USA > Iowa > Black Hawk County > The history of Black Hawk County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion > Part 40
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THE JAIL.
Among the first matters presented to the Board of Supervisors was a petition asking that an appropriation be made for the erection of a County Jail, which was presented January 9, and referred to the Committee on County Buildings and Property. The petitioners probably considered a jail a necessary adjunct of civilization, and that every well-ordered county should have one. For eight years they had been deprived of the safety supposed to be guaranteed to a com- munity by suitable provisions for restraining its lawless members, and the time had come when the want must be supplied.
After due deliberation, and with an eye to economy, on the 10th of January, 1861, the committee reported as follows:
To the Board of Supervisors of Black Hawk County :
Your committee to whom was referred the petition of C. D. Gray and others, asking this Board to take immediate steps to procure some suitable place for the confinement of criminals, beg leave to report as follows : We find that the county is entirely without any sufficient place for the safe-keeping of public offenders, and that the county is continuously subject to very heavy bills of expense in procuring temporary places for the safe-keeping of such persons, demanding, as your committee believe, immediate action on the part of this Board to make some suitable arrangements therefor. We would therefore recommend that the room in the basement of the north corner of the Court House. originally contemplated for that purpose, be put in such con- dirion as will meet the demands in the case.
Your committee have not yet determined what, in their opinion, would be the best mode of doing the same, but would recommend that in case the report of this committee be adopted, a special committee be appointed, whose duty it shall be to superintend the work, and that they be instructed to limit their expenditures to four hundred dollars. All of which is respectfully submitted.
J. WASSON,
D. E. CHAMPLIN, & Committee. M. H. MOORE.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
If there had been extravagant expenditures in the construction of the Court House, the committee were determined that there should be none in providing a jail. The Board, however, evidently thinking that a four hundred dollar jail would be rather too cheap an affair, amended the report by substituting " six hundred " for " four hundred " dollars as the maximum cost of the county jail. As thus amended the report was accepted and the recommendations of the com- mittee were adopted. The next day, however, this action was reconsidered and the report was further amended by substituting "east " in place of " north," so that it should read " the room in the basement of the east corner," etc .. and as thus amended was again adopted. The Chairman of the Board appointed Messrs. Wasson, Champlin and Moore as the Special Committee to supervise the work.
June 7, 1861, Mr. Moore reported to the Board that work was to be com- menced forthwith, and on the 2d day of September of the same year the com- mittee reported that they had caused to be built in the basement, as designated, two cells and one outer room, at a total cost of $391.48. .
This was providing the county with a jail at a trifling expense ; but it is questionable whether it is sound policy or true economy to have jails connected with Court Houses. Fayette County built a lock-up in one corner of her Court House, and the result was that a prisoner in escaping set fire to the building, and the county had to build a new Court House, besides losing many valuable records and papers that cannot be replaced. A fire is liable to originate in the Black Hawk County Jail, and the county be subjected to irreparable loss in con- sequence. Basements of Court Houses are not the best possible locations for jails.
In April, 1861, commenced the war of the rebellion, and Black Hawk County was one of the foremost in the State to respond to the call of the Presi- dent, a more extended account of which will be found under the head of " War Record."
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.
June 6, 1861, by resolution, the Board of Supervisors set off Congressional Township 87 north of Range 14 west, from Black Hawk Township, as a new civil division of the county, called Lincoln Township, in which an election for township officers was ordered to be held on the second Tuesday in October fol- lowing. At this election Samuel B. Roberts, Samuel Gibson and H. Beckwith were Judges, and Samuel Marston and William Wrought, Clerks, of the election. William Wrought, Samuel Gibson and J. Huckel were elected Trustees.
It is said that the township received its name from the fact that at the Presi- dential election in 1860, there were fifteen voters in the township, every one of whom voted for Abraham Lincoln.
The first settler in this township was Samuel Gibson.
The Zion Baptist Church of Lincoln was organized in Eagle Township, on January 3, 1869, by Rev. J. W. Thompson, with ten members. William P. Thompson was its first and only Clerk. In the Winter of 1869-70, a pro- tracted meeting was held, during which twenty-one were added, and L. H. Thompson licensed to preach. June 15, 1870, a council met with the church and recognized it. Rev. D. S. Starr, of Cedar Falls, preached on the occa- sion. March 10, 1872, the place of meeting was changed to the school house, in sub-district No. 4, Lincoln Township. Present membership, forty.
January 8, 1862, by order of the Board, all that portion of East Waterloo Township lying in Township 88, Range 13, was attached to Orange Township.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
January 9, 1862, all that portion of Congressional Township 87, Range 11, lving south of Cedar River-then a portion of Spring Creek-was attached to Big Creek Township; and all that portion of Township 87, Range 12, lying on the east side of Cedar River-then a portion of Poyner Township-was attached to Spring Creek. But in June, the latter action was revoked, and the land re-annexed to Poyner Township.
The Board met in special session February 27, 1863, to pass resolutions of respect to the memory of John Hackett, a member of the Board, who had died a short time previous.
The Board of Supervisors early began to devise measures for providing for the support of those who were so unfortunate as to become objects of public charity. The purchase of a County Poor Farm, for the purpose of furnishing a comfortable home for this class, and also to furnish them with employment whereby they might earn at least a portion of the cost of their support, was considered advisable; but the Board did not wish to take the responsibility of appropriating public moneys for the purpose, without first submitting the ques- tion to the people. Accordingly, on the 8th day of June, 1865, a resolution was adopted, as follows:
Resolved, That the Clerk of this Board be instructed to give legal notice to the voters of Black Hawk County, Iowa, that, at the next general election, in October next, a proposition will be submitted to said voters, authorizing the Board of Supervisors of said Black Hawk County to appropriate from the funds of said county a sum not to exceed $10,000 (ten thousand dollars), for the purpose of purchasing real estate in the name of the county of Black Hawk, Iowa, and improving the same, to be used for the benefit and purpose of supporting the paupers of the said county of Black Hawk.
The election was held, as ordered, and resulted in favor of the proposed appropriation, by a vote of 1,125 to 273.
January 4, 1866, the Board of Supervisors adopted the following resolution :
Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Board to select lands within the county of Black Hawk, State of Iowa, not to exceed 200 acres, and improve the same, in the name of said county of Black Hawk, for the purpose and to be used for the support of the pau- pers of said county of Black Hawk ; said purchase to be made with moneys to be appropriated by said county, as voted at the general election of said county, not to exceed $10,000. And the Clerk of this Board be authorized to issue county warrants, bearing 10 per cent. interest, for the same, to said Committee of Three, not to exceed $10,000.
The committee was to be paid $2.50 per day.
Messrs. C. May, A. A. Alline and H. W. Abbey were appointed as the committee provided in the above resolution ; but for some reason they resigned on the same day on which they were appointed, and a new committee, consisting of William Gilchrist, N. Hitchcock and A. Vittam, was elected. This commit- tee was further authorized to employ a suitable person for Superintendent of the Poor Farm, when it should be ready for occupancy.
June 5, 1866, the committee reported that it had examined a number of farms, but had selected and purchased the farm owned by Mr. Russell, on the west side of the Cedar River, containing 120 acres, at $30 per acre ; and that Mr. Russell had executed a warranty deed of the premises ; that the committee had requested the Clerk to issue bonds therefor, but it was discovered that the Board had no legal authority to issue bonds, and Mr. Russell refused to accept the warrants provided for by the resolution of January 4. This was the offi- cial record.
The report was accepted and the committee discharged. It is said that this bargain was not consummated because Mr. Russell refused to take county war- rants at their face; he would take them at a discount, but the committee were not authorized to comply with this demand.
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
The purchase of a farm appears to have been abandoned with this failure to consummate the trade with Mr. Russell. But on the 5th day of September, another committee was appointed, consisting of Messrs. William Gilchrist, D. E. Champlin and C. May, "to purchase a lot, not exceeding twenty acres, for poor purposes.
September 5, 1866, a committee was appointed to purchase a lot not exceed- ing twenty acres for poor purposes ; Wm. Gilchrist, D. E. Champlin and C. May, Committec.
Tuesday, January 8, 1867, this Committee reported that they had purchased the private residence of Mr. Gilchrist (Block 21, Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4), for $3,500. Mr. Gilchrist was a member of the Purchasing Committee and it is said suc- ceeded in making a bargain advantageous to himself, with himself.
January 8, 1868, the Directors of the Poor House (Samuel D. Shaw and W. F. Bunn) reported that an addition to the house had been built at a cost of $1,320.68.
A portion of the county poor are provided for at this house, but many are relieved by Township Trustees and by the county in addition to those then furnished with a home at the County Poor House. The first Superintendent was H. A. Henderson, who served until 1877, when he was succeeded by George K. Beal.
January 9, 1867, on petition of citizens, the Board ordered that that por- tion of East Waterloo Township known as Cedar City be annexed to Cedar Falls Township.
On Saturday, July 21, 1866, the people of Black Hawk County were excited by the startling intelligence that a little girl 3} years old, daughter of Mr. Barney E. Wheeler, of Lester Township, had unaccountably disappeared. About 9 o'clock A. M. of that day, she and her brother, several years older, went to carry some water to their father who was at work in the field about sixty rods from the house. Their errand performed, the children started to return to the house. The little girl was a little slow in her movements, and her brother became impatient and went home, leaving her to take her time. Mrs. Wheeler asked him where he left his sister, and he told her, "at the edge of the cornfield." As the little one did not come in, her mother went out to the spot where the little boy said he left her, but she was not there. Mr. Wheeler was called from his work, and both commenced search, having become thoroughly alarmed ; but no trace of the lost one could be found. The neighborhood was alarmed, and by 3 o'clock P. M. all the neighbors in the vicinity were engaged in the search. During that night men were stationed all around the houses for several miles who were listening eagerly to hear the cries of the child. The next morning two men said they thought they heard cries near a slough in the vicinity, but a thorough search in that locality revealed nothing. On Sun- day, the whole county was aroused and at least 200 people, mostly on horse- back, were engaged in the search, but not a trace of the missing child could be found. It was as if the little one had been removed from the face of the earth. On Monday the excitement and sympathy for the mysteriously bereaved family became intense. All work was thrown aside, for everybody felt that to aid in the search for the lost one was a sacred duty. From all parts of the county, and from Bremer, the people gathered. From twenty-five to one hun- dred men went every day from Waterloo alone, and for ten days the most vigorous search was maintained. The county was swept for miles by mounted men and men on foot, and every foot of ground supposed to be carefully examined. Several large fields of grain were trampled down, and the prairie
355
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
grass and hazel brush flattened to the ground for miles, but yet no trace of the lost one. The most exaggerated reports were in circulation. Now, a lightning rod man had seen a child crying at the road side, and now, somebody had seen her with two men in a wagon traveling northward ; now, she had been seen and described by a lady in Fayette County ; anon, was heard from in Minnesota. " One thing is evident," said the Waterloo Courier of the 2d of August, "the child must be some distance from home, for everything has been searched within four or five miles around the house." Mr. Wheeler, although a poor man, offered $300 reward for information that would lead to the discovery of his daughter. As the people became satisfied that the child had been spirited away and would not be found in the vicinity of home, the search was abandoned; but Mr. Wheeler continued to follow the rumors as long as his money held out. George Barker, of Lester, followed the trail of the team driven by a man who had been seen with the child, to the Mississippi River at Dubuque, and visited every ferry and crossing from that point to the mouth of Yellow River, but was compelled to return home without discovering any trace of the object of his search.
On Saturday morning, November 3d, Mr. Siple, a neighbor of the Wheelers, was engaged in trapping near his house, when his attention was attracted to a little clump of hazel bushes surrounded by some tall grass, by the singular con- duct of his dog. Here, upon examination, he found the bones of a child; the clothing, however, was in a good state of preservation and enabled him to- identify the remains as those of the little child who had so mysteriously disap- peared more than three months before. The spot was about one-fourth of a mile from Mr. Siple's house, and only about a mile and a quarter from Mr. Wheeler's ; and it is among the mysteries that are difficult to solve to under- stand how the spot could have escaped discovery during the minute and extended search made in July and August.
January 11, 1867, the county authorities authorized the County Treasurer to pay a bounty of 10 cents for each pocket-gopher scalp presented. These little pests had become so numerous and so injurious to the agricultural interests of the county, that for several years about $1,000 annually was paid out for bounties on these little animals.
June 10, 1875, the Board of Supervisors authorized the payment of a bounty of 10 cents for each gray and 5 cents for each striped gopher presented during a term of sixty days.
The first bridge across the Cedar in this county was built by subscription by G. W. Couch, contractor. It was constructed on wooden piers, and was opened to the public in September, 1859. In 1864 or '65, two spans of this bridge fell and were replaced; but in the freshet soon afterward, the entire structure was swept away. June 6, 1866, the County Board appropriated $5,000 to build a new bridge across the river at this point, which was completed in 1867 at a cost of $9,269.75. Four years afterward, in 1871, it was- found necessary to provide for a better and more permanent structure, and August 16, 1871, the County Supervisors
Ordered, That the sum of $8,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be appropriated out of the bridge fund to build necessary abutments, and not more than four piers, for a new bridge on the site of the present bridge across the Cedar River, in the city of Waterloo; and that the Board of Supervisors act in Committee of the Whole to receive proposals, and let the contract iu whole or in part for furnishing material and for building said abutments and piers.
September 6, 1871, in the matter of the Waterloo bridge, the Board not having authority to appropriate more than $12,000 for any one bridge, and
356
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
having already appropriated $8,000 for building the abutments and piers, submitted the question of appropriating $18,000 for the superstructure to a vote of the people, at the general election on the second Tuesday in October, 1871.
September 9, 1871, on petition of the citizens of Waterloo, it was ordered that the east end of the new bridge be at the center of the county road, and that the west end be at the center of Bridge street, as near as practicable.
December 4, 1871, a canvass of the election showed that there were 892 votes for the appropriation for Waterloo bridge, and 912 against said appropria- tion. Appropriation lost.
January 3, 1872, the Board appropriated $4,700 (the limit allowed by law) for Waterloo bridge.
Feb. 17, 1872, an appropriation of $14,000 was made for the construction of the Waterloo bridge, and A. T. Weatherwax, H. B. Allen, and L. A. Cobb, were authorized to receive proposals for the building of the same. This Com- mittee was instructed to report the proposals to the County Bridge Commis- sion, who were authorized to award the same.
The contract was awarded to the Ohio Bridge Company, and April 11, 1872, a further appropriation of $1,900 was made. Work was commenced on the bridge and completed in the Summer and Fall of 1872, probably in Septem- ber, as on the 4th of that month the Board ordered warrants to be drawn in favor of the Ohio Bridge Company in payment for building the Waterloo bridge.
IRON BRIDGE AT CEDAR FALLS.
December 17, 1872, $11,000 was appropriated for an iron bridge at Cedar Falls, the County Bridge Commissioners to award the contract, and G. B. Van Saun, A. S. Smith and E. Townsend appointed to superintend the building of the same.
June 12, 1868, the Committee on County Buildings and Property reported as follows:
* We would further recommend to this Board the building of a house or the procuring of one suitable for the Sheriff to live in, near the jail, that he may be better prepared to take charge of the jail and prevent the escape of prisoners-said house to cost not more than $1,000. * * A. T. WEBSTER, S. A. COBB, D. E. CHAMPLIN,
Committee.
This report was laid on the table until next session, but on the 10th of Sep- tember was taken up and adopted. The site for the proposed house was desig- nated as the northeast corner of the Court House lot, by the Board, and Messrs. D. E. Champlin and W. F. Brown were appointed to superintend its erection. Work was commenced at once, and pushed so energetically that the Sheriff's domicile was completed in December, 1868.
Three children, sons of Israel Scroggy, of Cedar Township, were drowned Feb. 16, 1869, in a small pond about eighty rods north of the Doxie School House. It was at noon, and the boys of the school were engaged in throwing a ball across the pond, the teacher, George S. Bishop, participating. The teacher threw the ball, which William and Wesley Scroggy ran out upon the pond to catch, when the ice broke, letting them into the water, which was six or eight feet deep. Abram ran out to try and save them, but was pulled in by William. An effort was made by another boy, named Johnson, to get them out, but it was a failure. After being in the water three-quarters of an hour, the boys were taken out by Thomas Doxie and Abraham Turner.
S. A, Bishop
NURSERYMAN CEDAR FALLS,
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HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
The following unique document is found in the early probate records of Benton County, and is given verbatim et literatim.
STATE OF IOWA, BENTON COUNTY, SS : This is to certify that I hereby commit the guard- ianship of Lidia Ann Willard to Jackson Taylor, until she attains the age of eighteen years of age if he should so long live, if not otherwise ordered by the Judge of Probate of said County and the Jackson Tailor to have full power and authority to sue for demand of and have all powers granted to guardians by law. Given under my hand and seal this the 7th day of May, A. D. 1847, James Mitchel Judge of Probate of Benton Co .. State of Iowa.
JAMES MITCHEL, Judge ef Probate.
Know all men by these presents that I, Jackson Tailor and Erasmus D. Adams are helde and stands firmly bound to the people of the State of Iowa for the use of Lidia Ann Willard in the sum of fifty dollars The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above hound Jackson Tailor, who has been appointed guardian for Lidiann Willard shal fithfully discharge the office and trust of such guardian according to law and shall render a fair and just acc of his said guardianship to the Court of Probate for the County of Beriton from time to time as he shal thereto be required by said Courte and comply with all orders of said Courte lawfully made relative to the goods chattels and moneys of such minor and render and pay to such all moneys goods and chattels title, papers and effects which may come to the hands or possession of such guardian belonging to such minor when such minor shall thereto be entitled or to any subsequent guardian should such Courte so direct this obligation shall be void or otherwise to remain in full force and virtue this the - day of May 1847.
JACKSON TAILOR, [Seal. ]
ERASMUS D. ADAMS, [Seal. ]
Approved by the Judge of Probate James Michel this the 28th day of May, 1847. JAMES MITCHEL, Judge of Probate.
Filde this the 28th day of May, 1847.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true coppy of the papers that came to my pos- session in the office of Probate Court in the Guardianship of Lydia Ann Willard, ward of Jack- son Tailor.
Given under my hand this 20th day of Jan. A. D. 1852.
JOHN S. FORSYTH, County Judge.
POST OFFICES AND POSTMASTERS.
Cedar Falls .- Demsey C. Overman, Jan. 3, 1850; Edwin Brown, Nov. 11, 1851; Andrew Mullarky, April 14, 1853; Sylvester H. Packard, Sept. 16, 1856 ; Robt. P. Speer, March 2, 1858; Andrew Mullarky, March 29, 1858 ; Geo. M. Harris, March 20, 1861 ; Henry A. Perkins, March 14, 1865 ; Wm. H. McClure, Aug. 20, 1866 ; Fred. Boehmler, March 20, 1867 ; Wm. M. Morrison, May 13, 1869; Chas. W. Snyder, Jan. 13, 1876.
Waterloo .- Chas. Mullan, Dec. 29, 1851; Levi Aldrich, Ang. 12, 1854 ; Julius C. Hubbard, March 23, 1855; Seneca Cleveland, July 1, 1861 : Jere- miah P. Evans, Nov. 2, 1866 ; Horace Barron, March 20, 1867 ; Miss Marion Champlin, March 26, 1869; Wm. H. Hartman, March 10, 1873; Wm. H. Hartman (re-appointed). March 16, 1877.
Eliza .- D. G. Ellis, May 20, 1852 ; John G. Forbes, Jan. 12, 1853; Na- than S. Merrill, Dec. 24, 1855 ; discontinued Nov. 18, 1856.
Enterprise .-- Daniel B. Feeter, Sept. 27, 1853 ; Hutchinson M. Smith, July 23, 1862 ; Wm. Fike, Nov. 16, 1870 ; Harriet Smith, Nov. 19, 1872.
Elk Run .- Daniel G. Ellis, Oct. 1, 1853 ; discontinued July 18, 1856.
Knox .- Manuel E. Mallo, June 15, 1855. Changed to Gilbertrille .- Au- gustus Kammann, June 3, 1858 ; Benj. Winsett, Aug. 10, 1859; Peter Fel- ton, Sept. 13, 1861 ; Benj. Winsett, Dec. 13, 1865 ; Matthew Miller, Oct. 6, 1873.
La Porte City .- Jesse Wasson, July 18, 1855; Lewis Turner, December 28, 1857 ; Wm. L. Fox, February 10, 1858; Cyrus C. Charles, May 2, 1861 : Geo. W. Hayzlett, April 13, 1863; Thomas Bunton, October 16, 1863 : Geo. W. Hayzlett, March 12, 1868 ; John R. Stebbins, January 9, 1874.
E
360
HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK COUNTY.
Barclay .- Israel B. Cowan, September 5, 1855; Jacob Wolf, November 27, 1855; James Muncey, October 12, 1858; Adam Giget, July 1, 1863; James Muncey, August 23, 1864; Edward Basse, March 26, 1867.
Cedar Valley .- Thomas R. Points, March 28, 1856; Philander T. Mead, July 17, 1856; Cicero Close, July 9, 1857 ; Jeremiah Gay, December 22, 1867 ; Cicero C. Close, March 1, 1870.
Blakeville .- Barzilar G. Updike, June 18, 1856 ; James Rodgers, May 11, 1865.
Lester .- John Cook, July 24, 1856: Jonathan R. Owen, October 21, 1859; Levi J. Schrack, January 28, 1862; Sbirburn D. Presba, October 17, 1867 ; Chas. A. Harrington, January 21, 1868 ; Samuel H. Kayler, June 2, 1873.
Hudson .- Lyman Pierce, July 30, 1857 ; Rufus W. Wass, January 28, 1864 ; Philander B. Curtiss, July 13, 1874.
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