USA > Iowa > Van Buren County > The history of Van Buren County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c, a biographical directory of citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics history of the Northwest, history of Iowa &c > Part 55
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These are the picturesque features for the artist's pencil. And what " learn- ing " there was, must have been a " dangerous thing," for it was certainly " little; " the grading was far from exact ; the system was a kind of hit-or-miss affair ; but, nevertheless, it was " school," and from the first there was a deeply- rooted prejudice among the Iowa settlers in favor of schools. School for week- days and a meeting-house for Sunday ! this same little pen of a house served two purposes. And could anything except the groves themselves-" God's first temples "-be nearer to nature as a tabernacle than was this, where some chance circuit preacher would have for his congregation every man, woman and child in the entire settlement? None of those hypercritical listeners there, you may be sure, who gauge the preacher by his " intellectuality," his "magnetism" or his " culture." It was the Word preached-welcome, pure and life-giving always-and not the preacher, which these listeners crowded to hear. If he but had the good Methodist zeal, then he was sure of devout hearers. He did not need to have " traveled," except upon his lone circuit over the prairie ; nor did he feel it necessary to use his pulpit in the interests of politics-if he knew his Bible he was qualified ; nor did his flock feel called upon to put their hands
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HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
into their pockets and contribute toward sending their Pastor on a summer vacation to the sea-side or to Europe. All these improvements have come in with better churches and more advanced ways of thinking. That was the old way, and a direct contrast to the new. .
Now, nothing which the architect's taste can devise is too good for school- house or for church. Look at the plenitude of tidy, commodious buildings in every county, and not designed for double service, either, but dedicated solely to the use of the schoolma'am, who hereabouts is thoroughly skilled in her pro- fession. She has had, aside from such education as her means have enabled her to obtain, good, practical drill in the normal institutes. She not only knows her text-books, but she knows how to teach. And then, the ingeniously- devised school-books, in which every point of information is adjusted to such a nicety that they are rather works of art and books of entertainment than but the dull means to a desired end.
The little flocks of children who run along the country roads in their bare feet and sun-bonnets, and chip hats, do not have to squirm and twist their uneasy legs all day over a page in the English reader which they cannot under- stand. They begin their morning's work with a chorus, which puts them all in good humor to start with. Then they come to timed classes, at the tinkle of the bell ; they are entertained and diverted as well as instructed at every step. Before there is any possibility of restlessness, they go through a five-minutes round of calisthenics, which puts a wholesome quietus upon their muscles and their mischief. Wise play is so mixed with teaching that they never really dis- cover which is which until they find themselves ready to teach school them- .selves in turn.
This is the ease of the present compared with the labor of the past. And in this way is the generality of education secured. The ways are smoothed, the tediousness beguiled and the deprivation supplanted by an affluence of aids.
In 1854, Gov. Grimes, in his inaugural message, said : "The safety and perpetuity of our Republican institutions depend upon the diffusion of intelli- gence among the masses of the people. The statistics of the penitentiaries and alms-houses throughout the country show that education is the best preventive of crime. They show, also, that the prevention of these evils is much less expensive than the punishment of the one and the relief of the other."
So, with all our new-fangled methods, our ornamental, well-ventilated and well-furnished schoolhouses, our accomplished instructors with modern notions, we are not extravagant. We are simply taking from the expenses of crime and pauperism and putting it into enduring and beautiful shape. We are helping to sustain the Government by rearing up in every town and in every country neighborhood a generation of enlightened and intelligent people, cosmopolitan in the sense of schools, if not in that wider cosmopolitanism which comes alone from actual contact with the great world.
The following statement is compiled from the last annual report of the County Superintendent of Schools, J. W. Rowley :
Number of district townships.
8
Number of subdistricts ..
65
Number of independent districts.
45
Total number of school districts.
118
Number of ungraded schools. 104
Number of graded schools
7
Average number of months taught.
6.90
Number of male teachers.
83
Number of female teachers.
151
458
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Average compensation per month to male teachers
$36.73
Average compensation per month, to female teachers. 29.11
Number of male pupils between 5 and 21 years of age .. 3,431
Number of female pupils between 5 and 21 years of age.
3,173
Number of pupils enrolled.
5,377
Total average attendance.
3,113
Average cost of tuition for each pupil. per month ..
$1.42
Number of frame schoolhouses.
89
Number of brick schoolhouses
17
Number of stone schoolhouses.
3
Number of log schoolhouses
1
Total value of school-buildings
$116,030
Total valne of apparatus
173
SCHOOLHOUSE FUND.
Total receipts during the year. $14,313 08
Paid for schoolhouses and school sites 4,770 92
Paid on bonds and interest
4,944 62
Paid for libraries and apparatns.
1,139 57
Amount on hand ..
3,457 97
CONTINGENT FUND.
Total receipts during the year. $ 8,787 93
Paid for repairing schoolhouses. 935 53
Paid for fuel 1,638 03
Paid secretaries 364 97
Paid treasurers ..
218 25
Paid for records and apparatus.
63 65
Paid for various purposes. Amount on hand.
2,003 51
3,563 99
TEACHERS' FUND.
Total receipts
$43,651 97
Paid teachers 25,226 74
Amount on hand
18,425 23
THE MILLER-THOMPSON CONTESTED ELECTION.
The most interesting contest over an election which has ever transpired in this region is that of the Miller-Thompson case. The peculiar character of the circumstances attending the affair, which can never be reproduced in this State, and the closeness of the vote, as well as the bitterness of party feeling at the time, conspire to render this case an exceedingly entertaining topic for intro- duction here. It is not the purpose of this sketch to indulge in strictures upon the methods employed by either faction, but it is designed to give as impartial a statement of the matter as careful research enables us to do. The heat of the contest has long since passed away, and we have no doubt that the survivors of the fight will read this chapter with a fecling of enjoyment, as it revives recol- lections of the days gone by. The authorities from which these facts are gath- ered are perfectly reliable, being the official documents of Monroe County (examined expressly for the purpose), numerous files of the leading journals of the time, among which are the Des Moines Courier and the Burlington Hawk- Eye, and personal interviews with some of the most prominent men connected with the affair.
The contest arose over the alleged election of William Thompson to a seat in the Thirty-first Congress. In 1848, the candidates for the honor of represent- ing the southern half, or First District, of Iowa, were William Thompson (Dem- .ocrat), of Mt. Pleasant, and Daniel F. Miller (Whig), of Fort Madison. The hilection was held on August 7.
459
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
In 1848, the Democratic managers were greatly agitated over the apparent growth of Whig sentiments in this district. The eastern counties were fast becoming uncertain territory, and some expedient was essential to the life and prosperity of the party. The leading spirits among the Democrats were men of fertile resources, thoroughly posted in the ways of politics, and full of shrewd energy. A plan presented itself to their inventive minds, nor were they slow to avail themselves of it. The machinery of the party was set to work at once to secure the needed strength so opportunely, but accidentally, proffered them, as they sincerely believed.
It is necessary to revert to historic events of an earlier date, and in other localities, to explain the proceedings recorded hereafter. The Mormons, who figure conspicuously in this chapter, had suffered overthrow in their stronghold at Nauvoo, Ill., in 1846. The misdeeds of the leader, Joseph Smith, had resulted in the violent death of that head of the sect, and the ascension to power of Brigham Young. The latter saint and ruler had decreed that the society should separate into numerous bands and travel westward in search of freedom. The exodus of the Latter-day Saints began in the year 1846. Iowa was the scene of unwonted activity occasioned by the flight of the refugees from the law. Some bands moved through the State on the line of the forty- second parallel; some went through the southern tier of counties, and some passed over the territory now composing the range in which Monroe is located. The ultimate destination of all these parties was Kanesville, or what is now known as Council Bluffs. Many of the Mormons did not reach the river in 1846, nor even in 1847. Hundreds camped in Marshall County during that "year, and scores of the poor wretches died from actual starvation. Women were confined in the open country during the long, cold season, and filled unmarked graves. The suffering of those people in camp, during the winter of 1846-47, will never be described by human agency, and can be but faintly realized by the comfortably sheltered readers of this brief sketch.
This chapter, however, has to deal with but one division of the Mormon party. Those who passed through this tier of counties reached Lucas County in the winter of 1846-47, and located a few miles southeast of the present town of Chariton. There rude huts were erected, and the party sojourned for several months. Subsequently, they passed on to the Missouri River, where they also tarried for a time. They were the first white "settlers" in Lucas County.
A portion of the band of Mormons did not remain in Lucas that year, but pushed westward in hopes of gaining the place of rendezvous designated by Young. Their hopes were blighted, however, for the weather was so inclement that they could not proceed. They did not reach a point beyond Clarke County. Three men, John Conyer, James and John Longley, became separated from the party and lost their way. They concluded to encamp for the winter (of 1846-47) where they were, and constructed a log hut. In this they lived, and attached to it the name of "Lost Camp," a title by which the locality is still known and pointed out. In the spring, these men found other Mormons but a few miles from them, in the same county. The village of Kanesville became the headquarters of the faithful to the creed of the Golden Book, and was the resting-place of the weary bands. There they recruited their wasted forces, and prepared to encounter fresh terrors in the slow march across the plains to Salt Lake City.
It was thus that the year 1848 found a settlement of white men in the ter- ritory supposed to be attached to Monroe County for election and judicial pur-
460
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
poses, and it was by virtue of their forced residence in Iowa that the Mormons became, under the general statutes, legal voters in the State. Had it not been for the expulsion of the saints from Nauvoo and the unusually early winter which followed their exodus; or, had it not been for the accident of circum- stances, this somewhat singular history could not now be written.
At the time of the occurrence of the events written above, the county of Monroe was composed of all the territory from the west line of Wapello County to the Missouri River. The unorganized counties of Lucas and Clarke were at that time defined in a manner preliminary to permanent establishment, the latter, however, being entirely unsettled by white men. The former contained not more than eight or ten families.
The August election, 1848, was an important one to the people of Southern Iowa, as has already been observed. The office of Representative in Congress was to be filled, and the two parties in contest, Democrats and Whigs, were violent in their determination to win the prize. The Whigs were gaining strength, and it was all-essential that the county of Monroe, then a Democratic region, should give a large majority to overcome the Eastern vote.
The investigation of old records impresses one with the fact that politicians of the old school, in the early days, were intensely shrewd ; possibly no more so than those of to-day, but the methods of working were very different then, and it may be that the apparent boldness was the result of a lack of means to " cover up the tracks." At all events, it seems to one who carefully looks at the matter that more summary ways and means were then in vogue than could be successfully employed now.
The opposing factions in 1848 were exceedingly jealous of one another. Every possible opportunity was improved to win the day. Because of this vig- ilance, perhaps, the Argus-eyed Democracy discovered a grand chance to effect the defeat of their hated rival. The Mormon vote was not only desirable, but was available ! Happy thought ! Golden possibility !
Who first conceived the plan of wheeling the Mormons into line is not clearly established. Judge Mason, J. C. Hall, and, possibly, a well-known jurist, who still lives in Wapello County, might have been the authors of the shrewd scheme; but that is immaterial.
In 1847, the region lying upon the Missouri River, in a line supposed to be due west of Wapello County, was thickly inhabited, for so westerly a point, thanks to the Mormon colony, and naturally asserted its right of independence. A party of representative men came east and waited upon influential men at Iowa City, when the scheme was discussed. Gen. Dodge became much inter- ested in the matter, foreseeing the possible strength such an organization might bring them. Nothing was then done, however, to effect the formation of the county, but the Democrats did not lose sight of the tide of Mormons moving westward, and halting for breath on the shores of the river. In Nauvoo, the Mormon vote had been a powerful ally to the Democrats at general elections, and a continuance of their support was both desirable and reasonable, according to the logic of Gen. Dodge.
The organization of the new county rested with Judge Carleton, of the then Fourth Judicial District, and there is evidence which warrants the belief that the Judge counseled with the General in this matter.
As early as 1847, the Whigs claimed to know to a certainty that the Mor- mons were weakening in their political affinities, and the young party was not backward in aiding a change of belief in its own favor. Elder Orson Hyde was in command of the refugees, and his will was practically a law unto them.
461
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Col. Warren, in a speech delivered in Burlington, in September, 1848, after the election had been held, made what the Hawk-Eye termed a full explanation of the affair, and from that address is gathered a portion of the data relative to this part of our sketch.
The time elapsed by which it was necessary to create a new county at the river, prior to the election of 1848, but there still remained an opportunity to form a polling precinct there and thus secure the vote. The only question to be decided was that of the political complexion of the district. If the Demo- crats could be assured of support, the necessary formalities would be proceeded with at once.
Now ensued a sharp encounter of wits. Gen. Dodge felt that he held the key to the situation. since through him alone could the desired organization be compassed. The Whigs, on the other hand, apprised themselves of the fact that the Mormons were becoming anxious to show their ill-will toward the Demo- cratic party, as a means of avenging themselves for their expulsion from Nauvoo.
Messengers were dispatched from both camps to feel the pulse of the people in the West, and each faction returned bearing metaphorical bunches of huge grapes, while their reports were that the land flowed with oil and honey for their respective candidates. In all this bartering there was evidently an under- standing between the Whigs and the Mormons; for a flat refusal on the part of the latter to vote the Democratic ticket would certainly have prevented their voting at all. The powers that were had to be mollified, and a go-between was found to represent to the Democrats the solidity of the Pottawattamie precinct.
When the character of the vote was satisfactorily determined, there still remained the question of its legality. If the territory lay west of the last organized county. which was then Monroe, that county had the power to create a precinct. If it did not, then there was an opportunity to contest the validity of returns from the river precinct. The Democrats believed that Kanesville, as the Mormon settlement was called, did lie within the legal territory of Monroe, but a survey was deemed necessary to settle the point. In accordance with that idea, a party was engaged to ascertain the geographical whereabouts of the vil- lage, and a random line was run. Subsequent surveys have shown that the line was, indeed a random one, but that point did not come up in the contest which followed. For all practical purposes, the place lay west of Monroe. In the decision of this question, the Whigs wisely submitted to the Democrats, and the work of establishing the locality was performed by such means as the Democrats could, under no circumstances, thereafter dispute. It was highly important for the Democrats to locate Kanesville in Monroe territory, because Monroe was then Democratic, and they feared'that the Whigs would oppose the organization of so strong a precinct, if they had it in their power so to do.
The Whigs, meanwhile, confident of the victory they were to win, offered no objections to the formation of the precinct, but seemed quiescent in the matter. On the 3d of July, 1848, the Monroe County Commissioners issued the follow- ing order :
Ordered, by said Board, that that portion of country called Pottawattamie County, which lies directly west of Monroe County, be organized into a township, and that Kanesville be a precinct for election purposes in said township, and that the election be held at the Council House in said village; and that Charles Bird, Henry Miller and William Huntington be appointed Judges of said election ; and that the boundaries of said township extend east as far as the East Nish-na-bat-na.
462
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
This public announcement of the plan warned the Whigs to work. Greek met Greek. It was known that the Board, then consisting of Andrew Elswick, William McBride and George R. Holliday, and Dudley C. Barber as Clerk, was Democratic. The latter officer made out the poll-books and sent them to the new precinct. Both parties sought the field of battle, and, for a time, the Mormon element became the favorites of the politicians, since they held the balance of power. The Mormons at home in Nauvoo were Democratic in sen- timent, it was argued, and the Democrats were confident of their co-operation in the time of need.
The election took place on the 7th day of August. To the consternation of the Democrats and the joy of the Whigs, the vote of the new precinct was cast almost solidly for Daniel F. Miller, the Whig candidate, and the Democratic candidate, William Thompson, was left out in the cold.
No sooner was the result of the election made known, than the Democratic leaders took counsel, one with another, what to do. J. C. Hall went to Albia from Mt. Pleasant, and it is asserted that he and others advised the rejection of the poll-books. The messenger with the returns arrived in Albia, and the can- vass of the votes was held on the 14th day of August. Dudley C. Barber, as Clerk of the Board, had a deciding voice in the matter. The canvass was made at his log cabin, one of the three or four buildings then standing on the town plat.
Among the prominent men at Albia at that time, was Dr. Flint, who sub- sequently removed to Wapello County, and there became County Judge, and also State Senator from that county. He was brother-in-law to Barber, the Clerk who made out the poll-books, and who was authorized to pass upon their acceptance for canvass. Dr. Flint exercised a strong influence over Barber, and was an intense partisan. He urged the arbitrary rejection of the books. The little cabin was filled with excited men, and the canvass could not proceed. Among the Democrats were Mr. Hall and Israel Kister, of Davis County. who subsequently was elected State Treasurer on that ticket.
The Whigs were determined to see the Pottawattamie vote counted, since they had beaten the Democrats at what they considered their own game. Among those men was Mr. Mark, who was Postmaster at Albia at a later date. He stood directly behind Barber when the latter decided to reject the books. Mr. Mark inquired :
" Do you really intend to reject the returns inade out on poll-books pre- pared by yourself, and in legal form, Mr. Barber ? "
" Yes, sir, I do !" responded the Clerk.
At this juncture, further examination of the books was to be made. when the disputed volumes could not be found. Search was instituted and vigorously prosecuted, but to no effect. The books were gone from the table where they had lain but a moment before. It was announced that the books had been stolen, and could not, therefore, be used as returns.
It is reported by an eye-witness of the scene that pistols were drawn and a general riot secmed imminent ; but no serious outbreak followed the coup d'etat of the Democrats. Of course it was clear that the Whigs had not stolen the books, since it was for their interest to retain them. It rested, consequently, with the opposing faction to explain the mysterious disappearance of the docu- ments.
The evening of that day, Barber called to his aid two Justices. and, it is said, with locked doors, made a canvass of the vote of Monroe, throwing out the vote from Pottawattamie entirely. This rejection of the western vote
463
HISTORY OF VAN BUREN COUNTY.
secured the election of Thompson, and he accordingly took his seat in the first session of the Thirty-first Congress.
If we may be allowed to parody a classic quotation, uneasy sits the Con- gressman who is not soundly elected ! No sooner was he there than the Whigs made an effort to oust him. The case was laid before a proper committee, and voluminous discussion ensued. Finally, the case was remanded to the District Court at Keokuk. Before a decision could be reached, an election took place in the State for State officers and member of the Thirty-second Congress. The campaign was a ' hot one. During the stump-speech season, and just prior to the election in August, a meeting was held at Albia, at which A. C. Dodge, Mr. Baker, et al., addressed the Democracy. At this meeting, cheers were proposed for Mr. Barber, on the grounds that he had defeated the election of Miller.
It may be here incidentally remarked that the August election resulted in the seating of Bernhart Henn, of Fairfield, in the Thirty-second Congress from this district, his term beginning in 1851.
There still remained one session of the Thirty-first Congress, and after the August election referred to, the Miller-Thompson fight was renewed. During the controversy, Mr. Miller, or one of his friends, desired certain papers of Judge Mason, who was a strong counsel on the Democratic side. By mistake, the missing poll-books were handed to the Whig, who immediately announced the fact with an appropriate demonstration.
This startling denouement completely upset the Democratic case, and a new election was ordered to" fill vacancy " in the First District. The election took place September 24, 1850, and resulted in the choice of Mr. Miller, who filled the seat in Congress one session.
The question reverts to the cause of the Mormon change of front in 1848. All manner of rumors were afloat at the time, some of them even charging that the Democrats had offered but $1,000, while the Whigs had paid $1,200 for the vote. On the authority of one who admits that he was a party to the barter, we state as fact that the only gift presented to Elder Hyde by the Whigs was a printing office and some ten reams of printing-paper and a keg of ink. Hyde wanted an office, and the Whigs were willing to give him one. The materials for the office were shipped to him by the Whigs prior to the casting of the vote. Hyde had a grudge against the Democrats, which he desired to pay, and there- fore refused to listen to overtures of a financial character from them. It was a. case of diamond cut diamond, in which the Whigs proved the hardest.
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