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 61
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For county tax on the county valuation 4 mills ..
For bridge tax on the county valuation 2
For pauper tax on the county valuation
1 mill.
For insane tax on the county valuation
For bond tax on the county valuation.
8
66
For city water rents on city valuation
5
For city sinking fund on city valuation
2
66
For city sewer tax on city valuation 2
For city tax on valuation of Altoona
12
For city tax on valuation of Mitchellville.
3
66
For city tax on county valuation of Polk City
4
Also, 50 cents poll tax and city poll tax.
Revenues collected.
State fund
$ 24,708.97
State insane hospital fund
2,015.17
County insane fund 6,412.06
Bridge fund
29,687.51
Pauper fund
14,369.10
County fund.
80,312.64
Road fund
7,478.56
School fund
24,147.43
District school fund
124,320.31
Bond fund
6,015.91
BOONE COUNTY.
1879.
State
$ 7,955.52
County
17,956.78
School
3,977.73
Poor
3,977.73
For city general tax on city valuation.
10 mills.
For city bond interest on city valuation
485
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Bridge
11,933.30
District school
29,528.70
Road
4,661.62
Corporation
4,586.40
Railroad
448.16
Total
$96,999.94
The county expenses in Boone county for the year 1879 amounted to $46,051.28, while in Polk county the ordinary county expenses amounted to $76,110.02; of this amount the sum of $39,064.21 was for court expenses alone.
WARREN COUNTY.
TAXES.
LEVY.
AMOUNT.
County
4 mills.
$19,607.03
State
2 mills.
9,803.50
School
1 mill.
4,901.75
Bridge
1} mills.
7,352.59
Poor farm
1₺ mills.
2,450.85
Bond
1₺ mills.
2,450.85
Insane
1} mills.
2,450.85
Poll
2,158.00
Road
4,915.88
District
18,185.16
School-house
5,780.12
Contingent
8,567.46
City
2,118.99
Total
$90,733.03
The county expenses in Warren county for the year 1879 amounted to the sum of $41,158.10; of this amount the sum of 12,390.34 was for court expenses. This item was much larger for the year 1878 than usual, on ac- count of a very expensive murder trial, in which nearly half of a township was more or less concerned.
No better evidence of the prosperity of Polk county could be adduced than the fact that the people are able to bear the burdensome taxation to which they are subjected.
POLITICAL.
In early days the people of Polk county did not trouble themselves much about political matters. They seemed to care more about the settlement of
480
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
the country and the increase of worldly goods than office. One reason of this doubtless was, that the pay was nothing extraordinary.
The trouble in those days was to get men to take the office. Now, how- ever, the trouble is to keep dishonest men and incompetent men out of office. For several years after the organization of the county, persons were elected to office more on account of their qualifications and popularity, than for political reasons. In those days the office emphatically sought the man, and not the man the office. We find in several instances when the opposing candidates belonged to the same party, and sometimes when the county was entitled to two Representative to the Legislature, a division was made, and a Democrat and a Whig were elected. The foregoing is true of political parties in the first settlement of all Iowa counties, and Polk was no exception to the rule, except in that party issues were raised and par- tizan lines were drawn earlier than in most other counties of Central Iowa. Fort Des Moines was early regarded by the political leaders of the State as a very important point, which was in the near future to exercise great po- litical influence. From this reason an effort was made in very early time by the leaders of the two dominant political parties, the Whig and the Democratic, to gain ascendency in Polk county, and with this end in view they used their influence to persuade the more talented and ambitious young politicians to locate in Des Moines. It has already been stated that Barlow Granger was induced to establish a Democratic paper in Des Moines in 1849, by Curtis Bates, the leading politician of the State at that time; he was looking forward to future promotion, and he not only desired Polk county to remain Democratic, but he felt the necessity of controlling the party in his interests.
Until 1850, and even for several years afterward, Polk county was relia- bly Democratic, the majorities, however, were not sufficiently decisive to make a hasty nomination always equivalent to an election. Many a hard fought political battle was waged prior to 1850, and sometimes when the Whigs had a very popular candidate they elected their man. Among the veterans of those fierce campaigns some of the more prominent ones still remain; the Shermans were Whigs, and upon the formation of the Repub- lican party they identified themselves with the new organization, and are still regarded as among the most prominent leaders of that party. Granger, Casady and Tidrick, were the organizers of the Democratic party in Polk county; the old ship carried them into good position during the days of prosperity, and during the last twenty years of clouds and storms they have. clung to the craft with a pious devotion, and now on the eve of a great national conflict between the antagonistic political elements, they are, as it were, standing on the foremost front of the prow, confidently and hope- fully expecting the dawn of better days.
There is scarcely anything to be found in the county records from which to determine, at this late day, the exact condition of political affairs, but enough is known that in 1848 and 1849 there were heated contests, and the Democrats came off victorious.
487
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
The following is a synopsis of the vote in the various townships in 1850:
TOWNSHIPS.
Laverty .*
McMullen.+
Allen
77
. .
Camp ..
32
Des Moines
· 19
Four Mile
1
Greenfield
14 ..
Linn Grove.
· ·
Madison .
40
Richland
13
Saylor
23 .
Skunk.
9
*Whig. +Democrat.
No report from Beaver, but supposed McMullen had a majority. Vote for township officers in Des Moines township:
Justice of the Peace. 99
L. D. Winchester, Whig
Samuel Gray, Democrat
86
Trustees.
W. H. Meachem, Whig 96
Lewis Jones, Whig
92
Isaac Lawson, Whig 97
J. C. Jones, Democrat .
103
W. A. Scott, Democrat.
83
W. T. Marvin, Democrat 95
Treasurer.
Wm. Kraus, Whig. 86
Benj. Bryant, Democrat 100
Clerk.
96
John Tyler, Whig.
Jas. Anderson, Democrat
92
Board of Supervisors.
Benj. Clafflin, Whig 82
C. C. Van, Whig .. . 122
A. J. Stevens, Whig 99
H. Fagan, Whig .. 94
Wm. Jones, Democrat. 85
G. W. Hickman, Democrat 19
Wm. Ramsie, Democrat.
36
488
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
The contest between Miller (Whig) and Thompson (Democrat) for the seat in the National House of Representatives, caused great excitement at the time. The election occurred in 1848; a new precinct called Kanesville including the whole west part of the State, had been created; counting vote of this precinct Miller was elected; not counting it Thompson was elected. The returns of Kanesville were sent to Albia, and while there were stolen. The Board of Canvassers declared Thompson elected, and he accordingly took his seat in Congress; Miller contested, and after considerable investi- gation Congress voted in 1850 to refer the matter back to the people. A special election was held September 24, 1850, and Miller was elected by a majority of about six hundred votes.
While Miller was carrying on the contest for his seat in Congress, and Thompson was perseveringly holding on to the position, the friends of the respective candidates at home were carrying on a very heated controversy. The poll-books from Kanesville precinct which had been stolen were finally discovered in Judge Mason's saddle-bags. Judge Mason was accused of stealing them; he denied having any knowledge of how they came there, and there was much crimination and recrimination. The following extracts from the Whig organ at Des Moines, published in 1850, will afford some idea of the animus of that controversy:
"The case of Daniel F. Miller, Whig member of Congress from this dis- trict who contests the right of Mr. Thompson, Democrat, to a seat in the House of Representatives, has been referred to a committee appointed for that purpose, and they have unanimously declared that Mr. Miller is enti- tled to the seat. When the committee reported to the House that Mr. Mil- ler was the Representative from Iowa, and not Mr. Thompson, the latter put in a plea that a majority of the votes were illegal, and those of aliens and minors, and asked the House to allow him ninety days more to secure testimony to support the grounds which he assumes. The time has been granted. Would a fair Congress have allowed him further time ? He has already had a year to collect evidence to support his case, and that should have satisfied both him and the House.
"There are some interesting facts connected with this case and we shall refer to it again."
"Those conversant with the history of the election of members of Con- gress for this district in 1848, will remember the infamous trick of legerde- main resorted to by the friends of the Locofoco candidate, Mr. Thompson to secure for him the election now contested by Mr. Miller. The poll- books of Kanesville precinct, giving Mr. Miller a large majority, were stolen from the Clerk of Monroe county to whom they had been returned, and by that means Mr. Thompson obtained the certificate of election. These stolen poll-books in a few days came to light. They are found at last in the hands of Mr. Thompson's counsel, Judge Mason, who accident- ally let the secret out in the following way: During an interview between Mr. Miller and Judge Mason in reference to taking depositions in the. con- tested case the Judge turned out for Mr. Miller's inspection, some papers and through mistake the veritable original poll-books. Mr. Miller detected them at once from the signatures of the elected officers, and charged the fact home to him. His honor stated that he had come by them honestly,
.
489
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
but he was not at liberty to state how he got them. The books were exam- ined by several persons who happened to to be present to their satisfaction and returned to Judge Mason's custody. Those present describe the scene as one long to be remembered.
"The disclosure of these facts show what principles control the political action of the Democratic party of this State. The cutlerizing of Harlan out of the office to which he was fairly elected, was a frand upon the rights of the people. Will Congress permit Mr. Thompson to hold a seat obtain- ed through such conduct ? His acceptance of the certificate of election and the tenacity with which he retains the advantage thus unrighteously gained, show him to be willing to enjoy the fruits of the corrupt proceeding."
The Gazette of April 12, 1850, announces the result of the examination in Kanesville in the contested election case:
" The Commissioners were in session ten days, and after a thorough ex- amination as to the legality of the votes given to Miller, not one illegal vote could be found to have been polled against him. Messrs. Mason, Hall & Co.'s own witnesses proved so clear a case for Mr. Miller that he did not think it worth while to introduce any rebutting testimony. J. C. Hall was examined and testified that he did not know who took the poll-books out of the Clerk's office; but after they were taken they were placed in his sad- dle-bags and he gave them to Thompson."
In order to show the condition of local politics, we give herewith an ab- stract of vote on County Judge in 1852 :
TOWNSHIPS.
Byron Rice.
Todhunter.
Majority,
Rice.
Majority,
Todhunter.
Des Moines
135|
78
48
Allen.
65
19
46
Richland
41
62
.
21
Camp .
63
47
4
Four Mile
22
13
9
Saylor
6
36
30
Madison
33
8
25
Jefferson
18
1
17
Greenfield
24
10
14
Linn
22
1
21
Delaware
19
19
. .
Beaver
8
7
1
Elkhart
12
12
Total
448
29
212
55
Rice's majority in county 157.
Lewis
490
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
In 1855 there was a very close election. We give herewith the vote on County Sheriff by townships:
TOWNSHIPS.
Spaulding.
McClain.
Allen
21
27
Beaver
14
24
Camp ..
87
9
Delaware
24
27
Des Moines
158
244
Elkhart
34
20
Four Mile
50
19
Jefferson
23
31
Madison
84
45.
Saylor
18
58.
Total
513
502
Spaulding's majority 11.
Passing over a period of two years we come to the exciting elections of 1857. The following tables are an abstract of the vote for State Senator, State Representative and also on the proposition to strike out of the consti- tution the word "white."
Vote on candidates for State Senator.
TOWNSHIPS.
W.P.Davis.
D.O.Finch.
Allen
39
28
Beaver
31
19
Camp.
51
96
Des Moines.
407
372
Delaware.
29
27
Elkhart
10
25
Four Mile
56
57
Franklin
23
8
Jefferson
30
40
Lee .
161
150
Madison.
78
72
Saylor. .
111
22
Washington
22
9
Total.
1052
925
Davis' majority 37.
491
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
Vote on candidates for State Representative.
TOWNSHIPS.
Mitchell.
Scott.
Allen
39
27
Beaver
47
8
Camp.
52
95
Des Moines
421
352
Delaware
32
25
Elkhart
11
24
Four Mile
60
54
Franklin
25
7
Jefferson
29
42
Lee. .
154
160
Madison
77
70
Saylor
22
9
Total
1080
894
Thos. Mitchell's majority 186.
Vote on striking out the word "white " from the constitution:
TOWNSHIPS.
YES.
No.
Allen
1
48
Beaver
3
Des Moines
32
411
Delaware
7
Elkhart
Four Mile
. .
Franklin
...
Jefferson
15
24
Madison
2
62
Saylor
8
9
Washington
Total
65
557
Majority against the proposition to strike out the word "white," 492.
With the campaign of 1860 Polk county became overwhelmingly Re- publican, and has remained so ever since. In 1876 the vote on President was as follows:
Hayes electors
4,324
Tilden electors 2,382
Cooper electors 482
111
11
Washington
Camp
.
492
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
It was during the campaign of 1878 that the Greenback wave swept over the country, and the Republicans, who theretofore had a large majority in both the Congressional and Judicial Districts, were defeated, the fusion candidates for Judge and member of Congress being elected. Polk county gave a majority for Cummings, the Republican candidate for Congress, but elected Gardner, the fusion candidate for County Recorder. The vote on these two offices run as follows:
Cummings 3,664
Gillette 3,469
Read .
3,425
Gardner
3,639
We conclude the discussion of this subject by giving the vote of the county on Governor last year :
Gear.
4,007
Trimble.
1,844
Campbell 1,171
69
Dungan
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.
In 1846 the following officers were elected:
Probate Judge-John Saylor. Sheriff-Thomas Mitchell. Coroner- James Phillips. Surveyor-A. D. Jones. Recorder-Thomas McMullen. Treasurer-W. T. Ayers. Assessor-G. B. Clark. Collector-Addison Michael. Commissioners-Benj. Saylor, W. H. Meacham, G. W. Fouts.
After this first election there was no record of elections kept till the year 1852. From some documents in existence we learn, however, that during this time there were the following officials:
1847. .
Sheriff-Peter Myers. Prosecuting Attorney-L. D. Winchester.
1848.
Clerk of Court-Henry Early. Commissioner-J. D. McGlothlen.
1849.
Clerk of Court-Hoyt Sherman
From 1852 the record is complete, and shows the following:
1852.
County Judge-Byron Rice. Clerk of Court-Wm. T. Morris. School Fund Commissioner-R. W. Sypher. Prosecuting Attorney-J. M. Perry. Senator-A. Y. Hull. Representatives-Benj. Green and J. F. Rice.
493
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
1853.
Treasurer and Recorder-Samuel Gray. Sheriff-Wm. H. McHenry. Surveyor-John McClain. Coroner-Walter Oyler.
1854.
Clerk of Court -- R. L. Chrystal. Prosecuting Attorney-Barlow Granger. 1855.
Treasurer and Recorder-John E. Groom. Coroner-Noah Devault. Surveyor -- John H. Millard. County Judge-T. H. Napier. Sheriff- D. B. Spaulding.
1856.
Representatives-William P. Davis and Benj. Green. Clerk of Court- H. M. Hoxie. Prosecuting Attorney-J. H. Gray.
1857.
County Judge-T. H. Napier. Treasurer and Recorder-S. M. Dyer. Sheriff-D. B. Spaulding. Surveyor-J. C. Booth. Coroner-G. W. Conner. Representative-Thomas Mitchell.
1858.
Clerk of Court-H. M. Hoxie. Superintendent Schools-Samuel Bell. 1859.
Representative-Stewart Goodrell. County Judge .- John H. McClel- land. Treasurer and Recorder --- J. B. Tiffin. Sheriff-John Hays. Su- perintendent Schools-C. C. Dawson. Surveyor-N. R. Kuntz. Coroner -James Stanton. Drainage Commissioner-John Hartman.
1860.
Clerk of Court-J. M. Laird.
1861.
Senator-J. H. Hatch. Representative-John Mitchell. Sheriff-I. W. Griffith. Treasurer and Recorder-J. B. Tiffin. County Judge-J. H. McClelland. Superintendent Schools-E. D. Hawes. Surveyor-B. Cal- lan. Drainage Commissioner-A. C. Bondurant. Coroner-Thomas Elliott.
1862.
Clerk of Court-J. M. Laird.
494
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
1863.
Representative-N. Baylies. County Judge-J. H. McClelland. Sheriff H. M. Bush. Treasurer and Recorder-J. B. Tiffin. Superintendent of Schools-S. Borrows. Surveyor-J. P. Foster. Coroner-J. M. Reichen- eker. Drainage Commissioner-William VanDorn.
1864.
Clerk of Court-H. H. Griffiths. County Recorder-John Jack.
1865.
Senator-Jonathan Cattell. Representatives-Hoyt Sherman and G. S. Godfrey. County Judge-W. G. Bentley. Sheriff-Nathaniel McCalla. Superintendent of Schools-Leonard Brown. Treasurer-Jeremiah B. Tiffin. Surveyor-J. B. Bausman. Coroner-William F. Tate. Drainage Commissioner-J. N. Newell.
1866.
County Judge-John G. Weeks. Clerk of Court-H. H. Griffiths. Re- corder-I. N. Thomas.
1867.
Representatives-J. H. Hatch and John A. Kasson. County Judge- J. B. Miller. Treasurer-C. G. Lewis. Sheriff-P. H. VanSlyck. Super- intendent of Schools-C. A. Mosier. Surveyor-J. B. Bausman. Coroner -Madison Young. Drainage Commissioner-James Brumdigi.
1868.
Clerk of Court-H. H. Griffiths. Recorder-I. N. Thomas.
1869.
Senator-B. F. Allen. Representatives-John A. Kasson and G. W. Jones. Auditor-John B. Miller. Treasurer-C. G. Lewis. Sheriff-P. H. VanSlyck. Surveyor-P. B. Reed. Superintendent of Schools-J. A. Nash. Coroner-A. G. Field.
1870.
Clerk of Court-H. H. Griffiths. Recorder-I. N. Thomas. County Supervisors-P. D. Ankeny, Brian Hawley and Edwin Oakes.
1871.
Representatives-John A. Kasson, J. M. Tuttle. Auditor-John B. Miller. Treasurer-F. R. Laird. Sheriff-D. M. Bringolf. Superintend- ent of Schools-J. A. Nash. Supervisor-G. W. Baldwin. Surveyor- Frank Pelton. Coroner-A. M. Overman.
495
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
1872.
Clerk of Courts-John H. McClelland. Recorder-J. C. Read. 1873.
Senator-Thomas Mitchell. Representatives-Isaac Brandt, W. G. Madden. Auditor-Geo. C. Baker. Treasurer-William Lowry-Sheriff D. M. Bringolf. Surveyor-Frank Pelton. Superintendent of Schools- D. G. Perkins. Coroner-A. M. Overman. Supervisor-Nathan Par- menter.
1874.
Clerk of Courts-J. H. McClelland. Recorder-J. C. Read. Supervi- sors-T. T. Morris, William Christy, William B. Butler, H. L. Young.
1875.
Representatives-Josiah Given, William G. Madden. Auditor-Geo. C. Baker. Treasurer-William Lowry. Sheriff -- George Lendrum. Sur- veyor-Frank Pelton. Superintendent of Schools-R. S. Hughes. Coro- ner-I. W. Griffith. Supervisor-James Porter.
1876.
Clerk of Courts-J. L. Keyes. Recorder -- J. C. Read. Supervisors-N. Parmenter, Wm. Ellison.
1877.
Senator-R. C. Webb. Representatives-C. S. Wilson, J. B. Tiffin. Auditor -- G. W. Bristow. Treasurer-William Lowry. Sheriff-George Lendrum. Surveyor-Frank Pelton. Superintendent of Schools-James H. Koons. Coroner -- I. W. Griffith. Supervisors -- Geo. W. Baldwin, Wm. Christy, Samuel Britton.
1878.
Clerk of Courts-James L. Keyes. Recorder -- George H. Gardner. Su- pervisor -- James Porter.
1879.
Representatives-J. C. Jordan, J. A. Harvey. Auditor -- G. W. Bris- tow. Treasurer-Richard K. Miller. Sheriff-A. D. Littleton. Sur- veyor-Frank Pelton. Superintendent of Schools-J. H. Koons. Coro- ner-I. W. Griffith. Supervisors -- G. W. Miles, Levi Krysher.
496
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
CHAPTER VIII.
Schools-Churches-Old Settlers' Association.
THE following chapter is one which we have found most difficult to write, owing to the difficulty in obtaining full and accurate information. It should be the most interesting of all the chapters of the book. We have endeav- ored to remain in the realm of the real, and deal as little as possible in the ideal and imaginative. Very little has been made a matter of record relat- ing to the early schools and churches of the county; what little has been made a matter of record and is remembered by the old settlers whom we have seen is here narrated, and unless what of history and tradition there is- be faulty, the following may be regarded as authentic:
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The schools of the county are sharing with the contents of the newsboy's bundle the title of the universities of the poor. The close observation of working of the public schools shows that if the induction of facts be com- plete, it could be demonstrated that the public schools turn out more better fitted for business, and for usefulness, than most of our colleges. The free- dom and liberty of our public schools afford less room for the growth of effiminacy and pedantry; it educates the youth among the people, and not among a caste or class, and since the man or woman is called upon to do with a nation in which people are the only factor, the education which the public schools afford, especially where they are of the superior standard reached in this county, do fit their recipients for a sphere of usefulness nearer the public heart than can be attained by private schools and acade- mies.
The crowning glory of American institutions is the public school system; nothing else among American institutions is so intensely American. They are the colleges of democracy, and if this government is to remain a re- public, governed by statesmen, it must be from the public schools that they must be graduated. The amount of practical knowledge that the masses here receive is important beyond measure and forms the chief factor in the problem of material prosperity; but it is not so much the practical knowl- edge, which it is the ostensible mission of the public schools to impart,. that makes this system the sheet anchor of our hope; it is rather the silent social influence which the common schools incidentally exert.
It is claimed for our country that it is a land of social equality, where. all have an equal chance in the race of life; and yet there are many things which give the lie to this boasted claim of an aristocracy of manhood. Our churches are open to all, but it is clear that the best pews are occupied by the men of wealth and influence. The sightless goddess extends the scales of justice to all, but it will usually appear that there is money in the de- scending scale. It requires money to run for office, or, at least, it takes money to get office.
The first experiences of the American citizen, however, are in the public school. If he is a rich man's son his class-mate is the son of poverty. The seat which the one occupies is no better than that occupied by the other, and when the two are called to the blackboard the fine clothes of the rich
497
HISTORY OF POLK COUNTY.
man's son do not keep him from going down, provided he be a drone, neither do the patches on the clothes of the poor man's son keep him down, provided he has the genius and application to make him rise. The pam- pered child of fortune may purchase a diploma at many of the select schools of our land, but at the public schools it is genius and application which win. That State or nation which reaches out this helping hand to the chil- dren of want will not lack for defenders in time of danger, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually expended for the common education of children is but money loaned to the children, which they will pay back with compound interest when grown to manhood.
Then, too, in a modest, unassuming way, our schools inculcate lessons of common honesty. The boy hears his father make promises and sees him break them. Mr. Brown is promised ten dollars on Tuesday, but Mr. Brown calls on Tuesday, and again on Wednesday, and finally gets the ten dollars on Saturday; the boy goes with his father to church, and frequently gets there after the first prayer. In vain does that father teach that boy lessons of common honesty when the boy knows that the father three times disappointed Brown, and never gets to church in time. The boy soon learns at the public school that punctuality and promptness are cardinal virtues; that to be tardy is to get a little black mark, and to be absent a day is to get a big black mark. A public school in which punctuality and promptness are impartially and fearlessly enforced is a most potent con- servator of public morals.
The public schools of America are a grand success; this as a rule has very few exceptions. Should we take but a superficial view of the public: school system, and by taking as example some schools which are properly termed poor ones, and estimate their worth simply from the useful results- obtained in a given time, we might be inclined to say that the public school is a failure; but viewed in a more thorough manner, and taking into account all its bearings, and then estimating its worth from results through a series of years, and then making a general average, we must say-any un- prejudiced and unbiased mind must say-that even the poorest of our schools are good, and no other investment of public funds is so carefully managed and so profitably applied.
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