USA > Iowa > Poweshiek County > The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa : containing a history of the County, its cities, towns, &c.,. > Part 45
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James W. Wilson was allowed two dollars and fifty cents, for receiving
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
and discharging the same prisoner, and Gideon Wilson was allowed the sum of one dollar and twenty-eight cents, for lodging said prisoner.
Washington B. Hardin was allowed four dollars, for making seal press, for the clerk's office.
The County Judge, Clerk, and Recorder made an exhibit of the amount of fees by them respectively received, and the same was found to amount to $15.40, which was equally divided between them, as a part of their salary.
The foregoing is a very full synopsis of the record made at the first term of the county court. The second term, a special one, was held December 23, 1851. At this term, there was nothing done, but the granting of sun- dry bills.
The third term was held on the sixth of January, 1852. We glean the following from the record of that term:
The County Judge, Clerk, and Recorder made an exhibit of fees received, which were found to amount to the sum of $21.80.
David Cassidy was allowed one dollar, for work done on the court- house, and James B. Johnson was allowed two hundred and five dollars, for plastering the court-house, from which we are led to suppose that the building of the court-house was commenced by the County Commission- ers, and was yet in an uncompleted condition, at the beginning of the County Judge's administration.
In the record of the February term, we find the following rather ambig- nous order:
"Ordered, That John Redmond be allowed the sum of fifty cents, for his services as Coroner, in the case of The State of Iowa vs. John Snow."
In the record of the Court for the August term, 1852, we find the fol- lowing:
" Now come Alexander Caldwell, and Minerva, his wife, residents of the County of Poweshiek, and State of Iowa, and show to the Court that Phobe Matilda Caldwell, their natural daughter, aged eleven years, is blind, and entitled to the benefits of the Code, in relation to deaf, dumb, and blind persons.
" It is therefore ordered that the Clerk certify that fact, together with the name and age of the unfortunate, and the names of her parents, to the Superintendent of Public Instruction."
Judge Ogden's term of service was terminated in August, 1857, when Alanson Jones was elected his successor. Mr. Jones held the office for two years. Among other things, we notice the order for the payment of
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
the claims of the township officers, for services at the election, August 3, 1857. We give the names of the officers, as given:
Bear Creek Township .- Trustees: Thomas Farquar, Jesse Drake, J. J. Watson. Clerks: Robert Talbot, John E. Skinner.
Madison .- Trustees: Silas Frank, Stephen Young, Jacob Harmon. Clerks: William H. Wood, Henry E. Bagentos.
Jefferson .- Trustees: James Sumner, Norman Parks, Eli M. Doughty. Clerks: J. R. Duffield, J. R. Crawford.
Warren .- Trustees: Isaac Drake, T. B. Switzer, Crandell Rosecrans. Clerks: Robert C. Shiner, John Clark.
Sugar Creek .- Trustees: D. W. Nichols, R. L. Steel, John McDowell. Clerks; Joseph Applegate, and William Crow.
Grinnell .- Judges: George W. Crane, O. M. Perkins, Abraham Whit- comb. Clerks: A. F. Gillette, and
Jackson Township .- Judges: W. B. Harden, Wm. Beason, J. M. Dry- den. Clerks: Cyrus Rayburn, and Thomas Oldham.
Deep River .- Judges: Ephriam Cox, John Morgan, Asa Coho. Clerks: Myron Whitney, and Thos. Harris.
Washington .- Trustees: G. M. Beeler, G. F. Robberts, D. D. Prosser. Clerks: R. C. Carpenter, and A. H. Higgett.
Judge Jones went out of office in 1859, and was succeeded by John M. Talbot, who served till 1861. In 1861, the office of County Judge ceased to be the head of the executive affairs of the County, those duties being, after that time, lodged with the Board of Supervisors. The office, how- ever, was continned till 1868, when it was abolished. The duties of the County Judge from 1861 to 1868 were very similar to those now discharged by the County Auditor.
THE TOWNSHIP SYSTEM.
The County Judge system for the management of county finances ex- pired January 1st, 1851, and was succeeded by a Board of Supervisors con- sisting of thirteen members, one from each township. The first session was beld January 7th, 1861.
In the election of this first Board the law provided that each township should elect one Supervisor and that half of the number of Supervisors should hold the office for one year and the rest for two years. The question as to who should hold for one year and who for two years was to be decided by lot. The Board at its first session also elected from their own number a chairman, who should serve for one year. The following is a list of the persons composing the first Board:
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
NAME. TOWNSHIP.
TERM.
Wm. Boswell Jackson 1 year.
. John Moore
Union.
1 year.
A. F. Page Sugar Creek .2 years.
P. S. Pearce.
. Washington
.2 years.
G. A. Gilmore . Grinnell . .1 year.
J. W. Sherman .
. Chester.
.1 year.
P. P. Raymond.
Malcom
.2 years.
John Swaney
Bear Creek
.1 year.
Robt. Manatt Warren. 2 years.
John Wilson Jefferson 2 years.
Uriah Jones
Madison
1 year.
L. D. Musseter Deep River 2 years ·
John Cassidy.
Pleasant.
. 1 year.
John Cassidy was elected chairman for one year. Five committees were appointed as follows:
Finance-G. A. Gilmore, P. P. Raymond and Uriah Jones.
Claims-Peter S. Pearce, J. W. Sherman and A. F. Page.
Roads-William Boswell, John Wilson.
County Buildings-L. D. Musseter, John Swaney.
Poor-John Moore, Robert Manatt.
This miniature legislature had charge of county affairs during the most critical period of the county's history, and while the management was in the main satisfactory, the body proved to be too cumbersome, and while, theoretically, the various sections of the county were represented in the Board, practically, it was usually the case that one man of more than the average intelligence and force of character controlled the entire Board; and if he chose to engage in some little job he had the less hesitancy in so doing from the fact that there were twelve others with whom he could share the responsibility. After an experiment of ten years the township system was legislated out of existence and in its stead was introduced the present sys- tem of three Supervisors, which is virtually the same as the first Board of County Commissioners. Thus after experimenting for years, first with a Board of one, then with a Board of thirteen, we have got back to the origi- nal plan. Who will not say that legislation does not repeat itself and that political minds at least move in circles. The plan of a Board of three is doubtless the best which could be devised. While it does not leave the management of affairs in the hands of a single individual, it still leaves the matter with a Board which can transact business with expedition, and this body is of sufficient dignity and standing to secure as members men of
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
intelligence and ability. It has come to be generally admitted that the best men in the county ought to be selected for this office.
The first session of the Board began January 8, 1871. The members first elected to this office were D. Vanderver, C. G. Carmichael and A. J. Wood. The Board organized by electing A. J. Wood chairman, and the County Judge became ex officio clerk of the Board. During the time that the administration of county affairs has been in charge of this Board the affairs of the county have, in the main, been economically and intelligently administered. During this period many bridges, some of which are of great value, have been erected, and the population, and consequently the business, of the county has grown immensely. More business is now transacted at each quarterly meeting of the Board than was originally transacted by the County Judge during his entire term.
ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.
From the records now in existence the exact date of the organization of the first townships cannot be determined. This much is known, however, that the county was originally subdivided into three townships, and this arrangement continued till 1852. According to this first arrangement the townships were named Sugar Creek, Jackson, and Bear Creek. Sugar Creek township included the entire portion of the present townships of Sugar Creek, Washington, Grinnell and Chester, and the west half of Union, Pleasant, Malcom and Sheridan. Jackson comprised the present township of Jackson, Deep River, the south part of Lincoln and Scott, the southeast quarter of Pleasant, and a strip from the east side of Union, one mile wide. Bear Creek township comprised the remainder of the county.
On the 2d day of February, 1852, the first steps were taken to organize Washington township. The record is as follows:
" And now at this day the petition of sundry citizens of Sugar Creek township, praying for a division of said township, and, after being fully heard and inspected, it is ordered by the court that a township by the name of Washington be laid off from the north side of Sugar Creek township, beginning where the south line of township No. 79, range 15, crosses the east line of Sugar Creek township, and running west with said town- ship line to the west line of Poweshiek county; thence north with the county line to the north line of said county; thence east with the said county line to the east line of said Sugar Creek township; thence south with said township line to the place of beginning."
In accordance with the provisions of this order Washington township was organized, the election for that purpose having been held on the first
384
HISTORY OR POWESHIEK COUNTY.
Monday in April, 1852. At this election there were fifteen votes cast, the names of the voters having already been given at another place.
The first measures for the organization of Jefferson township were taken March 6, 1854. The record is as follows:
"Now at this day came the petition of sundry citizens of Bear Creek township, praying for a division of said township, and, after being fully inspected, it is ordered that a township called Jefferson be laid off from the north side of said Bear Creek township, commencing at the northeast corner of Poweshiek county, running thence west to the northeast corner of Washington township, thence south six miles to the line dividing town- ships 80 and 81, thence east on said line to the eastern line of said county, thence north to the place of beginning, embracing two half congressional townships, and that the first election held in said township be held on the first Monday in April next at the house of Norman Parks."
Early in the year 1855 the citizens of Bear Creek township became desirous for another subdivision of the township and on the 5th day of March, of that year, an order was issued to that effect. The order is as follows:
"Now, on this day, came the petition of citizens of Bear Creek township, praying for the organzation of a new township, and thereupon, it was ordered by the court that a new township be stricken off bounded as follows:
"Commencing at the northeast corner of township No 80, range 13, and run thence west on said township line to the northwest corner of said town- ship; thence south to the southern boundary line of Bear Creek township; thence east along said boundary line, to the county line between the counties .of Poweshiek and Iowa; thence north along said county line to the place of beginning, said township to be called, known and styled Warren, and that the first election in said township, be held at the school-house on the land of A. S. Ross.
On the 9th day of March, 1855, was issued the following order:
"STATE OF IOWA,
"POWESHIEK COUNTY.
" The State of Iowa, to Edward Griswold, greeting:
"You are hereby commanded to proceed to the organization of Warren township, by posting up copies of the accompanying notice, in three of the most public places in said township, at least fifteen days before the day of said election, and fail not under the penalty of the law.
"R. B. OGDEN, County Judge. -
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
"NOTICE.
"There will be an election held at the school-house on the land of A. S. Ross, in Warren township, Poweshiek county, Iowa, for the election of Commissioners, etc., Register of the Des Moines River Improvement Com- pany, County Surveyer, two Justices of the Peace, three Township Trustees, one Clerk, one Assessor, and as many Supervisors as there are districts in said township. Also, a vote taken by ballot for and against the prohibitory liquor law.
"R. B. OGDEN, County Judge."
At this election the following officers were elected:
Justices of the Peace-Charles Comstock and John Morrison.
Trustees-Robert Manatt, Sam'l Drisminend, Isaac Drake.
Clerk-W. H. Elliott.
Assessor-Robert Manatt, Jr.
Constables-W. A. Negley, Thos. Manatt.
Supervisors-Robert Manatt, Wm. Scott.
Madison township was organized at the April election, 1855. The fol- lowing was the order of the court, made March 5th, 1855:
Now comes the petition of the citizens of township 81, range 14, asking to be organized into a civil township. Wherefore it was ordered by the court that a township be organized, described and bounded as follows, to-wit: Commencing at the northeast corner of township 81, range 14, on the county line between the counties of Poweshiek and Tama, and run thence west along the said county line to the northwest corner of section 4, township 81, range 15, thence south to the northwest corner of section 33, in said township and range; thence east to the southeast corner of township 81, range 14, thence north along said township line to the place of begin- ning. Said township to be known and named Madison township. And it is further ordered that the first election in said township be held at the house of - -, on the first Monday in April next.
Owing to the large immigration into the county during the years 1854 and 1855 there were a great many townships organized at that time. We have already noticed the organization of three townships during the spring of 1855, and there remains to be noted the organization of still another at the same time, viz., Grinnell. The order was as follows:
" Marclı 6th, 1855. Now comes the petition of the citizens of Grinnell asking to be organized into a civil township. Wherefore it was ordered that the following described territory be organized into a township, called, named and styled Grinnell: Commencing at the northeast corner of section 5, in township 81, range 15, and running thence west on the line between
386
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
the counties of Poweshiek and Tama to the northwest corner of Poweshiek county; thence south on the county line between the counties of Poweshiek . and Jasper to the southwest corner of section 19, township 80, range 16; thence east along said section line to the southeast corner of section 20, in township 80, range 15; thence north along said section line to the place of beginning. And it was further ordered that the first election held in the township be held at the house of George W. Chambers on the first Monday in April, 1855."
Deep River township was organized in the spring of 1857. The follow- ing is the order:
"Now, to-wit, March 2d, 1857, comes William Carroll and presents a petition of many citizens of Jackson township, praying for a division of said township. And after having been fully heard and inspected it is ordered by the court that a township by the name of Deep River be laid off from the east side of said Jackson township, bounded as follows, to-wit: Com- mencing at the northeast corner of section 24, township 79, range 13, and running thence west six miles to the line dividing ranges 13 and 14; thence south on the said line to the south boundary of said county; thence east to the southeast corner of said county; thence north on the county line between the counties of Poweshiek and Iowa to the place of beginning."
According to the provisions of this order Deep River township was organized, the first election being held on the first Monday of April, 1857.
Pleasant township was organized under the administration of Judge Alanson Jones, in the spring of 1858. Here follows the order:
"Now, to-wit, on the 1st day of March, 1858, G. N. Wilson and others filed in this office a petition praying for the organization of a new township, to be constituted out of congressional township number 79, range 15 west. After due consideration of the premises it is ordered by the court that a new township be formed so as to include congressional township number 79, range 15 west, and to be called Pleasant township, and to be bounded by the boundaries of said congressional township number 79, range number 15 west."
The township was accordingly organized by the election of township offi- cers on the first Monday of April, 1858.
Union township was organized in the fall of 1858. In the records of the County Judge, we find the following order:
" Be it remembered, that on the 6th day of September, 1858, Levi Ham- bleton filed in this office a petition praying for the organization of a new township, to be constituted as follows, to-wit: Commencing on the county line between the counties of Poweshiek and Mahaska, at the section corner
387
HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
between sections 34 and 35, in township 78, range 15; thence north six miles to the line between township 78 and 79; thence west four miles to township line of township 78, range 16; thence south on said range line, six miles; thence east four miles to the place of beginning. After due con- sideration it is ordered by the court that a new township be formed, to be bounded as follows: Beginning on the county line between the counties of Poweshiek and Mahaska, at the section corner between sections 34 and 35; thence north upon said section line, six miles, to the section corner between sections two and three, on the township line dividing townships 78 and 79; thence west four miles on said township line to the northeast corner of sec- tion 6 in township 778, range 15; thence south on the range line, dividing ranges 15 and 16, to the county line; thence east on the county line to the place of beginning, and the township to be called and named Union town- ship."
The first election was probably held early in October of that year, and we read that Martin Snyder was elected one of the first justices of the peace.
Malcom township was organized at the same time. The order was as follows:
" Now, to-wit, on the 10th day of September, 1858, L. E. Cardell, and others, filed in this office a petition asking for the organization of a new township, to be constituted out of the congressional township No. 80, range 15. After due consideration of the premises, it is ordered by the court that a new township be formed so as to include congressional town- ship No. 80, range 15, and to be called Malcom township, and to be bounded by the boundaries of said congressional township."
The order was issued to L. E. Cardell to give notice to the qualified voters of the said territory to meet at the house of E. Cardell on the second Tuesday of October following, and elect officers for the township of Malcom.
Chester township was organized under the administration of Judge Talbott, in the fall of 1860. The following order is on record:
" Now, to-wit, on the 22d day of October, 1860, D. F. Hays and others, filed in this office a petition asking for the organization of a new township to be constituted out of congressional township 81, range 16, and the west half of congressional township 81, range 15. After due consideration it is ordered by the court that a new township be organized so as to include con- gressional township 81, range 16, and the west half of congressional town- ship 81, range 15, and to be called Chester township, and to bounded as aforesaid."
The townships of Scott, Lincoln and Sheridan were formed in more recent time. It is very interesting to note the gradual growth of township organ-
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
izations from the original three townships to the present number of sixteen. The brief outline of this growth as already given, of itself affords a good idea of the growth of the county in population and the development of its material resources. Of the three original townships Jackson was the small- est, and although it has lost some of its original territory it has lost less than either of the others, and is now the largest. Thus we find that Sugar Creek township first lost about three-fourths of its original territory in 1852 by the creation of Washington township. Three years later Washington lost two-thirds of its territory by the formation of Grinnell township, and in 1860 Grinnell lost one-half of its territory in the formation of Chester Bear Creek township as originally constituted, like an apple has been pared off from all sides till now there is but the core left; unlike an apple core, however, the part left has always been the most valuable part.
The civil townships as now constituted will doubtless remain for some time. With the exception of Jackson and Union they all correspond with congressional townships, and are each six miles square. When there are no natural barriers this is the best possible arrangement, and there is not likely to arise any cause necessitating a change.
The courts' official records of Poweshiek county while they are meagre, yet some of them show great care in keeping, while in some cases the spell- ing, punctuation and penmanship are curiosities to behold; yet it must be remembered that they lately inaugurated the "spelling reform " which is now becoming such a mania. Few of the old records have been copied, and yet there are some of the books in a good state of preservation, and the writing is as legible as the day when the entries were first made.
According to the District Court journal the first term of court was held in 1852, but it is said that a short term was held at the house of Rev. James B. Johnson in 1850, before the first court-house was erected. If there was such a court held, the record of its proceedings has been lost. The first District Court record now in existence is particularly well preserved. Thanks to the liberal appropriation made for books by the county commis- sioners, these records were made in books which up to the present time have withstood the ravages of rats and the tooth of time. Mr. Moore, the first clerk, and his successor, Mr. Adams, were both good penmen, and though neither of them were scholars of more than ordinary ability, yet they were careful and industrious-two qualifications more important in a clerk than scholarship. These officials were careful, industrious and reli- able; although it has been over a quarter of a century since the records were made, they compare favorably with the best records of recent date when we recollect that at first the quality of the books, both as respects
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HISTORY OF POWESHIEK COUNTY.
the quality of the paper and the binding, was inferior; that the county clerk attended to all the work of the office without the aid of a deputy; and owing to his meager salary was compelled to spend a large portion of his time earning a living by working on a farm; and further, that for many years there was no suitable place to keep the records, the fact appears that the county must have been most fortunate in the selection of its first public officials.
In most instances throughout the State, courts were held in the several counties the same year they were organized. In this particular Poweshiek county furnishes an exception to the rule, no court having been held here certainly for two years after the organization of the county, and possibly none for four years. We are unable to account for this, except on the hypothesis that the people of the county were exceptionally peaceable, and the judge having a large district to travel over, and being in very poor health, was by the unexampled peaceableness of Poweshiek permitted to devote all his time and what energies he possessed to the quarrelsome liti- gants of the rest of his district. It must not be supposed that the absence of courts during the first years of the county's history can be accounted for on the grounds that there was no court-house. Courts in those days were independent of court-houses. There is every reason to believe that had there been occasion for holding court, the lack of a court-room would not have been considered an insurmountable obstacle. In certain counties the first courts were held in private residences, and there is at least one instance where the court was held out of doors. In the old county of Slaughter the judge tried a case under the shade of a grove of cottonwood trees, and when the evidence was all in and the judge had given his charge, the jury retired to an adjoining slough to consider a verdict. When the first term of court was held in Keokuk county there was no house except a shanty which the clerk had erected, in or around the county seat. The judge and jury, law- yers and court officers assembled during the forenoon, and after some pre- liminary business was transacted, the court adjourned two miles into the country for dinner. As before remarked, the first term of court of which there is any record was held in the court-house in Montezuma in October, 1852. The following is copied from the record:
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