USA > Iowa > Iowa County > The history of Iowa County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 49
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If the old settler is to be believed the rough logs and unpainted weather- boarding of the old court-house often rang on the pioneer sabbath with a more stirring eloquence than enlivens the pulpits of the present time. Many of the earliest ministers officiated within its walls, and if those old walls could speak they would tell many a strange tale of pioneer religion lost forever. The minister would mount a store box in the center of the room, and the audience would comfortably dispose themselves on benches situated around. There was no choice of seats except a choice of location, and not much choice in this particular, as the minister usually spoke loud enough to be heard all over the room; no private pews or reserved seats, and the seats were all alike, without cushions for both saints and sinners; the millionaire, had there been any, would have been compelled to seat himself on the same unyielding hard walnut board as did the poorest man in the community.
To that old court-house ministers came of different faiths, but all eager to expound the simple truths of a sublime and beautiful religion, and point out for comparison the thorny path of duty, and the primrose path of dalli- ance. Often have those old walls given back the echoes of those who did a song of Zion sing, and many an erring wanderer has had his heart moved to repentance thereby more strongly than ever by the strain of homely elo- quence. With Monday morning the old building changed its character, and men came there seeking not the mercy of God but the justice of men. The scales were held with an even hand. Fine points of law were doubt- less often ignored, but those who presided knew every man in the coun- try and they dealt out substantial justice, and the natural principles of equity prevailed. Children came here to school and sat at the feet of teachers who knew but little more than themselves; but, however humble the teacher's acquirements, he was hailed as a wise man and a benefactor, and his lessons were received with attention. The doors of the old court-house were always open, and there the weary traveler often found a resting place. There, too, the people of the settlement went to discuss their own affairs, and learn from visitors the news from the great world so far away to the eastward. In addition to the orderly assemblies which formerly met there, other meetings no less notable occurred. It was a sort of forum whither all classes of people went for the purpose of loafing and gossiping, and hearing and telling some new thing.
As a general thing the first court-house, after having served the purpose of its erection, and having served that purpose well, was torn down and conveyed to the rear of some remote lot and thereafter was made to serve the purpose of an obscure cow stable on some dark alley. There is little of the poetic and romantic in the make up of Western society, and the old court-house, after it was superseded by a more elaborate and showy struct- ure, ceased to be regarded with reverence and awe. It was then looked upon as only the aggregation of so many basswood logs or walnut weather- boarding, and the practical eye of the modern citizen could see nothing in
386
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
it but the aforesaid logs or boards, and in his estimate of its value nothing but calculation relative to the number of hogs, horses or cattle which these reconstructed logs or boards would accomodate were the conditions bearing on those estimates.
In a new country where every energy of the people is necessarily em- ployed in the practical work of earning a living and the always urgent and ever pressing question of bread and butter is up for solution, people cannot be expected to devote much time to the poetic and ideal. It therefore fol- lowed that nothing was retained as a useless relic which could be turned to some useful account; but it is a shame that the people of modern times have such little reverence for the relics of former days. After these houses ceased to be available for business purposes, and their removal was deter- mined on, they should have been taken to some other part of the city and lo- cated upon some lot purchased by public subscription, where they might have remained to have at least witnessed the semi-centennial of the country's history. It is sad that, in their haste to grow rich, so few have care even for the early work of their own hands. How many of the early settlers have preserved their first habitations? The sight of that humble cabin would be a source of much consolation in old age, as it reminded the owner of the trials and triumphs of other times, and its presence would go far to- ward reconciling the coming generation with their lot, when comparing its humble appearance with the modern residences whose extensive apartments are beginning to be too unpretentions for the enterprising spirit of the ir- repressible "Young Americans."
Iowa county's first court-house has been spared the humiliation to which the average first court-house has been subjected. But while this is the case there is nothing in and about it to reveal its original character. Few, if any, persons except the man who built it and the commissioners who ordered its erection know anything about it at the present time, and its local habitation, name and eventful history have alike all been forgotten in the mists of passing years.
The first court-house was a log structure of one room, located on the north side of the public square, on the lot immediately east of where the Clifton House is now located. The order for the erection of the same was made by the board of county commissioners at their meeting on the 14th day of April, 1847. The commissioners at that time were William Craw- ford, Thomas Hanson and Lewis F. Wilson. The order was as follows:
Ordered, That the clerk of the board receive sealed proposals for the erection of a tem- porary court-house in the county seat, until the 28th day of May, 1847, and the clerk give notice thereof by posting up written or printed notices.
The dimensions and cost of the building were not specified in the order; but probably were in the notice issued by the clerk.
William Hench took the contract of erecting the building, which was completed the same year. Upon examining the house the commissioners concluded it was not what they wanted and refused to accept it. The con- tractor however was not greatly inconvenienced by the refusal of the com- missioners to accept the building. Houses were very scarce, and what few there were could be easily rented so as to bring a handsome return on the investment. Instead of going into the courts to compel the commission- ers to receive the court-house, it appears that Mr. Hench gracefully and good naturedly abided by the decision, and moreover agreed to rent the
387
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
building to the county for the purpose of holding the sessions of the Dis- trict Court till another house could be built.
The second court-house was built some years later, and was erected on the east side of the public square. This structure was much more elabo- rate than the former one and seems to have served the purposes for which it was erected well.
Instead of becoming dissatisfied with the second court-house, the build- ing appears to have grown in the estimation of the people in general, and the county officials in particular, so that in 1851 it became to be so well thought of that the bare possibility of it's being accidentally destroyed by fire decided the county judge to have it insured. Insurance was not so popular then as now, and this circumstance is very suggestive. The fol- lowing was the official order:
"October 11, 1851.
" This day came Archibald Stewart, general agent for the Troy Fire In- surance Company, of Troy, Wisconsin, and made verbal application to in- sure the court-house of Iowa county, State of Iowa, against loss by fire. And the court taking into consideration the material of which said court- house is constructed, and its liability to be destroyed, both by lightning from without and fire from stoves within, have had said court-house insured by said company. Said court-house is valued at three hundred dollars, insured at two hundred dollars for three years."
The amount paid for said insurance appears from a subsequent order to havs been four dollars and fifty cents. The following is the order:
Ordered, That Archibald Stewart be allowed four dollars and fifty cents of the fund aris- ing from the sale of lots in the town of Marengo, for insuring the court-house against fire in the Troy Fire Insurance Company, Troy, Wisconsin, for three years from the eleventh day of October, 1851.
As an evidence of the remarkable virtues of fire insurance it may be said' that notwithstanding, in the official language of Judge Wallace, the " lia- bility of said house being destroyed by lightning from without, and fire from stoves within," the court-honse has even to the present time been in- vulnerable to the elements; and although the Troy Fire Insurance Company has long since succumbed to the vicissitudes of time, the court-house still stands as a monument to the saving virtues of fire insurance.
As previously remarked the old court-house is still remaining upon the site where it was originally built, and is known, in the parlance of every day speech, as " Readman's store."
The third or present court-house is also situated on the east side of the. public square, a few lots north of the old court-house. In this particular, if in no other, has the building of Iowa county court-houses been charac- terized by good taste and sound judgment. The very common custom of incumbering the public square with a court-house has little to commend it.
The first measures taken for the erection of the buildings were in 1861. It was decided by the county supervisors that a new building should be erected, and the matter was referred to a special committee.
The following report, signed by John Beyer, chairman of special com - mittee on court-house, bears date of June 7, 1861.
"1. Said building shall be erected upon lot No. 4 of block No. 14, in the town of Marengo.
388
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
" 2. That the size and place of said building (if found to be the most con- venient and practicable by the building committee, hereinafter named, and can be constructed for two thousand dollars) be in accordance with the draft and specifications hereto annexed.
"3. That the same be built of brick and in as good, large and convenient style as the sum so appropriated will admit, and as secure from fire as prac- ticable.
"4. That the same be constructed at as early a day as the circumstances will admit.
" 5. That W. H. Wallace, John Beyer and Warren Lincoln be appointed a committee to be known as the building committee, who shall be invested with full authority to do and perform every act and thing necessary to be done in and about the erection of said building, with full powers to make and enter into all contracts for the county necessary to be made and en- tered into in and about the building of said house, and to receive from the county treasurer, on order of the clerk of the board of supervisors, the money for such purpose appropriated, and pay the same out as occasion may require, which said building, when completed, in nowise exceed the sum of two thousand dollars; that there be drawn from time to time as may be directed by the committee, warrants upon the county treasurer for a sum not exceeding the amount of two thousand dollars; provided, however, that said committee shall not order the warrants drawn at any one time suffi- cient to exhaust the ordinary county fund, but shall leave on hand, at all times, an amount sufficient to in the treasury to pay the ordinary expenses of this county. That said committee be authorized to borrow from time to time such sum or sums of money at any interest not exceeding ten per cent, as may be necessary, and by them deemed advisable to prosecute the completion said building. In the event that an amount sufficient cannot be had in the manner last aforesaid, and that the clerk of the District Court be authorized to said committee for the use of the county, such an amount of the principal of the school fund as he from time to time may receive, if the same shall be required by the said committee. That there be an additional levy of one half of one mill made by the board for the year 1861, on the taxable property of said county.
" Adopted.
"JOHN BEYER, Chairman."
It can be readily seen that while the plan adopted was in every way a safe one, it was not calculated to result in a very speedy erection of the proposed house nor in a very creditable building when completed. And such, in fact, was the case. The work dragged slowly along, and it was but a few years after completion that it was found necessary to enlarge the structure. So it was that in 1869 the supervisors were compelled to re-en- ter upon the business of court-house building.
An addition to the court-house was begun in 1869 and in due course of time the court-house, as it now is, was constructed.
While the Iowa county court-house is a very creditable structure and af- fords comparative safety to public documents, it is not large enough to af- ford comfortable quarters for those whose duty it is to manage the official business of the county.
THE JAIL.
Of the Iowa county jail there is need that but little be said. It is in size not sufficiently large to attract special attention on account of its architec-
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
tural grandeur, nor sufficiently strong to inspire evil-doers with much fear. When this has been said the subject has been fully exhausted.
POOR-HOUSE AND FARM.
There were few applications in early days for county aid by persons who were poor and unfortunate. In those days few persons were very rich, and it is likewise true that there were few very poor. The history of Iowa county in this respect was not different from that of other counties. As the county settled up, farms were improved, elegant farm-houses erected, and the natural resources of the county developed; the more industrious. and economical and fortunate became richer, and those who were less ener- getic or fortunate began poorer. After the lapse of some time the num- ber of paupers was so great, and the expense of maintaining them so large, that the taxpayers began to clamor for some more economical method of relieving the deserving poor. Not only had the number of paupers in- creased rapidly, but exorbitant prices were frequently demanded for main- taining such, and, when accommodations could not be procured elsewhere, the authorities were compelled to pay the prices demanded. Under these circumstances the people began to inquire after some plan whereby the poor could be more economically cared for. In 1866 there seemed to be a general feeling in favor of purchasing a farm and erecting buildings suita- ble for an infirmary. The board of supervisors had been, previous to that time, frequently petitioned by various individuals, and the feasibility of the undertaking, doubtless, had frequently suggested itself to that honora- ble body.
At the first meeting or the board of supervisors in January, 1867, a res- olution was adopted confirming the purchase of a half section of wild land from N. B. Holbrook, to be improved and fitted up for a poor-farm. The land cost the county $2,300; it is situated in the northwest corner of Troy township; Old Man's Creek passes through the southwest corner; it is well watered and consists in part of beautiful rolling prairie, and in part of the most fertile alluvial bottom land.
A building was erected on the farm in 1868, 30x36 feet, two stories high, with a basement. This building was used ten years, and when the order was issued for the various. county boards throughout the State to make provisions at home for the incurable insane belonging to the various coun- ties, it became necessary to erect a more commodious building.
The new building was built in the fall of 1878. It is a frame structure; the main part being arranged for the family of the steward, dining hall, kitchen, etc. The old building was moved from the site where it originally stood to the new building, and out of it was constituted a wing of the main structure. These improvements cost the county the sum of $4,800.
. James Conroy, William E. Morse and Edward Hopkins constitute the present board of directors. Mr. Wilson was steward prior to January 1, 1880, at which time he resigned and his place was supplied by the appoint- ment of Charles Seaton, the present incumbent.
The last report of the board of directors, which we herewith append, will show the condition of the institution.
" MARENGO, January 8, 1880.
"To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Iowa County-Your poor-
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
farm directors beg leave to submit the following report of the condition of the farm for the year 1879.
"There is in charge:
The farm, valued .
$12,000.00
Stock, valued. .
2,531.00
Grain, hay and produce
950.00
Farm machinery and harness
416.00
Household goods and miscellaneous
626.11
Total
$16,523.11
" Produce raised on the farm during the year 1879:
Wheat
181 bushels
Oats.
550
Barley
407
Grass seed
108 66
Corn
5,000
Potatoes
320
Hay.
75 tons
Garden stuff and miscellaneous, valued at $50.
"Of the foregoing there has been sold, timothy seed and barley to amount of $226.80. The balance to be consumed on the farm.
EXPENDITURES FOR 1879.
Indebtedness of 1878
$1,913.89
Groceries purchased
531.78
Dry goods purchased
209.53
Fuel purchased.
115.71
Moving machine purchased
50.00
Seed and corn purchased.
171.40
Hardware and repairs
238.00
Lumber purchased.
64.81
Threshing
37.21
Cattle .
708.75
Medical attendance
65.40
Mules .
175.00
Labor, including salary of steward and keeper of insane
1,546.26
Total
$5,827.79
RECEIPTS.
Sale of steers
$1,596.95
Sale of hogs
782.09
Timothy seed and barley
226.80
Sale of hide
1.26
Total
$2,607.10
. .
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HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
Amount received from insane fund
$528.00
Charged to insane fund
665.72
Total $3,800.82
Net indebtedness to poor fund
$2,827.79
Total
$5,827.79
REPORT OF INMATES FOR 1879.
Number inmates January 1, 1879 18
Received during year 12
Total 30
Discharged during year
11
Died
2
Total
13
Number remaining, 17.
Average cost per week for each pauper, $1.87.
'" Owing to the resignation of Mr. Wilson as steward, Mr. Charles Seaton of English township was appointed to the position.
" Respectfully submitted, E. HOPKINS,
" Clerk, Board of Directors."
It will be seen from the foregoing that the farm is well managed, and that the management is carefully and systematically looked after. The plan of having a special board of directors to look after the management of the farm is in every way preferable to encumbering the board of supervisors with the details, as is usually the custom.
With such facilities for receiving inmates, it is certainly proper that parties subject to public maintenance be removed to the infirmary as speedy as possible. There are cases when it is advisable to pay a weekly sum for the support of an individual or family, but these are exceptionable. It is neither to the interest of the needy nor in the interests of public morals to furnish indiscriminate aid to out door paupers. . This is, however, a matter that lies chiefly with township trustees, and over which the supervisors have little control.
Asylums for the poor and disabled are peculiarly Christian institutions, and they become more common with the growth of civilization. None of the heathen nations of antiquity in the times of their greatest prosperity established benevolent institutions for the unfortunate; but in this age, a State, or even a county of any considerable size, would be considered far be- hind the times in all the elements of progress unless some provisions were made for the care of the unfortunate. " Over the hills to the poor-house" is a sad story, but there are many sadder ones to be found in the history of those people who have no such institutions.
392
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
4
CHAPTER VII.
ADDITIONAL COUNTY AFFAIRS.
Finances-Political Matters-Official Directory-Marriage Licenses.
FINANCES.
DURING the early history of the county, revenues were light, although the rate of taxation was very little, if any, less than at present. During the first four or five years the county expenses ranged from fifteen hundred to three thousand dollars. The books were not kept in a very systematic manner, and it is difficult now, even as it must have been then, to so far understand the system of book-keeping as to be able to determine accu- rately the exact condition of the county finances. This much we know, that with the very limited resources at their command, the persons whose duty it was to manage county affairs kept the machinery in operation and no large debts were contracted.
A complete account of the finances of the county would, of itself, make a large book, and the facts necessary for such an authentic history are not at hand, even though we might desire to record them. There are to be found at various places throughout the county records certain facts at our command, whereby we are enabled to form some idea of financial affairs from the first. It is our purpose, at this place, to give a brief insight at some of the more salient features of money affairs.
The first record which is suggestive, is that of an order made by the first board of commissioners for the payment of twelve dollars to A. P. Kitchens for assessing the county; considerably less than is now annually paid for the assessment of one township.
The old law provided that the various county officers should make a quarterly report of all the fees received, and divide the same equally be- tween themselves to be applied on their salaries. According to the pro- visions of the rule, we find that the various county officers reported all the fees by them received during the quarter ending October 2, 1851, the sum total of which was twenty-one dollars and ten cents.
On the 5th day of April, 1852, the various officers had an accounting of fees received, the result being as is set forth in the following record:
"This day came the clerk, treasurer and recorder, and county judge, to have an accounting with each other of the fees received by each, from the 5th day of January to the present date. The clerk received $5.35; recorder and treasurer received $22.05; county judge received $3.75; which, being added together, makes the sum of $31.15, and divided by three gave each $10.38, leaving a balance due each on his salary for the quarter of $39.61 to be drawn from the county treasury. The salary for each then must have been $50 per quarter, or $200 per annum."
395
HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTY.
The following orders will show the tax levies at various times:
1847.
Ordered, That there be a tax levied on the assessment roll for the year 1847, as follows: four mills on the dollar for State purposes; one-half mill on the dollar for school purposes; four mills on the dollar for county purposes; a poll-tax of fifty cents on every male person above the age of twenty-one years.
1848.
Ordered, That there be, and hereby is levied a tax on the assessment list of 1848, as fol- lows: a county tax of four mills on the dollar; a State tax of two and a half mills on the dol- lar; a school tax of one mill on the dollar.
Taxable property
$24,230.00
County tax levied .
96.92
State tax levied.
60.575
School tax levied.
24.23
Also a poll-tax of fifty cents on every person liable to pay poll-tax. Number of polls, 99; poll-tax, $49.50; making a total tax levy of $231.22.
1849.
Ordered, That there be, and hereby is levied a tax on the assessment list of 1849, as fol- lows: county tax, four mills on the dollar; State tax, two and a half mills on the dollar; school tax, one mill on the dollar; poll-tax of fifty cents on each poll returned.
Amount of taxable property
$37,245.50
County tax.
14 <. 98
State tax
92.11
School tax
37.24
Poll-tax.
59.50
Total
$33,783.00
1850.
Ordered, That there be, and hereby is levied a tax on the real and personal property as- sessed for the year 1850 of four mills on the dollar for county purposes; two and a half mills on the dollar for State purposes; one-half mill on the dollar for school purposes; a poll-tax of fifty cents on each poll returned.
Amount of county tax.
$291.29
Amount of State tax.
181.95
School tax.
36.41
Poll-tax
82.50
Total levy
$592.15
The foregoing, together with a small tax in 1846, very little of which was collected, constituted all the revenues derived from the county by tax- ation during the first five years of the county's history.
In January, 1851, the county treasurer made a report of the financial condition of the county. We reproduce the report to show in what condi- tion the finances of the county were after five years of such meager revenue:
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