USA > Iowa > Appanoose County > Past and present of Appanoose County, Iowa : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 13
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Met at the Store of Spence Wadlington near the centre of the said County of Appanoose then and there convened and organized a board of County Commis- sioners for the said County.
In pursuance of an act of the Legislature Assembly approved January 13. 1846 for the organization of said County of Appanoose.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5. 1846.
The office of clerk of the board of county commissioners being vacant J. F. Stratton was appointed Clerk pro tem of said board. On motion the board adjourned until the 6th at 9 o'clock A. M.
TUESDAY 6 O'CLOCK .I. M.
J. F. Stratton filed the necessary bond and oath and took his seat.
Jonathan Scott assessor filed in his assessment roll received and examined.
Be it ordered by said board that a percentage of 5 mills on the dollar on all Taxable property be levied for County purposes on said assessment as a County Tax.
Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that a Poll tax be levied of Fifty cents per poll for county purposes.
Be it ordered that Three mills per cent be levied on said assessment for the support of Common Schools. Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that all the portion of the assessment returns by the assessor as related to property and Polls that come into the county after the first day of March, 1846, be rejected and stricken out.
Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that Dempsey Stanley, Sebastian Streeter and William Crow be appointed Viewers to View and cause to be Viewed and marked the route for a Road or Highway Commencing on the East line of the County of Appanoose at the greater section post on the East line of Section Thirteen in Township Sixty-nine North Range Sixteen West and to run from thence Westward on or near the quarter section line through Sections 13. 14, 15. 16. 17 & 18. Continuing on or as near the said line as the formation of the line will admit to the Chariton Creek at a riff near the center section Sixteen ( 10) in
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IHISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Township Sixty-nine north of Range 17 West and from thence on the most eligible route to the northeast corner of section Twenty-four (24) in Township Sixty-nine North Range 18 West, thence West on the Section line dividing Sec- tions 13 & 24 to the Northwest corner of said section 24. said Viewers to meet at the house of J. F. Stratton on the first Monday of November next and proceed to view and cause to be surveyed and returned to said board on the first day of January. A. D., 1847. term of said board. without expense to the county.
COUNTY SITE OF THE COUNTY SEAT SELECTED
Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that the seat of justice of the County of Appanoose this day located and designated by Andrew Leech and William S. Whitaker, Esq .. Commissioners, appointed by the Legislature Assembly for the Territory of lowa to locate such seat of justice shall be known by the name of the town of Chaldea.
THE COUNTY SEAT IS PLATTED
WEDNESDAY 7, 9 O'CLOCK A. M.
Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that J. F. Stratton, County Surveyor, proceed to survey, lay out and plat the town of Chaldea as soon as practicable and agreeable to a plan exhibited by J. F. Stratton and approved by said board of County Commissioners. Be it ordered that Andrew Leech be allowed the sum of twelve dollars for his services as Commissioner to locate the seat of justice of Appanoose county.
Be it ordered that William S. Whitaker be allowed the sum of sixteen dollars as Commissioner to locate the seat of justice of Appanoose county.
To be paid from the proceeds of town lots in the town of Chaldea.
Be it ordered that J. F. Stratton clerk of the district court be allowed the sum of thirty-nine dollars and eight cents for services rendered under the act of the organization of Appanoose county as per account 5.
Be it ordered that Jonathan Scott assessor be allowed the sum of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents for takeing the assessment of the county for the year A. D., 1840.
Be it ordered that Jonathan Scott assessor's charge for takeing the census of the county be rejected and set aside.
JUDGES OF THE AUGUST ELECTION, 1846
Be it ordered that Clerk of the B. C. C. issue orders to the following named persons who served as judges of the August election :
PRECINCT NO. I
John W. Clancy .$1.00
Henry Miller
. 1.00
Walter G. Perry, services and mileage, carrying returns 8 miles. 1.40
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
PRECINCT NO. 2
Nathan Bartlett, services and mileage, carrying returns 32
miles . $2.00
Jesse Buck 1.00
Dempsey Stanley
1,00
PRECINCT NO. 3
Thomas Watson $1.00
Joseph Jump 1.00
1.00
Isaac McAdams
PRECINCT NO. 4
Richard W. Davis $1.00
Joseph Westen . 1.00
CLERKS OF THE AUGUST ELECTION, 1846
Be it ordered that the Clerk of B. C. C. issue orders to the following named persons who served as clerks of the election of August, 1846:
PRECINCT NO. 1
George W. Perkins $1.00
Felix O'Neil 1.00
PRECINCT NO. 2
W. S. Townsend $1.00
Daniel P. Sparks 1.00
PRECINCT NO 3
John B. Graves .$1.00
Jesse Wood, services and mileage to carry returns 34 miles. . 2.70
PRECINCT NO. 4
James J. Jackson $1.00
John Overstreet, services and mileage to carry returns 18 miles 1.00
Attest :
J. F. STRATTON, Clerk.
REUBEN RIGGS. GEORGE W. PERKINS. J. B. PACKARD, County Commissioners.
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
FIRST TREASURER'S REPORT
Jesse Wood, collector and treasurer :
In account with the Board of Commissioners of the County of Appanoose, November ().
TAY LIST FOR THE YEAR 1846
Total calculation assessments, $24,055.
Territorial tax
$ 18.29
County tax, $121.13-Poll tax $54.50. 175.63
School tax
73.07
CONTRA $266.99
January, 1847.
By taxes abated by commissioners at their January term, 1847.
By abatement of Territorial tax. $ 1.68
By abatement of County tax. 11.63
By abatement of Poll tax 3.00
By abatement of School tax 6.78
July 5 by county orders paid in and canseled :
On County and Poll tax. $83.55
By county orders paid in on county school tax 28.90
OCTOBER 5, 1847
By county orders paid in and canseled :
On County and Poll tax. $ 5.00
By county orders paid in on county school tax 7.00
REUBEN RIGGS, Clerk.
JANUARY TERM. 1847
MONDAY, JANUARY 4TH.
George W. Perkins, J. B. Packard and Reuben Riggs met in session.
The proceedings of the October term being red by the clerk & court proceeded to business.
William S. Manson applied for abatement of assessment for the year 1846. Applicant duly sworn and examined.
Be it ordered by said board that an abatement of $248 be allowed from the total Valuation of his Assessment.
Daniel 1. Sparks applied for the abatement of his and William Sparks assess- ment for the year 1846, being duly sworn and examined deposeth and sayeth that the said Daniel P. Sparks and William Sparks or their property were not in the county on the first Monday of March, 1846.
Be it ordered that said assessment be abated and set aside.
Christian Zuck by his agent J. F. Stratton applied for an abatement of his
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
assessment for the year 1846 on the ground that the said Zuck or his property was not in the territory until after the first Monday of March, 1846.
Be it ordered that the total assessment of said Christian Zuck be abated and set aside.
Nathaniel Bartlett by his agent William S. Townsend applied for an abate- ment of his assessment. It was ordered that his assessment be abated $150.
Ilarvey Campbell also applied for an abatement of his assessment on the grounds that neither he nor his property were in the county on the first Monday of March, 1846. Total amount of his assessment was abated and set aside.
It was ordered and resolved by the board "that no bounty or premium shall be allowed or paid from the County for the killing or destroying of Wolves in said county.
On January 7th it was ordered by the board "That William S. Manson be appointed recorder of deeds for the said county of Appanoose."
Others from time to time applied for abatement of their assessments. Among them were David Shaffer, Jesse Wood, George W. Benner, Nelson AAlverson, Levin Dean and Nathaniel Moore, all in the year 1847.
ONE OF THE FIRST ROADS .
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1847, 8 O'CLOCK A. M. Court in Session.
Be it ordered that Viewers be appointed to view and cause to be surveyed, marked and returned a Road commencing at Chaldea and from thence on to nearest and best rout to the line between David Shaffer's and William Pewthers', thence to William S. Townsend's, thence northwesterly to the nearest and best rout to intersect the Indian Trace near the northern boundary of said county.
Be it ordered that Jonathan Scott, Isaac Riggs and James McCarroll be appointed Viewers and survey said road. Said Viewers and Surveyors are to meet at Chaldea on the 15th day of February, 1847, or within five days thereafter and proceed to the discharge of their appointment and make due returns of their doings on the first Monday of April, 1847. without expense to the county.
PROVISION FOR PAYING THE SCHOOL T.AN
Be it ordered by said board that the School Tax levied for the year 1840 may be paid in County Orders and that the clerk issue an Order direct to the treasurer of said county, directing him to receive county orders in payment of said school tax.
APPROPRIATION FOR BOOKS
Be it ordered by said board that ten dollars be appropriated from the first money coming into the treasury for the purchase of books and stationery for the use of the several county offices, subject to the order of the commissioners and that the clerk deliver a copy of this order to the treasurer without delay.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
GROCERS ARE LICENSED
Be it ordered by said board that each grocery license granted this year shall be taxed twenty-five dollars per year. At this same session of the board William (row and Sebastian Streeter, viewers, and J. F. Stratton, surveyor of the Appa- noose ridge road filed their report, and J. F. Stratton as clerk of the district court was allowed $1.56 for services rendered in swearing Andrew Leech and William Whitaker commissioners and filing certain papers therein named, dated October 8, 1846. As clerk of the board of county commissioners Mr. Stratton was allowed Eighteen Dollars and Sixteen Cents ($18.16) for his services at the October term. A bill of Thirteen Dollars and Ten Cents ( $13.10) submitted by J. F. Stratton as clerk of the commissioners' court for services rendered and notifying and making returns of the October election and for stationery furnished for the use of the county was allowed.
William S. Manson, Martin Jones, William B. Packard, John W. Clancy. Walter G. Perry, Henry Miller. Dempsey Stanley, Moses Morse. John Scott, E. A. Packard. John Pilkey, Anthony Williams, Ephraim Sears, Felix O'Neil, Henry Allen, William Smart. James J. Jackson and John F. Overstreet were allowed $1.00 each for services at the October election. But it was ordered by the board "that the judges and clerks who served at the October election in Precinct No. 3 shall not be allowed pay for their services on account of their failing to make legal returns."
For services rendered at this election Reuben Riggs and J. B. Packard were cach allowed $6 as commissioners of said county and George W. Perkins $5 for services as county commisioner. Jackson Perjue as "sherriff" was allowed $3 for attendance on the board of commissioners at the October term, 1846.
FEBRUARY I. A. D., 1847.
Court called by Sheriff Perjue, present Reuben Riggs, George W. Parker, J. D. Packard, commissioners, J. F. Stratton, clerk.
The proceedings of the January term red by the clerk. J. F. Stratton, the county surveyor, presented for examination and acceptance the map of the town of Chaldea, which was taken up, examined, accepted and ordered to be recorded.
LOTS IN THE COUNTY SEAT TO BE OFFERED AT PUBLIC SVE
On motion it was ordered the court appraise the lots in the town of Chaldea. which was done accordingly and the list of the appraisements made out and filed with the clerk.
It was also ordered by said court that George W. Perkins be appointed agent to sell lots in the town of Chaldea and that said Perkins give bonds in the penal sum of $1,000 for the faithful performance of his duty as such agent. The agent was authorized to offer at private sale one-fourth of the lots fronting on the public square "provided, however, that two adjacent corner lots shall not be offered by said agent and provided also that he shall not sell any lot or lots for a less price than that set on the same by the board of commissioners as stated on the bill of appraisements on file in the office of the clerk of the board of commissioners, and further the said agent is authorized to offer at private sale one-fourth of the number of the other lots in said town provided no lots shall be sold for a less price than that set on them by the bill of appraisement on file." The agent was also authorized to advertise and hold a publie sale of lots in said
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
town of Chaldea to be held on the first Tuesday in the month of April. 1847. At that time an additional one-fourth of the lots were to be offered for sale, subject to the same restriction as in the preceding section. The terms of sale were one-quarter down at the time of purchase and remainder in three equal installments-one in six months, one in twelve months and the other in eighteen months. Under instructions the agent was empowered to receive payment for any lot or lots by him sold, one-half of each installment in county orders and issued by said county provided "that the orders issued to Andrew Leach and William S. Whitaker. locating commissioners ; to J. F. Stratton, county surveyor, for as the same was given for services rendered as surveyor for said town of Chaldea ; to Benjamin Spooner for services rendered as assistant in surveying and stakes furnished for said town; and to Spencer F. Wadlington for office room and fuel furnished; board C. C. be received as cash payment on any lot or lots sold by said agent."
It will be seen by this, although the record is a little bit mixed, that the clerk in making a record of this order intended to show that the orders issued to these county commissioners should be received as cash for any lots they might purchase of the county.
It was ordered at this meeting of the board that the county surveyor draw an additional map of the town of Chaldea for the use of the agent.
At the meeting of the board held February 3, 1847, it was ordered that the clerk "make out and foot up" a statement of the condition of the finances of the county and that Spencer F. Wadlington be allowed $7 for office room and fuel furnished for the board of county commissioners.
The county was ordered at this meeting to be divided into two election pre- cincts which were bounded as follows :
ELECTION PRECINCTS
Precinct No. I was bounded as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of the county; thence west to the northwest corner of section 1, township 70, range 17; thence south to the southwest corner of section 1, township 68, range 17; thence cast to the county line ; thence north to the place of beginning. The polling place to be at the house of Christian Zuck.
Precinct No. 2, beginning at the northeast corner of section 2, township 70. range 17; thence west to the northwest corner of the county; thence south to the southwest corner of township 70, range 19; thence east to the southeast cor- ner of section 35. township 70, range 17: thence north to the place of begin- ning. The country lying west, and now composing the northern part of Wayne county, was attached to this precinct for election, judicial and revenue purposes. The polling place was established at the house of Arthur Switchfield.
Precinct No. 3. commencing at the northeast corner of section 11, township 68. range 17: thence south to the southeast corner of section 14, township 68. range 17; thence west to the southwest corner of section 18, township 68, range 19; thence north on the west line of the county to the northwest corner of township 69, range 19; thence east to the northeast corner of section 2. town- ship 60, range 17: thence south to the southeast corner of section 14. town- ship 68, range 17. The territory lying west and now comprising the southern
97
HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
part of Wayne, was attached for election and other purposes. The election was "to be held at the office of the Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners."
Precinct No. 4 included the remainder of the county; "the election to be held at the house of Mr. Summers, on the west side of the Chariton, at the crossing of the old Mormon trace."
COUNTY TREASURER'S REPORT
On the 2d day of February, 1847. Jesse Wood, treasurer, filed in the office of the board of county commissioners the following report of taxes by him col- lected up to that date.
Territorial tax levied on the assessment :
For the year 1846. $ 8.66
County 57.00
Polls 22.50
School tax 32.09
SCHOOL INSPECTORS ARE APPOINTED
"In conformity to an act of the General Assembly for the state of Iowa, entitled an act concerning the distribution of the school moneys, approved January 19, 1847, I. J. F. Stratton, clerk of the board of County Commissioners and clerk of the district court, appoint by warrant bearing date 16th day of February, 1847. the following named persons to serve as School Inspectors for the several precincts of the County of Appanoose, to wit :
"In and for Precinct No. 1: Christian Zuck, James Wright and Andrew Morrison.
"Precinct No. 2: Henry Allen, Isaac Riggs and Andrew Jackson.
"Precinct No. 3: William S. Manson, Daniel P. Sparks and Spencer F. Wad- lington.
"Precinct No. 4: R. W. Davis, E. A. Packard and Moses Walker."
REPORT OF INSPECTORS
The inspectors of the several boards made the following reports of the num- ber of persons in their respective precincts between the ages of five and twenty- one years :
Precinct No. 1 118
Precinct No. 2 77
Precinct No. 3 75
Precinct No. 4-no report made
270
Amount of school money in the hands of the school treasurer on the 2d of February, 1847. $32.09.
The next items of interest in the minute book of the clerk of the board of county commissioners recorded were those of the bond given by J. F. Stratton as clerk of the district court. Those signing the bond with him were Jackson Per- Vol 1 :
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
jue, Abraham Payne, Daniel P. Sparks, William Pewthers, William Smart and Christian Zuck. The bond was acknowledged before Benjamin Spooner, clerk of the probate court, the 8th day of April, 1847, and given for $2,000.
The names of the following judges and clerks of elections in the various pre- cincts as constituted in 1847 are here recorded, so that the reader may know who were in the county at that time and taking an active part in its affairs.
Precinct No. 1, Christian Zuck, William Crow, Levi Lose, judges; Cortland Harris, Andrew Morrison, clerks.
Precinct No. 2, James McCarroll, Dempsey Stanley, Isaac Riggs, judges ; Andrew Jackson, Jesse Buck, clerks.
Precinct No. 3, William S. Manson, Benjamin Spooner, William Pewthers, judges ; Spencer F. Wadlington, C. F. Spooner, clerks.
Precinct No. 4, C. A. Packard, John Bond, Hiram Summers, judges; James J. Jackson, John F. Overstreet, clerks.
FERRY LICENSE IS ISSUED
At the July session ( 1847) of the board Andrew Collins applied for a license to keep a ferry on the Chariton river "at or near the section line between sections 22 and 27, near the home of the said Andrew Collins, in township 69 north of range 17 west."
The license was granted, with the right to exercise the privilege of running a ferry for a distance of two miles above and below the town designated, for the term of eight years, on the Ist Monday of July, 1847. Said Collins obligated him- self "to keep or cause to be kept at said described point a good and sufficient boat of at least 35 feet long and 8 feet wide, provided with sufficient oars and poles and shall keep two good and sufficient hands or one hand and a good and sufficient rope for the safe conveyance of all teams, horsemen and passengers and property or effects of any person who may desire to cross or which may be included in the following schedule at all times when the water is at such a stage that it cannot be safely forded, that the said Collins shall enter into a bond with the board of County Commissioners conditioned for the faithful performance of his duty as such ferryman in the penal sum of $600.
"The rate of ferriage shall be as follows, to-wit:
For crossing a waggon drawn by 2 horses or I yoke of oxen with a load on the same .40 cents For every additional horse or ox employed on any such waggon as draft animal 5 cents
For a man and horse IO cents
For a footman 5
cents
For each head of cattle or horses. 21/2 cents
For each head of sheep or hogs I cent
"That the said Collins shall pay yearly into the County Treasury for the privi- lege of keeping such ferry 10 cents."
This great sum of money for the privilege of running a ferry on the Chariton was probably paid, but whether in a lump sum or in installments, the record does not show.
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
A VALUABLE FRANCHISE ( ?)
It was ordered by the board that Spencer F. Wadlington "be authorized to keep up a post and railing in front of his house (or store) both on State street and on the public square at a distance of 15 feet from the boundary of said street and square, provided that the space between said Railings shall at all times be free for foot persons and that provided that said Railing shall be free to all persons for the purpose of tying or hitching horses on the opposite side of Rail- ings in street or square, subject, however, to the order of the Commissioners' Court."
At the July term of the commissioners' court it was ordered that a tax of four mills on the dollar be made for county purposes on the assessment of all property subject to taxation as returned by the assessor and that a poll tax of fifty cents be levied on each poll for county purposes, and a school tax of one- half mill on the dollar for the support of common schools.
THE FIRST GRAND JURY
The first grand jury selected for the April term of the district court of 1848 was made up of the following persons : George W. Perkins, James Hughes, David Bealer, C. A. Packard, Ephraim Sears, James Wright, Joseph Overstreet, John Felkner, S. N. Sayles, Jonathan Scott, Joseph Jump, Henry Allen, Edward Bry- ant, William Bryant, Lindsey W. Spooner, Anthony Williams. They received $1,25 per diem for their services.
The first petit jury was that in the case of George L. Castle against John Haney at the October term of the district court, 1848, but only eleven names are recorded. They are as follows: Thomas G. Manson, George Lake, Benjamin Spooner, Har- vey Sellars, William Pewthers, David Bealer, Jesse Wood, J. F. Stratton, John Felkner, Thomas Cochran, Lindsey Spooner. They each received a dollar a day for their services.
The assessment roll for 1848 was as follows:
County tax
4 mills
State tax 21/2 mills
School tax 1 1/2 mills
Poll tax "for Each able Bodeyed man" 50 cents
FIRST LIQUOR LICENSE
The board at its session held in July, 1848, issued a license to E. A. Packard "to vend Spirituous Liquors in any way that he sees proper for one year from July 7 A. D., 1848, for the sum of $25 paid in the county treasury."
THE COUNTY DIGS A WELL
At the same time that it issued a license for the sale of whiskey in the county the board ordered that "a job of Diging a Public Well be let to the Loest bidder provided that the Citizens subscribe $25 in cash to be applied on said Job. We the Commissioners bind ourselves to complete such well. The contract is to
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HISTORY OF APPANOOSE COUNTY
Insure a sufficient quantity of water to be Received by the Board of Co. Com. Such well is to be dug 5 feet and a half in the clear and waled up with a good Rock 15 inch wall which said well is to be done by the first Monday in Sep- tember A. D. 1848. Such well is to be Dug on the line of the Court House Dimond. The contractor is to take Town Lots in payment for such job after the above aplication has been made. Be it ordered that George W. Perkins be appointed agent to superintend the above mentioned job. He will receive sealed bids on the 22d day of July, 1848, at the clerk's office in Centerville. The bids being handed in and opened in the presants of the clerk according to order the job was struck off to Thomas Cochran, his being the loest at Eighty-nine Dol- lars."
It was ordered that the account of J. J. Jackson be allowed and George W. Perkins was appointed agent for the purpose of "letting a job to make window. shutters and to procure a lock and kee for the Door of the court house."
Thomas D. Cox was licensed to keep a grocery in the county of Appanoose for the term of one year for the sum of $25. At the January term of court held in 1846, it was ordered that no bounty should be paid on wolf scalps. This was repealed in the July session of the board and in September Jesse Wood was allowed fifty cents as a bounty on a wolf scalp submitted to the board. At the same time William Wilson was allowed a bounty on a wolf scalp for like amount.
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