USA > Iowa > Jones County > The history of Jones County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of citizens history of the Northwest, history of Iowa > Part 20
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183
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
When the report of the Commissioners, showing this brilliant financial ope- ration, had been read in the House of Representatives, at the next session. and while it was under consideration, an indignant member, afterward known as the eccentric Judge MeFarland, moved to refer the report to a select Committee of Five, with instructions to report " how much of said city of Monroe was under water and how much was burned." The report was referred, without the instructions, however, but Monroe City never became the seat of government. By an act approved January 15, 1849, the law by which the location had been made was repealed and the new town was vacated, the money paid by purchas- ers of lots being refunded to them. This, of course. retained the seat of govern- ment at Iowa City, and precluded, for the time, the occupation of the building and grounds by the University.
At the same session, $3,000 more were appropriated for completing the State building at Iowa City. In 1852, the further sum of 85,000, and in 1-54 $4,000 more were apppropriated for the same purpose, making the whole cost $123,000, paid partly by the General Government and partly by the State, but principally from the proceeds of the sale of lots in Iowa City.
But the question of the permanent location of the seat of government was not settled, and in 1851 bills were introduced for the removal of the capital to Pella and to Fort Des Moines. The latter appeared to have the support of the majority, but was finally lost in the House on the question of ordering it to its third reading.
At the next session, in 1853, a bill was introduced in the Senate for the removal of the seat of government to Fort Des Moines, and, on final vote, was just barely defeated. At the next session, however, the effort was more successful, and on the 15th day of January, 1855. a bill re-locating the capital within two miles of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines, and for the appoint- ment of Commissioners, was approved by Gov. Grimes. The site was selected in 1856, in accordance with the provisions of this act, the land being donated to the State by citizens and property-holders of Des Moines. An association of citizens erected a building for a temporary capitol, and leased it to the State at a nominal rent.
The third Constitutional Convention to revise the Constitution of the State assembled at Iowa City, January 19, 1857. The new Constitution framed bv this convention was submitted to the people at an election held August 3, 1857, when it was approved and adopted by a vote of 40.311 " for " to 38.681 "against," and on the 3d day of September following was declared by a procla- mation of the Governor to be the supreme law of the State of Iowa.
Advised of the completion of the temporary State House at Des Moines, on the 19th of October following, Governor Grimes issued another proclamation. declaring the City of Des Moines to be the capital of the State of Iowa.
The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once and con- tinued through the Fall. It was an undertaking of no small magnitude ; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the work, and the season was unusually disagreeable. Rain, snow and other accompaniments increased the difficulties ; and it was not until December, that the last of the effects-the safe of the State Treasurer, loaded on two large " bob-sleds "-drawn by ten yoke of oxch was de- posited in the new capital. It is not imprudent now to remark that, during this passage over hills and prairies, across rivers, through bottom lands and timber, the safes belonging to the several departments contained large sums of money. mostly individual funds. however. Thus, Iowa City ceased to be the capital of the State, after four Territorial Legislatures, six State Legislatures and three
184
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Constitutional Conventions had held their sessions there. By the exchange, the old capitol at Iowa City became the seat of the University, and, except the rooms occupied by the United States District Court, passed under the immedi- ate and direct control of the Trustees of that institution.
Des Moines was now the permanent seat of government, made so by the fundamental law of the State, and on the 11th day of Jannary, 1858, the seventh General Assembly convened at the new capital. The building used for governmental purposes was purchased in 1864. It soon became inadequate for the purposes for which it was designed, and it became apparent that a new, large and permanent State Honse must be erected. In 1870, the General Assembly made an appropriation and provided for the appointment of a Board of Commissioners to commence the work. The board consisted of Gov. Samuel Merrill, ex officio, President ; Grenville M. Dodge, Council Bluffs ; James F. Wilson, Fairfield; James Dawson. Washington: Simon G. Stein, Muscatine : James O. Crosby, Gainsville ; Charles Dudley, Agency City ; John N. Dewey, Des Moines ; William L. Joy, Sioux City ; Alexander R. Fulton, Des Moines, Secretary.
The act of 1870 provided that the building should be constructed of the best material and should be fire proof; to be heated and ventilated in the most approved manner; should contain suitable legislative halls, rooms for State officers, the judiciary, library, committees, archives and the collections of the State Agricultural Society, and for all purposes of State Government, and should be erected on grounds held by the State for that purpose. The sum first appropriated was $150,000 ; and the law provided that no contract should be made, either for constructing or furnishing the building, which should bind the State for larger sums than those at the time appropriated. A design was drawn and plans and specifications furnished by Cochrane & Piquenard. architects, which were accepted by the board, and on the 23d of November, 1871, the cor- ner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies. The estimated cost and present value of the capitol is fixed at $2,000,000.
From 1858 to 1860, the Sioux became troublesome in the northwestern part of the State. These warlike Indians made frequent plundering raids upon the settlers, and murdered several families. In 1861, several companies of militia were ordered to that portion of the State to hunt down and punish the murderous thieves. No battles were fought, however, for the Indians fled when they ascertained that systematic and adequate measures had been adopted to protect the settlers.
"The year 1856 marked a new era in the history of Iowa. In 1854, the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad had been completed to the east bank of the Mississippi River, opposite Davenport. In 1854, the corner stone of a railroad bridge, that was to be the first to span the " Father of Waters," was laid with appropriate ceremonies at this point. St. Louis had resolved that the enter- prise was nnconstitutional, and by writs of injunction made an unsuccessful effort to prevent its completion. Twenty years later in her history, St. Louis repented her folly, and made atonement for her sin by imitating our example. On the 1st day of January, 1856, this railroad was completed to Iowa City. In the meantime, two other railroads had reached the east bank of the Mi-sis- sippi-one opposite Burlington, and one opposite Dubuque -- and there were being extended into the interior of the State. Indeed, four lines of railroad had been projected across the State from the Mississippi to the Missouri. hav- ing eastern connections. On the 15th of May, 1856, the Congress of the United States passed an act granting to the State, to aid in the construction of
185
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
railroads, the public lands in alternate sections. six miles on either side of the proposed lines. An extra session of the General Assembly was called in July of this year, that disposed of the grant to the several companies that proposed to complete these enterprises. The population of our State at this time had increased to 500,000. Public attention had been called to the necessity of a railroad across the continent. The position of Iowa, in the very heart and center of the Republic, on the route of this great highway across the continent, began to attract attention Cities and towns sprang up through the State as if by magic. Capital began to pour into the State, and had it been employed in developing our vast coal measures and establishing manufactories among us. or if it had been expended in improving our lands, and building houses and barns, it would have been well. But all were in haste to get rich, and the spirit of speculation ruled the hour.
" In the meantime, every effort was made to help the speedy completion of the railroads. Nearly every county and city on the Mississippi, and many in the interior, voted large corporate subscriptions to the stock of the railroad companies, and issued their negotiable bonds for the amount." Thus enormnous county and city debts were incurred, the payment of which these municipalities tried to avoid upon the plea that they had exceeded the constitutional limit- ation of their powers. The Supreme Court of the United States held these bonds to be valid ; and the courts by mandamus compelled the city and county authorities to levy taxes to pay the judgments. These debts are not all paid even yet, but the worst is over and ultimately the burden will be entirely removed
The first railroad across the State was completed to Council Bluffs in Jan- uary, 1871. The others were completed soon after. In 1854, there was not a mile of railroad in the State. In 1874, twenty years after, there were 3,765 miles in successful operation.
GROWTH AND PROGRESS.
When Wisconsin Territory was organized. in 1836, the entire population of that portion of the Territory now embraced .in the State of Iowa was 10.531. The Territory then embraced two counties, Dubuque and Des Moines, erected by the Territory of Michigan, in 1834. From 1836 to 1838, the Territorial Legislature of Wisconsin increased the number of counties to sixteen, and the population had increased to 22,859. Since then, the counties have increased to ninety-nine, and the population, in 1875, was 1.366.000. The following table will show the population at different periods since the erection of Iowa Territory :
Year.
Population. 1 Year.
Population.
Year.
Population.
1898
22,589
1852
230,713
1909.
1,040,819
1840.
43,115
1854
326,013
1870. 1,191.727
1844
75,152
1856
519,055
1873.
1,251,333
1846
97,588
1853.
638,775
1975. 1,366.000
1847
116,651
1860
674,913 1 1876
1849
152,988
1863
701,732
1877
1850.
191,082
1865
754,699
1851
204,774
1807
902,040
The most populous county in the State is Dubuque. Not only in popula- tion, but in everything contributing to the growth and greatness of a State has Iowa made rapid progress. In a little more than thirty years, its wild but beautiful prairies have advanced from the home of the savage to a highly civ- ilized commonwealth, embracing all the elements of progress which characterize the older States.
186
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
Thriving cities and towns dot its fair surface ; an iron net-work of thou- sands of miles of railroads is woven over its broad acres ; ten thousand schocl houses, in which more than five hundred thousand children are being taught the rudiments of education, testify to the culture and liberality of the people: high schools, colleges and universities are generously endowed by the State ; manufactories spring up on all her water courses, and in most of her cities and towns.
Whether measured from the date of her first settlement, her organization as a Territory or admission as a State, Iowa has thus far shown a growth unsur- passed, in a similar period, by any commonwealth on the face of the earth : and, with her vast extent of fertile soil, with her inexhaustible treasures of mineral wealth, with a healthful, invigorating climate: an intelligent, liberty- loving people ; with equal, just and liberal laws, and her free schools. the future of Iowa may be expected to surpass the most hopeful anticipations of her present citizens.
Looking upon Iowa as she is to-day-populous, prosperous and happy-it is hard to realize the wonderful changes that have occurred since the first white settlements were made within her borders. When the number of States was . only twenty-six, and their total population about twenty millions, our repub- lican form of government was hardly more than an experiment, just fairly put upon trial. The development of our agricultural resources and inexhaustible mineral wealth had hardly commenced. Westward the "Star of Empire" had scarcely started on its way. West of the great Mississippi was a mighty empire, but almost unknown, and marked on the maps of the period as " The Great American Desert."
Now, thirty-eight stars glitter on our national escutcheon, and forty-five millions of people, who know their rights and dare maintain them. tread American soil, and the grand sisterhood of States extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border, and from the rocky coast of the Atlantic to the golden shores of the Pacific.
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE AND FARM. Ames, Story County.
The Iowa State Agricultural College and Farm were established by an act of the General Assembly, approved March 22. 1858. A Board of Trustees was appointed, consisting of Governor R. P. Lowe, John D. Wright. William Duane Wilson, M. W. Robinson, Timothy Day, Richard Gaines, John Pattee. G. W. F. Sherwin, Suel Foster, S. W. Henderson. Clement Coffin and E. G. Day ; the Governors of the State and President of the College being ex officio mem- bers. Subsequently the number of Trustees was reduced to five. The Board met in June, 1859, and received propositions for the location of the College and Farm from Hardin, Polk, Story and Boone. Marshall, Jefferson and Tama Counties. In July, the proposition of Story County and some of its citizens and by the citizens of Boone County was accepted, and the farm and the site for the buildings were located. In 1860-61. the farm-house and barn were erected. In 1862, Congress granted to the State 240.000 acres of land for the endowment of schools of agriculture and the mechanical arts, and 195,000 acres were located by Peter Melendy, Commissioner, in 1862-3. George W. Bassett was appointed Land Agent for the institution. En 1864, the General Assem- bly appropriated $20,000 for the erection of the college building.
187
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
In June of that year, the Building Committee, consisting of Suel Foster, Peter Melendy and A. J. Bronson, proceeded to let the contract. John Browne, of Des Moines, was employed as architect, and furnished the plans of the build- ing, but was superseded in its construction by C. A. Dunham. The $20.000 appropriated by the General Assembly were expended in putting in the foun- dations and making the brick for the structure. An additional appropriation of $91,000 was made in 1866, and the building was completed in 1868.
Tuition in this college is made by law forever free to pupils from the State over sixteen years of age, who have been resident of the State six months pre- vious to their admission. Each county in the State has a prior right of tuition for three scholars from each county ; the remainder, equal to the capacity of the college, are by the Trustees distributed among the counties in proportion to the population, and subject to the above rule. All sale of ardent spirits, wine or beer are prohibited by law within a distance of three miles from the college, except for sacramental, mechanical or medical purposes.
The course of instruction in the Agricultural College embraces the following branches: Natural Philosophy. Chemistry, Botany, Horticulture, Fruit Growing. Forestry, Animal and Vegetable Anatomy, Geology, Mineralogy, Meteorology. Entomology, Zoology, the Veterinary Art, Plane Mensuration, Leveling, Sur- veying, Bookkeeping, and such Mechanical Arts as are directly connected with agriculture ; also such other studies as the Trustees may from time to time prescribe, not inconsistent with the purposes of the institution.
The funds arising from the lease and sale of lands and interest on invest- ments are sufficient for the support of the institution. Several College Societies are maintained among the students, who publish a monthly paper. There is also an " out-law " called the " AT.1, Chapter Omega."
The Board of Trustees in 1877 was composed of C. W. Warden, Ottumwa, Chairman ; Hon. Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa City ; William B. Treadway, Sioux City ; Buel Sherman, Fredericksburg, and Laurel Summers, Le Claire. E. W. Starten, Secretary ; William D. Lucas, Treasurer.
Board of Instruction .- A. S. Welch, LL. D., President and Professor of Psychology and Philosophy of Science : Gen. J. L. Geddes, Professor of Mili- tary Tactics and Engineering; W. H. Wynn, A. M., Ph. D., Professor of English Literature; C. E. Bessev. M. S., Professor of Botany, Zoology, Ento- mology ; A. Thompson, C. E., Mechanical Engineering and Superintendent of Workshops; F. E. L. Beal, B. S., Civil Engineering; T. E. Pope, A. M., Chemistry ; M. Stalker. Agricultural and Veterinary Science; J. L. Budd, Horticulture; J. K. Macomber, Physics; E. W. Stanton, Mathematics and Political Economy ; Mrs. Margaret P. Stanton, Preceptress, Instructor in French and Mathematics.
THE STATE UNIVERSITY. Iowa City, Johnson County.
In the famous Ordinance of 1787, enacted by Congress before the Territory of the United States extended beyond the Mississippi River, it was declared that in all the territory northwest of the Ohio River, " Schools and the means of education shall forever be encouraged." By act of Congress, approved July 20, 1840, the Secretary of the Treasury was authorized " to set apart and re- serve from sale, out of any of the public lands within the Territory of Iowa, to which the Indian title has been or may be extinguished. and not otherwise ap- propriated, a quantity of land, not exceeding the entire townships. for the use
188
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
and support of a university within said Territorry when it becomes a State, and for no other use or purpose whatever ; to be located in tracts of not less than an entire section, corresponding with any of the large divisions into which the pub- lic land are authorized to be surveved."
William W. Dodge, of Scott County, was appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury to make the sclections. He selected Section 5 in Township 78, north of Range 3, east of the Fifth Principal Meridian, and then removed from the Territory. No more lands were selected until 1846, when, at the request of the Assembly, John M. Whitaker of Van Buren County, was appointed, who selected the remainder of the grant except about 122 acres.
In the first Constitution, under which Iowa was admitted to the Union, the people directed the disposition of the proceeds of this munificent grant in ac- cordance with its terms, and instructed the General Assembly to provide, as soon as may be, effectual means for the improvement and permanent security of the funds of the university derived from the lands.
The first General Assembly, by act approved February 25, 1847, established the " State University of Iowa " at Iowa City, then the capital of the State, "with such other branches as public convenience may hereafter require." The " public buildings at Iowa City, together with the ten acres of land in which they are situated," were granted for the use of said university, provided, how- ever, that the sessions of the Legislature and State offices should be held in the capitol until otherwise provided by law. The control and management of the University were committed to a board of fifteen Trustces, to be appointed by the Legislature, five of whom were to be chosen bienially. The Superintendent of Public Instruction was made President of this Board. Provisions were made for the disposal of the two townships of land, and for the investment of the funds arising therefrom. The aet further provides that the University shall never be under the exclusive control of any religious denomination whatever," and as soon as the revenue for the grant and donations amounts to $2,000 a year. the University should commence and continue the instruction, free of charge, of fifty students annually. The General Assembly retained full supervision over the University, its officers and the grants and donations made and to be made to it by the State.
Seetion 5 of the act appointed James P. Carleton, II. D. Downey, Thomas Snyder, Samuel MeCrory, Curtis Bates, Silas Foster, E. C. Lyon, James HI. Gower, George G. Vincent, Wm. G. Woodward, Theo lore S. Parvin, George Atchinson, S. G. Matson, H. W. Starr and Ansel Briggs, the first Board of Trustees.
The organization of the University at Iowa City was impracticable, how- ever, so long as the seat of government was retained there.
In January, 1849, two branches of the University and three Normal Schools were established. The branches were located-one at Fairfield, and the other at Dubuque, and were placed upon an equal footing, in respect to funds and all other matters, with the University established at Iowa City. "This act," says Col. Benton, "created three State Universities, with equal rights and powers, instead of a 'University with such branches as public conven- ience may hereafter demand,' as provided by the Constitution."
The Board of Directors of the Fairficht Branch consisted of Barnet Ris- tine, Christian W. Slagle, Daniel Rider, Horace Gaylord, Bernhart Henn and Samuel S. Bayard. At the first meeting of the Board, Mr. Henn was elected President, Mr. Slagle Secretary, and Mr. Gaylord Treasurer. Twenty acres of land were purchased, and a building erected thereon, costing $2,500.
189
HISTORY OF THE STATE OF IOWA.
This building was nearly destroyed by a hurricane, in 1850, but was rebuilt more substantially, all by contributions of the citizens of Fairfield. This branch never received any aid from the State or from the University Fund, and by act approved January 24, 1853, at the request of the Board, the Gen- eral Assembly terminated its relation to the State.
The branch at Dubuque was placed under the control of the Superintendent of Publie Instruction, and John King, Caleb HI. Booth, James M. Emerson, Michael J. Sullivan, Richard Benson and the Governor of the State as Trustees. The Trustees never organized, and its existence was only nominal.
The Normal Schools were located at Andrew, Oskaloosa and Mount Pleasant, respectively. Each was to be governed by a board of seven Trustees, to be appointed by the Trustees of the University. Each was to receive $500 annu- ally from the income of the University Fund, upon condition that they should ed- ucate eight common school teachers, free of charge for tuition, and that the citizens should contribute an equal sum for the erection of the requisite buildings. The several Boards of Trustees were appointed. At Andrew, the school was organized Nov. 21, 1849; Samuel Ray, Principal; Miss J. S. Dorr, Assist- ant. A building was commenced and over $1,000 expended on it, but it was never completed. At Oskaloosa, the Trustees organized in April, 1852. This school was opened in the Court House, September 13, 1852, under the charge of Prof. G. M. Drake and wife. A two-story brick building was completed in 1853, costing $2,473. The school at Mount Pleasant was never organized. Neither of these schools received any aid from the University Fund, but in 1857 the Legislature appropriated $1,000 each for those at Oskaloosa and Andrew, and repealed the law authorizing the payment of money to them from the University Fund. From that time they made no further effort to continue in operation.
At a special meeting of the Board of Trustees, held February 21, 1850, the " College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Upper Mississippi." established at Davenport, was recognized as the " College of Physicians and Surgeons of the State University of Iowa," expressly stipulating, however, that such reeog- nition should not render the University liable for any pecuniary aid, nor was the Board to have any control over the property or management of the Medical Association. Soon after, this College was removed to Keokuk, its second ses- sion being opened there in November, 1850. In 1851, the General Assembly confirmed the action of the Board, and by act approved January 22, 1855, placed the Medical College under the supervision of the Board of Trustees of the University, and it continued in operation until this arrangement was termi- nated by the new Constitution, September 3, 1857.
From 1847 to 1855, the Board of Trustees was kept full by regular elec- tions by the Legislature, and the Trustees held frequent meetings, but there was no effeetual organization of the University. In March, 1855, it was partially opened for a term of sixteen weeks. July 16, 1855, Amos Dean, of Albany, N. Y., was elected President, but he never entered fully upon its duties. The University was again opened in September, 1855, and continued in operation until June, 1856, under Professors Johnson, Welton, Van Valkenburg and Guffin.
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