USA > Iowa > Taylor County > History of Taylor County, Iowa; from the earliest historic times to 1910, biographical sketches of some prominent citizens > Part 2
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13
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
dred and eighty-one thousand, eight hundred and forty. It is interesting to note the rapid growth of the state in material wealth.
lowa's fertile soil produces in bewildering abundance the most important of the food products.
From the latest report at hand the value of the corn crop, alone, was one hundred and seventeen million, six hundred and eighty thousand and ninety- seven dollars and the total valuation of corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye and buckwheat was one hundred ninety-two millions, five hundred ninety-nine thousand, seven hundred and forty-two dollars. Timothy, clover, alfalfa, and other forage plants, twenty-eight million, six hundred seventy-three thou- sand, nine hundred dollars. Fruits, five million, three hundred fifty-five thou- sand, five hundred and fifty-six dollars. Timothy, clover and other seeds, seven million, three hundred fifty-seven thousand, three hundred and forty-four dol- lars. The value of the cattle of the state is given at ninety-one million, seven- teen thousand, seven hundred and fifty-two dollars. Horses and mules, eighty-two million, eight hundred and seven thousand, four hundred and sixty- three dollars. Swine, thirty-four million, four hundred sixty-four thousand, one hundred and fifty-three dollars. Sheep, one million, nine hundred and eighty-nine thousand, three hundred and sixty-four dollars. Goats, seventy-five thousand, nine hundred and ninety-eight dollars and the value of wool three hundred thir- teen thousand, nine hundred and eighty dollars. Cattle, horses, sheep and swine entitled to registry are valued at nearly nine million dollars. Fowls are valued at eight million, eighty-three thousand, one hundred and eighty-four dollars. Eggs. ten million, seven hundred and ninety-four thousand, four hundred and ninety- three dollars. Dairy products, thirty million, six hundred and eighty-seven thou- sand, two hundred and seventy-four dollars, and vegetables, three million, four- hundred and forty-five thousand dollars.
This enormous production means a large surplus to sell or exchange for other necessities not produced here, hence the increase in transportation facilities has been equally rapid.
When Iowa was admitted into the union there was no railroad in the state, and none until ten years later. In the fall of 1852 surveys were made for what was later known as the Mississippi & Missouri railroad. The line was to operate between Davenport and Council Bluffs. By 1856 the line was completed to Iowa City, and shortly extended southward from Davenport to Muscatine. By 1861 but three hundred and thirty-one miles of road had been built. The four trunk lines. which were later to span the state, had, however, been laid out and were al- ready reaching westward. The Dubuque & Sioux City railroad had reached Cedar Falls, in Black Hawk county. The Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska, now the Chicago & North-Western, was building in Tama county. The Mississippi and Missouri River road had halted at Iowa City. The Burlington & Missouri River road had reached Ottumwa, and the Des Moines Valley road extended from Keokuk to Ottumwa. With 1862 the building era of Iowa roads begins. Rumors of a road to the Pacific had spread and each line was anxious to reach the Missouri first and form a junction with the westerly road. The Mississippi & Missouri extended its line to Grinnell ; the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River to State Center, and the Des Moines Valley pushed northward to Mahaska county.
14
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
The period of 1864-66 witnessed the extension of the Cedar Rapids & Missouri half way across the state and saw it bend southward almost through Harrison county to reach Council Bluffs, the expected Pacific terminal. The Mississippi & Missouri River road built a short extension to Newton, but owing to financial difficulties, was taken over by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, which hurried its completion, and by 1869 was ready to operate trains across the state. The same year the Burlington & Missouri River road reached the Missouri river, but they were preceded by the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River road almost a year.
At the close of the period 1870 the four trunk lines across the state were com- pleted and the MacGregor & Western, now the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, had reached Algona. The work of the following decade was to complete this sys- tem and, by running roads north and south, make possible the development of the territory between the east and west lines. At least three lines from the northern to the southern boundaries of the state were built: the Burlingon, Cedar Rapids & Northern, with its southern connections ; the Iowa Central; and a third, made up of the Des Moines Valley, the Des Moines & Minnesota and the Minnesota & St. Louis. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul was in the northeast and numer- ous other lines in the south. The northwestern portion of the state, however, re- mained undeveloped and but one-half of the present mileage had been constructed.
The period 1880 to 1904 is one of great development. The mileage of the state nearly doubles ; interior commercial centers, as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Oska- loosa. Fort Dodge and Waterloo, become more prominent, and branch roads in all directions make the transportation system of the state one of the best. The appended table gives the number of miles of road in the state from 1855 to 1905.
No. of
No. of
Year.
No. of Miles.
Year.
Miles.
Year.
Miles.
1855
1872
3,095
1889
8,293
1856
123
1873
3,643
1890
8,260
1857
I30
1874
3,728
I891
8,377
1858
227
1875
3,765
1892
8,403
1859
255
1876
3,823
1893
8,479
1860
33I
1877
3,938
1894
8,478
I861
393
1878
4,075
1895
8,48I
I862
626
1879
4,324
1896
8,497
1863
653
1880
5,269
1897
8,481
1864
727
I88I
5,269
1898
8,474
I865
847
1882.
5,732
1899
8,518
I866
1,060
1883
6,792
1900
9,236
1867
1,228
1884.
7,106
I9OI
9,337
1868
1,448
1885
7,496
I902
9,416
1869
2,081
1886.
7,490
1903
9,275
1870
2,081
1887
7,912
1904
9.800
1871
2,684
1888
8,291
1905
9,800
Every one of its ninety-nine counties has a railroad, so that no farm is far from some line of transportation. In addition to the statistics given elsewhere
15
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
on schools and churches, further proofs of steady progress along right lines is shown in the one thousand or more newspapers and periodicals, and the one hun- dred and fifty-two public libraries which have grown up in the state.
When the war of the rebellion broke out, Iowa sent more than seventy- eight thousand of her stalwart sons to swell the ranks of the Union army, of which eleven thousand perished in that terrible war.
Our state furnished officers competent to command armies and military de- partments. It has given the nation some of its most illustrious statesmen, judges and soldiers.
ORGANIZATION OF IOWA COUNTIES.
Before speaking of the organization of Taylor county, it will be of interest to speak briefly of the organization of Iowa counties from the beginning. The legislative assembly of Michigan territory, provided by legislation in 1834, for the creation of counties within the limits of the territory which later became the state of Iowa, as follows :
A'n act to lay off and organize counties west of the Mississippi river.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the legislative council of the territory of Michigan, that all that district of country which was attached to the terriory of Michigan by an act of congress entitled, "An act to attach the territory of the United States west of the Missippi river, and north of the state of Missouri, to the terri- tory of Michigan, and to which the Indian title has been extinguished, which is north of a line to be drawn due west, from the lower end of Rock Island to the Missouri river, shall constitute a county and be called Dubuque ; said county shall constitute a township which shall be called Julien, and the seat of justice shall be at the village of Dubuque.
Section 2. All that part of the district aforesaid, which was attached to the territory of Michigan situated south of said line to be drawn due west of the lower end of Rock Island, shall constitute a county and be called Demoine ; said county shall constitute a township and be called Flint Hills; the seat of justice shall be at such place therein as shall be designated by the judge of the county court of said county.
Section 4 of the act provided "That all laws now in force in the county of Iowa, not locally inapplicable, shall be and are hereby extended to the counties of Dubuque and Demoine, and shall be in force therein."
At that time the Indian title to the lands in the region lying between the north line of Missouri and the mouth of the upper Iowa river, and fifty miles to the west of the Mississippi river, had been extinguished. Thus the two new coun- ties, Dubuque and Demoine, embraced the entire tract known as the "Black Hawk purchase," and were the only counties created by the legislative assembly of Michigan, while this region was a part of that territory.
Later, while a part of Wisconsin territory, twenty-two counties were created. and when Iowa territory was created, twenty-three other counties were added. After it became a state, the boundaries were enlarged, divisions made, until now the total number of Iowa counties is ninety-nine.
16
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
TAYLOR COUNTY.
SURVEYING THE COUNTY.
With regard to the origin of the division of individual states into county and township organizations, which in an important measure should have the power and opportunity of transacting their own business and governing themselves. under the approval and subject to the state and general government, of which they each formed a part, we quote from Elija M. Haynes, author of Township Organizations. The county system originated with Virginia, whose early settlers became large landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living apart in almost ba- ronial magnificence on their own estates, and owning the laboring part of the population.
The county organization, when a few influential men managed the whole busi- ness of the community, retaining their places almost at their pleasure, responsible only in name, and permitted to conduct the county concerns as their ideas or wishes might direct, was in consonance with their recollections and traditions of the landed aristocracy of England, in descent from whom the Virginia gentle- men felt so much pride.
The county system, inaugurated by Virginia, spread to all of the southern states, and even to some states of the north.
As population increased, much dissatisfaction arose over the inefficient county system. It was seen that equal and exact justice to all parts of the county could not be secured. The heavily populated districts would always control the elec- tions and sparsely settled districts would be unable to obtain representation. Mas- sachusetts is credited with originating the township system of government, and other states followed in course of time, and finally the general government, in pro- viding for an intelligent system of surveys, fixed the limits of what is now called congressional townships.
An act of congress, May 20, 1785, provided for the survey of public lands, divisions of six miles square to constitute townships, the ranges of townships to be numbered from the Pennsylvania boundary, west, and the numbering of the townships themselves to be from a point on the Ohio river, due north of the west- ern termination of the southern boundary line of Pennsylvania, a township to in- clude thirty-six sections, each one mile square. Legislation since has made some changes, but the system is practically the same at the present time.
More than sixty years ago, surveyors for the first time, traversed the territory now known as Taylor county.
Contracts were made between the government and the surveyor for a stipu- lated price per mile, all lines counted by running measure. The lines around the sections were not always straight lines, as may be seen in several localities in the county, much difficulty has been experienced in locating corners established by this first survey, owing to the fact, that frequently a stake, or mound of earth instead of a stone, was used for marking a corner.
The stakes were quite frequently burned by prairie fires or rotted away, while in time the earth mound could not be distinguished from the numerous mounds made by the gophers.
GROUP OF PIONEER MOTHERS
GROUP OF PIONEER FATHERS
19
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
LOCATING AND NAMING THE COUNTY.
The act defining Taylor county passed the third general assembly and received the signature of the governor of the state in January, 1851. The county is situated in the Southernmost tier, sixty miles east of the Missouri river, and is the third in order eastward. It is a little less than twenty-four miles square, and contains an area of some three hundred and forty-three thousand, six hundred and eighty acres, or about five hundred and thirty-seven square miles. It has the nominal six- teen congressional township, but owing to the correction line, which passes through this county, they are not all full townships. The townships are Nodaway, Holt, Grove, Platte, Dallas, Washington, Marshall, Grant, Mason, Benton, Clayton, Gay. Polk, Ross, Jackson and Jefferson. The four last named constituting the southern tier, and hence facing the State of Missouri, which bounds the county on the south. On the west, it is bounded by Page county, on the north by Adams and on the east by Ringgold. The south boundary line is not a due east and west line, but is slightly oblique, hence this tends to diminish the area of the county. The correction line passes through the county in such a manner that Gay and Clayton townships are the smallest two, and Benton and Mason next to them in size. Gay is five sections by six, Clayton five sections by five and one-quarter, Benton and Mason, each, six by five and one-quarter. The county is so named in honor of Gen. Zachary Taylor, who became famous in the war with Mexico.
Gen. Taylor was a native of Virginia and was born in 1784, shortly after the nation, in which he was to form so conspicious a part, had gained a name and place among the empires of the earth. He was commissioned a lieutenant by Pres. Jefferson in 1808 and had spent forty years in the military service of his country, when he was chosen by the whigs to lead them in the contest for the presidency in 1848. He was without political experience, but was a man of nerve and stainless character, of great firmness, a sincere patriot and possessed of strong, good sense. He was elected over Lewis Cass of Michigan, the demo- cratic nominee, and Martin Van Buren of New York, the candidate of the anti- slavery or free soil party. His inauguration occurred on Monday, March 5, 1849, since the 4th of March fell on Sunday in that year.
His success in the war with Mexico had made him both famous and popular, following which, his nomination and election to the highest office in the gift of the people, placed him very prominently before the American public. July 9, 1850, the chief magistrate died, amid the grief of the whole country, and after an occupancy of the presidential chair but sixteen months.
When therefore the General Assembly of Iowa came to determine the limits of this county, it was decided that it should bear the name of the chief man of the nation. Thus the name of the great soldier was destined to be honored again in war, by heroes from the county which bore it.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.
After the act, defining Taylor county passed the general assembly, the next step was the organization of the county and Elisha Parker was appointed organ- izing sheriff. Before entering upon the duties of this office, it was necessary that
20
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
he be qualified in due legal form. The nearest point where this important pre- liminary could be compassed was Clarinda, in Page county, and thither Mr. Parker went. Notices to the resident voters were properly posted in the three voting precincts that had been indicated. The precincts were there named for the three original townships in the county, namely, Jackson, Benton and Polk, though none but Jackson then existed as a township. At the election which en- sued only fifty-three votes were cast, showing the population of the county to be small at the time. Upon these fifty-three men did the onus of organization and the expenses incident thereto fall.
The election was held in February, and resulted in the election of Jacob Ross, Levi L. Hayden and Daniel Smith, as county commissioners ; Clerk, John Hayden ; Probate Judge, Hampton Bennington; Recorder and Treasurer, John Hayden ; Sheriff, James R. Campbell ; Inspector of Weights and Measures, Jacob Miller ; Justices of the Peace, John W. Miller and Saymore Coffman ; and Con- stable, Preston B. McGuire.
The organization was not perfected, of course, until these persons were duly qualified.
On February 26, 1851 the first commissioners' court was held at the residence of Judge Jacob Ross, a special session by the way, and it seems that the only busi- ness transacted at this session was the canvass of the election returns, and the approval of the bond of the officers elect, which being performed, they adjoined to meet again in regular session, at the home of Judge Ross, on the first Monday in April, 1851.
This second session occurred on April 7, and the business of the session con- sisted in appointing or commissioning William Warmsly a justice of the peace ; and Preston B. McGuire, constable of Polk township; John W. Miller, justice of the peace ; and James K. Miller, constable of Benton township.
The reasons for these appointments was that the above named precincts had been organized as townships after the election in January. After the dispatch of this business, the commissioners' court adjourned to meet at the home of Judge Ross, the first Monday in July, 1851. At this third session of the county court, the first real business was transacted, the previous sessions had been occupied with attending to the formalities of organization. The first act of the board at this third session, was to pay Sheriff James B. Campbell, who from the record appears to have borne the additional honor of being assessor also, "One dollar per day, time employed in assessing, to which he was four days in assessing Taylor county, four dollars."
From the table given later on, it may be seen that the entire tax amounted to but sixty-two dollars and thirty-seven cents and while the task of assessing con- sumed but four days, and the compensation of the assessor but four dollars, he received for the work, nearly one fifteenth of the whole amount assessed.
The court next took up for consideration the charges of Elisha Parker for his services in organizing the county. His bill filed with the board, contained the following items :
"Traveling to and from Page county to be qualified as organizing sheriff ; twenty-five miles at four cents per mile, two dollars ; writing and posting nine advertisements for three precincts, three dollars, twelve and one-half cents :
21
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
filing returns of election, fifty cents ; certificates for three county commissioners, seventy-five cents ; certificates for clerk district court, twenty-five cents ; certifi- cates for sheriff, twenty-five cents; certificates for recorder, twenty-five cents, and so on through the list of officers, the total sum claimed and allowed amount- ing to nine dollars and eighty-seven and one-half cents.
The board at this session fixed the rates of taxation as follows: "poll tax, fifty cents on each tythe ; for state purposes, two mills to the dollar ; county pur- poses, three mills to the dollar; school fund, half mill to the dollar." It will be seen that the tax rate for all purposes was five and one-half mills and the amount realized on the taxable property of the county was thirty-five dollars and eighty- seven cents, which with the poll tax on fifty-three "tythes" at fifty cents each, amounting to twenty-six dollars and fifty cents, brings the amount received from all sources up to sixty-two dollars and thirty-seven cents.
To the reader, born since these old pioneer days, the appended table will be of interest. This is, as the record shows, the complete tax list, amounts taxed and sums realized on the first assessment ever made in the county. Property assessed by James B. Campbell, 1851.
Name
Amt. of Prop. Tax
Nancy Cobble
8 .05
Levi L. Hayden
$ 49
$ .77
Price Summers
45
-75
Joshua Hudson
70
.88
Elizabeth Miller
25
.14
Preston B. McGuire 78
.93
William Louis
70 .89
Hampton Pennington 89
.99
Jacob Miller
236
1.79
John W. Miller
22
.62
John Hayden 61
.83
William M. Ross
152
1.34
Jacob Ross 22I
1.7I
James D. Ross
79
.93
John Dougherty I19
1.15
James H. Burge
82
.95
Isaac Dowis
424
2.83
James K. Miller
42
-73
Nancy Taber
IO5
.57
Isaac Guyll
245
1.85
James Mason
97
1.03
Matthew Hindman
108
1.09
Lucinda Vice
69
.38
Daniel Smith
I68
1.42
James Ross
16I
1.38
Edward S. Goilsey
97.75
1.05
Martha Cobble
9
.05
Wm. Edmonson
50
.77
Stephen H. Parker
317
2.24
Matthew Smith
86
.97
Jesse Guyll 60
.83
Henry Foster
72
.90
Eden Hawk
47
.76
Marshall Hubble
65
.86
William Wilson
II6
1.14
James Gartside
26
.6.4
George Dial III
I.12
Robert Foster
I33
1.23
Thomas Parker
.50
Margaret Foster
57
.3I
Saymore Coffman I7I
1.44
Elisha ยท Parker
65.50
,86 ,
Nathaniel H. Towner
90
1.00
Henry H. Smith
67
87
Thomas Holland 83
.95
Stephen Parker
79
.93
Russell L. Thompson I73
1.45
James Ross, Jr.
45
.75
Elias Bridgwater 204
1.62
Priscilla Dailey
20
.II
William B. Warmsly
233
1.78
Joseph Roach
55
.80
James B. Campbell 389
2.64
Benjamin Ravner
16I
I.32
Francis H. Farley
177
1.47
Frederick Gamel
159
1.32
James Holland
50
-77
William Roach
150
1.32
Salina Gamell
66
.36
-
22
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
Nancy Reed 49
.77 Elizabeth Rickard 16 .09
Benjamin Tanner 29
.66 John Lowe 48 .26
Total assessed valuation
$6,522.00
State tax, two mills to the dollar
13.044
County tax, three mills to the dollar
19.566
School tax. one-half mill to the dollar
3.261
Poll tax, fifty cents each tythe
26.50
Total amount
$ 62.37I
We the board of county commissioners, have, as accurately as we could, made out this list of taxable property, with the number of tythes, which we direct the assessors of Taylor county to collect as soon as practicable.
Given under our hands this fifth day of August, A. D., 1851.
Levi L. Hayden [L. S.]. Daniel Smith [L. S.].
Jacob Ross [L. S.].
The above list discloses some interesting facts. Only fifty-eight years ago the tax payers of this county numbered sixty-three tax payers in the county, with taxable property valued at six thousand, five hundred and twenty-two dol- lars. Thirteen dollars and four cents was paid the state as the price of the first year's existence as an independent body politic in the state of Iowa, and the school tax amounted to the magnificent sum of three dollars and twenty-six cents. Isaac Dowis paid taxes on property valued at four hundred and twenty- four dollars, and according to the record was at that time the richest man in the county, while Nancy Cobble paid taxes on the smallest valuation, eight dol- lars.
August 4, 1851, the first regular election was held, and the following persons were elected : Sheriff, James B. Campbell; Recorder and Treasurer, James K. Miller ; Inspector of Weights and Measures, Jacob Miller ; District and County Clerk, John Hayden. With this election the county was finally organized.
At a special session of the county board, August 18, 1851, the first census roll was received and contained the following entries : males over twenty-one sixty- nine : females over twenty-one, seventy ; whole number of males, one hundred and thirty-four ; whole number of females, one hundred and twenty ; total popu- lation, three hundred and ninety-three. The county had now launched upon in- dividual existence as a part of the commonwealth of Iowa, and assumed the im- portance such a position warranted.
From that time to the present, progress has been marked, though it may seem somewhat slow. There has been a gradual and permanent growth in material wealth, and all that leads to the highest type of refined civilization.
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
It has been stated elsewhere that at the time of the organization of the county it contained but one township, Jackson, which comprised its whole area, there-
23
HISTORY OF TAYLOR COUNTY
fore the organization of Jackson township dates from the organization of the county in February, 1851.
It has also been previously mentioned that at the second term of the county court, April 7, 1851, the county was divided into three townships, one retaining the name of Jackson, the other two receiving the names of Polk and Benton, respectively.
The record of this transaction reveals nothing as to the area of these town- ships, or where their boundaries were drawn. Nothing of this important trans- action is shown except the appointment of the necessary officials. Such was the condition of matters until the July term of 1854, when the following entry appears : At the July term of the county court, in 1854, the township of Benton was changed so as to run from the northeast corner of section 36, on the range line between ranges 33 and 34, in township 68 east, so as to embrace Stephen H. Parker and the settlement on Honey creek, above Parker, and the settlement on the east fork of One Hundred and Two river, and vote at Redford, and be known as Benton township. At the October term of court, in the same year, 1854, Benton town- ship was again divided and a new township formed, as appears from the fol- lowing record :
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