USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa, History > Part 11
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 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
"We see by the proceedings of the legislature that it is very probable, if not certain, that the next legislature will con- vene at Iowa City. We think that the seat of government should be moved to its permanent location as soon as practi- cable; this is due to the citizens of Johnson county at large, and more especially to those who reside in Iowa City.
"Many of them have expended large sums of money in securing property there, and in building, for which they have as yet received no adequate return. They were induced to go there, many of them, under the conviction that the seat of gov- ernment would be speedily transferred from Burlington to that place. As soon as this anticipated removal takes place, Iowa City will attract more attention than it has hitherto done, and its population and wealth will doubtless increase very fast."128
One week later a report was made from Iowa City that a committee from the territorial legislature, then in session at Burlington, were visiting Iowa City under the authority of a joint resolution of the House and Council, for the purpose of examining all matters "touching the interests of the Territory in the new seat of government," and which up to this time had been under the direction of the acting commissioner, Chauncey Swan. The report of the committee was awaited with some satisfaction, since it was expected to be of a very favorable character.
In order to show their appreciation of the committee and make their stay as pleasant as it should be under the circum-
Digitized by Google
128
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
stances, a committee from the city was appointed to arrange a public dinner. The letter addressed to the committee from the legislative body was presented with the following cordial invi- tation :
"Gentlemen:
"We, the undersigned, a committee on behalf of the citizens of Iowa City, would respectfully request you to accept a public dinner, to be given by the citizens of Iowa City, during your stay, at such time as to you may be most convenient.
"With much respect, we are, Gentlemen,
"Yours, etc, "HORACE SMITH, "WM. C. REAGAN, "F. H. LEE, "L. W. HASTINGS.
"To
"Messrs. Springer, Hebard, and Langworthy."
The committee then in session, making a report for the ter- ritorial legislature, and conducting the business of the terri- tory, were obliged to decline the invitation and tender of a dinner at this time. They sent a formal acknowledgment, and gave as their reasons the pressing need of all their time in compiling this report.
The capitol building at this time was under construction, as mentioned in Swan's report, the masonry being something more than half completed. The expectation then was to com- plete the building in time for the following session of the territorial legislature, which would occur in December, 1841.
It was January 8, 1841, that the law was passed fixing the next session of the legislature at Iowa City, provided the buildings for its accommodation were ready, or so nearly ready for occupancy that this could be done, or provided the citizens would furnish suitable quarters free of charge. Notice was to be given by the proclamation of the governor. It was certain that the citizens of Iowa City had no doubt about the building being ready as required in the act.129
The result of these plans, and the preliminary acts may be best expressed by the current news of the day, which gives a graphic account of the gathering of the officials the following year:
Digitized by by Google
129
EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL
"Notwithstanding the extreme inclemency of the weather for two or three days immediately preceding Monday last, every member of the Council, save one, Mr. Hall, of Van Buren, and all except three of the House, Messrs. Hebard, Weld, and Den- son, were here in readiness to take their seats the first day of the session. His excellency, Governor Chambers, and Mr. Secre- tary Stull were also in town, having arrived from Burlington on the Saturday previous.
"The weather during Friday, on which day most of the members started from their homes, was excessively disagree- able, a cold sleet having fallen during the whole day accom- panied by high winds. During the night the rain ceased, but the cold increased, and with it the wind to a degree of fierce- ness sufficient almost to blow the hair off one's head.
"It did make some sad havoc with the hats and cloaks of those who breasted the pitiless peltings of the storm, as we happened to know from woful experience; our companion on the ride from Bloomington having been kept pretty busily en- gaged in exercising his trotters in pursuit of the fugitive articles, while upon us devolved, every now and then, the duty, while shivering in the wind, of watching our faithful steed. This occurring upon one of our large prairies was a picture upon which a painter might have exercised his talents to good effect. On Sunday the weather, though somewhat more calm, was still pretty severe, and we cheerfully bear testimony to the credit due our legislators and other public functionaries for their perseverance in reaching here under such adverse circumstances.
"Once here, however, they were in a haven of safety and comfort, and some of them, no doubt, found things very differ- ently situated from what they had anticipated. Taught to suppose they were coming to a place where no conveniences would attend them, and where they should have, perhaps, to spend the winter in a condition bordering on savage life, a widely and totally different state of things presents itself. They find themselves in a most thriving town of some seven or eight hundred inhabitants, built upon a site unsurpassed for beauty by any that we have ever beheld anywhere in the in- terior. This we declare in all sincerity, and in this every indi- vidual whose mind is unprejudiced on the subject must agree.
Digitized by by Google
130
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
"They find halls prepared for their assemblage, with every convenience and comfort they could desire, and fitted up in a style of neatness and taste highly creditable to those by whom they were arranged. The hands of the ladies of this city, by the by, are plainly perceptible in this arrangement and many thanks are due them for it. Much credit is due to our public spirited citizen, Mr. Walter Butler, for his exertions in getting the building in readiness for the reception of the legislature. "But there are other things found here which they did not expect to find. They find accommodations for boarding and lodging much more comfortable than they expected. We can speak, at any rate, for a mess of a dozen or so, with whom we have the good fortune to be most agreeably ensconced. If there be any better living, or any pleasanter quarters in the terri- 'tory than those of our host on the hill, we have not yet seen them.
"They find, too, a highly intelligent and order-loving popu- lation, with places of public worship, either erected or in pro- cess of erection, in which to do homage to the Giver of All Good. And last, though not least, they find fair women spreading over all that indescribable charm which virtuous woman is capable of producing. With this state of things, who will gainsay that a residence in the new capital of our young Territory is not a matter to be desired ?" 130
T. S. Parvin records in his diary of December 4, 1841: "Started in stage for Iowa City in company with Gov. Lucas and Sam Halliday, representative from this county" [Musca- tine], and after various experiences mentioned, he says further: "Arrived at Iowa City at night and put up at But- ler's Hotel." December 5, he says: "Fare poor, house
crowded." The territorial legislature met for the first time in the temporary state house in Iowa City on December 6, 1841. They organized on this date, and during the remainder of the session the local news of Johnson county becomes sec- ond rate matter in the papers of the time. The proceedings are the chief topics until the end of the session. The discus- sions pro and con, regarding the situation, are carried on through the local press, and among the questions the matter of appropriations forming a chief topic, which crowd out the items that would usually appear, and which would throw some
Digitized by Google
131
EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL
light on the occurrences in the vicinity other than political or territorial.
The Iowa City Standard and the Capital Reporter fought out the questions of national and territorial politics, leaving the local matters to the vacations of the legislature of the ter- ritory, when political news seemed less important.
The completion of the state house was a vital topic all the time until it was ready for occupancy. The opening of a new quarry by the new superintendent of public buildings, William B. Snyder, who had succeeded Chauncey Swan, was expected to hasten matters. This was located some ten miles by water above the city and immediately on the bank of the river, in what is now Penn township, sections five and eight. The rock was pronounced superior by those who knew, and from the eco- nomic view, as to time required to quarry the rock and cut it, there was promise of a great saving. Yet even this was made the subject of a political contest through the press of the day. In support of some conclusions made in the above, the follow- ing is in evidence: "We would here remark that it will not be long that our columns will be so much cumbered with laws as at present. As the congress [territorial legislature] has now adjourned, we shall soon be able to bring their publication to a close. " 181
Times in 1842 were pronounced "hard," and complaints were common, yet the country surrounding the new capital of the territory of Iowa boasted of substantial progress in many material directions. The surrounding towns in the territory could not keep pace with the capital city, and they even com- pared the growth with eastern and long-founded communities. The money question was troublesome, and it was said that "probably there is not in the whole country another com- munity, the size of ours, where there is such an entire de- ficiency of circulating medium as here, or where so much difficulty is experienced in making payments and collecting accounts."
In spite of the condition of affairs, it is noted that during the summer of 1842 not less than twenty brick and frame build- ings were put up, and in October of that year probably twice that many were in process of construction. Among these was the brick court house, the first and temporary one, the Mechan-
Digitized by Google
132
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
ics' Academy building, also of brick, three brick churches, Methodist Episcopal, Catholic, and Universalist, and these were to be completed immediately. Above all, the capitol building was the center of interest for the entire territory. It was still incomplete, and the money appropriated by Congress was used long before this, so its accounts were dependent on the sales of lots in the section belonging to the territory for capital purposes. The "Old Capitol," the stately reminder of these days when every inch of progress could be measured, came through the distress of the time and has been honored every hour since in furnishing useful shelter to agencies of the territory or state.
The houses for public accommodation, since the time of "Lean Back Hall," had been in great demand. During this particular summer of 1842 Chauncey Swan had enlarged the "National Hotel," 132 and had room now for a large number of travelers. Walter Butler had improved his hotel in similar fashion, and there was still further growth of quarters for the transient boarder in the "more quiet" Washington House. In addition to these there was a large and elegant brick struc- ture opposite the public square, erected by Mr. Parker, and it was soon to be opened to the public.
It was about this time that the suggestion was made for a mill, which seemed very much needed, and which, as we shall see, soon followed the suggestion, in the Iowa City Manufac- turing Company. This was encouraged as a means of profit, as well as a great advantage to the community.
Another improvement desired, which few today appreciate, was a carding machine. It was feared that until a machine of this type was at hand, few farmers would engage in the raising of sheep to any extent. This industry was quite necessary, that farmers might have at hand the means of producing their own clothing. Sheep raising was supposed to be well adapted to this county.
All the expressions of that day seem to prophesy a future big with possibilities, and could the writers and speakers of that time see the changes that have occurred since they uttered such statements, it would far exceed their greatest expecta- tions.
The rapid increase of travel between Iowa City and Bloom-
.
Digitized by by Google
133
EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL
ington [Muscatine] led to the suggestion of a better method of communication between the two points, or a railway, which probably is among the very first suggestions of such a means of transportation, so far as definite lines are concerned, in the Iowa territory. Before this time reference is made to a west- ern railroad, but so far as published records in the county are concerned no mention of connecting the county with the river appears. At the time this was proposed the possibility of a north and south line from Dubuque to St. Louis, to prevent the delays of water traffic, was also suggested.138
AN EARLY VIEW OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY
The giving of dinners to noted citizens was one of the custo- mary and inevitable things that happened when a visit oc- curred, either ordinary or extraordinary. This was illustrated in the previous invitation given to the committee from the territorial legislature and for the leaders in the capital loca- tion long before. It was usual to send a letter, signed by a long list of citizens of note, "requesting the pleasure, etc.," of the company of the specified noted individual at a dinner, that he might be thus honored.
Such an instance was that of the dinner to General James Wilson, who was invited to "participate" in a dinner at the "Globe Hotel" in 1843. The names signed to this invitation are of more than ordinary interest. They were more than lo-
Digitized by Google
134
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
cal, coming from the adjoining counties, probably from the districts as then formed for the election of members of the legis- lature, or for the judiciary of the territory: W. G. Wood- ward, later a member of the supreme court of the state; Jo. Newell; S. B. Grubbs, a pioneer physician of Rochester, in Cedar county; C. Mattoon; Francis Springer, a leader, politi- cally, for many years in the congressional district where he resided; Geo. H. Walworth, member of the legislature; H. J. Reid; John P. Cook, a lawyer, of Davenport, after 1850, and a member of Congress for a short time, a leader in his profession for many years; R. P. Lowe, of Muscatine, governor of Iowa, 1858-1860; S. A. Hudson, and D. A. Sales. Notwithstanding the polite form of invitation and the names put thereon to make it urgent, the gentleman was obliged to decline the offer and send his regrets, which were usually published immediately following the formal letter of invitation. One is led to the con- clusion that this was so common that the result was the same whether the eating was done or not, as convenience demanded. Perhaps the custom of "eating" at all social affairs has grown up from this early habit. Probably the past seventy years have not been a long enough period to establish any change in the tendency toward eating, in order to secure social harmony. But the historical value of the reference is in the suggestive- ness of the public efforts to make a stranger feel at home among the surroundings of the new country, and to pay due respect to the public man or event. The reply of the visitor contained the very strongest terms of appreciation and grate- ful feelings for the offered entertainment, stating his pleasure at being in the county and city for the first time, and expressed the hopes that the future would treat them all kindly. Among the flattering statements the last is typical. In speaking of the vicinity it was said that "the beauty of its scenery, the salu- brity of its climate, the fertility of its soil, the purity of its springs, the richness of its mines, are fully equalled by the open, frank, and hearty hospitality of its citizens."
The convention for the formation of a constitution for the future state of Iowa met in Iowa City on October 7, 1844. This body of delegates was called to order by Gen. Francis Gehon, and on his motion Gen. Ralph P. Lowe, of Muscatine county, was elected president pro tem, while James W. Woods
Digitized by Google
135
EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL
was made secretary pro tem. It was found on roll call that the members from twenty-three counties responded. The follow- ing day the permanent organization was made by electing Shepherd Leffler, of Des Moines county, as president, and Geo. S. Hampton, of Johnson, as secretary, and it is noted that Sec- retary Hampton was careful to furnish a list of the members of this first convention, showing their places of nativity, age, occupation, and county from which they came. While this is probably found in the archives of the state, the news proper of the time did well to preserve this also.184
During the first meeting of the general assembly after Iowa became a state, agitation began for the removal of the capital farther to the west. Arguments of every kind were produced against such a suggestion, among them some that today would be considered of little weight. It was freely granted "that when the population in the western part of the state demanded it and in justice it ought to go, no objections would be raised. Until then there was no excuse to stir up this question." The first convention to form a constitution fixed it at Iowa City for twenty years, and that was then the prevailing notion, but the Des Moines valley population was against such a continuation of location. Against the Des Moines valley argument was placed the cost of the new capitol, which had been used for such a short time. A new levy for a new building would be too much for the people to bear for some time.
At the same time Iowa City, in 1847, occupied a central posi- tion as to population and would continue to do so for some years to come, since population would increase in the older counties in proportion to the new. It was then suggested that . when the time came to remove the capital to the geographical center of the state some compromise could be made whereby the old building could be turned over to the State University, which was then planned, or to some incorporated college. Therefore it was urged that the University lands should be selected without delay, and steps taken to have the funds avail- able when they should be wanted. But the time had not yet come to fix upon the permanent location of the college or uni- versity. If, in the course of some ten or more years a hundred thousand or more dollars of such a fund should be accumulated, it would then be advisable to commence the foundation of a
Digitized by Google
136
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
state university, and in a like period later the state might be able to open a respectable institution. It was not anticipated any sooner, unless Iowa should greatly outstrip all her neigh- boring states.
Another query came before the public on the proposition of certain writers as to the propriety of putting all the returns from University lands into one institution. Should the west- ern part of the state be deprived of its portion? This should be considered before appropriating the whole to some institu- tion to be located at Fairfield or Mount Pleasant. It was further suggested that Congress might grant another township of land for the western part of the state. On that possibility there would be little difficulty in locating the eastern university. By an act of Congress admitting Iowa as a state certain lands were donated for "the completion of public buildings and for the erection of public buildings at the seat of government." This appeared to apply to the "public buildings" already built or building in Iowa City, but the legislature of 1847 did not so interpret it, and a bill came before that body in February of that year to locate these lands near the center of the state and to commence a city as the "permanent seat of government." This proposal did not meet with the approval of the citizens of the capital as then established at Iowa City. Reasons were not wanting for the opposition, and a brief summary would in- clude many quotations from the acts of Congress and the Iowa state legislature.
Iowa was conditionally admitted into the Union by act of Congress passed March 3, 1845, under the constitution formed at Iowa City in 1844. The first section of the ordinance to that constitution asked for five sections of land to complete the pub- lic buildings of the state "at the seat of government."
This ordinance was declared not to be obligatory on Con- gress, and in lieu of the proposition made in the ordinance two offers were made to the legislature of Iowa for its acceptance or rejection. One of these was "five sections for the purpose of completing the public buildings of the said state, or for the erection of public buildings at the seat of government as the legislature may determine and direct." Then the question was asked, "where was the seat of government in March, 1845?" This was passed in reference to the constitution of 1844, and
Digitized by Google
1
137
EARLY EVENTS IN THE NEW CAPITAL
the five sections were granted as specified in this constitution. The ninth section of article thirteen reads as follows:
"The first meeting of the legislature under this constitu- tion shall be on the first Monday in November, following its ratification by the people, at Iowa City, in Johnson county, which shall be the seat of government of the state of Iowa until the year 1865 and until removed by law."
Then it was that the writer turned to the question of the time that must elapse between the acceptance of this donation and its use. Would the legislature hold this as a trust fund until 1865, or employ it at once on the buildings to be erected at the "present seat of government?"
Since Iowa City was the seat of government when that con- stitution was proposed, and Congress revived this position in admitting the state under the constitution of 1846, and since the constitution of 1846 says, "that Iowa City shall be the seat of government until removed by law," then the seat of govern- ment must remain for twenty years at Iowa City, and the five sections must be for the then seat of government, and "not for any future and more permanent seat as some suppose." 185
The commissioners appointed to relocate the capital of the state in 1847, made an attempt to find a suitable site, but were undecided on the Des Moines valley where the capital was sup- posed to be located. They were "to plan an exploration of the headwaters of the Iowa with a view to finding a suitable site near the geographical center of the state." In this con- nection it was hoped they would conclude that the state house was already as near the center of population as could be found, and that was the chief consideration.
The state house was as yet incomplete, and Morgan Reno, the treasurer and agent, was then "pushing the work along," that the next session of the assembly, 1848, should find a more com- fortable place and be "better pleased" than when they were attempting to divert the "public lands" granted for complet- ing the capitol buildings here to the construction of a new one on the Raccoon Forks of the great Des Moines.
The commissioners were heard from later in the year as having decided upon a point somewhere between the Des Moines and Skunk rivers, on the ridge between the two, about 85 miles due west from Iowa City. This was rumor, and given
Digitized by by Google
138
HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY, IOWA
for what it was worth. Little interest was expressed, since there was not very much danger of removal at this time (1847) unless population increased very rapidly in the western part of the state.
Almost ten years later an item appeared in the local press giving an account of the building for the assembly being erected in "Fort Des Moines." The cost was to be $30,000, and was already subscribed in June, 1856. Owing to the difficulty in procuring material in that locality, there was little prospect that the following session of the assembly would be able to meet in Des Moines. That "Fort Des Moines" would eventu- ally be the capital was generally believed, "but it would seem the part of wisdom," the account runs, "to keep the capital where it is until permanent buildings could be erected, in view of the accessibility of Iowa City and the unquestioned fact of its being the center of the more populous part of the state." 136
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.