USA > Iowa > History of western Iowa, its settlement and growth. A comprehensive compilation of progressive events concerning the counties, cities, towns, and villages-biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with an authentic history of the state of Iowa > Part 47
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The first birth was that of Ella, a daughter of these parties. The first death was that of Clay Crego, infant son of Y. B. Crego. A barn erected by C. Kirchner was the first frame building in the county.
Clay County was, previous to its organization, a part of Wood- bury County. In accordance with a petition of the majority of the legal voters of Clay County, presented to the Honorable Coun- ty Court of Woodbury County, Judge John L. Campbell presiding, an election was ordered to be held by the said county on the 12th day of October, 1858, and the voters of Clay County were author- ized to meet at the house of Ambrose S. Mead, for the purpose of perfecting an organization of Clay County, and voting for district, county and township officers, thus severing the ties between the independent county of Woodbury, and the independent county of Clay. James Bicknell, E. M. Wilcox, and Ambrose S. Mead were appointed to act as Judges of Election, and to make returns accord- ing to law: consequently, on the 28th of September, 1858, Am- brose S. Mead was qualified as one of the Judges of Election, with power to qualify the other Judges and Clerk of the same. There were eighteen ballots cast at this election. The first county officers were: F. M. Foreman, Treasurer and Recorder; E. M. Wilcox, Clerk; C. Kirchner, Sr., Coroner; J. Kindelspeyer, Dram- age Commissioner; Ambrose S. Mead, County Superintendent; C. C. Smeltzer, County Judge. Present County officers: H. B. Wood, Auditor; H. Chamberlain, Clerk; P. E. Randall, Treasurer; S. W. Dubois, Recorder; P. W. Madden, Sheriff; M. M. Gilchrist, Superintendent of Schools; E. N. Jencks, County Surveyor; T. P. Bender, J. Goodwin, Reuben Somers, J. Dodge and H. Watts, being the Board of Supervisors, with T. P. Bender, Chairman. The population of the County, according the census of 1880, was 4,248; the present population may be safely estimated at 6,000.
At the time of the organization nearly all the settlers were in the southwest corner of the county, and Peterson was made the county seat. There was at this place a considerable body of tim- ber and a good water power on the Little Sioux, on which John A. Kirchner erected a grist and saw mill.
SPENCER.
This is the county seat of Clay County. Spencer was platted by J. B. Edmunds, J. H. Hale and J. Calkins, in 1871. The second house in Spencer was erected by W. R. Lamberton, the first house being a log house which was built by J. W. Mastin upon the site where Spencer now stands, in 1866. B. P. Hough built a house in 1866; J. W. Mastin opened a stock of goods in his log house in 1869, this being the first store in Spencer. Peso & Bergin, and Tuttle & Smith, each opened a store in 1870. Horace Smith and Field Bros. also opened stores in 1871.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Spencer was incorporated in the spring of 1880. Its first offi- cers were: W. C. Gilbraith, Mayor; Charles Penfield, Recorder; J. Rood, C. M. Squire, T. P. Bender, M. P. W. Albee, M. E. Grffin, E. E. Snow, City Council. Present officers: J. B. Edmunds, Mayor; J. E. Steele, Recorder; I. F. Constant, Assessor; E. A. Maker, Marshal; C. McKay, Treasurer; J. Rood, W. L. Bender, J. C. McCoy, M. S. Green, A. C. Perine, J. P. Evans, City Council.
The Spencer Weekly Reporter was first started in 1877, by J. F. Ford, who was followed by A. T. McCargar; the Barnard Bros. purchased it of McCargar Jannary 1st, 1882. Its politics is Re- publican; it is a nine-column folio, and has a circulation of 1,250 copies, and is all printed at their office in Spencer. They have a finely fitted office, situated on Main street. have a steam power press, etc.
The Clay County News, C. M. Whitman, editor and proprietor, was established at Peterson in 1870, but was removed to Spencer in 1871, under the management of J. F. Ford, now of the Sheldon News. Ford sold to McCargar, who ran the paper some time, subsequently transferring it to C. M. Gilbreath, who, in turn, dis- posed of it to C. M. Whitman, who took possession in 1880, and has since continued in the management of the paper. It is a seven-column quarto, having been enlarged by Whitman since he took charge. It is the oldest paper in county.
The Owl, a monthly paper, conducted by J. B. Edmunds, is devoted to the land and immigration interests of Northwestern Iowa. It was first issued in 1879, is a five-column folio, and is gratitutiously circulated through many of the Eastern States.
CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES.
First Congregational Society-Organized March 14th, 1872, under the charge of W. L. Coleman. First officers: E. Perine, P. M. Moore, H. B. Coryell, Trustees; L. C. Bergin and P. M. Moore, Deacons; A. W. Miller, Treasurer: L. C. Bergin, Clerk. The church was organized with the following members: L. C. Bergin, E. Perine, H. B. Coryell, C. Van Eps, C. Snyder, A. W. Miller, I. Laughten, P. D. Graves, Helen Graves, P. M. Moore, Mary S. Moore. Present membership, fifty-six. Rev. J. M. Cumings is the present pastor. The church building was dedicated in Febru- ary, 1875; size, 26x36 feet; is supplied with a church bell, the first in the town, which was placed there by the church society under the pastorate of Rev. J. M. Cummings in 1869. The cost of the church was $2,754. A parsonage was built in 1880; size, 16x24 feet; cost,$435. There is a Sabbath School with ninety-three pupils; Dr. McAllister, Superintendent; Clark Skinner, Treasurer. The present officers of the church are: L. C. Bergin, P. M. Moore, Deacons; Dr, McAllister. P. M. Moore, A. W. Miller, Trustees.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Methodist Church .- Spencer Circuit was formed in September, 1871, with Rev. Charles B. Winter as the first pastor. The first Board of Trustees were: John Hood, President; M. M. Peeso, Secretary; J. H. Hale, Treasurer; A. M. Calkins, W. W. Scott, R. Hough, H. B. Wood. The church was built in 1872, and dedi- cated June 18th, 1873, by Rev. J. W. Clinton, with a debt of $1,- 714, which was paid off by subscription. The first pastor was Rev. C. B. Winters, who was followed by F. M. Cooley, he by W. H. Drake; then in order by J. W. Lothian, Seymour Snyder, and E. C. Warren. The present pastor is Rev. P. H. Eighmy. The mem- bership when first organized was 46, present membership, 115. The first church was destroyed by fire, and left the society in debt $600. It was rebuilt in 1880, during the pastorate of E. C. War- ren, at a cost of $2,000, and the society is now free from debt. A parsonage was built in 1881 at a cost of $700; size, 16x24 feet. The Sunday School has seventy-five pupils: P. H. Eighmy, Super- intendent; M. M. Peeso, Treasurer; Millie Hagrath, Secretary.
Baptist Church .- Organized January 7th. 1874, with David Skinner, Catherine Skinner, J. A. Bowman, W. H. Davis, S. Hayes, L. Chapin, J. J. Ayres and L. W. Miller, as members. First offi- cers: D. Skinner, Deacon; L. F. Miller. Clerk; J. A. Bowman, Treasurer; D. Skinner, J. A. Bowman and W. H. Davis, Trustees. Present officers: D. Skinner, Deacon and Treasurer; G. C. Farr, Clerk; D. Skinner, W. M. Davis and William Desbrow, Trustees. First pastor, T. H. Judson, who was followed by A. V. Bloodgood. This society has no building of their own, and at present are not supplied with any pastor. There is a Sabbath School with forty- five pupils; G. C. Farr, Superintendent. This society has purchased two lots, upon which they propose soon to erect a church and par- sonage.
Evening Shade Lodge No. 312, A. F. d. A. M-Instituted January 24th, 1872. Charter granted, June Sth, 1872. Charter members: S. Lacore, S. F. McDonald, A. Wright, J. W. Crist, S. B. Crist, E. J. Marvine, A. H. Wilber, William Harvey. A dispensation was granted by O. P. Waters, Grand Master. First officers, under dis- pensation: W. Harvey, W. M .: E. J. Marvine, S. W .; H. H. Wilber, J. W., who were also the first officers under the charter, with the addition of J. H. Hale, Treasurer; S. B. Crist, Secretary; J. W. Crist, S. D .; J. F. Ford, J. D .; J. H. Fend, Tyler. Present officers: W. C. Gilbreath, W. M .; M. P. W. Albee, S. W .; H. C. Brown, J. W .; J. F. Constant, Secretary: W. M. Davis, Treasurer; J. C. McCoy, S. D .; A. R. Claxtion, J. D .; S. B. Taylor, Tyler. Membership about thirty. Meetings are held every Monday even- ing in each month, on or before the full moon. The Lodge has no hall of its own, but is in a very flourishing condition.
Spencer Lodge No. 247, I. O. O. F .- Instituted October 17th, 1872. Charter members: H. Smith, A. B. Kline, J. F. Ford, A. G. Hardin, W. 1. Rood. First officers: A. S. Kline, N. G .; H.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Smith, V. G .; W. I. Rood, R. S. Present officers: A. F. Mas- terman, N. G .; P. E. Randall, V. G .; A. Hubbard, R. S .; H. Smith, Treasurer. Membership, fifty. Meetings are held Tuesday even- ing of each week in Mason's Hall. The Lodge is in a flourishing condition.
Spencer Temple of Honor No. 13 .- Organized December 5th, 1881, by Grand W. C. T. Smith. Charter members: P. E. Ran- dall, C. W. Whitman, M. Tuttle, P. Hodge, J. I. Garret, W. B. Davidson, Will Hodge, E. D. Sanders, M. C. Brainard, D. R. Hub- bard, D. C. Skinner, and others. First and present officers: C. M. Whitman, W. C. T .; D. R. Hubbard, W. V. T .; P. E. Ran- dall. F. R .; W. B. Davidson, Treasurer; M. C. Brainard, R. S .; P. Hodge, Usher; C. Skinner, Chaplain; membership, twenty; meet once each week (Monday evening), in the Court House. This is a temperance organization, and is doing effective work for the cause.
Spencer Lodge No. 201, A. O. U. W .- Instituted in August, 1879. First officers: A. T. McCarger, M. W .; W. C. Gilbreath, P. M. W .; C. P. Buckey, Rec .; I. F. Constant, Financier; W. L. Bender, Receiver; E. Pickering, O. S. W .; J. M. Haggarty, I. S. W .; J. P. Evans, Guide: M. P. W. Albee, Foreman; T. P. Bender, M. S. Green, M. E. Griffin, Trustees. Present officers: J. W. Andrew, M. W .; N. Tuttle, Receiver; M. E. Griffin, Recorder; I. F. Constant. Financier; P. E. Randall, Foreman; W. C. Gilbreath, O. W .; A. T. McCarger, I. W. Meetings are held once in two weeks.
Clay County Agricultural Board .- Organized in 1879. First officers: T. P. Bender, President; M. E. Griffin, Treasurer; W. C. Gilbreath, Secretary; Dr. C. McAllister, J. B. Edmunds, A. T. McCarger, James Godwin, Directors. Present officers: T. P. Bender, President; J. B. Edmunds, Treasurer; W. C. Gilbreath, Secretary; C. McAllister, A. T. McCarger, J. P. Evans, M. Hackett, R. Jackson, Directors. This society owns thirty acres of land, situated one-quarter of a mile northwest of town, and enclosed with a close board fence seven feet high. There is a nice amphi- theater, which seats 400 people; a floral hall 24x36 feet; also sheds, stalls, pens, etc .; a Judge's stand, etc., and a good one-half mile track. Fairs are held once each year. The society is nearly free from debt. The total cost of the grounds and improvements was $3,000.
The first school-house in the town was built in 1869; C. Carver was the first teacher. Spencer became an independent district in 1874. Previous to this it was a part of Spencer Township District. The first Board of Education was: H. B. Wood, Secretary; H. Smith, Treasurer; M. Hines, President. The first teachers of the independent district were: Geo. Mann, Principal; Augusta Smith Assistant. The present school building was erected in the fall of 1879, at a cost of $4,000; cost of furnishing, $800; size, 48x58 feet.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
The present Board is composed of the following gentlemen: T. P. Bender, President; A. W. Miller, J. C. McCoy, Ackley Hubbard. Present teachers: J. T. Lemar, Principal; Miss L. Parker, Miss E. Bean, Miss Cowan and Miss Olive Woodruff. The present en- rollment of pupils is about 300.
The Court House was built by the citizens of Spencer in 1871. the county being given the use of it for three years. The county afterwards bought it. Its dimensions are 20x40 feet; cost $1,000. There is a prospect of a new Court House being soon erected.
The C., M. & St. P. Railroad was built to Spencer in 1878. There is a narrow gauge in course of construction to meet the Wa- bash, St. Louis & Pacific, from Des Moines through Spencer, and thence north through Dickinson County. The grading for this road is at present completed through the county of Clay.
The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company have in course of con- struction a road from Spencer to Spirit Lake, most of the grading on which is completed. This road is expected to be completed through Clay County during the present year.
Spencer boasts of a creamery, which was established in 1878, by McPherson & Allen. They have a large building and steam power. This creamery is run on the cream-gathering plan, and uses cream from nearly every section of the county. It was operated in 1881 by Penfield, Allen & Co. The building is 20x50 feet in dimensions, two stories high, and cost about $3,000.
Spencer also has a plow factory, which does business on a small scale, but which it expects to largely increase in the near future.
The business establishments of Spencer may be thus classified: drugstores, two; harness, two; agricultural implements, three; billiard halls, three; hardware, three; shoe stores, two; saloons, two; bookstores, one; furniture, three; banks, three; general mer- chandise, ten; elevators, three; barber shops, two; merchant tailor, one; butter and egg packers, two: music dealers, one; livery, three; groceries, seven; lumber, four; hotels, three; restaurants, three; jewelry, one; meat markets, two; fruit store, one.
436
HISTORY OF IOWA.
CLAY COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES.
SPENCER.
John B. Annett, shoemaker, was born in England; spent most of his younger days in Mass .; then moved to Ill., and in 1869 set- tled on a homestead in Spencer township, Clay county, la. He opened a shoemaker's shop on his farm in 1870, and in company with G. C. Farr, started a general store. He returned to Mass. in 1871, and again came to Spencer in 1877, and was employed by S. S. Birkson, with whom he still continues.
H. C. Brown, contractor and builder, was born in Indiana in 1848. He moved with his parents to Keokuk, Ia., where he re- mained until 1870; then came to Spencer and engaged as above. The first building he occupied in Spencer was a sod building.
H. Chamberlain, county clerk, was born in Vt. in 1849; moved with his parents to Ill. when six years of age; thence to Ia. in 1871. He was elected to the above named office in 1876, and is now serving his third term. He married Mary Ellis in 1875. They have two children.
William Carleton came to Iowa from Me. in 1851, and located in Marion county. . He moved to Clay county in 1871; located at Spencer, and opened the first grocery store in the town. There were only four business houses in the town, and he, with his wife, lived for some time in a tent. He has been engaged in the gro- cery business since coming to the place until the first of the pres- ent year, 1882. Mr. Carleton spent several years as a sailor, and has visited various countries.
F. G. Daniels, proprietor of the Gregory House, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., in 1838; moved to Chautauqua county in 1851. He was engaged as traveling salesman and collecting agent for a New York house for some years, and in 1862 engaged in business at Oil Creek, Pa. In 1871 he came to Iowa; was engaged in the patent right business for several years, and located at Spen- cer, in 1881. He married Mary E. Bennett, in 1871, and has one son.
J. B. Edmunds, banker and real estate dealer, was born in Mich. in 1845, removed with parents in 1850 to O .; thence to Minn. in 1851. He came to Spencer in 1870, and engaged in his present business. He was one of the original proprietors of the town. When he came here there was only one log house where the town now stands, and he has probably done more to build up the place than any other man. Mr. Edmunds published The Owl, a real estate paper devoted to the land interests of Clay county.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Thomas Eagan, proprietor of the City Hotel, was born in Ill. in 1854; removed with his parents during the same year to Wis., where he remained until 1881, when he came to Spencer, and en- gaged in his present business. He was married in 1874 to Cather- ine Reardon, and has four children.
Henry Green, railroad contractor, came to Iowa from N. Y. in 1852, and located in Allamakee county; thence to Clay county in 1871, and settled on a homestead. He moved to Spencer in 1880, and purchased the Spencer House, which he ran until Dee., 1881, then rented the hotel, and engaged in business as above.
S. H. Geddes, of the firm of Geddes & Goble, contractors and builders, came to Spencer from Bremer county, Ia., in 1878, and engaged in business as above. He conducted business alone until 1881, at which time J. J. Goble came to Spencer from Palo Alto . county, and became a partner in the business.
Ackley Hubbard, attorney at law, came to Spencer, Ia., from N. Y. in 1869. He settled on a homestead and engaged in farming. In 1872, he was elected clerk, which office he held two terms. He was admitted to the bar in 1876, and has been engaged in the practice of the law ever since. He is also a member of the firm of Woodruff & Hubbard, furniture dealers. He has added to the city by putting into the market forty acres on the west side, which are now covered with some of the finest residences in the place.
T. B. Horton and S. T. Cruver, of the firm of Horton & Cruver, dealers in general merchandise, established business in Nov., 1880. They came to Spencer from Lake county, Ill., where they had been engaged in the same business. The business averages about $40,000 per annum.
E. E. Harris, painter, came to Spencer in 1874, from Ill. and en- gaged in the hotel business at the Metropolitan, now called Com- mercial. He afterwards opened the Central house now called the Gregory, after three years he rented the hotel and began working at his trade, that of painter. He worked at painting one year in the Black Hills. He is also agent for the Cedar Rapids Ins. Co.
D. R. Hubbard, special agent for the Cedar Rapids insurance company, was born in Floyd county, Ia., in 1858; moved with his parents to Clay county in 1869, when he settled on a homestead. He engaged in teaching school until 1878, when he engaged in his present business at Spencer. He married Rosa H. Feed in 1880.
W. C. Hubbard, agent for the Kimball organ, was born in Floyd county, Ia., in 1861; moved with parents to Clay county and set- tled on a homestead. He came to Spencer in 1880, and engaged in his present business with Arthur Hubbard. He now continues business alone.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
W. S. Lloyd, proprietor of the eating house near the depot; came to Spencer in 1878, from Cedar Falls, Ia., and engaged in his pres- ent business. He furnishes warm meals at all hours, also rooms for travelers.
P. W. Madden, sheriff, was born in Pa. in 1845; moved with pa- rents to Mahaska county, Ia., in 1852. He came to Clay county in 1871, and settled on a homestead in Lincoln township. He was elected to his office as above in the autumn of 1881.
F. A. Maker, dental surgeon, was born in Cincinnati, O., in 1842; moved to Ind. in 1860; there learned dentistry, and in 1865 moved to Grant county, Wis. In 1878, he came to Spencer, and opened the first dental office in the city. Dr. Maker is at present marshal of Spencer.
J. D. Powers. hardware dealer, came to Spencer in 1878 from Butler county, Ia., and engaged in his present business. He car- ries a stock worth from ten to twelve thousand dollars, and his sales average about $25,000 per annum. This is one of the finest hardware stores in Western Iowa.
P. E. Randall, county treasurer, was born in Lockport, N. Y., in 1843; moved with parents to Canada, where he remained five years, then moved to Wis. He came to Clay county in 1870, engaged in farming: after two years, came to Spencer and engaged as sales- man. He was elected to his office as above in 1879, and re-elected in 1881. He was postmaster six years.
H. Smith, dealer in general merchandise, came to Spencer from Wis. in 1871, and engaged in his present business. There were only about fifty persons in the town when he came, and he was the third man to put in a stock of general merchandise. He started in the same building which he now occupies, which at that time was 30x20 feet, but which by reason of additions, is now eighty- two feet in length. He carries a stock worth from ten to twelve thousand dollars.
The Spencer Reporter was established in 1877 by J. F. Ford, and purchased by A. T. McCarger, in 1881, who sold it to the Bar- nard Bros. in Dec., 1881. It is a republican paper, all printed at home. They have the only steam-power press in the northwest, outside of Sioux City. They are prepared to do job work in all styles.
G. Thorine, business manager for the Eureka Furniture Com- pany, established the business in 1878, as the Spencer Furniture Co. 1881, he sold to J. C. Lewis, who changed the name as above. Mr. Thorine was retained as manager.
H. H. Wade, contractor and builder, came to Clay county in 1869, and located on a homestead in Summit township, where he lived three years; then went to O. He returned to Clay county in
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
1880, and purchased a farm of the railroad company where he has since lived; engaged in business in Spencer as above. He has built some of the finest buildings in the city. He was married in 1876, and has two children.
C. M. Whitman, proprietor of the Clay County News, was born in Racine county, Wis., in 1852, learned his trade at Burlington, Wis .; came to Spencer, Ia., in 1880, and engaged in his present business. The News was the first paper in the county, having been established at Peterson in 1870 by J. F. Ford, who moved it to Spencer in 1871. It was purchased by Mr. McCarger, who sold it to W. C. Gilbreath, and was then purchased by its present owner. This paper is republican, and an advocate of temperance. Mr. Whitman was married in 1875; his wife died since coming to Iowa.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
BUENA VISTA COUNTY.
Buena Vista County is the third from the west and the third from the north line of the State. It is twenty-four miles square, containing 368,640 acres. The Little Sioux River meanders through the northern portion of the county, watering three town- ships, and furnishing some valuable bodies of timber. It receives a tributary from the south, which waters two or three additional townships. Several other small streams pass through different parts, affording good water for stock, and surface drainage. In the southern part of the county is situated Storm Lake, a beau- tiful body of clear water, with steep banks, with fine undulating prairie farming lands stretching away in all directions, except on the north side, where the thriving town bearing the name of the lake is now located. There are other smaller lakes in the county. - The surface of the county is generally rolling. with a soil as fer- tile as could be desired. It is adapted to all the cereals and root crops. In this part of the State generally, the supply of tim- ber is limited. There are no stone quarries developed, but granite and limestone boulders are found on the prairies, along the streams, and about the borders of the lakes. Good brick are manufactured from clays found in the county, and from the "bluff deposit" which is characteristic of this part of the state. Many kinds of fish are found in the lakes and streams.
The government surveys were made in this county in 1855. The first permanent settlement was made in May, 1856, by Abner Bell, from New Jersey, at that time a bachelor, his brother-in-law, William R. Weaver and family, and John W. Tucker. They set- tled in the north part of the county at Sioux Rapids. Among the early settlers were Arthur T. Reeves, Moses Van Kirk, James H. Gleason, Lewis, Lindsey, and Metcalf. In March, 1857, occurred what is known in the annals of Iowa as Ink-pah-du-tah Raid, which culminated in the bloody massacre at Spirit Lake. Before reaching the lake the Indians passed up the Little Sioux River, driving away the stock and destroying the property of the settlers. The little colony at Sioux Rapids did not escape. The men were captured and guarded, and some of the women led away to the In- dian camp, but the Indians committed no murders here. A few days after, the news of the terrible butchery at Spirit Lake came down the river, and Mr. Bell with a companion made his way across the prairie through the deep snow to Fort Dodge, to notify the people there of the massacre. This affair had the effect to check the settlement of this part of the state for several years.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
Late in 1858, or early in 1859, a county organization was effected, the following being the county officers: Arthur T. Reeves, County Judge; William R. Weaver, Treasurer and Recorder; John W. Tucker, Clerk; and Abner Bell, Sheriff.
In 1860 the county seat was first located, by a commission ap- pointel by Judge Hubbard, composed of D. C. Early, John Kin- dlespeyer and Sartel, on a tract known as the "Fuller Claim." At that time the place was occupied by William S. Lee, who executed to the county a bond for a deed to the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 18, township 93, range 36. The tract was long known as "Prairieville, the County Seat of Buena Vista County," but no county buildings were ever erected upon it. Up to 1866 there were but few settlers in the county, and its affairs seem to have been badly managed. The early records of the county are very imperfect, and many of them are missing from the county. Up to this time the officials entered into large con- tracts for bridges and other improvements which were never made, although county warrants were issued in payment amounting to many thousands of dollars.
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