USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 12
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ADDITIONAL ENLISTMENTS.
Orville Beall, Bedford; Austin Brown, Lenox, died of typhoid fever, San Francisco, September 17, 1898; John H. Chilcote, Conway; George H. Cusick,
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Gravity, discharged June 26, 1899, to reenlist in Thirty-six Volunteers; Frank Daniels, Lenox. discharged ; Elmo M. Davis, Gravity, July 7, 1899, to reenlist in Thirty-six United States Volunteers ; Louis Dunn, Lenox ; Elmer Dutton, Gravity, died of typhoid fever, September 2, 1898, San Francisco ; Logan Edmunds, Lenox, discharged at San Francisco, October 1, 1898; Herman Franklin, Bedford ; Arthur C. Godwin, Lenox; Frank Hay, Lenox, discharged December 9, 1898, San Francisco; Delta S. Kinser. Bedford; William A. Livingston, Blockton ; Clarence Myers, Lenox, discharged September 20, 1899, at Manila; John Reed, Blockton, died of measles, San Francisco, August 17, 1898; Robert Reed, Blockton, dis- charged January 14, 1899; Melvin Robinson, Lenox, discharged at San Fran- cisco, January 19, 1899; Clyde Scherick, Bedford, discharged at San Francisco, December 21, 1898; Windsor R. Stanley, Gravity, discharged at. San Fernando, June 26, 1899, to reenlist in Thirty-sixth United States Infantry, later killed in action ; Roy E. Vickery, Bedford, discharged February 6, 1899.
This roster contains the names of Taylor county members of Company I. There were several enlistments from neighboring counties, but it was not thought advisable to mention them in a history of the county. Taylor county boys enlisted in other regiments, and a few in other companies in the Fifty-first Iowa. Vernon Van Houten, Lenox, enlisted in Company B, discharged January 28, 1899, at Sierra Madre, California; Hiram W. Dunn, Lenox, Company K .; Gilbert R. Garrettson, Sharpsburg, Company K; Fred Kemery, Bedford, Company K; S. L. Wickersham, Guss, Company B; John Wickersham, Guss, Company B; Barton Brown, Guss, Company B, died of measles, San Francisco, August 30, 1898; Dr. E. L. Brown, Lenox, enlisted in a regiment designed for the Cuban campaign, the regiment and company not being available at this writing; Asa Sawyer, Bedford, enlisted in a company ordered to Cuba ; Ed. Lee, a teacher of Nodaway township, was in Oregon at the breaking out of the war and enlisted in the Second Oregon, and saw hard service in the Philippines; William Heer, another teacher of Nodaway township, enlisted in a Colorado regiment, and was severely wounded in action in the Philippines. There may be others whose names belong among these but we cannot learn of them from the sources at hand. Since closing the above list we recall the name of Fred Lynch, of Lenox, who was mortally wounded in battle in the Cuban campaign and M. M. Moore and Elias P. Moore, Troop G, Second Rough Riders. Most of the boys saw sufficient service to know what war is like, and while they did not see the terrible fighting their fathers saw in the Civil war, their courage and patriotism was as great, and the purpose for which they were called out was accomplished and our standing among nations was put on a higher plane by the deeds of these heroic boys.
To commemorate the organization of the regiment, and to renew friendships formed during the war, the Fifty-first Regiment has been holding annual en- campments. This year it was held at Creston, April 26th.
An interesting campfire was held in the evening, participated in by members of the old Fifty-first Regiment, Iowa Volunteers, and the local veterans of the Civil war. This was the closing feature of the reunion and was thoroughly en- joyed by all the participants. Hon. Dan W. Turner, of Corning, acted as toast-
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
master, and the evening was spent in the recital of half forgotten incidents of the Philippine campaigns.
Short talks were made by Colonel James Wiseman, Captain G. W. Carnes, Cap- tain Guy Brewer, General Guy Logan, D. Conkling, E. J. Quigley, C. M. Stanley, Captain Ohlschager and William Hook. The principal address was made by Captain W. H. Keating of Oskaloosa, the retiring commander. Red Oak was selected for the next encampment, and it will be held April 26, 1910. The officers elected for next year are as follows : commander, Dan W. Turner, Corning ; vice- commander, Guy S. Brewer, Des Moines ; corresponding secretary, Ed. O'Key, Corning ; recording secretary, Frank Rounds of Greenfield ; treasurer, W. S. Conk- ling, Des Moines. The question of creating the offices of chaplain and surgeon general was brought up and unanimously adopted and the following-named gen- tlemen were elected to fill the places : surgeon general, Ed. Merritt, Emerson; chaplain, H. H. Hubbell, Oskaloosa.
FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS FIFTY-FIRST IOWA VOLUNTEERS.
John C. Loper, Des Moines, colonel; Marcellus M. Miller, Bedford, lieutenant- colonel; William J. Duggan, Creston, major, wounded April 24, 1899, at Pulilan ; John T. Hume, Des Moines, major ; Sterling P. Moore, Villisca, major; Joseph T. Davidson, Muscatine, regiment adjutant, discharged August 19, 1899, to accept commission in Eleventh Cavalry ; William C. Meistzer, Knoxville, regiment adjutant ; George A. Reed, Des Moines, battalion adjutant ; Frank M. Compton, Council Bluffs, battalion adjutant ; Herbert C. Lane, Red Oak, battalion adjutant ; John D. Cady, Des Moines, quartermaster; Willard S. H. Matthews, Des Moines, surgeon; David S. Fairchild, Jr., Clinton, surgeon; Donald McCrea, Jr., Council Bluffs, assistant surgeon ; Wilbur S. Conkling, Des Moines, assistant surgeon ; Herman P. Williams, Ames, chaplain; Claude M. Baker, Des Moines, sergeant major, discharged February 16, 1899; Charles A. Godfrey, Des Moines, sergeant major; Wallace A. Bolin, Council Bluffs, quartermaster sergeant, died of smallpox at Cavite, March 25, 1899, buried in National cemetery at San Roque, Grave No. 35; George L. Garton, Des Moines, quartermaster sergeant ; Fred F. Carpenter, Galesburg, h. steward; Jarvis E. Hodgson, St. Joseph, Mis- souri, h. steward; Howard W. Seager, Des Moines, h. steward.
COUNTY BUILDINGS.
COURTHOUSE.
A number of years elapsed after the organization of the county, before a county building, or proper depository for important papers, was provided. The various officers of the county kept the meager records of their respective offices at their homes, and in some instances they were destroyed or lost. The county judge, the most important officer in the county, often embodying in himself the various county offices, cared for his records in a manner that today would be considered criminally careless. The earlier records of this county were kept at the residence of Judge Lowe. They were entered on loose slips
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
of paper, instead of books for the purpose, and put for safe keeping in a box nailed against one side of the room where "His Honor" kept court. The papers were unmarked, and unfiled, unless stowing them away promiscuously in this box could be called filing them. It is not, therefore, a matter to cause wonder that so little can be gleaned of the early history of the county from its official records.
As the business of the county increased, it became necessary to provide a suitable and safe place for keeping its records. A place accessible to all and at the same time insure the safety of important papers. But in spite of the need. which was apparent to all, the county delayed to make necessary provision. What was done with many of the records, no one knows. In the election re- turns for example, there is no record found of them from 1854 to 1866.
The first action toward supplying the county with a building for court pur- noses, is the following :
To the Clerk of the District Court in and for Taylor County, Iowa :
SIR: You are hereby notified that we request an extra session of the board of supervisors Saturday, the 5th day of July, 1862, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of building a courthouse on the proposition of E. Houck. or others on the same principle ; also for purpose of ascertaining the will of the people on said subject.
WM. G. MEREDITH. S. WEAVER. BENJ. B. HOOVER. OLIVER JENKS. ASA COBB. THOMAS COBB. JOHN KING.
It is not stated what was the nature of E. Houck's proposition. Nor can it be ascertained from the record that such a session as requested in the petition was ever held. The first action in this matter, ever taken by the county officials. was at a session of the board of supervisors, in June, 1863.
The chairman of the committee on public buildings offered the following :
Resolved, First, that the clerk be authorized to let a contract to build a courthouse according to the plan accompanying this resolution, on Thursday, the IIth day of June, 1863, at 4 o'clock, p. m., of said day, at the door of the clerk's office, in Bedford, to the lowest responsible bidder ;
Provided. First, that the cost does not exceed two thousand dollars.
Second, That the contractor give a bond of five thousand dollars with at least five sureties, for the fulfillment of the contract, to be approved by the clerk and the chairman of the committee on public buildings ;
Third, To be built under the supervision of the chairman of the committee on public buildings, and in his inability the clerk is to have supervision of the same ;
Fourth. To be paid for as follows: four hundred dollars when the first story is up; four hundred dollars when roofed, and six hundred dollars, when finished, and the balance in eight months, with six per cent interest.
OLD COURT HOUSE
OLD COURT HOUSE AND THE FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS IN THE NEW COURT HOUSE
W. F. Johnston County Recorder
Fanny Rutledge County Superintendent
William Cobb County Treasurer
L. T. McCoun County Attorney
R. Vickery
Sheriff
S. M. McKissick County Clerk
M. Miller County Auditor
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
The resolution was adopted by the following vote: Yeas-Cobb of Ben- ton, Cobb of Ross, J. Litteer, O. Jenks, Jesse Orine, John King, John McLean, Jas. Gartside, J. B. Campbell, and D. W. Hamblin; Nays-Wm. Merideth and Vincent Beall.
This proposition to build a courthouse, with the various necessary offices, and court room, called for a sum of money less than would be required to build a single vault, proof against burglars and fire, and this action was taken in 1863, when, even then, the county required a building of greater capacity than the one built.
This was the old stone building, and it stood near the street, on the south side of the square, a few feet east of the walk leading down from the front entrance of our present courthouse. It was two stories in height-short stories though. The ceilings were no higher than those of the ordinary dwelling. The upper floor was one large room, which was for many years the court room. The county offices were below. Two small vaults were provided for the records. As the county settled up and county business increased, it was found that the vaults were wholly inadequate to protect the records, and in fact, it was a question as to whether they would stand the test of a fire.
As the county offices got crowded the board of supervisors were forced to provide more room. Rooms were rented out in town for some of the offices. After the building of the city hall, the county rented the upper floor for a court room, and the upper room of the courthouse was divided up into offices.
There was a constant fear for the records, many of which had no protection from fire. This feeling grew until sometime in the 'Sos the proposition to build a new courthouse was submitted to the people, but it was overwhelmingly voted down.
The town of Gravity was by this time quite a village, and being a little nearer the geographical center of the county than Bedford, its citizens had county- seat aspirations, so from that section and the entire northwest part of the county voted solidly against the courthouse proposition.
The matter then rested until September, 1891, at the regular session of the board of supervisors. In the supervisors' record, under date of September 8th, we find the following :
Be it ordered by the board of supervisors of Taylor county, Iowa, that whereas the records of Taylor county are continually exposed to loss or damage, and, whereas the county offices in our courthouse are wholly inadequate to properly and safely keep the fast accumulating records, and whereas :
The county is continually at expense for rents, besides great inconvenience and annoyance. It is therefore ordered by the board at its regular session in September, 1891, that the proposition for the levy of a five mill tax on the tax- able property of Taylor county, for the year 1891, and five mills for the year 1892, and five mills for the year 1893, be submitted to the qualified electors of Taylor county at the general election to be held on the third day of November, 1891. The money derived therefrom to be used in erecting a courthouse on the public square at Bedford, Taylor county, Iowa, to be constructed on or before January 1, 1895.
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
The auditor is hereby authorized to give notice of the submission of the foregoing. as required by Section 310 of the code of Iowa.
WASHINGTON HALL, Chairman.
M. MILLER, Auditor.
The auditor gave due notice and at once discussion began which waxed warmer as election day approached, and as there seemed to be a likelihood of the proposition being defeated owing to a misunderstanding of the call the board of supervisors issued the following statement :
OCTOBER 6TH. SPECIAL SESSION.
Board met in special session pursuant to special call, all the members being present, and it having come to the knowledge of the board that there was a misapprehension existing as to the amount, that a levy of five mills on the dol- lar for the years 1891, 1892 and 1893, respectively, would produce for a court- house tax, it is ordered by the board that in no event shall the sum of over sixty-five thousand dollars be expended for a completed building, including the furnishing and completion throughout and ready for occupancy in all its parts.
It is therefore ordered by the board in case the proposition to build a court- house shall prevail, it shall be the duty of the board, before making the levy tax for 1893, to ascertain what is the total amount of taxable property in Taylor county, Iowa, and if the board shall find that a tax of (5) five mills on the dol- lar on the then taxable property, for courthouse purposes when added to the amount realized for the years 1891 and 1892, for courthouse purposes, shall exceed the sum of sixty-five thousand dollars, then it shall be the duty of the board to make a levy of any less number of mills than five, that shall produce the sum of sixty-five thousand dollars, the purpose being to limit this board and its successors to a five mill tax on the dollar for the years 1891, 1892 and 1893, provided said tax shall be necessary to build a completed courthouse costing sixty-five thousand. But if said tax shall not be required, then that a less levy be made for 1893, so that only such sum shall be raised.
It is further ordered that should the proposition to build a courthouse pre- vail, that as soon as the tax for 1891 is paid, the board shall contract with a . responsible party to erect a courthouse, the cost of which when completed and furnished, shall not exceed sixty-five thousand dollars as herein contem- plated, and such contract shall so provide for the progress of the building, that the tax of one year shall be consumed before the next year's tax is paid into the treasury, to the end, that but one year's tax shall be in the treasury at one time.
WASHINGTON HALL, Chairman.
M. MILLER, Auditor.
In spite of this explanation by the board the proposition was voted down at the general election by about one hundred votes.
Various reasons were given and talked previous to election. Many thought it unnecessary to put so much money into a courthouse. This was one of the strong arguments that won many votes. In spite of figures given by friends of the proposition many feared the additional tax would be burdensome. Another
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
strong argument used especially by other towns was that the benefit to Bedford and vicinity would be so great in the way of increasing the value of real estate that the citizens should put up a bonus. Immediately after the election, friends of the proposition in Bedford and vicinity got together and subscribed ten thou- sand dollars and petitioned the board to call a special election to vote on the proposition again. It will be noted that the call is for a less expensive building.
Following is the copy of the supervisors record, pertaining to the matter : November 17, 1891, board met pursuant to adjournment. Members all present, and the matter of numerous petitions from various parts of the county asking that the board order that a special election be called to submit to the electors of Taylor county, Iowa, a proposition to vote a tax of forty thousand dollars on the taxable property of said Taylor county, Iowa, to be used for the purpose of erect- ing a courthouse on the public square in the town of Bedford, Taylor county, Iowa, coming up for hearing and the board having examined the numerous petitions filed asking the said election to be called and also being made to appear to the board that the citizens of Bedford and vicinity has raised ten thousand dollars to aid in the erection of a courthouse in Bedford, provided the electors of Taylor county, Iowa, would raise the sum of forty thousand dollars, by tax, for a like purpose, and it being further made to appear to the board that the citizens of Bedford and vicinity would pay the expense attending said special election. It is therefore ordered by the board that said special election be called and held at the various voting precincts in Taylor county, Iowa, on the 22d day of December, 1891, and at said elections on said date last aforesaid, the following propositions be submitted to the electors of said Taylor county, Iowa, viz :
FIRST. Those favoring the levy of a tax of forty thousand dollars on the tax- able property of Taylor county, lowa, one-third of the same to be levied for the year 1891, one-third for the year 1892, one-third for the year 1893, shall have on their ballots the words, either written or printed, "for the courthouse tax." Pro- vided the tax be carried, the citizens of Bedford and vicinity shall pay into the county treasury the sum of ten thousand dollars within thirty days, from the date of the official canvass of said vote, and further, that the said tax of forty thousand dollars shall not become due or collectible unless the citizens of Bedford and vicinity shall pay said sum of ten thousand dollars into the county treasury, on or before the thirty days aforesaid.
SECOND. Those opposing the voting of said tax, will have, either written or printed on their ballots the words, "against the courthouse tax." It is further ordered by the board that in the event that said tax shall be voted, that they each individually and as a board declare that there shall no contract be made in ref- erence to said courthouse that does not provide for a completed building ready for occupancy in all its parts, including furniture, vaults and heating apparatus, and that every expenditure that may be made in behalf of a courthouse, shall in no event exceed the forty thousand dollars voted by the people and the ten thou- sand dollars given by the citizens of Bedford and vicinity. And it is further ordered that in the event that the tax shall be voted that we will as soon as con- sistent with the public interest, not later than May, 1892, make a contract that shall consume the ten thousand dollars given by the citizens of Bedford and vicinity, and the tax of 1891, voted for such purpose, in the con-
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
struction of a courthouse, but we will so contract that when completed that it shall not exceed a total cost of fifty thousand dollars.
And it is further ordered by the board that the auditor be directed to give no- tice of said special election as by law required and in conformity with the pro- ceedings had before the board in connection therewith.
Board adjourned to December 24, 1891.
WASHINGTON HALL, Chairman.
M. MILLER, Auditor.
On the call the election was held with the results appended to the supervisor's .
record following :
DECEMBER 24, 1891.
Board met pursuant to adjournment at 10:30 a. m., at which meeting there were present, Supervisors J. R. Cooper and J. M. Thompson. Chairman Wash- ington Hull being absent. J. R. Cooper was elected chairman pro tem. At 12 o'clock the board opened the poll books and began the canvass of the votes cast at the special election held December 22, 1891, for the purpose of voting on the proposition submitted for a courthouse tax, and found the following to be the vote cast by townships :
For
Against
Total
Bedford
489
I
490
Benton
II4
3
II7
Clayton
I36
6
142
Clearfield
37
III
148
Dallas
II
73
84
Grant
5
68
73
Gay
76
28
IO
Grove
18
IO7
125
Holt
2
172
I74
Jackson
108
O
108
Jefferson
I60
55
215
Mason
114
33
147
Marshall
47
166
213
New Market
140
75
215
Nodaway
17
184
20I
Polk
I26
I6
I42
Platte
195
57
252
Ross
167
3
170
Washington
20
274
294
1982
1432
3414
And it appearing from the canvass of the vote of all the voting precincts of Taylor county, Iowa, that there was a majority of five hundred and fifty votes cast in favor of voting a tax of forty thousand dollars on the taxable property of Taylor county, Iowa, and by virtue of the authority in us vested, by reason of said special election, we do hereby levy a tax of three mills on the dollar on
NEW COURT HOUSE
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
all the taxable property of Taylor county, Iowa, for the year 1891, which will now produce on the present valuation of four million, four hundred and eighty- eight thousand and eighty-eight dollars, the sum of thirteen thousand, four hun- dred and sixty-four dollars and twenty-six cents, if the same shall all be realized. As to the tax for 1892 and 1893, voted at said special election the board takes no action, except the right to make such further levies, for the years 1892 and 1893, which when added to the present levy of 1891 aforesaid, shall produce the sum of forty thousand dollars, authorized to be levied by the electors at said special election, and the county auditor is by the board directed to place the sum of three mills on the dollar on the tax lists of said Taylor county, Iowa, for the year 1891, and extend the same on all the taxable property of said county for said year as such courthouse tax.
And now to-wit-It appearing to the board that the expenses growing out of the special election amounts on claims filed and allowed by the board to the sum of three hundred and three dollars and seventy-five cents, and it further ap- pears to the board that B. F. Bailey, on behalf of the citizens of Bedford and vicinity, has paid said sum into the county treasury, to be paid to the claimants upon demand.
Therefore the auditor is directed to draw county warrants on the county treasurer for said several claims, and the treasurer is directed to pay said war- rants so drawn from said funds so paid by the citizens aforesaid.
Board adjourned to session in course.
M. MILLER, Auditor.
J. R. COOPER, Chairman Pro Tem.
At an adjourned meeting of the board, February 8, 1892, the board selected plans for a new courthouse submitted by F. N. Ellis, Omaha, Nebraska.
On April 8, 1892, the board opened the bids for the building of the courthouse.
In the board proceedings the following entry occurs: Board met pursuant to adjournment at 1 :30 p. m. and proceeded to open bids filed by contractors for the building of the Taylor county courthouse. Allan H. Chaffee of Corning, Iowa, being the lowest bidder was awarded the contract for thirty-eight thousand, eight hundred and ten dollars.
M. MILLER, Auditor.
J. R. COOPER, Chairman.
The future levies for 1892 and 1893 were anticipated by a five per cent loan from the Bedford Bank. The work progressed rapidly and the corner stone was laid in June, 1892, and was finished in the spring. May 6, 1893, began the work of moving in. The building is a model of neatness and convenience and in architectural beauty it has no equal in southwest Iowa. That such a building could be put up for less than fifty thousand dollars is a matter of surprise to visitors.
The contractor, Mr. Chaffee, actually lost money on his contract, but the people were so pleased with the building and so admired the spirit of Mr. Chaffee in fulfilling his contract faithfully in spite of his loss, that the board allowed him .
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HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
one thousand dollars more than the contract called for and was presented a gold watch by the friends he made while engaged on the work here.
It is not necessary to give a description of the building and equipment as this work is designed for citizens of the county, and the description is unnecessary, as all Taylor county people some time or other visit the county seat. Suffice it to say, that in spite of the opposition shown to the proposition in some parts of the county, all feel proud of the building, and glad of the fact that now the records are secure from fire at least.
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