USA > Iowa > Johnson County > Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa, History > Part 33
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Therefore, on the ninth day of May, 1833, they set out for the free land of America. Their possessions were sold for $1,800, Prussian money, and they were required to leave a deposit of $500 to permit them to emigrate, so that in case of calamity on their return they would have some means of sup- port. Taking ship at Bremen in June, 1833, they sailed in an old style ship of the Atlantic, the Weser, with Captain Herman Grau. Seventy-two days later they landed at the city of Balti- more. Then by horse railroad they were conveyed to Fred- ericktown, and here the wagons took care of them to Somerset county, Pennsylvania. D. P. Guengerich and his brother Jacob secured employment at threshing grain with the flail for every tenth bushel as wages.
The church history of the Amish group began of course in Germany, where Jacob Swartzendruber and John Guengerich were ordained as ministers. The first communion meeting in the settlement in this country was held at the house of D. J. Guengerich in the spring of 1852. The services were held at all times in private houses as had been the custom of the fathers, until the districts became too large to be accommodated in any home there. This necessitated the dividing of the dis- tricts, which occurred for the first time in 1877. Upper Deer Creek district was in the eastern part of Iowa county, while the Lower Deer Creek district was in Washington township, this county. The other two were known as North Sharon and South Sharon. These four districts were so arranged as to include about forty families each.
The innovation of church buildings was opposed by some of the older members as contrary to the spirit of the fathers, but the increase in the membership and the inadequacy of the
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private house led to the proposal of the church house proper. It was either build houses or sub-divide the districts once more. It was finally agreed, after much deliberation, that the Deer Creek districts should build a house in each one. In 1890 a special meeting of the members of the Lower district was called to make plans for the new building which was to be capable of seating two hundred and fifty, and they were able to hold the first service in the new church on the tenth of August, 1890. Not all the districts at this time agreed to build houses, as the old habits were too strong to break, and one who has observed the customs so long cannot easily fall in with a new and strange order of things. It is probable that the surroundings of a settlement will modify in time the usual custom, but with a people who lead a simple life it is more than likely that they will retain the principles of the fathers of the church.
The Amish Mennonite congregation derives its name from Jacob Ammon, a minister and an elder in the Mennonite congregation, who aimed to reform some evils which had crept into the church after Menno Simons' time, and those who ad- hered to Ammon and took part in their formation were after- ward called Ammonites or Amisch.
The present prosperous portion of the country occupied by these happy people is sufficient evidence of their sincerity of purpose, as expressed in the time of the dispute with the neigh- borhood, and the jealousy exhibited in the case of the new wagon, for they have become established and have proved ex- emplary citizens in both civil and religious matters. They have no quarrels in the courts, they do not believe in such things, and no one need suffer for the physical need in their commun- ity. They came originally from across the sea to find a home of freedom and they have proved the truth of their expecta- tions.
Among the families not mentioned who thus prepared the way for the future are the Yoders, Millers, Hostetlers, origi- nally from Switzerland; Planks, Rebers, Kinsingers, Benders, and Werrys.822
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CHAPTER XXIII
Early Revenues and Real Estate
A T THE risk of repetition it is necessary to make some detailed account of the sources of revenue for the county during the time it was organizing. Few taxpayers of the present day have much trouble in meeting the demands of the local or state government in the revenue demanded of each. The question is as old as government itself, and is one of the. unsettled problems of the day.
After the relocation of the county seat there were three sources of income, namely: Licenses for the sale of goods, taxes on property, and the sale of county seat lots.
The first levy of taxes in Johnson county was made under the direction of Cedar county authorities, and it amounted to forty-six dollars and seventy-five cents. Whether it was ever paid into that county treasury or not is not recorded, but an attempt was made to collect it.828
Samuel C .Trowbridge made the first tax list on the county record, indicating the usual items. One hundred and twenty- cight persons paid, or rather were assessed, the greater num- ber being marked on the margin of the sheet as paid. A number removed before the amount assessed was collected. The highest valuation was $588, the property of "Wheten" Chase, his tax being $2.94. Philip Clark, John Parrott, and Charles Jones came next in valuation of property. John Shoup and Asby Packard were each assessed on five dollars valuation and paid a tax of two and one-half cents. Abner Wolcott, one of the first commissioners, held property valued at six dollars, and his tax was three cents.324
On the above basis it is not difficult to draw conclusions as to. the ability of the county authorities to construct roads, build bridges and county buildings in the beginning of the local his- tory. If one was engaged in retail trade, or industrial pur-
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suits that included sale of goods, he paid a license for the privilege. The first license issued for trade or a store in Iowa City went to Edward Foster, for the space of one year, at a fee of $20. This was issued in October, 1839. Whether these were issued on the basis of capital employed, or area covered, or on some arbitrary plan is not known, but rates varied. For instance: J. F. Rogers was allowed to "vend merchandise" for one year for $18, and on the same page Parmlee and Hess paid $35 to "retail groceries," and to "vend merchandise" $20. The customary tavern license was first fixed at $25; to peddle goods the sums differed, but Sherman W. Shaft was allowed to peddle goods in Johnson county for a period of not less than six months nor more than one year at the rate of twenty dollars per annum. That is, he must peddle or pay for six months, and he might for one year. Walter Butler was engaged in a variety of occupations, one of which was as auc- tioneer. For this privilege he added $5 in license fee to the county revenue. In July, 1842, the license for retailing grocer- ies was materially increased, in two cases at least reaching the sum of $90. An item of fines added to the revenue, but is of small proportions, a few cases only being specifically men- tioned.
The peddling of clocks must have been extremely profitable, since the fee for this privilege, as demanded of Isaac Negus, was fixed at $30 for the year. Emanuel Silverman, whose nationality one recognizes at once, paid one dollar into the treasury before he could carry his pack on his back over the county for one week. This was in July, 1843, before popula- tion seemed sufficient to attract peddlers.
Levying a tax is an easy matter, while the collection of the tax is difficult. Samuel C. Trowbridge, the collector for 1840, asked for time to complete his collections, and we find such extensions becoming very common as we follow this phase of history, while taxes, back taxes, are turned in at unexpected periods in the financial affairs of the county.
The first financial statement made for the county including an account of receipts and expenditures from January, 1840, to April, 1841, names the fees from grocery licenses and from peddlers, "amounting to 811 dollars; from taxes for 1840, 600 dollars; and from fines 147 dollars." The greatest expendi-
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ture was for criminal cases, amounting to $525, and the total sum paid out, or at least for which orders were drawn, amount- ed to $2,309, an excess over income of about $750. For many years the account was always against the county. The tax rate for 1841 was, on real and personal property, fifty cents per hundred of valuation; on each poll one dollar county tax; also, two and one-half cents on each one hundred dollars for terri- torial tax. To make this interesting from 1840 to date it might be well to say, "watch it grow." For 1842 the roll was the same, but five cents per hundred was added for road pur- poses.325 For 1843 the rate was four and one-half mills, fifty cents poll, and one-half mill territorial tax. In 1844 five mills was the county rate, while the territorial remained the same, and ten cents per hundred was levied for road improvement. For 1845 the rates were the same, except for road purposes, which were increased five cents per hundred of valuation. The increase in the 1846 levy, made at the July session, is notice- able in the territorial tax and the first mention of school taxes of any kind. The rate was seven and one-half cents on the hundred for territory, forty-five cents for the county, ten cents for school purposes, fifty cents for poll, and seven and one- half cents for road purposes.
The levy for state purposes made in July, 1847, the first for the new state, was two mills on the dollar, for the county four mills, for school purposes one; road one-half mill and the poll tax as before, fifty cents. No change occurred in 1848 except in the one item of school taxes. The rate was reduced to three-fourths of one mill. For 1849 the state rate was twenty-five cents per hundred of valuation, the county forty cents, the school five cents, which was another reduction, and the road levy five cents, while the poll remained at fifty cents.
In 1850 careful consideration was given to the assessment rolls before making the levy, and the result seems apparent from the rate, since for state purposes twenty-five cents per hundred of valuation was levied, thirty-five cents for county, ten cents for school, five for road purposes, and the regula- tion poll of fifty cents was continued.326
To make a comparison for the ten years - 1841 to 1851 - the rate for the last year is here given. The state tax was in- creased to three mills, the county tax remained the same,
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three and one-half mills. The school levy returned to one-half mill, and a new feature was introduced by the levy of two mills for roads and bridges, with two dollars road poll tax.327 It would be interesting to compare this tax with a ten year period of the county's history fifty years later to see which, as com- pared to ability to pay, was the most burdensome. Collections on these levies were reported to the commissioners, two or three years after they were due, and the treasurer or collector turned them in as he secured them, so that final settlement seemed never to be reached. That all might be properly as- sessed the recorder was required to furnish a list of land owners to the assessor in accordance with an act of the terri- torial legislature approved January 16, 1841.828
A financial statement published in the city papers in 1842 gives the condition of affairs from April, 1841, until May, 1842. From this list it is learned that the receipts from mer- chants and peddlers amounted to about $340; from grocers, and this usually meant the retailing of liquor, $611; for ferry and auction licenses, $30; and from the collector $1,193, or a total of approximately $2,500.
Again the largest item of expenditure was for criminal purposes, amounting, counting the prosecuting attorney's fees, to over $700 during the period. The expenditures and out- standing orders amounted to over $3,500, leaving a balance against the county of $1,000.
In July, 1848, Thomas Snyder, who had been the treasurer, and who had endeavored for several years to collect taxes with which he was charged, was ordered to make a final report. These charges were for taxes in 1845-46, and it was not until January, 1849, that a settlement was secured, and only then on crediting his work in improvements for the county as part payment of the balance held against him. His final payment, however, was not made until in April, 1850. The difficulty of making a financial accounting in those times is illustrated in his case.829
The delinquent taxes reported at a special meeting of the commissioners in August, 1849, were given in totals by years : Taxes and interest due for 1846, $128; for 1847, $560; making a total of $688 for these two years, and yet there was no action to collect or ascertain the amount due until 1849. Now, how-
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ever, the collector was notified to make collection of all of these with the least possible delay, and to proceed according to law, which resulted in the report of Hiram Watts, then treasurer, stating that more than two hundred dollars had been collected by the time of meeting following in October. One-fourth of this amount was for taxes of 1846, and half for 1847, from which statement one may judge that people were not unwilling to pay when approached in the proper way.
The statement of the commissioners for 1849 showed a bal- ance on the right side of the ledger, provided always, that all their estimates were collectible. In 1850, at the April session, Geo. Fesler was appointed an agent of the board for com- puting the interest on and the amount of delinquent taxes for the years 1846-1849 inclusive, to make a complete register of the same, and report to the board. The clerk was to assist him in all possible ways in order to make the work complete and satisfactory. Fesler was one of the commissioners, and probably knew what was necessary for intelligent action.330
In 1852 a direct order came from the state authority re- garding the tax levy for state purposes, which the census board sent through the State Auditor in the following letter: "It is ordered by the Census Board, that a tax of one and a half mills on the dollar be levied by the several county judges on the total valuation of the property of their respective counties for state purposes the current year.
"Signed, WM. PATTEE, Auditor of State."
From the beginning up to this period the entire county had been assessed by one official, or with the assistance of depu- ties. Then the law of 1852 was passed changing the system. The final record, before this occurred, is made in an allow- ance to G. E. De Forest of $10 for services as assessor "before the change in the law for 1853." 331
There were thirteen civil townships in 1854 when the first valuation of property in detail was placed on the records of the county. The table indicates the polls in each of the town- ships, the number of acres assessed; the value of this land; all the stock, horses, mules, cattle, sheep, and swine, with their estimated value, making some of the items decidedly interest- ing and suggestive. The total number of polls in the thir- teen townships was 1,448; the total number of acres entered
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and assessed, 347,952, and valued at something more than $1,600,000. All the merchandise was found in Iowa City, Big Grove and Union townships. There were about 2,500 horses in the county and 47 mules ; 7,500 cattle in round numbers, and they were valued at $120,000; 14,000 swine, valued at $26,000; the total "moneys and credits" of the county is put at $127,000, besides $3,600 in stocks. The item of household furniture varies, the total value in Union township was $5; in Pleasant Valley, $10; in Liberty the value came up to $40; Cedar raised the sum to $64, and Iowa City had much more than all the rest of the county combined. Finally, the total valuation of all property was fixed at $2,600,000.832
The early land sales were full of exciting events and they have been well described in a form that has been preserved, since the days of the stirring events themselves, so that what is here given is from the pen of a participant in those times:
The great mass of people have little idea of the western land sale. Its approach was awaited by the settler with great anxiety, and every dollar was carefully hoarded up for the ap- proaching trial, since this was the time when he hoped to gain the title to his land against all those who might oppose him in its peaceful possession. Those were dull times in the town for the dollars were put away for the coming sale.
The place of sale presented the most exciting aspect; great crowds of settlers came in from the section of the district that was to be sold in order to be on the ground when the bid was made by the one appointed to do this work. One man was appointed from the township; he held in his hand a list of all the lands with the respective claimants' names attached and as the parcel was called in the sale, he bid it off in the name of the one who waited for the opportunity to clear his title. Con- siderable time was necessary to complete these sales, and it is said by those who know that they sometimes continued for three weeks. But what was that to the man who was to become the lord of the soil in a short time, provided he had been able to save the necessary amount to make the required payment. It was sad enough when some "claim jumper" was able to secure the right of the rightful settler and many of these fellows were roughly treated by the sympathizing neighbors of the victim. It was here that the money-lender did some
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good, even though his rate of interest was at times enormous. He may have saved the day for the man who had his hopes fixed upon a choice piece of the good land, that is now so far beyond the reach of the young man, who would till the soil by preference.
It was for the protection of the claimant that the "Asso- ciations" of these counties were made that something like order could be maintained in the growing settlement, and that each man should have his rights and no more. Rules and regula- tions were adopted that determined the procedure in all cases and if doubts should arise there were boards or committees that could find the equity of the case in proper form without much expense and woe be unto the man who disobeyed the dictates of the body that set the rules for their observance. The important officer in this organization was the clerk or recorder who must keep a correct record of all entries and transactions of land made by its members. When one refused to comply with the regulations of the Association he was dropped from the membership, and was, of course, no more a subject to call upon it for protection.
The Johnson County Claim Association has been called "one of the most perfect, not only in the state but also in the West." It was in control of the land affairs of the county from the time of its organization in March, 1839, until the land came into the market under the regulation of the United States govern- ment and the records were legally established in the county. It must be understood that there was no "law" covering any such organization; it was entirely voluntary in its inception and yet it was loyally supported by the land claimants of the county, as shown by the list of its members. The names of territorial officials, members of the executive and judicial branches of the gvernment, were members of the association as has been suggested elsewhere in the visit of Governor Lucas for the first time to Iowa City.
Only two cases of claim jumping are related in connection with this association, or with which they had to deal; and in the first instance the offender is said to have been "soundly whipped" and led thus to understand through his physical senses that the rules were made to be obeyed. In the other case related by a member of the organization, more strategy
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was necessary, if one may call it such. In the month of No- vember, 1839, a man named Crawford took possession of a claim lying about one mile north of Iowa City, that belonged to William Sturgis, and refused to give it up. The marshal of the Claim Association notified all the members to meet at Iowa City on November 7, at ten o'clock a. m. sharp, at the tavern of Asaph Allen. When the time came, about sixty stal- wart fellows were on hand, who marched in a body to where Crawford had built his cabin. They found a good substantial log house, with a clapboard roof, and Crawford on the inside finishing it off ready for occupancy. The company surround- ed the house and then called for a parley. The trespasser was asked if he was willing to abandon his claim, whereupon he refused to leave and warned those present not to molest him at their peril. At this juncture Mr. Sturgis came forward and offered to pay him for what labor he had done if he would relinquish the claim without further trouble, which offer was also refused. At this point, without a moment's delay the men ascended the corners of the house and in fifteen minutes there was not a vestige of it left standing. Mr. Crawford was left in amazement in the center of the vacant space once occupied by his cabin. Some of the parties suggested that the Iowa river was not far distant, but milder counsels prevailed and the company dispersed.
This did not end the difficulty for shortly afterward the members were summoned to meet again, Crawford having rebuilt the house and occupied it with his family. The mem- bers arranged with Walter Butler to take care of the family and sent a team to bring them to town. A committee appointed by the Association to do this met Mr. Crawford, and found him in a more humble state of mind than before, as he was now willing to settle the matter with the owner of the claim. Mr. Sturgis and he held a private conference and the matter was soon settled to the entire satisfaction of the rightful owner. The company dispersed, going quietly to their homes and were never afterward called out for any such purpose. Crawford, it is said, afterwards endeavored to bring some of the parties to trial for punishment, but as it was impossible to find a judge, lawyer, or juror, who was not a member of the Association or a claim holder, he found little success in his undertaking.333
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Two government land sales interested the Claim Associa- tion of Johnson county; one at Dubuque, where the land office for the district was located in 1840, and one at Marion where the sale occurred in 1843. Some disturbance was caused on the announcement of the first sale on account of the unprepared condition of the claimants to meet the obligations necessary at the time of the sale. The lands offered at Dubuque included the township of seventy-nine in ranges five and six west, which now are known as East and West Lucas, and Scott townships. Because of the unexpected announcement, the Association was assembled and a petition was sent to Washington asking for a postponement of the sale from the date set in May to some later time. The reply came about May first saying that the sale was postponed until August 3, 1840. In preparation for this event, according to the minutes of the Association, S. H. McCrory was chosen bidder for the lands mentioned, and Cyrus Sanders was chosen assistant bidder. Mr. Sanders has given an ac- count of this sale nearly as follows: "On the thirtieth day of July a number of settlers started to the land sales that were to take place at Dubuque on the third day of August. A majority were provided with money to buy their claims, though some of them were expecting to meet capitalists at the sale of whom they could borrow the money. Some forty or fifty settlers com- posed our company and we started to Dubuque in two-horse wagons, supplied with provisions and camp equipment. We traveled by easy stages and arrived at Dubuque on August 1, 1840. On Monday morning early, we had made all arrange- ments for the sale. The bidder and assistant bidder had fur- nished themselves with large plats of the two townships to be sold, with each claimant's name plainly written on the subdi- vision which he wished to purchase. When the time came for the sale to begin the crier stepped out on the platform and in- viting the bidder and assistant bidder to take places on the platform beside him, took hold of one side of the plat, and be- ginning at section one, called out each eighty-acre subdivision as fast as he could speak. When he came to a tract with a name written across it, he would strike his hammer down and give the name to the clerk. He thus continued until he had called all the sections, so that the two townships were offered in less than thirty minutes. During this time the claimants stood
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