The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 49

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 49

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).

" Yes, time has made a change since then ! There's some of them left, those pioneer men ; Not many years will pass along, Before that generation will be gone, They were straight and strong thirty years ago, Old people then we did not know ; But now the soul's house needs a deal of propping, The windows are dim, the roof needs thatching, The uprights totter and tremble around, A little more shaking and the house comes down.

" And now, before the last roll-call Shall take some away, make an effort all Who used to be neighbors for many years, To have a re-union of the Old Pioneers. There are some in Lyons, Clinton, Camanche, Living in city, town and ranche,

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Who would all be glad to meet once more,

. Before they leave for Eternity's shore ; To see the face and shake by the hand Those we knew as the pioneer band.

"Friends, we've performed our promise to you, Wrote in the paper ; now what will you do? Be quick, set the time, the place, we ask, For the warm sun weather will soon be passed."

The first formal gathering of the early settlers of Clinton County was hel on the beautiful bluff at the head of Second avenue, west of Clinton, Thur day, September 19, 1878, and was attended by a large number of the pioneers, wh as they contrasted the scene at their feet with the same view when they fir beheld it, must have experienced emotions too deep for ordinary words, an recollections not easy for the younger portion of the community to realiz Before 10 A. M., they began gathering, their carriages contrasting no less tha the surrounding with those of the time when they located in the county. B 11:30, when the exercises began, there were on the grounds several hundre people, mostly Territorial residents of the county and their descendants. speaker's stand and seats, swings, refreshments and other adjuncts of a real ol fashioned picnic were provided.

The assembly was called to order by Mr. Daniel Hess, President of th day, who introduced Rev. J. N. Seeley, one of the oldest settlers, who made most excellent and fervent prayer, thanking the Father for this happy occasic and for all the blessings that have come to the community through civilization and hoping that all present might so live as to arrive at full Christian fruitio and, like the golden sheaf, ripe in the season, be finally gathered to an etern home of bliss.

Remarks were made by J. D. Bourne, Esq., of De Witt, who said he fir passed along the Mississippi River on a pony in 1832, when there was not house from Rock Island to Savannah. He related an amusing incident of ho he and a party stopped at a log house on an island in Rock River and tarri all night, and how, after most of the inmates had gone to bed in the loft, tl floor gave way, precipitating the gentlemen to the lower room, and when light was struck none were found in a very presentable array, except a your couple who had been "sparking" in a corner of the room. (Laughter.) The were more people now present than could have been gathered together in tv weeks in Territorial times. He thought the "young people" a little too fas and that economy is what is now needed. The speaker had served eight yea for Sheriff for $300, and done for $400 at the Recorder's office what t county is now paying $5,000 for. He said they lived just as well then now-when they lighted their humble home at night with candles made fro the tallow of wild deer killed near by on the prairie. The speaker was the living in one of the oldest frame houses in the county. He first came in Iowa in 1833, when Dubuque consisted of a single log cabin.

Mr. Elijah Buel also made a few remarks, noting the great progress ma in the county since he arrived, and the sturdy character of men of early time Judge Cotton, the orator of the day, spoke as follows:

PIONEER LIFE.

ADDRESS OF HON. A. R. COTTON AT THE OLD SETTLERS' PICNIC, IN CLINTON, SEPTEMBER 19, 18'

MR. PRESIDENT, AND PIONEERS OF CLINTON COUNTY : This is the first formal meeting of t old settlers of Clinton County. We have present with us to-day the men who were the first build a cabin, to plow a furrow, to erect a schoolhouse, or to organize a church within the lim

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of what is now Clinton County ; and we have present the women who were the first of a civilized race to pluck a flower from its beautiful prairies.

These are the men and these are the women who inaugurated the era of civilization in this land, and will ever stand at the head of that interminable succession of free and enlightened people who are to follow in the ages to come.

Little do you old settlers appreciate the important work which it has been your mission to accomplish, or the part which you have had in that grand transformation which has changed what, for unknown centuries, had been the land of the savage to that which is to be, during all future time, the abode of civilized man.

It was Bishop Berkeley, of England, a great friend to America, who, almost a century and a half ago, wrote those memorable lines ;

" Westward the course of empire takes its way ; The four first acts already past, A fifth sball close the drama with the day ; Time's noblest offspring is the last.

" In happy climes, where from the genial sun And virgin earth such scenes ensue, The force of art by nature seems outdone, And fancied beauties, by the true.

" There shall be sung another golden age, The rise of empire and of arts, The good and great inspiring epic rage, The wisest heads and noblest hearts."

You led the van in this westward march of Empire, and joined in laying the foundations of a new State. You came intent on securing a home and independence, whatever hardships and privations that might involve. And now, away down in Time's course, in the year 1878, at a long distance in the journey of life from the point at which you set out on your pioneer career, you have to look back over what once seemed a rugged, but now appears but a pleasant path in life's journey, to talk over the events that occurred by the way, and to read the names of those who were your early comrades, but are with you no more.

I have thought on this occasion it would not be inappropriate to give something of a history of Clinton County.

Iowa is embraced in what is known as the Louisiana Purchase, which was acquired from France under treaty with Napoleon, in 1803.

On the 12th day of June, 1838, Congress passed an act, which took effect July 3, 1838, creating the Territorial Government of Iowa.

January 11, 1840, the Territorial Legislature enacted a law organizing the county of Clinton, the county to be established from and after the 1st day of March, 1840, and making ('amanche the seat of justice, at which place the first term of the United States District Court in Clinton County was begun, October 12, 1840, with the Hon. Thomas S. Williams as Judge; James D. Bourne, Sheriff; and Martin Dunning, Clerk. Judge Wilson continues to reside at Dubuque and is still engaged in the active practice of the law, and Mr. Bourne, whose home is in De Witt, is hale and youthful, and is on the grounds with us to-day. Martin Dunning died at Camanche a few years since.

The first trial was October 14, 1840, of an appeal case, in which John Thomas was plaintiff and John Eldred defendant ; and the twelve good and lawful men who composed the jury were William H. Onley, John Sloan, Philip Deeds, Nathaniel Barber, William Pearsoll, Reuben Root, Daniel Hess, Robert Aikman, Stephen Tripp, Charles E. Langford, Francis F. Ketchum and Stephen Briggs, who found a verdict of $5.25 for the appellee, but the record does not disclose, without an examination of the files in the case, who was the appellee and the winning man.

The second jury trial did not occur until April 14, 1841, which was between James W. Kirtley and George W. H. Turner, and before a jury consisting of M. A. Harrington, R. R. Ben- edict, John Peck, Seth Luan, William Welch, Robert Thomas, Simeon Gardner, William D. Follett, Charles Bovard, Absolam Dennis, Robert Aikman and Amos Holoway; and the verdict was an improvement in wize on that at the first trial, having been for $7.85 for the plaintiff, Kirtley.

The grand jury empaneled at the organization of the court, October 12, 1840, to inquire of public offenses committed in the county of Clinton, embraced James Clayborn, Richard Craw- shaw, Robert Thomas, Shubael Coy, Benjamin Baker, Otis Benedict, Richard H. Dawson, Eldred Beard, Henry Strickler, Robert C. Bourne, Alanson Dickerman, Arthur Smith, Samuel N. Bed- ford, George W. Harlan, John Welsh, Absalom Dennis, John C. Holbrook, Simeon Gardiner and Ralph R. Benedict, with Richard H. Dawson, Foreman.

The list of grand jurymen at the second term of court, which commenced April 12, 1841, also includes many familiar names : James Hall, Robert Smith, Herman B. Shaff, Jonathan L. Pearce, Otis Bennett, John D. Simmons, Isaac Ramsey, John R. Boyd, John Aikmain, William Hogan, Lyman Evuns, Daniel Hess, LeRoy Dutton, Franklin K. Peck and Charles Harrison, and had Lyman Evans for foreman.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

The act organizing Clinton County declares that the County Commissioners and other officer should be elected on the first Monday in April, 1840, but I find no record of any proceedings b the Board of Commissioners until January 5, 1841, when Elijah Buel, Robert C. Bourne an Eli Goddard, who were elected October 5, 1840, met at the house of Samuel Doolittle, i manche.

It is interesting to observe the moderate taxes of that day. The Board adopted a resolution classifying lands, declaring that first-rate lands should be valued at $3 per acre ; second rate, $2.50, and third rate, at $2 per acre ; and that the rate of tax should be 5 mills. In the state ment of the account made in July. 1841, by the Board of Commissioners, with James D. Bourn tax collector, he is charged with $472.33 as the amount of the tax list of Clinton County for th year 1841.

Those voluminous title records now appearing in the office of the County Recorder had the beginning on the 5th day of May, 1840, with Reuben Root as Recorder, when a mortgage w recorded, made by John C. Holbrook to Melvin Lord, on the southwest quarter of Section 1 Town 81, Range 6, also on a quarter-section, stated to be adjoining, and on another quarter-se tion on Beaver Island, known as the Booth Claim. It was not until June 12, 1840, that th first deed of conveyance was recorded. That was a deed from Nathan Atwell to George Merria for Lots 3 and 4 in Block 4, Range 1, with a house in Camanche, according to plat made b George Peck, consideration, $1,000, and title warranted against all claims but those of th United States, a rather superficial title. Camanche was platted in advance of the entry of th land at the United States Land Office, and this accounts for the character of the covenants warranty.

Those settlers who secured on the bank of the Mississippi what were regarded as favorab! sites for future cities had a due appreciation of the natural advantages of these points, and soo had the plats planned and surveyed, and with such ample dimensions as not to cramp th growth of the rising cities, and the proprietors bestowed upon them names of no insignificar import.

New York was located on a part of the now site of Clinton. The name New York appear on the official plat of the Government survey, but no plat of the town was ever recorded in th records of Clinton County, so New York vanished with the entry of the land on which it ha been founded.

Lyons was surveyed and platted in 1837, and the proprietors, Elijah Buell, Beal Randal Dennis Warren, George W. Harlan and Chalkley A. Hoag, made division of lots by placing th numbers in a hat and drawing therefrom. The first survey was by Crawford, but, after th entry of the land, in 1840, John Brophy remodeled the plat and the parties made deeds to eac other in pursuance of the division of the lots they had previously made. The name of Camanch as well as that of Lyons, also appears on the plat of the United States survey.

January 14, 1841, the Territorial Legislature passed a law appointing William Miller, Cedar County, Andrew F. Russell,.of Scott County, and William A. Warren, of Jackson County Commissioners to relocate the county seat of Clinton County, and they were directed to meet the house of Abraham Folkes, in Clear Creek Precinct, within six months thereafter, and proceed and locate the seat of justice as near the geographical center of the county as a goo and suitable situation, convenient to wood and water, could be found : and the Commissioner were authorized to name the county seat. The law provided that Camanche should remain th temporary county seat until the Judge of the District Court should be notified in writing, by th County Commissioners, that suitable buildings were erected at said seat of justice for the accon modation of the court and suitors; and that when the Judge should be so notified, the Sheri should give notice that the next term of the Court would be held at the new seat of justice.

The Commissioners accordingly met on the 18th day of March, 1841, and made the location and reported that on that day they had located the seat of justice of Clinton County by setting stake in or near the center of the north half of Section 18, Township 81, Range 4, and by nan ing the seat of justice-in accordance with the will of the people as near as they could ascertai -- Vandenburg. October 4, 1841, the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution that Ho Thomas S. Wilson be notified " that there are suitable buildings now erected at the town of Var denburg to accommodate the court and suitors of the District Court for the county of Clinton f the October term, 1841," and the court at that term commenced being held at Vandenburg. It wa understood the name Vandenburg was chosen because it was that of a sweetheart of Col. Warrer

By an act of the Legislature, February 17, 1842, the name Vandenburg was changed De Witt.

The accommodations thus provided for the court and suitors consisted of a very fair lo building, which supplied the court-room and the jury-rooms, and it was in this court-room, i 1844, that I first saw a court in session in Iowa, and, in fact, the first court at which I was ev present.

There was not a great pressure of law business in those days, and the Judge did not hes tate to adjourn court occasionally to and go prairie-chicken shooting with the Sheriff (Bourne and, inasmuch as Uncle Sam paid the court expenses, the people had no ground for complain The lodging accommodations for suitors, witnesses and jurymen, during court, were furnished a pretty compact form, chiefly at the houses of Seth Lum and Col. Lyman Evans.

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De Witt continued the county seat until the removal, in 1869, to block 8, in North Clinton, where the first term of court was begun November 22, 1869, J. Scott Richman, Judge.

February 12, 1844, the first step was taken toward obtaining the admission of the State of Iowa into the Union, by the passage of a law by the Territorial Legislature, providing for the expression of the opinion of the people of the Territory at the April election of that year, upon the subject of the formation of a State Constitution. The method of taking this expression was rather novel. The law provided, that, as each elector approached the polls, he should be asked whether he was in favor or against a convention, and that he should respond, simply, " Conven- tion," or "No Convention," and that the officers of the election should thereupon record his name and his decision. The majority-opinion proved to be favorable, and, in accordance with the law in that event, delegates to form a State Constitution were elected at the general election in August, 1844. They convened on the first Monday in October, and the Constitution formed by them was submitted to the people for adoption or rejection at the August election, 1845. In the mean time, and on the 3d dayof March, 1845, Congress passed a law for the admission of Iowa under that Constitution ; but, in the law, the western boundary of the State was fixed at 17º 30' west of the Meridian of Washington, which is only some thirty miles west of Des Moines, the present capital of the State ; and when the people came to vote, the manner of doing which was also on the viva voce plan, each elector being interrogated and responding "Constitution," or "No Constitution," a majority answered " No Constitution." They decided wisely in rejecting admission, with a boundary with would have so detracted from the present limits and importance of the State.

The question of admission was not suffered to rest long. The Legislature, on the 17th day of January, 1846, fixed the next April election as the time to elect. delegates to another conven- tion. This convention, on the 18th day of the following May, completed the Constitution which was voted on and adopted by the people at the August election, 1846.

And on the 28th day of December, of that year, Congress passed the final act, in which it is declared " that the State of Iowa shall be one, and is hereby declared to be one, of the United States of America, and admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatsoever."

Let us take a little view of the marvelous growth and development in this county. We all remember well when it was thought that, in consequence of the distance to timber, the large prairies in this county could not be settled, not certainly in our time, and when parties desired to enter Government land to obtain a little advance on it, they were careful to make selections as near timber as possible. The early settlements were made in the skirts of the groves. A good spring, or a lasting stream of water and a piece of timber, were decisive of the spot where the early settler would establish his home.

By and by the speculators, in entering land, became a little bolder, and they came to believe that it was not very hazardous to locate land in the middle of our prairies. The settlements, in like manner, grew and extended from the groves out toward the center of the prairies, and we began to find those meandering and pleasant roads by which we used to pass in any direction we pleased, in crossing the uninhabited prairie, obstructed by the obtrusive farmer, who persisted in having the roads straightened and put on the boundary lines of his farm, until at last the county has become one solid block of farms.

At the organization of the county, in 1840, it had a population of 821; in 1850, it had 2,822. During the next ten years, it had a large increase in population, the census of 1860 showing 18,938, against the 2,822 in 1850, and during the next ten years ending in 1870, the population grew to 85,357.

The acres of improved land in 1850, were 19,008, and in 1870. 328,182.

The county produced in 1850, 61,945 bushels of wheat; in 1860, 592,117 bushels ; in 1870, 954,175 bushels, and, in 1874, 1,010,845 bushels.

In 1850, there were 94,050 bushels of corn ; in 1860, 795,305 bushels ; in 1870, 2,493,660, and in 1874, 3,061,338 bushels ; so we have no reason to fear a famine in this county from the present outlook.

The census of 1870 puts down the estimated true value of real and personal property in the county at $20,207,080; and the census further shows what is unquestionably very satisfactory to the old settlers, as well as new, that the county has not one dollar of bonded debt.

In securing railroads through its limits, the county has also been exceedingly fortunate.

It was a marvel to you old settlers to see in your day the path of the Indian superseded by the railway. Within twenty years of the first settlement of this county, a railroad had been con- structed part-way through and put in operation. The county is now interlaced with railroads, there being within its limits 145 miles of railroad, believed to exceed the number of miles in any other county in the State.

The first telegraph line and the first railroad extending to the Pacific coast were constructed through Clinton County.

The first settlers were not mistaken in their opinion that they were locating where would pass a great line of railroad stretching across the continent.

. The theory of Mr. Elijah Buell and others was, that here the Mississippi approaches nearest to the lakes between this point and Chicago, the shortest line of transportation by land ; here

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are the narrows in the river, a favorable crossing, and that a railroad from Chicago would directed to this point. Before a railroad had reached the Mis-issippi, Dennis Warren used to us that the tea from China was bound to be shipped through to the East by a railroad pass right by this point.

These men have lived to see all these things come to pass.

You old settlers have great reason to be gratified with the prosperity of the county, in development of which you have taken so prominent a part ; and you who saw it in the day its poverty and weakness, above all others, can appreciate its present strength and wealth ; you are to be thanked, and your good judgment commended for that economical and succes management of its affairs during the years of its growth, which aided its rapid progress, enables it to appear to-day in so sound a financial condition.

I understand that for this meeting we are indebted to the ladies ; that they were the first propose it ; and that it was one of these ladies who composed the poetry on early times in county, which was read with so much interest recently, in one of our newspapers, and we th those ladies for having brought about this meeting.

I have taken quite enough of your time. We are all anxious to hear from the old sett present, many of whom preceded by a number of years the arrival of my father and his fam including myself, and they can tell you of the county and its settlers before I had knowledge of

The roll of old settlers, which it 'is proposed to make to-day, we realize, will not be l responded to by all whose names will be thereon inscribed, and that as the advancing y increase the number will be reduced, until not one will remain as the custodian of this recor

"Like as star by star declines, Till all are passed away, As morning higher and higher shines To pure and perfect day. Nor sink those stars in empty night- They hide themselves in heaven's own light."

Other old settlers would have made remarks had it not been for threatening weather, which made it advisable to proceed first with the din and organization of the Society, and have afterward any extempore speech Accordingly the well-filled baskets were opened and the next hour was a me scene of al fresco feasting and sociability.

Among the early settlers present were : Mrs. Mary Pearce, widow of J. Pearce, Sr., eighty-eight years of age, who arrived in 1837; Mrs. Elmira S mour, widow of Judge Seymour, eighty-three years old, who arrived in 18 was present, also Mr. and Mrs. William Roberts, who came in 1837. Th were also present Dr. I. P. Yeomans, 1837; Capt. F. K. Peck, 1837, appoin by Gov. Dodge the first militia Captain in the Territory ; S. L. Horn, & T ritorial resident of Muscatine County ; Charles and George N. Thomas, 18 James Cassady, 1850; Elijah Buell, 1835; David Hess, 1839; Thon Harbean, 1847; Adam and Aleck Dunn, 1839, and their wives, formerly Misses Crawshaw, 1837 ; George P. Baker, 1838 ; Benjamin Lake, 1839; B. Schoff, of Camanche, 1837 ; C. L. Dutcher, 1841; Homer Carpenter, 184 G. A. Griswold, Elk River, 1839; M. T. Sweeney, 1844; Samuel Perr 1836, and others, including Messrs. F. P. Wilcox, A. P. Hosford, J. C. You and R. S. Seaman, who came from 1854 to 1858.

As officers of the Pioneers' Society were chosen : President, Daniel H of Lyons ; Vice Presidents, J. D. Bourne, of De Witt; George A. Griswold, Elk River, and H. B. Shaff, of Camanche ; Secretary, A. R. Cotton. Clinton ; Treasurer, Elijah Buel, of Lyons; Executive Committee, E. B Ira Stockwell, S. R. Pearce, G. N. Thomas, C. L. Seymour, and Mm Jane C. Wilkes, Hannah P. Pearce, Ellen Hess, Jane T. Baker and Bet Foster.

It was desired to draw the line of membership in the association on date of the Iowa's admission into the Union, December, 1846, and necessar excluded many who would otherwise have joined, including Mr. H. Carpent of Camanche, who came in 1837 to the Territory ; Dr. Yeomans, 1837 ; T. Sweeney, in 1841 ; but all locating since 1846 in the county. Others w present and entitled to join, but had left the grounds in apprehension o

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storm. Autographs were secured as members of the Society with date of locating in the Territory of the following old settlers :

GENTLEMEN.

Name.

In Territory.

In County.

Name.

LADIES. In Territory.

In County.

James D. Bourne ...

.June, 1833

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The History of Clinton County, Iowa: Containing a History of the County, Its., Part 49

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