USA > Iowa > Wapello County > The history of Wapello 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 > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86
THOMAS CRAWFORD, DR.
To 2 drinks whiskey.
123
To 1 drink whiskey
6}
do
do
123
" 1 do do
6ł
"1 do
do
61
" I quart do
183
" 2 do do
121
" 2 drinks do
124
" 1 pint whiskey
123 " 1 quart do
183
" 1 do
do
12}
" 2 drinks do
12}
" 4 drinks whiskey
25
" } 1b tobacco ..
12}
4 1 pint
do
124
" 2 drinks whiskey
12}
" 2 drinks
do
123
" 1 quart do
183
" 2 do
do
12]
" 1 drink do
6}
" 1 pint do
12}
" 3 drinks do
183
" 1 drink
do
61
" 1 pint brandy ...
25
" 2 drinks
do
123
" 1 drink whiskey
6}
" 2 do
do
12]
" 2 drinks
do
124
" 1 1b tobacco
123
" 3 do
do
183
" 1 pint whiskey
123
" 1 pint do
12}
" 1 do
do
12₺
" 1 drink do
61 67
" 1 pint
do
12}
" 1 plug tobacco
183
" 2 drinks
do
124
" 1 quart whiskey
18%
" 3 do
183
" 2 drinks
do
12}
"1 do
do
63
" 2 do
do
124
" 2 do
do
124
" 1 quart
do
183
"1
do
do
61
" 1 drink
do
62
" 1 plug tobacco
183
" } gallon
do
25 64 25 61
+ 2 do
do
123
" 2 do
do
12}
" 1 quart
do
183
4 2
do
do
12}
" 1 drink
do
61
do
do
183
" 2 drinks
do
123
" 1
do
do
6}
" 1 1b tobacco
184
" 1 1b sugar
124
" 1 pint whiskey.
123
do
61
" 1 vial linament.
25
do
.
64
" 2 drinks whiskey
123
" 1 quart do
183
Total.
$9 594
" 2 do
do
" 1 do
do
61
" 1 drink
do
do
124
"1
do do
61
" 1 drink
do
122
" 3 gallon
do
" 1 drink whiskey
63
"1 do do
" 2 drinks whiskey
124
" 2 drinks
The estate was settled by the payment of $7.50, balance due from adminis- trator to estate, but the date of final adjustment is not given. It was probably some time in the fall of 1845. It seems a trifle strange that Mr. Crawford should have been so extravagant with his tobacco, liniment and sugar, when he might have used his wealth in the purchase of more whisky. Another impor- tant fact is demonstrated by this official document, and that is, it made no differ- ence whether a man made wholesale or retail purchases, the price remained unchanged. There was no discount to administrators. A single drink was really a serious matter in those days, since it is shown that a half-pint was
-
401
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
the usual allowance. Mr. Crawford manifested a sturdy determination not to be frightened at that, however, and his bill shows him in the light of a sur- mounter of difficulties.
The first guardian of minors appointed by the Probate Judge was Joseph McIntire, guardian of Daniel, James and John Murphy, May 10, 1845.
The first will filed was that of William B. Woody, dated October 11, 1846, and filed by the widow, Frances Woody, sole executrix, December 7, 1846.
THE MARRIAGE RECORD.
The first license issued was in favor of the marriage of Andrew Crawford and Mary Ann Montgomery, dated March 15, 1844. The intended bride was a minor. under the guardianship of Peter Walker. The following note directed to the Clerk of the Court is filed with the order granting the license : To Henry B. Hendershott, Clerk, etc .:
You will please let Mr. Andrew Crawford have marriage license to be married to Miss Mary Ann Montgomery, and this shall be your authority for the same, the parties being under age.
PETER WALKER, Guardian for Mary Ann Montgomery. His THOMAS X CRAWFORD, mark. Father of Andrew Crawford.
Attest, HENRY B. HENDERSHOTT.
The couple were married March 15, 1844, by R. R. Jones, Justice of the Peace, at the house of Peter Walker. The groom was 19, and the bride 16 years of age.
The second marriage license was that of Dr. C. W. Phelps and Elizabeth C. Weaver; the third that of John P. Scott and Elvira A. Weir. The lat- ter marriage was solemnized at Agency City, by Rev. Benjamin A. Spaulding, April 17, 1844.
The authority possessed by Mr. Spaulding was filed at this time, and con- sisted of a license issued by the Clerk of the District Court of Jefferson County, Iowa.
On the 28th of August, 1844, the certificate of ordination, issued by Bishop Morris, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, August 29, 1841, pro- claiming Thomas M. Kirkpatrick a fully consecrated Elder in the said Method- ist Episcopal Church, was filed with the Clerk of Wapello County. This was to establish Mr. Kirkpatrick's authority to solemnize marriages.
A similar document was filed by Rev. Robert Long, of the Christian Church, on the 9th day of November, 1844.
During the first year of the county's existence, the following marriage licen- ses were granted :
George Nelson to Isabella Frances Hackney, November 9; Seth Ogg to Rebecca H. McIntire, April 28; David Glass to Eliza Jane Hall, June 19; Joseph McIntire to Mrs. Sarah Murphy, July 2; William Carter to Mary Jane Lewis, August 21; William F. Bay to Nancy J. Kirkpatrick, September 5; Alexander Kitterman to Else Linch, September 24; James S. Baker to Tamas Overman, September 28; Thomas J. Linnard to Julina Lambert, September 30; Melville H. Talbott to Elizabeth Rouse, October 4; James R. Fisher to Sarah McCall, October 5; Charles Wallace to Cynthian M. Ross, October 9; George Howlet to Sarah Wilson, November 7; William Parker to Lavinia Boyce, December 2; Jaines Stephens to Mary Ann Har- row. December 18; James D. Huffstetter to Eliza Ann White, December 30.
402
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
On the 24th of April, 1845, Rev. John Pardoe filed his certificate of ordi- nation as a Methodist Protestant clergyman.
November 26th, Rev. Joseph Ackerman filed his certificate of authority to solemnize marriages, having his ordination papers issued by Bishop Roberts, of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The papers were dated at Terre Haute, Ind., October 10, 1841.
Thirty-six marriage licenses were issued out of the Clerk's office of Wapello County during the year 1845.
THE DISTRICT COURT.
As in almost every case, the original record of the District Court in Wa- pello County consists of eight sheets of foolscap paper, stitched together to form a book. More permanent character has been given the records, however, by transcribing them into a substantial volume.
The following self-explanatory records are taken literally from the record- book, but we purposely omit extended mention of the incidents attending the opening of the first court, preferring to give such interesting facts a more appropriate place in the general history of the county. We quote :
And now, on this day, to wit, the sixteenth day of September, A. D. 1844, the day on which, according to law, the District Court of the United States, within and for said county of Wapello and Territory of Iowa, was to have begun, and its first or September term, at the Court House in said county, there being no Judge present, the time for commencement of said Court is ad- journed until 9 o'clock to-morrow morning.
TUESDAY morning, 9 o'clock, September 17, A. D. 1844. Y
And now, on this day there yet being no Judge present, the time for the commencement of said Court is further adjourned until to-morrow morning.
And now, on this day to wit, Wednesday, 18th September, 1844, being the adjourned day for the beginning of the September term of the District Court of the United States, for the county of Wapello and Territory of Iowa, Present the Hon. Charles Mason, Judge, etc.
The following proceedings were had, to wit :
And now, on this day, to wit, the 18th day of September, A. D. 1844, the venire which had been returned on the 16th inst., by Joseph Hayne, Sheriff of said county, being examined by the Court, it is ascertained the following-named persons have been duly summoned to serve as grand jurors to this Court, to wit :
LIST OF FIRST GRAND JURY.
James Weir, George W. Knight, Seth Ogg, Robert H. Ivers, Thomas Pendleton, Henry Smith, William Brinn, Lewis F. Temple, John Humphreys, Martin Fisher, Paul C. Jeffries, John Fuller, Finley Lindsey, William Prichell, William C. Melntire, John Clark, James R. Boggs, John Kirkpatrick, John Murry, Isom Garrett, Shannon Hackney, Philaster Lee and Thomas Wright; five of whom, to wit, Robert H. Ivers, Martin Fisher, John Fuller, John Clark and John Kirtpatrick, on being called, answered not.
The Court ordered the Sheriff to complete the panel, whereupon William A. Winsell, Peter Barnett, Richard Fisher and Jacob IIackney were added to the list. James Weir was appointed Foreman. George B. Warden was appointed Bailiff, and proceeded to take the grand jury under his charge.
The first case of record was that of " Josiah Smart, Agent, etc., who sues for the use of S. S. Phelps vs. Elias Orton." This was a land-claim case, and was dismissed, with costs assessed against the defendant to the amount of $7.42}.
The next case, James C. Ramsey vs. John R. and W. S. Wright assumpsit. Damages claimed, $67. Case compromised by the parties, with costs on defendant, stated at the sum of $5.37}.
The third case was John McCoy vs. William Flood, assumpsit ; damages, $100. Case withdrawn by plaintiff, with costs on him to the amount of $5.62}.
403
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
The next three cases were of similar character, and were between John Myers vs. Charles F. Harrow ; James Foster vs. Charles F. Harrow; and Hugh George vs. Jesse C. Weeks. All dismissed with costs on plaintiff.
On the 19th of September, the Clerk issued, by order of the Court, the first naturalization papers ever issued in the county, the applicants therefor being John Wall and George Wall.
The grand jury found an indictment against Joseph S. Hendricks for larceny. The case was taken up at once, when Hendricks pleaded " not guilty," and was bound over to appear at the April term of the District Court. As this was the first indictment, it may be interesting to know that the case was again continued to the September term, 1845, at which time the Prosecuting Attor- ney appeared and declared that he would never prosecute the case. The defendant was discharged, and the county paid the bill.
There were forty cases on the first docket, and the term lasted five days.
The first divorce case on record is at the April term, 1845, on a change of venue from Jefferson County, and is between Mary Kinzie and John Kinzie. Bill granted by default.
The first divorce granted parties resident in Wapello was at the same term of Court ; Amanda Hulin vs. Ira Hulin. Decrees granted by default.
THE CIRCUIT COURT.
The first session of this Court was held March 8, 1869, Hon. Robert Sloan, Judge ; Thomas Bedwell, Sheriff; L. M. Godley, Clerk.
OFFICIAL ROSTER OF THE COUNTY.
The first County Commissioners' Minute-Book and the first Election Reg- ister are lost, and it was with great difficulty that we were able to verify the election of the county officers up to 1865. Still, we herewith present a roster, which will bear close inspection and which may be relied upon as correct in all the essential points. Some minor errors may exist in it, but if so, it is because of utter lack of data, and not through a lack of work on the part of the com- piler. These little lists have required more labor than any other portion of the work :
County Commissioners .- L. E. Temple, J. M. Montgomery and C. T. Har- row were the original Commissioners, elected in 1844. The balance of the list may not be strictly accurate, since it is a lamentable fact that the first Commis- sioners' Record Book is lost. From such sources as diligent research and in- quiry reveal, we have concluded that the following named persons were on the Board, and very nearly in the order given ; but one Commissioner was chosen annually, unless a vacancy occurred : In 1844, John B. Gray was chosen. according to the statement of Mrs. Gray; but some of the older citizens here are disposed to question this. If he was a member at any time, it must have been in 1844, because in the summer of 1845, Kishkekosh County, in which he lived and which was then attached to Wapello, was organized. Dr. Warden thinks that the first Commissioners served but one year. If that is so, then there is a missing name in this list, for the first full Board discovered is in 1847, when Henry Smith, Charles Dudley and James B. Wright served. We are inclined to believe that one of these gentlemen-probably Smith-was chosen in 1845; James B. Wright in 1844, and Charles Dudley in 1847. Perhaps Mr. Dudley was elected first in 1845, as the retirement of Mr. Gray
404
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
would create a vacancy. If that supposition is correct, Mr. Dudley was re- elected in 1848. In 1847, the Board consisted of Messrs. Smith, Wright and Dudley ; and in 1848, of Wright, Dudley and Bell. This fact bears us out in the theory that Smith was chosen in 1845, since, in three years, Nathaniel Bell was elected to succeed him. From this date, the files of the Courier (an invaluable authority, because of the excellence of the editorial work bestowed upon them) supply reliable data. In 1849, Samuel Gilliland was elected ; and in 1850, Gideon Myers. The Commissioner system was abolished in 1851, at which time the Board was composed of Nathaniel Bell, Samuel Gilli- land and Gideon Myers.
On the authority of a paper published in the " Annals of Iowa," April, 1868, by G. D. R. Boyd, we state that the second Board of County Commissions, chosen at the first regular election, in August, 1844, was composed of John C. Evans, James B. Wright and John B. Gray. It is to be regretted that Mr. Boyd did not give a list of all the county officers therein recorded, since the book from which he gathered his information is now lost. Mr. B. speaks dis- paragingly of the record, because of its meager character.
The election of the first or organizing Board was held in April, 1844. The regular election took place always in August in those early years. The original officers, except Commissioners, were re-elected at the first August elec- tion in 1844.
Commissioners' Clerk .- This office was distinct from that of Clerk of the District Court. The first incumbent, 1844, was Charles Overman. In 1848, A. J. Redenbaugh was chosen, and held the office until the system was abol- ished.
County Judge .- In 1851-55, Silas Osborn was elected ; 1857, Joseph H. Flint. Judge Flint was legislated out of office in 1861, when the Board of Supervisors came into power.
Supervisors .- Under the system of 1861, the following men were elected : William Cloyd, Thomas Bedwell, George Gillaspy, G. F. Myers, A. Major. J. C. Hinsey, William Knight, Silas Osborn, W. C. MeIntire, L. Rose, George Neville, Aaron Harlan, Moses C. Israel, Peter Knox.
1862-Thomas Bedwell, William Clovd, Martin Dickens, J. C. Hinsey, Peter Knox, William Knight, G. F. Myers, George Neville, Silas Osborn, L. Rose, J. Y. Simpson, G. W. Draper, M. C. Israel, Moses Fairburn.
1863-A. H. Butin, C. S. Carwile, Martin Dickens, T. Bedwell, George Neville, Silas Osborn, William Cloyd, J. C. Hinsey, P. Knox, L. A. Myers, H. Reinhard, G. W. Dresser, W. C. McIntire, J. Y. Simpson.
1864-S. Packwood, P. M. Warder, J. M. Hedrick, S. A. Monroe, G. Temple, L. A. Myers, William Cloyd, J. Y. Simpson, C. S. Carwile, H. Reinhard, S. Osborn, A. H. Butin, G. Neville, M. Welch.
1865-James M. Hull, George Neville, Henry Reinhard, E. C. Myers, D. R. Swope, P. M. Warder, L. A. Myers, J. W. Hedrick, Silas Osborn, S. A. Monroe, William Cloyd, W. H. Dunlap, J. R. Kerfoot, George F. Myers.
1866-George Temple, Silas Osborn, J. W. Hedrick, Joseph Myers, Isaac W. Stanley, N. Williams, John H. Carver, E. T. Neville, Charles Barbour, M. S. Godley, George F. Myers, S. A. Monroe, Henry Reinhard, William Cloyd.
1867-J. W. Hedrick, George Temple, J. H. Carver, William Cloyd, Charles Barbour, John Harlan, William Evans, M. S. Godley, John Wilcox, Edward Neville, Joseph Myers, S. A. Monroe, Henry Reinhard, A. H. Butin.
405
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
1868-J. W. Hedrick, J. D. Ladd, A. Lotspeich, J. H. Carver, E. L. Randel, C. Barbour, H. Reinhard, John Molmuby. E. T. Neville, M. C. Israel, William Cloyd, A. H. Butin, William Evans, R. W. Boyd, John Harlan.
1869-A. Lotspeich, William Cloyd, Charles Barbour, John Farlan, H. Reinhard, John Molmuby, John Carver, E. L. Randel, R. Hyatt, James D. Lance, R. W. Boyd, W. H. Kitterman, William Evans, E. T. Neville, M. C. Israel.
1870-0. D. Tesdale, William Cloyd, W. C. Reynolds, R. Hyatt, G. A. Derley, G. W. Dickens, R. W. Boyd, W. H. Kitterman, William Evans, S. A. Monroe, E. T. Neville, John Harlan, T. Slutz, T. Poster.
1871-System changed to Board of three members-H. Canfield, H. Rein- hard, T. J. Nelson.
1872-H. Canfield, H. Reinhard, T. J. Nelson.
1873-H. Reinhard, D. H. Michael, T. J. Nelson.
1874-S. Mccullough, D. H. Michael, T. J. Nelson.
1875-D. H. Michael, S. Mccullough, S. M. Wright.
1876-S. Mccullough, S. M. Wright, D. H. Michael.
1877-S. M. Wright, D. H. Michael, John Postlewaite.
1878-John Postlewaite, G. W. Fair, D. L. Hardy.
Sheriff .- 1847, Joseph Hayne; 1849, Duane F. Gaylord ; 1853, D. H. Michael ; 1855, William H. Williams ; 1857, William Lewis, Jr .; 1859, L. E. Gray. A. M. Bonnifield served during a portion of the last term for which Mr. Gray was elected, owing to Mr. Gray's resignation. 1865, George A. Derby ; 1867, Thomas Bedwell; 1869, Samuel A. Swiggett; 1873, T. P. Spillman ; 1877, D. W. Stewart.
Treasurer and Collector .- 1844, Thomas Foster ; 1845, Charles Overman ; 1846, William G. Ross; 1847, J. Leighton; 1851, James Pumroy ; 1855, Peter Knox ; 1857, William J. Ross ; 1862, Joseph Hayne; 1867, William J. Ross ; 1869, Alfred Lotspeich; 1873, William H. H. Asbury ; 1877, W. I. Poag.
Recorder .- 1844, M. J. Spurlock ; 1845, Charles Overman ; 1846, Will- iam G. Ross; 1847, Joseph Leighton ; 1851, James Pumroy ; 1855, Peter Knox ; 1857, William J. Ross ; 1862, Joseph Hayne; 1866, Daniel W. Tower; 1872, Wade Kirkpatrick.
Until 1866, this office was connected with that of Treasurer and Collector.
Judye of Probate .- 1844, Paul C. Jeffries; 1846, G. B. Savery (this Judge could have held office but a short time, for in 1846, we find that James Weir was also Judge); 1848, James Baker ; 1849, D. M. C. Lane; 1850, George May. After 1851, this office was known as a part of the County Judge system, a plan which obtained after the abolishment of the business office of County Judge in 1861, and until the establishment of the Circuit Court, in 1869, when the Probate business passed under the jurisdiction of the Circuit Judge. After Silas Osborn and Joseph H. Flint, in 1865, came James S. Porter, until 1869.
Auditor .- 1869, office created, George D. Hackworth ; 1873, William H. Caldwell ; 1875, M. B. Myers.
Prosecuting Attorney .- 1846, H. B. Hendershott; 1848, William H. Brumfield; 1852, James Baker; 1854, Thomas Bigham. In 1858, the office was changed to District Prosecutor. The above list is complete as far as it goes, but we may have omitted one or two names. No records can be found to aid us.
Clerk of the District Court .- 1844, H. B. Hendershott ; 1846, John W. Ross ; 1848, Thomas G. Given; 1852, Joseph Hayne; 1856, Joseph Camp-
406
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
bell; 1858, Joseph Hayne ; 1860, Hugh Brown; 1864, L. M. Godley ; 1878, W. C. Thompson.
Surveyor .- 1844, William Dewey ; 1849, George D. Hackworth ; 1851, Joel B. Myers ; 1853, Thomas Fowler; 1855, Walter Clement; 1859, Thomas Fowler; 1861, W. M. Clark ; 1865, John Grant; 1868, George D. Hack- worth ; 1870, John D. Baker; 1872, L. D. McGlashon.
Coroner .- 1849, A. George ; 1851, Alexander Brown; 1853, -- Griggs ; 1855, William E. Goe; 1859, C. G. Packard; 1861, J. G. Porter ; 1865, A. L. Chamberlain ; 1869, J. C. Hinsey ; 1873, E. L. Lathrop; 1877, A. C. Olney.
Superintendent of Schools .- 1859, George D. Hackworth ; 1865, B. A. Spaulding ; 1867, S. L. Burnham ; 1869, Henry C. Cox; 1871, N. M. Ives ; 1873, Clay Wood ; 1877, W. A. McIntire.
LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION.
In October, 1844, the first Constitutional Convention met at Iowa City. Wapello County was represented by William H. Galbraith and William W. Chapman. The Territorial Legislature, Seventh Assembly, met at the same place in May, 1845. William G. Coop represented Jefferson, Wapello and Kishkekosh Counties in the Senate, and Reuben R. Harper in the House. The Eighth Assembly met in December, 1845. Mr. Coop was then Senator, and Joseph Fink Representative. The second Constitutional Convention met May 4, 1846. Wapello was represented by Joseph H. Hedrick.
The State of Iowa was organized in 1846. The first State Assembly met at Iowa City, November 30. Since that time the county of Wapello has been represented as follows :
Senate-Wapello and Monroe Counties-1846, James Davis; 1848, Barney Royston ; 1850, Wapello, Monroe and Lucas-Henry B. Hendershott; 1852, Wapello, John W. Hedrick ; Wapello, Monroe, Lucas and Clarke, Henry B. Hendershott; 1854, Wapello, James C. Ramsey ; Wapello, Monroe, Lucas and Clarke, Daniel Anderson ; 1856, Wapello, James C. Ramsey ; 1858-60, John A. Johnson ; 1862-64, J. W. Dixon; 1866, Edward H. Stiles; 1868-70, Augustus H. Hamilton ; 1872-74-76, J. H. Merrill; 1878, G. A. Madson.
House-1846, Wapello, A. B. Comstock; 1848, Joseph H. Flint; 1850, Jo- seph H. Flint and Andrew Major; 1852, Wapello, Robert Coles, James C. Ram- sey ; Wapello, Monroe, Lucas and Clarke, Henry Allen ; 1854, Wapello, Samuel K. Cramer, Nimrod Poston ; Wapello and Keokuk, Cyrus Franklin ; 1856, Wapello, Cyrus Franklin, S. G. Finney ; Wapello and Keokuk, M. F. Bottorf; 1858, Will- iam Campbell, William McCormick ; 1860, J. C. Mitchell, James Doggett; 1862, Joseph H. Flint, T. D. McClothlen ; 1864, Peter Knox, Edward H. Stiles ; 1866, Peter Knox, Charles Dudley ; 1868, Samuel T. Caldwell, Charles Dud- ley ; 1870, Charles Dudley, John H. Carver ; 1872, John H. Carver, Samuel T. Caldwell; 1874, J. W. Dixon, Jacob Liberall; 1876, J. W. Dixon, G. A. Madson ; 1878, W. A. Fast, J. A. Israel.
The third Constitutional Convention met at Iowa City January 19, 1857. Wapello was represented by George Gillaspy.
The Judicial Districts .- Under the State Constitution of 1846, the Third District was composed of the counties of Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion, Monroc, Van Buren and Wapello, "and the countics west of the counties of Marion, Monroe and Appanoose," or the unorganized terri- tory to the Missouri River. In 1849, the new Fifth District took the counties of Appanoose, Marion and Monroe, and western territory. Mahaska County
407
HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY.
was detached December 19, 1856, and attached to Eleventh District. In 1858, when abolished, this District comprised Davis, Jefferson, Van Buren and Wapello Counties. The original Third was created February 17, 1847. The Judges were :
Cyrus Olney, Jefferson County ; elected April 2, 1847; commissioned December 7; resigned March 15, 1851. Judge Olney was subsequently on the Supreme Bench of California.
Joseph C. Knapp, Van Buren County ; appointed by the Governor, March 15, 1851.
William H. Seevers, Mahaska County ; elected April 5, 1852; qualified May 7; resigned and successor appointed January 10. 1856. Now one of the Supreme Judges of this State.
Caleb Baldwin, Jefferson County ; appointed January 10, 1856. Subse- quently one of the Supreme Judges of this State.
Henry B. Hendershott, Wapello County ; elected April 7, 1856 ; qualified May 14; legislated out of office when the District was abolished, in March, 1858, act taking effect July 4, 1858, under Constitution of 1857.
The present division is known as the Second District, and is composed of the counties of Appanoose, Davis, Lucas, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello and Wayne. The Judges have been :
John S. Townsend, Monroe County ; elected October 12, 1858.
Henry H. Trimble, Davis County ; elected October 14, 1862.
Harvey Tannehill, Appanoose County ; elected October 9, 1866.
Morris J. Williams, Wapello County ; elected October, 1870.
J. C. Knapp, Van Buren County ; elected October, 1874.
E. L. Burton, Wapello County ; elected October, 1878.
The District Attorneys have been :
Amos Harris, Appanoose County ; elected October 12, 1858; re-elected October 14, 1862.
James B. Weaver, Davis County ; elected October 9, 1866.
M. H. Jones, Davis County ; elected October, 1870.
T. M. Fee, Appanoose County ; elected October, 1874.
R. B. Townsend, Monroe County ; elected October, 1878.
In 1869, the business of the Court was so great that a new Court was cre- ated, called the Circuit Court. The District is composed in this case, of the same territory as the District Court. Judge Robert Sloan, of Keosauqua, Van Buren County, has filled the Bench since the organization of the circuit.
MATERIAL GROWTH AND PROSPERITY.
In a State which might be made the granary of the nation, and which has the capacity of producing breadstuffs sufficient to feed the people of the United States, if a system of cultivation equivalent to that of many of the countries of Europe were to be inaugurated, one unconsciously falls into the habit of accepting marvels in the form of development with a sang froid which none but Americans can exhibit. An invention which is destined to revolutionize methods and expand capabilities in almost an infinite degree, produce a momen- tary ripple on the surface of society, and then is accepted with a practical esti- mate of its applicability to the machinery already employed.
In no quarter of the inhabited globe is this spirit of progressiveness more manifest than here in Iowa. We are willing to go even further than that, and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.