The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 41

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 41

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

four east of the Fifth Principal Meridian ; and by naming the said seat of justice, as the law pre- scribes, being in accordance with the will of the people, as near as we could ascertain the same, VANDENBURG.

Witness our hands and seals this eighteenth day of March, A. D. eighteen hundred and forty-one. WILLIAM MILLER, [Seal. ]

ANDREW F. RUSSELL, Seal. ]

WILLIAM A. WARREN, [Seal.]

It is said that the name " VANDENBURG " was the family name of the " sweetheart " of Commissioner Warren, in whose honor it was given.

We have digressed from the record of the County Commissioners' proceed- ings to give this history of the removal of the county seat, and now resume the proceedings at their April session in 1841.

The boundaries of the several precincts or townships had been somewhat `vaguely defined, and, at this session, the Board ordered that their boundaries be spread upon the records.

At this time there were but six precincts or townships in the county- Camanche, Lyons, Elk River, Deep Creek, Clear Creek and Liberty.

They were described as having boundaries as follows :

'" The Township of Camanche-Commencing at the Mississippi River, on the south line of the second tier of sections in fractional township eighty-one north, range seven east ; thence in a direct west course until it arrives at the southeast corner of section nine, in range four east ; thence south to the Wau- besepinicon River ; thence to the Mississippi River, being the south line, and the Mississippi River being the east line." This township began at the head of Beaver Island, and extended due west to near where the city of De Witt now is, and south to the Wapsie, which also formed the county line. It included the present township of Camanche, part of Clinton and Lincoln, nearly all of Eden and a part of DeWitt Townships, as they now exist.

" Township of Lyons-Commencing at the Mississippi River, on the south line of the second tier of sections in fractional township eighty-two north, range seven east; thence in a direct line west to the east line of range four east ; thence south to the line dividing Camanche from Lyons ; thence on said line to the Mississippi." This township was bounded on the south by the Camanche line and extended west to the present line between Washington and Center, and north to the south line of the second tier of sections in Center Township and east to the Mississippi River. It included in its boundaries all but the two north tiers of sections of Lyons, Hampshire and Center, and nearly all of Clin- ton and Lincoln Townships as they now exist.

" Elk River Township-Includes all north of Lyons in Clinton County, as far west as the east line of range five east." The boundaries of Elk River included its present territory and two tiers of sections on the south across the present townships of Lyons and Hampshire.

" Deep Creek Township-Includes township eighty-three north, range five east." The boundaries of Deep Creek Township were a Congressional Town- ship and have not been changed.

" Clear Creek Township-Commencing at the southeast corner of section nine, township eighty-two north, range four east ; thence west and north, includ- ing the west half of township eighty-one north, and range four east, and town- ship eighty-one north, range two and three east, and township eighty-two north, range two and three east, together with the fractional townships eighty north, range two and three east." This township included in its boundaries the major part of the present township of DeWitt and all of Orange, Olive, Welton and Berlin, as now mapped.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

" Liberty Township-Includes townships eighty-one and eighty-two north, range one east." This township included the present townships of Liberty and Spring Rock.

The territory which now comprises the townships of Washington, Waterford, Bloomfield, Brookfield and Sharon were as yet unorganized.

The next business of the Board was to lay out Road Districts and appoint Supervisors for the same.

The record of surveyed roads shows that the following Territorial Roads had been established and were all the lawful roads then in existence in the county.

By act of Legislature, James Ross, A. C. Sutleff and Stephen Tripp, were appointed, in July, 1840, Commissioners to locate a Territorial road from Lyons to Iowa City, which was duly established, January 21, 1841.

This road commenced at the center of Main street (Sixth street), in Lyons, running through the middle of Sixth street to its termination. It then ran in a southwesterly direction a distance of thirty-eight miles, in Clinton County, and eighty miles to Iowa City.

Road No. 2 was a Territorial road from Davenport to Bellevue. The Com- missioners to lay out this road, appointed by the Legislature November 27, 1840, were W. Barrows, Simeon Gardner and Charles Swan. The two latter resigned, and Otis Bennett and Daniel H. Pearce were appointed by the County Commis- sioners to fill the vacancy. They made their final report October 4, 1841.

No. 3 was a Territorial road from Lyons to Tipton, but no plat or proceed- ings are of record concerning it. It was established by legislative act January 10, 1842.

Road No. 4 was a Territorial road from Denson's Ferry to Dubuque, estab- lished by act of the Legislature July 7, 1842. No record exists of its having ever been laid out or used.

No. 5 was a county road. The petitioners were R. R. Bedford and others- of Clear Creek Township, praying for a road from the Wapsipinicon, in Range 4 east, thence through the township of De Witt; thence north, to terminate and intersect the Territorial road from Davenport to Dubuque, at or near Negro Grove. Ashbel F. Bedford, Thomas W. Clark and Absalom Dennis were appointed Commissioners to establish this road. The location of this road is. uncertain.

No. 6 was a county road. The petitioners were Jonas M. Oaks and others, who asked for a road from De Witt via Wright's Grove to the north line. of Clinton County, at or near Levi Decker's house. The petition was dated July 3, 1843, and the same day the following persons were appointed Commis- sioners to locate it : James M. Kirtley, Absalom Dennis and S. A. Bedford. The location of this road is uncertain.

No. 7 was a Territorial road from Camanche to Iowa City. This appears to be the same road as No. 1, from Camanche to Iowa City, while the Davenport and Dubuque road (No. 2) was the continuation of No. 1, from Camanche northward. This road terminated in this county at the Wapsipinicon, in Town- ship 80, Range 2 east, in what is now Olive Township, at Alger's Ferry, run- ning through Camanche, Eden, De Witt, Orange and Olive.

Shubel Coy was appointed Supervisor of Road District No. 1, but the boundaries of his empire do not seem to have been stated in the record.

Benjamin Baker was appointed Supervisor of the highway in Lyons Town- ship, commencing at Congressional Township 82 and 83 north, Range 7 east, thence south to the northeast corner of Section 30, which was from the present. town line between Elk River and Hampshire, south to Lyons City.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

Oliver P. Ackerman was appointed Supervisor of the district from the termination of Baker's district south to Riverside, at the town line of Camanche.

Daniel Pearce was given the highway in Lyon's Township, commencing at north line of fractional Township 81 north, Range 7 east, thence southwesterly to the west line of Township 81 north, Range 7 east.

Franklin K. Peck had the district in the township of Camanche from the west line of fractional Township 81 north, Range 7 east, southerly to the south side of Mill Creek.

Richard Crawshaw superintended the district in Camanche from the south . side of Mill Creek southwesterly to the southwest side of Spring Creek.

Heman B. Shaff's district was from the southwest side of Spring Creek southwesterly to the Waubesepinicon River.

John Brophy's district was from his own house, in the township of Camanche, west to the west line of said township.

Trails across the prairie must have been the principal thoroughfares of travel in those days, when eight road districts represented the whole of the public highway upon which the revenues of the county were expended. How much the aggregate of the road fund was we have had no means of ascertaining, but as we give immediately following a statement of the total revenue of the county for the previous year, the reader can make the estimates to suit his own ideas of the needs of this branch of county expenditures.

The next business which engrossed the attention of the Commissioners was a settlement with James D. Bourne, who, in addition to his duties as Sheriff, Postmaster, etc., was also the Collector of the county revenue.

We here insert in full the Collector's first report of tax collections, being the revenue for the year 1840 :

JAMES D. BOURNE, in account with Clinton County.

DR.

To Tax-list for 1840.

$377.55

Order to balance.

Total

CR.

By delinquent tax.

$ 81.16}

Excessive tax ..

24.50

Treasurer's receipts .. 299.93}

Per cent for collecting.

22.53

Total

$378.18

The amount of the tax-list for the year 1878, for Clinton County, levied and returned to the Treasurer and receipted for by him to the Auditor, is $319,402.58.

No more striking statement could be made to show, by comparison, the wonderful increase in population and wealth that has been made during the thirty-eight years past.

We here insert the names of the Judges of Election as selected by the Com- missioners, among which will be many which are to-day familiar names, as men of prominence in their respective communities, and whose early struggles have met with the recompense of pecuniary comfort in their declining years. and who have maintained the confidence and respect of their fellow-citizens. Many, however, have removed, or " passed beyond :"

Samuel Doolittle, F. K. Peck, H. B. Shaff, for Camanche ; Robert Smith, Jr., George W. Parker, Charles Burgoon, for Liberty ; John R. Boyd, Oliver

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$378.13

James D.Bourne DEWITT

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

P. Aikman, Daniel H. Pearce, for Lyons; Arthur Smith, Otis Bennett, Daniel Smith, for Elk Creek ; John D. Simmons, Isaac Ramsay, Thomas Watts, for Deep Creek.

A special session of the Board convened April 29, 1841.

Eliza Winans is allowed $10 for the use of the court rooms.

James Crawford is allowed $20 as compensation for his services as Prose- cuting Attorney at the April Term of the District Court.

Liberty Township is divided by Yankee Run into two road districts. The part south is designated Number One, and George W. Parker appointed Super- visor, and the part north is called Number Two, and James Hall is named as its Supervisor.

The second day of the term, the boundaries of Camanche Township were changed so as to extend west until it includes the seventeenth section only, in Townships 80 and 81 north, Range 5 east, and Clear Creek Township is extended east to this line.

The Clerk is instructed by the Board to send out with the election notices for the August election a description of the boundaries of the several town- ships. Without doubt this was a most thoughtful instruction, for the mem- ories of the inhabitants must have been remarkably retentive to keep pace with the frequent changes of the township lines, and adults as well as children might be readily excused "without prejudice" for being unable to correctly answer the standard question, " What town do you live in ?"

When the Commissioners appointed to re-locate the seat of justice had performed that duty and made their report, as is previously herein given, the Board of Commissioners found that their capital was on Government land, and they at once borrowed the necessary funds, $200, and sent the Sheriff to Du- buque, where he purchased the 160 acres. This was surveyed and platted into city lots, reserving one block for a public park, and the two northwest lots of the block next east for the county buildings. They then placed the lots in market, and in order that every one might have an opportunity to avail them- selves of the future prosperity of this new "city on the prairie," the Clerk was ordered to make public notice by advertisement of a public sale of lots, which was to take place on the 2d and 3d of July, 1841. The record says that he shall procure the publication of a sale of lots in Vandenburg for three consecutive weeks, previous to the 2d and 3d of July, in the Stand- ard at Bloomington (now Muscatine) and the Iowa Sun at Davenport. That Lyman Buck be notified to be and appear at the. county seat, Branderburg, on Monday, the 3d of May, prepared to survey said town. It will be observed by the above that the name of the new county seat was not yet familiar, even to the officials of the county, as the Clerk writes it, upon the same page of the record, Vandenburg and Branderburg.

The Board held their next session beginning July 5, 1841, at the usual place, the house of Samuel Doolittle, in Camanche. E. P. Monroe was appointed Clerk of the Board, and he was directed to amend the record of the previous session so that the order for the publication of notice of sale of lots in Vandenburg should include terms of sale, as follows : One-third of the purchase money in three months; one-third in nine months, and one-third in twelve months.

The tax levy for the ensuing year was fixed at five mills on the dollar.

Oliver Alger is licensed to run a ferry across the " Wabesipinicon," opposite his house, and Elijah Buel to run one across the Mississippi at Lyons. David and Samuel Mitchell are licensed to run the ferry from Camanche to Albany. Digitized by

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

The rates of ferriage are also fixed by the Board, whose powers seem almost as unlimited as their duties are diversified.

A tax of two and one-half mills is levied for Territorial purposes, and the County Assessor is allowed $35 in compensation for his labors for the year in assessing the property throughout the county.

The system of "investigations " which has made such a vigorous growth, and has become so much of a "governmental " institution in these modern times, had its germs in the early days, and this Board of Commissioners planted a small one when they passed a resolution that the Clerk is "required to request of Mr. George Griswold an explanation in regard to the sale, by him, of two copies of the Laws of the Territory." Diligent search of the records for further action on this important matter sheds no light. Whether the Clerk was authorized to send for " persons and papers," or whether this was a " white- washed " case which ended with the appointment of the "Committee," or whether the discomfiture of the Board at the result of their inquiry was entire, we do not know, but we have no hesitation, in the absence of information, to make our history-as all historians are said to do-by stating that we have no doubt that " Uncle George " gave a satisfactory explanation to the Argus-eyed conservators of the people's interests, which relieved him of any suspicion of "irregularity " or " salary grabbing."

On the 6th of July, Samuel R. Murray was appointed Clerk in place of Mr. Monroe, who resigned, and the Board adjourned to meet on the 13th of the current month.

At the session convened July 13, 1841, the Board directed the issuing of bonds to the purchasers of lots in " Vandenburg," for the issuance of deeds, these bonds to be certified by the Clerk upon receipt of the notes of the pur- chasers.

The Clerk was ordered to notify John R. Sloan, of Camanche, that a prose- cution will be commenced against him " for retailing spirituous liquors" unless he applies for a permit.

James D. Bourne, Collector for Clinton County, makes his second settle- ment with the county as follows :

JAMES D. BOURNE, Collector of Clinton County, in account with said County :

DR.

To amount of Tax List for the year 1841.

$472 834

Territorial Tax.

12 754

Assessed on Town Lots in Lyons.

45 41

Assessed by Collector and collected.

8 16

" Territorial Tax on Lyons Lots.

2 27

Total

$560 92

CR.

Amount of Delinquent Tax List

$ 36 67

" Excessive Tax.

22 31

" Commissions on Amount Collected

30 60

" Treasurer's Receipts.

487 16

= Receipts.

30 80

" Delinquent Tax.

1 72

Oct. 4, 1842. Treasurer's Receipt

$559 26

1 66

Total $560 92

The increase over the previous year shows that the tide of immigration is beginning to move, and the error of $20 in debit side, that man was liable to

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

mistakes then as now, although more frequently, nowadays, the error is on the other side of the account with public officers.

The next session of the Board was held in October, 1841, at the usual place of meeting, the house of Samuel Doolittle, in Camanche, the culinary depart- ment of which was presided over by Miss Aubrey, whose memory is embalmed in the " stomachs " of her countrymen.

The first business which received the attention of the Board was the " county seat," and the following resolution was passed :

That the Hon. Thomas S. Wilson be notified that there are suitable buildings now erected at the town of Vandenburg, to accommodate the Court and suitors of the District Court for the County of Clinton, at the October Term, 1841.

These " suitable buildings " deserve a passing notice. They, or more prop- erly, it, was built by Loring Wheeler, Lyman Evans-who used to say that he organized the Democratic party of Clinton County on the head of a whisky- barrel at Camanche-Alvin G. Harrison and a few others, and the use of it was given to the county if they would hold the Court that fall in it, and as long as they chose to occupy it.

The building was built of basswood timbers, about thirty-two feet long and about twenty feet wide. It was divided into a court-room and a jury-room. It also had an attic story, and, in the language of an old settler, "here the jurors and witnesses, many of them, slept, bringing their blankets with them, doing their cooking outside and using the court-room for their common dining- hall." Uncle John Buhler, a German, officiated usually as cook for the crowd. He lived and died at Camanche, as also did his wife. His only child was a daughter, Sarah, who married John Dillon, and still resides there. He was an excellent cook, a jolly companion, and was a great favorite with everybody.

An incident connected with the moving of the county seat is thus related by Col. Lyman Evans: On going to Camanche preparatory to moving the county records and furniture, consisting then of a long table and a few books, the Colonel was met by John Buhler, a former landlord at Camanche, and asked by him, " Be you going to move him, the county seat ?" The Colonel said, " Yes, I thought I would." " Well," said Mr. Buhler, "take him along."

The attic was afterward completed and used for the court-room, and, as the business of the county was beginning to increase so as to make it inconvenient for the county officers to keep their offices in "their hats," a portion was devoted to their use.

Several bills are allowed to different individuals for services in surveying the "town of Vandenburg," and it is also

Ordered, That John R. Sloan be requested to deliver to James D. Bourne, Sheriff of Clinton County, the property belonging to the county, to wit: One long table, one platform and nine wooden benches, and that a copy of this order be served upon him forthwith.

Elijah Buel having been re-elected to the office of Commissioner, presented his certificate, and is sworn in for three years from August, A. D. 1841.

The bond of Charles Bovard, Justice of the Peace in Camanche, is approved.

We conclude that Mr. Sloan did not obey the order of the Board to deliver the property of the county, as on the 5th day of October it is ordered that an action be commenced against him for its recovery.

The following morning, the Clerk is directed by resolution to certify to the Postmaster General of the United States that the town of Vandenburg, for which there has been a petition that a post office be established at that place,

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

is the seat of justice for Clinton County, and the same day, the Clerk is directed to transfer all books, papers and documents to the town of Vanden- burg within thirty days.

The next meeting of the Board was convened in regular session in January, 1842, at the new county seat, at the house of R. R. Bedford. The principal business of the session was that of allowing bills, among which was one to Martin Dunning for a desk and table for the use of the District Court, of $12.

The Clerk is instructed to give the proper election notices for the spring election, which is to be held on the first Monday of April, 1842, and at which township officers are to be elected, and to inform the voters of each township the extent of their boundaries.

Their next session is held in April, 1842, and bills are audited to William B. Watts, for transporting prisoners from Davenport to Camanche, and from thence to Bloomington (now Muscatine), from which it is inferred that the place of temporary confinement is at Davenport, and the State Prison at Bloomington.

Shubel Coy is appointed Treasurer of the county until the August election, or until a successor is elected and qualified. A petition is presented by Peter H. Groat for a road from Camanche in a direct line to Vandenburg, and the prayer of the petitioners was granted, and Joseph P. Brown appointed Surveyor.

The next meeting of the Board was convened as the record is, at De Witt, the county seat of Clinton County, in the Court House, July, 1842.

As will be observed, the name of the town had been changed. This was done by act of the Legislature at their session of 1841-42, in response to a petition of citizens who felt that it would be more in harmony with the original idea of doing honor to New York's honored citizen, De Witt Clinton, by giving his christened name to the capital as they had done his surname to the county. Loring Wheeler was appointed Clerk of the Board, Samuel R. Murray having failed to appear and qualify. Mr. Wheeler was also made the fiscal agent of the county to borrow of the Miner's Bank, at Dubuque, $200, to make a partial payment upon a note held by Stephen Weicks against the county, and "it is ordered that the faith of the county of Clinton be pledged for the payment of the same." It is understood that this indebtedness to Weick's was for the original capital with which the county went into business ; that is, the purchase of land and incidental expenses connected with their real estate business.

Some " omnibus bills " were passed, there being no veto power exercised, as will be seen by the following :

Ordered, That the sum of thirty dollars be allowed to Robert C. Bourne for one tin-plait stove and five days services as Commissioner at the present term.

Ordered, That the sum of eight dollars and sixty-two and a half cents be allowed Loring Wheeler for two days service as Clerk of this Board, and paper and quills furnished District Court."

Robert C. Bradford is appointed agent " to sell the lots in the town of De Witt, the county seat of said county, in accordance with an act of the Legisla- ture, approved February 17, 1842," and he is to receive five per cent for his services.

Elijah Buel is directed to procure a set of weights and measures for the county. Mr. Bourne settles with the county for the taxes of the year, which amount to $563.50}.

The Board hold their next session in October, 1842. ; George W. Parker having been elected at the August election, took his seat, the Board now being R. C. Bourne, Elijah Buel and George W. Parker. William L. Potts appears and files his bond as Clerk.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

Shubel Coy is allowed $10.50, percentage on his collections, which were $517.22.

Lyman Buck is allowed $21 for surveying twenty blocks in De Witt.

The citizens of Clear Creek petition that a township may be established with the following boundaries :

"Beginning at the mouth of Silver Creek, thence up said creek to the mouth of Clear Creek ; from thence up said creek to Abraham Folk's Mill; thence westerly to the Wapsipinicon, so as to include fractional Township 81 north, Range 1 east, being that part of said township which is on the east side of said river, and from thence down said river to the place of beginning, and that said township shall be called Olive Township, and that the place of holding elections may be established at the house of Charles Dutton."

The petition was granted, to take effect April 1, 1848. It was further ordered that the township of Clear Creek from this time shall be called De Witt, and the elections shall be held at the Court House.

On January 1, 1843, the Board again assembled.

Samuel Weicks is allowed $300 for the amount due him for money lent to the county, and the interest thereon, and it is resolved that he be paid from the treasury of Clinton County, "with interest at the rate of 15 per cent per annum until paid."

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The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 41

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

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