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 36
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STATISTICS OF AGRICULTURE OF IOWA (CENSUS OF 1875.)
COUNTIES.
No. of Acres of Im- |Ummi- proved proved Land. Land.
Atres under Culti-
Spring Wheat.
Winter Wheat.
Indian Corn.
Oats.
Value of Products
No. of . of Farm
No. uf Acres.
No. of I Bushels Hart't'd
No. of Acres.
No. of Du-hels Harv't d
No. of ACTes.
No. of Bushels Harv't'd
No. of .Acres.
Bushels liarv't d
Dollars.
Appanoose ..
161039
161083.
12315%
9:06
1019
108
648:1
2087213
13756
$161197
Alimakee.
156-21
10939
61550
937639
IS1
1964
24045
905920
14776
14157
Audubon.
21146
22310
15,196
6576
10
1:1
25/77
969747
3:51
141 293:
Adair
83132
556~0
15314
164637
7-89
22:231
2591
207 -.
Benton ..
29.514
53911
23040%
9:106
13430 60
2-0
46151
1595:52
10:01
401620
101-430
Butler ..
57908
77/167
20
700
25/155
1. 327
4:1,19|
10745
Bremer
14500+
47001
101-10
644795
28:54
1026641
14239
51-371
114 403)
Black Hawk
21.3027
150-91
141256
1109024
50592
1909590
16-04
5:5196
1495424
Buchanan
1J056
71419:
15:210
61-31
812542
48931
1511430
1,431
536409
2613 49
Clay ..
3.050
39019
3.3375
152139
140120
J436
95:06
12.4:10
Cherokee
54635
259:41
45112
31603
401507
676209
40552
19010-2
9079
176281
1251-99
Crawford
55059
260434
15262
321-34
17957
64-634
9913-
1- 4.57
Cedar
244-69
41117
16h1%.
64641
295
78224
2-45321
20413
675837
2606149
Cerro Gordo.
3097~45
45645
2×193
415413
13 5125
1. 47
21080
3:91S
14:1270
20: 41
6101-95
20-1793
Clinton
19 1835
57331
6-643
1010347
12
148
89297
3001334
20501
+020031
3045019
Chickasaw
96704
74104
61.1519
3
13
IF>21
514279
11:41
446.710
৳944.36
Carroll
53065
300.44
3915
3 1001111
3
20
10014
530011
3234
101577
431 4
Clarke ...
9-604
50487
78403
21:090
53
09066
1540300
12337
3+1643
7054987
Calhoun.
22CH.
24.615
11010
100031
10
150
10656
3511:20
2093
731521
221: 13
Davis.
130.3-
11/003
131597
538
80993
5019
56105
62127
2113519
12443
343501;
1021641
Dnbuyu-
18:531
146214
604135
64
1:20
67118
1102001
25115
6423221
16 6132
Des Moines.
53165.
10015
113000
8683
1173.0
102924
23059.78
25709!
1772492
Delaware
415029;
16:358
57011
235:47
4158151
7 196
57052
2494599
14273
1519
3241
13414
Floyd
147003
3.130
13 H55
65790
31096
455.09
841
16625
:3915
1703 185
5419
170015
JUICING
Grundy
1410-9
133108
61351
9766;
40175
14:25-2
11:56
40194
1544 177
Guthrie.
87254
47:30
2:159
393314
49:171
41804
13.4061
331945
1016/127
Humboldt
36.nm
2:013
9908
29.331
30.912
10210
3400 5
734 109
Harrison
94>19
837451
14 HOE
84 1
1200
44720
16.000192
Hancock
341615
.1459
23 179-21
1-02:01
91141
118213
2201
108:15
4"5
319-071
2 H 00749
Jackson
1932 Kj
1421015
11:01
43515F
500 00
491
7412
53902
16/53197
22/ 32
541150
John60D
241021
192019
47:06
11143
313917S
4525$ 91
132267
464544
1.04416
Jefferson
61979
1. 237
1615# 44
6192
667 19
550HL
1093710
14 05
44GT 2-
1330140
Kossuth.
31370
45193
20:38
13129
1 0
200407
2190306
11817
270119
11.1514
Lucas ..
10-15!
53:31
13.51
15:77
31
319
47022
19047: 0
12465
3421641
10: 03.54
Lyon ..
1.3%,2'
31-911
8102
76742
12
150
917.3
3139923
2350
5550.75
Louisa
54022
19 64
1358
16.4.7
49642
2194635
6742
175155!
11 63479
Mitchell
120554
70176
91133
10-4911
205
2697
3763200
11046
496219
2195745
Marion ..
19 49
15:214
52463
180
2:12
841 20 3.3.5011.3
10037
Mills ..
141712!
5 3 71
24 ,471
645'14
25
491
69404
295 TH0
1:3-016
11512
2110-1
10,2127
O'Brien .
33:20|
26 31
15.7.6
6359
3107
5.7.4,51|
191512
Osceola.
31406
14071
140117740
5033-
21
3.+4
77437
3272010
121-8
431-41
214 4123
Pochaliontas
2194
19:19
7134
30.71
54-971
13
413
47279
175.W133;
11-4-1
1252449
Powesheik
1:1-51
5.12
220
10
10107
4:51
130:37
434123
Palo Alto.
1.400
53.29
511.1.3
10.000
1.5
619
540:1
2219 46
15015
524-1 .
3041473
Story
14-643
43-14
24 71
8
20
51 423
1787477
11273
34.325
11% 743
Shelby
53150
343.6
317944
17674 .
47/1
$12561
4.201
24179
11450
11 04
2 .13
214
1419#~
8:13 1:314
6157
3.1.56 14,
14.95-6
Warren.
191307
1 311,70
271,3
11 2115
151.4.3
4:1-5
4211371'
4115
161737
Washington
227176.
13" -- i
41616
1139
14193
2431411
15,001
20711:
Winnebago
175-0'
12121
1624-1
11
2:0
13:4
5:145
291- 41'
4:31
137175
Wapeilo.
6119!
135173
1.365
16159
53.05
214571
11570
29 5'#1
1 155319
Totals
19927330, 8410433 90349001 06 -07111 429897311
€+83. 453217 1 4700116 126331342 9-294 129141 34 $1 1536710
527101
2147-15
Jasper
27-8-11
179752
21 940
Jones
211800071
63:08:
3L
409
65423
190,1524:
$3272-21
1.342
447.03
27431
Lee
16.1-23
13:501
10 51'
52021
15440
59-63
51
2015
10.106
LinD.
231119
6 /49
5:179
60 95
1127,50
21
67139
15611
465245.
Monon L.
54:473
39-14
15 31
63
629
54760
1+15073
12.9;
403742
1:47916
Montgomery ..
1.14. 23
30251
14414091
3571117
11416
340507
124 :402
Plymouth
5-103'
519 %;
2:315
345
14457
29-9
96616
Scott
2. 7515.
155712
3. 915
251.55
10
279114
Taylor.
233515
21.911
901.4
45.0
14119%
900
151574
977.5
11 :!-
54-19
10728
121971
50211
143
1. 6
654:51
1. 91 1
24'17
91617.
Woodbury Worth.
44159 4402.1
Webster.
61:19
391051|
5
24.13
917911
2541
40191
11206G
Pottawattamie
4101-9
3:'000
2204. 122
PARP ..
20255 100
956.3
9119 1
11177-2
Sioux ..
2% -- 0
Tama
+3:51
2-12-74
Union
5.01 5
3 116
6.12.0
Van Buren. Wayne.
910
Wiunesheik
246140
75306
101413
263
53-4
21517
81-3-3
204
417665
Muscatine.
17-9451
45 32'
6514
45-15
36
€:518
2713550
1175ti
lowa
19:011|
15$155
444101
9414.29
46
949
370 +1
21770
70140%
1700:127
Fremont
115JJ7
195332
103 39
13219
5.323
19331
237740
41
33002
16:3134
4145
1537054
79241
Hardın
115823
1:1013
61-71
36115'
9916
20111
6,0:31
5108
Henry
1501
50419
110530
15026
63072
2415670
1636
1765470
Ida
:202
9:04
9-275
8:11
817
12.19
50444
123140
111355
344551
31252
45331
Dallas
134133
57565
:14025
29236
Emmet
9339
253-6
3011
2197
642419
15461
12317
Fayette
179704
95136
Franklin
09479
45 46
"4066
7553-3
78 021
4225
91/344
69405
Hamilton
63,366
39.05
52000
368528
1-9
1363
9,21
119777
5143
110:8
51372
1591878
Mahnska
122 |1)
159 +5!
31:62
32
543
5 4543
15.318
Maison
1+1999
2-3105
Monroe
102215
Marshall
2 : 3735)
11:00
4
166
2510
Polk
16:389,
Keokuk.
20-147
15697
1690 35
€ :: 113.
16:1314
Dickinson.
11'4;1
3183
3025021
15190
445010
1-1150
Adams
6513
2915;6
433014
20
3500
1402143
4455
150 ;. "9
Buena Vista
Boone.
71910
105642
11
9139
313215
345
113595
35019
Cass.
110561
927-5
40123
9512
263111
22-017
591617
Clayton
21 2241
151909
173622
2diah
5
50
56150
2103
335124
9:1-674
Green
5.110
91165
08464
29114
Howard.
691401
52762
Decatur
115,71
8:112
124-
3.04
2.0010
vation in 1874.
9215
391655
1'274
1 :1374
14417
5701
1P :19
Wright
762115
5 .. 11.6
Sac
90 16
200#5
11274
41194,1
81715
1:53
74-2212
100217
2011~5
21-1346
3:313
85.45
Ringguld ...
51,-11
151:6
26162
200J01
14.8615
No. of Acres
Ismund Brother
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
Jones County is situated in the eastern part of the State, bounded on the north by Delaware and Dubuque Counties, on the east by Jackson and Clinton Counties, on the south by Cedar and on the west by Linn County, and com- prises an area of sixteen Congressional Townships.
The surface is undulating, with numerous slight elevations or low, conical hills, the valleys extending in every direction. There is considerable timber along the streams, and at sundry places are found groves of oak, maple, wal- nut. ash and cottonwood on the prairies. The soil is fertile, and produces wheat, corn, oats and potatoes abundantly ; the climate is decidedly healthful, and the whole county is well watered by the Magnoketa and Wapsipinicon Rivers, which traverse it in a southeasterly direction, and are fed by numerous tributaries. Good orchards of apples, cherries and wild plums are abundant, and other fruits are liberally produced in all parts of the county. Grapes, especially, are abundantly prodneed at small expense, and are destined to become an important product. The people are chiefly engaged in agriculture and stock-raising. and considerable attention is given to the dairy business, the produets of the latter having largely increased during the last four or five years. A goodly number of cheese-factories and creameries are in a flourish- ing condition, and considerable attention is paid to the raising of fine horses and blooded stock.
Coal is not to be found, but the quarries of building-stone are the best in the State, fully equal in quality to the celebrated building-stone at Joliet. Ill .. and much more easily obtained. Lead has been discovered in small quantities in the eastern part of the county, but not in sufficient quantities to pay for working.
The general productiveness of the county is equal to any portion of the State. The inhabitants are mostly Americans, and are an industrious and frugal people.
The first settlers located at Bowen's Prairie and at Monticello in 1836. in Fairview and Clay Townships in 1837 and at Anamosa in 1838. Wyoming. Rome, Jackson, Wayne, etc., were settled at about the same time, and some of them before 1838.
The facts herein recorded have been obtained from the old settlers them- selves, from papers published in the county and from the county records.
GEOLOGY.
We are indebted to His Honor, Mayor Amos V. Eaton, of Anamosa, for the following in reference to the geology of the county. Mayor Eaton is quite an
1
324
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
industrious student of the natural history of the county and State, and has succeeded, through his own efforts, in collecting and arranging a valuable cabinet, comprising all the important specimens of this portion of the State, and many valuable specimens from other portions of the United States and the Canadas .:
The geological formation of Jones County is almost wholly within the Upper Silurian age and the Niagara period. The Devonian laps over upon a small portion of Greenfield Township. The Upper Silurian exposure in the State is something in the shape of a pyramid, with its base of about fifty miles in width on the Mississippi River, and includes the connty of Clinton and a large portion of the connties of Jackson and Scott, tapering to a width of not more than four or five miles on the Minnesota line, in Howard County, with a length of 160 miles, extending northwest and southeast. The thickness of the formation is set down at 350 feet.
In the early surveys of the State, the Niagara period was divided into the Niagara and the Le Claire epochs or formations ; bnt subsequent surveys and examinations determined the fact that it properly all belongs to the Niagara epoch: The rock of the formation is a magnesia limestone, and, in an economic view, one of the most important in the State. Prof. White makes the state- ment that it affords the best and greatest amount of quarry rock of any forma- tion in the State of Iowa. Wherever this rock is exposed in Jones County, it furnishes a great abundance of material for the common uses of the inhabitants. The exposure of this stone near Anamosa is of such wonderful regularity in the stratification and such uniformity of texture that the stone can be wrought into any desired shape or size with little expense. Some of the stone come from their beds as smooth and even as though they had been run through a planing- machine, not requiring the touch of the chisel. Another very fortunate thing, there are no intervening strata of clay or other material to impede the labors of the quarrymen. This stone weighs about one hundred and fifty pounds per cubic foot. getting a little heavier as yon go down the quarry. The strength and durability of the stone has been tested under all manner of conditions for years, and it is all that could be reasonably expected of a limestone. Exposure to the atmosphere improves it, making it harder. The analysis of the stone, as given by Prof. White in his report, is as follows :
Insoluble in acid .72
Ferrous and ferric acid .23
57.32
Calcium carbonate ..
Magnesium 41.21
Moisture ..
.31
99.79
One noteworthy fact, geologically, in relation to these special quarries, is that there is hardly any fossil remains to be found in them, while they are quite abundant in other places not far away. A few traces of coral are found, and a formation that has not been determined as vet, although examined by some eminent geologists. They are about one-half inch long and as large as a knitting-needle; and, as far as can be seen, they are exactly alike and often ocenr in innumerable numbers, in a single slab of stone. The impression is more often seen, however, and indeed it is not certain whether they are fossils at all or not. A flint nodule of very beautiful structure is found, being many times found in layers of strata. and furnishing very unique cabinet specimens. Pockets containing quartz and lime crystals frequently ocenr that are elegant in appearance.
325
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
The surface soil of Jones Ceunty is composed of what is termed drift and alluvial soils, the former largely predominating, as the flood-plane or bottom- land of the rivers is not great. Prof. White estimates that 95 per cent of the land in Iowa is tillable, and Jones County is quite equal to the average. If Prof. White's estimate of the State is not exaggerated, there is probably no other area of territory of the extent (55,000 square miles) in the world, that can furnish as good and as large a per cent of tillable land as the State of Iowa.
The soil of the county possesses the ingredients and depth to make it inex- haustible with fair dealing, and insuring its inhabitants an agricultural wealth forever.
There is enough of good brick clay in the county to furnish its inhabitants with brick for all time to come. And there is sand enough along the streams, that has been sifted from the soil by the action of the water, to furnish the requisite quantity for building purposes, and an endless amount of stone that makes good (quick) lime.
The county is almost destitute of minerals as far as known ; a few isolated specimens of iron ore have been found, and traces of iron in the rock material are sometimes seen. As the Silurian age is below the coal formations, it would be useless to look for coal in the county.
The paleontology, or fossil remains, of Jones County has been almost wholly neglected or overlooked by the State geologists, in their surveys and reports, and very little has been written upon the subject ; and while we can- not claim as much of interest in this direction as many counties of the State, still there is abundance of material to interest the geologist. The Silurian formation is one of extreme age. Some geologists of authority have put it down as having taken millions of years in its formation. And as it was the first in which life began to show itself on the globe-life in the simplest form-it is called the age of mollusks, because they are so predominant. The word mollusk means soft, and the animals are composel of a soft, fleshy bag, containing a very simple digestive apparatus. Many of them are without eyes. and are generally covered with a shell as a means of protection. The clam, snail and oyster are familiar examples of this class, now living; but many of the fossils now found are the remains of specics now extinct.
However, the fossil remains of this county are composed quite as largely of the class called rudiates, which are quite as simple in structure. and might be called the stepping-stone from the vegetable to the animal kingdom. The corals and crinoids are examples of this class.
Much of the rock exposure in the county is nearly destitute of fossils, while in others they are very numerous. The following are the more common ones found in Jones County :
Several species of the favosites corals (honeycomb corals) are very numer- ous ; two or three species of halysites (chain corals); a number of syringorop- ora (pipe eoral ); cyothophylloid ; stromatapora ; chonophyllum (cup coral) and heliolites.
1
All the above are found in one locality along the Maquoketa River. a few miles east of Monticello. in such quantities that wagon-loals may be gathered of those that lie loose on the surface of the bluffs.
Other species of corals are found in various parts of the county, that are more rare, and many that seem to be peculiar to this formation. Two species, at least, of pentamerons are occasionally found, but are much more numerous
326
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
over the line in Linn County. Crinoid remains are very common in many places.
One locality near Anamosa, on the Wapsipinicon River, at Doan's Mill, the stone is entirely made up of them, but it is so rotten and fragmentary in character that complete specimens are obtained with difficulty. Enough of comparatively perfeet crinoid heads have been found to identify several species. The stone is sufficiently made up of them to justly entitle it to the name of crinoid limestone.
Fossil shells are not numerous, but several species, both of the bivalre and unicalre, have been found.
Trilobites are very rare in this county, although in some of the Silurian formations they are numerous; 500 species of this crustacean once existed, all of which are now extinct. (Dana.)
During this season, a point of rocks has been opened near the iron bridge across the Buffalo at Fisherville, where the trilobites are quite numerous. The quarrymen inform me they found at least 100 in number, and that they only occur in one or two strata, as far as yet developed. Only three other ones have been found in the county, to my knowledge.
Several ammonites have been found, but they are also rare ; 900 species of these animals once existed and are now extinct. (Dana. )
Several species of the orthoceras and also of the ormoceras are met with, although they are not often found complete.
Specimens of so-called iron-stone and agatized flint are often found, and. indeed, the flint formations of the county often take on a wonderful variety of forms and fantastic shapes. The variety called the jasper is frequently found. Specimens of what is termed forest rock are sometimes found in the quar- ries, and are thought by some to be fossil ferns. It is simply a precipitate of oxide of manganese. Fossils of the vegetable kingdom are not found to any extent whatever. A few pieces of petrified wood have been found along the streams, but they are evidently foreign, and brought here by the drift.
Much of that which is interesting to the student of natural history might be written in reference to the geology of Jones County, but the subject has not attracted sufficiently the attention of the inhabitants to warrant any- thing further in a county history. The geology of Jones County affords abundant opportunity to those of her citizens who may desire to gain a practi- cal knowledge of a subject that has entirely revolutionized the thinking world during the past half-century.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
The county of Jones was named and its boundaries designated at the session of the Wisconsin Legislature held at Burlington in the winter of 1837-38. At that time, the country now incin Ted in the State of Iowa belonged to, or was a part of, the Territory of Wisconsin. There were but two counties west of the Mississippi River in 1836-Des Moines and Dubuque. During the meet- ing of the first Territorial Legislature. in 1836-37, Des Moines County was subdivided, and, at the meeting of 1837-38, Dubuque Coanty was lessened by the creation of Clayton, Fayette, Delaware, Buchanan, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Clinton and Cedar Counties. Gen. George W. Jones, of Dubuque, at that time represented the Territory of Wisconsin in Congress. In his honor was the county, whose history we write, named.
327
IHISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
Only a part of these counties were organized at that time. Jackson County was equipped with an Organizing Sheriff in the person of William A. Warren, of Bellevue. He was also, in a limited sense, made the Sheriff of Jones and Linn Counties ; and, for matters of court jurisdiction. Bellevue was, during 1838 and a part of 1839, the capital of Jones and Linn Counties. An election precinet was designated in each of these, and the report of votes sent to Bellevue.
The first Territorial Legislature, after the separation of Iowa from Wiscon- sin, met in Burlington November 12, 1838. During the session, the county of Jones was organized.
The act passed by the Legislature to organize the county of Jones was as follows :
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa, That the county of Jones be, and the same is hereby, organized from and after the 1st day of June next, and the inhabitants of said county be entitled to all the rights and privileges to which, by law, the inhabitants of other organized counties of this Territory are entitled ; and the said county shall be a part of the Third Judicial District, and the District Court shall he held at the seat of justice in said county, or such other place as may be provided until the seat of justice is established.
SEC. 2. That Simeon Gardner. of Clinton County; Israel Mitchell, of Linn County, and William Il. Whitesides, of Dubuque County, he, and they are hereby, appointed Commissioners to locate the seat of justice in said county. and shall meet at the house of Thomas Denson on the second Monday of March next, in said county, and shall proceed forthwith to examine and locate a suitable place for the seat of justice of said county, having particular reference to the convenience of the county and healthfulness of the location.
SEC. 3. The Commissioners, or a majority of them, shall, within ten days after their meeting at the afuresaid place, make out anl certify to the Governor of this Territory, under their hands and seals, a certificate containing a particular description of the location selected for the aforesaidl county seat ; and, on receipt of sub certificate, the Governor shall issue Ins proclamation affirming and declaring the said location to be the seat of justice of the said county of Jones. * SEC. 6. The Commissioners aforesaid shall receive, upon making out their certificate of the location of the sent of justice of said county, each, 83 per day, and also $3 for every twenty miles going to and returning from their respective homes.
SEC. 7. Upon the presentation of the certificate aforesaid to the Treasurer of Jones County, the Treasurer is hereby authorized and required to pay the respective sums allowed by this act out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
. APPROVED January 24, 1899.
It seems that these men failed to carry out the provisions of this act, and we find the county seat not to have been located until the following year. or 1840. In the Legislature of 1839-40. three other Commissioners were appointed, as follows : Thomas M. Isett, of Muscatine County ; John G. McDonald. of Jackson County, and Franklin Moffat, of Delaware County. The probability is that only two of these men served the appointment. We find by the County Commissioners' books that at the July meeting, 1840, Isett and McDonald received 851 and :36, respectively, for their services in locating the county seat. Col. Thomas Cox, of Bellevue, was the surveyor.
The first election of county officers took place in the fall of 1839.
Of the County Commissioners elected on this occasion, only two appeared at the recorded meetings of the Board-Thomas Denson and Charles P. Hut- ton. We have been informed that the third Commissioner was H. G. Seeley.
William Hutton was the first Clerk of the Commissioners' Court. Hugh Bowen was the first Sheriff of Jones County. Clark Joslin was the first Recorder.
There were three polling places at the election of 1839, and were said to have been three precincts-Bowen Prairie. Walnut Fork and Farm Creek.
328
HISTORY OF JONES COUNTY.
The Judges of the election of 1839 were Orvill Cronkhite, Eli Brown, I. II. Simpson, William Clark, James Hutton and J. C. Raffety. The Clerks were Thomas S. Denson. George H. Brown and D. G. Morgan.
It will be borne in mind that an election had been held in September, 1838. or one year previous, for the purpose of electing Representatives to the Iowa Legislature .. This was in the cabin of Barrett Whittemore. Only eleven votes were cast, and a Representative, R. G. Roberts, was elected from Cedar, Jones, Johnson and Linn.
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