different townships of the number of inhabitants of Tay- lor county, according to the census taken by the assessors of the different townships in said county in the year A. D. 1859, said assessment being in obedience to an act of the legisla- ture of the State of Iowa, passed at the session of 1858, said returns being as follows:
TOWNSHIPS.
Voters.
Number between
the ages of 5 and
21 years.
Males.
Females.
Total inhabitants.
Benton.
152
251
339
313
658
Clayton
68
159
18
161
349
Dallas.
51
105
145
102
247
Jackson
52
104
139
124
263
Jefferson
67
136
201
149
349
Mason. .
64
127
165
148
313
Marshall.
31
46
66
62
128
Nodaway
38
47
91
71
162
Ross.
68
68
167
140
307
Polk.
74
144
195
163
358
Platte.
7
12
13
15
28
Washington
69
105
168
143
311
Totals
571
1,303
1,877
1,591
3,473
In 1865 the population of the county, as divided between white and col- ored people, was the following:
TOWNSHIPS.
White.
Colored.
Benton.
649
34
Clayton
593
15
Dallas
294
Holt.
155
Jefferson
543
1
Jackson
228
6
Marshall.
156
16
Mason ..
356
Nodaway
243
13
Polk.
361
...
Platte
47
Ross.
377
Washington
205
7
Total
4,197
92
·
·
.
·
.
.
438
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
The census of 1875 shows a very large gain in the population. The cen -. sus of that year is here given for purpose of comparison:
WHITE.
COL'RD.
TOWNSHIPS.
Male.
Female.
Total.
Male.
Female.
Total.
Total population.
Benton
339|
318
657|
11
1| 2|
659
Bedford, town of.
426
425
851
5
5|10
861
Clayton .
324
300
624
924
Dallas
488
439
927
927
Gay.
191
155
346
346
Grant
205
166
371
371
Grove.
113
99
212
212
Holt. .
405
380
785
7
4|11
796
Jackson
210
211
421
421
Jefferson
336
302
638
1
1
639
Mason.
360
350
710
710
Marshall
251
229
480|
2
3
5
485
Nodaway
327
286
613
613
Platte.
366
299
665
665
Polk.
470
423
893
893
Ross
308
318
6261
62€
Washington .
299
271
570
570
Total
5,418 4,971 10,389|16 13 29 10,418
The census of 1880 has not been attainable by townships.
The present financial standing of the county is best shown by the fol- lowing figures:
ABSTRACT OF ASSESSMENT FOR 1880.
Abstract of the assessment of Taylor county for the year 1880, as re- quired by section 833 of the Code of 1873, and chapter 3, title 10, of said Code:
TOWNS, CITIES AND VILLAGES.
Value of realty
in towns.
Valuation.
Bedford.
$198,029
Lenox. . .
63,342
Conway.
23,738
Buchanan
1,390
Mormontown
3,123
Memory
707
Platteville .
975
Lexington.
381
Lands exclusive of town property, 338,000 acres
$2,432,333
Aggregate value of realty in towns ..
291,685
Aggregate value of railroad property, as assessed by executive council under chapter five, title ten, of Code of 1873.
112,120
Aggregate value of personal property, including horses, cattle, etc.
932,941
Total valuation of the county.
$3,769,579
Total exemptions for trees planted, not deducted from the above ..
$ 5,924
.
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
439
LIVE STOCK.
KIND OF STOCK.
Number.
Aggregate val- uation.
Cattle assessed in the county
18,327|$237,986 222,268
Horses assessed in the county
7,813
Mules assessed in the county
746
24,559
Sheep assessed in the county.
2,810
3,672
Swine assessed in the county
33,049
64,542
Total valuation of live stock.
$553,027
I certify the foregoing to be a full and complete abstract of assessments of said county, as required by law, and as corrected by the county board of equalization.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this tenth day of H. P. LONG, County Auditor.
June, 1880.
VALUATION AND TAX REPORT FOR 1880.
To the Auditor of State:
AUDITOR'S OFFICE, TAYLOR COUNTY, IOWA. S
SIR-In compliance with section 844, of the Code of 1873, I hereby report the aggregate valuation of lands, town property, personal property, railroad property (each separately), and also the aggregate amount of each separate tax levied in said county for the year 1880, as shown by the tax-books of said county, when the same was delivered to the county treasurer, for collection, as follows:
TAXABLE PROPERTY.
VALUE.
Lands. . .
$ 2,538,596
Town property
289,167
Personal property.
842,005
Railroad property
112,124
Total valuation of county
$ 3,781,892
TAXES.
RATE.
AMOUNT.
War and defense bonds
12 mill.
$ 6,890.97
State ..
2 mills.
7,563.79
County.
312 mills .
13,236.59
Insane hospital.
16 mill.
1,890.97
Poor
12 mill
1,890.97
Bridge
2 mills.
7,563.79
County school.
1 mill
3,781.89
Teachers'.
23,068.52
School-house
8,343.03
School contingent
8,467.69
Road
6,067.50
City
1,291.40
Polls (to county).
1,744.00
General township
418.13
Railroad commissioner, C., B. & Q.
75.80
Total
$ 87,395.04
I hereby certify the foregoing to be a correct statement, as appears from the tax-books of the county, for the year 1880.
Witness my hand and seal this first day of November, 1880.
H. P. LONG, County Auditor.
TABLE OF VALUATION AND ASSESSMENTS, BY TOWNSHIPS.
TOWNSHIPS.
Value of railroad
property.
Value of lots.
Value of person-
Value of lands.
Total value.
War and defense
bonds.
State tax.
County tax.
School tax.
Insane tax.
¡Bridge tax.
Benton
$ 13,524|$ 11,764
$
36,504 $
177,902|$
227,9301$
113.97|$
455.86{
$ 797.76|$
227.93|$ 211.03
113.97|$ 105.52
455.86
Clayton.
420
41,849|
157,000
211,033
105.52
422.07
738.62|
Dallas.
894
42.806
164,107
207,807
103.90
415.62
727.32
207.81
103.90
415.62
Gay
31,351
129,664
161,015
80.51
322.03
563.64
161.02
80.51
322.03
Grove.
1,224
26,607
185,752
213,583
106.79
427.17
747.54
213.58
106.79
427.17
Grant.
40,220
173,760
213,980
106.99
427.96
748.93
213.98
106.99
427.96
Holt.
38,152
175,157
213,309
106.66
426.61
746.58
213.31
106.66
426.61
Jefferson
4,355
39,885
120,950
165,190
82.60
330.38
578.15
165.19
82.60
330.38
Jackson
30,122
108,779
139,901
69.95
279.80
489.65
139.90
59.95
279.80
Marshall
20,502
72,041
162,388
284,531
142.27
569.06
995.85
284.53
142.27
569.06
Mason
37,661
141,965
179,626
89.81
359.25
628.70
179 63
89.81
359.25
Polk
1,408
49,831
139,620
207,102| 190,859
95.43
381.72
668.00
190.86
95.43
381.72
Platte.
26,324
10,585
40,826
193,266
271,001
135.50
542.00
948.50
271.00
135 50
542.00
Ross. .
24,864
57,790
138,089
221,743
110.87
443.49
776.10
221.74
110.87
443.49
Washington
53,371
170,982
224,353
112.18
448.71
785.23
224.35
112.18
448.71
Bedford corporation
2,824
197,518
106,894
26,997
334,233
167.12
668.47
1,169.82
334.23
167.12
668.47
Lenox corporation
2,000
53,488
59,211
114,696
57.35
229.39
401.43
114.70
57.35
229.39
Totals.
$ 112,124 $ 289,167|$ 842,005|$ 2,538,596.$ 3,781,892 $ 1.890.97 $ 7,563.79|$ 13,236.59 $ 3,781.89 $ 1,890.97 $ 7,563.79
---
.
.
..
. ..
36,884
170,218
103.55
414.20
724.87
207 10
103.55
414.90
Nodaway
29,600
......
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
440
alty.
422.07
TABLE OF VALUATION AND ASSESSMENTS BY TOWNSHIPS-CONTINUED.
TOWNSHIPS.
Poor tax.
School-house tax.
Teachers' tax.
Contingent tax.
Road tax.
City tax.
Poll tax (to county).
General township
C., B. & Q. R. R., Com'r tax.
Totals.
Benton
113.97|$
792.26|$ 1,056.15|$
569.83 |$
391.81|$
$
77.00|$. . . . . . . .. . .
$ 5,166.37
Clayton
105.52
527.57
316.55
350.37
89.50
3,605.37
Dallas
103 90
1,328.30
433.57
199.84
113.00
4,152.78
Gay ..
80.51
1,207.61
402.54
199.54
75.50
3,495.34
Grove.
106.79
1,815.46
854.33
395.66
91.00
Grant
106.99
1,818.84
534.95
397.93
79.00
4,970.52
Holt.
106.66
234.41
1,151.29
486.38
362.76
100.50
4,468.93
Jefferson.
82.6.
13.49
1,083.85
349.26
322.22
72.50
3,492.22
Jackson
69.95
629.57
279.80
224.43
58.50|
2,591.80
Marshall
142.27
389.40
1,872.00
516.63
578.30
164.16
146.00
6,511.79
Mason
89.81
449.06
449.07
260.87
92.00
3,047.26
Nodaway
103.55
517.76
1,139.C6
414.20
240.14|
114.50;
4,703.78
Polk.
95.43
1,306.05
351.74
206.55
88.50
3,861.43
Platte
135.50
826.29
2,640.52
660.13
648.79
102.50
7,588.83
Ross.
110.87
565.23
1,441.33
554.96
396.80
87.00
5,372.15
Washington
112.18
558.36
1,013.12
229.38
314.23
97.50|
4,456.13
Bedford corporation
167.12
4,345.23
1,671.17
835.58
538.03
668.47
202.00
75.80
11,678.63
Lenox corporation
57 35
917.57
229.39
39.23
458.78
57.50
2,849.43
Totals
$ 1,890.97 $ 8,343.03|$ 23,068.52|$ 8,467.69 |$ 6,067.50 $ 1,291.40 |$ 1,744.00 $ 418.13 $ 75.80 $ 87,295.04
.
441
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
tax.
211.03
207.10
6,292.28
.
442
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
Taxes are usually considered the heaviest burden the people have to bear. From the days of earliest history the masses have been taxed to keep in operation the government that protected them and their interests. And as the world has moved the tithe-gatherer moves with it. The sum yearly demanded of the tax paying population of this country for home and State purposes is not great, and the comparatively small amount required attests the careful management of its finances. The exhibits of the earliest days are neither full nor complete, but so far as they go they evidence the same care that obtains to-day. The business then covered but little ground, and the causes for the heavier drafts of later days not existing, little effort would have been required to keep the books in a condition easily under- stood. But the earlier officials, however good as citizens, and honest as men they may have been, were utterly incompetent to care for public busi- ness, or their own, in a systematic and improved manner. In those days, too, the duties of the treasurer resembled in some features the office of a New England itinerant collector. He not only had a business headquar- ters, but was obliged to call upon delinquent tax payers in order to receive their assessment. It not infrequently happened that between the date of assessment and collection the parties moved beyond the county's jurisdic- tion. Cases of this kind to the number of five were reported for 1852, and all of them from Polk township. They were Benj. Banner, J. G. Han- narea, William Snodgrass, Benj. Tanner and Joseph Roach. By their re- moval the county lost a total of fifteen dollars and seventy-two cents. The increase in taxation from that day to this is the result of the increase in material wealth.
THE SWAMP LANDS AND AMERICAN EMIGRANT COMPANY.
Elsewhere in this volume will be found a complete history of the legis- lation on these inuch vexed topics, together with an account of the causes leading to the grants, and the action of the general government thereon. Before the commencement of that series of negotiations in which the county became involved, the condition of affairs was briefly as follows:
By an act of Congress, approved 28th September, 1850, all the overflowed and swamp lands within the State were granted to her, and the State author- ities were required to select them and report through the surveyor-general to the general land-office the lands selected. For the better and more cer- tain compliance with the act of Congress the State granted the lands to the counties in which they lie, and the counties in most cases appointed agents to make the selection, and the selections were made at the expense of the
443
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
county, amounting to the sum of $2,000, in many instances, averaging about $1,000 to each county, making the entire expense amount to about $100,000. All this expense was incurred under the direction of the com- missioner of the general land-office, and the form of report and required affidavits were duly returned to the surveyor-general's office and by him certified to be overflowed or swamp lands, returned as such to the commis- sioner of the general land-office. The list returned for the counties in the Council Bluffs land district were examined and approved, and orders were issued to the land-office to enter the lands contained in the list upon the tract books and plats of the office, and to withdraw them from sale. This was done, if we are correctly informed, about the 23d day of September, 1854.
In May, 1856, Congress made a grant of land to the State to aid in the construction of certain railroads. At the same session an act was passed approving and confirming the selections of swamp lands, and virtually de- claring by that act that the swamp lands selected before the passage of the act making a grant to aid in the construction of railroads, were to remain undisturbed, and no portion of them could by any construction be included in the railroad grant. But notwithstanding these selections were made in conformity with instructions from the general land-office, and by its order entered upon the books and plats of the Council Bluffs land office, and not- withstanding that they were approved and confirmed by an act of Congress, the commissioner decided that patents should only be issued to the State for such even numbered sections within fifteen miles of any of the land grant railroad lines, as were shown to be overflowed or swamp lands by the plats and field-notes, made by the government surveyor, and that those even numbered sections selected and not shown to be overflowed or swamp lands should be patented to the railroad companies.
Such a decision was regarded as a gross usurpation of authority, and a violation of the act of September 28, 1850. If the lands selected were over- flowed or swamp lands, they became absolutely the property of the State the day the act was approved. That they were such is proved in the very man- ner the commissioner required the proof to be made, and having required this kind of testimony to be produced, and having approved the selections upon this testimony, he could not, in justice to the counties, fall back on the field-notes of the government surveyor. If the patents were to issue only for such lands as were shown to be overflowed or swamp lands by the field-notes of the government surveyor, why were the counties required at a great expense to go through the farce of making selections? We take the broad ground that the selections having been made in accordance with the
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
requirements of the commissioner of the general land-office, and having been approved by the surveyor-general, and marked upon the plats and en- tered upon the tract books, and withdrawn from market by order of the commissioner before the passage of the act granting lands to aid in the con- struction of railroads, that the right of the State, and through it the right of the counties to all the lands selected became vested in the counties, and the act making the grant for railroad purposes could not reach any of the lands selected before its passage. If in fact the two grants may be con- sidered as covering the same land, the rights of the two will depend upon the facts in the case, which become the subject of judicial investigation and decision. The law grants all the swamp and overflowed lands to the State -the State has transferred them to the counties, and the counties have sold them to individuals, and have expended the proceeds of the sale in draining the lands, thus carrying out the intention of Congress in making the grant. Under all the circumstances, it was the duty of the executive officer to issue the patents for all the lands selected under the swamp-land act, and if the railroad companies had any right to any portion of them, their right could be determined by the judicial tribunal of the county.
It has too long been the practice of executive officers to assume the pre- rogative of deciding the legal rights of parties, which should have been decided by the courts, and in the case before us, if the commissioner could not legally cause patents to be issued to the State for all the swamp lands selected before the passage of the railroad grant, he could have had patents issued for those about which there was no dispute, and leave the rights of the parties to the balance to be determined by a judicial decision; but by his determination to cause patents for a portion of the lands selected to be issued to the railroad company, he threw obstacles in the way of adjusting the rights of the counties, and to some extent frustrated the action of the courts thereon.
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