USA > Minnesota > Jackson County > An illustrated history of Jackson County, Minnesota > Part 17
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Better times came, and a short time aft- er, the starvation period of 1866-19 was only a bitter memory. New settlers came in 186; and selected claims, some ventur- ing onto the prairie lands away from the river and lakes. Many hardships were en- dured by the new settlers during the late sixties-hardships which are incident to the settlement of any new country. Owing to the long distance from railroads, staple articles as well as luxuries ruled high in price. Following were the prices paid for some staple articles during the year- 1867- 68-69. as recorded in the diary of an early day settler :19
Four pounds brown sugar. $1.00.
One pound tea. $2.50. One gallon kero-ene, $1.20.
Flour, per cwt .. $11.00.
One gallon syrup. $1.60.
One paper corn starch. 10c.
One pound raisins, 400.
One clothes line, 75c.
One paper pins. 15c. One spool thread. 10c.
One package envelopes, 250.
One pound salaratus, 200.
One pound nails. 1212e.
One bar soap, 15e.
One pound rice, 20c.
Lamp chimney, 20e.
One pound salt. de. Calico, per yard. 330.
Beef. per pound. Je.
January 5. 1867. the county's first church was organized. It was officially named the Evangelical Lutheran Congre-
"M. S. Barney in Jackson County Pilot, 1895.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
gation in Jackson and it was located in Belmont township.
In October, 1861. the report of the county superintendent of schools shows us that there were eight organized districts in the county. The amount of money ap- portioned for school purposes was $156.49. Of this the permanent school fund provid- ed $102.81 and the county two mill tax gave $53.68.
The tax levied in 1867 was $884.86, di- vided as follows: State, $241.98 : county. $495.96 ; school, $99.21 ; township, $28.87 : special school. $12.84. Of the total tax levied. $543.86 had been collected at the date of settlement on April 11. 1868. On January 8, 1868, the board of county com- missioners examined the accounts of Jack- son county and found in the county treas- ury the sum of $30.83.
For the first time in its history Jackson county furnished jurors for the district court in 1867, the drawing being made April 1. Following are the names of the residents selected for this duty :
Grand-William V. King, Welch Ashley. II. S. Bailey. B. W. Ashley, Il. A. Williams, Sim- on Olson, IT. Hl. Ilaley. A. Miner, Joseph Thom- as, Edward Davies, J. C. Hoovel. C. W. Cor- nish. Erwin Hall. George W. Woodin. A. C. Marshall, C. H. Heth.
Petit-P. P. Haverberg.
Martin Bromaghim, Marcellus Clough, J. C. Young, H. I .. Thomas, L. E. Porter, Charles Tuttle, Ira Camfield. R. N. Woodward, A. E. Wood. H. R. Lyman, Nathaniel Hall. A. L. Blake, E. Henkley. J. J. Smith, Mitchel Bar-
ney, Miles Metealf, J. E. Palmer, Richard
Band, R. D. Lanud, L. Rneker, J. N. Woodin, H. L. Evans. C. W. Belknap, J. N. Thompson, J. E. Fields, James Williams, Emett Miner, Wesley Adamson. J. Chandler, George Palmer. Jared Palmer, Henry Ashley.
.
The statistical return of products for 1867 is an interesting document. It is learned that nearly four hundred acres of land were under cultivation that year. Fol- lowing is the complete return as certified to by Anditor George C. Chamberlin :
TOWNSHIP
Acres Cultivated
Wheat
Buckwheat
Oats
Corn
Potatoes
Sorghum
Beans
M. Syrup
M. Sugar
Hay
Wool
Butter
Cheese
Miscl.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Aeres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Gals.
Acres
Bus.
Gals
Lbs.
Acres
Tons
Lbs.
Lbs.
Lbs.
Acres
Value
Belmont
104}
72,
1104
Des Moines.
218
103 1050
15
1
25 1150
73 1737
13
548
]
144
1/4
11
20
330
88
211
Minneota ..
15
5
10
Petersburg. ...
50
37
285
2
50
12
16
4
77
Total.
393₺
217 2445
1 )
1
38, 1735
112 2563
2512
1005
1
152
1,1
24
20
330
173
321
578
4019
980
3
$694
229
1450
11
535
17
495
614
161
3 $115
102
599
10
315
21/4
219
8
13
85
110
52
110
579
....
195 1860
980
Holsten
Olson,
125
CHAPTER X.
ERA OF DEVELOPMENT-1868-1872.
T HAT agriculture was not the principal industry during the late sixties is attested by the poor show- ing disclosed in the returns of products. During the era of which we are writing Hlouring mills and markets were long dis- tances away. It was not profitable to raise crops for which there was no market, so each settler raised vegetables and grain for his own use only, and as a means of in- come turned his energies in another direc- iion.
The country was literally alive with small fur-bearing animals, including mus- rats, skunks, mink, foxes, martens and badgers, and the taking of their furs offer- od profitable employment. So the farmer settlers became trappers. Inexperienced at first in the art of trapping, they had no easy task. They were often caught in the blizzards miles from home, sometimes be- ing on the prairie during a storm of sev- eral days' duration. where nothing but courage and physical strength could save them. But in time all became expert trap- pers. Generally the market for fur was good, and the pelts passed as legal tender. Thousands of dollars worth would be tak- en during the season.1
1On the 14th day of May, 1870, there were shipped from Jackson to Mankato 68,000 musk- rat and mink hides. The shipment was made by a man named Barkman, of Spirit Lake.
The value of all taxable property in the county in 1868 was $52,293, divided among the four organized townships as follows: Belmont, $9.132: Des Moines. $34.408; Minneota. $7,876: Petersburg. $5,891. The taxes levied that year amount- ed to $1,781.21, divided among the ditfer- ent funds as follows: State, $279.88; school, $111.96; county, $572.91; town- ship. $194.21 : special school, $617.25.
A healthy increase is noted in the agri- cultural products for 1868, which were as shown on the following page.2
Jackson county made rapid strides for- ward in 1869. There was a large inerease in population, many of the new settlers penetrating to theretofore unsettled por- tions of the county. It became known that the country would produce bountiful crops of wheat, and the prairies became dotted with the sod shanties and dugouts of the new settlers. The increase in the cultivated area was large, 2,549 aeres be- ing listed as sown to crop. The organized townships had cultivated areas as follows : Belmont, 332 : Des Moines, 1.200: Minne- ota, 121: Middletown, 342: Petersburg. 244: Wisconsin, 355. The taxable proper- ty in 1869 was valued at over $73,000.
The western part of township 102,
"Although Middletown and Wisconsin town- ships had not yet been fully organized their re- ports are included in the return.
127
128
TOWNSHIPS
Acres Cultivated
Wheat
Oats
Corn
Barley
Potatoes
Sorghum
Beans
M. Syrup
M. Sugar
Hay
Wool
Bulter
Cheese
Misel.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Bus.
Acres
Gals.
Acres
Bus.
Gals.
Lbs.
Acres
Tons
I.bs.
I.b.
Acres
Value
Belmont
218
156
265€
2.1
956
24
775
115
45
00
591
31
3463
7
499
211
42
10
415
666: 1243
355
9900
1750 31
148
Des Moines.
726
393}
401
3
200
23
275
12
664
1
4
1/2
Middletown
8-1
...
489
63
130
30
860
6 4
415
314
334
2
22
1
83
210
15
1.150
4-10
Petersburg
83
51
8.5
11
391
25
600
4 3
415
1,4
50
1
1
146
227
24
660
1
35
Wisconsin
252} 1074
2106
27
1021
41
870
2
3 1034
699
3
212
14
2
14'
450
214
494
1790
570
Total.
1412 8144 12,229 1651, 6020 2923 7370
5! 2
159 7213
6247
1412
1136
542
72
25
865 1259
2528 1013 22.620 2320 3734 $745
1
HISTORY OF JJACKSON COUNTY.
Middletown township was also organiz- ed in 1869, the commissioners taking the necessary action on May 10. This polit- · ical division had originally been attach- ed to Petersburg township, but when Min-
man (10), I-aac N. Hubbard (14). John M. Utter (2h: 1878. Sam F. Russell (6), James Isherwood (10), Joseph C. Davis (12).
Robert L. Hincliffe th. Myron Cutting (fi). Charles B. Tuttle (22), Elijah M. Lindsley (26). John W. Miller (30) : IST7. David Hard
Ridgway (14). Allen S. Brooks (20) : 1876.
(30). John K. Johnson (30): 1875, Francis ...
Harrison L. Thomas (30). Charles I. Sandon
Alex Galbraith (6). Amo- N. Tompkins (26).
Emerson P. Beers (20). William King (28). Alexander Hall (31) . John J. Smith (32). Knud M. Peterson (34): IS74. Hiram Simpson (6).
S. Lyman (29), Orrin Belknap (30-31): 1871. Rollin K. Craigne (2), Stillman E. Trask (18). Ransom N. Woodard (18). Marcellus Clough (18). Israel F. Eddy (20). Mitchell S. Barney (32) : 1872. Ellen M. Porter (33) : 1873. JJohn A. Myers (G). burins E. Marshall (6). John 6. Young (D). William S. Knowlton (S), John Isherwood (10). Andrew J. Borland (17). Rich. ard E. Bowden (20). Charles 1. Heath (21), William S. Curtis (21). Freeman T. Beers (24).
C. Hinkley (22), Irving B. Porter (29), Henry
1862. Jared Palmer (19) : 1865. Joseph Thom. as (19) .. D. Mortimer West (30-31) : IS66. Ahimaaz E. Wood (19-30). George Clmeriston (19), Bartholomew MeCarthy (19). Isaac Bol- knap (31) : 1867. George F. Cornish (17), Chris- tian Englebret-on (30): 1868, Richard Bond (20). Robert B. King (281, George 11. King (29) : 1870, Frederick R. Lyman (18). Edward
range 31. lying to the east of Des Moines township. received wany of the settlers of the sixties, the majority of them coming from the state of Wisconsin. This town- ship had been attached to Jackson, or Des Moines, township at the time of the or- ganization of the county, but in the spring of 1869 its residents believed their popula- tion had reached a point where they could support a separate organization. They. therefore, petitioned the county board. and on April 10 were granted a separate organization under the name of Wisconsin township. the name being given in honor of the state from which so many of the settlers had come. Those who received land patents from the government in Wis- consin township in the early days were as follows :
569
55-15
11 2 ـم
$ 30
6108 100# 3452 1493 3990
A
111
3
92
150
35.1
50
3275
.....
40
Minneota.
...
...
2
...
·
129
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
neota was organized in the fall of 1866 the west half had been bestowed upon that precinct while the east half remained under the jurisdiction of Petersburg. The commissioners named the township in ac- cordance with the expressed wish of the petitioners. The fact that the township was situated between the two older or- ganized townships suggested the name. The following were granted government patents to land in Middletown in the years indicated :
1866, Isaac Belknap (1); 1869, William B. Norman (2). William II. Ashley (3), Simon Jenson (10). Salmon Dickinson (19-30), Mar- tin B. Metcalf (30) : 1870, Ira Camfield (1), Orlando E. Bennett (S), John M. C. Patterson (12), William Miller (22), Walter Davies (26), John Brigham (34) ; 1871, Levi A. Camfield (1); 1872, Joseph B. Walling (4), Gilbert 01- son (10), Nathaniel B. Hall (12), George A. Bush (19), Ermead Bordwell (20); 1873, Lewis Parker (I), Edward P. Skinner (2), George G. Ashley (2), Rufus D. Larned (4), Thomas Goodwin (6), Isaac S. Barrett (8), Marion C. Dunbar (12), Jolmn Chandler (20), Andrew Muir (22), Oliver J. Russell (24), Sylvenus Allen (30), Thomas T. Brooks (32), William Allen (32) : 1874. William P. Lecocq (6), Robert Muir (22) ; 1875, William Henderson (4), James C. Henderson (4), Samuel Metealf (28). Horace Chandler (30) : 1876, Clark Lindsley (24), John Davies (26) ; 1877, Lydia Houghton (18), George Beimas (18), Joshua Kidney (28) ; 1880, Walter Withers (2), Robert W. Kidney (22).
The winter of 1869-70 was an excep- tionally severe one and "lingered in the lap of spring." The scattered settlers suffered many hardships during the long winter. Two Jackson county residents met death in the storms, and others had narrow escapes. The severest blizzards occurred during the month of March. Tuesday and Wednesday, the 15th and 16th of that month, were the stormiest days of the season. The roads became blockaded and impassable, many of the houses were drifted cver with the snow, the winds howled and the snow blew over the bleak prairies. All who could re- mained in doors ; the merchants of Jackson closed their shops. This storm was fol-
lowed on March 21 and 22 by another blizzard of frightful violence.
One of the victims of the storm was Ole Sime. He had a claim in Enterprise township, and on Monday, March 14, started from the timber along the river, where he had spent the winter, for a load of hay on his claim. He secured the hay and returned with it to a point in Des Moines township near the home of Clark Marshall. There he was overcome by the storm and perished. The oxen were found dead about forty rods from Mr. Sime's body. The body was found on the 11th by M. L. Bromaghim and Clark Marshall. Its condition gave evidence that the un- fortunate man had suffered terribly be- fore succumbing to the storm.
Another who lost his life that month was Archie Lee, who lived on Heron lake. lle started from Jackson with a load of timber on his way home on the 11th in an intoxicated condition. He arrived within a few miles of his home, and then all trace of him was lost. The day was stormy, but not exceptionally so. Hle is supposed to have abandoned his load and tried to reach home with his team, but in the storm and darkness wandered from his course and was lost. Ilis horses were found a few days later. but his body was not found until the 25th. Ilo had wan- dered way to the south, and his body was found lying on a snow drift twelve miles southwest of Jackson.
Eighteen hundred seventy was a ban- ner year. During the spring months many who had come the previous year and filed on claims and then gone away for the winter came back to take possession of their land, make improvements and begin farming. Many new settlers came to make Jackson county their future homes. Prairie schooners began to arrive early in the spring and continued to bring in the new settlers all summer. The new arriv-
130
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
als generally brought cattle, horses, sheep. West and John B. Johnson, constables. hogs and farming implements with them, Following is the list of those who carly received patent- to land in Heron Lake township: prepared lo at once begin the cultivation of the soil. A fair crop of wheat and other grain was raised. The weather was ideal for crops in the spring, but in July a drought reduced what had promised to be an enormous yield. Corn was an ex- relent crop, and wheat was quite up to the average.
The census of 1820 gave the county a population of 1,825, an increase of nearly 800 per cent in five years.3
Three new townships were organized during the year 1810-Heron Lake. Round Lake and Delatichl. Heron Lake township had received its first settlers in the spring of 1869,4 but so great was the settlement on its fertile lands that the question of detachment from Belmont and its organization as a separate town- ship was taken up in the spring of 1820. The matter was postponed until later in the year, and on September : the county commissioners officially declared the township organized. To it were attached for township purposes the two townships lying to the west. The name was supplied by the immense body of water which pene- trates the township." The organizatim of the township was perfected September 21. when the first town meeting was held at the home of D. F. Cleveland. Follow- ing were the first officers of Heron Lake township: F. Ebert. chairman : Abram Johnson and D. F. Cleveland. supervis- ors : W. IT. Ashley, clerk : William Wiley. treasurer : C. B. Rubert and Charles Mal- chow, justices of the peace: Newton F.
"The population of other countries of south- western Minnesota in 1870 was as follows: Blue Earth. 17.302; Faribault. 9,910; Watonwan, 2.426: Martin. 3.567: Cottonwond. 531: Murray. 209, Nolles, 117: Pipestone, 0; Rock, 13%.
'The first settlers were Charles Malchow, Fred Ebert and Albert Hohenstein, who located on lake Flaherty
SOIn June 21. 1571. the township was enlarged by the addition of that portion of West Heroy Lake township which lies rast of the lake, and it is the largest township in the county.
1572. Daniel F. Cleveland (30). David .1. ( beveland (30): 1>25. Michael Fisher (ti). VI- bert Hohenstein on. Fred Ebert Ist. Ole N. Larson (24): 1876. William Doll ( . Fred Bretzmann ID. Carl Stetler oh. John A. Vi-canti di. Carl Hohenstein 15%. Charles Malchow 151. Anders Kirkel 121, Christo pher B. Robert (32); ISH. William Rossow (4). John Hohenstein (0). John Leifson 14), .John Robson (S), JJohn Osen 220. Magina Johnson (28). Hans Peter-on 12s. Gjorgen folgeson (28). Edward E. Bergh (32) : 1978. Carl Bretzmann (h. Joseph Mangold (15. 014 P. Johnson 1249: 1850. Martin Q. Sandager 12%, Poder I. Brakke 2), John Hansen Ves. trud (20). Hans Hanson (20), Hans Christian son (20). Leif Leifson (22). Olai JJohnson (21), Mathias Il. Hoveland (54): 1951. Peter An- derson 021. Thomas Johnson (301. Carrie Tronson (30), Rasmu- Larson (32). Neil- En- pebretson (31): Jas2. Nils Jacobsen (11). Johanes It. Hoveland (31): 18-3. Ingvald En- erson (Hh. Christian Lowi- (10). Knudt Ofsan (12). Bernt 11. Hovel (22). Lars O]son Aas (2) : 1>84. Edwin N. Golpin 800: ISS5, Hana 1. Kund-on (22). Hans Gundersen (26), Trond D. Tronson (30): IS-6. Ole Simensen (h). Han- Hudmunson (2).
Round Lake township was another whose settlement was rapid and which early prepared itself for organization. J. N. Dodge was the first settler. locating on the north bank of Round Lake in the spring of 1869, when there was not an- other softly in the whole southwestern portion of the county. In the spring of the following year only three claims were taken in the township, but a few months later nearly every quarter wa- filed upon." The township was organized in October and named Round Lake, after the beauti- ful sheet of water within its boundaries. The following received patents to land from the government in Round Lake:
1873. Henry Hall (20): 1571, Charles Sock (8). William A. Anderson (h). William 1. Skinner (S): 1825. Elbridge G. Lord (22). Herbert W. Kimball (30: 1576. Jacob N.
"We understand that nearly all the vacant claims in range as, town 101 - the southwest corner township in this county- - have been lak- en. The citizens are alment petitioning for township organization and are also about bridg- Ing the Little Sioux " Jackson Republic, Oc- toher S. 1\70.
131
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Dodge (8). Iliram Barrett (8); 1877, William W. Bailey (4), Ole Halverson (12). Everett W Seoville (20). Judah Phillips (20), Lewis Ilenshaw (28). H. J. Phelps (30), William A. Mosher (30) : 1878, Thomas L. Twiford (10), Osmund T. Ilandelan (26). Joseph C. Carter (32). Ezra W. Hopkins (34) : 1879. Matthew Riley (2). Samuel Edwards (4) : Daniel W. Lounsbury (32) ; 1880, Hugh Riley (2), George Morgan (6). Andrew L. Skoog (6), Endre Ol- sen (12) ; 1881. Hans Hanson (24), Ole Aush- am (26); 1882, Thore Johnson (24) : 1885, Joseph Clark (20), Knud Olson (28). Samuel Fenstermaker (33): 1888, Eilert A. Louen (35).
When the county's first townships were organized, township 104. range 36, had been attached to Belmont, and it was un- der Belmont's jurisdiction until October 11. 1820, when the county commissioners organized it into a separate political divis- ion under the name of Pleasant Prairie. This name had soon to be changed be- cause it was learned that there was a township of the same name in Martin county, and law or custom forbade two townships in the state to bear the same name. Orwell was then decided upon as the name, but this had to be changed for the same reason. On January 4, 1871, the commissioners named the township Bergen, but soon it was learned that Me- Leod county had a copywright on that as the name of a township, and the name Delafield was finally designated on March 4, 1871. Fortunately. no previously or- ganized township in the state had thought of that name, and the township was at last permanently named. Titles to land in Delafield township were granted to early day settlers as follows :
1870, Henry S. Pomeroy (18) : 1871, Aaron G. Chatfield (10), Sylvester Chandler (12), Anton Michelson (18) ; 1872. Edward Savage (4), Hans Olsen (8); 1873, Abram B. Frisbie (4), Charles Mickels (22), Christian Nelson (28) : 1874, Willis W. Cotton (6), James W. Hayes (6). Charles Miller (22), Gertrude E. Orwelle (22), Christian Carlstrom (28), Ole Hanson (30), Hans Christianson (30) ; 1875, Isaac M. Moss (4), Orin Phelps (6), John Frederickson (8), Andrew Laird (12). John Olsen (20), Anders Larsen (24) ; 1876, John Baureson (2), Edward F. Fjelset (2), Olous Olson (2), James M. Moore (8), Svendt Vi-
bery (10), Ebenezer B. Millard (10), Hans O. Elstad (24), Lars B. Sathe (24), Joseph Aupperle (26). Norbert Kromer (26). August Lorenz (32), Stefan Rehinelt (32), Ignatz F. Bhumburg (32), John P. Brakke (32) ; 1877, Martin Hansen (12), Jens J. Johnson (12), Peter Christianson (12), Ole Nelson (12), (18). Gund Johnson (18), Michael A. Foss Gustaf Thornblom (20). Gabriel Olson (20), Lars Mattriassen (24), Erick Johnson (24), Knudt Saxwig (24), Annie E. Uekestad (24), Henry Riese (30). Wilhelm Schwartz (32), Ferdinand Hohenstein (32). Benjamin F. Semmans (32) ; 1878, Ingra Andres Dotter (10), Hans Johnson (12), Andrew Swenson (18). Andrew Anderson (18). Lars Anderson (20). John P. Esklund (20), Anders C. Quevli (22) ; 1879, Ernst W. Pietz (28). Jonathan W. Rost (34) ; 1880. Peder Olson (2). Ole Fred- erickson (8). Anders Olson (8). Hugh M. Clark (10), Ole J. Hofland (14), Andrew Lar- son (14), Andrew Johnson (14), Adonriram .T. Frost (26). August Lindstrom (28). Ole llansen Nestrud (30). Frederick Malchow (32) : 1881, Daniel Gallagher (6); 1882, Hans Olson (S), Maria Hammerstad (28): 1883, John Svendson (10). Lars Johnson (14), Sackariah Swanson (26), Charles Mickelson (28) : 1885. John J. Swesind (30); 1886, Lars Larson (14) ; 1888, Lars Throndson (14).
The following items from the report of the county superintendent of schools for the year 1870 give an idea of the school conditions at that early date :
Whole number of organized districts, 18. Number reporting, 14.
Whole number of persons between 5 and
21 years, 455 (233 males, 222 females). Pupils enrolled in winter schools. 74.
Average daily attendance winter schools. 39.2.
Number teachers winter schools. 2.
Pupils enrolled in summer schools, 210 (10] males. 109 females).
Average daily attendance summer schools. 105.
Number teachers summer schools, 10.
Whole number school houses in county. 7 (2 frame. 5 log).
Valne all school houses, $867.
Money received from state funds, $440.38.
Money received from tax, $964.03.
Money paid for teachers' wages. $711.68. Money on hand. $44.99.
The assessed valuation of the county, as left by the board of equalization. reach- ed a total of $128,342 in 1820. This was divided among the precincts and between
"Heron Lake, Delafield and Round Lake town- ships had not been organized when the assess- ment was made. The assessment for the first two was included in that of Belmont and the Round Lake assessment was included in that of Minneota.
132
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
the real and personal property as follows:
PRECINCT
Real Estate
Personal Property
Belmont.
$ 1,860
$28.308
Des Moines
24.701
29,066
Minneota ...
488
7,669
Middletown
2,579
6 941
Petersburg
3,007
10,141
Wisconsin
3,955
6,627
Totat
$39,590
$88,752
The products returns for 1820 give a total of 1220 acres cultivated. This acreage was divided into precincts as fol- lows:5 Belmont, 543; Christiania, 24: Des Moines. 1.205 ; Enterprise. 12 : Ileron Lake. 21: Minneota. 263; Middletown, 395: Petersburg, 526: Round Lake, 31%; Wisconsin. 35%.
By an art of the legislature. approved March 2, 1870, Jackson county was de- tached from Martin county, to which it had been attached for judicial purposes since 1865, and was separately organized for judicial purposes. Provision was made for holding court at Jackson, and the counties of Nobles and Rock were attach- ed to it for such purposes. These coun- ties were detached in 1878, when Nobles county was organized for judicial pur- poses.
From the time or reorganization early in 1866 until 1822. Jackson county did not have a court house. During these years the duties of the county officers were not many, and what business it was ner- ossary to transaet was done in the homes of the various officials. The first agita- tion for the erection of a court house was made in 1820. Then the population had increased to such a size and the county business had reached a stage where many people believed the primitive ways of pio- neer days should be discarded. that Jack- son county was rich enough to build a Although Christiania and Enterprise town- ships had not yet been organized In 1970 they are included In the report, which, apparently. was not tabulated until the year following.
court house. Accordingly a bill was pre- sented to the legislature and became a law March 1, 1820, authorizing the com- tnissioners of Jackson county to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for the purpose of building a court house and jail. But there was a proviso to the act, to the effect that the people of the county by their ballots must ratify the act before it became effective. The pen- ple of Jackson, the county seat, were nat- urally heartily in favor of the project. and Jackson people offered to donate free rent for all county offices until October 1. 1821. should the people ratify the act." But in other parts of the county there was strong opposition to the measure. and at the election held in April the bonds were defeated.
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