USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 43
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· Numerous other incidents might be related growing out of these claim difficulties, some of which were even more serious than the one re- lated.
In an adjoining county, the claim club, having taken posession of two claim jumpers, were escorting them to a calm, sequestered spot, where the tar and feathers could be administered in the most approved method, when one of the prisoners, overcome with a sense of his guilt, and excited to the point of desperation by a feeling of the great disgrace which was to be heaped upon him, stabbed himself, and soon after died from the effects of the wound.
Certain old settlers of Keokuk county still remember the occurrence.
SURVEYS.
The reader is doubtless aware that the original subdivision of land into townships and sections was made under the direction of the general gov- ernment, and was entirely independent of county organization. The sub- division of territory into counties was done by the direction, and under the authority of the Territorial or State Legislature; the subdivision of the counties into voting precincts or civil townships was by the direction and authority of the board of county commissioners or supervisors, but the subdivision of land into congressional townships and sections was entirely independent of all State or county authority, done by deputy surveyors ap- pointed by the Surveyor-General, and generally completed before the county was organized.
The system of land surveys provides for the the division of the country into small square portions of uniform size, varying from that shape only when large river, lake or sea borders make it necessary. To begin such a division of land there must of necessity be some fixed points to measure from. The first lines starting from such points are of two kinds: Prin- cipal Meridians, running north and south, and Base Lines running east and west. The surveys, of course, begin in the eastern part of the United States where the country was first settled, and the first line established was called the First Principal Meridian. As the surveys extended further west other Principal Meridians were established. The land surveys of Iowa county are reckoned from the Fifth Principal Meridian. The point which fixes the location of this line is the mouth of the Arkansas River; it runs due north through Missouri and the eastern part of Iowa and ends at the bank of the Mississippi River at the boundary line between Clayton and Dubuque counties. At a distance of six miles west of this line extends another line parallel to the principal meridian, and all the land lying between these two parallel lines is called Range One, West. At a distance of six miles from this second line extends another parallel line, and all the land lying between these two lines is called Range Two, West. And so on until we come to Iowa county, the eastern boundary line of which is the ninth parellel line; six miles from this is another line, and all the land lying between these two parallel lines is range nine, west.
- The point which fixes the location of the base line is at the mouth of the
·
335
.HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
St. Francis River, in Arkansas. This line runs east and west, and six miles north of it extends another line parallel with it; all the land lying between the two is called Township One, North. North of this second line extends a third line, and the land included between them is called Township Two, North, and so on until we come to the . line which forms the southern boundary of Iowa county, which is the seventy-seventh num- bering from the base line; six miles north of this extends the seventy- eighth parallel line, and all the land lying between the two parallels is called Township Seventy-seven. It will be observed that these lines cross each other at intervals of six miles, thus forming square parcels of land six miles square. Such parcels are called congressional townships, and in the description of all real estate, the name of the congressional, and not the civil township is used, because the former is unchangeably fixed, while the latter is subject to frequent change of boundary and name.
In surveying lands it is customary and necessary to first run the town- ship lines. Upon investigation we find that the township lines of all the townships in Iowa county were run prior to August, 1845. After the township lines were run, then each township was subdivided into sections, which work was usually known as sectionizing. The work of surveying the public lands was in charge of the Surveyor-General, who let the work to deputy surveyors. The deputy surveyors, who supervised the work in the various townships of this county, with the date when it was done, and also the time when the work was certified by the Surveyor-General, is not given as the copy of the original field-notes is not certified. A surveying party usually consisted of seven persons; one chief in charge of the in- strument, two chain bearers, one stake driver, one flagman, one wagoner and one cook. The party generally worked every day, regardless of the state of the weather, and slept at night in a tent with which they were provided. This tent was usually pitched near the center of the township, and here also were the provision and cooking utensils. They usually took two meals each day, one early in the morning before beginning work, and the other late in the evening after returning to camp.
FIRST LAND ENTRIES.
Of course no lands could be sold till they were surveyed, and as the sur- veys were not completed prior to the year 1844, it follows that but little land was entered prior to the year 1845.
By examination of the book of original entry, we find that but little land was entered prior to the year. 1846, during which year and the one following, considerable land was bought by those who had previously been residents of the county.
The first land entered in the county was lot 1 and sw qr of the nw qr, and e hf of sw qr of section 35, township 81, range 10. The parcel con- tained 152 and 46-100 acres, and was entered by R. M. Hutchison. This was on the 11th of October, 1845, and was the land upon which the old trading house was located.
.The second entry was made by John Mendenhall and consisted of the nw qr of the se qr of section 28, township 81, range 9; the entry is dated November 1, 1845.
It will be impossible in a work of this kind to give the names of all
336
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
persons who made original entries and the dates, we give those only which were made prior to 1850. They are as follows:
TOWNSHIP 78, RANGE 9.
Jacob Ricord; nw qr of se qr sec. 3; Nov. 3, 1845.
Edward R. Ricord; se qr of nw qr sec. 3; Nov. 3, 1845. 1 Jacob Ricord; sw qr of ne qr sec. 4; Nov. 3, 1845. Above were the third entries in Iowa county.
Edward R. Ricord; ne qr of ne ar sec. 4; July 27, 1846. William and Elizabeth Convers; ne qr of se qr sec. 3; Aug. 9, 1848.
Elisha Ricord; w hf se qr sec. 4; July 3, 1848. Elisha Ricord; ne qr sw qr and nw qr se qr; July 3, 1848. Mary L. Legare; lots 3, 4, 5, sec. 4; Aug. 20, 1849. William T. Allen; sw qr sw qr sec. 36; Nov. 15, 1849.
TOWNSHIP 79 NORTH, OF RANGE 9 WEST.
David Greenlee; se qr sec. 14; April 25, 1854. Elisha H. Ricord; s fr hf sw qr sec. 31; July 27, 1846. Henry Starry; sw qr se qr sec. 34; Dec. 16, 1846. Lambert Lamberts; e hf sw qr sec. 34; Feb. 27, 1846. Michael Duffey; se qr ne qr sec. 35; July 7, 1848. William and Elizabeth Convers; se qr sec. 35; Aug. 9, 1848. Clark Jones; sw qr sw qr sec. 36; March 17, 1848. Herman Legeon; e qr sw qr and nw qr, sw qr sec. 36; May 5, 1849. Herman Legeon; sw qr se qr sec. 36; May 5, 1849.
TOWNSHIP NO. 80 NORTH, OF RANGE NO. 9 WEST.
Lewis Doty; n fr hf nw qr and nw qr ne qr sec. 1; March 31, 1849. William Spicer; n hf sw qr and sw qr sw qr sec 1; May 3, 1849. Lewis Doty; ne qr ne qr sec 2; March 31, 1849. Johnathan Sprague; w hf nw qr sec 3; June 23, 1847. George W. Hess; ne fr qr sec 3; Oct. 2, 1848.
John A. Hunter; w hf of se qr sec. 3; March 28, 1849. Elhannan Blalock; s hf ne qr and se qr nw qr sec. 4; April 25, 1848. Elhannan Blalock; ne qr sw qr sec 4; April 25, 1848. Lineas Niles; n hf ne qr, ne qr of nw qr sec. 4; July 11, 1849. Daniel Talbott; w hf ne qr sec. 5; June 26, 1849. John A. Hunter; w hf ne qr sec. 10; March 28, 1849. Orley Hull; nw qr nw qr sec 11; March 22, 1848. John Cook; e hf ne qr and e hf se hf sec. 14; Nov. 19, 1849. David McLeory; se qr se qr sec 23; Sept. 8, 1849. David McLeory; sw qr sw qr sec. 24; Sept 8, 1849.
John Cook; ne qr se qr and s hf ne qr sec. 24; Nov, 19, 1849. David McLeory; nw qr nw qr sec. 25; Sept. 8, 1849. David McLeory; ne qr ne qr sec. 26; Sept. 8, 1849.
TOWNSHIP NO. 81 NORTH, OF RANGE NO. 9 WEST.
Joseph Burns; sw qr sec. 15; Aug. 3, 1848.
William G. Adams; s hf se qr sec. 15; Aug. 3, 1848.
337.
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Joseph Swayer; sw qr sec. 20; Aug. 3, 1848. Jefferson Usselman; nw qr se qr; July 2, 1849. Joseph Burns; ne qr sec. 21; Aug. 3, 1848. Joseph Burns; se qr sec. 21; Aug. 3, 1848. Moses Aunspaugh; s hf sw qr sec. 21; Aug. 3, 1848. George Marshall; nw qr sec. 21; Aug. 18, 1849. Joseph Burns; nw qr sec. 22; Aug. 3, 1848. William G. Adams; n hf ne qr sec. 22; Aug. 3, 1848.
F. E. Barney; e hf se qr sec. 22; Sept. 8, 1848. Thomas Darling; sw qr sec. 22; Feb. 22, 1848. William Marshall; e hf se qr sec. 23; July 19, 1847. Samuel Lee; e hf sw qr and w hf se qr; Aug. 3, 1848. T. E. Banrey; w hf sw qr sec. 23; Sept. 8, 1848. Joseph H. Fisher; se qr of se qr sec. 24; July 17, 1848. Benjamin McCorkle; sw qr of se qr sec. 24; Dec. 8, 1848. Joseph Brown; ne qr ne qr sec. 25; Dec. 14, 1846.
William McCorkle; ne qr nw qr sec. 25; July 3, 1847. Rolla Johnson; w ht nw qr and lot 3, sec. 25; July 11, 1848.
Joseph H. Fisher; se qr ne qr sec. 25; July 17, 1848. William McCorkle; se qr ne qr and w hf ne qr sec. 25; Dec. 8, 1848. Mills White; lot No. 2; June 26, 1849.
Abraham Price; nw qr se qr, and lot No. 3 sec. 26; March 18, 1847. Rolla Johnson; ne qr sec. 26; July 11, 1848.
Rolla Johnson; lot No. 2 sec. 26; July 11, 1848.
Samuel Burns; s hf nw qr and n hf sw qr sec. 26; Aug. 3, 1848.
Rolla Johnson; s hf sw qr sec. 26; Dec. 20, 1848.
Solomon Simmonds; nw qr nw qr sec. 26; July 10, 1848.
Franklin Neff; ne qr sec. 28; Aug. 3, 1848.
Moses Aunspaugh; n hf nw qr sec. 28; Aug. 3, 1848.
William W. Riddle; w hf sw qr sec. 28; Oct. 11, 1848.
James M. Marshall; e hf sw qr and sw qr se qr sec. 28; Oct. 11, 1848.
Friend Carter Brown; e hf sw qr and sw qr nw qr sec. 29; Oct. 8, 1847. William W. Riddle; n hf se qr sec. 29; Oct. 11, 1848.
Robert M. Hutchinson; lot No. 1 sec. 30; Aug. 1, 1849.
Robert M. Hutchinson; lot No. 3 and se qr ne qr sec. 31; Aug. 1, 1849.
Daniel Talbott; lot No. 6 sec. 32; June 26, 1849.
Joseph Burns; lot No. 3 and 4 sec. 33; Aug. 3, 1848.
James M. Marshall; lot No. 2 sec. 33; Oct 11. 1848. Lineas Niles; lot No. 8 sec. 33; July 11, 1849.
Joseph Burns; lot No. 3 sec. 34; Ang. 3, 1848.
Joseph Burns; lot No. 1 sec. 34; Aug. 3, 1848.
Joseph Burns; lot No. 2 sec. 34; Nov. 3, 1848 ..
Daniel Talbott; lot No. 5 sec. 34; June 26, 1849.
Rolla Johnson; e hf se qr and se qr ne qrand lot No. 2 sec. 35; July 11, 1848.
Samuel Burns, jr .; lots No. 3 and 4, sw qr se qr sec. 35; Ang. 3, 1848. Rolla Johnson; lot No. 9 and nw qr nw qr sec. 35; Dec. 20, 1848.
James Hay; se qr sec. 36; Sept. 8, 1849.
James Hay ; e hf sw qr and sw qr se qr sec. 33; Sept. 8, 1849.
James Hay; sw qr ne qr sec. 36; Sept. 8, 1849.
Miles White; nw qr sw qr and w hfnw qr and ne qr nw fr qr sec. 36; June 26, 1849.
338
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
TOWNSHIP. 78 NORTH, RANGE 10 .WEST.
Elisha Ricord; e hf se qr sec. 1; May 13, 1846.
Elisha Ricord; e hf se qr sec. 2; May 13, 1846.
Jefferson G. Brandon; ne qr of se qr sec. 20; Dec. 9, 1849.
John Davis; e hf nw qr and ne qr sw qr sec. 28; July 9, 1849.
John Davis; nw qr se qr sec. 28; July 9, 1849.
Jefferson G. Brandon; w hf nw qr and nw qr sw qr sec. 28; Dec. 6, 1849.
John Davis; nw qr sec. 29; July 9, 1849.
John Davis; ne qr sec. 28; July 9, 1849.
Chancey Clothier; e hf ne qr and e hf se qr sec. 30; July 5, 1849.
Nimrod Ross; sw qr sec. 36; Feb. 20, 1849.
TOWNSHIP 79 NORTH, RANGE 10 WEST.
Le Grand Byington; sw qr sec. 23; July 9, 1849.
Le Grand Byington; w hf se qr and se qr se qr sec. 23; July 9, 1849.
Le Grand Byington; ne qr ne qr sec. 26; July 9, 1849.
TOWNSHIP 80 NORTH, RANGE 10 WEST.
Daniel Bryan; w hf nw qr and nw qr sw qr sec. 5; March 28, 1849.
Daniel Bryan; ne qr se qr sec. 6; March 28, 1849.
William W. Wallace; nw fr qr nw qr sec. 6; Oct. 27, 1849.
TOWNSHIP 81 NORTH, RANGE 10 WEST.
John Bishop; sw qr sw qr sec. 8; Oct. 17. 1848.
John C. Culbertson; n hf se qr and se qr se qr sec. 13; Oct. 21, 1848. George R. Rider; s hf nw qr and n hf sw qr sec. 13; Oct. 28, 1848. Robert M. Hutchinson; sw qr se qr; Oct. 6, 1847.
George Sheaffer; nw qr sw qr sec. 14; Oct. 31, 1849.
George Sheaffer; n hf se qr and sw qr ne qr sec. 15; Oct. 31, 1849. Daniel A. Peck; se qr sec. 17; July 11, 1848.
John Bishop; w hf nw qr and se qr nw qr sec. 17; Oct. 17, 1848. George Titler; sw qr sec. 17; April 9, 1849.
Ransom Mason; sw fr qr sw qr sec. 18; Jan. 27, 1847.
Ransom Mason; se qr sw fr qr sec. 18; Nov. 9, 1847.
John R. Ross; s hf se qr sec. 18, Jan. 22, 1849.
John R. Ross; n hf ne qr sec. 19; Jan. 22, 1849.
William T. Dobbs; lots Nos. 3, 5 and 6 sec. 19; Sept. 11, 1849. Joseph S. Kilgore; ne qr sec. 20; June 11, 1849.
Daniel A. Peck; se qr sec. 21; July 11, 1848.
John Bishop; s hf nw qr and n hf sw qr sec. 21; Oct. 17, 1848.
John Bishop; n hf nw qr and w hf ne qr sec. 21; Aug. 1, 1849. Andrew Mitchell; s hf nw qr and n hf sw qr sec. 22; Oct. 31, 1849. John J. Rider; e hf se qr sec. 23; Oct. 31, 1849.
Geo. R. Rider; sw qr sec. 24; Sept. 11, 1848.
John C. Culbertson; ne qr ne qr sec. 24; Oct. 21, 1848,
John C. Culbertson; s hf ne qr and n hf se qr; Oct. 21, 1848.
Robert M. Hutchinson; lot No. 2 and se qr sw qr sec. 25; Sept. 23, 1848.
339
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
John J. Rider; n hf ne qr sec. 26; Oct. 31, 1849. Jefferson Miles; lots Nos. 5, 6 and 7 sec. 27; July 2, 1849.
Josephus Talbott; s hf sw qr and lots Nos. 2 and 5 sec. 28; Oct. 3, 1848. Calvin C. Salesbery; sw fr qr sec. 30; Sept. 9, 1848. William T. Dobbs; lot No. 1 sec. 39; Sept. 9, 1849.
Quinton B. James; lots Nos. 2, 3 and 4 sec. 30; Sept. 9, 1849.
William T. Dobbs; se qr sec. 30; Sept. 18, 1849. William H. Wallace; sw fr qr sw qr sec. 31; Oct. 22, 1849. Abel Rawson; nw fr qr sec. 31; Oct. 22, 1849.
Josephus Talbott; e hf ne qr sec. 32; July 15, 1849.
Josephus Talbott; w hf nw qr sec. 33; July 15, 1848.
Thomas Miles; se qr ne qr and ne qr se qr sec. 33; Oct. 27, 1849.
Jefferson Miles; e hf nw qr and sw qr ne qr and nw qr se qr; July 2, 1849.
Thomas Miles; sw qr nw qr and nw qr sw qr; Oct. 27, 1849.
Robert M. Hutchinson; lot and sw qr nw qr and e hf sw qr sec. 35; Oct. 11, 1845.
Robert M. Hutchinson; lots Nos. 2 and 3 sec. 26; Sept. 23, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 78 NORTH, RANGE 11 WEST.
John Miller; e hf sw qr sec. 19; June 6, 1848.
Thompson Carnahan; sw qr sec. 25; June 6, 1849.
John R. Summitt; sw qr ne qr sec. 26; May 8, 1846.
William Clifton; w hf se qr and e hf sw qr sec. 27; March 23, 1848. George Miller; nw qr ne qr sec. 30; June 6, 1848.
John Miller; e hf nw qr sec. 30; June 6, 1848.
John Dillon; se qr nw qr and w hf ne qr and ne qr ne qr sec. 32; June 6, 1849. Mary S. Legaire; w hf ne qr and e hf nw qr sec. 34; Aug. 16, 1849. Alexander Young; e hf ne qr sec. 35; May 8, 1846.
Barnes Cole; se qr sw qr sec. 35; May 3, 1849.
TOWNSHIP 80 NORTH, RANGE 11 WEST.
William H. Wallace; ne fr qr ne qr sec. 1; Oct. 22, 1849. Abraham P. Kitchens; e hf se qr and nw qr se qr and ne qr sw qr sec. 4; Nov. 6, 1849.
Joseph M. Kitchens; nw qr ne qr sec 8; Nov. 8, 1848. Patsy Kitchens; sw qr ne qr sec. 8; Nov. 8, 1848.
Nicholas Mouser; ne qr sec. 18; Oct. 22, 1849.
Nicholas Mouser; ne qr se qr and w hf se qr sec. 18; Oct. 22, 1849. Stephen Chase; ne qr sw fr qr sec. 18; June 1, 1846. Nicholas Mouser; nw qr ne qr sec. 19; Oct. 22, 1849. William Stone; s fr hf sw qr sec. 19; May 23, 1849.
TOWNSHIP 81 NORTH, RANGE 11 WEST.
Richard B. Groff; s hf se qr sec. 4; Oct. 12, 1848. Judson W. Athey; se qr ne fr qr sec. 6; July 10, 1846. Mary S. Legaire; s hf sw fr qr sec. 6; Aug. 21, 1849. Judson W. Athey; e hf ne fr qr sec. 7; July 10, 1846. Mathias Hallopeter; s fr hf sw qr sec. 7; July 1, 1847.
:340
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Mathias Hallopeter; lot No. 8 sec. 7; March 28, 1848.
Mary L. Legaire; ne qr nw qr and nw qr ne qr sec. 7; Aug. 21, 1849. Mathias Hallopeter; lots Nos. 6 and 7 sec. 7; Feb. 3, 1847.
Squire Brown; w hf ne qr and se qr ne qr sec. 8; July 10, 1846.
Squire Brown; e hf nw qr and ne qr sw qr and nw qr se qr sec. 8; July 24, 1849.
Judson W. Athey; nw qr nw qr sec. 8; July 10, 1846. William Alvey; ne qr se qr sec. 8; July 18, 1848.
Squire Brown; ne qr nw qr sec. 9; June 5, 184 -.
William Alvey; nw qr sw qr sec. 9; July 18, 1848.
Richard B. Groff; n hf ne qr sec. 7; Oct. 12, 1848.
Joseph H. Fisher; e hf se qr sec. 9; April 23, 1849.
Joseph H. Fisher; sw qr sw qr sec. 10; April 23, 1849.
James Gilbert and George W. Goings; e hf sw qr sec. 10; Aug. 2, 1849.
Charles Aid; w hf se qr sec. 10; May 3, 1849.
Calvin C. Salesbury; w hf se qr, ne qr se qr and sw qr ne qr sec. 11; Sept. 9, 1848.
Richards Reynolds; e hf ne qr and nw qr ne qr and ne qr nw qr sec. 11; April 30, 1849.
William Justus; se qr se qr sec. 11; July 10, 1846.
John R. Ross; sw qr se qr sec. 12; Oct. 17, 1848.
William Justus; s hf nw qr and n hf sw qr sec. 12; July 10, 1846.
George Titler; sw qr sec. 12; April 9, 1849.
George Titler; nw qr sec. 12; April 9, 1849.
George Titler; n hf nw qr sec. 13; April 9, 1849.
William Justus; s hf nw qr and n hf sw qr sec. 13; July 6, 1846.
John R. Ross; se qr sec. 13; Oct. 17, 1848.
John R. Ross; w hf ne qr and se qr ne qr sec. 13; Oct. 17, 1848.
Geo. Titler; e hf ne qr sec. 14; April 9, 1849.
1
Joseph H. Fisher; ne qr nw qr and w hf ne qr and nw qr se qr sec. 14; April 23, 1847.
Lewis F. Wilson; lot No. 3 sec. 13; Dec. 23, 1846.
Jose Woodward Hollowell; lot No. 4 sec. 13; Dec. 23, 1846.
Joseph H. Fisher; nw qr nw qr sec. 15; April 23, 1849.
James Gilbert and George W. Goings; sw qr nw qr sec. 15; Aug. 2, 1849.
Charles Aid; w hf ne qr sec. 15; May 3, 1849.
James Gilbert and George W. Goings; e hf nw qr sec. 15; Aug. 2, 1849.
Jeremiah H. Richardson; lot No. 3 sec. 17; Dec. 19, 1846.
Mathias Hallopeter; w fr hf nw qr and ne qr nw qr sec. 18; Feb. 3, 1847.
Mathias Hallopeter; n fr hf sw qr sec. 18; March 28, 1848.
Sylvester Midelsworth; w fr hf sw qr sec. 19; Dec. 19, 1846.
Robert Woods; s hf sw qr set. 20; Oct. 7, 1848.
Jesse W. Hollowell; lot No. 4 and s hf sw qr sec. 22; May 4, 1849.
John W. Ritz; fractional piece of se qr on left bank of river sec. 24; June 28, 1848.
Etherial C. Lyon; n fr hf ne qr and fractional piece on left bank of Iowa River sec. 25; Feb. 12, 1846.
Richard B. Groff; s hf ne qr and n hf se qr sec. 25; Sept. 20, 1848. Richard B. Groff; w hf sw qr sec. 25; May 28, 1846.
341
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Richard B. Groff; e hf se qr sec. 26; May 28, 1846.
Jesse W. Hollowell; ne qr nw qr sec. 27; May 4, 1849. Robert Woods; n hf nw qr sec. 29; Oct. 7, 1848. Richard B. Groff; ne qr ne qr sec. 35; May 28, 1846. William H. Wallace; se qr se qr sec. 36; Oct. 22, 1849.
Richard B. Groff; nw qr nw qr sec. 36; May 28, 1846.
Abel Rawson; ne qr sw qr and se qr nw qr and s hf ne qr sec. 36; Oct. 22, 1849.
John M. Salesbury; nw qr ne qr; Oct. 22, 1849.
Horace H. Hall; ne qr nw qr sec. 36; Oct. 12, 1849.
TOWNSHIP 78 NORTH, RANGE 12 WEST.
William Rankin; lots Nos. 5, 6, 11 and 12 sec. 2; Aug. 17, 1849.
Andrew Taylor; w hf sw qr sec. 2; June 1, 1849. -
William Taylor; lots Nos. 11 and 12 and w hf sw qr sec. 3; June 1, 1849.
Andrew Taylor; e hf se qr sec. 3; June 1, 1849.
Albert L. Gross; sw qr ne qr and s hf nw qr and nw qr sw qr sec. 10; Aug 15, 1849.
William Rankin; ne qr ne qr sec. 10; Aug. 17, 1849.
William Rankin; n hf nw qr and se qr nw qr sec. 11; Aug. 18, 1849.
David McCullough; sw qr sec. 23; Dec. 5, 1849.
John A. Rosenberger; nw qr sec. 13; Oct. 22, 1849.
John A. Rosenberger; sw qr sec. 13; Oct. 22, 1849.
John A. Rosenberger; s hf ne qr and n hf se qr sec. 13; Oct. 12, 1849.
John A. Rosenberger; se qr sec. 13; Oct. 22, 1849.
Alexander Reynolds; ne qr se qr and se qr ne qr sec. 23; Aug. 14, 1848.
Alexander Reynolds; w hf sw qr sec. 24; Aug. 14, 1848.
John A. Rosenberger; nw qr sec. 24; Oct. 22, 1849.
John A. Rosenberger; n hf ne qr sec. 24; October 22, 1849.
TOWNSHIP 81 NORTH, RANGE 12 WEST.
William Greenlee; nw fr qr nw qr sec. 1; Feb. 1, 1847. Robert Furnas; nw qr sw qr sec. 1; Feb. 8, 1847.
Elijah Trueblood; w hf and ne qr sw qr sec. 3; July 7, 1848.
John Hunsucker; e hf sw qr and nw qr sw qr sec. 4; Sept. 18, 1849.
Jeremiah Snyder; sw fr qr nw qr sec. 6; Sept. 12, 1849. John Hunsucker; ne qr nw qr sec. 9; Sept. 18, 1849. Elijah Trueblood; nw qr nw qr sec. 10; July 7, 1848.
Lucien Q. Hoggatt; sw qr ne qr and w hf se qr and ne qr sw qr sec. Sept. 19, 1849.
0
Levi Bunting; n hf ne qr sec. 11; Sept. 16, 1849.
Robert Furnas; sw qr nw qr sec. 12; Feb. 8, 1847. John Benson; ne qr sec. 3; April 21, 1848.
Thomas J. Polly; nw qr sec 13; April 21, 1848.
Jeremiah H. Richardson; sw qr se qr sec. 14, Dec. 23, 1846.
Anderson Meacham; s hf nw qr and n hf sw qr sec. 14; Oct. 14, 1848. Sylvester Middleworth; sw qr se qr sec. 24; Dec. 19, 1846. William Taylor; se qr sw qr sec. 24; June 28, 1847.
242
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Sylvester Middleworth; se qr ne qr and n hf se qr and se qr se qr sec. 24, 1848.
FIRST RECORDS.
All the records of the county, even including the record of the pro- ceedings of the old board of county commissioners from 1845 to 1854, are in existence and in the main are in good shape.
The original real estate records are still in existence, although the records have been transcribed and are also to be found in books of the most durable and approved pattern. The book in which the records were first kept is an ordinary blank book of about one hundred pages, such as country debating societies are accustomed to use for recording the minutes, and whose prob- able cost was fifty or seventy-five cents. Here are to be found promiscu- ously recorded, claim deeds, claim mortgages, bills of sale and chattel mortgages, powers of attorney, indenture of apprenticeship, warranty deeds, etc. The character of the penmanship, as a rule, is good but the spelling, for which the recorder is in no way responsible, is simply ridicu- lous. Bills of sale, mortgages and deeds, were, in early times, usually drawn up by justices of the peace who, while they were men of good judg- ment, of unimpeachable integrity, were frequently unlearned and unlet- tered men, as these records will attest; in this respect, if no other, the present generation of magistrates is a decided improvement on the previous one. The fact must not be lost sight of, however, that these men were hardy backwoodsmen, whose continual struggle for a livelihood precluded the possibility of devoting any time to self-culture. In reproducing some of those first records, it is not with a view to ridicule those brave, busy pioneers of justice, but to satisfy a curiosity to behold what is novel and ancient.
FIRST DEED.
The first transfer of real estate was from Jacob Ricord to Henry Lutchin; it reads as follows:
"Know all men by these presents, that I, Jacob Ricord, of the county of Johnson, in the territory of Iowa, in consideration of the sum of five hun- dred and fifty dollars in hand paid by Henry Lutchin, of Linn county, in said Territory, have bargained and sold, and do hereby grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Henry Lutchin, his heirs and assigns forever, the following premises situated in the county of Iowa, in the said Territory, and bounded and described as follows: The southwest quarter of the northeast quarter, and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section number three in township number twenty-eight north, of range number nine west of the principal meridian, containing eighty acres-more or less, according to the government survey, to have and hold said prem- ises with the appurtenances, unto the said Henry Lutchin, his heirs and as- signs, forever. And the said Jacob Ricord for himself and heirs doth hereby convenant with said Lutchin, his heirs and assigns, that he is lawfully siezed of the premises aforesaid; that the premises are free and clear from all incumbrances whatsoever; and that he will forever warrant and defend the same, with appurtenances, unto the said Henry Lutchin, his heirs and assign's, against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever.
"In testimony whereof, the said Jacob Ricord has hereunto set his hand
343
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
and seal this 27th day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six.
" JACOB RICORD.
" Executed in presence of :
"EDWARD R. RICORD.
" LAMBERT LAMBERTS.
"TERRITORY OF IOWA, "IOWA COUNTY. SS.
"Before me, Henry Starry, a justice of the peace, for said county of Iowa, personally appeared the above named Jacob Ricord, and personally known to me to be the person whose named is subscribed to the aforesaid deed as party hereto and acknowledged the signing and sealing of the above convey- ance to be his voluntary act and deed, this 27th day of February, A. D., 1846.
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