USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 23
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa, a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
The town of Klemme had 206 males and 198 females.
Ellington Township had 457 males and 390 females.
Erin Township had 274 males and 267 females.
Garfield Township had 348 males and 287 females.
German Township had 282 males and 261 females.
Madison Township had 326 males and 301 females.
Magor Township, exclusive of Corwith had 261 males and 221 fe- males.
Corwith town had 300 males and 257 females.
Orthel Township had 304 males and 256 females.
Twin Lake Township, exclusive of Goodell, had 301 males and 261 females.
This gives a total of 7296 males and 6590 females. There were 3049 males and 2884 females, total 5933, of native parents and native born. There were 3009 males and 2802 females, total 5811, native born of foreign or mixed parentage. There were 1238 males and 904 females, total 2142, foreign born.
In Hancock County there are 658 farmers operating only land owned; 205 farmers operating land owned and leased; 277 farmers operating land leased for cash; 267 farmers operating land leased for
I-15
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WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
share of crop; 281 farmers operating land leased for cash and share of crop; making a total of 1688 persons operating farms.
There were 1688 farms in the county; 144,915 acres owned by operator; 86,317 acres leased by operator for cash; 111,286 acres leased by operator for share of crop. This represented a total of 342,518 acres, valued at $35,298,019.00. Improvements were valued at $4,202,- 527.00 and farm machinery at $659,399.00.
In Hancock County, by the 1915 censns, there were 102,233 acres of land planted in corn, with a yield of 4,230,220 bushels valued at $2,250,170.00. There were 2453 acres of wheat, 33,784 bushels valued at $23,661.00. There were 80,711 acres of oats, 2,821,789 bushels, valued at $1,136,322.00. There were 2788 acres of barley, 70,826 bush- els, valued at $38,384.00. There were 323 acres of rye, 5852 bushels, value $3,623; and 80 acres of buckwheat, 1361 bushels, valne $836.00.
In the county there were 5942 acres of clover, 7441 tons, value $63,393.00; and 19,038 acres of timothy, 23,210 tons, valued at $196,- 540.00. There were 117 acres of millet and Hungarian, 158 tons, value $948.00; also 76 acres of alfalfa, 189 tons, with a value of $1,773.00.
In 1914 there were grown 1191 acres of potatoes, or 118,845 bushels, valued at $53,805.00. There were 6 acres of sweet potatoes, 623 bush- els, value $331.00.
In 1914 there were 256,081 fowls in Hancock County and 1,134,570 dozen of eggs were produced, valued at $207,812. The fowls were valued at $117,243.00.
In the county in 1914 there were 1469 colts under one year; 1996 horses one year and under two; 10,611 horses two years and over; 407 mules and asses; making a total of all 14,483. There were 13,378 calves under one year; 5093 steers one and under two years; 2746 steers two and under three years. The value of the horses, mules and asses totaled $1,290,628.00. There were 12,593 milch cows two years and over and 2457 cows not milch, making a total of cattle 42,639 head, valued at $1,153,935.00. There were 45,096 swine in the county, valued $397,156.00. There were 1395 sheep, valned at $9,030.00. There were 5526 pounds of wool produced, worth $1,066.00. There were 114 goats in Hancock County.
The following table of population is taken from the Iowa State Register :
1885
1890
1895
1900
1905
1910
Britt
639
818
1245
1540
1410
1303
Garner
438
679
1118
1288
1200
1028
Corwith
334
567
651 262
292
306
Woden
200
262
Crystal Lake.
. . .
. . .
246
202
143
Kanawha
291
398
Goodell
. . .
262
254
245
240
.
. . .
. . .
. . .
523
455
Klemme
. . .
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WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
In 1860 the first recognition appears of the population of Hancock County. The United States Census of that year places the number of inhabitants of this county as 179. In 1865 this had increased to 292 and in 1869 to 572. In 1870 Hancock's population numbered 999 and in 1875 reached 1482. By the census of 1880 the number was given as 3453. This population was made up of natives of Germany, Ireland, France, Bohemia and the United States, with a small per- centage of Scandinavians, Scotch and English. The American ele- ment emigrated mostly from the New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. The Germans came prin- cipally from the northern part of the Teutonic Empire.
Of interest in comparison with present statistics given above the following items compiled in the years 1874 and 1879 will be of interest.
TABLE OF PRODUCTION FOR TILE YEAR 1874
Wheat
70,006 bushels
Corn
57,899 bushels
Oats
48,816 bushels
Potatoes
6,801 bushels
Barley
1,564 bushels
Buckwheat
240 bushels
FOR THE YEAR 1879
Corn
255,598 bushels
Wheat
168,782 bushels
Oats
140,371 bushels
Barley
12,513 bushels
Potatoes
26,188 bushels
Buckwheat
945 bushels
Hay
8,782 tons
STOCK FIGURES FOR 1874
564
Milch Cows in the County
805
Pound of Butter Produced.
.39,934
Pounds of Cheese Produced
16,390
IN 1879
Horses Owned in the County. 1,918
Milch Cows Owned in the County.
1,874
Other Cattle Owned in the County
5,732
Swine Owned in the County.
5,663
Sheep Owned in the County.
268
Mules Owned in the County.
55
Pounds of Butter Produced
116,065
Pounds of Cheese Produced.
4,750
Horses in the County.
CHAPTER II
ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT
ORGANIZATION-PETITION OF ORGANIZATION-THE COUNTY COURT-BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-COUNTY AUDITORS-TREASURER AND RECORDER-COUN- TY TREASURERS-COUNTY RECORDERS-COURT CLERKS-COUNTY SHERIFFS COUNTY SURVEYORS-COUNTY CORONERS-STATE REPRESENTATION- EARLY POLITICS-MARRIAGE RECORD-LAND AND PROPERTY VALUES- - REGISTRY OF DEEDS.
ORGANIZATION
For many years before anyone thought of the existence of Han- cock County all the territory now included in the county constituted a part of the Winnebago Indian reservation, also part of the neutral ground described elsewhere. The settlement of the country, as noted before, first started in 1854, and when enough people had located here to entitle them to official recognition the territory was attached to Webster County for judicial purposes.
During the spring of 1858 there were enough inhabitants in the county to justify an organization for themselves, so application was made to Robert Clark, then the county judge of Winnebago County, for the necessary authority according to the laws of Iowa. The fol- lowing is a copy of the original document, conferring the right to the citizens of Hancock County to organize themselves into a separate county and elect officers for their government :
"State of Iowa, SS. Winnebago County.
June 8, 1858.
"Whereas, a petition of the majority of the legal voters of Han- cock County has been presented to me, Robert Clark, county judge of Winnebago County, to which said county of Hancock is, by law, at- tached ;
"Now, therefore, I, Robert Clark, county judge of Winnebago County, do hereby order an election, by the legal voters of said Han- cock County, to be held on Monday, June 28, 1858, for the purpose of electing the following county officers, to wit: A county judge, a treas- urer, a recorder, a clerk of the district court, a sheriff, an assessor, a
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coroner, a county superintendent of schools, a drainage commissioner, a county surveyor, and such township officers as are allowed by law. Said election to be held in accordance with the act in relation to new counties, and said election will be held as follows : All the legal voters of said county are, under this order, allowed and permitted to vote for or against the banking laws, and for the county and township officers, and it is further ordered that Congressional Township No. 96, Ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26, also Township 95, Ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26, also Township 94, Ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26 comprise one township to be known as Avery Township, and an election to be held at the house of B. Haskins in said township; and, it is also ordered, that Congres- sional Township 97, Ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26 shall comprise one town- ship to be known as Madison Township, and an election to be held at the house of J. C. Bonar, in said township, and James C. Bonar, J. Ward and M. Colburn are hereby appointed judges of said elec- tion, and this shall be your order and warrant for the same, and you are further to duly canvass such votes as may be cast, and make due return to me at my office, in Forest City, in seven (7) days from said fourth Monday of June, A. D. 1858.
"Given under my hand and seal of said Winnebago County, this the 8th day of June, A. D. 1858.
" (Seal)
ROBERT CLARK,
"County Judge of Winnebago County."
In accordance with the above the first election was held on the 28th of June, 1858. There were but twenty-two votes cast at the polls. The following officers were chosen that day: M. P. Rosecrans, county judge; George Louppe, clerk of the courts; Benoni Haskins, sheriff; Reuben Church, treasurer and recorder; G. R. Maben, superintendent of the common schools; C. R. Wright, surveyor; J. C. Bonar, drainage commissioner. This action brought Hancock County into official rec- ognition in the state. For some years the county had no county seat, but the business was transacted either at Upper Grove, Ellington or wherever the county officials happened to reside. More of the court house history, however, is given in the story of the county seat fight. It is well to say in this connection, though, that on the 4th of November of the year of organization John I. Popejoy and James Goodwin, hav- ing been appointed commissioners by the judge of the district court, made the selection for the seat of the county government. This was the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 31, Township 96, Range 23. The land was donated to the county by Truman Sey- mour of the state of New York shortly after this location.
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WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
THE COUNTY COURT
As before stated, in the early days Hancock County was joined to Webster County for judicial purposes and later to Winnebago County. At the time of the organization of Hancock the powers of the present board of supervisors were vested in the county court. This county court consisted of a judge, a prosecuting attorney and a sheriff. The judge had the entire jurisdiction in all matters that could not properly be bronght before the district court, which arrangement made the county judge a man of almost monarchial powers. The office was the most important one in the hands of the people and, in many places of Iowa where it was used, resulted in graft and manipulations which eventually caused the abolishment of the office.
The records of the county court commence with the organization of the county. The first county court consisted of M. P. Rosecrans, judge; Benoni Haskins, sheriff; and George Louppe, clerk. No busi- ness of any importance seems to have been transacted, except the issuing of county warrants, the first being in favor of Charles Church, and was for lumber furnished for the building of a county office, for the sum of $57.85. The second was to Robert L. Irwin and was for $119.19 for building the above named office.
No official record exists of any business occupying the attention of the county court until the month of December, 1860, when an effort was made to have the village of Amsterdam made the county seat, and in furtherance of the plan a contract was let by the county judge for the building of a $2,000 court house at that place. However, a change of administration on January 1st caused the failure of the scheme, the contractors being prevented from continuing by a writ of injune- tion. During these years the county had consisted of the two original townships of Madison and Avery and no new ones were organized under the county court system. The court met whenever and wherever convenient, as no seat of government had been definitely established.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
During the winter of 1859-60 an act was passed by the General Assembly, which was approved by the governor, changing the mode of local government, and creating the board of supervisors of the county. This board took charge of all the powers formerly vested in the county court, excepting the issuance of marriage licenses, probate matters and civil cases. The county court, in the meantime, continued to hold its sessions until 1869, but nothing of any interest transpired, as the time was all spent in routine matters.
€
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WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
The board of county supervisors at first consisted of one member from each township. The election for members was held at the time of the general election in November, 1860, and the first meeting of the board of supervisors of Hancock Cunty was held at Amsterdam, on the first Monday in January, 1861.
This board consisted of the following gentlemen: G. R. Maben, Madison; and B. W. Culver, Avery. After perfecting the organiza- tion of the board by electing Mr. Maben to the chair, they proceeded to the transaction of business. The principal matters dealt with seemed to be the allowing of claims and ordering their payment. The salary of the clerk of the board was set at $200 per annum, payable quarterly. The board at this session also entered into an agreement with W. P. Hepburn, by which he was to go to Washington, D. C., and attend to the business of the county in relation to the swamp and over- flowed lands lying within its borders, according to the Act of Congress, approved September 28, 1850. For these services Mr. Hepburn was to receive $200 in hand and if he succeeded in obtaining either the land serip or the warrants he was to receive $800 more.
The first warrant drawn by order of the board was to Edward Thorp, for cutting for the office of the board clerk, and was for seven- ty-five cents. It was No. 1 and bore the date of January 7, 1861. At the June session the board ordered the division of Madison and the erection on the part cut off of a new civil township to be known as Ellington Township. At the same time the township of Avery was divided and part of that ordered to organize under the name of Am- sterdam. The tax levy of this year was laid as follows: for state tax, one and a half mills ; for county tax, six mills ; for school purposes, one mill; for bridge fund, one mill.
On October 14, 1861, the board again met. There were present G. R. Maben, B. W. Culver and Charles Church. The latter took the oath of office, claiming that he had a right to take his seat on the board. Jacob Ward also appeared from Ellington, claiming that he had a right to a seat, and was also sworn. B. W. Culver protested against Charles Church and Jacob Ward taking their places on the board, making the point that they had no right to do so until the January following, they having been elected as they were in townships set off previous to election and that he, Culver, was supervisor for Avery Township, as it existed prior to the sub-division, and would remain such until January1, 1862. To this Messrs. Ward and Church, in turn, protested, giving the following reasons: that said B. W. Cnl- ver was not a resident of the present township of Avery; that he refused to take the oath of office, being elected in Amsterdam, then a newly organized township. The clerk was then ordered to prepare
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WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
ballots, by which Jacob Ward was to ascertain the length of his term in office. This being done, after an informal ballot, resulted in Mr. Ward drawing the one year term, and B. W. Culver the two year term, and thus matters were amicably arranged and the board was organized as follows: G. R. Maben, Madison; Charles Church, Avery; B. W. Culver, Amsterdam; and Jacob Ward, Ellington. Maben was elected chairman in January, 1862.
At the session of April, 1863, a petition of M. P. Rosecrans and others was presented to the board, asking the board to purchase a tract of land, not to exceed a section of six hundred and forty acres, within a mile of the ten-mile post on the road from Amsterdam to Ellington, and improve the same, by the planting of the same with timber, for the purpose of establishing the county seat of Hancock on the same. "This wild scheme was voted down and rejected by unanimous consent of the board." This year, in addition to the regular taxes, a special war tax of three mills was levied.
In January, 1864, the new board assembled for the transaction of regular business. Charles Gillespie, Ellington; John Maben, Madi- son; B. W. Culver, Amsterdam; and Orick Church, Avery, composed the board. Culver was elected chairman for the ensuing year. At the April session the following resolution was introduced and passed :
Resolved, that the board of superivsors appropriate the sum of $200, or such further sum as may be necessary, to purchase and fence . a suitable piece of ground for a burying ground; one in each end of the county; and that John Maben and Charles Gillespie be appointed a committee in the north part of the county, and B. W. Culver and Oriek Church a committee in the south part of the county, to attend to the matter, and in June, 1864, a proposition having been made to the board that they refund to the citizens of the different townships the amount paid by them as bounty to volunteers, on motion it was
Resolved, that the sum of $200 be appropriated to each township to refund to those who have paid bounties, or to be used in procuring volunteers. It was also
Resolved, that a sufficient sum be appropriated to purchase twelve Colt's navy revolvers, and that said revolvers, when procured, be dis- tributed three to each of the four townships in the county.
At the September session of the board some $300 was appropriated to each end of the county, to finish fencing their respective graveyards.
At the meeting of the board of supervisors January 1, 1866, the salaries of the county officers were fixed for the year as follows: county judge, $100; sheriff, $120; clerk, $600; besides the necessary fees accruing to each officer. A proposition was made to the qualified electors, that they allow a special levy of nine mills tax, for the pur-
HANCOCK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, GARNER
h
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WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
pose of raising the necessary funds to pay off the indebtedness of the county and raise the county warrants to par. At a special election held August 28, 1866, it was carried by a majority of six in a total vote of fifty.
In 1871 the new method of electing supervisors by districts instead of townships came into use and the first board under this system was composed of A. D. Hiams, G. R. Maben, and J. M. Elder. Prior to this the following named gentlemen had served: G. R. Maben, B. W. Culver, Charles Church, Jacob Ward, Charles Gillespie, John Maben, Oriek Church, Charles Robins, Parley Colburn, John Christie, George R. Knapp, John H. Beadle, A. D. Hiams H. H. Bush and B. F. Scott.
After 1871 the supervisors upon the Hancock County board have been, with the date of their election, as follows: George W. Beadle, 1871; H. H. Bush, 1872; J. H. Melins, 1873; G. R. Maben, 1874; Jolm Burnside, 1875; A. D. Hiams, 1876; John Burnside, 1877; H. H. Bush, 1878; G. Davenport, A. D. White and W. Greenup, 1879; C. C. Way, E. C. Packard, 1880; G. W. Gillett, 1882; Thomas Duff, 1884; A. C. Ripley, C. M. Church, 1885; J. H. Beadle, J. H. Burdick and J. A. Treganza, 1885; Ed Lloyd, 1886; A. C. Ripley, C. M. Church, 1887; Godfrey Carlson, J. A. Treganza, 1888; Ed Lloyd, 1889; Royal Lovell, John Griggs, 1890; Godfrey Carlson, George Fillenwarth, 1891; J. T. Standring, 1892; J. B. Cundiff, F. J. Oxley, Royal Lovell, 1893; God- frey Carlson, George Fillenwarth, 1894; F. J. Oxley, 1895; E. P. Fox, J. B. Cundiff, 1896; Godfrey Carlson, W. C. Richards, 1897 ; E. P. Fox, R. M. Day, 1899; H. J. Weiland, William Grieman, Andrew Anderson, 1901; D. L. Richardson, 1903; H. J. Weiland, 1904; C. H. Nelson, A. W. Bingham, W. G. Green, Andrew Anderson, D. L. Rich- ardson, 1906; W. G. Green, John T. Bush, Andrew Anderson, O. A. Phelps, 1898; Fred Stork, Martin Bachman, A. W. Bingham, 1910; Frank Oleson, O. A. Phelps, A. W. Bingham, 1912; F. P. Oleson, Fred Stork, Martin Bachman, A. W. Dana, 1914; H. J. Stille, August Lau, Layman Naser, 1916.
COUNTY AUDITORS
John Christie, Jr., was elected the first auditor of Hancock County in October, 1869, and on January 1, 1870, assumed the duties of that office. After serving his term of two years he was seven times re- elected. Christie was a native of Ontario, Canada, his parents having come there from Scotland. He came to Hancock County, June 10, 1861, left for service in the Thirty-Second Iowa Infantry during the war, and then returned here.
Following Mr. Christie in the position of county auditor have been :
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WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
J. W. Elder, 1878-80; M. L. Fuller, 1880-2; John Christie, Jr., 1882-90; George P. Hardwick, 1890-5; Herbert V. Reed, 1895-1900; E. F. Brum- mond, 1900-3; George Asplin, 1903-7; Thomas Duff, 1907-11; W. L. Fitkin, 1911-15; E. P. Hanson, 1915.
TREASURER AND RECORDER
At the time of the organization of the county this was one of the offices filled, and Reuben Church was unanimously elected to hold this dual office. He at once assumed the duties thereof and continued to serve until January, 1862. He was succeeded by Jacob Ward, who entered office January 1, 1864. The office was split soon afterwards.
COUNTY TREASURERS
In October, 1865, H. N. Brockway was elected county treasurer of Hancock County and was the first to serve in that office after its separation from that of recorder. He went into office January 1, 1866. He was reelected in October, 1867, and served in all three years, resigning the office to accept the position of Judge of the circuit court. John Maben was then elected and served continuously until 1882, when Thomas Hymer was elected to the office. In 1883 John Maben again was chosen by the voters of the county. Maben was a native of New York State and settled in Hancock County in 1855. His first residence in this county was on Sections 12 and 13, Madison Township, later moving to Garner. .
From this time until the present the treasurers of Hancock County have been: J. J. Upton, 1887-91; William Shattuck, 1891-5; C. S. Terwilliger, 1895-9; Isaac Sweigard, 1899-1901; H. V. Reed, 1901-3; W. L. Mitchell, 1903-7; A. B. Sawyer, 1907-11; J. O. Lewis, 1911-15; T. H. Thompson, 1915- .
COUNTY RECORDERS
After the separation of the offices of treasurer and recorder in the year 1865, A. D. Hiams was chosen for the office of recorder and held it for two years. Lambert B. Bailey assumed the duties of the office January 1, 1867, and served two years, turning over the place to John Maben on January 1, 1869. Maben served two years, when he retired to accept the office of treasurer, leaving the place of recorder again in the hands of L. B. Bailey. Bailey was a native of Licking County, Ohio, and came to Hancock County in 1864, locating in what was after- ward known as Bailey's Grove. Besides being recorder of the county,
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WINNEBAGO AND HANCOCK COUNTIES
Mr. Bailey was at different times clerk of the district court and super- intendent of schools. He held the office of recorder until 1887, when E. C. Abbey was installed. From then until the present the recorders have been: John Stoddart, 1891-5; F. W. Lenz, 1895-1901 ; Ole Peter- son, 1901-3; P. L. Brown, 1903-7; E. P. Hanson, 1907-11: Christyna Callison, 1911-15; Jennie Hammill, 1915-
COURT CLERKS
At the first election in Hancock County, June 28, 1858, George Louppe was elected clerk of the courts for this county. He held his office until January, 1861, when he gave place to C. D. Pritchard. Louppe afterwards left the county and moved to Jasper County. Fol- lowing Pritchard in office came: Charles C. Doolittle, 1863-5; James M. Elder, 1865-9; L. B. Bailey, 1869-71; C. C. Doolittle, 1871-85; C. C. Doolittle, 1885-7; Isaac Sweigard, 1887-91; Wesley Aldridge, 1891-5; J. M. Coutts, 1895-99; L. D. Womeldorf, 1899-1901; F. C. Bush, 1901-7; O. F. Missman, 1907-11; J. W. Knadler, 1911-15; E. L. Stilson, 1915-
COUNTY SHERIFFS
The first sheriff of Hancock County was Benoni Haskins, who was elected in June, 1858, entering upon the duties of the office immediately. He served about eighteen months. He afterwards became a resident of the state of Oregon. At the October election, 1861, C. M. Church was elected sheriff and qualified for the office on the 1st day of Jan- uary following. B. A. Hill was next elected to the office, but hield it only a short time, then resigned and left the county. The sheriffs of the county from then until now, in their order have been : John Maben, 1863-5; A. Yarrington, 1865-9; J. H. Beadle, 1869-73; John Veits, 1873-77; H. M. Bradstreet, 1877-79; W. C. Moak, 1879-87; E. Brum- mond, 1887-89; C. S. Terwilliger, 1889-93; A. W. Sehmalle, 1893-97; J. H. Diekirson, 1897-1901; H. Gartin, 1901-5; T. R. Riehm, 1905-7; John Suurballe, 1907-13; A. E. Baumgartner, 1913-17; J. S. Ross, 1917 -.
COUNTY SURVEYORS
The first county surveyor of this county was Charles R. Wright, who entered into the office July 1, 1858. He held the position until September, 1859, when he died. Bernard Bolsinger, one of the pio- neers of Hancock County, was the next surveyor, elected in October, 1869, and reelected in 1861. After his term of office he moved to Oregon, where he later died. James Crow took the office in January,
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