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Carroll County IAGenWeb |
A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement
VOLUME I ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912
Transcribed and donated by Marilyn Setzler.
CHAPTER V.
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Carroll County IAGenWeb |
Transcribed and donated by Marilyn Setzler.
CHAPTER V.
THE GREAT DEBT PILED UP AGAINST THE CARROLL COUNTY PUBLIC BY MALADMINISTRATION—STATEMENT OF DEBT—DIRECTIONS IN WHICH FUNDS HAD BEEN DISSIPATED—O. H. MANNING'S DESCRIPTION OF THE SITUATION IN 1870—ILLEGAL ACTS OF COUNTY OFFICIALS—BOUNTY AND AID FRAUDS —CARROLLTON COURT HOUSE TRANSACTION—THE SWAMP LAND TRANSACTION—GRANTS OF BACK PAY—TREASURER'S STATEMENT OF 1866—SAME, 1867—BRIDGE TRANSACTIONS AND COUNTY LOANS—LEGALIZING ACTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN VACATION—THE "PEACE AND HARMONY PACT"—HOW OFFICIAL ACTS WERE INVESTIGATED—THOMAS ELWOOD'S LITHOGRAPHIC MAP—THE OLD COURT HOUSE AT CARROLLTON—OBSERVATIONS IN CONCLUSION—CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY.
In 1870 the Iowa Railroad Land company brought suit in the United States Circuit court at Des Moines to set aside judgments which had been obtained against Carroll county in that court. At the time the Iowa Railroad Land company was the owner of 111,000 acres of land in the county of the value of $600,000, in addition to which John I. Blair, one of the members of the company, was the owner of town lots and lands valued at $50,000. In the petition on which the suit was founded it was stated that in 1865 the debt of Carroll county was $5,516.53, an amount which had grown five years later, January 1, 1870, into a debt of $160,135.43. The purpose of the suit was to mitigate the rate of taxes assessed against the company in the years coming between the dates mentioned, and also to obtain relief from the future liability of being assessed for a debt which the company plaintiffs claimed to be reeking with fraud. In addition to this certain school district and township debts were taken into consideration in making a summary of the financial condition of the county, recapitulated in the following terms:
Judgments in the United States courts against the County....................................... $71,048.34 Judgments against the county in state courts............................................................ 16,868.43 Suits pending in U. S. court on county warrants........................................................ 26,000 County warrants known to be outstanding, unpaid and not in judgment................. 28,218.66 Estimated debt created in 1870 and warrants of which no record has been kept..... 20,000.00 Accrued interest and costs........................................................................................... 18,000.00 Total county debt.......................................................................................................... 180,125.43 Judgments against the district townships.................................................................. 35,171.51 Accrued interest and costs........................................................................................... 15,000.00 Warrants outstanding, estimated................................................................................. 20,000.00 Total .......................................................... $260,306.94 On further analysis this is found to be 26 per cent of the fair assessed value of the real and personal property of the county, or about $180 per capita of its population.
Many statements are made in the petition relative to the nature of the debt and the manner in which it was contracted, the matter evidently having been prepared with a great deal of care and was as close an approach to a true statement of affairs as could be drawn from the county records in the chaotic condition in which they existed at the time. The following extracts will serve to illustrate:
"Carroll, Newton and Union school districts have issued fraudulently over $100,000 of the warrants of said districts, of which amount $55,171.51 are now in judgment."
"Actual cash value of the bridges of the county, $10,000; actual cost, $46,362.06."
"Value of the school houses in the districts of Carroll, Newton and Union, $18,100; actual cost of the same, $102,248.74."
Numerous cases are cited in which warrants were fraudulently issued, and the total amount of such items as bear the mark of fraud is set down as $120,043.95. It is stated also that after warrants were issued the board fraudulently passed resolutions validating their issue and also legalizing the acts of the clerk done in vacation. There were also warrants issued without authority, and in some of these cases the records were interlined with fraudulent entries pretending to legalize the acts.
A year or two later O. H. Manning, in writing of the fiscal condition of the county in 1870, says:
"At this time the politics of the county were in a chaotic state. The party responsible for the creation of the burdensome debt sought to retain power by the use of favoritism and patronage based upon the illegitimate use of public funds. The people were stupefied by the charges of fraud, waste and extravagance made against the county officers in their dealing with the public funds. The collection of taxes was not faithfully enforced, and those collected were not faithfully disbursed. The people believed the rumors of fraud and charges of corruption in many instances where there was no ground whatever and where they were created by designing persons to subserve private ends or influence political action. In other cases they refused to believe where the truth showed malfeasance, gross dishonesty and criminal misconduct. It could scarcely have been otherwise. The facts were practically inaccessible to the public. Each individual citizen must believe rumor as it flew or must himself investigate the voluminous records under which were buried the transactions of the various officers—county, school and township—having in charge the disbursement of the people's money."
Mr. Manning summarizes the frauds as follows:
"Reckless expenditure of money and issuance of warrants without authority; fradulent [sic] school house contracts; fraudulent bridge contracts; conspiracy and collusion between county and township officers." "The frauds are not confined," continued Mr. Manning, in another article, "to the last three years. (1867-70). They extended far back of that. The swamp lands and funds have been swept away without leaving—or [sic corr= of] that magnificent fund—enough to build a bridge. Not content with stuffing their own pockets the officers gave the balance of it to the American Emigrant company. Our taxes are enormous and unless some relief is obtained they must continue so for many years. People are afraid to settle in the county on account of the financial ruin which stares us in the face."
The deplorable state of misgovernment which brought about this condition, or the condition itself, does not seem to be misstated or exaggerated in the quotations which have just been made. This was at a time before the word "graft" had entered the popular nomenclature, but in spite of the lack of the language of those days to express dishonesty in a terse and graphic term there is proof piled upon proof that graft existed in the most scandalous and aggravated form from about the time of the organization of the county to the early seventies, when the knowledge of its presence and magnitude burst upon the public like an explosion. A debt of a quarter of a million dollars, at the time this is written, against the wealth of the county, while it would be a serious matter, would be a mere cypher [sic] compared with the resources then within the reach of the public. Half of the lands were not occupied; the population of the entire county (2,471) was more than a thousand less than the present population of Carroll. The debt did not represent public improvements, for there were none that were worthy of the name. The substance of the county had been spent in extravagance and in practices that would seem incredible but for the fact that enough of the record still remains as a basis from which one with even small powers of penetration can learn the whole sordid story. To attempt to assign a reason for these scandals of the early days would not be profitable even if it could be done successfully. It is sufficient to state the facts. Having the facts this writer hopes that the optimist who reads will read in them the sign that the world is growing better; and that the pessimist will cease repining for the good old days, now no more, so much better than the present.
Very curiously the minute book of the boards of supervisors containing the earlier proceedings of those bodies, and extending over a period of several years after the organization of the county, known as Volume A, has disappeared from the county's files, though with this exception there is nothing absent from this interesting and valuable series of records. Its disappearance may be variously accounted for. That it may have been burned or lost in handling is possible; or it may have been intentionally removed by some one concerned in its disclosures who did not fancy that such a legacy should be handed down to the future.
The following extracts, therefore, are gathered from a pamphlet printed at the time of the exposure of the scandals of which they are a part, duly authenticated as a true copy of the original text. Considered as a whole, they form a narrative curious in itself and most interesting in the light it reflects upon the trials and vicissitudes which Carroll county, in common with many other western communities, suffered in the process of a tumultuous and trying youth.
THE GRANT OF AID.
(Page 236 of Record.)
MARCH 8, 1866.
It was further ordered that those who have contributed aid to soldiers, their wives, orphans or widows, shall be entitled to pay in warrants drawn on the relief fund to the amount so paid, and we hereby authorize the clerk to issue warrants for the same.(Under the above resolution thousands of dollars were issued on fictitious and unjust claims, to persons who never had a shadow of right to the monies paid them.)
(Page 251 of Record.)
DECEMBER 3, 1866.
Resolved that we do hereby order the clerk to issue county warrants in lieu of Relief Fund.Note.—The above action was taken long after the close of the civil war and the language is broad enough to permit a wide range of expenditure under a careless management. How much money was scattered in this way can not be known, but there is no doubt that the sum was enormous.
COURT HOUSE AT CARROLLTON.
(Page 225 of Record.)
NOVEMBER 28, 1866.
Board met according to notice. Present, John J. McCallum [sic corr= McCullum], George Ribble and Enos Butrick.
Resolved, That we hereby accept of and receive the Court House, so far as relates to building and repairing, by J. and J. H. Hampton, and the Clerk is hereby ordered to give up the contract relating thereto, and further, we hereby appropriate to Clerk $100.00 per extras on above note or contract and authorize Clerk to issue warrants to pay for same.
Resolved, That we hereby appropriate to Clerk $50.00, for superintending Court House, making contracts, etc., etc.(Page 233 of Record.)
J. and J. Hampton, Court House, extra.
Warrant No. 145-6-7-8 a 25 dollars each $100.00.
Warrant No. 39-40 a 50 dollars each $100.00.
Total number of warrants issued A. D. 1865, 246. Amount $5,341.20.
Note.—The contract to build a court house at Carrollton was let to Nelson D. Moore, but it was not completed upon his death of 1859, when in the administration of his estate he was allowed by the county $818 for the building in the condition it then was. Moore had erected the principal part of the structure, but it was still unplastered and unpainted. The particulars here given apply to the work from the point where Moore left it.
SWAMP LAND TRANSACTIONS.
(Pages 252 and 253 of Record.)
JANUARY 5, 1867.
Board having met pursuant to adjournment. Present John J. McCullom [sic corr= McCullum], Chairman, and George Ribble, member from Newton township. The following business was transacted:Resolved, That we do hereby appoint Rob't Hill our true and lawful agent to collect and receive the Swamp Land indemnity script and cash belonging to the said Carroll County, Iowa; and further we do hereby appoint Rob't Hill and Richard Squires our true and lawful agents to locate said Swamp Land indemnity script so soon as the same can be obtained and make report from time to time of their doings in the case; and it is further ordered and agreed that the said Rob't Hill and Richard Squires are to receive 10 per cent on the Swamp Land fund of Carroll County, Iowa, and further ordered and agreed that Carroll County is to advance $50.00 or so much thereof as is needed for actual expenses in attending to the business aforesaid, and we hereby authorize the Clerk to issue warrants for the same as aforesaid—also bill of Wm. Gilley for services rendered as agent to collect and record the Swamp Land fund of Carroll County, Iowa, and sundry other services relating to the Swamp Land interests of Carroll County, in all to date $100.00, and the Clerk is hereby authorized to issue warrants for the same.
Tho's Ellwood, per Clerk, here in all to date................. $ 86.00
Wm. Gilley, per Clerk, here in all to date...................... 250.00
H. L. McMan, for Abstracts of Carroll County............. 500.00
(Pages 264 and 265 of Record.)
Warrants to Wm. Gilley for services as Swamp Land agent:
Warrant No. 35, appropriation.............................................................. $100.00 Warrant No. 38, appropriation.............................................................. 166.66 Warrant No. 39, appropriation.............................................................. 166.67 Warrant No. 40, appropriation.............................................................. 166.67 Warrant No. 41, extra Clerk hire.......................................................... 125.00 Warrant No. 42, extra Clerk hire.......................................................... 125.00 Warrant No. 43, Babbitt & Ellwood Store account.............................. 14.50 Warrant No. 44, extra clerk hire........................................................... 25.00 Warrant No. 45, extra clerk hire........................................................... 25.00 Warrant No. 46, extra clerk hire........................................................... 25.00 Warrant No. 47, Ribble appropriation, back pay as Treasurer............ 100.00 Warrant No. 49 do do ............. 100.00 Warrant No. 50 do do ............. 100.00 Warrant No. 51 do do ............. 100.00 Warrant No. 52 do do ............. 100.00 Warrant No. 53 do do ............. 100.00 Warrant No. 54 do do ............. 100.00 Warrant No. 55 do do ............. 100.00 Warrant No. 56 do do ............. 100.00 Warrant No. 57 G. Ribble for Supervisor............................................. 150.00 The above warrants being issued since the Board last met, we hereby legalize the drawing of the same.
Warrant No. 65, S. A. Davis for appropriation for extra salary for 1866 ........ $25.00
Warrant No. 66 do do do do do do do do ................ $25.00
Board adjourned.(Page 253 of Record.)
Resolved, That we the Board of Supervisors of Carroll county, Iowa, do hereby authorize the Clerk to issue county warrants to Crocket Ribble to the amount of this county's indebtedness on a certain contract bearing date March 22, 1862, and relating to the swamp and overflowed lands.
(Page 280 of Record.)
Orders Issued.
Amount
125 March 8, 1867 R. Hill, percentage, S. Land agency.................. $ 25.00 126 March 8, 1867 R. Hill, percentage, S. Land agency.................. 25.00 127 March 8, 1867 R. Hill, percentage, S. Land agency.................. 50.00 128 March 8, 1867 R. Hill, percentage, S. Land agency.................. 50.00 129 March 8, 1867 R. Hill, percentage, S. Land agency.................. 50.00 131 March 8, 1867 C. Ribble percentage, S. Land agency.............. 200.00 132 March 8, 1867 C. Ribble percentage, S. Land agency.............. 200.00 134 to 141 Inclusive at $200.00 each.............................................. 1600.00 142 Inclusive at $100.00 each.......................................................... 100.00 143 to 144 Inclusive at $200.00 each.............................................. 400.00 146, 147 and 148 Inclusive at $200.00 each................................... 600.00 149, to 162 Inclusive at $100.00 each............................................. 1300.00 163 to 167 Inclusive at $50.00 each................................................ 250.00 $4650.00 (Page 316 of Record.)
The report of the Swamp Land was received.
To the honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll County, Iowa:
Gentlemen: We the undersigned attorneys in fact, employed by the Supervisors of Carroll County, Iowa to sell the swamp lands of said county, would respectfully submit the following report of our proceedings in the premises.
Upon receiving our appointment from the county, we proceeded to ascertain the exact amount of the county's interest in the lands aforesaid, and found from the records of the Recorder's office and other sources, that the county is indebted to the following:Total number of acres of Swamp Land in the county 38,000. Total number of acres entered by warrants and cash 23,040. Total number of acres to be disposed of by the county 14,960. Total 38,000. Total number of acres 5,760. Total 23,040. Total amount received from the American Emigrant Company $2,500.00.
From the above total of 14,960 acres, we have sold in accordance with the terms of our power of attorney from the county 7,080 acres, to the following named persons upon terms advantageous to the county and in conformity to the law in such cases made and provided to-wit:
(Page 317 of Record.)
L. McCurdy............................................ 880 acres Wm. Henry Price................................... 760 acres Norman Squires..................................... 280 acres Mrs. Gilley............................................. 380 acres Charles Bower........................................ 320 acres George Smith......................................... 160 acres Cyrus Rhoades....................................... 40 acres John Monroe......................................... 80 acres Perry Knight.......................................... 40 acres J. W. G. Carmichael............................... 320 acres Wm. Oldham.......................................... 80 acres Amos Mokla........................................... 80 acres E. T. Burgan........................................... 760 acres E. B. Smith............................................ 160 acres James Gilley.......................................... 80 acres C. R. Rabbitt.......................................... 120 acres Mrs. Ellwood.......................................... 80 acres G. M. Grangee........................................ 400 acres Wm. Carpenter...................................... 240 acres Jacob Cretsinger.................................... 80 acres Samuel Wilson....................................... 480 acres Wm. Gilley............................................. 520 acres H. L. McMan.......................................... 480 acres Thos. Elwood......................................... 480 acres
Total number of acres sold 7,080. Total number of acres not sold, 7,880. Total number 14,960.
All of the above named persons, except four, are citizens of the county, a fact which materially increases the benefit which the county has gained for her action in regard to the swamp lands. The above 7,080 acres we have sold as follows:
Total amount for which the land sold........................ $14,160.00 Total yet due on contract......................... 7,080.00 Total received in warrants and notes....... 7,080.00 Total of per cent, due on sales.................. 3,580.00 Total notes received................................. 3,435.00 Total............................................................................ 21,175.00 Total amount............................................................... $ 7,051.00 Balance........................................................................ 65.00 Total amount yet on Carmichael’s account............... 51.00 Total amount cash on hand........................................ 14.00 Total............................................................................ 7,080.00 Total amount of present received.............................. 2,840.00 Total amount due........................................................ 740.00 Total amount balance due.......................................... 726.00 Total gain to the county............................................. 10,515.00 We would further beg leave to call your attention to the following comparison.
Total amount from the American Emigrant Company
for the entire Swamp Land interest...................................... $ 2,500.00
Total amount received from us on a sale of less than
1/6 part of the interest, clear of all expense......................... 10,515.00
Total gain to the county of ...................................................... 8,015.00
Signed, Wm. Gilley, Thos. Ellwood, and H. L. McMan.
Carrollton, Carroll County, Iowa, August 7, 1867.Ordered, that the investigating committee to ascertain the indebtedness of the county, be postponed, till the 1st Monday in November.
(Page 242 of Record.)
SEPTEMBER 4, 1866.
Whereas, Wm. Gilley, Clerk, did on the 3d day of August, A. D. 1866 loan to Crocket Ribble the sum of $262.50, the same being Swamp Land Fund, the said clerk having acted under instructions from the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, do hereby legalize said loan done by Clerk during vacation.(Page 250 of Record.)
DECEMBER 3, 1866.
Resolved, That [sic] whereas, C. Ribble is indebted to Carroll county by note made August 3d, 1866, for the amount of $262.50, said money being loaned said Ribble to assist him in building Grist Mill within said Carroll County. Now therefore in consideration of the general benefit to county, we do hereby appropriate the above specified amount to the said Ribble, and authorize the Clerk to give up said note.Note.—The story of the dissipation of the swamp lands is one of the grossest tales of this remarkable chapter in the life of Carroll county. The reader will note the style of bookkeeping applied in the report made to the Board of Supervisors relating to these lands, in which neither head nor tail can be made out, and which was probably prepared with it in view that this should be the case. There was certainly a sense of humor in these old schemers. The report is a satire and beyond a doubt was so intended.
(Page 346 of Record.)
CARROLLTON, CARROLL CO., IOWA, NOVEMBER 4TH, 1867.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll Co., Iowa:
I would respectfully show that I have this day concluded a sale of 7,560 acres of swamp land, for the sum of $15,126.00, per cent of $3,780.00; as I sold the above mentioned land on time, I would respectfully ask that you instruct the Clerk to issue warrants to me for the per cent. $3,780.00, as per agreement in power of Attorney made with you this day. Signed, THOS. ELLWOOD,
The Clerk is authorized to issue warrants for the above amount.
Signed, JOHN MONROE, Clerk, E. B. SMITH.This is to certify to all whom it may concern, that we, the Board of Supervisors, of Carroll County, Iowa, have this day revoked all appointments of Gilley, Ellwood and McMann, as Attorneys, to sell and dispose of Swamp Lands, as heretofore, and Thos. Ellwood is hereby appointed Attorney to sell and convey the same, and make collections. Duties more minutely described in said power of Attorney was duly signed and stamped and delivered to Thos. Ellwood.
(Page 356 of Record.)I issue to Thos. Ellwood for percentage, on sale of Swamp Lands, $3, 780.00. Warrants from 232 to 244, inclusive. Issued on act of bill of Nov. 4th, 1867. $760.50 warrants, No. 245 to 253 inclusive. Issued to Wm. Gilley for fitting up house at Carroll for office, $525.00 warrants No. 272 to 284, inclusive, Issued to Robert Hill for percentage on Swamp Lands Located, $615.60. Boards adjourned.
W. H. PRICE, Clerk.
(Page 356 of Record.)
DECEMBER 3, 1867.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll County, Iowa:
Gentlemen:—I would most respectfully state that a portion of the lands, named in my contract with the County, is completed and on record in the County. You would please be so good as to allow me my per cent on them, amount, $659.00. I am most respectfully
Signed Your obedient servant,
ROBT HILLAllow as per contract, and Clerk ordered to issue warrants for the amount asked for.
WM. HENRY PRICE, Clerk(Page 365 of Record.)
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT.
DECEMBER 23rd, 1867.
J. S. Maughlin and Board of Supervisors of Carroll County, wherein it was stipulated that the County should pay to Emigrant Co., 75 per cent of all money realized by the County from sales of Swamp Lands sold, and return 25 per cent. for County Library, or some Library institution. Emigrant Co. will quit claim all land that County Treasurer sold to parties, etc.BACK PAY GRANTS.
(Page 229 of Record.)
JANUARY 1st 1866.
Resolved, That we hereby appropriate the sum of $200.00 per year to Crocket Ribble, for Clerk hire during the term he held the office of County Treasurer.
Resolved, That we hereby appropriate the sum of $250.00 per year to William Gilley, and authorize him to issue warrants for above amount.
(Pages 250-251 of Record.)
DECEMBER 3, 1866.
The following petition, signed by sundry citizens, was submitted to the consideration of the Board'of Supervisors of Carroll County, State of Iowa, said petition being in the following words and language, to wit:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll County:
Gentlemen: The petition of the undersigned citizens of Carroll county would respectfully represent, that
Whereas, The within named county officers have not nor do not receive sufficient compensation for their labor, and
Whereas, The law gives authority to the Board of Supervisors of any county to increase the salary of County officers by appropriation to make up any deficiency.
Now Therefore, We would respectfully solicit the Honorable Board, to appropriate to the following officers the sums set opposite their names:
Wm. H. Price, County Judge for 1866 .................................................... $150.00
L. McCurdy, Co. Treas., per month, from Jan. 1, 1866 ............................... 75.00
Wm. Gilley, Clerk, D. C. per month, additional, to commence the 1st day
of Jan., 1863, and so continue .................................................................. 25.00
D. Thos. Ellwood, Recorder, for 1866 ......................................................... 100.00Signed by C. Ribble, Amos Rhodes, Alva Chainbess, J. B. Hampton, G. W. Newton, Isaac Ferguson and others.
The above petition granted and Clerk authorized to issue warrants for same
(Page 245 of Record.)NOVEMBER 5, 1866.
The petition of Wm. Gilley asking to be released from contract making and completing abstracts of titles to the lands of Carroll county, and further, that H. T. McMan be authorized to complete said abstracts, petition was granted, and furtherResolved, That there be appropriated the sum of $500.00, for services rendered up to this date.
(Page 260 of Record.)
JANUARY 7, 1867.
Petition was presented from citizens to allow the old Board of Supervisors extra pay:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll county, Iowa:Gentlemen: The petition of the undersigned citizens of Carroll County would respectfully ask your Honorable Board to appropriate to the following named Supervisors, the sums set opposite their respective names.
John J. McCullum........................................................... $ 150.00
George Ribble................................................................... 150.00
G. H. Shutes...................................................................... 75.00
And your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
Dr. Thos. Ellwood Albert McCrea E. S. Wine P. T. Punteny J. Hampton J. G. W. Carmichael J. B. Hampton George Cooley M. L McMan J. W. Happ A. W. Mosier Wm. H. Boots Wm. Harry Price Orin Jerome Wm. Gilley J. H. Colclo J. A. Smith A. Hardesty Robt. Hill
(Page 261 of Record.)CARROLLTON, IOWA, JANUARY 7th, 1867.
That petition was granted and the Clerk ordered to issue warrants for the amount set opposite each name. The Treasurer not being ready to settle, the Board adjourned until 10 o'clock Tuesday, January 8th, 1867.
(Page 266 of Record.)
Present John Monroe, Newton township, G. H. Shute, township, E. B. Smith, Union township. On motion of James Monroe, that Lafayette McCurdy be allowed five hundred dollars ($500.00) for his services as Co. Treasurer, in years 1860 and 1861, so as to equalize his pay with other officers, we therefore appropriate the above amount for that purpose, the clerk to draw warrants for the same.
(Page 267 of Record.)
The following warrants were issued by appropriation of the Board: L. McCurdy, appropriation for years 1860 and 1861, as Treasurer, Warrant, No. 81, $100.00; No. 82, $100.00; No. 83, $100.00; No. 84, $100.00; No. 85, $100.00. Board adjourned.
(Page 295 of Record.)
JUNE SESSION, 1867.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll County, Iowa:
Gentlemen: Your petitioners, Dr. Thomas Ellwood and H. L. McMan, would most respectfully call the attention of your Honorable Board to an act of the General Assembly, wherein it was enacted, that each and every county in the State should make a complete transfer of all the real estate in their respective counties, and
Whereas, Your honorable board did employ, and authorize us to make the same for Carroll county, and
Whereas, Our time has been necessarily employed in other essential work of the office to the serious pecuniary disadvantage of your humble petitioners,
Therefore, We would most respectfully pray that your honorable body appropriate to us the sum of $1,500.00 in full payment of the work aforesaid, in order that we may be able to complete the same, and these your petitioners will ever pray,
ELLWOOD & McMAN
Carrollton, June 3d, 1867
Petition granted, and clerk ordered to draw warrants for the amount, Adjourned to June 4th, 1867.
(Page 349 of Record.)CARROLLTON, CARROLL CO., IOWA.
DECEMBER 2ND, 1867.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll county, Iowa:
I would respectfully represent that it has been the custom heretofore, to allow the judge and recorder, $150.00 each, yearly, as they do not have salaries to recompense them for their time and labor. I would respectfully ask an appropriation of $300.00 on the year now about to expire, as in duty bound, I will ever pray, &c.
THOS. E. ELLWOOD
The amount appropriated and clerk ordered to issue warrants for $300.00.
(Page 365 of Record.)
DECEMBER 23, 1867.
PETITION.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll County, Iowa:
We, the undersigned citizens of Carroll county, Iowa, would respectfully represent that it has been the custom heretofore to allow an appropriation to members of the board of supervisors, at the expiration of their term of office, and
Whereas, The term of G. H. Shutes has just expired and that he has so well and faithfully filled (to his own loss and detriment in business) the office of a member of the board of supervisors we would respectfully ask that an appropriation of $100.00 as a partial recompense for his time and labor, as in duty bound we will ever pray, &c., &c.
Names as follows: Dr. Thomas Ellwood, William Gilley, J. H. Hampton, E. H. Dantrich, J. W. Monroe, E. S. Wine, John A. Smith, William H. Price, G. W. Smith, F. Willey, John Seigler, G. W. Hunter.
Moved by George F. Browning and seconded by E. B. Smith, that the petition be respected.
Motion carried.
(Page 239 of Record.)
JULY 14, 1866.
At a special meeting of the board of supervisers [sic] called according to law, there were present J. J. McCullum, G. H. Shurtz and George Ribble.
Resolved, That we believe the time has come when from the force of circumstances it becomes our duty to employ council for the county, and we hereby authorize the clerk to employ attorney as legal advisor for county and we hereby appropriate the sum of $500.00 to $1000.00 or so much thereof as is necessary to pay said council.
(Page 245 of Record.)
NOVEMBER 5, 1886.
Resolved, That we the board of supervisors of Carroll county, Iowa, do make, and constitute, and appoint Wm. Gilley, Thos. Ellwood and H. T. McMan, our true and lawful attorneys, for us and in our stead to bargain, sell and convey the swamp and unexplored lands of this county, in conformity with the power of attorney this day executed, (see record.) Minutes of meeting read and approved.
(Page 262 of Record.)
TREASURER'S STATEMENT 1866.
Settled with the treasurer for the year 1866. County fund collected during the year 1866 $2,896.78. County warrants cancelled $2,986.04. Paid out more than receipts $89.26. County relief collected $1,594.10. Warrants cancelled, $2,286.63. Overpaid $92.53. County bridge, $661.38. Amount of warrants cancelled $707.92. Swamp Land Fund Emigration company, $262.50. Amount paid C. Ribble, $262.50.
(Page 307 of Record.)
SETTLEMENT WITH TREASURER, 1867.
County Fund.
Dr. Amount received for state...................... $ 258.17 Collected of county................................. 1,570.08 Collected of relief.................................... 532.01 Overpaid.................................................. 826.16 $3,128.42
Cr. By amount overpaid county................... $ 89.26 By amount relief..................................... 692.53 County fund refunded to Kennedy........ 16.25 Relief fund refunded to Kennedy........... 1.73 County fund refunded to Dr. Cadmus.... 2.40 Relief fund refunded to Dr. Cadmus....... 3.00 Cancelled................................................. 169.03 County cancelled.................................... 2,154.22 $3,128.42
County Bridge.
Dr. To amount overpaid............................... $ 45.54 By amount refunded to Cadmus............ .60 By amount cancelled.............................. 1,062.11 $1,062.11
COUNTY BRIDGES AND LOANS.
(Page 245 of Record.)
NOVEMBER 5, A. D. 1866.
Present J. J. McCullum, G. H. Shutes, member from Jasper township, George Ribble, member from Newton township. A petition for the erection of a good and substantial bridge across North Coon river, where road from Carrollton to Calhoun county crosses said stream. Said petition was granted and a sufficient amount is hereby appropriated to complete said bridge, and G. H. Shutes is hereby instructed to obtain plan and specifications, and also give notice of sale and superintend the arrangement generally.
(Page 265 of Record.)
The bridge that was ordered to be sold [let] on December 2d, 1867, was sold to Samuel Wilson for the sum of $2,969.00, and clerk ordered to article with said Wilson for the same, and to draw bridge warrants for the whole amount of the contract. He (Wilson) to give security for the performance of the contract. Warrants from No. 164 to 203, inclusive.
(Page 272 of Record.)
Present, John Monroe, Newton township, G. H. Shutes, Jasper township; E. M. Smith, Union township.
The petition of J. G. W. Carmichael was taken up for final action after some discussion, the petition was granted, and the amount in said petition appropriated to be expended as in said petition, provided the said Carmichael appears before the next regular meeting and gives approved security for the amount of said appropriation or loan. Board adjourned.
(Page 268 of Record.)
MARCH 4, 1867.
Present, John Monroe, E. B. Smith and J. H. Shutes.
Petition of Citizens to loan J. G. W. Carmichael the sum of one thousand dollars, to-wit:
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll county, Iowa:
Gentlemen: Your petitioners would respectfully ask that a loan of one thousand dollars be granted to J. G. W. Carmichael for the purpose of procuring a steam portable saw mill for the benefit of citizens of Carroll county, and that the clerk of the board be instructed to draw warrants on the county in favor of J. G. W. Carmichael, the same to be secured to the county in such way as shall be thought right and safe. Signed by twenty-three (23) names. Petition was received and laid over until Tuesday, March 5th.
LEGALIZING ACTS AD INTERIM.
(Page 229 of Record.)
JANUARY, 1, 1866.
[The following in small letters and different hand and different and black ink, is written on back of page]:
Resolved, That we hereby legalize all the acts of the clerk, done in vacation or otherwise relating to his office. Read and approved by order of the Board of Supervisors.
(Page 251 of Record.)
DEC. 3, 1866.
Resolved, That we, the board of supervisors of Carroll county, Iowa do hereby exonerate the clerk, and legalize his actions relating to allowance of bills in vacation, and especially relating to the relief fund.
(Page 236 of Record.)
MARCH 8, A. D. 1866.
At a special meeting of the board of supervisors called by notice according to law there was present J. J. McCullum, and George Ribble. The board being in session the following business was transacted. A petition was presented, signed by sundry citizens asking the board to legalize the action of township trustees in and for Newton township in regard to township trustees letting certain bridge contracts on or about the 1st day of February, 1866, to the following named parties: John Monroe, C. Ribble and Wm. Gilley. Said petition was granted.
(Page 237 of Record.)
APRIL 2d, A. D. 1866.
Resolved, That we do hereby authorize the clerk to finish all unfinished business and allow all claims he deems just and right.
(Page 223 of Record.)
SEPTEMBER 4, 1866.
Resolved, That we, the board of supervisors hereby legalize the acts done in vacation by Mr. Wm. Gilley, clerk, and especially all pertaining to selling of school lands, whenever and wherever such lands may have been sold.
PEACE AND HARMONY PREVAILED.
(Pages 257 and 258 of Record.)
JANUARY 7th, 1867.
Wm. Henry Price, clerk of the district court, presented his bond which was accepted by the board, also, Dr. Thomas Ellwood, county recorder, presented his official bond, which was approved by board.
The newly elected clerk, aforesaid, together with the newly elected board of supervisors, having qualified according to law came into the office, the old board vacating, and the newly elected members took their seats, peace and harmony prevailed. Minutes of the meeting read and approved.
WM. GILLEY, Clerk
A CURIOUS INVESTIGATION.
(Page 239 of Record.)
JUY [sic] 14, 1866.
Resolved, That we do hereby appoint a committee to investigate the several acts of the board of supervisors of this county, and to carefully look over the records of the county and make a full and complete report of their doings as soon as convenient.
Investigating committee, Thomas Hirons, E. B. Smith and Wm. Gilley.
(Page 305 of Record.)
JUNE SESSION.
JUNE 3, 1867.
Ordered, that the board of supervisors of Carroll county, meet at 1 o'clock on Tuesday after the first Monday in August, with one person from each township, to ascertain the indebtedness of the county, and to devise ways and means to liquidate said indebtedness, and the clerk is hereby authorized to ascertain as near as he can, the amount of the outstanding debt or warrants. G. H. Shutes appointed Robt. Dixon from Jasper township on said committee; E. B. Smith, E. M. Smith, from Union; John Monroe appointed Richard Squires from Newton township, on said committee.
(Page 360 of Record.)
Whereas, The said board of supervisors of said county, did, on the first Monday in July last, appoint a committee to investigate county offices and county officers, said committee, for some cause, did not appear to make investigations,
Whereas, The grand jury at its last session is said to have appointed a committee to make such investigations, some of this committee has made certain threats against certain officers, and
Whereas, the board of supervisors of said county do hereby appoint the following committee: E. B. Smith, Thos. Ellwood, Wm. Gilley, to help investigate said county officers, and to report to the grand jury at this next session, in person.
THE LITHOGRAPHIC MAP.
(Pages 346 and 347 of Record.)
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll County, Iowa:
Your memorialists would respectfully beg leave to lay before you a matter of deep interest to all the citizens of our county. It is a fact well known that the inducements that there are for settlers to come and settle in this county, have not been made sufficiently public, your petitioners would beg of you the construction of a lithograph map of our county, showing our noble river, our railroad, our county roads, our groves of timber, bridges, mills and schoolhouses, improved farms, our town, our splendid prairie lands, our lovely lakes, our commanding mounds, our beautiful valleys, our lowlands, with their numerous springs, with their luxuriant grass.
Indeed every thing worthy of note in the county, remembering that maps of this kind would, if properly gotten up and extensively circulated, be the means of bringing hundreds of settlers and thousands of dollars into our county. We therefore respectfully ask that our honorable body make an appropriation to Thos. Ellwood of $2,500.00 to get and complete a map as above described, and enable him to go forward with the work, that you allow him $1,000.00 in advance, in order that he may be able to give this map an extensive circulation, that in addition to the above appropriation, he shall have the benefit of the map after it is completed. Believing this matter to be already thoroughly understood by your honorable body, it is deemed necessary only to ask your prompt action in the matter, and your petitioners will ever pray, &c., &c.
(Page 348 of Record.)
Names as follows: W. N. Boots, James Gilley, Thos. Ellwood, Wm. Gilley, C. C. Mulloy, J. W. Monroe, J. F. Sugg, C. Ribble. Petition granted, and the amount is hereby appropriated, and the clerk ordered to issue warrants for $1,000.00. Following warrants issued for that purpose:
No. 135...................................................... $ 100.00 136...................................................... 100.00 137...................................................... 100.00 138...................................................... 100.00 139...................................................... 200.00 140...................................................... 200.00 141...................................................... 200.00 Total................................... $1,000.00
(Page 356 of Record.)
Ordered that there be $1,000.00 more issued to Thos. Ellwood, of the $2,500.00 appropriated for lithograph map. Adjourned until December 3d.
(Pages 363 and 364 of Record.)
Warrants issued 302 to 321, for bill of December, $575.00; 322 to 320, for lithograph map, $1,000.00.
Note.—The map for which Ellwood was paid these various sums of money was never prepared and never published.
COURTHOUSE AT CARROLL.(Page 356 of Record.)
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of Carroll County, Iowa:
GENTLEMEN: The undersigned respectfully submit the following proposition, that, whereas, the county seat has, by vote of the people, been removed to Carroll, on line of railroad, and whereas, the people 0f the county ask for the removal of records at no distant date, and whereas, I have a house at Carroll that would be suitable for the present, provided it was fitted up. Therefore, if the board of county supervisors will appropriate the sum of $525.00 to be used in fitting up said house, then said house can be used for county records and county purposes.
Dated at Carrollton, Dec. 2, 1867. WM. GILLEY.
Petition granted, and clerk ordered to draw warrants on the county funds for the amount.
(Page 385 of Record.)
FEBRUARY 4, 1868.
Wm. Gilley stated that he wanted an appropriation of $300,00, to finish up the courthouse at Carroll, for the use of the county records. He would let the house to the county, the same as he was offered by other parties.
On motion of Lester and Hirons, that the request of Wm. Gilley for $300.00, be granted. Carried.
On motion that we accept the proposition of William Gilley to rent the house for the use of the county, at $50.00 per month, and keep the same until the appropriation of $800.00 is used in rent.
On motion, that the clerk enter in a contract with Wm. Gilley for his house at Carroll, for county purposes. Carried.
(Page 402 of Record.)
L. McCurdy allowed $150.00 extra pay, for treasurer's work. Warrants issued (page 396), 440 to 444. William Gilley for fitting up courthouse at Carroll, $300.00, to 458. L. McCurdy for service as ex-treasurer, $150.00.
Some of those whose names appear on these unsatisfactory records are still residents of the county and enjoy commendable standing among its people. The disease of civic profligacy was probably a common malady of the times, for Carroll county was not alone in the wantonness with which its early affairs were conducted. The condition in neighboring counties was as bad or worse.
The story is told with every surrounding of truth that in Greene county the pioneer authorities let contracts for bridges across certain streams intersecting important highways, which contract was performed by the construction of a bridge on runners. This structure was drawn by teams to one of the sites, where it was allowed to remain until the contractors, who were also connected with county affairs and donors of the contract, could collect the agreed sum from the public treasury, after which the same structure was dragged to another site, where the performance was repeated.
The uncertainty and insecurity of the future no doubt contributed to this state of affairs, for it was not until the latter sixties that the country came to be regarded as valuable. The possibilities of the present were never dreamed of.
It does not seem that the rewards of these enterprises ever enriched any of the participants. The revenues seem to have been dissipated and absorbed in such a way that all were satisfied by that sort of circulation and digestion that seemed for the time being the natural way. Resentment did not go far and the complacency and good nature of the community singled out no victim.
Dropping this subject to the reflection of the reader, a plan is conceived in this stage of this labor of a chronological arrangement of detached and fragmentary matters condensed from the files of old newspapers, principally from The Carroll Herald, extending from 1870 to 1890, a period of twenty years. These condensations expand in many directions and are themselves a series of stories as well told as could be done in any other way.
fifth street, carroll~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
