USA > Iowa > Dallas County > The History of Dallas County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 48
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L. SWEARINGEN, County Auditor.
VALUATION AND TAX REPORT, 1878.
AUDITOR'S OFFICE, DALLAS COUNTY, IOWA.
To the Auditor of State:
SIR :- In compliance with section 844, of the Code of 1873, I hereby report the aggregate valuation of lands, town property, and personal property, each separately, and also the aggre- gate amount of each separate tax levied in said county, for the year 1877, as shown by the tax- book of said county, when the same was delivered to the county treasurer for collection, as follows:
TAXABLE PROPERTY.
VALUE.
Lands
$3,341,495
Town Property
352,832
Personal Property
1,130,716
Railroad Property
274,220
Total valuation of county .
$5,099,263
TAXES.
RATES.
AMOUNT.
State tax .
2
mills.
$ 10,198.49
County tax
31/
17,847.35
Insane Hospital tax
Bond
1
mill.
5,099.18
Bridge tax.
212
12,748.16
County School tax
1
5,099.16
Teachers' tax.
31,709.31
School-house tax ..
6,771.25
School Contingent tax
10,621.45
Road tax.
5,243.94
Corporation
2,125.99
Polls to be added to county
1,871.00
Total tax levied.
$109,335.28
I certify the foregoing to be a correct statement, as appears from the tax-book of said county, for the year 1878.
Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of November, A. D. 1878. L. SWEARINGEN, County Auditor.
The total assessments of live stock alone in Dallas county during the past two years amounted to the following:
For 1877. $686,772.00
For 1878. 685,037.00
Total valuation of real and personal property in 1878 was $5,099,263. Total tax on the same, $109,335.28.
The above shows a slight decrease in the live stock valuation during the last year, but a most marked increase in the entire amount during the past
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
thirty years, when the amount of the assessment in the county, as taken by Jesse K. Miller, in 1847, was only $2,403.75, which amount included all the personal property and money then in the county subject to taxation, and the population of the county during those thirty years has increased from the few hundred to some sixteen or seventeen thousand, perhaps more.
BRIDGES.
Owing to the great number of rivers and running streams throughout the county, there are few counties that have been called upon for larger expen- ditures for bridges than Dallas, in proportion to the age of the county and number of inhabitants, and in this respect the response of the people has been líberal. Crossed as the county is by four rivers and a great number of large creeks and numerous smaller streams that require bridging, the expense of building and maintaining bridges for the convenience of the public has been considerable, and as a result the county is already furnished with a large supply of good bridges.
In many cases substantial iron bridges have been constructed, both arch and truss, varying in cost of construction from eight hundred to several thousand dollars. There is a larger number of good substantial wood bridges, however, in the county, most of which were built by Mr. Jonathan Peppard, of Union township. The county being favored with having a good bridge-builder and contractor within its own limits, who always aims to give eminent satisfaction in his work, has very naturally and properly em- ployed him in their contracts, and has, therefore, a great many of his wooden bridges, as this is the only kind he contracts for.
There are two good wagon bridges across the main branch of the Raccoon river. one at Booneville, and one at Van Meter; three or four across the South Raccoon; two or three across the Middle Raccoon; and some seven or eight across the North Raccoon river, besides a great many of minor im- portance across the different creeks and smaller streams rendering crossing quite convenient and safe to almost all parts of the county.
There is one good railroad bridge within the county limits, situated near Booneville, built in 1869, by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company; and another one is now under contract and process of building across the North Raccoon east of Adel, by Jonathan Peppard, for the Des Moines, Adel and Western Railroad Company, the following account of which is clipped from the Dallas County News:
THE BRIDGE.
" After days and weeks of hard work and close figuring the officials of the Des Moines, Adel & Western R. R. Company have succeeded in selling a sufficient number of bonds to justify them in contracting for the erection of a bridge across 'Coon river at this place, and consequently last Saturday the contract was awarded to Jonathan Peppard, with the stipulation that it should be completed within ninety days, and we understand Mr. Peppard says it will not require over sixty. It is to be what is termed a combina- tion bridge, of two spans, each a hundred feet, an approach on the east of two hundred feet and on the west of about ten feet, the whole to cost $4,770. And now in a very short time Adel can truthfully boast of a rail- road which will, beyond doubt, be a paying institution, whereas heretofore
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
it has scarcely paid its running expenses. By the time the bridge is com- pleted there will already have been erected a good, substantial depot on this side of the river, the necessary switches put in at either end of the road, and at least one passenger coach ready for business.
" The people along the line west are anxiously waiting for spring to open so they can commence work on the grade, and ere the year 1879 closes Des Moines, Waukee, Adel, Redfield and Panora will be connected by rail- road. Three cheers for our little narrow gauge, which has forever settled the question of the removal of the county seat, and put Adel in a fair way to make one of the finest and most prosperous towns in the West."
"The board of supervisors, last Saturday, let the contract for an iron bridge across South 'Coon at Maulsby's Ford, just north of Dexter, to the King bridge company of Cleveland, Ohio. They also let the contract for a similar bridge at Van Meter."-January 17, 1879.
POOR FARM.
Asylums for the poor, the disabled and the orphans are distinctively Christian institutions, which are becoming more and more numerous and efficient in these latter days. It has been frequently remarked that among heathen nations, Rome, Greece and Macedon, no State institutions were ever established for the use of the destitute; but in this age a State, or even a county of any considerable age or advancement, would be considered far behind the advance of progress without some provision being made for the relief and care of paupers and destitute ones.
In this respect Dallas county has used diligent efforts toward performing its duty of public benevolence in providing a poor farm for its paupers, · and in endeavoring to keep that in proper condition to provide for the comfort of all who may be deemed proper subjects for such public care and aid.
This institution has not yet become self-sustaining, but is supported by the county fund when the income is not sufficient.
It is located on the southwest quarter of section eight (8), township sev- enty-nine (9), range twenty-seven (27), 160 acres.
It was purchased by the county from Cyrus Hemphill, June 9, 1869, at a cost of about $4,000, and the deed was filed for record June 11 of that year. More land was afterward purchased by the county, adjoining the first quarter-section purchased, increasing the amount to two hundred acres, and the necessary improvements have since been made year by year.
The following report, made February 18, 1875, by a committee appointed by the board of supervisors to inspect the poor farm, shows the improve- ments that have been made and the condition of things at that date:
To the Honorable Board of Superrisors :
GENTLEMEN-I would respectfully report that I have inspected the poor farm of Dallas county, Iowa, and make the following statement:
There are two hundred acres of land, of which something over one hundred acres are improved and in good cultivation.
The fences are in good repair, buildings all new and in good order. The dwelling-house is 30x45 feet. There are thirteen rooms in the house and a good cellar under the house.
There is a good, new barn, and the appearance of everything indicates good management. There is now on the farm 2,000 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of wheat, about 150 bushels of oats, about 15 tons of hay.
There were about 1,500 Ibs. of pork put up for the use of said farm. There are 150 head of hogs, that will average about 120 ibs. each; four milk cows, worth $120; three calves,
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
worth $25; one span of horses, worth $300; one new wagon, worth $95; one pair of bob- sleds, worth $20; one good stirring plow, one good stalk-cutter, one harrow, one corn-planter, and there should be, before spring work commences. two new cultivators furnished.
All of which is respectfully submitted, this 16th day of February, 1875.
LEM. WARFORD.
Other changes and improvements have been made during the past three years, and the farm is still kept in good repair by the county.
COUNTY JAIL.
For a long time the county had no jail, which would indicate, at least, that there was not any very great demand for one-not boarders enough furnished by the county to properly support such an institution. Whether this was because of a scarcity of lawless characters to be found here, or a failure on the part of the authorities to bring such to justice is not recorded; but, at all events, the county did without that important institu- tion until about the year 1872, taking their jail-birds to Des Moines for safe keeping.
On the county records, under date of June, 1861, the following order appears, which shows that an attempt was made at that early date on the part of some to erect, a jail, but it failed:
Ordered, That the question of building a jail in Dallas county be submitted to the voters of said county at the next general election to be holden in October next.
The election returns of October 8, 1861, show that this proposition was voted on by the people at that time and received two hundred and six (206) votes for, to four hundred and twenty-seven (427) votes against. So the jail was not built at that time and the county did without one and made no special effort again in that direction until ten more years had passed, when the question was again agitated, and in June, 1871, a committee consisting of the board of supervisors and Charles Rodenbaugh, was appointed to "ex- amine the court-house and ascertain whether a jail can be built on the sec- ond story of the court-house, and ascertain also the probable cost of the same."
This committee, it seems, reported unfavorably, and the jail matter rested again until September, 1871, under which date the following order of the board of supervisors appears:
. Ordered, That the board of supervisors appropriate the sum of five thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary to build a county jail on lot No. 6, in block No. 8, in the town of Adel, Dallas county, Iowa. and that the board of supervisors be authorized to re- ceive bids therefor and let the contract for the building of said jail.
This step decided the jail matter and the work went forward resulting, soon afterward in the two-story brick structure which is now used for the county jail. This building was perhaps erected during the following sum- mer, and, though not very commodious, it is a substantial and comfortable structure.
STOCK-RAISING.
Considerable interest is being manifested during late years in the county in the department of stock-raising, and in many parts of the county is found a high grade of blooded stock of various kinds, principally cattle and hogs.
380
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
At an early day, among the fancy breeders of hogs, the preference was given to Chester Whites, but more recently the Poland China and Berk- shire have almost entirely taken their place, while among the thorough-bred and graded stock of cattle now raised here, the short-horn Durham blood prevails, and a number of good herds of high grade are now owned in the county, each of which would make a creditable showing at any stock fair in the State, and the owners have given their special attention and devoted their energies to the raising of fine cattle and hogs.
H. C. Swallows, W. Z. Swallows, D. M. Flinn, and others, on their large and well cultivated farms in Boone township, have each large and valuable stocks of thorough-bred and high-grade cattle and hogs, which for years they have taken great pains and delight in improving.
J. D. Whitman, Hooker & Gillette, and others in Grant township, E. A. Barnett, Peter Marshall, and others of Union township, and numerous large farmers and stock dealers in various townships, have extensive stocks of thorough-bred and high-grade short-horn cattle, and Berkshire and Po- land China hogs, which show a decided and increasing interest in the county in the line of general improvements in blooded stock.
A good many blooded horses and fine flocks of Merino and Cots- wold sheep are also found in various parts of the county, which make a very interesting display on exhibition at the county fair.
Considering the age and population of Dallas county, a great many hogs and cattle are fattened and shipped yearly from it, especially during the past few years. There are a number of extensive stock dealers. The Van Meters raise and feed large stocks of cattle each season, herding them dur- ing the good grass season on the unimproved prairie land, then feeding and shipping during fall and winter.
Peter Fish, of De Soto, has the credit of being the largest shipper of stock in the county, and among the largest in all this part of the country. He brings his average shipments up to the rate of one car-load per day the year round, and keeps the market up to a very close margin.
The stock and grain from this locality is shipped to market principally by way of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, but the county is conveniently located to the two main lines, and by means of the convenient and important connecting link of the Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad, the shippers here are privileged to choose their route and ship East over either the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific. or the Chicago & Northwestern, giving them excellent accommodations and facilities.
In short, Dallas county gives excellent promise of being one of the finest stock-raising counties in the West. From the earliest the citizens have displayed a deep interest in this important work and have generally directed their energies and efforts to make it a success, using all due precaution to guard the rights and advance the highest interest of each individual in pro- tecting against trespass of stock upon each others' premises, as witness the following
SHEEP AND HOG LAW.
At an election holden in Dallas county, Iowa, on the fourth day of November, A. D. 1856, on the following proposition, to-wit:
WHEREAS, Petitions have been to me praying to have the question, whether hogs and sheep shall be permitted to run at large, submitted to a vote of the people of Dallas county; now, therefore, I, Lloyd D. Burns, Judge of the County of Dallas in the State of Iowa, do
381
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
hereby notify the qualified electors of the county of Dallas, to assemble in their respective townships, at the usual places of holding elections, on Tuesday, being the fourth day of No- vember, A. D. 1856, and then and there to decide for or against the following
PROPOSITION :
1. That every owner of sheep or swine, in the county of Dallas, shall restrain their sheep and hogs from running at large in said county; and in the event of a failure so to do, shall be liable to any damage done by said sheep or swine, to be recovered by an action of trespass by the party injured.
2. That any person may take possession of any sheep and swine found running at large in said county, who shall thereupon notify any constable in said county, who shall have power, and it is hereby made his duty, to sell any such sheep or swine, at public auction, to the high- est bidder, for cash, upon giving ten days' notice of the time and place of such sale, by post- ing the same in writing in three public places in the township, where such sheep or swine are found at large. The proceeds of such sale, after the payment of costs and charges of keep- ing, shall be paid into the county treasury, to be applied to the use of the county until legal proof be made to the county judge of said county, by the person or persons claiming such property to be his or theirs, whereupon, the county judge shall order said amount to be paid out of any moneys in the hands of the treasurer not otherwise appropriated: Provided, that the owner, or any person for him, shall on or before the day of such sale, pay the cost and charges thus far made, the constable is hereby required to release said sheep and swine to the persons making such application, upon satisfactory proof being made of the ownership.
This proposition to take effect and be in force from and after its adoption. The vote shall be by ballot, and those voting for this proposition, shall have written or printed on their tick- ets the words: "For the sheep and hog law "; and those voting against this proposition, shall have written or printed on their tickets, the words: "Against the sheep and hog law."
The returns shall be made as in ordinary cases.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the county of [L. s.] Dallas, State of Iowa, this third day of October, A. D. 1856.
LLOYD D. BURNS, County Judge.
There were six hundred and forty-nine (649) votes cast for and against said proposition, of which there were three hundred and sixty-nine (369) votes cast for the sheep and hog law, and two hundred and eighty (280) votes cast against the sheep and hog law, being a major- ity of eighty-nine (89) votes in favor of the sheep and hog law.
Recorded this eleventh day of November, A. D. 1856.
L. D. BURNS, County Judge.
The above, together with other stock acts and herd and fence laws, enacted at different times by county and State, have enabled people to understand how far the limit of privilege extends before crossing the line of trespass, and what the penalty of violation must be-a most important and valuable lesson to be learned in every stock-raising community.
We give a description of one of the large stock farms in Dallas county, as found in the Dexter Herald, of January 3, 1879, this being only a specimen of many similar ones in the county:
" In order to give our foreign readers some idea of the improvements in this country, and show them that Iowa is not a howling wilderness, we will reproduce a discription of the farm of Pete Marshall, which appeared in the Herald, September 29, 1877:
"Mr. Marshall's farm begins just three-quarters of a mile north of the corporation of Dexter, and extends north one mile, and west one-half mile, and, therefore, contains three hundred and twenty acres of as good land as any person need care to see. It is a high, rolling prairie, and all under cultivation. He bought the farm twenty-three years ago for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, and at a time that all these beautiful prairies were wild, and when the people told him he was wild himself for buying it, as it was then said that this country would never be settled up, at least away from the timber along the rivers. However he was not the kind of
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
a man to get discouraged at trifles, as he saw, in his mind's eye, the time that this country would be the garden of the world.
" At the time he came here he had to come by stage from Keokuk, where he first struck the State. At that time the capital of Iowa was at Iowa City, and Des Moines only a fort. There were a few settlers along the streams, but nobody had thought of pushing off on the prairies. As far as the eye could reach to the east, the west and the south, no habitation could be seen, yet here he concluded to set his stakes and await the coming of the emigrants, that he knew must, in time, come to till these rich prairies. To the north of him along the river settlers came in one by one, but it re- quired the iron horse, that great civilizer, to develop the prairie country about him, and to the south and east. With the laying of that great 'iron trail,' the Rock Island railroad, came the settlers from the far East, eager to put a shoulder to the wheel, the hand to the plow, and help to build up a civilization equal to any in the world, for certainly this country is fortunate in having such a superior set of men for its pioneers. After the coming of the railroad the country settled up very rapidly, houses and towns springing up as if some magician had touched the country with his magic wand.
" Soon Pete had plenty of neighbors and a good market at his very door, and then he realized the fulfillment of his dreams. He found himself with one of the finest farms in the country, and right in market, and in a com- munity noted for its morality and intelligence.
"Let us now see what his farm is to-day. Estimating it at a low figure it is worth fifty dollars per acre, against one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, which he gave for it. He now has a fine orchard coming on, and would have had an old one, but for the fact that for many years it was sup- posed that fruit could not be successfully grown in Iowa, and then it took many more years of experimenting to discover what varieties could be suc- cessfully grown in this climate. Happily those days are now gone by, and Iowa stands to-day in the front rank with such States as New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois, as a fruit growing State. He has on his place a fine maple grove, and a grove of seedling apple trees, which answer the double purpose of windbreak for the rest of his orchard and for bearing fruit, as there is some fine fruit in the grove.
"THE BUILDINGS.
" His house is a large, double, two storry, frame house, with a cellar equal to another story, in fact his cellar is the finest we have seen any place. He has a complete set of water works for furnishing his house and feed lots with pure water. He has constructed a set of water works on the follow- ing plan, viz :. He had a large well, nine feet in diameter, dug, and placed in it a force pump, to be run by wind power, and put a large wind-mill for that purpose. From this well he has pipes about five feet under ground, so as to be below the freezing point, running to his house, his stables, and his feed lots. The main pipe runs through the cellar, and is so arranged that it can be tapped at any point and water forced up into any part of the house. In this way he has fresh water in the house at all times. There are also pipes extending to the barn and feed lots, giving stock an abundance of fresh water at all times, without the labor of giving it to them; thus making it much better for both man and beast. His barn is a large frame, with stone
383
HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
basement, partitioned off with walls and gates, so as to be convenient for cattle in cold weather. There is a corn-crib in connection with the barn, and all the modern conveniences for keeping and feeding stock. His feed lots are large and his pens commodious, giving ample room for stock to roam about. The great beauty of his feed lots, however, is the three hun- dred or more as fine hogs as can be found anywhere. Hog raising is his speciality, and he is very successful in his business."
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
The first decisive steps toward organizing an Agricultural Society in Dallas county, were taken at a meeting held for that purpose, Dec. 31, 1855, with Archibald Crowl as chairman, and Benjamin Greene as secre- tary. At that meeting a committee was appointed to prepare proper ar- ticles of incorporation, and at a meeting held April 9, 1856, the said com- mittee reported, their report was received, and the articles of incorporation were adopted, and the society duly organized.
The first executive committee of this society were as follows:
John Wilson, of Penoach township; Calvin Marshall, Union township; Isaac Robins, Des Moines township; L. L. Collins, Sugar Grove township; Hooper Morain, Dallas township; Daniel M. Flinn, Boone township.
The first officers of the society were:
President, W. W. Payne; Vice President, J. T. Alexander; Secretary, Benjamin Greene; Treasurer, James D. Ferguson; Marshal, Cole Noel.
The first premium list of the society was adopted September 11, 1856, and the first county fair was held October, 1856. On this occasion the first premiums were all donated to the society, except $9.75, which was duly paid.
The society held fairs regularly during the next four years, with quite a good attendance and considerable interest.
But after 1860 it was allowed to go down and no more county fairs were held until the 3d of April, 1867, when the society was again called to- gether, a full list of officers were elected for that year, and everything was put in running order for a county fair the coming fall.
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