USA > Iowa > Henry County > The history of Henry county, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 61
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When the pioneers first settled on the prairies of Henry County, they gave neither thought nor labor to the planting of fruit-trees. The wild crab-apple' the wild grape and the prolific small fruits which filled wood and marsh were sufficient to satisfy taste for variety of diet.
It was several years before trees were set out in any numbers, and then a majority of farmers merely stuck small trees into the ground, and expected that the marvelous stories told by traveling venders would prove true, without care on the part of the farmer.
The result of such orcharding was naturally very discouraging. If the trees were not killed during the first winter, they were so stunted by trans- planting in unsuitable soil and climate that years of patient nursing alone could save them or make them profitable. As no such attention was given them, they struggled into a blighted life and proved barren.
In 1866, there were 82,181 fruit-trees in bearing, while 130,469 were unpro- ductive. Only 31,460 pounds of grapes were gathered in all the county. This was at a time when the fruit crop should have been abundant, but the causes assigned were too powerful to be overcome by a mere desire on the part of the farmers.
In 1875, there were 131,873 apple-trees, 31,274 cherry-trees, 1,451 plum- trees, 3,629 pear-trees and 1,505 other varieties of fruits, all in bearing. The number of trees not in bearing aggregated only 125,864, and these included young orchards.
These figures show that fruit can be raised here. In most parts of the county, apples will eventually become an excellent crop; but the prize can be won only by skillful management.
A farmer would not think of using an unknown variety of wheat for seed, or a new kind of corn for planting, and then expect to reap a full harvest with- out proper cultivation of the soil. Why, then, should he expect to grow fruit from unknown trees, without even watching them, to protect them in their early stages from weather and insects ?
POST OFFICES IN THE COUNTY.
The following list shows the post offices now in existence in Henry County : Boyleston, Cotton Grove, Hillsborough, Lowell, Marshall, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, New London, Oakland Mills, Rome, Salem, Swedesburg, Tren- ton, Wayne, Winfield, Winona.
MOUNT PLEASANT.
The original plat of the village of Mount Pleasant contained forty blocks. The County Commissioners, George W. Patterson, h. Samuel Brazel- ton and Henry Payne, made the first entry, but did not receive a patent until nine years later. One year after the Commissioners' entry, Presley
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Saunders made an entry. The following is an exact transcript of the origi- nal entry :
UNITED STATES, TO GEORGE W. PATTERSON SAMUEL BRAZELTON, HENRY PAYNE. The Board of County Com. for Henry County, I. Ty.
Entered 2d July, 1839. Patented 1st July, 1848. Recorded O. E. p. 190.
S. E. 4 9, 71, 6=160 Acres at $1.25 per acre-$200. Cer- tificate No. 3188.
The following is a Copy of the Patent on said Entry :
Filed for Record Nov. 25, 1 1869, at 11:45 o'clock A. M. Recorded Nov. 25th, 1869, in Book W., p. 359.
[Pre-emption Certificate No. 3188] The United States of America, To all to whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting.
WHEREAS, George W. Patterson, Samuel Brazelton and Henry Payne, Commissioners of Henry County, Iowa, in trust for said County, under the pro- visions of the Act of Congress approved on the 26th May, 1824, granting to Counties or Parishes the Right of Pre-emption, have deposited in the General Loan Office of the United States, a cer- tificate of the Register of the Land Office at Fairfield, whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said George W. Patterson, Samuel Brazelton and Henry Payne, Commissioners as aforesaid, according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled "An Act making further provisions for the sale of the public lands," for the South-east quarter of Section Nine, in Township Seventy-one of Range Six West, in the District of lands subject to sale at Fairfield, Iowa, containing one hundred and sixty acres, according to the official plat of the survey of the said lands, returned to the General Land Office, by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said George W. Patterson, Samuel Brazelton and Henry Payne, Commissioners as aforesaid. Now know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premises and in conformity with the several Acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant unto the said George W. Patterson, Samuel Brazelton and Henry Payne, Commissioners as aforesaid, and to their successors in office the said tract above described ; to have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities and appurtenances of whatsoever nature thereunto belonging to the said George W. Patterson, Samuel Brazelton and Henry Payne, Commissioners as aforesaid, and to their successors in office and assigns forever.
In Testimony Whereof, I, James K. Polk, President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent and the Seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at the City of Washington the first day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-eight and of the Independence of the United States the seventy-second.
L. S.
By the President, JAMES K. POLK. By L. P. Stephens, Assistant Secretary.
Recorded Vol. 28, page 328. S. H. LAUGHLIN, Recorder of the General Land Office.
Coming after this is the copy of Mr. Saunders' entry :
UNITED STATES, Entered March 9th, 1840. TO Patented Dec. 1st, 1841.
PRESLEY SAUNDERS. Recorded O. E. p. 190.
S. W. ¿ 9, 71,6-160. E. & N. W. ¿ 9, 71, 6- 80. W. ¿ N. E. 4 9,71,6-80.
The Original Entry Book shows that for this land Saunders paid $400, being at the rate of $1.25 per acre, and took Receipt No. 4,521, which being surrendered, he received the U. S. Patent, which was filed for Record in Henry County, May 21st, 1857, and Recorded in Book V, page 104, and there reads as follows :
The United States of America .- To all to Whom These Presents Shall Come, Greeting :
WHEREAS, Presley Saunders, of Henry County, Iowa Territory, has deposited in the General Land office of the United States, a certificate of the Register of the Land office at Burlington, whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Presley Saunders according to the provisions of the act of Congress of the 24th of April, 1820, entitled " An Act making further
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
provisions for the sale of the Public lands " for the South West quarter, and the East half of the North West quarter and the West half of the North-East quarter of Section Nine, in Township Seventy-one, North of Range Six West, in the District of Lands subject to sale at Burlington, Iowa Territory, containing three hundred and twenty acres, according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, which said tract has been purchased by the said Presley Saunders. Now know ye, that the United States of America, in consideration of the premises, and in conformity with the Several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant, unto the said Presley Saunders and to his heirs, the said tract above described, to have and to hold the same, together with all the rights, privileges, immunities and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging unto the said Presley Saunders, and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In Testimony Whereof, I, John Tyler, President of the United States of America, have caused these letters to be made Patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be hereunto affixed.
Given under my hand at the City of Washington the first day of December in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, and of the Independence of the United States the Sixty-sixth.
L. S.
By the President, JOHN TYLER, By R. Tyler, Secretary.
Recorded Vol. 9, page 377, J. Williamson, Recorder of the General Land Office.
The original survey was in 1837, by Charles H. Fish, Deputy Sur- veyor.
During the 1836-37 session of the Wisconsin Territorial Legislature, the county of Henry was organized and the county seat located at Mount Pleasant. Millspaugh's Mills, Trenton and Paton Wilson's locality, near Oakland Mills, were rivals of Mount Pleasant in locating the county seat.
The first county election was held January 13, 1837, when Robert Caulk, Samuel Brazelton and George J. Sharp were elected Commissioners ; D. C. Roberts, Treasurer, and John Riddle, Coroner.
Joseph Moore opened the first store at this place in 1835, where Tiffany's book store now stands, and, in 1836, the first Postmaster was appointed in the person of Alvin Saunders.
The first Court House built here was a log cabin.
Mary Saunders, a daughter of Presley Saunders, was the first white child born at Mount Pleasant.
The first brick house put up in town was built by John B. Lash, Esq., in the fall of 1838, and he moved into it in the spring of 1839. This is the house now standing immediately south of the Court House and owned by G. W. Flora, Esq. The Hon. John P. Grantham made the mortar and carried the brick that went into this house. The first brick chimney was built by L. B. Hughes, to a little frame building north of Whiting's bank.
CITY GOVERNMENT.
The town of Mount Pleasant was first incorporated January 25, 1842. The charter provided for a government consisting of a President, four Councilmen and a Recorder, but in two years the government was abandoned, and on Feb- ruary 5, 1851, the town of Mount Pleasant was again incorporated. An elec- tion was held in April, 1851, which resulted in the choice of Col. William Thompson, Mayor ; Harper Briggs, T. V. Taft, John S. Green and Alvin Saunders, Councilmen ; John F. Bartruff," Treasurer; H. H. McMillan, Re- corder, and M. C. Shaw, Marshal. This charter existed until 1857, when, by virtue of an act of July 15,, 1856, Mount Pleasant was endowed with the powers of a second-class city.
J. H. Woolson MT. PLEASANT.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
A transcript of the original act follows :
" AN ACT for the incorporation of the town of Mount Pleasant, in Henry County, Iowa Territory.
" SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa, That all that part or tract of land lying in Township Seventy-one north, Range Six west, in the county of Henry, which is com- prised in the town plat of Mount Plensant, together with all additions that may hereafter be made and recorded thereto, be and the same is hereby consti- tuted a town corporate, and shall be known by the name and title of the town of Mount Pleasant.
" SEC. 2. That the qualified voters for members of the Legislative Assem- bly, who have resided within the limits of said corporation, for thirty days immediately preceding any such election, shall meet within some suitable place within said corporation, on the first Monday in March next, and annually there- after, then and there proceed to elect by ballot a President, four Councilmen, and a Recorder, who shall hold their offices for one year, and until their succes- sors shall be elected and qualified ; and the President and any two of the Coun- cilmen shall be a Board for the transaction of business, but a less number may adjourn from time to time; Provided, that in case of the death or absence of the President, the Councilmen shall choose a President, pro tem. from their own body.
"SEC. 3. At the first election to be held under this act, there shall be chosen by the electors present, three Judges and a Clerk of said election, who shall each take an oath or affirmation, faithfully to discharge the duties required by this act; and, at all subsequent elections, the Councilmen, or any three of them, shall be Judges, and the Recorder, Clerk of Election ; and at all elections to be held under this act, the polls shall be opened between the hours of nine and ten in the forenoon, and closed at five in the afternoon of the same day ; and at the close of the polls the vote shall be counted and a true statement thereof pro- claimed to the electors present by one of the Judges ; and the Clerk shall make a true record thereof; and within five days after such an election, the Clerk shall give notice to the persons elected of their election ; and it will be the duty of the Recorder, at each annual election, to give at least five days' notice thereof, by posting up notices at three of the most public places in said town.
"SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the President to call meetings of said Conn- cilmen, by posting up written notices of such intention in three of the most pub- lic places in said town, at least three days previous to such meeting, and also to preside at all such meetings ; Provided, that in case of the absence of the President, it shall be the duty of the Recorder to give notice of such meeting as above prescribed. And it shall be the duty of the Recorder to keep a fair and accurate record of all their proceedings ; and the said Recorder is authorized, under his hand and seal, to appoint some competent person as his deputy, who in his absence shall do and perform all the duties enjoined upon the said Re- corder, and for whose acts the said Recorder shall be liable.
" SEC. 5. The President, Councilmen and Recorder of said town shall be a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession to be known and dis- tinguished by the name of the President and Council of the town of Mount Pleasant ; and shall be capable in law, in their corporate name, to acquire prop- erty, real and personal, for the use of said town and sell and convey the same ; may have a common seal, which they may alter at pleasure ; may sue and be sued, defend and be defended in any court of competent jurisdiction ; and when any suit shall be commenced against such corporation, the first process shall be by summons, which shall be served by an attested copy, to be left with the Re-
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
corder, not less than seven nor more than twelve days before the return day thereof.
" SEC. 6. The officers elected by this act shall each take an oath or affirma- tion to support the Constitution of the United States and the organic law of this Territory (or the Constitution of this State, as the case may be), and also faith- fully to discharge the duties of his office.
" SEC. 7. The President and Councilmen shall have power to ordain and establish by-laws, rules and regulations for the government of said town, and the same to alter, repeal or re-ordain at pleasure ; and to provide in said by- laws for the election of a treasurer, two assessors, a town marshal, and other subordinate officers, which may be for the good government and well-being of the town ; to prescribe their duties, declare their qualifications and determine the period of their appointments, and the fees they shall be entitled to receive for their services ; and require them to take an oath or affirmation, faithfully to discharge the duties of their respective offices ; and may require of them such. securities for the performance of the duties of their respective offices as shall be thought necessary. Said President and Councilmen shall also have power to fix, to the violation of the by-laws and ordinances of the corporation, such reasonable fines and penalties as they may deem proper, and provide for the disposition of such fines and penalties. Provided also, That no by-laws or ordinances of said corporation shall have any effect until the same shall have been published, three weeks successively, in a newspaper published in said county, or by written notices posted up in three of the most public places in town; Provided that nothing done under the provisions of this section shall be incompatible with the laws of this Territory.
"SEC. 8. The President and Councilmen shall, at the expiration of each six months, cause to be made out and published a correct statement of the receipts and expenditures of the preceding six months.
"SEC. 9. The electors of said town, in legal meeting, shall have power, by vote, to direct the levy of taxes upon all real and personal estate within the limits of said corporation, not exceeding one-half per centum upon said real and personal estate in any one year ; to regulate and improve the lanes and alleys, and determine width of sidewalks; Provided, that no property shall be taken from any individual until such individual shall be paid therefor, the value thereof to be ascertained by twelve disinterested freeholders, to be summoned by the Marshal for that purpose ; they sball have the power to remove all nuisances and obstructions from the streets and commons, and all other places within said town and to provide for the removal of the same.
"SEC. 10. The President and Councilmen shall be authorized to grant or withhold, at their discretion, all licenses for the retailing of ardent spirits within the limits of the corporation, and to grant licenses and to regulate or prohibit all shows and public exhibitions, and to appropriate the proceeds of all such licenses for the benefit of said town ; Provided, however, That the powers herein granted shall not be construed as to conflict with the general laws of this Terri- tory, or the future State of Iowa.
"SEC. 11. The streets, lanes and alleys of said town shall constitute one road district, including the several traveled highways for the distance of one mile from the limits of said town or corporation, and the President and Councilmen of said town shall appoint one Overseer of the same, who shall hold his office for one year from the time of his appointment.
" SEC. 12. The Recorder shall receive such fees for his services as the by- laws and ordinances of said corporation shall prescribe ; but the President and
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
Councilmen shall receive no compensation unless the same shall be considered necessary and right by the electors of said town in legal meeting assembled.
"SEC. 13. For the purpose of enabling the President and Councilmen to carry into effect the provisions of this act, they are hereby authorized annually to levy a tax on all real and personal estate within the bounds of said corpora- tion, as the same has been or may be appraised ; Provided said tax shall in no case exceed the sum for the year, voted for and directed according to the pro- visions of the ninth section of this act ; and provided that the said tax shall not exceed in any one year one-half per centum of aggregate amount of real and personal estate within the limits of said town ; and the said President and Councilmen shall, between the first Mondays of April and May, in each year, determine the amount of tax to be assessed and collected within the current year.
"SEC. 14. It shall be the duty of the President and Councilmen to make out a duplicate of taxes, charging each individual therein the amount of tax, in proportion to the real and personal estate of such individual within such town ; which duplicate shall be signed by the President and Recorder, and delivered to the Marshal, or such person as shall be appointed Collector, whose duty it shall be to collect the same, within such time and in such manner as the by-laws shall direct.
"SEC. 15. The said Collector shall have power to sell personal estate, and for want thereof, shall sell real estate for the non-payment of taxes within said town ; but no real estate shall be sold by the reason of the non-payment of such tax or taxes unless the assessment of such tax shall have been duly notified in some public newspaper printed in this Territory, once each week, for at least six weeks before the day when such taxes are payable ; nor unless the intended sale thereof be duly notified by posting up three written notices of such sale, in three of the most public places in said town, for at least ten days before the day of such sale ; nor unless such assessment and proceedings thereon be regular and in all things conformable to the provisions of this act; and moreover, all such real estate so sold may be redeemed in the same manner and within the same period of time as is or may be provided by law, in case of any real estate sold for any county tax.
"SEC. 16. This act may be altered, amended or repealed by any future Legislature of this Territory, whenever a majority of the citizens of the said town of Mount Pleasant shall petition for the same.
" Approved January 25, 1842."
Then came an amendment, as below :
" AN Acr to amend an act entitled " An act for the incorporation of the town of Mount Pleasant, in Henry County.'
" SECTION. 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa : That the qualified voters for members of the Legislative Assembly, who have resided within the limits of said corporation for thirty days immediately preceding any such election, shall meet at some suitable place within said corporation, on the first Monday in May next, and annually thereafter, then and there proceed to elect by ballot such officers as are named in the second section of the act to which this is amendatory, which said officers, when so elected, shall be governed in all respects agreeably to the provisions of said act.
" SEC. 2. Any failure heretofore on the part of the qualified voters of said corporation to hold an election agreeable to the provisions of the act, to which this is amendatory shall not be so construed as to work a forfeiture of said charter.
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY.
"SEC. 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
" Approved February 3, 1843."
Not satisfied, another step was taken as follows :
"AN ACT to amend an act, entitled 'An act to amend an act, entitled " An act for the incorporation of the town of Mount Pleasant, in Henry County,""' approved February 3, 1843; also an act entitled ' An act for the incorporation of the town of Mount Pleasant, in Henry County,' approved January 25, 1842. " SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the House of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa : That hereafter the election of the officers of said corporation shall be held on the first Monday in March of each year, except in cases of vacancy; in which case it shall be the duty of the President, Recorder, or a majority of the Councilmen to call an election to fill such vacancy by giving ten days' notice thereof, by posting up three written notices thereof at three of the most public places in said corporation.
"SEC. 2. That the President and Councilmen shall be authorized to grant or withhold at their discretion all licenses for the retailing of ardent spirits within the limits of said corporation, and to grant licenses, and to regulate or prohibit all shows and public exhibitions, and to appropriate the proceeds of all such licenses for the benefit of said corporation ; Provided, That in no case shall the amount charged for said licenses exceed the amount established by the general law regulating licenses.
"SEC. 3. That the streets, lanes and alleys of said town, including the several roads and highways for the distance of one mile from the Court House, in said town, shall constitute one road district. The President and Councilmen shall appoint one Overseer of the same, who shall hold his office for one year. That said Overseer shall supervise and direct the road labor of all persons residing within the limits of said corporation. That nothing in this section contained shall prohibit other road districts from extending to the limits of said corporation, or other Overseers from working all roads adjacent to said cor- poration.
"SEC. 4. That the tenth and eleventh sections of the act to which this is amendatory, approved Jan. 25, 1842, and all other parts of the acts to which this is amendatory, which come in conflict with the provisions of this act, are hereby repealed.
"SEC. 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
" Approved Feb. 8, 1844."
The following is the official list of city officers from 1852 (the 1851 list above) :
1852-Mayor, David Z. Frick ; Councilmen, T. V. Taft, E. B. Ogg, John B. Lash, N. Shipman ; Treasurer, John P. Grantham, Recorder, H. II. Mc- Millan ; Marshal, M. C. Shaw.
1853-Mayor, James Craig; Councilmen, P. C. Tiffany, E. B. Ogg, Charles S. Clark, Arthur Miller, Treasurer, John P. Grantham ; Recorder, Samuel McFarlan ; Marshal, Ezekiel Cooper.º
1854-Mayor, Edwin Trine; Councilmen, Reuben Allen, S. Smith, H. M. Snyder, W. P. Brazelton ; Treasurer, John P. Grantham ; Recorder, H. H. Mc- Millan; Marshal, Thomas Ginn.
1855-Mayor, Harpin Riggs ; Councilmen, W. P. Brazelton, Samuel Smith, Charles N. McDowell, Arthur Miller; Treasurer, John P. Grantham; Recorder, H. C. Saunders ; Marshal, W. H. Willeford.
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