The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 36

Author: Western Historical Co , Western Historical Company
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : Western Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 807


USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its. > Part 36


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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107


In case any election of Trustees, Directors or Managers shall not be made on the day designated by the by-laws, said society for that cause shall not be dissolved, but such election may take place on any other day directed by such by-laws.


Any corporation formed under this chapter shall be capable of taking, hold- ing or receiving property by virtue of any devise or bequest contained in any last will or testament of any person whatsoever; but no person leaving a wife,


Digitized by Google


317


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.


child or parent, shall devise or bequeath to such institution or corporation more than one-fourth of his estate after the payment of his debts, and such device or bequest shall be valid only to the extent of such one-fourth.


Any corporation in this State of an academical character, the memberships of which shall consist of lay members and pastors of churches, delegates to any synod, conference or council holding its annual meetings alternately in this and one or more adjoining States, may hold its annual meetings for the election of officers and the transaction of business in any adjoining State to this, at such place therein as the said synod, conference or council shall hold its annual meet- ings; and the elections so held and business so transacted shall be as legal and binding as if held and transacted at the place of business of the corporation in this State.


The provisions of this chapter shall not extend or apply to any association or individual who shall, in the certificate filed with the Recorder, use or specify a name or style the same as that of any previously existing incorporated society in the county.


The Trustees, Directors or stockholders of any existing benevolent, char- itable, scientific, missionary or religious corporation, may, by conforming to the requirements of Section 1095 of this chapter, re-incorporate themselves or con- tinue their existing corporate powers, and all the property and effects of such existing corporation shall vest in and belong to the corporation so re-incorporated ·or continued.


-


INTOXICATING LIQUORS.


No intoxicating liquors (alcohol, spirituous and vinous liquors), except wine manufactured from grapes, currants or other fruit grown in the State, shall be manufactured or sold, except for mechanical, medicinal, culinary or sacramental purposes ; and even such sale is limited as follows :


Any citizen of the State, except hotel keepers, keepers of saloons, eating houses, grocery keepers and confectioners, is permitted to buy and sell, within the county of his residence, such liquors for such mechanical, etc., purposes only, provided he shall obtain the consent of the Board of Supervisors. In order to get that consent, he must get a certificate from a majority of the elec- tors of the town or township or ward in which he desires to sell, that he is of good moral character, and a proper person to sell such liquors.


If the Board of Supervisors grant him permission to sell such liquors, he must give bonds, and shall not sell such liquors at a greater profit than thirty- three per cent. on the cost of the same. Any person having a permit to sell, shall make, on the last Saturday of every month, a return in writing to the Auditor of the county, showing the kind and quantity of the liquors purchased by him since the date of his last report, the price paid, and the amount of freights paid on the same ; also the kind and quantity of liquors sold by him since the date of his last report; to whom sold ; for what purpose and at what price; also the kind and quantity of liquors on hand; which report shall be sworn to by the person having the permit, and shall be kept by the Auditor, subject at all times to the inspection of the public.


No person shall sell or give away any intoxicating liquors, including wine or beer, to any minor, for any purpose whatever, except upon written order of parent, guardian or family physician ; or sell the same to an intoxicated person or a person in the habit of becoming intoxicated.


Digitized by Google


318


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.


Any person who shall mix any intoxicating liquor with any beer, wine or cider, by him sold, and shall sell or keep for sale, as a beverage, such mixture, shall be punished as for sale of intoxicating liquor.


But nothing in the chapter containing the laws governing the sale or pro- hibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors, shall be construed to forbid the sale by the importer there of of foreign intoxicating liquor, imported under the author- ' ity of the laws of the United States, regarding the importation of such liquors, and in accordance with such laws; provided that such liquor, at the time of the sale by the importer, remains in the original casks or packages in which it was by him imported, and in quantities not less than the quantities in which the laws of the United States require such liquors to be imported, and is sold by him in such original casks or packages, and in said quantities only.


All payment or compensation for intoxicating liquor sold in violation of the laws of this State, whether such payments or compensation be in money, goods, lands, labor, or anything else whatsoever, shall be held to have been received in viola- tion of law and equity and good conscience, and to have been received upon a valid promise and agreement of the receiver, in consideration of the receipt thereof, to pay on demand, to the person furnishing such consideration, the amount of the money on the just value of the goods or other things.


All sales, transfers, conveyances, mortgages, liens, attachments, pledges and securities of every kind, which, either in whole or in part, shall have been made on account of intoxicating liquors sold contrary to law, shall be utterly null and void.


Negotiable paper in the hands of holders thereof, in good faith, for valuable consideration, without notice of any illegality in its inception or transfer, how- ever, shall not be affected by the above provisions. Neither shall the holder of . land or other property who may have taken the same in good faith, without notice of any defect in the title of the person from whom the same was taken, growing out of a violation of the liquor law, be affected by the above provision.


Every wife, child, parent, guardian, employer, or other person, who shall be injured in person or property or means of support, by an intoxicated person, or in consequence of the intoxication, has a right of action against any person who shall, by selling intoxicating liquors, cause the intoxication of such person, for all damages actually sustained as well as exemplary damages.


For any damages recovered, the personal and real property (except home- stead, as now provided) of the person against whom the damages are recovered. as well as the premises or property, personal or real, occupied and used by him,. with consent and knowledge of owner, either for manufacturing or selling intox- icating liquors contrary to law, shall be liable.


The only other exemption, besides the homestead, from this sweeping liability, is that the defendant may have enough for the support of his family for six months, to be determined by the Township Trustee.


No ale, wine, beer or other malt or vinous liquors shall be sold within two- miles of the corporate limits of any municipal corporation, except at wholesale, for the purpose of shipment to places outside of such corporation and such two- mile limits. The power of the corporation to prohibit or license sale of liquors . not prohibited by law is extended over the two miles.


No ale, wine, beer or other malt or vinous liquors shall be sold on the day on which any election is held under the laws of this State, within two miles of the place where said election is held; except only that any person holding a permit may sell upon the prescription of a practicing physician.


Digitized by Google


319


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.


SUGGESTIONS TO THOSE PURCHASING BOOKS BY SUBSCRIP- TION.


The business of publishing books by subscription, having so often been brought into disrepute by agents making representations and declarations not authorized by the publisher, in order to prevent that as much as possible, and that there may be more general knowledge of the relation such agents bear to their principal, and the law governing such cases, the following statement is made :


A subscription is in the nature of a contract of mutual promises, by which the subscriber agrees to pay a certain sum for the work described; the consid- eration is concurrent that the publisher shall publish the book named, and deliver the same, for which the subscriber is to pay the price named. The nature and character of the work is described by the prospectus and sample shown. These should be carefully examined before subscribing, as they are the basis and consideration of the promise to pay, and not the too often exag- gerated statements of the agent, who is merely employed to solicit subscriptions, for which he is usually puid a commission for each subscriber, and has no authority to change or alter the conditions upon which the subscriptions are authorized to be made by the publisher. Should the agent assume to agree to make the subscription conditional or modify or change the agreement of the publisher, as set out by the prospectus and sample, in order to bind the princi- pal, the subscriber should see that such condition or changes are stated over or in connection with his signature, so that the publisher may have notice of the same.


All persons making contracts in reference to matters of this kind, or any other business, should remember that the law as written is, that they can not be altered, varied or rescinded verbally, but if done at all, must be done in writing. It is therefore important that all persons contemplating subscribing should distinctly understand that all talk before or after the subscription is made, is not admissible as evidence, and is no part of the contract.


Persons employed to solicit subscriptions are known to the trade as can- vassers. They are agents appointed to do a particular business in a prescribed mode, and have no authority to do it any other way to the prejudice of their principal, nor can they bind their principal in any other matter. They can not collect money, or agree that payment may be made in anything else but money. They can nut extend the time of payment beyond the time of delivery, nor bind their principal for the payment of expenses incurred in their business.


It would save a great deal of trouble, and often serious loss, if persons, before signing their names to any subscription book, or any written instrument, would examine carefully what it is; if they can not read themselves call on some one disinterested who can.


Digitized by Google


:


STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE OF IOWA (CENSUS OF 1875.)


No. of


No. of


No. of


Acres


Acres


COUNTIES.


Acres


Spring Wheat.


Winter Wheat.


Indian Corn.


Oats.


Value of


Products


of Im-


Unim-


under


proved


proved


Culti-


No. of


No. of


Bushels


No. of


No. of


Bushels


No. of


No. of


vation


Acres.


Bushels


In


Land.


Land.


No. of


No. of


of Farm


in 1874.


Acres.


Harv't'd


Acres.


Harv't'd


Harv't'd


Acres.


Bushels


Harv't'd


Dollars.


Appanoose.


161059


134:67


161083


156921


125188


9606


2385243


109388


77789


1049


10838


64871


24325


905920


13756


887346


81611937


Alimakee.


21146


61880


937689


181


1964


12776


442829


1415769


Audubon.


23819


15986


6876


89235


10


97


9225


65459


894655


184153


Adams


48735


54352


17917


281376


7


174


25474


969717


8951


Adair


Buena Vista


83182


141293


696318


33118


55680


66265


27550


50


30860


297518


37034


27010


435014


15514


162737


3500


1402428


228231


4455


159789


828171


2791


67069


Benton.


Boone


53911


156987


71810


239408


99406


1843066


290


7888


3328521


207828


85244


15490


445070


2664995


105642


32506


429257


11


84


46151


1595752


10101


404620


1018453


Butler ..


58908


20


700


98685


1270878


Bremer


149498


779167


18827


421719


1209765


Black Hawk


145067


124977


213025


47001


57907


104910


49878


644795


28254


1026641


14259


518571


1144620


Buchanan


150981


181236


89361


56592


1939590


16804


61291


1108024


538196


48831


Clay ..


19056


37069


71418


157210


812342


1811250


17451


556209


1898424


Cherokee


89319


38375


17481


158159


8797


180120


2615949


4436


99766


54638


289:4


45412


31693


9459


315215


115595


129313


3545


Cass ..


Crawford


45304


401507


85019


110864


58038


92785


15262


40123


676309


1901062


9079


821894


40582


648058


176281


1284899


21000


17957


2902


99158


Cedar


Cerro Gordo


248869


285414


41417


166185


40167


640541


26


295


78224


2845921


20213


675837


483357


2606149


Clayton


52930


212291


309895


48618


28199


415469


9512


26544%


7199


229097


591617


Clinton


29J835


151908


118622


86888


1305125


1247


21090


3:918


20024


609895


5:337


68683


1010845


12


428


89297


1471263


8061838


23704


702059


2081793


9049019


Chickasaw


96304


59065


94772


74104


401G2


643519


9


Carroll


63


16821


514279


309744


11744


446300


39159


26756


810161


894656


8


20


550041


8239


Clarke


99694


50487


78903


17968


217090


16014


1580260


107577


451865


7


Calhoun.


26996


26618


100631


55


99066


12897


367643


7054987


150038


150


Davis ...


116003


131597


11040


10


90993


10656


551120


5378


53 9


56405


62127


2115569


2993


73182


221613


Decatur


18648


345707


Dubuga-


115:51


87172


93275


1600090


187831


8211


7:169


12239


50484


1769140


10555


844551


1024541


Des Moines


98561


146244


9.618


49240


634185


817


1:20


67118


1702391


230.998


25115


643322


287392


1636182


Delaware


143665


472029


58165


10815


118996


8688


1173 0


102924


9212


632113


1772992


Dickinson


Dallas


15770


62306


161357


60401


71728


50


56150


1690.35


20077


1698314


132135


29830


11961


5501


2103


114025


29256


445848


3189


44455


57652


2484898


37282


51765


?


186


9997


335124


45334


Emmet


Floyd


9999


25596


8387


110708


1510


14278


14:038


32180


8911


2197


1519


8241


1502047


15244


15461


Fayette ..


179304


6206+


911439


26462


642448


457729


1967977


Franklin


98156


183758


60779


863650


46


968


87001


129618


20110


704407


1508127


63359


Fremont


115907


43 46


65390


$1096


455009


24066


758983


1460 9


198992


41926


103039


13229


206301


841


16625


9532


529679


79845


Grundy


185108


976657


1.03085


5419


777106


179645


1046066


67384


11786


401948


Green .


50310


49838


19091


257700


8:259


2


40175


1482582


783037


783027


1598977


4227


120248


620906


Gutbrie


47220


27489


393514


22


44


'Hardin


128931


76892


960


88302


1660134


4145


159505


792461


29114


39900


97565


Humboldt


96006


27019


98464


12016


497251


41904


1379961


10982


856915


1066627


20902


9908


297381


3974


90944


Howard


115923


171018


200001


61871


86115


58 390a


9916


807012


10210


340208


94818


784409


Harrison


83:451


72287


22918


149501


84


1200


44720


1620192


3462


69140


Hancock


10162


341015


9005


70006


1858


48816


786677


Hamilton


63966


89035


4859


89405


50249


52000


20076


294682


2067


57899


168262


Henry


182090


20441


670:31


5108


52762


7292


110831


6514


15026


180220


9041


118203


62672


2415670


13393


558221


1765670


Ida


8109


455


191041


9194


89357


48315


2301


108:65


2+12830


14060


7482212


Iowa


142401


158188


48410


193230


6702 17


36


1090


€2518


11756


$19071


144401


2005049


Jackson


43515


241021


550000


491


7913


58062


1605518


29052


8158178


521156


Johnson


278891


71257


193019


4506


6667.9


1274


522197


1750091


100


1:760


2447875


Jasper


179752


210949


79926


1107170


77143


100217


45259. 9


15267


592289


2916898


Jones.


209901


63 198


36090


464824


Jefferson


167389


208125


66979


140084


462175


161904


31


619-3


409


65123


1900624


18260


127590


16237


667:19


1695510


14005


446129


1696416


55061


Keokuk


868528


75697


8327482


447603


1590140


31550


98939


149672


83278


148


Kossuth


1868


15582


1919728


48793


29835


18199


1:0


Lee ..


183832


10798


108352


78032


183780


10:51


72624


15400


300107


9781


119777


5143


27857


Lucas.


59863


2190306


11817


279069


105306


1081518


59757


68837


Lyon ...


159.2


818811


18054


153587


31


929


47022


1902330


842164


12706


10996


12665


8177


18789


1090554


8182


62649


76.12


54


2645


82651


Linn ..


281118


175635


52178


650507


12


160


91773


8489928


585648


Louisa


151007


Mitchell


52022


100066


19.64


180009


1388


16267


49642


2181658


22670


2590052


126384


6.93


175755


20176


122100


91135


65594


1663739


Mahaska


232398


199669


150 68


SP 62


1083911


112,4


411961


3768209


14078


542662


1591878


305532


9697


Marion.


82779


200


88715


16646


496248


2195785


141512


159214


520663


183


2112


84630


8835063


10987


335:46


2181846


MIJIS


53601


812901


543


50518


6528


161996


188709


90837


45136


24385


1533976


232689


Madison


1003509


102215


187379


87553


628314


82


484


69194


2958630


8743


285108


Monroe


223735


78206


4.552


91730


11039


101418


263


5594


45575


1788916


2808256


11512


241081


1709080


Marshall


998362


52212


117309


63297


1123882


21


200


67699


18611


465245


2368478


Monona ..


56278


48 32


99914


15:31


2904


129099


183811


21577


8183-9


66175


Muscatine


447665


178945


Montgomery


104633


50607


82315


410471


63


1715978


13287


406562


1747906


86026


O'Brien


82050


26:91


1881


551599


629


54760


99251


1441467


6322


201685


1072127


33626


14904


157326


166


63:9


106052


8107


69931


Osceola.


191542


81406


Polk.


18190


20.689


14651


56811


8.09


7475


2510


20829


140150


17279


1890


69581


Pochahontas


21928


53372


19219


97696


7434


563389


21


294


77497


8272020


12168


431841


2140023


8931


229263


2541


40494


Pottawattamie


Powesbelk.


121630


112666


208989


419189


33.69


49097


90619


171589


5889.1


63


475


47278


1750038


5278


168081


1252629


Page.


84748


89565


2399022


156782


175171


5:312


762826


115184


22659


355702


1220


20235


9571105


11416


9758


346507


Plymouth


71396


2289013


1293468


Palo Alto.


58283


18317


519 2


41379


3:3028


442736


10


160


10007


1757.8


4161


120487


434123


6611


2979


46859


Ringgold.


82225


1GG79


8006


23208


142057


18100


325


96616


9118


255007


Scott


235515


58329


50313


10026


78951


125


1762


35613


1145037


1115782


19125


148649


185742


47009


762315


40


618


59071


2226316


15915


529869


9041873


Story


43374


99887


26658


8


1783477


11273


318205


1083743


Shelby


53190


89326


47290


330697


817944


20


51273


22029


1:674


689536


225-1


71676


573026


Sloux.


99824


31336


367391


47201


83515


22003


25/286


6780


82088


4591


45096


166990


Sac ....


102861


233515


24179


279716


9085


6549


238880


Taylor.


10


8662


79:42


11036


110004


200918


244


9008


48260


1419680


8718


269657


908476


Tama.


Union


255182


211911


15116


90222


9:0:3


1487807


73251


2812859


15574


384469


2316405


Van Buren


57005


33216


45828


1059G


141189


54


960


21063


1180930


6127


187748


624260


153674


99528


118463


7455


58808


10928


121854


50211


1823622


12596


Wayne.


853698


1439586


Warren ...


147766


66795


117689


10373


76316


143


1236


65645


2405187


15242


367896


1361876


Winneshelk


194265


216140


167178


153737


259160


42175


651679


181670


112175


1813405


61


910


80280


8561365


8991


281510


2208332


27185


24307


Woodbury


977816


8216508


2265252


Worth ..


44179


57097


15249


2;R975


14647


490371


9072


91647


298209


Washington


48927


225176


45057


88007


32157


23002


122291


4445


161557


896506


55:52


157584


41616


410487


469879


14.39


14199


3530


73265


2832211


15701


453320


2025264


Webster.


Winnebago.


97238


61744


70910


80354


391051


5


270


29:18


917911


7491


207493


783342


17389


30625


12421


8909


162281


11


1374


52425


1327


281821


45100


140219


Wright


Wapello ..


35516


28937


13029


100R9


4184


185176


288085


150209


32387


63491


135178


17368


196166


157535


1617


16159


5:085


2143791


11570


293590


1455319


Totals,


12627830 8410485


9354905 3690111 42669781


09189


759277


4700176 156-81542 862904 29140312 8181836747


Objech Bull


Google


Digitized by


+


..


Digitized by Google


HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.


BY L. P. ALLEN.


PREFATORY.


" Upon the world's great battle-field the brave Struggle, and win and fall. They proudly go, Some to unnoticed graves, and some to stand With earth's bright catalogue of great and good."


Less than half a century has passed since the extinguishment of the Indian title and the pioneer entrance of the white man to these fertile lands, now bearing the rich fruits of civilization. Less than a half-century has witnessed the wonderful transformation of a vast area, redeemed from a "howling waste," over which a few savages roamed, into a populous and wealthy State, environed and bisected with railways, teeming with an intelligent, industrious and thriv- ing population, dotted with prosperous cities and villages and with a future outlook that can only promise as rapid and wonderful a growth in wealth and population for the next half century. Measured by the historian's work, whose chapters record meridian lines of time by cycles, and whose ranges are centu- ties, and who writes of the rise and downfall of nations; whose story is of con- quests and "feats of broil and battle," the compiler of the history of a peaceful conquest of a single county in a State in the line of civilization where .. Westward the course of Empire takes its way," may seem to be an humble task. Nevertheless, the faithful gathering of the facts connected with the early settlement of this county, and the dangers, privations and hardships encoun- tered by the hardy pioneers who advanced the standards of civilization across the " Father of Waters" is a work that is worthy of attention, and one which, we trust, will meet with a cordial reception. If this work is ever to be done, the time is opportune. A true history can only be written from "actual facts." The preserved facts are meager and not easily found. The pioneers are rapidly passing away, and the few yet remaining must soon be "gathered to their fathers." The difficulties to be overcome in the preparation of the work have been beyond the anticipation of the compiler, as "forty years " have warped the memories of the " Old Settlers " who remain. Effort has, however, been inade to verify dates and statements by such records as are obtainable, and to corroborate by cumulative testimony. Errors will doubtless be found, but we believe that, in the main, the history will be found to be accurate and authentic.


The early history must necessarily be largely narrative of a personal or biographical character, as the history of a few individuals is the history of the county at that date. The records of the county, of cities and towns, have been consulted, as well as the early records of churches, societies and incorporations. The files of newspapers in existence have been pored over, and the " Old Set- tlers " have been interviewed and diligent effort made to clean all possible facts.


Digitized by Csoogle


324


HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.


NAME.


Clinton County was named in honor of De Witt Clinton, a most worthy namesake, a prominent literary and public man in the State of New York, and one of the prime movers and most efficient advocates of the scheme for build- ing the Erie Canal. He was twice Governor of that State, held many offices of public trust, and was a proficient classical and belles-lettres scholar, a man of incorruptible integrity and stainless purity of character. He died in 1828, at the age of 59 years.


DESCRIPTIVE GEOGRAPHY.


Clinton County embraces an area of about seven hundred and fifty square miles, composed of Congressional Townships 80 north, Ranges 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 east ; 81 north, Ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 east ; 82 north, Ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 east, and 83 north, Ranges 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 east, and is bounded north by Jackson County, east by the Mississippi River, south by the Wapsipinicon River and Township 80 north, Range 2 east, being the boundary line between Clinton and Scott Counties, and west by Cedar and Jones Counties.


The county is about thirty-six miles long, east and west, by about eighteen miles north and south. Being in a latitude where the heat of sum- mer is modified by the cool breezes from the north, and yet far enough south to escape the rigor of the extreme northern winters, its location is healthful and desirable.


The Mississippi River forms the eastern boundary line, and flows in a bend sweeping around toward the east, nearly midway on the eastern boundary of the State. Being due west from Chicago, it is the nearest point in the State between that great commercial entrepot and the Mississippi. Thus, geographical position made it the gate to the interior, and the initial point for the first railroad enterprises which were projected westward to reach the Mis- souri River. Its western boundary is the Fifth Principal Meridian of the Sur- vey of the State, which is 91° W. longitude, and extreme eastern point 90° 35' W. Its approximate latitude is 41° 50' to 42° 05' N. The 42d degree of N. latitude divides the northern tier of townships from the tier to the southward.


*GEOLOGY.


The rock underlying the soil or drift deposit of Clinton County is the Niag- ara limestone. In some earlier geological epoch, it was either deposited at a uniform level with the surface of the sea, or the water receded from it, leaving it dry. It was never greatly disturbed by earthquakes or upheavals, so that it now remains in nearly horizontal strata. Its chemical composition is a car- bonate of lime and magnesia, with a small amount of silica and alumina, col- ored yellow by the hydrated oxide of iron. At a later period, it was submerged and then cut and worn into an uneven surface, by deep channels and fissures, through which numerous streams found their way, oftentimes cutting entirely through the formation.


The Niagara limestone belongs to the upper part of the Silurian of the English geologist. It has a wide range in this country, covering a large part of Wisconsin, the upper part of Illinois, and extending east to Western New York, being prominent at Niagara Falls, from which it is named.




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.