USA > Iowa > Fayette County > The history of Fayette County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 34
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ABSTRACT OF VOTES CAST AT THE GENERAL (NOVEMBER) ELECTION OF 1876, IN FAYETTE COUNTY, IOWA.
ELECTORS AT LARGE.
SECRETARY OF STATE.
AUDITOR OF STATE.
TREASURER OF STATE.
REGISTER STATE LAND OFFICE.
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
JUDGE OF THE SUPREME COURT.
TOWNSHIPS.
John Van Valken- burg.
Daniel F. Miller.
Josiah T. Young.
J. H. Stubenrach.
Buren R.Sherman.
William Groneweg
George W. Bemis.
Wesley Jones.
David Secor.
N. C. Ridenour.
Jno. F. McJunkin.
J. C. Cook.
Wm. II. Seevers.
Walter I. Hayes.
Auburn
100
153
100
153
100
153
100
153
100
153
100
153
100
153
Banks
47
. 22
47
22
47
22
47
22
47
22
47
32
47
22
Bethel
108
27
108
27
108
27
108
27
108
27
108
27
108
27
Center
146
61
146
61
146
61
146
61
146
61
146
61
146
61
Clermont.
140
204
140
206
140
206
140
206
140
206
140
207
140
206
Dover
163
47
163
47
163
47
163
47
163
47
163
47
163
47
Eden
147
88
147
108
147
108
147
108
147
108
147
108
147
108
Fairfield
188
138
192
139
192
27
192
27
192
139
192
139
192
139
Fremont
97
42
97
43
97
43
96
43
97
43
97
43
97
43
Harlan ....
143
43
143
44
143
44
143
44
143
44
143
44
143
44
Illyria.
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
122
Jefferson
154
107
158
109
157
109
156
109
158
109
157
106
158
109
Oran
85
57
87
59
87
59
87
59
87
59
87
59
87
59
Pleasant Valley
239
106
240
105
240
105
239
106
240
105
239
106
239
105
Putnam
128
31
128
32
128
32
128
32
128
32
128
32
128
32
Scott ......
59
39
59
39
59
39
59
39
59
39
59
39
59
39
Smithfield.
126
46
125
48
126
47
125
47
125
47
125
47
125
47
Westfie'd.
327
139
327
140
327
140
327
140
327
140
327
140
327
140
West Union
390
192
392
191
392
191
392
191
392
191
392
191
392
191
Windsor
120
45
120
49
120
49
120
49
120
49
120
49
120
49
Total
3,029
1,709
3,041
1,744
3,041
1,631
3,037
1,632
3,041
1,743
3,039
1,745
3,039
1,744
Majorities
1,320
1,297
1,410
1,405
1,298
1,294
1,295
ABSTRACT OF VOTES-CONTINUED.
JUDGE SU- SUPT. PUBLIC PREME COURT INSTRUCTION (to fill vacancy )
MEMBER OF CLERK OF THE CONGRESS.
COURTS.
COUNTY RECORDER.
COUNTY SUPERVISOR.
STOCK ACT.
Jas. H. Rothrock.
William Graham.
Carl W. von Coelln
T. W. Burdick.
J. M. Griffith.
Benjamin Morse.
William Sergeant.
R. W. McFarland.
C. C. Hogue.
Samuel Johnson.
H. Hoagland.
For Restraining.
Against Restrain-
ing.
Auburn ..
100
153
100
97
155
108
145
100
153
62
190
92
122
Banks
47
22
47
47
22
47
22
46
46
22
22
40
Bethel
108
27
108
108
27
108
27
109
24
81
51
94
29
Center
146
61
146
146
61
145
62
145
62
138
67
96
66
Clermont
140
206
140
136
212
143
207
141
207
131
217
101
116
Dover
163
47
163
163
47
165
43
162
48
42
167
86
101
Eden
147
108
145
145
111
145
111
155
97
99
156
97
59
Fairfield.
192
139
121
178
151
198
130
152
175
182
149
164
108
Fremont
97
43
98
95
45
97
43
97
43
95
45
29
97
Harlan
143
44
143
143
44
143
44
142
45
126
61
51
67
Illyria.
122
122
122
112
132
123
118
127
115
94
150
65
167
Jefferson
158
109
159
154
112
162
104
165
102
165
100
109
83
Oran
87
59
87
87
59
87
58
91
55
84
62
32
85
Pleasant Valley
239
105
239
235
112
241
105
261
83
201
144
80
183
Putnam
128
32
148
128
31
121
39
129
30
128
32
112
30
Scott ...
59
30
59
58
40
61
38
53
46
52
47
27
72
Smithfield
125
47
125
125
46
125
4€
115
55
118
53
84
81
Westfield.
327
140
327
329
139
330
138
308
156
312
157
118
246
West Union
392
191
392
393
194
4:27
159
411
170
257
322
187
180
Windsor
120
49
120
120
49
119
49
119
50
104
64
92
59
Total
3,040
1,743
2,969
2,999
1,789
3,095
1,688
3,028.
1,738
2,517
2,256
1,738
1,991
Majorities.
1.297
1,210
1,407
1.290
261
253
For the Peter Cooper Electors, Clermont cast 4 votes, Eden 21, and Pleasant Valley 1. C. T. Granger, Circuit Judge, had 4,761 votes.
TOWNSHIPS.
WEST UNION Jacob Mr Rogeral
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Prior to June, 1833, the entire State of Iowa was in the undisputed posses- sion of the Indians-Sacs and Foxes mainly-while north of their territory, in what is now Minnesota, were the hunting grounds of the Sioux. Between those nations, a state of constant warfare existed. Boundary lines were unknown to the savages, and bloody conflicts between these hostile and war-like tribes were frequent as they made incursions upon each other's territory.
In its effort to secure peace among the savage tribes of the Northwest, the Government of the United States, represented by William Clark and Lewis Cass, negotiated a treaty on the 19th of August, 1825, with the Chippewas, Sacs and Foxes, Menominees, Winnebagoes, etc., in which it was stipulated and agreed that the United States should run a line between the Sioux on the north, and the Sacs and Foxes on the south, commencing at the mouth of the Upper Iowa River, ascending said river to its west fork, thence up that fork to its source, thence crossing the fork of the Red Cedar River on a direct line to the second or upper fork of the Des Moines, thence in a direct line to the lower fork of the Calumet, and down that stream to the Missouri.
THE NEUTRAL GROUND.
The Indians, however, did not very scrupulously observe this imaginary line, and, by Articles 2 and 3 of the treaty of July 15, 1830, ratified Feb. 24, 1831 (see U. S. Statutes, Vol. 7, page 329), the Sac and Fox band of Indians ceded a strip of country twenty miles wide on the south, and the Madawakanton, Wapakoota, Wahpeton and Sissiton bands of Sioux, twenty miles on the north of the line of 1825, from the Mississippi River to the Des Moines. The southern boundary of the neutral ground was located through Fayette County, on a course of N. 70 deg., 15 min. E., from a point on the left bank of the Des Moines River, 37 miles, 70.50 chains below the second or upper forks of the same. This line was surveyed by James Craig, Surveyor, under instructions from the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, April 9, 1833, but, says the Com- missioner of the General Land Office, at Washington, "inasmuch as no line of public surveys has been closed on the south line of the neutral ground in after years, no precise locus of the boundary can be designated in reference to Govern- ment Surveys." Some years ago, Andrew J. Hensley cut an oak tree on Sec- tion 24, Township 93 north, Range 8 west, which bore the " blaze " of Craig's line, made in 1833. Thus a strip of neutral territory, forty miles wide, extend- ing from the Mississippi River west to the East Fork of the Red Cedar River, was established between these ferocious tribes, on which they were permitted to hunt and fish in common, but were forbidden to fight.
A
308
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
THE WINNEBAGO RESERVE.
By Section 2 of a treaty made with the Winnebago Indians September 15, 1832 (see U. S. Stat., Vol. 7, p. 371), the neutral ground was ceded to that nation in exchange for their lands on the east side of the Mississippi. To this reserve the Winnebagoes removed prior to June, 1833. No white man was allowed to settle on this reservation. But from all testimony now available, it appears to be reasonably certain that the first work done by the whites in - Fayette County, aside from surveys, was an attempt to build a mill near the mouth of Otter Creek (now Elgin), on the Winnebago Reserve. Mr. Joseph Quigley, of Richland Township, Clayton County, who claims to have been well acquainted with the parties, says that Chauncey S. Edson and William Grant, from the valley of the Turkey, below where Elkader now stands, went up to the mouth of Otter Creek in 1836 or 7. built a shanty, commenced building a dam, got out the timber for a mill frame and hauled it to the spot, and made excava- tions. Mr. Quigley states that when the work had progressed thus far, Edson and Grant discovered that they were on the reserve and left, when the Indians burnt their shanty, set fire to the timber and destroyed the dam.
Other accounts state that when the Indians discovered that white men were trespassing on their domain, they made complaint to their agent, probably Mr. Lowry, at the old Winnebago Mission, in the northern part of Clayton County, and that the agent notified them to leave forthwith.
"Mr. Edson," says Mr. Quigley, "was a surveyor and an educated man, Mr. Grant was a farmer." It does not seem possible that a "surveyor and educated man " would have been so ignorant of the line run by Mr. Craig only three or four years previous. as to have gone beyond it. It is therefore the more reasonable conclusion that they located there with a full knowledge that they were trespassing on the reserve, and hoped to conciliate the Winnebago owners so far as to be allowed to remain, but failed to accomplish that purpose and were compelled to abandon their enterprise and improvements. Mr. Samuel Conner states that when he first came to the county in 1848, a large portion of that timber remained unburned and was used by the first settlers as fuel for their lime kilns. The excavations they had made for the foundation of the mill and the mill-race then bore evidence of having been done ten or twelve years before. The race is now entirely obliterated, but on the south side of the stream is still to be seen the remains of an abutment built of logs, but nearly covered with earth. This was unquestionably the first attempt of the whites to make lodg- ment in Fayette County.
THE BLACK HAWK PURCHASE.
After the close of the Black Hawk war, in August, 1832, by Article 1 of the treaty of September 21. 1832, the Sac and Fox nation ceded to the United States a strip of country bordering on the Mississippi River and extending west- ward fifty miles from the south line of the neutral ground to the north line of the State of Missouri. This was called the Black Hawk Purchase. Its western boundary was a line commencing at a point on the northern boundary of the State of Missouri, fifty miles west of the Mississippi, and 9.90 chains east of the 122d mile of the boundary, thence on a course N. 28 deg. E., 95 miles and 43.15 chains to the intersection of the Red Cedar River, and thence N., 29 deg. 16 mins. W., 75 miles 14.50 chains .to the intersection of the south line of the neutral grounds, variation 9 deg. E. The line was surveyed by Charles De Ward, Assistant Surveyor for William Gordon, Surveyor, between the months of May and October, 1835.
-
309
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
By these several treaties, on the 1st day of June, 1833, the territory now included in Fayette County, a political division then unknown, was divided into three distinct parts, viz .: all the northern half was included in the neutral grounds, or Winnebago Reserve; the southeastern part was included in the Black Hawk Purchase, while nearly all the land now included in the Township of Oran, a portion of Fremont Township and a section or two on the southwest corner of Jefferson Township, remained in the possession of the Sacs and Foxes. These latter, however, were included in the lands ceded to the United States by the Sac and Fox nation, by treaty of October 21, 1837.
THE BOUNDARIES.
A sectional map of the Black Hawk Purchase, published by L. Judson, Cincinnati, in 1838, shows the lines of the "neutral ground " and the " Black Hawk Purchase." According to this map, there were only four townships sur- veyed and open to settlement at that time, viz .: Townships 91 and 92 north, of Ranges 7 and 8 west, being the present civil townships of Putnam, Fairfield, Smithfield and Scott. The south line of the "neutral ground," as shown on the map, commences at a point on the Mississippi, twenty miles below the mouth of the Upper Iowa River, thence southwest passing very near the north- west corner of Township 95, Range 4 (Giard Township), in Clayton County, to a point in southern central part of Township 95, Range 6 ; thence southeast to a point on the Turkey River in southeast corner of Township 94, Range 6 ; thence south westerly, entering Fayette County near the northeast corner of Township 93, Range 7 (Illyria Township), passing through Section 24, Township 93, Range 8, and about one mile north of the southwest corner of Township 93, Range 8 (Westfield), crossing the southeast corner of Township 93, Range 9 (Center), the northwest corner of Township 92, Range 9 (Harlan), and Town- ship 92, Range 10, to west line of the county. The northwest corner of the Black Hawk Purchase, according to this old map, was on the neutral line, very nearly in the center of Township 92, Range 10 (Fremont); thence in a south- easterly direction, parallel with the Mississippi, passing very near the northeast corner of Section 31, Township 91, Range 9 (Jefferson). There were only four full townships that were surveyed in Fayette County in 1837, but a large part of Township 93, Range 7 (Illyria), about two-fifths of Township 93, Range 8 (Westfield), a few sections in southeast corner of Township 93, Range 9 (Center), all of Township 92, Range 9 (Harlan), except about 3 sections on the north- west corner, about 10 sections in southeast part of Township 92, Range 10 Fremont), about 2 sections in northeast part of Township 91, Range 10 (Oran), and all of Township 91, Range 9 (Jefferson), except about a section and a half were included in the purchase.
Fayette County contains an area of 720 square miles. The surface of the country within its limits is considerably varied. In the eastern and northeastern parts, prominent bluffs covered with timber mark the course of the larger streams. Between these bluffs, through narrow, but beautiful picturesque valleys, the creeks and rivers wind their way. Toward the southwest, these more rugged features disappear and merge in the broad and undulating prairies.
More than one-fourth of the area of the entire county is covered with timber, including all the hardy varieties : the oak, maple, elm, hickory, walnut, cherry, cottonwood, etc.
The classes of soil are peculiarly divided. Southward of Otter Creek, which diagonally crosses the township of West Union, the soil is of a light, yet very productive character ; some patches are quite sandy. North of Otter Creek, it
310
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
is a rich black loam, exceedingly productive. Cultivated grasses grow well on this soil, and in the county generally the soil is of such fertiliity that the yield of all cereals common to this latitude (43º) is uniformly good, and quality excellent.
The principal streams afford very valuable water powers, many of which are already improved; but the opportunity to increase the already quite extensive manufacturing interests of Fayette County, by the utilizing of these water privi- leges, will be improved as rapidly as the requirements of the country demand. No stream in the State affords as many first-class water powers in proportion to its length as Turkey River. The north, northeastern, central and northwestern parts of the county are well watered, not only by numerous streams of greater or less size, but by a great number of living springs.
The Niagara limestone occupies a large portion of the geological formation of Fayette County. It is well exhibited in various sections in the vicinity of West Union ; on Otter Creek, at one place it is shown to the depth of 135 feet. Here the lower layer is somewhat soft and irregularly stratified, resem- bling the Niagara as seen in the immediate vicinity of the Mississippi River. Above this is seen a very hard and almost white limestone. The Upper Iowa University at Fayette is built from this stratum of rock, taken from quarries near that town. Its color is a shade lighter than the rock at Farley and Ana- mosa, and forms a most agreeable object for the observer's eye. The Galena limestone appears in the valley of the Turkey through its entire length in this county. At Elgin, the bluffs on the north side of the river, at an elevation of 300 feet, and at a distance of two miles from the stream, exhibit all the charac- ter of the Galena limestone. The Trenton limestone is noticed at various points in the valley of the Turkey River underlying the Galena, and is the lowest rock exposed in the county.
Recent collections of fossils from the higher grounds skirting the Volga indicate that the geology of this county, as heretofore given, will have to be re- written. Prof. Woodman, of Dubuque, a well known and enthusiastic collector, claims to have discovered traces of fishes' teeth in the rock cut at Fayette, and refers these and the shells found at the same place to the Devonian period. The matter is now in the hands of Prof. Samuel Calvin, of the Iowa State University, for his decision. Pending the announcement of his opinion, it is not safe to to pronounce a dictum, but it is probable that the strata bearing the fossils under investigation, belong to the Lower Helderburg or the Niagara formation.
In the south and west parts of the county, on the high prairies, numerous rocks-boulders of massive size-are found, and in some places the ground is covered with smaller stones, in formation and composition very similar to the large boulders, differing only in size ; while in the northern part of the county, on the prairie lands, not a stone is to be found. The southeastern part of the county lies within the Devonian region.
FAYETTE COUNTY CREATED.
. In June, 1834, the Black Hawk Purchase was made a part of Michigan Territory, and in September following, the Legislature of that Territory erected two counties west of the Mississippi-Dubuque and Des Moines-the dividing line being drawn westward from the foot of Rock Island, and these counties were partially organized. . July 4, 1836, Wisconsin Territory was erected, including the two Iowa counties of Dubuque and Des Moines. Under Wiscon- sin jurisdiction, Dubuque County was divided, in 1837, into Dubuque, Dela- ware, Clayton, Fayette, Buchanan, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Benton, Clinton and
311
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Cedar, and their boundaries defined. Fayette was attached to Clayton for judicial, revenue and election purposes until its organization in 1850. The county contained twenty congressional townships, viz., Nos. 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95 north, of Ranges 7, 8, 9 and 10 west.
Civil Divisions .- In tracing the early settlement of this county, it may be well to insert here for reference the civil township divisions as they exist at present-1878. Putnam Township, T. 91 N., R. 7 W. ; Fairfield, T. 92, R. 7 ; Illyria, T. 93, R. 7; Pleasant Valley, T. 94, R. 7; Clermont, T. 95, R. 7; Dover, T. 95, R. 8; West Union, T. 94, R. 8; Westfield, T. 93, R. 8; Smithfield, T. 92, R. 8; Scott, T. 91, R. 8; Jefferson, T. 91, R. 9; Harlan, T. 92, R. 9; Center, T. 93, R. 9; Windsor, T. 94, R. 9; Auburn, T. 95, R. 9; Eden, T. 95, R. 10; Bethel, T. 94, R. 10; Banks, T. 93, R. 10; Fre- mont, T. 92, R. 10; Oran, T. 91, R. 10.
STREAMS.
The Turkey River enters the county from the north, in Section 3, Township 95, Range 9, and flows in a general southeasterly direction through Auburn, Dover, Clermont and Pleasant Valley Townships. The Turkey is a very crooked river, and, during its flow in Fayette County, runs to every conceivable point of the compass.
The Little Turkey enters the county near the northwest corner of Eden Township, describes a semi-circle in Eden and Auburn Townships, and pours its waters into the Turkey near the east line of Auburn, within ten miles of the north line of the county.
Crane Creek enters the county from the west, flows through the south part of Eden and empties into the Little Turkey.
Otter Creek rises in Township 94, Range 8, West Union, and flows east, through Pleasant Valley, into the Turkey River, at Elgin.
The Wapsipinicon flows through the southwestern part of Fremont Town- ship and through Oran Township.
The Maquoketa takes its rise in Putnam Township.
Brush Creek waters Fairfield Township and empties into the Volga in Sec- tion 26, Township 93, Range 7.
Bell Creek rises in the northeast part of Township 94, Range 8, flows east- erly and empties into the Turkey River.
Prairie Creek rises in the northeast part of Township 91, Range 8, and flows southeast, across the southwest corner of Township 91, Range 7.
Otter Creek runs southerly, through Jefferson Township.
The Volga flows east, across the center of the county.
GROVES AND PRAIRIES.
" Knob Prairie," the name applied to the high spot where the town of West Union stands.
Patch Prairie, named by William Wells, commenced about three miles south- east of Knob Prairie and extended in a southeasterly direction to the county line.
North Prairie, north of Knob Prairie, in Townships 94 and 95, Range 8.
" Wilson's Grove," in Sections 18, 19 and 30, Township 93, Range 10 (Banks), and extending into Bremer County.
" Round Grove," south and east of Knob Prairie, or West Union, named by William Wells.
" Turkey Timber," the timber skirting the Turkey River.
312
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
" Volga Timber," the timber skirting the Volga River.
" Lost Grove," a small grove that stood alone on the prairie about two miles west of Knob Prairie.
" Hickory Grove," in Township 95. Range 10 (Eden).
" Long Grove," near the center of Township 92, Range 9 (Harlan), where Maynard now stands.
" Corbly's Grove," in Township 92, Range 10 (Fremont).
" Bear Grove," in Township 92, Range 7, and Township 92, Range 8.
" Gamble's Grove," near the geographical center of the county, in Township 93, Range 9 (Center).
" Dunham's Grove," changed from Gamble's Grove in 1852.
" Crab Apple Grove," in Township 91, Range 10 (Oran).
"Sac Bottom," east side of the Turkey River, in Township 94, Range 7 (Pleasant Valley), between Elgin and Clermont. On the "Sac Bottom " was the old Indian burial ground. The graves are now nearly all obliterated, but when the first white settlers came, in 1848, they were numerous; "there were thousands of them," says Samuel Conner.
THE NEW MISSION AND CAMP ATKINSON.
In 1840, the United States Government established a military post about thirty miles west-northwest of the Old Clayton Mission, on the Turkey River, on or near Section 8, Township 96, Range 9 (Winnesheik Co.), calling it Camp Atkinson, or Fort Atkinson, in honor of Gen. Atkinson, of the U. S. Army. At this point a fort and barracks were erected. At the same time, a new Mis- sion was established three or four miles south of the Fort, in charge of Rev. David Lowry, a Cumberland Presbyterian clergyman, who had been Agent at the Old Mission for several years. This was designed for a school for the pur- pose of educating the Winnebagoes and inducing them to adopt the manners and customs of civilized life. To this end, several hundred acres of land were broken and placed under cultivation. A small farm was allotted to each head of an Indian family, and all the inducements within the power of the government were extended to the savages to abandon their habits and settle down to agriculture, but it was of little avail. Mr. Andrew J. Hensley, then a lad of 15, often visited the Mission in 1845, and states that the Indians would send their papooses to school only when they were short of provisions-that when their larders were well supplied with the fruits of the chase, they would neither work nor go to school. The Fort and Mission were abandoned in June, 1848, when the Indians were removed, but from 1840 until that time, Fort Atkinson and the Mission School were important points and furnished a market for the few settlers in Clayton, Delaware and Dubuque. The Mission was just north of the Fayette County line, but a portion of the lands cultivated was in this county. Mr. Lowry was succeeded by James McGregor and is still living, or was very recently, in Missouri, and still owns property in Clayton County. Mr. McGregor was succeeded by J. E. Fletcher, by whom the Indians were conducted to Minnesota in 1848. The attempt to civilize the wild men of the plains was a failure.
The Winnebago Indians, who occupied the northern portions of Fayette County as part of their reservation, were a peaceful band, 2,900 in number. They hunted over Fayette, Clayton and Delaware Counties, and seldom had any trouble with the whites. They were extremely fond of whisky. The rule among them was, when they succeeded in getting fire-water, to give their guns and knives to the squaws before getting drunk. When one detachment had had
313
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
their spree and had begun to get sober, another set would imitate their example until all had experienced the blissful fury of intoxication and the subsequent headaches and parched mouths incidental to "sobering off."
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