The history of Jackson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Iowa miscellaneous matters, &c, Part 32

Author: Western Historical Co., pub
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western Historical
Number of Pages: 788


USA > Iowa > Jackson County > The history of Jackson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion history of the Northwest, history of Iowa miscellaneous matters, &c > Part 32


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98


How to find the number of bricks required in a building.


RULE .- Multiply the number of cubic feet by 222.


The number of cubic feet is found by multiplying the length, height nd thickness (in feet) together.


Bricks are usually made 8 inches long, 4 inches wide, and two inches thick ; hence, it requires 27 bricks to make a cubic foot without mortar, but it is generally assumed that the mortar fills 1-6 of the space.


How to find the number of shingles required in a roof.


RULE .- Multiply the number of square feet in the roof by 8, if the shingles are exposed 43 inches, or by 7 1-5 if exposed 5 inches.


To find the number of square feet, multiply the length of the roof by twice the length of the rafters.


286


MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.


To find the length of the rafters, at ONE-FOURTH pitch, multiply the width of the building by .56 (hundredths) ; at ONE-THIRD pitch, by .6 (tenths) ; at TWO-FIFTHS pitch, by .64 (hundredths); at ONE-HALF pitch, by .71 (hundredths). This gives the length of the rafters from the apex to the end of the wall, and whatever they are to project must be taken into consideration.


NOTE .- By X or %{ pitch is meant that the apex or comb of the roof is to he X or }{ the width of the building higher than the walls or base of the rafters.


How to reckon the cost of hay.


RULE .- Multiply the number of pounds by half the price per ton, and remove the decimal point three places to the left.


How to measure grain.


RULE .- Level the grain; ascertain the space it occupies in cubic feet ; multiply the number of cubic feet by 8, and point off one place to the left.


NOTE .- Exactness requires the addition to every three hundred bushels of one extra hushel.


The foregoing rule may be used for finding the number of gallons, by multiplying the number of bushels by 8.


If the corn in the box is in the ear, divide the answer by 2, to find the number of bushels of shelled corn, because it requires 2 bushels of ear corn to make 1 of shelled corn.


Rapid rules for measuring land without instruments.


In measuring land, the first thing to ascertain is the contents of any given plot in square yards ; then, given the number of yards, find out the number of rods and acres.


The most ancient and simplest measure of distance is a step. Now, an ordinary-sized man can train himself to cover one yard at a stride, on the average, with sufficient accuracy for ordinary purposes.


To make use of this means of measuring distances, it is essential to walk in a straight line ; to do this, fix the eye on two objects in a line straight ahead, one comparatively near, the other remote; and, in walk- ing, keep these objects constantly in line.


Farmers and others by adopting the following simple and ingenious con- trivance, may always carry with them the scale to construct a correct yard measure.


Take a foot rule, and commencing at the base of the little finger of the left hand, mark the quarters of the foot on the outer borders of the left arm, pricking in the marks with indelible ink.


To find how many rods in length will make an acre, the width being given. RULE .- Divide 160 by the width, and the quotient will be the answer.


287


MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.


How to find the number of acres in any plot of land, the number of rods being given.


RULE .- Divide the number of rods by 8, multiply the quotient by 5, and remove the decimal point two places to the left.


The diameter being given, to find the circumference.


RULE .- Multiply the diameter by 3 1-7.


How to find the diameter, when the circumference is given.


RULE .- Divide the circumference by 3 1-7.


To find how many solid feet a round stick of timber of the same thick- ness throughout will contain when squared.


RULE .- Square half the diameter in inches, multiply by 2, multiply by the length in feet, and divide the product by 144.


General rule for measuring timber, to find the solid contents in feet.


RULE .- Multiply the depth in inches by the breadth in inches, and then multiply by the length in feet, and divide by 144.


To find the number of fect of timber in trees with the bark on.


RULE .- Multiply the square of one-fifth of the circumference in inches, by twice the length, in feet, and divide by 144. Deduct 1-10 to 1-15 according to the thickness of the bark.


Howard's new rule for computing interest.


RULE .- The reciprocal of the rate is the time for which the interest · on any sum of money will be shown by simply removing the decimal point two places to the left; for ten times that time, remove the point one place to the left ; for 1-10 of the same time, remove the point three places to the left.


Increase or diminish the results to suit the time given.


NOTE .- The reciprocal of the rate is found by inverting the rate ; thus 3 per cent. per month, in- verted, becomes }% of a month, or 10 days.


When the rate is expressed by one figure, always write it thus : 3-1, three ones.


Rule for converting English into American currency.


Multiply the pounds, with the shillings and pence stated in decimals, by 400 plus the premium in fourths, and divide the product by 90.


U. S. GOVERNMENT LAND MEASURE.


A township-36 sections each a mile square. A section-640 acres.


A quarter section, half a mile square-160 acres.


An eighth section, half a mile long, north and south, and a quarter of a mile wide-80 acres.


A sixteenth section, a quarter of a mile square-40 acres.


288


MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.


The sections are all numbered 1 to 36, commencing at the north-east corner.


The sections are divided into quarters, which are named by the cardinal points. The quarters are divided in the same way. The de- scription of a forty acre lot would read: The south half of the west half of the south-west quarter of section 1 in township 24, north of range 7 west, or as the case might be; and sometimes will fall short and sometimes overrun the number of acres it is supposed to contain.


The nautical mile is 795 4-5 feet longer than the common mile.


SURVEYORS' MEASURE.


7 92-100 inches .make 1 link. 25 links 1 rod.


4 rods 1 chain.


80 chains .. 1 mile.


NOTE .- A chain is 100 links, equal to 4 rods or 66 feet.


Shoemakers formerly used a subdivision of the inch called a barley- corn ; three of which made an inch.


Horses are measured directly over the fore feet, and the standard of measure is four inches-called a hand.


In Biblical and other old measurements, the term span is sometimes used, which is a length of nine inches.


The sacred cubit of the Jews was 24.024 inches in length.


The common cubit of the Jews was 21.704 inches in length. .


A pace is equal to a yard or 36 inches.


A fathom is equal to 6 feet.


A league is three miles, but its length is variable, for it is strictly speaking a nautical term, and should be three geographical miles, equal to 3.45 statute miles, but when used on land, three statute miles are said to be a league.


In cloth measure an aune is equal to 1} yards, or 45 inches.


An Amsterdam ell is equal to 26.796 inches.


A Trieste ell is equal to 25.284 inches.


A Brabant ell is equal to 27.116 inches.


HOW TO KEEP ACCOUNTS.


Every farmer and mechanic, whether he does much or little business, should keep a record of his transactions in a clear and systematic man- ner. For the benefit of those who have not had the opportunity of ac- quiring a primary knowledge of the principles of book-keeping, we here present a simple form of keeping accounts which is easily comprehended, and well adapted to record the business transactions of farmers, mechanics and laborers.


289


MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.


1875.


A. H. JACKSON.


Dr. Cr.


Jan.


10 To 7 bushels Wheat


at $1.25


$8 75


$2 50


Feb. 4 To 14 bushels Oats. at $ .45


6 30


66 4 To 5 lbs. Butter


at .25


1 25


March 8 By new Harrow


18 00


40


66


13 By new Double-Tree


2 25


66 27 To Cow and Calf


48|00


April


9 To half ton of Hay


6 25


9 By Cash


25|00


May 6 By repairing Corn-Planter


17 50


July


4 By Cash, to balance account


35|15


$88 05


$88 05


1875.


CASSA MASON.


D :.


March 21 By 3 days' labor


at $1.25


$3 75


21 To 2 Shoats


at


3.00


$6 00


23 To 18 bushels Corn


at .45


8 10


May 1 By 1 month's Labor


25 00


1 To Cash


10/00


June


19 By 8 days' Mowing


at $1.50


12|00


66


26 To 50 Ibs. Flour


2 75


July


10 To 27 lbs. Meat


at $ .10


2 70


18 00


Aug.


12 By 6 days' Labor


at 1.50


9,00


Sept.


1 To Cash to balance account


1820


867 75


$67 75


INTEREST TABLE.


A SIMPLE RULE FOR ACCURATELY COMPUTING INTEREST AT ANY GIVEN PER CENT. FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME.


Multiply the principal (amount of money at interest) by the time reduced to days; then divide this product by the quotient obtained by dividing 360 (the number of days In the interest year) by the per cent. of interest, and the quotient thus obtained will be the required interest.


ILLUSTRATION.


Solution.


Require the interest of $462.50 for one month and eighteen days at 6 per cent. An $462.50 interest month is 30 days; one month and eighteen days equal 48 days. $462.50 multi- .48 plied by .48 gives $222.0000: 360 divided by 6 (the per cent, of interest) gives 60, and $229.0000 divided by 60 will give you the exact interest, which is $3.70. If the rate of 370000 interest in the above example were 12 per cent., we would divide the $222.0000 by 30 6)360 185000 (because 360 divided by 12 gives 30); if 4 per cent., we would divide by 90; If 8 per cent., by 45: and in like manner for any other per cent. 60 /$222.0000($3.70


MISCELLANEOUS TABLE.


12 units, or things, 1 Dozen.


12 dozen, 1 Gross.


196 pounds, 1 Barrel of Flour. | 24 sheets of paper, 1 QuIre. 200 pounds, 1 Barrel of Pork.


20 quires paper 1 Ream.


20 things, 1 Score. 56 pounds, 1 Firkin of Butter. | 4 ft. wide, 4 f", high, and 8 ft. long, 1 Cord Wood.


180


420


420


00


29 By 9 days' Harvesting


at 2.00


12 To Cash


20,00


17 By shoeing span of Horses


8 By sharpening 2 Plows


4 75


24 To one Sow with Pigs


290


MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.


NAMES OF THE STATES OF THE UNION, AND THEIR SIGNIFICATIONS.


Virginia .- The oldest of the States, was so called in honor of Queen Elizabeth, the "Virgin Queen," in whose reign Sir Walter Raleigh made his first attempt to colonize that region.


Florida .- Ponce de Leon landed on the coast of Florida on Easter Sunday, and called the country in commemoration of the day, which was the Pasqua Florida of the Spaniards, or " Feast of Flowers."


Louisiana was called after Lonis the Fourteenth, who at one time owned that section of the country.


Alabama was so named by the Indians, and signifies " Here we Rest." Mississippi is likewise an Indian name, meaning " Long River."


Arkansas, from Kansas, the Indian word for "smoky water." Its prefix was really arc, the French word for " bow."


The Carolinas were originally one tract, and were called "Carolana," after Charles the Ninth of France.


Georgia owes its name to George the Second of England, who first established a colony there in 1732.


Tennessee is the Indian name for the " River of the Bend," i. e., the Mississippi which forms its western boundary.


Kentucky is the Indian name for " at the head of the river."


Ohio means " beautiful ; " Iowa, " drowsy ones ; " Minnesota, " cloudy water," and Wisconsin, "wild-rushing channel."


Illinois is derived from the Indian word illini, men, and the French suffix ois, together signifying " tribe of men."


Michigan was called by the name given the lake, fish-weir, which was so styled from its fancied resemblance to a fish trap.


Missouri is from the Indian word " muddy," which more properly applies to the river that flows through it.


Oregon owes its Indian name also to its principal river.


Cortes named California.


Massachusetts is the Indian for " The country around the great hills."


Connecticut, from the Indian Quon-ch-ta-Cut, signifying "Long River."


Maryland, after Henrietta Maria, Queen of Charles the First, of England.


New York was named by the Duke of York.


Pennsylvania means " Penn's woods," and was so called after William Penn, its orignal owner.


291


MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.


Delaware after Lord De La Ware.


New Jersey, so called in honor of Sir George Carteret, who was Governor of the Island of Jersey, in the British Channel.


Maine was called after the province of Maine in France, in compli- ment of Queen Henrietta of England, who owned that province.


Vermont, from the French word Vert Mont, signifying Green Mountain.


New Hampshire, from Hampshire county in England. It was formerly called Laconia.


The little State of Rhode Island owes its name to the Island of Rhodes in the Mediterranean, which domain it is said to greatly resemble.


Texas is the American word for the Mexican name by which all that section of the country was called before it was ceded to the United States.


POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.


POPULATION OF FIFTY PRINCIPAL CITIES.


CITIES.


Aggregate Population.


Alahama ..


996.992


Arkansas.


484.471


California


560,247


Connecticut


537,454


Delaware ..


125,015


Philadelphia, Pa.


..


674,022


Brooklyn, N. Y.


396,099


Georgia ..


1.184,109


Illinois ..


2,539,891


Chicago, Ill ..


298.977


Indiana.


1,680,637


Baltimore, Md.


267,354


Iowa ....


Boston, Mass ..


250,526


Kausas ..


Cincinnati, Ohio


216,239


Kentucky.


1,321,011


New Orleans, La.


191,418


Louisiana


726.915


San Francisco, Cal.


149.473


Maine ..


Buffalo, N. Y ..


117,714


Maryland.


780,894


Washington, D. C ..


109,199


Massachusetts ..


1,457,351


Newark, N. J.


105,059


Michigan ..


1,184,059


Lonisville, Ky.


100,753


Minnesota.


Cleveland, Ohio


92,829


Mississippi.


Pittsburg, Pa ..


86,076


Missouri.


Nebraska


Detroit, Mich.


79,577


Milwaukee, Wis


71,440


New Hampshire


318,300


69,422


New York


4,382.759


Rochester, N. Y.


62,386


Ohio ...


2,665,260 90,923


50,840


Rhode Island


217.353


Indianapolis, 1nd.


46.465


Tennessee .


1,258,520


43,051


Worcester, Mass.


41,105


Lowell, Mass.


40,928 40,226 39,634


Cambridge, Mass


37,180


Scranton, Pa.


35,092


Reading, Pa ...


33.930


Paterson, N. J


33,579


Kansas City, Mo.


32,260


Dakota


14,181


District of Columbia.


131.700


Idaho


14,999


Montana.


20,595


New Mexico.


91.874


Utah


86.786


Washington


23.955


Utica, N. Y.


28,804


Wyoming ...


9.118


Charlestown, Mass.


28.323


Total Territories


442,730


Lynn. Mass ..


28.233


Total United States


38.555,983


Fall River, Mass


26,766


Total States.


38.113,253


Arizona ..


9,658


Colorada.


39.864


Mobile, Ala ..


32,034


Toledo, Ohio.


31,584


Portland, Me.


31,413


Columbus, Ohio.


31,274


Wilmington, Del.


30,841


Dayton, Ohio ..


30.473


Lawrence, Mass


28.921


Pennsylvania.


3,521,791


Charleston, S. C ..


48.956 48,244


South Carolina.


705,606


Troy, N. Y ..


Texas


818,579


Vermont.


330,551


Virginia ...


1,225,163


West Virginia.


442,014


Wisconsin.


1,054,670


Allegheny, Pa ...


53,180


Richmond, Va


51,038


Oregon ..


439.706 827,922


Jersey City, N. J


82,546


Nevada


42,491


New Jersey


906,096


Providence, R. 1.


68.904


North Carolina


1,071,361


New Haven, Conn.


942.292


Florida ..


187,748


St. Louis, Mo ..


310,864


1,191,792


364,399


626,915


1,721,295 122,993


Albany, N. Y ..


Syracuse, N. Y.


Memphis, Tenni ..


Hartford, Conn ..


Savannah, Ga ...


28.235


STATES AND TERRITORIES.


Total Population.


New York, N. Y.


292


MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION.


POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES.


STATES AND TERRITORIES.


Area in square Miles.


POPULATION.


Miles R. R. 1872.


STATES AND TERRITORIES.


Area in square Miles.


1870.


1875.


Miles R. R. 1872.


States.


States.


Alabama


50,722


996,992


1,671


Pennsylvania.


46,000


3,521,791


5,113


Arkansas ..


52,198


484.471


25


Rbode 1sland.


1,306


217,353


258,239


136


California ..


188 981


560,247


1,013


South Carolina ..


29,385


705,606


935,145


1.201


Connecticut.


4.674 2.120


125,015


Texas ..


237,504


818,579


865


Florida.


59,268


187,748


466


Vermont


10,212


330,551


675


Georgia ..


58.000 1,184,109


2,108


Virginia.


40,904


1,225,163


1,490


West Virginia.


23,000


442,014


485


Indiana.


33,809 1,680,637


3,529


Wisconsin


53,924


1,054,670


1,236,729


1,7225


Iowa ..


55,05 1,191,792


1,350,544 3.160


Kansas


81,318


364,399


Total States.


1,950,171 38,113,253


59,58℃


Kentucky Louislana


41,346


726,915


539


Territories.


Malne ...


31,776


626,915


871


Arizona


113,916


9,658


Maryland


11,184


780,894


820


Colorado ..


104,500


39,864


392


Massachusetts


7,800 1,457,351 1,651,912 1,606


Dakota


147,490


14,181


1)Ist. of Columbia.


60


131,700


Idaho ..


90,932


14,999


Montana ..


143.776


20.595


New Mexico


121.201


91.874


375


New Hampshire.


9,280


318.300


590


Wyoming


93,107


9,118


498


New Jersey ...


8.320


906,096 1,026,502


1,265


Total Territories.


965,032


442,730


1,265


North Carolina ..


50,704 1,071,36]


1,190


Ohio ..


39,964 2,665,260


3,740


Oregon


95,244


90,923|


159


* Last Census of Michigan taken in 1874.


* Included in the Railroad Mileage of Maryland.


PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD; POPULATION AND AREA.


COUNTRIES.


Population.


Date of Census.


Area in Square Miles.


Inhabitants to Square Mile.


CAPITALS.


Population.


China.


446,500.000


1871


3.741,846


119.3


Pekin.


1,648,800


British Empire.


226.817,108


1871


4,677,432


48.6


London ..


3,251,800


Russia ...


81,925,490


1871


8,003,778


10.2


St. Petersburg


667,000


United States with Alaska, ..


38,925,600


1870


,603,884


7.78


Washington


109,199


France.


36,469,800


1866


204,091


178.7


Paris.


1.825,300


Austria and Hungary.


35,904,400


1869


240.348


149.4


Vienna .


833,900


Japan ..


34.785,300


1871


149,399


232.8


Yeddo.


1,554,900


Great Britain and Ireland.


31,817,100


1871


121,315


262.3


London


3,251,800


German Empire.


29,906.092


1871


160,207


187.


Berlin


825,400


Italy


27.439,921


1871


118,847


230.9


Rome ..


244,484


Spain


16.642,000


1867


195,775


85.


Madrid .


332,000


Turkey


16.163,000


672.621


24.4


Constantinople


1,075,000


Mexico.


9,173.000


1869


761,526


Mexico


210.300


Sweden and Norway


5,921.500


1870


292.871


Stockholm.


136,900


Persia ..


5,000,000


1870


635,964


7.8


Teheran.


120,000


Belgium.


5,021,300


1869


11,373


441.5


Brussels


314,100


Bavaria ..


4,861,400


1871


29,292


165.9


Munich


169,500


3,995,200


1868


34,494


115.8


Lisbon


224,063


3.688,300


1870


12.680


290.9


Hague ..


90.100


New Grenada.


3,000,000


1870


357,157


8.4


Bogota ..


45,000


Chili ..


2,000.000


1869


132,616


15.1


Santiago.


115,400


Switzerland.


2,669,100


1870


15,992


166.9


Berne


36,000


Peru


2,500,000


1871


471.838


5.3


Lima.


160,100


Bolivia ...


2,000,000


497,321


4.


Cbuquisaca ..


25,000


871,848


2.1


Buenos Ayres.


177.800


Wurtemburg


1,818.500


7,533


Stuttgart


91,600


Denmark.


1.784.700


1870


14.753


120.9


Venezuela.


1,500,000


368,238


4.2


Baden ...


1,461,400


1871


5,912


247.


Carlsruhe


36,600


Greece.


1,457.900


1870


19,353


75.3


Guatemala


1,180,000


1871


40,879


28.9


40,000


Ecuador ..


1,300,000


218,928


5.9


Paraguay.


1,000,000


1871


63.787


15.6


Hesse


823,138


2,969


277.


Liberia .


718.000


1871


9,576


74.9


San Salvador.


600,000


1871


7,335


81.8


Sal Salvador


15,000


Hayti ...


572.000


350,000


1871


58,171


6.


Managua.


10,000


Uruguay ..


300,000


1871


66,722


6.5


Monte Video.


44,500


Honduras


350,000


1871


17,092


¥.4


Comayagua ..


12,000


San Domingo.


136,000


17,827


7.6


San Domingo


20,000


Costa Rica.


165.000


1870


21,505


7.7


San Jose.


2,000


Hawaii.


62.950


7.633


80.


Honolulu


7,633


1870.


1875.


820 227


Tennessee.


45,600


1,258,520


1,520


Delaware.


Illinois.


55,410 2,539,891


5,904


528,349|1,760


37,600 1,321,011


1,123


Michigan*


56,451


1.184,059


1,334,031 2,235


Minnesota.


83,531


598,429


1,612


Mississippi.


47.156


65.350 1,721,295


2,580


Nebraska.


75.995


123,993


828


Utah


80,056


86,786


Nevada.


112.090


42,491


593


Washington


69.944


23.955


New York.


47,000 4,382,759 4,705,208


4,470


Aggregate of U. S .. 2,915,203 38,555,983


60,852


.


Brazil.


10.000.000


3,253,029


3.07


Rio Janeiro ..


420,000


Argentine Republic


1,812,000


1869


241.4


Copenhagen. Caraceas


Athens ..


Guatemala


Quito


Asuncion.


48,000


Darmstadt


Monrovia


3,000


10,205


56.


Port au Prince.


20,000


Nicaragua


1871


162,042


47,000


43,400


70.000


30.000


Portugal. Holland


246,280 52,540


990


Missouri ..


439,706 827,922


857,039


537,454


POPULATION.


*20.


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.


BILLS OF EXCHANGE AND PROMISSORY NOTES.


Upon negotiable bills, and notes payable in this State, grace shall be allowed according to the law merchant. All the above mentioned paper falling due on Sunday, New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, or any day appointed or recommended by the President of the United States or the Governor of the State, as a day of fast or thanksgiving, shall be deemed as due on the day pre- vious. No defense can be made against a negotiable instrument (assigned before due) in the hands of the assignee without notice, except fraud was used in obtaining the same. To hold an indorser, due diligence must be used by suit against the maker or his representative. Notes payable to person named or to order, in order to absolutely transfer title, must be indorsed by the payee. Notes payable to bearer may be transferred by delivery, and when so payable, every indorser thereon is held as a guarantor of payment, unless otherwise expressed.


In computing interest or discount on negotiable instruments, a month shall be considered a calendar month or twelfth of a year, and for less than a month, a, day shall be figured a thirtieth part of a month. Notes only bear interest when so expressed; but after due, they draw the legal interest, even if not stated.


INTEREST.


The legal rate of interest is six per cent. Parties may agree, in writing, on a rate not exceeding ten per cent. If a rate of interest greater than ten per cent. is contracted for, it works a forfeiture of ten per cent. to the school fund, and only the principal sum can be recovered.


DESCENT.


The personal property of the deceased (except (1) that necessary for pay- ment of debts and expenses of administration ; (2) property set apart to widow, as exempt from execution ; (3) allowance by court, if necessary, of twelve months' support to widow, and to children under fifteen years of age), including life insurance, descends as does real estate.


One-third in value (absolutely) of all estates in real property, possessed by · husband at any time during marriage, which have not been sold on execution or other judicial sale, and to which the wife has made no relinquishment of her right, shall be set apart as her property, in fee simple, if she survive him.


(293)


294


ABSTRACT OF IOWA STATE LAWS.


The same share shall be set apart to the surviving husband of a deceased wife.


The widow's share cannot be affected by any will of her husband's, unless she consents, in writing thereto, within six months after notice to her of pro- visions of the will.


The provisions of the statutes of descent apply alike to surviving husband or surviving wife.


Subject to the above, the remaining estate of which the decedent died siezed, shall in absence of other arrangements by will, descend


First. To his or her children and their descendants in equal parts; the descendants of the deceased child or grandchild taking the share of their deceased parents in equal shares among them.


Second. Where there is no child, nor descendant of such child, and no widow or surviving husband, then to the parents of the deceased in equal parts ; the surviving parent, if either be dead, taking the whole; and if there is no parent living, then to the brothers and sisters of the intestate and their descend- ants.


Third. When there is a widow or surviving husband, and no child or chil- dren, or descendants of the same, then one-half of the estate shall descend to such widow or surviving husband, absolutely ; and the other half of the estate shall descend as in other cases where there is no widow or surviving husband, or child or children, or descendants of the same.


Fourth. If there is no child, parent, brother or sister, or descendants of either of them, then to wife of intestate, or to her heirs, if dead, according to like rules.


Fifth. If any intestate leaves no child, parent, brother or sister, or de- scendants of either of them, and no widow or surviving husband, and no child, parent, brother or sister (or descendant of either of them) of such widow or surviving husband, it shall escheat to the State.


WILLS AND ESTATES OF DECEASED PERSONS.


No exact form of words are necessary in order to make a will good at law. Every male person of the age of twenty-one years, and every female of the age of eighteen years, of sound mind and memory, can make a valid will; it must be in writing, signed by the testator, or by some one in his or her présence, and by his or her express direction, and attested by two or more competent wit- nesses. Care should be taken that the witnesses are not interested in the will. Inventory to be made by executor or administrator within fifteen days from date of letters testamentary or of administration. Executors' and administra- tors' compensation on amount of personal estate distributed, and for proceeds of sale of real estate, five per cent. for first one thousand dollars, two and one-half per cent. on overplus up to five thousand dollars, and one per cent. on overplus above five thousand dollars, with such additional allowance as shall be reasona- ble for extra services.


Within ten days after the receipt of letters of administration, the executor or administrator shall give such notice of appointment as the court or clerk shall direct.


Claims (other than preferred) must be filed within one year thereafter, are forever barred, unless the claim is pending in the District or Supreme Court, or unless peculiar circumstances entitle the claimant to equitable relief.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.