USA > Iowa > Polk County > The history of Polk County, Iowa : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., biographical sketches of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers and prominent men > Part 51
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The point which fixes the location of the Base Line is the mouth of the St. Francis river, in Arkansas. This line runs east and west and six miles north of it extends another line parallel to it; all the land lying between these two lines is called Township One, North. North of this second line extends a third parallel line and the land included between them is called Township Two, North, and so on till we come to the line forming the southern boundary of Polk county, which is the seventy-seventh numbering from the base line; six miles north of this extends the seventy-eighth par- allel line and all the land lying between the two parallels is called Town- ship Seventy-eight. It will be observed that these lines cross each other at intervals of six miles, thus forming square parcels of land six miles square. Such parcels are called congressional townships, and in the description of all real estate the name of the congressional, and not the civil township is used, because the former is unchangeably fixed, while the latter is subject to frequent change of boundaries and name.
In surveying lands it is customary and necessary to first run the town- ship lines. Upon investigation we find that the township lines of all the townships in Polk county were run prior to 1847. After the township lines were run then each township was subdivided into sections, which work was usually known as sectionizing. The work of surveying the public lands was in charge of the Surveyor-General, who let the work to deputy survey- ors. The deputy surveyors, who supervised the work in the various town- ships of this county, with the date when it was done, and also the time when the work was certified by the Surveyor-General, are given herewith. A surveying party usually consisted of seven persons; one chief in charge of the instrument, two chain-bearers, one stake driver, one flagman, one wagoner and one cook. The party generally worked every day, regardless of the state of the weather, and slept at night in a tent with which they. were provided. This tent was usually pitched near the center of the town- ship, and here also were the provisions and cooking utensils. They usually
398
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
took two meals each day, one early in the morning before beginning work and the other late in the evening after returning to camp.
The following is a record of the surveys of Polk county:
Township 77,. range 22; surveyed by deputy surveyor Jesse Williams; commenced October 17, 1847, and finished November 1, 1847.
Township 78, range 22; by Samuel Jacobs; commenced August 6 and finished August 21, 1847.
Township 79, range 22; by Samuel Jacobs; commenced August 22, and finished August 29, 1847.
Township 80, range 22; by John D. Evans; commenced September 16, and finished September 23, 1847.
Township 81, range 22; by John D. Evans; commenced September 8, and finished September 15, 1847.
Township 78, range 23; by Samuel W. Durham; commenced November 4, and finished November 19, 1847.
Township 79, range 23; by Samuel W. Durham; commenced September 6, and finished September 11, 1847.
Township 80, range 23; by Joseph Morehead; commenced June 25, and finished July 3, 1847.
Township 81, range 23; by Joseph Morehead; commenced September 6, and finished September 13, 1847.
Township 78, range 24; by S. W. Durham; commenced October 20, and finished November 3, 1847.
Township 79, range 24; by S. W. Durham; commenced September 13, and finished September 27, 1847.
Township 80, range 24; by Joseph Morehead; commenced July 5, and finished July 16, 1847.
Township 81, range 24; by Joseph Morehead; commenced July 17, and finished July 24, 1847.
Township 78, range 25; by S. W. Durham; commenced October 4, and finished October 19, 1847.
Township 79, range 25; by S. W. Durham; commenced September 25, and finished October 2, 1847.
Township 80, range 25; by Joseph Morehead; commenced August 25, and finished September 4, 1847.
Township 81, range 25; by Joe Morehead; commenced July 25, and fin- ished August 5, 1847.
From the foregoing it will be seen that it required about one week to complete the survey of one township.
FIRST LAND ENTRIES.
Of course no lands could be sold till they were surveyed, and as the sur- veys were not completed till late in the year 1847, it follows that but little land was entered prior to the year 1848.
When one township was surveyed the land in that township could be sold, and as we have already seen that the surveys were all completed dur- ing the year 1847, it follows that the lands were ready for sale in 1848. In examining the book of original entry we were able to find but one or two entries made in 1847. During the year 1848 considerable land was entered, though probably not so much as during the following year. We have care- fully compiled a list of all the lands entered during the first land sales,
399
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
together with the date of entry and names of purchaser. The following is the result:
.TOWNSHIP 77, RANGE 22.
State of Iowa, sec 1, Jan 12, 1847.
Thos. C. McCall, se qr, sec 2, Dec 18, 1848.
Thos. C. McCall, sw qr, sec 2, Dec 18, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 78, RANGE 22.
Susannah Hendrick, sw qr, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848.
Jefferson Robertson, se qr, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848.
Christopher Smith, nw qr, sec 8, Nov 11, 1848.
Thos. Black, sw qr, sec 12, Oct 30, 1848.
Robert Warren, ne qr of ne qr, sec 18, Oct 30, 1848.
William A. Porter, e hf of sw qr, sec 18, Oct 16, 1848.
Joseph Powers, nw qr, sec 20, Oct 30, 1848. Valentine Boutwright, sw qr, sec 20, Oct 30, 1848.
George C. Rees, w hf of nw qr and w hf of sw qr, sec 22, Nov 23, 1848. Patrick Kelley, ne qr, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848.
Nathan Cowley, se qr, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848.
Ezekiel Jennings, lots No 8, 9, 11 and 12, sec 30, Oct 30, 1848.
Robert Warren, w hf of nw qr, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
Holiday Wiley, lot No 2, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
Holiday Wiley, ne qr, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
David Johnson, n hf nw qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
James McCollam, nw of ne, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
Chas. Hunter Hamlin, sw of nw qr and nw of sw qr, sec 36, Nov 17, 1848.
William Howard, se of sw qr, sec 36, Nov 23, 1848.
William Howard, se qr, sec 36, Nov 23, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 79, RANGE 22.
Blewford Barlow, se qr of ne qr and ne qr of se qr, sec 22, Oct 30, 1848. Blewford Barlow, e hf of sw qr and w hf of se qr, sec 23, Oct 30, 1848.
George Barlow, w hf of ne qr and se qr of ne qr, and se qr of nw qr sec 23, Oct 30, 1848.
Bluford Barlow, w hf of sw qr, sec 23, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. Mitchell, sw qr of sw qr, sec 24, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. Mitchell, w hf of nw qr and nw qr of sw qr, sec. 25, Oct 40, 1848.
Thos. Mitchell, nw qr of nw qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. Mitchell, e hf of ne and e hf of se qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 80, RANGE 22.
Michael Lavish, s hf of ne qr and s hf of nw qr, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848. Michael Lavish, ne of sw qr and n hf of se qr, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848. Michael Lavish, nw qr of sw qr, sec 9, Oct 30, 1848. William Frederick, sw qr, sec 23, Oct 30, 1848.
William Frederick, se qr, sec 23, Oct 30, 1848.
William Frederick, nw qr, sec 26, Oct 10, 1848.
400
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
James Monroe Gates, e hf of sw qr and w hf of se qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
William Frederick, w hf of sw qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
William Frederick, nw of se qr, and e hf of ne qr, and sw qr of ne qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848.
William Frederick, e hf of se qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848.
George Barlow, sw of se qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848.
James Monroe Gates, ne qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
Eli Trullinger, nw qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
James Monroe Gates, nw qr, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 81, RANGE 22.
John Penn s hf of sw qr, and nw qr of sw qr, sec 3, July 18, 1847. John Penn, ne qr of se qr, sec 4, July 18, 1847.
TOWNSHIP 78, RANGE 23.
John Barlow, sw qr, sec 2, Oct 30, 1848.
Lewis Barlow, lots Nos 5, 6, 11 and 12, sec 2, Oct 30, 1848.
George Barlow, lots Nos 2, 3 and 4, sec 2, Oct 31, 1840.
Jacob Frederick, se qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Jacob Frederick, lots 5, 6, 11 and 12, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Jacob Frederick, sw qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Jacob Frederick, lots Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Jacob Frederick, lots Nos 7, 8, 9 and 10, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Jacob Harris, lots Nos 1, 2 and 8, sec 6, Oct 30, 1848.
George Curran, se qr, sec 6, Oct 30, 1848.
Samuel Harvey, nw qr, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848.
David F. Randolph, ne qr, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. H. Napier, nw of se qr, and ne of sw qr, and w hf of sw qr, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848.
Lyle Garrett, e hf of se qr, and sw qr of se qr, and se of sw qr, sec 8, Nov 4, 1848.
William Stuart, w hf of ne qr, sec 12, Oct 16, 1848.
James N. Stuart, e hf of nw qr, and e hf of sw qr, sec 12, Oct 16, 1848. Jesse B. Grimstead, w hf of nw qr, sec 12, Oct 30, 1848.
J. D. Vice, se qr, sec 14, Oct 30, 1848.
Lewis Barlow, sw qr, sec 14, Oct 30, 1848.
Peter Newcomer, n hf of ne qr, and lots Nos 1 and 2, sec 18, Oct 30, 1848.
Peter Newcomer, lots Nos 3, 4 and 5, and se qr of nw qr, and nw qr of se qr, sec 18, Oct 30, 1848.
Peter Newcomer, e hf se qr, and nw of se qr, and e qr of ne qr, sec 18, Oct 30, 1848.
Newton Lamb, lot No 3, sec 20, Oct 30, 1848.
Charles Keeney, se qr, sec 20, Oct 30, 1848.
James Connett, w hf se qr, sec 26, Oct 16, 1848.
Joshua B. Chapman, e hf of sw qr, and e hf of nw qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848. .
Delilah Gooch, e hf of se qr, sec 28, Oct 16, 1848.
John McMahan, w hf of se qr, and e hf of sw qr, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848.
401
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
John D. McGlothlen, ne qr, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848.
John D. McGlothlen, e hf of se qr, and s hf of ne qr, sec 30, Oct 30, 1848.
George Krysher, nw qr of ne qr, and e hf of nw qr, and sw qr of nw qr, sec 32, Nov 27, 1848.
George Krysher, sw of ne qr, and w hf of se qr, and ne qr of sw qr, sec 32, Nov 27, 1848.
William Buzick, sw qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
William Buzick, nw qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
James P. Deaton, ne qr, sec 34, Dec 16, 1848.
Jeremiah Church, s hf of se qr, and lots Nos 5 and 6, sec 36, Oct 16, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 79, RANGE 23.
Mary Ann Cooney, se qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Foster Elliott, nw qr, sec, 5, Oct 30, 1848.
Dillon Haworth, ne qr, sec 5, Oct 30, 1848.
Foster Elliott, sw qr, sec 5, Oct 30, 1848.
Frederick Elliott, se qr, sec 5, Oct 30, 1848.
John T. Bundrum, e hf of se, and nw of se, and se of ne, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848.
Isaac Cooper, ne qr, sec 14, Oct 30, 1848.
William Cooper, e hf of se qr, and nw of se qr, and se of ne qr, sec 20, Oct 30, 1848.
William Cooper, ne qr of ne qr, sec 20, Oct 30, 1848.
William Cooper, n hf of nw qr, and nw qr of ne qr, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
State of Iowa, s hf and nw qr, and sw of ne qr, sec 25, Aug 8, 1846. State of Iowa, n hf of ne, and se of ne, Sec 25, August 8, 1846.
Stephen Harvey, s hf of nw qr, and ne of nw qr, and sw of ne qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
John Hanlin, e hf of se qr, and sw of se qr, and se of sw qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
Stephen Harvey, sw of sw qr, and n hf of sw hf, and nw of se qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
Pembroke Gault, ne qr, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
Larnard S. Case, nw qr, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
Daniel W. Ballard, se qr of se qr, sec 32, Nov 6, 1848.
Conrad D. Reinking, sw qr. sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
Conrad D. Reinking, nw qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
Jacob Frederick, se qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
John W. Oglevie, se of ne qr, sec 34, Nov 6, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 80, RANGE 23.
Isaac W. Cory, nw qr of nw qr, sec 1, Oct 30, 1848. Nathan Thornton, se of nw qr, sec 18, Nov 9, 1848. Nathan Thornton, sw qr, sec 29, Oct 16, 1848.
Riley H. Thornton, se qr of ne qr, sec 31, Nov 9, 1848. Daniel Justice, se of se qr, sec 31, Oct 30, 1848.
402
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Daniel Justice, ne of se qr, and w hf of se qr, and sw of ne, sec 31, Nov 9, 1848.
State of Iowa, w hf of nw, and w hf of sw, and se qr of sw, sec 31, Jan 12, 1847.
Riley H. Thornton, nw qr, sec 32, Oct 16, 1848.
Daniel Justice, w hf of sw qr, and ne of sw qr, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
Isaac Thornton, s hf of se, and se of sw, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
Riley H Thornton, s hf of ne, and n hf of se, sec 32, Dec 16, 1848.
Isaac Thornton, sw of sw qr, sec 33, Oct 30, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 81, RANGE 23.
Isaac W. Cory, se qr of se qr, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
Jeremiah Cory, ne of se qr, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
Jeremiah Cory, ne qr, sec 36, Oct 30, 1848.
Jeremiah Cory, nw qr of sw qr, and w hf of nw qr, sec 36, 1848.
Jeremiah Cory, e hf of nw qr, and e hf of sw qr, sec 36, Oct 30, 1848.
Isaac W. Cory, sw qr of sw qr, sec 36, Oct 30, 1848.
Jeremiah Cory, se qr, sec 36, Oct 30, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 78, RANGE 24.
Thomas K. Brooks, se qr, sec 2, Oct 30, 1848.
Joseph Myers, n hf of nw qr, and sw qr of nw qr, sec 2, Oct 30, 1848.
John S. Dean, ne qr, sec 2, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. K. Brooks, sw qr, sec 2, Oct 30, 1848.
John S. Dean, lots Nos 1, 2 and 3, sec 3, Oct 16, 1848.
John S. Dean, nw qr of sw qr, and ne qr of nw qr, and lot No 4, sec 3, Oct 30, 1848.
Andrew Grosclose, James Mount and Thos. Black (Commissioners of Polk county), lot No 5, sec 4, May 12, 1848.
Richard Holcomb, s hf of nw qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Richard Holcomb, sw qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Edwin Hall and Edward Hall, nw qr of ne qr, and n hf of nw qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Edwin Hall and Edward Hall, lots Nos 2, 3 and 4, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
John S. Dean, lot No 1, sec 4, Dec 16, 1848.
Andrew Grosclose, James Mount and Thos. Black (Commissioners of Polk county), lot No 5 of sec 4, lot 1 and nw qr of ne qr, sec 9, and lot No 5 of sec 10, May 12, 1848.
Henry Everly, e hf of ne qr, sec 5, Oct 16, 1848.
John S. Dean, w hf of nw qr, sec 5, Oct 16, 1848.
Lewis Jones, sw qr, sec 5, Oct 30, 1848.
Abel J. Cain, e hf of nw qr, and w hf of ne qr, sec 5, Oct 30, 1848.
Jonathan Lyon, Jr., se qr, sec 5, Oct 30, 1848.
Solomon McCain, se qr, sec 6, Oct 30, 1848.
Eli Mosier, n hf of ne qr, sec 6, Nov 18, 1848.
John Crabtree, Jr., se qr of sw qr, sec 7, Oct 30, 1848.
Ezra Rathbun, ne qr, sec 7, Oct 30, 1848.
Ezra Rathbun ne qr of se, and lot No 1, sec 7, Oct 30, 1848.
William W. Jones, e hf of nw qr, sec 7, Dec 16, 1848.
403
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Jonathan Lyon, Jr., ne qr of ne qr, and lots Nos 2 and 3, sec 8, Oct 16, 1848.
John Rupe, nw qr of nw qr, and lots Nos 4, 5 and 6, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848. William R. Close, lot No 8, sec 8, Nov 18, 1848.
Martin Tucker, lots No 2 and 3, sec 9, Oct 16, 1848.
Pierce B. Fagen, nw gr, sec 9, Oct 30, 1848.
William T. Ayres, lot No 4, sec 9, Dec 18, 1848.
Charles C. Van, lot No 7, sec 9, Dec 4, 1848.
Andrew Grosclose, James Mount and Thomas Black (Commissioners of Polk county), lot No 1 and nw qr of ne qr, sec 9, May 12, 1848.
Andrew Grosclose, James Mount and Thomas Black (Commissioners of Polk county), lot No 5, sec 10, May 12, 1848.
William H. Lyon, n hf of ne qr, and lots Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4, sec 10, Oct 16, 1848.
Charles C. Van, lots Nos 7, 8 and 9, sec 10, Oct 30, 1848.
Charles C Van, se qr of sw qr, and w hf of sw qr, and lot No 6, sec 10, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. J. Henderson, ne qr, sec 12, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. J. Henderson, lots Nos 1, 2, 3 and 4, sec 12, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. J. Henderson, nw qr, sec 12, Oct 31, 1848.
William Lamb, ne qr of ne qr, sec 14, Oct 30, 1848.
James Anderson, se qr, sec 14, Nov 18, 1848.
William R. Close, sw qr of nw qr, and ne qr of nw qr, and lot No 2, sec 17, Nov 18, 1848.
Henry Everly, ne qr, sec 17, Dec 6, 1848.
James Campbell, lots Nos 2, 3 and 4, sec 18, Oct 30, 1848.
Alexander N. Hayes, se qr, sec 20, Oct 30, 1848.
Robert A. Harbord, se qr, sec 24, Oct 30, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 79, RANGE 24.
John Saylor, w hf of sw qr, sec 2, Oct 30, 1848.
Jehu P. Saylor, nw qr of nw qr, sec 3, Oct 30, 1848.
John G. Myers, ne qr, sec 3, Oct 30, 1848.
John Saylor, s hf of sw qr, and s hf of se qr, sec 3, Oct 30, 1848.
John Saylor, n hf of se qr, and n hf of sw qr, sec 3, Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin Saylor, nw qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Jehu P. Saylor, s hf of ne qr, and ne of ne qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
John Hays, se qr, sec 4, Oct 30, 1848.
Solomon Bales, nw qr of ne qr, and ne hf of nw qr, sec 5, Oct 30, 1848.
Solomon Bales, e hf of ne qr, and lot No 3, sec 5, Oct 30, 1848.
William P. Koger, s hf of ne qr, and n hf of se qr, sec 6, Oct 30, 1848. Joseph Deford, e hf of se qr, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848.
Allen W. Hobson, e hf of ne qr, and lots Nos 3 and 4, sec 8, Oct 30, 1848.
Allen W. Hobson, ne qr, sec 9, Oct 30, 1848.
Joseph Deford, w hf of sw qr, sec 9, Oct 30, 1848.
Allen W. Hobson, nw qr, sec 9, Oct 30, 1848. John Saylor, n hf of ne qr, and n hf of nw qr, sec 10, Oct 30, 1848. David Norris, e hf of ne qr, sec 11, Oct 30, 1848.
John Saylor, w hf of nw qr, sec 11, Oct 30, 1848.
David Norris, w hf of nw qr, sec 12, Oct 30, 1848.
404
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Joseph Deford, lot No 4, sec 17, Oct 16, 1848.
James Thomas, w hf of nw qr, and lots Nos 5 and 6, sec 17, Oct 30, 1848.
Christopher Baker, s hf of ne qr, and n hf of se qr, sec 20. Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin F. Allen, lots Nos 1 and 12, sec 21, Oct 17, 1848.
Thos. Baker, lots Nos 6, 7 and 8, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. Baker, e hf of sw qr, and lots Nos 4 and 5, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin F. Allen, sw of nw qr, and nw qr of sw qr, sec 22, Oct 30, 1848.
Rebecca Daily, s hf of ne qr, and n hf of se qr, sec 22, Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin F. Allen, nw of sw qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, s hf of sw, sec 26, Oct 30 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, se qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin F. Allen, nw qr, sec 26, Oct 30, 1848.
William R. Close, lots Nos 4 and 5, sec 27, Oct 16, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, lots Nos 2 and 3, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, lot No 1, and se qr of se qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848.
Thos. Crabtree, n hf of nw qr, and n hf of ne qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, s hf of ne qr, and n hf of se qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848,
Andrew McF. Thompson, lot No 1, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848.
John Stroup, e hf of nw qr, and lots Nos 3, 4 and 5, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848.
Pierce B. Fagen, sw qr of se qr, and lot No 6, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848. John Stroup, lot No 2, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848.
John Lewis, sw qr, sec 29, Oct 30, 1848.
John Lewis, se qr, sec 29, Oct 30, 1848.
Eli Mosier, se qr of se qr, sec 32, Nov 18, 1848.
Daniel Hickman, n hf of ne qr, and e hf of nw qr, sec 32, Dec 9, 1848. Jonathan Lyon, Jr., sw qr, sec 33, Oct 16, 1848.
George Shell, se qr of se qr, sec 33, Oct 30, 1848.
Pierce B. Fagen, n hf of ne qr, sec 33, Oct 30, 1848.
John C. Jones, s hf of ne qr, and n hf of se qr, sec 33, Nov 4, 1848. Benjamin T. Hoxie, nw qr, sec 33, Dec 16, 1848.
William W. Jones, se qr of sw qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
George Shell, n hf of sw qr, and sw qr of sw qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin F. Allen, se qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin F. Allen, s hf of ne qr, and lots Nos 2 and 3, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
Thompson Bird, nw qr, sec 24, Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin F. Allen, lots Nos 6, 7 and 8, sec 35, Oct 16, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, lots Nos 1 and 2, sec 35, Nov 18, 1848,
Andrew McF. Thompson, lot No 5, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, n hf of ne qr, and lots Nos 3 and 4, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, se qr of ne qr, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, w hf of sw qr, and sw of nw qr, sec 36 Oct 30, 1848.
Andrew McF. Thompson, e hf of nw qr, and e hf of sw qr, sec 36, Oct 30, 1848.
405
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
TOWNSHIP 80, RANGE 24.
Stephen Harvey, se qr, sec 7, Oct 31, 1848.
Henry Everly, ne qr, sec 18, Oct 16, 1848.
Jacob M. Marts, w hf of se qr, and ne of se gr, sec 18, Nov 18, 1848.
Jacob M. Marts, sw qr of ne qr, sec 19, Nov 27, 1848.
Jacob M. Marts, e hf of nw qr, and nw of nw qr, and lot No 3, sec 19, Nov 18, 1848.
Jacob M. Marts, nw qr of ne qr, sec 19, Nov 18, 1848.
Thomas Gilpin, sw qr, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
Conrad Dietz, s hf of se qr, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
Nathan Koons, n hf of se qr, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
Daniel Brumbaugh, nw qr, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
Nathan Koons ne. qr, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
Nathan Koons, nw qr, sec 22, Oct 30, 1848.
Conrad Dietz, s hf of sw qr, sec 22, Oct 30, 1848.
Nathan Koons, n hf of sw qr, sec 22, Oct 30, 1848.
Samuel Harvey, nw qr, sec 26, Oct 31, 1848.
Lysander Harvey, s hf of nw qr, and n hf of sw qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 481. David Miller, n hf of nw qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848.
Lysander Harvey, s'hf of ne qr, and n hf of se qr, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848. David Miller, n hf of ne qr, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848. Jacob F. Randolph, e hf of sw qr, and s hf of se qr, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848. Jacob Shelhart, n hf of nw qr, sec 28, Dec 4, 1848.
Garrison Sulser, lot No 6, sec 29, Oct 16, 1848.
Samuel Harvey, e hf of nw qr, and w hf of ne qr, sec 29, Oct 31, 1848. William Snodgrass, lot No 2, sec 29, Dec 4, 1848.
John Shelhart, e hf of ne qr, sec 29, Dec 4, 1848.
William Snodgrass, lots Nos 7 and 8, sec 30, Dec 4, 1848.
William Snodgrass, lot No 1, sec 31, Dec 4, 1848.
Solomon Bales, w hf of ne qr, and se of nw qr, and lot No 2, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
Solomon Bales, w hf of se qr, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
William Snodgrass, lot No 1, sec 32, Dec 4, 1848.
Solomon Bales, e hf of ne qr, and e hf of se qr, sec 32, Oct 30, 1848.
Benjamin Saylor, sw qr, sec 33, Oct 30, 1848.
Edward Keeler, e hf of se qr, sec 33, Oct 30, 1848.
Franklin Nagle, ne qr, sec 33, Oct 30, 1848. John G. Myers, ne qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848. Edward Keeler, w hf of sw qr, sec 34, Oct 30, 1848.
John Saylor, se qr, sec 34, Nov 18, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 78, RANGE 25.
Calvin Bennett, w hf of se qr, sec 12, Oct 16, 1848. Samuel L. Shaw, sw qr, sec 12, Oct 30, 1848. Thomas Britton, e hf of se qr, sec 12, Oct 30, 1848. Thomas Britton, lots No 1 and 2, sec 13, Oct 30, 1848. Henry Everly, lot No 5, sec 13, Nov 13, 1848. Henry Everly, sw of sw qr, sec 13, Nov 13, 1848. Charles Goods, lots Nos 3 and 4, and nw qr of nw qr, sec 13, Nov 23, 1848. Samuel Hiner, se qr of sw qr, and sw of se qr, sec 13, Dec 9, 1848.
406
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Henry Everly, lots Nos 6, 7 and 9, sec 14, Nov 13, 1848.
Henry Everly, s hf of se qr, and se qr of sw qr, sec 14, Nov 13, 1848.
Charles Goods, lot No 1, sec 14, Nov 23, 1848.
Thomas McMullen, sw qr of nw qr, and n hf of sw qr, and lot No 3, sec 15, Dec 6, 1848.
Thomas McMullen, lot No 1, and nw of ne qr, and e hf of nw qr, sec 15, Dec 6, 1848.
Jacob Lyon, lot No 5, sec 21, Oct 30, 1848.
Samuel Hiner, n hf of nw qr, sec 24, Dec 4, 1848.
Jacob Lyon, e hf of nw qr, and lot No 2, sec 28, Oct 30, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 79, RANGE 25.
John Watts, w hf of sw qr, sec 13, Nov 27, 1848.
Samuel Hiner, se qr, sec 13, Dec 4, 1848.
John Watts, ne qr of ne qr, sec 23, Nov 27, 1848.
John Watts, nw of nw qr, sec 24, Nov 7, 1848.
Jacob Thrailkill, e hf of ne qr, and e hf of se qr, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 80, RANGE 25.
George Beebe, w hf of nw qr, and n hf of sw qr, sec 1, Nov 13, 1848. William VanDorn, s hf of se qr, and s hf of sw qr, sec 2, Nov 18, 1848. George Beebe, n hf of sw qr, and n hf of se qr, ses 2, Dec 6, 1848. Pleasant Foutz, se qr, sec 26, Nov 18, 1848.
TOWNSHIP 81, RANGE 25.
Andrew Grosclose, e hf of nw qr, and w hf of ne qr, sec 27, Oct 30, 1848. Samuel Hiner, w hf of sw qr, and se of sw qr, and lot No 2, sec 29, Dec 4, 1848.
John Foutz, lot No 1, sec 29, Dec 18, 1848.
John Foutz, e hf of se qr, and lot No 4, sec 30, Dec 18, 1848.
John Crabtree, Sr., e hf of se qr, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
George Beebe, sw qr, sec 35, Oct 30, 1848.
John Crabtree, Sr., w hf of sw qr, sec 36, Oct 30, 1848.
John Crabtree, Sr., e hf of sw qr, and w hf of se qr, sec 36, Nov 27, 1848.
THE FIRST RECORDS.
The original real estate records are still in existence, although the records have been transcribed and are also to be found in books of the most durable and approved pattern. The book in which the records were first kept is an ordinary blank book of about one hundred pages, such as county debat- ing societies, are accustomed to use for recording the minutes, and whose probable cost was fifty or seventy-five cents. Here are to be found, promis- cuously recorded, claim deeds, claim mortgages, bills of sale and chattel mortgages, powers of attorney, indentures of appenticeship, warranty deeds, etc. The character of the penmanship, as a rule, is good, but the spelling, for which the recorder is in no way responsible, is simply ridiculous. Bills of sale, mortgages and deeds were, in early times, usually drawn up by jus- tices of the peace, who, while they were men of good judgment of unim-
407
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
peachable integrity, were frequently unlearned and unlettered men as these records will attest; in this respect if in no other, the present generation of magistrates is a decided improvement on the previous one. The fact must not be lost sight of, however that these men were hardy backwoodsmen, whose continual struggle for a livelihood precluded the possibility of devot- ing any time to self culture. In reproducing some of these first records it is not with a view to ridicule those brave, busy pioneers of justice, but to satisfy a curiosity to behold what is novel and ancient.
The first record is that of a bill of sale from R. A. Kinzie to J. T. Mel- drum, as follows:
BILL OF SALE.
"Know all men by these presents, that I, R. A. Kinzie of Fort Des Moines, of Polk county of the Territory of Iowa, for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred dollars to me in hand paid by J. T. Meldrum, of the same place, at and before the sealing and delivery of said presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, bargained, sold and delivered, and by these presents do bargain, sell and deliver unto the said J. T. Meldrum, two (2) sorrel horses, one (1) bay horse and one (1) roan mare; two (2) wagons and two (2) double harness, to have and to hold said horses, wagons and harness until the said J. T. Meldrum, his executors, and administrators and assigns to his and their own proper use and benefit forever. And I, the said R. A. Kinzie, my heirs, executors and administrators, the said bargained property, unto the said J. T. Meldrum, his executors, administrators and assigns, from and against all persons whomsoever, shall and will warrant, and forever defend by these presents.
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