USA > Iowa > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns &c., biographical sketches of citizens > Part 66
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The first house built in the town was built in 1841, by Robert Bedford. The second house was the old De Witt IIouse, by A. G. Harrison, in the same year. This was the tavern of the place for several years, and was kept by Col. L. Wheeler at one time, and was the house at which the Judge and lawyers stopped during the session of court. . It is now owned by George L. Wheeler.
Hon. J. D. Bourne built the first frame house, about the year 1842, which is still occupied by himself and family as a residence, and is believed to be the oldest frame house now standing in the county. Thomas F. Butterfield came to De Witt in 1844, in the month of March; was the first merchant to com- mence business in the town. He is, at least, the only merchant in the county now in business who commenced at so early a period.
Mr. Butterfield came to De Witt with a two-horse wagon, with his wife and son Dennis, and his stock of goods, consisting of needles, pins, nutmegs, spices, snuff and other things too tedious to mention. Mr. B. located on the north side of the public square, and occupied the building as a store and dwell- ing. Since that time, he has followed the course of business, and with his son Charles, has a large stock of merchandise on Jefferson street. Mr. B. has been unexceptionally successful, having acquired a large property at legitimate business. He has at various times been honored with public positions by his fellow-citizens, having served the county as Treasurer and Recorder and as member of the Board of Supervisors, and always to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Dennis G., the son, served his country faithfully as Adju- tant of the Twenty-sixth Iowa Infantry Regiment, and is now engaged in the lumber and grain trade in this town.
In 1844, the town population consisted of the following families, viz., Rob- ert Bedford, wife and one child ; Rev. O. Emerson and wife, John Snow, wife and family ; Monroe Warren and wife, John Cotton and family, John Buhler and family, Dr. Metcalfe, William Horan and family, J. D. Bourne (who was
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
at that time unmarried), Alonzo Names, Jacob Lepper, Hon. W. E. Leffing- well, J. S. Stowrs, T. F. Butterfield, wife and child. The population remained nearly stationary until 1850, the business and population being chiefly located around and in the vicinity of the public square. In the year 1856, the build- ing of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad from Clinton to this town gave business a new impetus, and the Iowa Land Company, a corporation with head- quarters at Clinton, purchased of Thomas W. Clark 160 acres of land, being the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 18, Township 81 north, Range + east, and the west half of the southeast quarter of Section 18, Town- ship 81 north, Range + east, paying therefor the sum of $9,225, and situated immediately south of the original town plat, and laid the same out into lots, which they proceeded to dispose of, and named the same South De Witt.
Austin Myers, in 1857, laid out and platted eighty acres, being the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 18, Township 81 north, Range 4 east, and called it Myers' Addition to the town of De Witt. The same year, the Iowa Land Company laid out and platted sixteen acres on the north side of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of Section 18, Township 81 north, Range 4 cast, and called the same the Iowa Land Company's Addition. Fif- teen acres were also laid off in the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 18, Township 81 north, Range 4 east, afterward, and called Riggs' Addition.
INCORPORATION.
In accordance with an act of the Legislature, passed March 23, 1858, a petition, asking that the necessary steps be taken for the incorporation of the town, was presented to Hon. D. McNeil, County Judge, September 20, 1858, who appointed Samuel Clark, A. R. Butler, John C. Polley, E. S. Bailey, Loring Wheeler, E. P. Hubbard and P. J. Shoecraft as agents for such purpose.
An election was ordered by said agents to be held January 7, 1859, at which election the following officers were chosen : Mayor, N. A. Merrell ; Recorder, Alexander Jones : Trustees-C. A. Jones, J. F. Gilmore, E. P. Hubbard, James Allison, E. R. Lee.
The first Council met at the office of E. S. Bailey, and organized January 14, 1859, and passed an ordinance creating the offices of Treasurer, Corpo- ration Counsel, Marshal and Street Commissioner. E. S. Bailey was elected Treasurer; P. C. Wright, Corporation Counsel ; S. Maynard, Marshal, and John M. Gates, Street Commissioner.
ROSTER OF TOWN OFFICERS.
Mayors-N. A. Merrell, 1859-60; A. R. Bissell, 1861; P. C. Wright, 1862; G. H. Lowe, 1863; George Beach, 1864; A. R. Butler, 1865; N. A. Merrell, 1866; Dennis Whitney, 1867; J. M. Gates, 1868; Charles Sclila- bach, 1869; P. C. Wright, 1870; William Fuller, 1871; K. W. Wheeler, 1872; T. F. Butterfield, 1873; J. M. Gates, 1874-75; Andrew Howat, 1876; W. A. Cotton, 1877-78; Andrew Howat, 1879.
Recorders-J. C. Godley, 1859 ; Samuel S. Burdett, 1860; F. A. Howig, 1861-62; William T. Campbell, 1863 ; John Pollock, 1865-66; H. Bairley, 1867; C. Schlabach, 1868 ; R. J. Crouch, 1869; A. W. Jack, 1870-71; W. A. Cotton, 1872-74; G. A. Fuller, 1875; C. J. Hadley, 1876 ; J. G. Pearse, 1877; J. H. Kelley, 1878; R. J. Crouch, 1879.
Trustees-Allison, Lee, Hubbard, Gilmore, C. A. Jones, 1859 ; C. A. Jones, W. R. Ward, John Kelley, S. N. Bedford, C. Egleston, 1860 ; J. Van- degriff, Jr., C. M. West, Thomas F. Butterfield, J. B. Bishop, J. F. Homer,
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
1861; George Beach, Israel Conery, C. E. Webb, G. W. Pearson, H. Bairley, 1862 ; C. Egleston, S. Jones, A. R. Bissell, C. M. West, W. Weymouth, 1863; C. Schlabach, J. S. Gilmore, W. H. McCracken, S. Jones, J. M. Norris, 1864; C. Schlabach, J. M. Norris, B. F. Page, William Rule, Jr., W. H. Talbot, 1865; C. Schlabach, William Rule, Jr., H. Bairley, W. Weymouth, B. R. Ward, 1866 ; William Rule, Jr., W. Familton, S. Cotton, D. Langan, W. Fuller, 1867; W. R. Ward. Isaac Rhodes, William Rule, Jr., H. Cleveland, J. C. Polley, 1868; J. C. Polley, W. Familton, T. H. Ellis, T. W. Butler, C. M. Nye, 1869 : A. H. Runyon, W. R. Ward, II. Bairley, M. Purcell, G. W. Leonard, 1870; C. Schlabach, T. F. Butterfield, J. T. Waters, T. T. Hobbs, James Hedden, 1871; J. T. Waters, William Rule, Jr., T. F. Butterfield. G. W. Wallace, T. T. Hobbs, 1872 : J. M. Gates, E. H. Wood, T. T. Hobbs, J. F. Homer, J. T. Waters, 1873; M. Purcell, E. H. Wood, J. B. Bissell, Schlabach, W. R. English, 1874; W. R. Ward, W. R. English, D. W. Forbes, G. W. Wallace, J. B. Bissell, 1875; W. R. English, C. S. Harrington, W. H. Talbot, T. T. Hobbs, Adam Bloom, 1876; W. H. Talbot, A. Bloom, P. Flannery, D. Whitney, G. K. Ryder, 1877 ; G. K. Ryder. F. P. Kettenring, E. R. Townsend, C. Schlabach, T. F. Butter- field, 1878 ; T. F. Butterfield, T. T. Hobbs, P. Flannery, D. Whitney, W. H. Talbot, W. R. English, 1879.
Treasurers-E. S. Bailey, 1859; James D. Bourne, 1860; George Beach, 1861; N. A. Merrell, 1862; S. N. Bedford, 1863; M. Warren, 1864; H. Cleaveland, 1865-66; John Rule, 1867 ; T. H. Ellis, 1868; H. Cleaveland, 1869-71; T. H. Ellis, 1872-74; L. H. Sanford, 1875-78; D. Drew, 1879.
Corporation Counsel-P. C. Wright, 1859; Charles Whitaker, 1860; C. M. Nye, 1861; Kirke W. Wheeler, 1862; N. A. Merrell, 1863; K. W. Wheeler, 1864-65; J. N. Miles, 1866; W. A. Cotton, 1867-68; R. W. Henry, 1869; W. H. H. Hart, 1870; C. J. Hadley, 1871-72; W. B. Leffingwell, 1873-74; W. A. Cotton, 1875-76; P. B. Wolfe, 1877-79.
Marshals-S. Maynard, 1859; L. Morton, 1860-62; E. A. Bird, 1863; D. W. Forbes, 1864-65; L. F. Brown, 1866; A. H. Runyon. 1867-68. Vacancy, 1869-70. H. S. Keller, 1871; W. M. Desmond. 1872-75; E. W. MeCracken, 1876-77 ; Thomas Kelley, Jr., 1878; E. W. McCracken, 1879.
Street Commissioners-John M. Gates, 1859-60; E. T. Vary, 1861; S. Maynard, 1862 ; Robert McBride, 1863; S. Wickes, 1864-65; G. W. Mor- ton, 1866; Charles Wilbur, 1867; HI. Allemong, 1868; E. P. Leach, 1869; H. S. Keller, 1870 ; C. Wilbur, 1871; Thomas Jack, 1872-77 ; S. Maynard, 1878 ; Thomas Jack, 1879.
The Council met from the date of its organization until 1875 in rented apartments, in which year, a commodious council-house was built on the south- west corner of the public square, or Lincoln Park as it is now called, at a cost of $1,000. The building is two stories high, with a large upper chamber used for Council-meetings and election purposes, and a lower room used for storing the engine and other fire apparatus belonging to the fire company. The fire company, Rescue No. 1, was organized in 1875, with a large membership. A large hand engine was purchased, with hose, hose cart and other equipments at this time for the company's use. The present officers (1879) are W. M. Desmond, Foreman ; E. W. McCracken, First Assistant ; Will Schlabach, Second Assistant ; W. A. Latham, Foreman of Hose; C. E. Gould, Assistant ; J. T. Waters, Treasurer ; W. Schlabach, Acting Secretary.
After the advent of the Chicago, Iowa & Nebraska Railroad (now con- trolled and operated by the C. & N. W. R. R.) in 1857, the town of De Witt began at once to increase in population. Business of all kinds prospered, this
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
being the entrepot of a large section of country. Among the dealers in grain, etc., who established warehouses at the depot and dealt largely in stock, grain and lumber, may be mentioned the following, viz., C. H. Toll, lumber ; H. A. Fay, grain ; W. R. Ward, grain, lumber and coal ; Seth Sheldon, John Morse, E. P. Savage, E. R. Spear, J. F. Gilmore, grain, up to the year 1860 and afterward. Then followed T. F. Butterfield, T. H. Ellis, Mckinney, But- ler & Co., J. T. Waters, Eggleston & Brown, N. W. Wood and E. H. Wood, and Clark Bros. and D. G. Butterfield.
To show the amount of business done, I give the following exhibit of the year 1868, which may be considered as an average showing for ten years, from 1860 to 1870:
RECEIPTS.
Feet of lumber.
.3,000,000
Number of shingles.
1,500,000
Number lath ... 500,000
Pounds of merchandise
3,987,640
SHIPMENTS.
Bushels of grain.
396.998
Pounds dressed hogs.
262.970
Number live hogs 11,180
Number eattle. 816
Pounds hides
53,290
Pounds wool.
46,640
Pounds butter.
150,160
Pounds poultry
3,140
Pounds seeds
41,580
This may be considered a fair statement ; however, since 1870, the grain trade has fallen off to some extent, while the trade in stock of all kinds has gradually increased.
The Davenport & Northwestern Railroad was completed to this town in 1870, running from Davenport' northward to Maquoketa. The citizens of this place and vicinity contributed $65,000 to the building of this road.
The following is a list of the business men and firms of De Witt, viz :
Attorneys-Merrell & Howat, Cotton & Wolfe, K. W. Wheeler, D. Whit- ney, C. M. Nye, R. J. Crouch, Pascal & Armentrout.
Agricultural Implements-T. F. Butterfield, J. A. Cranston, P. Flannery. Auctioneers-T. Scholey, Thomas Kelley.
Bakers-M. J. Hey, Joseph McCormick.
Banker-J. H. Price.
Books, Drugs and Stationery-J. B. Webb, C. V. Baxter, J. H. Kelley. Boots and Shoes-Charles Schlabach, D. White, H. Bricker.
Carpenters and Builders-L. L. Neville & Co., Small & Son, F. P. Ket- tenring, L. H. Thorn, J. W. & F. B. Dearborn.
Carriage Makers and Blacksmiths-Fred Driffill, D. W. Forbes, John Dignan, Conwell Bros., Warren & Son, Isaac Rhodes.
Cigar Maker-George N. Hubbard.
Coal and Wood Dealers-C. M. Nye & Co., R. S. Beach, A. J. Clark, Hubbard & Campbell.
Coopers-R. McBride, T. M. Carson.
Dentists-Dr. Potter, J. B. Gould.
Dry Goods-T. F. Butterfield & Son, Chardavoyne, Drew & Co., Wallace Bros., Farmer's Store, J. C. Recd, F. S. Jacobs.
Farriers-A. Partridge, Ed. O'Connell.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Flouring. Mills-Capt. W. H. Hall, Townsend & Harrison, King & Miles, R. P. Barr.
Foundry-A. B. Cumming.
Furniture Dealers and Undertakers-Hobbs & Meredith, A. Nonemacher. Grain and Produce Dealers-T. F. & D. G. Butterfield, C. S. Harrington, A. J. Clark, James Thornton, C. M. Nye & Co.
Groceries-A. Bloom, C. W. Cressler & Co., Fuller & Connole, T. J. Scallan, Kelly & O'Hern, Quigley Bros., C. Christiansen.
Gunsmith-Fred Johnson.
Hardware Dealers-W. H. Talbot, P. Flannery, J. F. Homer & Son.
Harness Makers-James Hedden, John Dobler.
Hotels-Gates House, George B. Earle, proprietor; Pacific House, J. Foote, proprietor ; Grill House, P. Grill, proprietor ; Franklin House, HI. Johnson, proprietor.
Ice Dealers-J. W. Dearborn, V. Yegge.
Insurance Agents-Cotton & Wolfe, Merrell & Howat, K. W. Wheeler, C. M. Nye & Co., W. R. Ward.
Justices of the Peace-R. J. Crouch, H. A. Fay.
Loan Brokers-W. R. English, Jno. Peaslee.
Live Stock Dealers-L. S. Harrington, E. H. Wood, M. Horan.
Livery Stable-A. W. Johnson.
Lumber Dealers-Campbell & Hubbard, T. F. & D. G. Butterfield.
Masons and Bricklayers-J. Alton, J. Holsaple, George K. Ryder.
Meat Markets-H. C. Cressler, Wendleborn & Co., J. Hirschberg, George Stephenson.
Merchant Tailors-C. M. Mellor, John Craig.
Milliners and Dressmakers-Mrs. John Craig, Misses Harrison & Norton, Mrs. J. B. Van Court, Misses A. Partridge & A. Sanger, Mrs. E. E. Kellogg. Musical Instruments-L. F. Brown.
Newspaper and Job Office-De Witt Observer, S. H. Shoemaker, editor and proprietor.
Painters-John Jebson & Co.
Photographer-S. Smith.
Physicians-J. H. Boyd, J. Dennison, W. Fitzgerald, A. W. Morgan, P. Ryan, D. Langan, M. R. Waggoner.
Pension Agent-W. R. Ward.
Watchmakers and Jewelers-Barr & Bairley, J. Buckley.
The following institutions of De Witt deserve somewhat of an extended notice, viz: The Farmer's Store, a corporation founded February 22, 1874, by an association of farmers for the purchase and sale of goods, wares and merchandise required by a farming community, and to carry on a general mercantile business, buy and ship produce, and agricultural implements and seeds on commission. The capital stock originally was $5,000, now increased to $8,000. The incorporators were Fred. Suiter, H. N. Hahn, H. Dwire, A. S. Allison, S. Saddoris, P. Twogood, L. P. Lambertson, David Robb, John Rathje and Hiram Brown. The first dividend declared was 31 per cent. Second dividend, 63 per cent. The present officers are L. S. Harrington, President ; A. S. Allison, Secretary ; S. Saddoris, H. N. Hahn, Fred Suiter, Directors ; H. Cleaveland, Manager of store.
The Pioneer Cheese Factory, established by J. B. Rose in the autumn of 1877, has proved a success, the reputation of the cheese at this factory being second to none, it having gained the First Award at the American Institute
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Fair, in New York City and at other noted exhibitions of dairy products. Mr. Noyes. the cheese-maker in charge of the factory, is an adept in his vocation.
The Izaak Walton Fishing Club-objects, the promotion of angling as a recreation, the culture and study of fish with the enforcement of the fish law- was established in 1870. W. H. Talbot, Prax., R. J. Crouch, Registrar, A. Howat, W. M. Desmond, T. Quigley, Advisors, have already done much to stock the streams with excellent varieties of fish in the vicinity, being in con- stant communication with the State Fish Commissioner.
The De Witt Opera House, built in 1878, by the De Witt Opera House Association, is a model of its kind and commends itself for architectural beauty of design and for convenience for the purposes for which it was erected, to all who see it. The seating capacity, including both gallery and auditorium, is about nine hundred persons. The officers of the Association are: Dr. D. Langan. President; R. J. Crouch, Secretary : T. T. Hobbs, S. Cotton, D. Whitney, G. K. Ryder, Directors.
The schools of the town of De Witt are justly its pride. A noble structure was erected for school purposes in 1867, at a cost of $25,000, since which time a graded school, with the best instructors to be procured, has been main- tained. And now (in 1879) instead of the little band of a dozen pupils as in 1842, all that could be got together in those days, with Mr. Edgar as the mas- ter in the old log Court House, we have 300 pupils, seated in comfortable rooms with all the modern conveniences for instruction, with seven competent teachers, and, as a consequence, our children are acquiring an education that will fit them for any sphere of usefulness in life.
Achilles Robb and II. M. White established general stores here at an early date. They were succeeded by John M. Lyter, Beard, Homer and Eggleston, J. Vandegriff & Co .. Miles & Co., Higbee. H. Cleaveland, H. Bairley and others.
The first tailor was William Fuller, who, with his family, came here in 1849. He afterward purchased a farm near De Witt, then removed into town and engaged in the wagon-making business, erecting a large factory for that pur- pose. Sold out to Fred Driffil, who now operates in that line.
The first lawyer was J. S. Stowrs in 1844, who was at one time Probate Judge of the county, followed by Hon. W. E. Leffingwell in 1845, then Hon. A. R. Cotton, Stark H. Samuels, Hewitt, Burge, Chaffee, Ferguson, E. Gra- ham and W. T. Graham, Polley, Merrell, E. S. Bailey, S. R. Hull, S. S. Bur- dett, J. N. Miles and P. C. Wright.
Hon. W. E. Leffingwell was for several terms a member of the Legislature at an early date, being at one time member and President of the State Sen- ate. He was also at one time District Judge of this Judicial District. Was Captain of a company in the First Iowa Cavalry, and is noted as a successful criminal lawyer.
Hon. A. R. Cotton was elected County Judge in 1853, while residing here ; afterward removed to Lyons, and has since been a member of the Iowa Consti- tutional Convention, member of the Iowa House of Representatives and Speaker, and has served two terms in the National Congress.
Samuels served as Clerk of the Court of the county for several terms and died here in 1856.
Hewitt was at one time Prosecuting Attorney, was accused of passing counterfeit money, was arrested, escaped and was not heard of afterward.
Burge remained but a short time.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
Ferguson was an exceptionally brilliant man and good lawyer, but was his own worst enemy. He died here in 1866.
Hon. E. Graham came here about 1849; was County Judge for one or two terms ; he was also School Fund Commissioner for one term, and died in May, 1860. He was an earnest advocate of Temperance, for which reason he has been called its apostle in this county; was universally respected wherever known. His death was caused by one of those fatal mistakes-the administra- tion of strychnine-supposing it to be quinine, during an attack of fever. Chaffee located here in 1855, and died the next year.
W. T. Graham was Prosecutor of the county for one term, but unfortu- nately was addicted to drink, and left the State about 1860. Judge Polley served the county for some time as County Judge ; was appointed one of the Commissioners to revise the Code of Iowa; removed to Chicago, to attend to large interests in real estate, where he with his family now reside. Hon. N. A. Merrell was chosen Captain of Company D, Twenty-sixth Iowa Regiment Infantry, August, 1862; served until the battle of Arkansas Post, where he was severely wounded, then resigned. He returned, resumed practice, and is now the senior member of the law firm of Merrell & Howat, of this place. Capt. M. has also served the county as member of the Lower House for one term, and is now a member for the second term of the State Senate. Judge Wright was County Judge for one term ; now resides in Nashville, Tenn.
Hon. S. S. Burdett was a member of the First Iowa Cavalry ; served, during the war of the rebellion, as Provost Marshal General, with headquar- ters at St. Louis, Mo. ; was afterward Member of Congress for two terms from Missouri ; also, was Commissioner of the General Land Office, which he resigned, and is now practicing his profession in Washington City.
E. S. Bailey, Esq., removed from this town to Janesville, Wis. ; entered the army ; was Paymaster during the late war: returned to Clinton, in this county, after its close, and is now one of the leading attorneys of the Chicago & North-Western Railway, as well as one of the best railroad lawyers in the State. J. N. Miles removed to Missouri in 1874.
Among the later attorneys, I may here mention the name of John L. Mer- rell, son of Senator Merrell, who was raised in this town ; received his primary education in the public schools here ; graduated with honor, at an excellent institution of learning, in Lowville, N. Y. ; returned here, where he studied law with Senator Merrell ; was admitted to practice, and early gave evidence of extraordinary ability in his profession. He, however, succumbed to the dis- ease of the lungs, with which he was afflicted, and died on the 2d day of April, 1871, at the early age of twenty years, universally regretted.
Among the earliest physicians, who located here, may be mentioned Drs. Metcalfe, Collins, Golder, Scott, East, Ayers, Asa W. Morgan, Vary, Harvey and Estes. Dr. Metcalfe was the first regular physician who settled in the town ; was, withal, a cultured gentleman, besides being an author of some rep- utation ; a political writer and regular contributor to Eastern magazines. He died in 1844.
Drs. Golder and East remained but a few years and then went West, as did Scott and Ayers. Dr. Asa W. Morgan went into the war of the rebellion as a Surgeon ; after the war, settled in Texas, where he now resides. Drs. Har- vey and Estes returned East. Vary resides in Luverne, Minn.
Hon. J. D. Bourne came to this town in 1840, at which time he was Sheriff of the county, having been appointed by Gov. Dodge, who was then Governor of Wisconsin Territory. He had, prior to this time, resided on the Wapsie
N
556
HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
River, near the mouth of Ames Creek, with his brother, R. C. Bourne, Esq. ; had served as Postmaster, under appointment of Amos Kendall, Postmaster General in 1837, being the first Postmaster in the county ; the name of the post office was Waubesipinicon. He at once took an active interest in the affairs of the town and county, it being the duty of the Sheriff, in those days, to order and superintend the elections and collect the taxes. He was, there- fore, the most important functionary in the new county ; that he did his duties well, and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, is evidenced by his being continued in office for at least three terms, or more. He was, at one time, a member of the State Legislature, the first one held under the State organ- ization. He also served the county, as Treasurer and Recorder for one term.
Mr. Bourne settled in this county in September, 1836, and he claims to be the first white settler who cast his lot in this county, and made a permanent settlement. He says that he came down on a steamboat to Pinnacle Point- now Princeton-disembarked, came out to where he made choice of a location before mentioned, and was soon after followed by his brother, and then by others. He feels confident, that if there had been a settlement at Lyons, as claimed by Buell, he should have known it: and that having occasion to pro- cure some grain, he should have procured it there, instead of going to Sabula for it.
Mr. B.'s family consisted of James, Z. T., Sarah, Mary, Jennie. Pauline, Notley A. and Robert Lec. James went to Virginia City, Nev., where' he died a few years since. Sarah married J. H. Simpson, and afterward died of consumption : as did Pauline, who married A. Hess, of Clinton. Mary is the wife of Judge E. D. Hadley, and resides in Luverne, Minn. Jennie married George Lambertson, and resides in Carroll County, Iowa. Z. T., married to Miss Mary Beard, died about a year ago, leaving a wife and three children to mourn his loss. Mr. Bourne was, during the early days of the Territory and State, in politics a Whig, and organized the party in this county in 1840. He afterward, when the Whig party ceased to exist, united with the Democratic party, but now for a number of years has taken no active part in politics. He showed us the Tax Collector's book used by him in collecting the taxes, in which the largest amount assessed to any one person in this county was $6.08. He has acquired a large property, and is comfortably enjoying life at home.
Col. Loring Wheeler, before coming to this county, served one or more terms in the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, as a member of that body, representing, as he says, the whole country belonging to the United States north of Rock Island and west of the Mississippi River. He was a member of the State Senate immediately after the admission of the State into the Union, being the first Senator from this county. Col. Wheeler, besides being for a number of terms Clerk of the Court, was also a member of the County Board of Supervisors. He went to California in 1849, and returned in 1852, in com- pany with his brother-in-law, A. G. Harrison. Col. Wheeler still enjoys good health, and, at the ripe age of eighty years, is still able to walk down town and converse with his friends, and is universally respected.
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