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 55
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That ended it. February 16, 1867, has never yet come. *
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Seven years and nearly six months had elapsed. It is June 25, 1874. The citizens of Taylor county are in session at the court-house "to reor- ganize the old agricultural society of the county," as the record says, "and to consider the question of holding a fair this fall." J. C. Day presided and Colonel D. H. Hamilton was chosen secretary. A permanent organ- ization was affected by electing Colonel D. H. Hamilton president; D. W. Hamblin, vice-president; Thomas Cobb, treasurer, and Samuel Bowers, secretary. The society then adjourned to Saturday, July 18, 1874, at ten o'clock, A. M.
From that time there is no record of a meeting until June 26, 1875. It is evident that there was no fair in 1874, and the recollection of the aver- age shareholder is not distinct regarding the matter. Hence it is impossi- ble to assign cause for the failure to make good the resolution to meet July 18, 1874, and to state why there was no fair.
At the meeting June 26, 1875, Samuel Bowers tendered his resignation as secretary, and Alex. John was elected in his stead. In 1874 twenty- seven gentlemen paid to the treasurer one dollar each for membership for that year. It was the sense of the society that this money should be re- funded to the various parties, and a motion to that effect prevailed. A com- mittee, as follows, was appointed to solicit stock for the society, each share being twenty-five dollars:
Benton township, Thomas Cobb and James McCracken; Clayton township, C. Steele and J. C. Ray; Dallas township, T. M. Moore; Gay township, R. W. Harvey; Grant township, G. W. Dean; Grove township, J. W. Dunn; Holt township, W. G. Meredith; Jackson township, J. W. Wood; Jefferson township, John Flick; Marshall township, J. Litteer; Ma-
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
son township, James Mason; Platte township, J. Kilgon; Polk township, J. Scrivner; Ross township, R. G. Moon; Washington township, Abe McCracken.
W. F. Evans, Alex. John and D. H. Hamilton were appointed a commit- tee to negotiate a loan sufficient to make the advance payment on the fair grounds, and an adjournment was then taken to July 10th.
At this time the report of the committee to negotiate for fair grounds was presented, approved and placed on file. The particulars of this trans- action, date of purchase, price paid, and the location of grounds, will ap- pear at the close of this article.
It seems that E. Houck, treasurer of the old society, had failed to settle with the treasurer of the new-had neglected handing over the funds in his possession, $194.70 in 1867. The society therefore appointed J. C. Ray and E. T. Smith to settle with him; and they were instructed "to collect legal interest on the amount of funds belonging to said society, and retained in his hands after the expiration of his term of office." At a meeting held July 25th the committee was not ready to report, and further time was granted it. The trouble connected with the matter was this. Mr. Houck was not satisfied that it would be agreeable to the members of the old so- ciety to transfer their funds to the new. Afterward the affair was amicably adjusted. At the July 10th meeting J. J. Laws, Charles Steele, James Mc- Cracken, Thomas Robb and C. B. Pershin were appointed a committee to prepare a programme and premium list for the fair of 1875. Charles Steele, J. C. Ray, N. Goodsill, H. McConvill and James McCracken were chosen to procure material for fencing the fair ground, which they did. The fence was built by A. M. Campbell, at a cost to the society of $3.72 per rod. The other bidders were Messrs. Stark & Standish, at $4.45; G. W. Aldrich, at $4.39, and William Banchort, at $3.94. J. Litteer, J. J. Laws, C. C. Mohler, N. P. Nelson and W. A. Webb were selected as the proper persons to prepare the track, and to them we suppose is due the excellent one the society now has-said to be the best in southwestern Iowa. An as- sessment of five dollars was made against each share of stock to meet the in- debtedness of the society, and the secretary was instructed to collect the same at once. A motion was made to sell a portion of the grounds belong- ing to the agricultural society. At a meeting, July 21, Charles Steele, E. T. Smith and Alex. John were appointed a committee " to sell from ten to nineteen acres off the south end of the ground." About October 22d, of that same year, L. S. Morris purchased twenty acres at forty dollars per acre. August 14th, 1875, an assessment was made against all stockholders to the full amount of the unpaid portions of their respective shares, to be
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
paid prior to August 21st, 1875. At this date the following important committees were filled by election :
Executive Committee-James McCracken, A. Goodsill and Charles Steele.
Finance Committee-N. Goodsill, J. C. Ray and Charles Steele.
Board of Directors-D. H. Hamilton, J. Litleer, J. C. Ray, Charles Steele, D. W. Ham- blin, J. H. Jolly, E. T. Smith, W. F. Evans, William Mahan, B. B. Hoover, L. S. Morris and Thomas Cobb.
Corresponding Secretary-W. F. Evans.
August 21st, 1875, at a meeting of the board of directors of the Taylor County Agricultural Society, D. H. Hamilton was elected president; W. F. Evans, secretary. E. T. Smith was instructed to circulate a petition to be presented to the board of supervisors, asking an appropriation of five hundred dollars, as provided by law, to aid the agricultural society.
September 11, 1875, the sites for wells were located, and work on the same was begun soon afterward. They are six feet in diameter. The sec- retary and treasurer borrowed eight hundred dollars, and secured the same by a mortgage on the south twenty acres of the society's grounds. The price of refreshment stands was fixed at two dollars per day, each. Hacks and omnibuses were charged two dollars per day, each, in advance.
September 25, 1875, arrangements were made to seed the grounds into timothy. A judges' stand was erected under the superintendency of A. J. Litleer.
October 5, 1875, the superintendents of the different divisions were in- structed to appoint the awarding committees in their respective depart- ments. Charles Steele got a motion to pass " that the fair ground be rented from November 1st, 1875, until August 1st, 1876, to be let on the last day of the fair to the highest responsible bidder, for purpose known on day of sale." This has been done every year since, or else the grass on the grounds has been sold for cash, or "cut on the shares."
October 8th, 1875, the price of stands was placed at the following figures:
Warm meals, per day $ 5.00
Air-gun, per day. 3.00
Swing, per day. 5.00
Dancing-floor, per day.
10.00
Photograph gallery, per day.
5.00
Auction stands, per day 5.00
The publication of these rates is for the benefit of the curiously inclined, who may desire to compare past and present figures.
The fair of 1875 was held on the 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th days of Oc-
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
tober, and its results were a high compliment to its managers, as the figures following will show:
First day's receipts. $ 220.70
Second day's receipts. 437.10
Third day's receipts. 520.56
Fourth day's receipts
406.71
Total.
$1,585.07
November 13, 1875, the articles of incorporation were adopted. After this it was "moved that the secretary be authorized to give credit to each of the following named gentlemen; to-wit, Thomas Cobb, R. A. Moser, E. T. Smith, Daniel Hoover, A. J. Litteer, Josiah Litteer, J. W. Wood, E. Houck, J. C. Mehan, William Mahan and J. C. Ray, for the sum of $18.63, being the amount due each of said parties as their respective distributive shares of the ten acres of land, known as the 'old fair grounds,' as this day apportioned by members of the old society present."
December 4, 1875, William Rutledge, of Marshall township, was awarded ten dollars for the best "field crop" entered in the county. The following motion prevailed :
Resolved, That all stock subscribed and partially paid to said society, which shall not, on or before the first day of February, 1876, be paid in full to the treasurer of said society, shall be declared forfeited, and such delinquent shares canceled for non-payment.
At this meeting the following officers of the society were elected for the ensuing year :
President, D. H. Hamilton; vice-president, James McCracken; treasurer, W. F. Evans; secretary, Alex. John; corresponding secretary, Lyman Evans; board of directors, C. Steele, John C. Ray, Lyman Evans, Thomas Cobb, B. F. Chandler, James McCracken, Josiah Litteer, N. Goodsill, C. B. Pershin, and C. C. Mohler; executive committee, A. J. Litteer, W. A. Wysing, and Charles Steele.
March 18, 1876, continued the time and the foregoing resolution was ex- tended to June 1st, 1875. C. C. Mohler, L. Evans and L. S. Morris were appointed a committee on finance. The treasurer was ordered to pay tax on fair ground out of first money collected by him. Time for holding the annual fair for 1876 was fixed for October 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th. D. H. Hamilton, W. F. Evans and Alex. John were ordered to prepare a premium list. Thomas Cobb was allowed $25 for raising shareholders, and was pre- sented with one share for his services as treasurer.
April 1st, 1876, the report of finance committee showed :
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
Receipts for the year 1875. .. $4,846.82
Expenditures by treasurer. 4,780.68
In hands of treasure $66.14
May 25, 1876, a floral hall was suggested-an improvement much needed, and which has proven both useful and valuable to the society since it was built. James McCracken, C. Steele, and W. V. King were appointed a committee to draught plans and specifications for hall and to receive sealed bids for the erection of the same. Executive committee was allowed two dollars per day each for time actually employed, and a thousand copies of premium list ordered printed, to be given to the lowest bidder.
June 13, 1876, the contract for building a floral hall was let to S. W. Beall for the sum of $1,148, and July 3d it was completed and by the so- ciety accepted.
The building is an excellent one, and for the immediate present meets all the society's wants, but the time is not far off when it will have to be en- larged or a new one built. It is two stories in height, and 24x80 feet.
July 22, 1876, the board of directors resolved to treat all persons as tress- passers who used the grounds on the sabbath-day for racing of any character.
October 14th, 1876, the week following the fair, the board of directors met, and a statement made of the proceeds :
Received from tickets sold $1,039.99
Received from permits 84.75
Received from entries. 250.90
Received from corn sold.
2.00
Total. $1,377.64
October 20, 1876, the time for holding the fair of 1877 was fixed for the last Wednesday in September, and to continue for four days. The corres- ponding secretary was instructed to notify the societies of the adjoining counties of the same.
December 2d, 1876, at the regular meeting the following officers of the society were elected:
President, D. H. Hamilton; vice-president, James McCracken; treasurer, W. F. Evans; secretary, James Thirkield; corresponding secretary, Lyman Evans; board of directors, M. C. Connett, C. C. Mohler, John Evans, C. B. Pershin, B. F. Chandler, Alex. John, William A. Webb, Charles Steele, John Graff and William A. Wysing; executive committee, Charles Steele, N. Goodsill, and W. A. Wysing.
March 3, 1877, C. C. Mohler, Alex. John, and John Graff were appointed a
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
committee to examine and report upon the condition of the society's finan- ces. A resolution was passed requiring the secretary and treasurer to give bonds in the sum of $2,000 each.
March 31st, 1877, the committee on the best orchard of 100 apple trees in the county, reported in favor of S. C. Freeman. The finance committee reported as follows:
Total receipts of treasurer .. $2,369.34
Total amount paid out by the treasurer 2,372.43
Over paid. $2.89
The financial condition of the society at this date was as follows:
Value of grounds, . $4,225.00
Value of notes on hand. 331.37
Total,
$4,556.37
CONTRA.
Amount due McConville, D. D. $980.65
Premium orders not paid. 80.00
Expense 138.93
Total indebtedness $1,199.58
May 5, 1877, the president and secretary of the society were instructed to mortgage the fair grounds to the Bedford Bank for $1,014.
The receipts of the fair for the year 1877 were $1,619.46.
October 13, 1877, the president and secretary were authorized to procure a loan of $500, for ninety days, to apply upon the indebtedness of the so- ciety, which they accordingly did.
At the regular annual meeting of the stockholders, held the first Saturday in December, 1877, the following officers were chosen for the year 1878:
President, James McCracken; vice-president, C. Steele; treasurer, W. F. Evans; secretary, J. M. Thirkield; corresponding secretary, Alex. John; board of directors, W. A. Wysing, John Graff, Daniel Leonard, Alex. John, C. B. Pershin, M. C. Connett, B. F. Chandler, J. W. Wood, J. M. Harrell, and J. W. Paul; executive committee, Charles Steele, W. A. Wysing, and W. F. Evans; superintendent of grounds, Charles Steele.
April 20, 1878, J. M. Thirkield tendered his resignation as secretary of the society, and H. P. Long was chosen in his place, when it was found that F. E. Walker positively declined to serve in that capacity. The scre- tary was instructed to collect all outstanding notes due the society, and apply the proceeds upon its indebtedness.
June 8th, 1878, the society borrowed two hundred dollars, and two more wells were sunk on the fair grounds.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
August 31, 1878, John Graff, at a meeting of the directors, offered the following resolution which was carried:
Resolved, That the executive committee be instructed to build an amphitheater, 30x75 feet, on the fair grounds of the society, provided the same can be built for a sum not to ex- ceed $500, same to be built in a good substantial manner on the following terms: One half to be paid this fall (1878) and one half to be paid after the fair in 1879.
The fair was held September 25, 26, 27 and 28. The Argus and the Re- publican each printed daily papers during the fair which were creditable publications. The receipts for the fair were as follows: Receipts from en- tries, $204.35; amount received from stands, etc., $118; receipts at gates, $805.87; receipts from quarter-stretch badges, $5.75.
October 5, 1878, the treasurer was instructed to pay lady superintendents one dollar each per day for the last three days. A loan of $500 for ninety days was desired and the president and the secretary were instructed to procure same.
October 19, 1878, W. F. Evans and Charles Steele reported that they had borrowed six hundred dollars of Albina King (a colored woman), for one year at ten per cent interest.
December 7, 1878, the society met for the election of officers. Treasurer W. F. Evans reported the indebtedness at $900. The officers elected were as follows:
President, James McCracken; vice-president, B. B. Hoover; treasurer, Alex. John; secretary, W. F. Evans; corresponding secretary, John Graff; board of directors, J. W. Wood, Charles Steele, W. A. Wysing, B. F. Chandler, D. H. Hamilton, L. W. Fairbanks, Miles Lathrop, C. B. Pershin, George Van Houten, and George H. Powers; executive committee, Charles Steele, W. A. Wysing, and L. W. Fairbanks.
March 1, 1879, the directors fixed upon September 24, 25, 26 and 27, as the dates for the annual fair of 1879. George H. Powers succeeded in get- ting the board to adopt a motion giving the veteran soldiers of the late war free use of the fair grounds for a reunion to be held May 28, 29 and 30, 1879. L. Mohler was issued an order for premiums on the best five acres of wheat in the county.
June 7, 1879, $300 borrowed at the Bedford Bank.
September 29, 1879, the secretary reports the receipts of the fair at $1,750.10.
October 4, 1879, the president, vice-president, superintendent of grounds and the gentleman superintendents of divisions were allowed one dollar per day, each, for time served on the ground.
506
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
December 6, 1879, the treasurer's report showed the total indebtedness of the society to be $1,126.51. The following officers were chosen :
President, B. F. Chandler; vice-president, L. Evans; treasurer, Alex. John; secretary, W. F. Evans; corresponding secretary, H. P. Long; board of directors, W. A. Wysing, C. C. Mohler, D. H. Hamilton, J. J. Laws, James McCracken, Charles Steele, C. B. Berskin, J. C. Ray, William Cobb and N. Goodsill; executive committee, J. J. Laws, J. W. Wood and James McCracken.
The time for holding the annual fair for 1880 was fixed for the Sth, 9th, 10th and 11th days of September. The premiums for competition on orch- ards, vineyards, and nurseries, were stricken out, as, also, were crops on av- erage yield. It was agreed also, that the meetings of the board of directors hereafter should be held on the last Saturday of each month, at one o'clock P. M.
January 31, 1880, the time for holding the fair was changed to the 22d of September, and to continue for four days. The rules of the National Trotting Association were adopted.
July 24, 1880, a bycicle race was made a part of the premium list-first premium five dollars; second premium three dollars.
The receipts of the fair for 1880 were $1,460.79. The total number of entries were 789, exceeding the number of any previous year 128. The total number of premiums awarded amounted to $900.75. September 13th, and to continue for five days, was named as the time for the commencement of the fair of 1881.
September 25, 1880, B. F. Chandler president of the society, Alex. John, treasurer and C. C. Mohler, director, tendered their resignations because of the admittance of wheels of fortune and gift enterprises to the fair ground. Mr. J. J. Laws moved that their resignations be not accepted. It pre- vailed. William Cobb offered a resolution that the permits for wheels of fortune and gift enterprises be revoked, on the grounds that they had been granted without the concurrence of a majority of the board. Mr. Cobb's motion was lost. B. F. Chandler, Alex. John, William Cobb and C. C. Mohler then gave notice that they would no longer serve in official capac- ity.
November 27, 1880, nine hundred dollars were borrowed of Charles Steele by the society.
December 4, 1880, the society met for the election of officers for the year 1881. The following was the result:
President, Charles Steele; vice-president, Lyman Evans; treasurer, H. P. Long; secretary, W. F. Evans; corresponding secretary, P. C. King; board
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
of directors, L. W. Fairbanks, James McCracken, H. McConvill, A. J. Thompson, A. J. Severs, W. A. Wysing, D. Hoover, William Cobb, C. C. Mohler and George H. Powers; executive committee, James McCracken, W. A. Wysing, and A. J. McMurtry.
Seven members of the board were made to constitute a quorum, thus changing article two of the constitution. Mr. John Laws of Clayton town- ship offered this resolution. The same gentleman succeeded in having the office of superintendent of grounds dispensed with, and the duties of that place put in the hands of the executive committee.
January 3, 1881, the society's indebtedness was reported at $1,032.78. At this time there were on hand: Old notes, exclusive of interest, $203.12; new notes for stock taken in 1880, $250; State appropriation for 1881, $200; cash in hands of secretary and treasurer, $98.57.
This would reduce the indebtedness to about $350. Five gentlemen and three ladies were appointed to prepare the premium list for 1881, which was a new departure. Heretofore the ladies had been ignored in the prepar- ation of a premium list. The act was the result of gallantry on the part of the society's secretary, W. F. Evans.
January 20, 1881, the "speed ring" was placed under the exclusive con- trol of a superintendent, and L. W. Fairbanks was chosen to that place.
March 26, 1881, a meeting of the stockholders was had for the purpose of reducing the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum. But there was no change made. The number remains at seven as before.
September 3, 1881, a contract was made with L. Pershing to build an amphitheater 24x80 feet. He was paid $993 for the work.
The receipts of the fair for 1881 were $1,551. The premiums awarded amounted to $1,650. The indebtedness of the society is now about $2- 000. The fair was held September 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17. The sixteenth snow fell to the depth of six inches, and there was no attendance that day. This snow-storm was crowding the season, as it was but a trifle over five months since the last year's drifts disappeared.
September 19, the board of directors decided to commence the fair for 1882 on the second Tuesday in September.
The society now owns thirty acres in its fair grounds. They are located immediately south of town across the East One Hundred and Two River, and are valued at fifty dollars per acre. The grounds formerly in posses- sion of the society are in section 24, north of Bedford.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
TAYLOR COUNTY AND THE CIVIL WAR.
Active military operations, as comprehended in the single word "war," have, unfortunately, been the essence of history from the earliest times. No nation has escaped participation in these great tragedies. Their names and those of the founders have come down to us on a sea of blood, and for cen- turies they embroidered the historic tapestry with battle scenes and ruin, until they actually battled away existence and found annihilation.
The stately monuments in national cemeteries, and the thousands of soli- tary and unnoticable hillocks beneath which rest the remains of armies of heroes, proclaim the cost at which the great rebellion which threatened the national life was subdued. This war, with all its vast and incalculable losses and sacrifices, formed a chapter in the nation's life not to be easily forgotten. Lest history repeat itself in errors and a stolid world refuse to learn wisdom from the voice of the past, the chapter must be handed down to posterity.
The beginnings of that long and sanguinary struggle known as the civil war, reach far back in the history of the land in which the great tragedy was en- acted. Ideas that are destined to shake to their very foundation the princi- ple on which nations rest usually have an obscure origin, and become pat- ent only after years of patient presentment, and perhaps silent analysis. How and when those first steps were taken which aimed at the time-hon- ored institution of slavery in the South, it is not within the province of our own task to relate. It is sufficient to say that their first public and author- itative expression is to be found in the original articles of confederation which preceded the framing and adoption of the constitution of the United States, as drawn and presented to Congress by Thomas Jefferson, June 28, 1776. In that constitution the States, severally and collectively, are de- clared " free and independent," and this is the constitutional basis of the doctrine of States' rights. It should be remembered that the two great po- litical parties of the day are divided upon the construction which is to be placed upon the phase " free and independent," and here, perhaps, is one of the causes that in after years led to such unhappy results. Not to follow all the modern history of this question, nor that of slavery, from the incep- tion of the latter and its adoption as the watchword of the Abolition party, which was soon to be absorbed into the Republican party, the latter as- suming its peculiar notions and adopting them as its own, it will be enough to state that the long dormant excitement came to the surface in one furi- ous wave in 1819. On February 15th of that year the bill for the admis-
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY.
sion of Missouri into the Union was discussed in the House of Representa- tives, which had resolved itself into a committee of the whole for that purpose. During the progress of the debate Mr. Tallmadge, of New York, moved to amend the bill by adding to it the following proviso:
And provided, That the further introduction of slavery or involuntary servitude be pro- hibited, except for the punishment of crimes, whereof the party shall have been fully con- victed; and that all children from within the said State, after the admission thereof into the Union, shall be free at the age of twenty-five years.
The debate which followed was both long and exciting, but the proviso was finally adopted by the House, and then reported to the Senate, which body, voting upon the two sections at different times, rejected the entire proposition. On March 2d the House refused to concur in the Senate amendment, striking out the Tallmadge proviso, and the bill was returned to the Senate, and the Senate refusing to recede, and the House to concur, the bill was lost. March 3, 1819, the Fifteenth Congress adjourned, and legis- lation on the question for the time being ceased. During this interim be- tween this and the Sixteenth Congress the matter reached every town and hearthstone in the Union, and was discussed with a vigor unknown since the stormy days of the Revolution.
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