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 36

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 36


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


STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE OF IOWA (CENSUS OF 1875.)


No. of


No. of


No. of


Acres


Spring Wheat.


Winter Wheat.


Indian Corn.


Oats.


Value of


COUNTIES.


Acres


of Im-


Acres


Unim-


under


Products


proved


proved


Culti-


Laud.


vation


No. of


No. of


Bushels


No. of


No. of


Bushels


No. of


No. of


No. of


Land.


Harv'i'd


Acres,


No. of


of Farm


in 1874.


Acres.


Harv't'd


Acres.


Bushels


Harv't'd


Acres.


Bushels


in


Harv't d


Dollars.


Appanoose.


161059


161083


125188


9606


64871


2385243


Alamakee ..


134767


Audubon ..


21146


15682)


109388


61880


77789


937699


1049


181


10888


21925


905920


13756


387346


$1631937


65459


23819


15986


1964


394655


12776


442829


788


83298


1415769


9225


Adama ..


43785


54852


6876


17947


89235


10


27550


281376


97


184158


435014


174


25474


968777


8951


141293


Adair


83182


33118


55630


37031


66265


27010


30$60


4455


159739


695318


Buena Vista .


Benton.


297518


53911


239-108


15514


3500


1402128


280


228231


828171


99106


162737


7888


1343666


83244


3328921


2791


15490


67069


445070


207828


Boone ..


156937


2664995


149493


71810


106642


124977


82505


429257


7


Butler.


145367


58908


57907


779167


11


84


1595752


10401


404620


20


46151


1018453


Bremer


700


38685


1270818


18827


421719


1209785


Black Hawk.


213025


47001


48878


644795


1026611


150881


104910


28,54


518571


71418


181256


14259


157240


8936)


61291


1108024


812342


56592


48831


1939590


1811250


16804


17491


538196


1144620


Buchanan


19056


556209


1898424


Clsy ...


37059


54638


39919


33375


153159


180120


Cherokee


110864


28974


45301


45412


17481


2615949


92785


31693


401507


8797


315215


4436


98766


676209


9459


1901062


3545


115595


123343


Casa ...


40582


176281


35019


Crawford


58058


283414


15252


40123


324894


9079


1284899


21000,


640544


295


17957


648658


2845921


2902


52930


41417


40167


99158


Cedar


248869


309895


166-185


48618


415463


26


78324


26544 3


20243\


675837


483357


2606149


Cerro Gordo.


Clayton


212291


9512


29855


151908


178622


28199


86883


1305125


1347


21030


1471263


7199


200 24


228097


591617


12


37918


669895


2081793


Clinton


Chickasaw


96304


57337


91772


74104


68689


1010345


643519|


428


89297


3061338


514279


23:04


702059


3049019


309744


40162


63


16821


11744


446300


894656


Carrol]


58065


Clarke


94694


50487


99159


78603


26756


340161


217090


3


20


16014


550041


1580260


8238


107577


451965


17968


39066


367643


Calhoun.


26618


7


26996


55


12337


7054987


Davia.


150J38


116003


131597


11010


103631


95275


5378


80993


10


150


56405


10656


62127


351120


2115569


2993


73182


845:07


221613


Decatur


115:51


87172


8211


7:169


53 9


13643


1608090


Dubuqu"


187831


99561


146244


817


12239


50484


1763140


10555


844551


1024541


Des Moines.


Delaware


143605


472029


58165


97618


49240


634135


1-20


1702391


2307938


25115


648322


28:392


1636132


Dickinson


15770


62305


161357


10615


11961


60401


118896


71728


8688


11:3 0


102924


9242


5


1690 85


20577


632113


1772992


25822


50


56150


2403


3.282


1699914


Dallas


133435


29850


57765


114625


5701


838


29256


445848


3183


44455


Emmet


7


186


2484898


45331


9937


935124


1502047


9989


57652


Floyd


1410J8


2559G


32190


3911


1510


2197


14273


1519


3241


15244


179504


110708


183758


62067


941499


26462


6424-18


15161


487729


Fayette.


1296480


20760


1367377


Franklin


69359


98156


65590


60779


863610


46


968


37091


24066


704407


1503127


Fremont


1159J7


43 46


91096


455009


Grundy


146059


198332


103039


135108


13229


206301


9706-7


841


16625


788 15


758983


9532


328679


777106


1482582


5419


179645


1046065


59310


47926


67384


40175


1+03085


11:86


401948


1593977


Green


49838


Guthrie


8,259


47220


52323


19391


257.00


44


783037


783027


4227


120948


620905


128331


39930


76892


22


88902


4145


153505


Humboldt


97765


27189


393574


$60


1669134


Hardin


36906


88464


497251


20902


41304


9998


1379961


297381


10982


9974


356915


792461


1066627


29114


2:013


120 1G


30.912


90944


Howard.


Harrison


115923


171018


831451


72287


36115


582803


340268


200001


61871


10210


259 18


143:01


1200


9916


948 18


41720


1620192


3462


69140


734409


.


Hancock


10462


341615


9003


4899


84


2067


57899


1953


48816


786677


Hamilton


63966


52050


70006


39935


20676


291682


113203


20441


670:31


2415670


6108


168262


89405


52762


Henry.


182080


Ida ..


7292


50219


110831


15026


180220


9041


62672


18393


358221


1765670


9191


6514


3108


2301


455


Iowa


191041


48815


108465


14060


7482212


Jackson


193200


89337


158188


48410


6702 17


36


241021


142401


550000


491


1080


71257


142401


€2518


11756


7912


193019


43515


45306


666719


1274


53962


2713830


1665518


819071


2005049


77142


3158178


23652


621156


1750091


Johnson


100


Jasper


278881


522197


179752


63298


211949


79926


11071.0


462478


100217


45259 9


17700


2447875


15267


532239


2916838


Jones.


208907


140681


96090


91


6192


409


63423


19035~4


18260


464824


1696416


Jefferson.


16:389


208125


66979


98909


123590


164904


149672


16237


30278


868528


148


66739


1363


55061


75697


1695310


8327292


14005


446128


Keokuk


$1550


29835


10798


119777


15582


5143


447603


1530140


9781


27857


1919728


Kossuth.


48793


10:51


13199


1 0


15100


200407


11817


279009


105306


Lee


183832


78602


Lucas.


59:57


139780


72624


59863


2190306


1631518


108952


158.2


88837


318811


13354


153587


9:29


47022


1902500


342164


Lyon.,


12706


8132


76712


5-


2615


12665


281118


62649


175035


650597


12


91773


10396


3139923


8177


18;89


1030554


82651


Linn.


151007


52922


10 066


52178


19 64


189929


1888


160


22610


16267


49642


2184658


6792


585648


175755


2590052


Louisa


Mitchell.


126384


232398


65534


122190


9:193


1089811


1124


411961


14078


542662


1665739


1591878


Mahsaks


150 68


31 62


395532


205


2697


496248


Marion.


8768209


166-46


199369


159214


520663


2212


83775


84630


10937


335746


2195785


8835063


2181346


Milla


141512


53004


99837


45136


24383


342961


183


32


Madison


59543


1583976


6528


232639


1003509


161998


183709


137079


37553


628314


25


543


263


484


69194


2953680


285103


Monroe


102215


223735


78206


91.30


11638


101413


5584


45575


1738916


8749


11512


241081


1709030


998362


Marshall


4 532


69293


2808256


2368278


Monoua.


117308


13611


465245


52242


56278


39344


Muscatine.


48 32


129599


1534


1125382


183811


21


200


67699


21517


818338


2904


66475


447665


178945


Montgomery.


104633


32375


416471


50607


86026


1381


551539


63


629


54760


1715978


13287


405562


83626


82070


26:31


8


166


39251


1441467


106052


5322


201685


1747906


1072127


O'Brien


14904


151326


6979


3107


63931


191542


Osceola.


18190


207689


31 406


56841


14631


8:09


74757


21


894


2510


77497


17279


1990


Polk


8272010


20829


69581


12188


2140023


Pochahontas ..


431841


21928


35372


140150


19219


563339


7434


89.31


229263


25-41


40494


112666


Pottawattomie


124530


208959


419489


171589


61906


33.60


5899:1


7623.6


63


475


47258


86718


1750038


6278


3511105


11416


168081


1252629


Powesheik


48697


156.82


175471


2399022


Page.


115184


57312


225-9


2299013


833565


9758


346507


1293469


Plymouth


58293


Palo Alto


519.2


32225


41379


355792


442726


1220


16679


33628


23208


10


20235


160


71396


10097


175778


4161


120437


434128


18317


18400


58329


86OG


325


6611


142357


2979


96616


9118


4C859


Ringgold.


Scott


235515


19123


50373


255007


1115782


Story.


148649


43374


185742


10026


47698


78851


762315


125


1762


35613


40


618


59071


1145937


51273


22263-16


1783477


15915


11273


628868


3041873


99387


2GC58


8


20


343265


1033743


Shelby


53180


39326


36:391


47290


83515


22040


330597


317944


1,674


6780


689556


225-1


4591


71676


573026


Sloux ..


33824


251286


32038


Sac.


81336


22:19.3


8035


45096


6599


166980


238880


Taylor.


102861


47201


233515


21179


79142


1105G


11003-4


15-11G


206313


214


8662


9068


48260


279716


1419680


8718


269657


908476


Tama ..


255182


90222


21 1941


9,018


1437807


73251


2842859


15574


384469


2316405


Union


153674


33216


99328


45826


10336


960


24063


6127


187748


624200


Van Buren


57005


1130030


Wayne.


147766


113263


141188


53


7435


58809


10928


121854


50211


1823622


1259G


853698


1439586


191265


167178


117689


Warren ..


66.95


153737


10313


763-16


143


1236


65625


2405187


13242


80280


3561365


967396


1961976


8391


281510


2208992


Wiunesheik


2461 10


191670


259 169


42175


93097


112175


65 1679


1813465


61


910


27185


2265252


Woodbury


Worth ..


44179


51097


15:43


218375


410187


14617


977316


490371


24307


8216508


91617


298209


48927


45957


32157


23092


8500


122291


8072


2832211


4445


15701


161557


396506


Washington


225176


55"52


Wehater.


97238


78265


453920


2035264


61744


157884


70910


41646


30554


469879


891051


1439


14193


5


270


28:13


917911


7491


207498


733942


Winnehago.


17589


90625


12421


8939


162281


11


1374


62425


1327


45109


140219


Wright


35516


32387


28957


13629


196166


10089


281821


4134


2143791


11570


135176


288685


Wapello.


150209


63491


185173


17368


157535


1617


16159


67035


293590


1455319


Totals


12627850| 8410435|


9354905


3690711


42669731


69188


759277


4700176


186284542 982994


29144852 $191536747


·


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.


ANTE-PIONEER TIMES.


To the reader of his country's history it is scarcely necessary to recall the fact that the land now comprised in the county of Jackson was a part of the " Louisiana Purchase," and was transferred from France to the United States in 1803 in answer to the financial needs of the first Napoleon. Thus acquired, it became in turn a part of the " District of Louisiana," Territory of Louisiana in 1805, Territory of Missouri in 1812, Territory of Michigan in 1834, Ter- ritory of Wisconsin, July, 1836, and Territory of Iowa July 3, 1838.


Notwithstanding the purchase of territory from the French, who claimed these wilds, it became necessary to wipe out the title maintained by the Indians as aborigines. Jackson County was a part of the land which was conveyed in the treaty with the Sacs and Foxes in September, 1832, and commonly known as the "Black Hawk Purchase," which opened up the first land in Iowa for settlement by the whites.


In this treaty the United States Government was represented by Gen. Winfield Scott and Gov. John Reynolds. The treaty transferred to the United States from the Sacs and Foxes, about six million acres, being a strip on the eastern border of Iowa, extending from the southern boundary to the Upper Iowa River. The consideration was the assumption by the United States of an indebtedness on the part of the Indians to certain traders, amounting to $50,000 and an agreement to pay annually to the Sac and Fox tribes $20,000 in specie.


The Dubuque and Maquoketa country was the home of the Fox Indians. Tama, Pienoskie, Poweshiek and Kish-Ke-Kosh were among their chiefs. These removed farther west after the Black Hawk Purchase, and, eventually, those who were living in 1842-43 were transferred to a reservation in Kansas, and, still later, to Indian Territory.


Few Indians, except the Winnebagoes, were seen in Jackson County after the first emigration of the whites. This tribe has ever been a peaceful one since the day of white settlement.


The Sioux claimed this as their territory, but gave no trouble after it began to be populated.


At the time Iowa was a part of Wisconsin Territory, there were for some years just two counties west of the Mississippi River, viz., Des Moines and Dubuque, the dividing line being between what is now Clinton and Scott Counties. When the Wisconsin Legislature met at Belmont, Wis., in October, 1836, this was the case. However, at that time, Des Moines was subdivided


324


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.


into several other counties, but Dubuque County still comprised most of the State of Iowa as it is to-day.


At the meeting of the Legislature at Belmont considerable pressure was brought to bear to have the next meeting west of the Mississippi River, the territorial capital at that day being such that the Governor could carry it about in his hat and overcoat pockets. A capitalist of Galena was lobbying for Bellevue, and made the proposal to those interested that, if he could purchase half of the town plat of Bellevue, he would erect a capitol building free of charge. He did not succeed, however, in securing half the town lots, and, by so much, Bellevue missed being the capital of Wisconsin for one year at least. The Legislature met at Burlington November 10, 1837, and continued in ses- sion until January 20, 1838. During this session of the Wisconsin Legislature the County of Jackson was formed.


In deciding the boundary lines between Dubuque and Jackson Counties con- siderable feeling was manifested. Parties were there interested both in Belle- vue and Dubuque, and the quarrel was as to who should have the tier of townships of which Tete des Morts forms a part. Capt. W. A. Warren was Enrolling Clerk of the House at this meeting, and was quite well acquainted with the legislators, using his influence in securing the disputed townships for Jackson. The townships, it was admitted, by geographical location belonged to Dubuque, but Bellevue wished to be the county seat of Jackson County, and it required no great foresight to see that it would be difficult for her to hold that advantage if she did not have some townships north of her. A compro- mise was finally made, by which Tete des Morts and Prairie Springs fell to Jackson County and the townships west, to Dubuque.


After the boundaries of the county had been decided, it became necessary for the Governor to appoint an organizing Sheriff, who should arrange for an election and organize the county. Gov. Dodge inquired of Messrs. Foley, McKnight and other Senators and Representatives from Dubuque County, to name a suitable man for Sheriff. W. A. Warren, the Enrolling Clerk, who was well acquainted in the county, was consulted and recommended Charles Stowell as a suitable person.


A few days later, a petition came down the river from Bellevue, signed by nearly all the leading men of the county, asking that W. W. Brown, of Belle- vue, be appointed Sheriff. The Governor sent for Warren and told him that he could not appoint Stowell ; that he had received a petition, signed by a great number of citizens, expressing a preference for W. W. Brown. Warren told the Governor he thought there must be some mistake, for Brown bore a bad reputation, was the leader of a gang of outlaws at Bellevue, etc. He was shown the petition and compelled to acknowledge not only that the signatures were genuine, but that they were those of the best men in the county. Gov. Dodge said he would feel constrained to bow to the desire of so large a number of citizens, and appointed Brown.


The next day, the Governor again sent for Warren and showed him his (Warren's) signature, which had not been noticed on first examination, and the mystery was explained. A petition had been in circulation respecting the boundaries of the county, which was not completed until the boundary matter had been settled; so Brown had simply cut off the petition and attached another, asking his own appointment as Sheriff. Gov. Dodge finally appointed William A. Warren as organizing Sheriff of the county.


It then became Warren's duty to notify the citizens of an election to be held, and this was done with much labor and difficulty on his part, some


325


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.


of the citizens, as will appear, living then in what is now Jones and Linn Counties.


Capt. Warren told us of one of his experiences in crossing the Wapsipini- con into Linn County. When he reached the bank, after heavy rains, the river was so swollen that it was impossible to ford it. It was a long distance back to the house he had left ; night was coming on and it would not be possible to retrace his steps in the darkness. Still, the river could not be crossed. War- ren lighted a fire, sat down, leaning against a tree, and spent the night with his horse close beside him. The wolves kept the night quite melodious, and to sleep would have been folly. There was nothing to do but to sit and keep up the fire.


In the morning, Warren resolved to cross the river. So, stripping off his clothing and strapping the bundle to the saddle, he struck out to swim the stream, leading his horse. This was done in safety, and Warren spent several weeks among the settlers of Linn.


Of the first election we shall speak again.


On the 6th of November, 1837, just previous to the meeting of the Legis- lature organizing Jackson County, a convention of delegates from the counties west of the Mississippi River, in Wisconsin Territory, was held at Burlington, lasting three days.


From Dubuque County these delegates were P. H. Engle, J. T. Fales, G. W. Harris, W. A. Warren, W. B. Watts, A. F. Russell, W. H. Patton, J. W. Parker, J. D. Bell and J. H. Rose. This Convention sent up to Congress three memorials -- one in regard to the pre-emption law ; a second in regard to boundary line with Missouri ; a third, requesting a separate Territorial organ- ization for the counties west of the Mississippi.


We give herewith a copy of


"MEMORIAL PRAYING FOR A DIVISION OF THE TERRITORY.


" To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled :


" The memorial of a general convention of delegates, from the respective counties in the Territory of Wisconsin, west of the Mississippi River, con- vened at the Capitol at Burlington, in said Territory, November 6, 1837, respectfully represents :


"That the citizens of that part of the Territory west of the Mississippi River, taking into consideration their remote and isolated position, and the vast extent of country included within the limits of the present Territory, and the utter impracticability of the same being governed as an entire whole, by the wisest and best administration of our municipal affairs, in such manner as to fully secure individual right and the right of property, as well as to maintain domestic tranquillity and the good order of society, have, by their respective representatives, convened in general convention as aforesaid for availing them- selves of their right of petition as free citizens, by representing their situation and wishes to, your honorable body, and asking for the organization of a sep- arate Territorial government over that part of the Territory west of the Missis- sippi River.


" Without in the least designing to question the official conduct of those in whose hands the fate of our infant Territory has been confided, and in whose patriotism and wisdom we have the utmost confidence, your memorialists cannot refrain from the frank expression of their belief that, taking into consideration


326


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.


the geographical extent of her country, in connection with the probable popu- lation of Western Wisconsin, perhaps no Territory of the United States has been so much neglected by the parent Government, so illy protected in the political and individual rights of her citizens.


" Western Wisconsin came into the possession of our Government in June, 1833. Settlements were made and crops grown during the same season ; and even then, at that early day, was the impulse given to the mighty throng of emigration that has subsequently filled our lovely and desirable country with people, intelligence, wealth and enterprise. From that period until the present, being a little over four years, what has been the Territory of Western Wiscon- sin ? Literally and practically, a large proportion of the time, without a gov- ernment. With a population of thousands, she has remained ungoverned, and has been quietly left by the parent Government to take care of herself, without the privilege on the one hand to provide a government of her own, and without any existing authority on the other to govern her.


"From June, 1833, until June, 1834, a period of one year, there was not even the shadow of government or law in all Western Wisconsin. In June, 1834, Congress attached her to the then existing Territory of Michigan, of which Territory she nominally continued a part until July, 1836, a period of little more than two years. During the whole of this time, the whole country west, sufficient of itself for a respectable State, was included in two counties, Dubuque and Des Moines. In each of these two counties, there were holden, during the said term of two years, two terms of a County Court (a court of inferior jurisdiction) as the only sources of judicial relief up to the passage of the act of Congress creating the Territory of Wisconsin. That act took effect on the 3d day of July, 1836, and the first judicial relief afforded under that act was at the April term following, 1837, a period of nine months after its passage; subsequently to which time there has been a court holden in one solitary county in Western Wisconsin only. This, your memorialists are aware, has recently been owing to the unfortunate disposition of the esteemed and meritorious Judge of our district ; but they are equally aware of the fact that, had Western Wisconsin existed under a separate organization, we should have found relief in the services of other members of the judiciary, who are at present, in conse- quence of the great extent of our Territory and the small number of Judges dispersed at too great a distance, and too constantly engaged in the discharge of the duties of their own district, to be enabled to afford relief to other por- tions of the Territory. Thus, with a population of not less than twenty-five thousand now, and of near half that number at the organization of the Terri- tory, it will appear that we have existed as a portion of an organized Territory for sixteen months with but one term of courts only.


" Your memorialists look upon those evils as growing exclusively out of the immense extent of country included within the present boundaries of the Ter- ritory, and express their conviction and belief that nothing would so effectually remedy the evil as the organization of Western Wisconsin into a separate Terri- torial government. To this your memorialists conceive themselves entitled by principles of moral right-by the same obligation that rests upon their present government to protect them in the free enjoyment of their rights until such time as they shall be permitted to provide protection for themselves, as well as from the uniform practice and policy of the Government in relation to other Territories.


" The Territory of Indiana, including the present States of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan, and also much of the eastern portion of the present Territory of


327


HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.


Wisconsin, was placed under one separate Territorial government in the year 1800, at a time that the population amounted to only 5,640, or there- abouts.


" The Territory of Arkansas was erected into a distinct Territory, in 1820, with a population of about fourteen thousand. The Territory of Illinois was established in 1809, being formed by dividing the Indiana Territory. The exact population of Illinois Territory at the time of her separation from Indiana, is not known to your memorialists, but her population in 1812, one year subsequent to that event, amounted to but 11,501 whites and a few blacks -in all, to less than twelve thousand inhabitants.


" The Territory of Michigan was formed in 1805, by again dividing the Indiana Territory, of which, until then, she composed a part. The population of Michigan, at the time of her separation from Indiana, your memorialists have been unable to ascertain, but in 1810, a period of five years subsequent to her separate organization, her population amounted to but about four thousand seven hundred and sixty ; and in the year 1820, to less than nine thousand- so that Michigan existed some fifteen years, as a distinct Territory, with a population of less than half of Western Wisconsin at present ; and each of the above-named Territories, now composing so many proud and flourishing States, were created into separate Territorial governments, with a much less population than that of Western Wisconsin, and that too, at a time when the parent Gov- ernment was "burdened with a national debt of millions. Your memorialists therefore pray for the organization of separate Territorial government over that part of the Territory of Wisconsin west of the Mississippi River."


This memorial was considered favorably by Congress, and an act was approved June 12, 1838, to take effect July 3, forming a separate Territory, to be known as the Territory of Iowa.


At that time, T. P. Burnett was making a canvass of Wisconsin Territory as a candidate for Congress. One day in the latter part of June, while the first Court was being held in Bellevue, Burnett had an appointment to speak in that place. Court adjourned to hear him. While he was addressing the audience, that hot, sultry afternoon, under the shade of some trees not far from the river bank, a steamer arrived at the landing with the news that Iowa had become a separate Territory. A shout rose from those at the landing and the news was carried in a boisterous manner to the speaker's stand.


Burnett said, " Well, gentlemen, it is not necessary to hold your attention longer. I supposed I was a candidate for your vote. You will now have an Iowa man. I will cross to my own side of the river."


COUNTY ORGANIZATION.


In the settlement of the Territory, the Legislature began by organizing counties on the Mississippi. As each new county was formed, it was made to include under legal jurisdiction all the country west of it, and was required to grant to its border settlers electoral privileges and an equal share in the county government with those who properly lived within the geographical limits of the county. Thus we will discover among the early election precincts of Jackson County the territory now known as Jones and Linn Counties.




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