USA > Iowa > Warren County > The history of Warren County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a biographical directory of its citizens, war record of its volunteers in the late rebellion, general and local statistics &c > Part 42
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The annexed market reports will prove interesting by comparison. The reader will be struck by noticing the differences in prices at these varions periods, and also the similarity in many articles. These reports are taken from the Republican, and its successors, the Visitor and the Herald. It will be seen that there is an interval of twelve years between each quotation:
DECEMBER, 1855.
MARCH, 1867.
OCTOBER, 1879.
Flour, per cwt.
$4.00@4.50
$5.50@6.00
$1.50@2.75
Wheat, spring, per bush.
1.00@1.05
¥ fall,
1.25@1.35
75@ 86
Corn, ber bush.
20@
25
25@ 30
18@ 25
*Meal per bush
40
50
60
Butter, per Ib
25
20@ 25
10@ 122
Bacon, per Ib
9@ 10
Beef, per İb .
4@ 8
Pork, pickled, per Ib
9
Lard, per Ib.
8
1
* $1.00 per hundred weight in 1879.
7
330
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
DECEMBER, 1855. MARCH, 1867. OCTOBER, 1879.
Tallow, per I6.
$ 15
$
$
candles, per İb
25
Potatoes, per bush
25
60@ 80
50
Beans, K
1.00
1.50@2.00
Dried Apples, per bush
2.40
Dried Peaches, per bush.
3.50
Green Apples, per bush
1.50
2.50
50@ 90
Onions, per bush
75
45
Cheese, per Ib
12
Beeswax, per Ib
25
Codfish, per Ib
12
Dry Hides, per Ib
6
Green Hides, per Ib
33
Chickens, per doz
1.25
1.75@2.00
Eggs, per doz.
20
15
6@8
Star Candles, per Ib.
35
Molasses, per gal
75@1.00
Syrup, per gal
1.20
Sugar, brown, per fb
12@ 15
66 refined,
15@ 20
66 crushed, «
15@ 20
Lumber, per hundred
1.75@3.00
Wood, per cord. .
2.00@2.50
4.00@4.50
2.50@3.00
Brick, at kiln, $5.00 delivered
6.00@7.00
Oats. .
25
18@ 20
Buckwheat flour, per cwt.
6.00
Sorghum, per gal.
65@ 75
Dressed Hogs, per cwt
6.00@6.75
Coal, per bush.
15@ 20
8@ 10
The total equalized value of property in the county in 1865 was $2,866,- 418, against $5,174,986 in 1875, showing an increase in ten years of $2,- 308,468, or more than 80 per cent.
Thus, from the very first, the history of the county shows a steady career of thriving, prosperous growth. The following table of important events shows the general landmarks of the county's growth and history to the present time:
TABLE OF EVENTS.
First settler, John D. Parmelee, June, 1843.
First white male child born, Geo. S. Parmelee, November 17, 1843. First saw-mill built, begun June, 1843, completed Marchi, 1844.
County laid out, 1846.
First grist-mill completed, 1846.
First marriage, Col. P. P. Henderson and Miss Martha Haworth, Dec. 16, 1847.
First land entered, John D. Parmelee, Palmyra township, August 1, 1848.
County formally organization completed January, 1849.
Indianola located June, 1849.
First term of court, September, 1849.
331
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Hard winter, 1849.
First land transfer, 1849. First frame house built, 1850.
Old court-house built, 1850. Old jail built, 1850.
Big flood, 1851. First newspaper published, 1855.
Agricultural society organized, 1856.
Gold excitement, 1858. New court-house completed, 1868.
First railroad train in Indianola, October, 1870.
This brief table represents a large amount of history, and will be very instructive to those who may "ponder it fittingly."
Speaking generally, the growth of the county has been steady and con- tinuous, although there have been, of course, times of ebb and flow. The first period of the county's growth was one of much hardship and priva- tion. The California emigration, however, brought golden days to the county, and prosperity continned in high tide nntil the panic a few years before the war. These were evil days for Warren county, and there was very general discontent; and many business men in Indianola were ruined. A slow recovery followed and introduced the war period. From the close of the war up to the panic of 1873, Warren was again in a prosperous condition. The county did not suffer in this directly so much as indirectly in the general derangement of the business of the country. But the ex- perience was much the same as that in the former period of high times. Property depreciated and became unsalable, and general discontent and uneasiness spread among the people. There has been nothing peculiar to Warren county in this experience-it has been that of the country in general. At the present time the county is fairly started again on a career of prosperity.
So in Warren county good times have followed close upon evil times, and vice versa all through the period of its growth. It would seem that old sage's thought would be a good thing to keep ever in mind, both in prosperity and distress: "Even this shall pass away." Such a lesson is taught by the experience of the county, from the organization to the present time.
ORGANIZATION.
It was not long after the first settlement of Warren county before the necessity of county organization in the interest of good government and the proper management of local affairs was fully appreciated and voted upon. Indeed, steps were taken toward organization at the time of the appearance of the very first settlers, although not carried out for several years after.
With regard to the origin of dividing individual States into county and township organizations, which, in an important measure, should have the power and opportunity of transacting their own business and governing themselves, under the approval of, and subject to, the State and general government of which they each formed a part, we quote from Elijah M. Haines, who is considered good authority on the subject.
332
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
In his "Laws of Illinois, Relative to Township Organizations," he says the county system "originated with Virginia, whose early settlers soon became large-landed proprietors, aristocratic in feeling, living apart in almost baronial magnificence on their own estates, and owning the laboring part of the population. Thus the materials for a town were not at hand, the voters being thinly distributed over a great area.
"The county organization, where a few influential men managed the whole business of the community, retaining their places almost at their pleasure, scarcely responsible at all, except in name, and permitted to con- duct the county concerns as their ideas or wishes miglit direct, was more- over consonant with their recollections or traditions of the judicial and social dignities of the landed aristocracy of England, in descent from whom the Virginia gentlemen felt so much pride. In 1834 eight connties were organized in Virginia, and the system, extending throughout the State, spread into all the Southern States, and some of the Northern States; unless we except the nearly similar division into 'districts' in South Carolina, and that into 'parishes' in Louisiana, from the French laws.
" Illinois, which, with its vast additional territory, became a county of Virginia, on its conquest by Gen. George Rogers Clark, retained the county organization, which was formally extended over the State by the constitution of 1818, and continned in exclusive use until the constitution of 1848.
"Under this system, as in other States adopting it, most local business was transacted by those commissioners in each county, who constituted a county court, with quarterly sessions.
" During the period ending with the constitution of 1847, a large portion of the State had become filled up with a population of New England birth or character, daily growing more and more compact and dissatisfied with the comparatively arbitrary and inefficient county system. It was main- tained by the people that the heavily populated districts would always control the election of the commissioners to the disadvantage of the more thinly populated sections-in short that under that system, 'equal and exact justice' to all parts of the county could not be secured.
"The township system had its origin in Massachusetts, and dates back to 1635.
"The first legal enactment concerning this system, provided that, whereas, 'particular towns have many things which concern only themselves, and the ordering of their own affairs, and disposing of business in their own town,' therefore, ' the freemen of every town, or the majority part of thein, shall only have power to dispose of their own lands and woods, with all the appurtenances of said town, to grant lots, and to make such orders as. may concern the well-ordering of their own towns, not repugnant to the laws and orders established by the General Court.'
"They might also (says Mr. Haines) impose fines of not more than twenty shillings, and 'choose their own particular officers, as constables, surveyors for the highways, and the like.'
"Evidently this enactinent relieved the general court of a mass of mu- nicipal details, without any danger to the power of that body in controlling general measures or public policy.
"Probably also a demand from the freemen of the towns was felt for the control of their own home concerns.
"The New England colonies were first governed by a ' general court,' or
333
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
legislature, composed of a governor and a small council, which court con- sisted of the most influential inhabitants, and possessed and exercised both legislative and judicial powers, which were limited only by the wisdom of the holders.
"They made laws, ordered their execution by officers, tried and decided civil and criminal causes, enacted all manner of municipal regulations, and, in fact, did all the public business of the colony.
"Similar provisions for the incorporation of towns were made in the first constitution of Connecticut, adopted in 1639; and the plan of town- ship organization, as experience proved its remarkable economy, efficiency and adaptation to the requirements of a free and intelligent people, became universal throughout New England, and went westward with the emigrants from New England into New York, Ohio, and other Western States."
Thus we find that the valnable system of county, township and town organizations had been thoroughly tried and proven long before there was need of adopting it in Iowa, or any of the broad region west of the Missis- sippi river. But as the new country soon began to be opened, and as eastern people continued to move westward across the mighty river, and form thick settlements along its western shore, the Territory and State and county and township and town organizations soon followed in quick suc- cession, and those different systems became more or less modified and im- proved, accordingly as deemed necessary by the experience and judgment and demands of the people, until they have arrived at the present stage of advancement and efficiency.
In the settlement of the Territory of Iowa the legislature began by or- ganizing counties on the Mississippi. As each new county was formed it was made to include, under legal jurisdiction, all the country bordering west of it, and required to grant to the occidental settlers electoral priv- ileges and an equal share in the county government with those who prop- erly lived in the geographical limit of the county. The counties first or- ganized along the eastern border of this State were given, for a short time, jurisdiction over the lands and settlements adjoining each on the west, until these different localities became sufficiently settled to support organizations of their own; and finally, at the first session of the legislature, after the Indians sold ont, the newly acquired territory, including all Northwestern Iowa, was laid off into counties, provisions were made for their respective organizations when the proper time should arrive, and these were severally named.
Section 3, of chapter 82, of the Iowa Legislature-the last under the Territory-approved Jannary 13, 1846, reads as follows:
SECTION 3. That the following shall be the boundaries of a new county, which shall be called Warren, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of Marion county; thence west along the line dividing townships 77 and 78, to the northwest corner of township 77, north of range 25 west; thence south to the southwest corner of township 71, north of range 25 west; thence east to the southwest corner of Marion county; thence north to the place of beginning.
By a supplemental act approved on the 17th of January, 1846, the north tier of townships was detached from Warren county and attached to Polk.
The same act also provides for the incorporation of eleven other counties.
Paris P. Henderson was appointed organizing sheriff. His appointment, instead of being made by the legislature, as in many other counties, was
.
334
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
.
made by Judge Olney, who held court in Marion county, to which this county was attached as a voting precinct. Judge Olney was one of the finest lawyers in the western country in that early day, and trained many of the men who have since been leaders at the bar and on the bench in this State. He left this section soon after the admission of Iowa into the Union as a State, and emigrated to Oregon, where he was appointed to a position on the Federal bench. He will always be borne in mind by the early settlers as one of the best men with whom they came in contact in the formation of this new civilization.
The work of organization devolved upon Col. Henderson, He must deliver the poll-books and perform all other labor necessary to be done in organizing a new county. If the reader will' carry himself back in imagi- nation to this time and consider the condition of the county when these gentlemen began their work he will have no difficulty in realizing that the work of organizing a frontier county was no easy task. This work was done in December, 1848. No local map of the county had ever been made. Roads were a thing of the future. The fords of the rivers had hardly yet been discovered, and the homes of settlers were only to be found by the sagacity of the traveler who, taking the sun as a guide, would set out on a ride of from fifteen to thirty miles over a trackless prairie and through un- marked forests to a squatter's cabin.
The county was divided into two election precincts, Union, comprising all the county east of Indianola, and Highland, that portion west.
The organization was completed by the election of officers as follows:
Commissioners -- Daniel Barker, Samuel Haworth and Alex. Ginder. District Clerk-H. A. Lambert. Commissioners' Clerk-Jonathan Dillon. Recorder-William Ginder. Sheriff-P. P. Henderson. Judge of Pro- bate-D. A. Fraley. Surveyor-Henry Hays. Sealer of Weights and Measures- Joseph Hockett. Constables-Franklin Benge and Peter Con- ner. Justices of the Peace-Thomas Hazleton and William Simmons.
This election, it is hardly necessary to say, had nothing of the nature of a political contest. The object was simply to organize the county, and political differences had not yet appeared in the county. But very soon there came a change.
The citizens were then generally quiet, industrious, and peaceable with one another. Occasional differences and disputes arose, which, in the main, were soon overlooked, or forgotten on account of their necessary and mutual dependence for aid and convenience, as well as for common defense in their pioneer homes.
Dissensions and enmities, however, began to creep in gradually, as the settlement progressed, and continued to increase in working mischief very much in proportion as the settlement became more independently situated and more exclusive in their devotion to self-interest and advancement.
This unwelcome spirit of dissension began to manifest itself to the pub- lic most clearly, perhaps, about the time the proclamation of the organizing sheriff announced the organization of the county, which would create numerous offices to be filled from the ranks of first voters.
These offices, during the first term, of course, presented no great induce- ment for being very eagerly sought after so far as salary was concerned; but then they afforded positions of influence and preference, and they might, in the near future, prove very convenient stepping-stones to inore
335
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Incrative and influential positions; beside, it was no mean thing to be elected to fill the first offices created in the new county. In this regard they afforded considerable inducement for being sought after by those who were at all inclined toward official distinction, and they called forth numer- ous aspirants.
At that time as well as now, doubtless, there was a good per cent of worthy, influential citizens who, so far as their own desires for official posi- tion were concerned, were entirely disinterested in the political canvass. These persons sought no such positions for themselves, and would not accept one if offered. Public applause and criticism were not at all coveted by them. Nevertheless they were as deeply interested in the welfare of the county as any other citizens, and had a decided preference for those who should receive their votes. They desired to entrust the county government to efficient, trustworthy men, who were willing to assume the responsibility, and capable of conducting it in an efficient and acceptable manner; while they themselves were content to engage in some other department of the connty's progress, more congenial to their tastes and dispositions. On the other hand, there were always enough of those who would accept these official positions-more or less reluctantly or cheerfully-if duly elected, or urged a little to fill them; so that it was soon found the various offices were not sufficient to give each of the aspirants a position. Evidently some of these must gain the honored distinction, while others must be left out, part of whom, doubtless, would be disappointed not a little over their defeat.
Who, then, of these various aspirants, were the best qualified to fill these several positions? Who had the most deserved claim on the public support? Who were the shrewdest political tricksters and wire-pullers? Who, of all the number, conld wield the most extended and effective influence, either by honorable or, it may be, by unfair means in securing the majority vote. These, and many other questions of similar character, would quite naturally arise, even in the minds of early settlers, as the memorable first election day drew near, when they must each receive a decisive answer at the ballot- box.
Below we give the official vote, as shown by the original poll-books, at this first or organizing election :
HIGHLAND PRECINCT.
Pool-book of an election held at the house of D. A. Felter, in Highland precinct, Warren county, on the first Monday, the first (day) of January, A. D. 1849, William Simmons, W. W. Hurst and Lewis Johnson, judges, and Daniel Barker and D. A. Felter were severally sworn, as the law directs, previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices.
Names of voters .- Ulysses Berger, William G. Ball, Thomas J. Hill, William D. Conner, William W. Hurst, Daniel Barker, D. A. Felter, Wm. Simmons and Lewis Johnson.
Tally sheet of votes cast for county officers at an election held at the house of D. A. Felter, Highland precinct, Warren county, on the first Monday, the first day of January, A. D. 1849: .
336
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Sheriff
P. P. Henderson 9
District Clerk :
County Surveyor :
H. A. Lambert 3
Henry Hays. . 5
W. G. Ball. . 5
Lewis Johnson, . 4
County Commissioners :
Justice of the Peace : William Simmons 4
D. Barker.
8
A. Ginder. 8
Thomas J. Hill 2
William D. Conner 3 S. Haworth.
Commissioners' Clerk:
Constables :
H. Jordon .. 8
Peter Conner.
6
Judge of Probate:
Wm. Hurst. 4
Wm. G. Ball 1
Wm. D. Conner
3
Ulysses Berger.
6
For the office of coroner and sealer of weights and measures there were no candidates voted for in this election precinct.
Added to this is the certificate of the result and the oaths of the judges and clerks of election.
UNION PRECINCT.
Poll-book of an election held at the school-honse in Union precinct, Warren county, on the first Monday, the first day of January, A. D. 1849, J. M. Haworth, Milton Haworth and William Dillon, judges, and Jonathan Dillon and Harrison Jordon, clerks, were severally sworn as the law directs, previous to their entering on the duties of their respective offices.
Names of voters .- Jacob Ginder, Samuel Haworth, William Ginder, Thomas Hazelton, Dillon Haworth, Daniel A. Fraley, Alexander Ginder, David Lair, Thomas Blackford, Given Williams, Robert M. Hightower, A. B. Taylor, Levi Hollingsworth, Harrison Jordon, Thomas Feagins, Franklin Benge, Havila Hockett, Allen Brooks, Isaac Mardock, Milton Haworth, Jeremiah Haworth, Jonathan Dillon, William Dillon, Paris P. Henderson, George Haworth, Harmon Haworth, William Burnet and Strafford Hurst.
Tally sheet of the votes cast for county officers at the election held at the school-house in Union precinct, Warren county, on the first Monday, the first day of Jannary, A. D. 1849:
Sheriff: Paris P. Henderson. 26
Daniel A. Fraley.
1
County Commissioners : Samuel Haworth .. 24
Alexander Ginder. 28 Daniel Barker 25 John Adamson. 5 District Clerk:
County Surveyor : Henry Hays. 17
William Dillon .. 7
Sealer of Weights and Measures: Joseph Hockett 13
Milton Haworth. 3
Justice of the Peace:
Thomas Hazleton 20
Solomon Moffitt. 8
Jonathan Dillon 17
Constables :
Harrison Jordon 8
Franklin Benge 20
Judge of Probate : Thomas Feagins 1
Alfred Clark. 1 Coroner : David Lair 18 D. A. Fraley. 11 Recorder : William Ginder 24
Recorder : D. A. Felter. 8
Then follows as before the official declaration of the result and the oaths of the judges and clerks of election.
337
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
THE FIRST TOWNSHIPS.
At first only two townships were organized. This was before the organi- zation of the county, and among the matters which the board took cogni- zance of first was this matter.
At their meeting on the 10th of February, 1849, they make the following order:
Commissioners of Warren county. Iowa, met, agreeable to an appointment, on the 10th day of February, 1849. for the purpose of dividing the county of Warren into commissioners' districts; and also to divide into election precincts. Township seventy-six (76), of ranges. 22 and 23, shall form the first district; townships 74 and 75, ranges 22 and 23, shall form the second district; townships 74, 75 and 76, of ranges 24 and 25, shall form the third district.
The first district shall form the precinct of Union; the second district shall form the pre- cinct of Otter; the third district shall form the precinct of Highland. The place of holding the election in Union precinct shall be at the Union school-house; the place of holding the election in Otter shall be at the honse of D. A. Fraley; and the place of holding (the elec- tion) in Highland precinct shall be at the house of D. A. Filter.
JONATHAN DILLON, ALEX. GINDER, ¿ County Com'rs War-
Clerk of Board. SAMUEL HAWORTH, S ren Co., Iowa.
At the session of July 1, 1850, commissioners say:
We have.considered that it would be necessary to alter the election precincts and estab- lish some new precincts in said county of Warren.
They establish a township by the name of Union to be bounded as fol- lows, to-wit: The entire township of 76, north, range 22, west, and two miles off the township, south, is attached to this township, and the place of holding elections in said township shall be at Mr. Sandy's.
They establish a township by the name of Washington, bounded as follows, to-wit: Commencing at the northeast corner of township 76, range 24, west; thence west to the sonth west corner of section 4, township 76, range 24; thence south to the sonthwest corner of section 9, township 75, range 24; thence east to the southeast corner of section 12, in township 75, range 23; thence north to the place of beginning. The place of hold- ing elections in said township shall be at the town of Indianola.
They establish a township by the name of Jefferson, bounded as follows, to-wit: Commencing at the northwest corner of the township of Washi- ington; thence west to the northwest corner of the county of Warren; thence south to the southwest corner of section 7, in township 75, range 25, west; thence east to the southwest corner of Washington township; thence north to the place of beginning. And the place of holding election in said township shall be at the house of William G. Ball.
They establish a township by the name of Taylor, bounded as follows, to-wit: Commencing at the northeast corner of section 13, township 75, range 23, west; thence west to the southwest corner of Jefferson township; thence south to the southwest corner of township 74, range 25, west; thence east to the southeast corner of township 75, range 24; thence north to the place of beginning. The place of holding elections in said township shall be at the house of Michael Richerson in said township.
They establish a township by the name of Otter, to be bonuded as fol- lows: Commencing at the southeast corner of the township of Washing- ton; thence west to the northeast corner of Taylor township; thence south to the southeast corner of township 74, range 23; thence north to the place
338
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
of beginning. The place of holding elections in said township shall be at the house of Levi Hollingsworth, in said township.
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