HISTORY
OF
Chickasaw and Howard Counties
IOWA.
BY W. E. ALEXANDER.
DECORAH,
IOWA
WESTERN PUBLISHING
COMPANY.
1883.
History of Chickasaw County.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION ; CONTRASTS OF THEN AND NOW ; GEOGRAPHY ; TOPOGRAPHY ; GEOLOGY ; PRINCIPAL PRODUCTIONS, AND RESOURCES; RAILROAD FACILITIES.
INTRODUCTORY.
Lessening each year, under the relentless hand of death, the little band of hardy pioneers, who first broke the way for civilization and planted the broad marks of progress on the virgin prairie of Chickasaw County, are fast passing away, and before they have all been gathered to their rest let us hasten and gather from their lips the tales of bygone days, when hardy pioneers, both men and women, leaving the friendly shelter of the old home, pushed out into the domain of the wild beast and his scarce less wild brother the savage, and there essayed to carve them out a new home.
Their bent forms, their furrowed brows and hoary hair, tell of the fierce battle with trial and hardship-the fight for life with penury and want, but the bright eye, the firm glance, tell that they conquered, as only a noble band of heroes could conquer, and they seem spared to sanctify the homes that they have founded in this domain of nature. Their deeds deserve a place in history, that will long survive the monuments of marble that must soon mark the place where they will be at rest. Let us then gather the details from them before they go, that we may honor them as we should. And here let us draw
THE CONTRAST
between the then and now. Although settled at a comparatively late date this parallel seems startling, those who have lived quietly upon their farms, which they settled when they first came, can hardly realize the change, having seen it grow up so gradually. But like the years of man the country has been growing steadily on. Thirty-five years ago these now productive acres, these rich grazing lands and fertile farms, were lying an almost unbroken wilderness, the hunting ground and often the battle ground of the red Indian.
The soil was rich and productive, but what sterling nerve and determination was required to make it a suitable habitation for man and to reclaim to the uses of civilization its virgin soil, verily, to turn the back on the older homes of our race and carve out a new one on the bosom of the praries was no light task. No roads laid out or opened, and the settler was often compelled to go thirty or forty miles to mill, and happy was he if he had grist to grind at that.
Agricultural and domestic implements were scarce and crude, and hard manual labor replaced them to a great extent. Contrast the difference between the rude appliances of those early days, O, ye pioneers ! with the manifold labor-saving implements of to-day, both in housekeeping and husbandry. The harvester with the scythe - the threshing machine with the flail - the sewing machine with its more humble sister the sewing needle, and so on, through all the long list, and then you can mark the change.
Contrast the rude log school house, which served its multiform purpose of school, church, court-house and often the only public building within the radius of a day's journey, with the more pretentious churches, school-houses and county buildings of the present day.
In those early days, "that tried men's souls," or at least their nerve and back bone, no handy market was there, for the farm produce, nor convenient store where he could purchase all his needs called for, but a long journey over a dreary road, often extending to 75 or 100 miles before he could reach a place advanced enough to boast of a buyer and seller of produce and merchandise, and his only conveyance the slow plodding oxen, or scarce more expeditious farm horse. Now the iron horse snorts almost at the very door, and towns and villages dot these boundless prairies, bringing in their train all conveniences of civilized life, and even all the luxuries of the olden home he left in the bye gone days. But let us to the facts.
The following facts as to the location, physical features, soil and drainage, and resources of Chickasaw County, are mainly taken from Andreas' State Atlas of Iowa, and are believed to be as accurate as are obtainable. They are supplemented with additional facts, wherever it is possible to procure reliable data and information:
Chickasaw is the third county west of the Mississippi River in the second tier from the north line of the State. It contains an area of 504 square miles, or 322,560 acres
The surface of the country is generally gently undulating, and in some places very nearly level. Very little rolling land is found within its limits, and this is confined principally to a narrow strip of the southwestern township, in the vicinity of Cedar River. The natural drainage of this surface is remarkably good, as the county is traversed by no less than seven streams of considerable size, all flowing in a southeasterly direction, and almost parallel to each other, which, with their numerous small affluents, drain nearly every section in the county. The current in these streams is uniformly quite rapid, but the nature of the rock underlying the entire county has prevented them from eroding deep channels.
The numerous streams supply the county with numerous water powers, which are being improved as the agricultural resources of the county are developed and require their use. It has so far been chiefly employed for milling purposes, as other manufacturing enterprises have not been inaugurated to any great extent.
The streams are also generally skirted with timber, of which, however, the county has not an abundant supply. There is enough to supply the ordinary needs of the county since the railroads have brought pine lumber within reach, as it is more economical both for building and fencing than native lumber. The timber is tolerably well distributed, and since the settlement of the county has diminished the ravages of fire it is growing rapidly in groves upon the prairies. The largest body of timber lies along the Cedar River in the southwest part of the county.
The county is almost entirely underlaid with strata of rock which geologists ascribe to the Hamilton group of the Devonian Age. It is an argillacious limestone. or highly calcareous shales alternating with bands of limestone. The following measurements of the different strata at a quarry near Bradford, on Cedar River, will indicate the general character of the rock formation:
Light-gray, fine grained limestone ............... 9 inches.
Dark-gray, thick shaly limestone ................. 7 feet.
Buff-gray crystalline limestone .................... 5 inches.
Hard, dark-gray shaly limestone ................. 8 inches.
Hard dark-gray limestone ........................... 7 inches.
Unexposed .................................................. 2 feet.
Light, buff-gray limestone ........................... 1 ft. 8 in.
The limestone exposed at this quarry is of medium purity, and quite hard. So for as observed, it is almost destitute of fossil. It is well exposed only along the banks of Cedar River. Elsewhere over the county the comparatively level surface of deep drift, and the shallow channels of the streams are causes which prevent its frequent exposure.
Materials suitable for the manufacture of brick may be found in nearly every township.
In an early day a large portion of the land in this county was considered rather too wet to be of the highest value for cultivation. The wet land was not found in the form of low marshes, difficult of drainage, for there were none of these, but was as frequent upon the highest prairies as elsewhere. This peculiarity has very rapidly disappeared within the last few years, as indeed it could scarcely fail to do with the excellent natural drainage already described. It was doubtless caused in part by the comparatively slight depressions made by the water course, but the principal cause is probably to be found in the nature of the soil and subsoil. The soil is a deep, rich black loam, abundantly supplied with vegetable mold from the decay of the wild grasses which grew profusely upon its surface. The subsoil is a deep bed of the drift deposite consisting of earth near the surface, and beneath this mingled clay, sand and gravel. Its texture was not so suitable for admitting the percolation of water through it from the surface as the light porous subsoil of other sections, and the limestone rock does not come near enough the surface to supply the under drainage afforded to still other sections. The luxuriant growth of grass and tough sward which it formed tended to retard the drying of the soil by evaporation. An undue proportion of water was retained near the surface by these causes. Cultivation in places and the pasturage of the intervening prairies, have tended to equalize the conditions and the wet character of the soil began to disappear without artificial drainage. Indeed, it is now satisfactorily demonstrated that cultivation alone is capable of effecting a complete cure ; that the soil, although in an early day appearing to be of rather a sluggish quality, not so easily or readily subdued as that of some other sections, becomes in the course of a few years, as lively and as well adapted to the plow as any other, and that it is rich and productive, possessing qualities of strength and durability found wanting in soils that were more easily subdued from a state of nature, and which also wear out more easily. The statistics published in another part of this work, show that in relative productiveness for the amount of land in cultivation, Chickasaw county takes rank among the foremost counties of the State of Iowa.
The principal grain products of the county are wheat, corn, oats, and barley. Wheat takes the lead slightly, followed very closely by corn, and to a somewhat less degree by oats. The soil seems to be nearly equally well adapted to all these grains, the relative profit to be derived from them, chiefly govern the extent of cultivation. Stock raising is an important branch of its industries, as both native and tame grasses thrive luxuriantly, and, indeed, cattle raising is by many deemed more remunerative than extensive grain growing. The county is therefore admirably suited for mixed or diversified farming, and is not devoted to one class of crops, or to grain growing or stock raising to the exclusion or detriment of the other branch, but most of its farmers cultivate the several kinds of grain and grass and raise small herds of cattle, thereby securing the rotation in crops and other conditions most highly advantageous and favorable a reliable productiveness, and have every year some surplus that will bring a good price in the market, whether any particular product be up or down.
The mineral resources of the county are comparatively slight, being limited to a few quarries, of building stone. Her agricultural resources are remarkably good, as we have already described, and must constitute the foundation of her future prosperity. There are excellent resources for manufacturing purposes, in her abundant water powers. These have been already improved to considerable extent for flouring mills, but with her rich agricultural resources and demand for machinery, ought to be made to propel a large amount of machinery employed in the manufacture of agricultural implements and woolen goods, which will doubtless be done in time.
The railroad facilities of the county are good. It is traveled from east to west by the Iowa and Dakota division of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway, with stations at New Hampton, Lawler and Chickasaw, affording ready access to the best wheat market of the northwest-Milwaukee. The Cedar Falls and Minnesota branch of the Illinois Central railroad traverses the south-west corner, with an important station at Nashua. Both of these roads furnish ready communication with the principal pine lumber districts.
We would add, however, that the capability of the county for grazing purposes,, is largely turning the attention of the farming community in that direction, with marked success, as is instanced by an improved financial condition of all classes.
Already a large number of creameries dot these fertile prairies, and foreshadow a new era in the prosperity of the county. The population is largely made up of the emigrants from the over-crowded European countries, principally from Ireland, Germany and Scandinavia, with many from the older states of our own country, but all blend harmoniously in working for the present and future good of this their adopted home.
CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION; ORIGINAL ORDER FOR THE SAME; FIRST OFFICERS; EARLY RECORDS; DIVISION INTO TOWNSHIPS; COUNTY ELECTIONS; COUNTY OFFICIALS; VOTES ON FEDERAL STATE, AND COUNTY OFFICERS, ETC.
The first attempt at organizing the county of Chickasaw was made in 1853, the following, which relates thereto, being the first entry in the records of the county judge:
"The county of Chickasaw embraces towns 94, 95, 96 and 97, ranges 11, 12, 13 and 14, west of the fifth principal meridian; and by order of the county judge of Fayette county, state of Iowa, the same was on the 30th day of June, A. D. 1853, ordered organized. John Bird, organizing sheriff in the election held on the 13th day of August, 1853"
The following is a copy of the original notice to the organizing sheriff, marked, filed December 31st, 1854, in the office of the county judge of Chickasaw county, by J. Lyon county judge:
"STATE OF IOWA,
FAYETTE COUNTY.
John Bird - Sir: By virtue of power vested in me by the code of Iowa, I have this day appointed you organizing sheriff for the organization of Chickasaw county. You are hereby required to post up at least five written notices in said county, that on the first Monday in August there will be an election held at the house of A. E. Haskel in the town of Bradford, for the purpose of organizing said county and electing county officers as follows. to-wit:
"County judge, district clerk, recorder, and treasurer, school fund commissioner, prosecuting attorney, sheriff, coroner, and county surveyor.
"And also one justice of the peace, one constable, three township trustees and town clerk. And make due returns to me of the same at my office in West Union.
"The above mentioned notices to be posted up at least ten days prior to the election.
"THOMAS WOODLR,
"County Judge."
"June 30th, 1853.
The election was held as so ordered, and so far as can be definitely ascertained, G. R, Rowley was elected county judge; William Tucker, school fund commissioner; but for reasons satisfactory, no doubt, to himself, this result was not in accordance with the wishes of the organizing sheriff, Bird, who it would seem, consequently withheld all returns on his warrant, and ordered a new election, which took place April 3d, 1854, at which the organization of the county was duly effected.
The only record showing this election is the bond of John Campbell as treasurer and recorder signed by G. R. Rowley and James S. Frazee as bondsmen, and filed in the office of James Lyon, county judge, April 12th, 1854. The bond was in the sum of five thousand dollars. Tradition has it that S. C. Goddard resigned as clerk of the districts court, and his place was filled by J. A. J. Bird. To the filing of the finding of the commissioners, locating the county seat at Bradford, under date of August 14th. 1554, we find Bird's signature attached. An entry bearing date September 5th, 1853, records a session of county court held that day, Judge James Lyon presiding, at which no business was transacted, and the court adjourned. This is signed by S. C. Goddard as clerk.
The county of Chickasaw, as appears from the above, was organized April 3d, 1854, when the following officers were elected: James Lyon, county judge; John Campbell, recorder and treasurer; S. C. Goddard, district clerk; D. A. Babcock, prosecuting attorney; Andrew Sample, sheriff; Oscar Cooley, surveyor; Dr. S. C. Haynes, coroner.
At this election the whole county was treated as one precinct, under the name of Bradford. The following is a concise account of the subsequent township organization:
At the March term of the county court, 1855, it was ordered that the county of Chickasaw constitute five election districts, viz: 1. That town 94-14 and 13 be called Bradford district. 2. That town 95-14 and 13 be called Chickasaw district. 3. That town 96-14 and 13 be called Brink district. 4. That town 96 and one-half of 97-11 and 12, be called Obispo district. 5. That towns 94 and 95-11 and 12 be called Yankee district.
At the March term of the county court, 1856, township 96, range 14, and the south half of 97-14, were set off as a new township under the name of Deerfield, and organized at the ensuing election.
At the same term, township 94, range 13, was set off, and at the ensuing election organized under the name of Richland.
At the same term an order was made to organize township 96-13 and the south half of 97-13, under name of Washington, and the township proceeded to organize; but the organization was pronounced irregular, and it was attached to Deerfield.
At the April term, 1857, township 95-12 was ordered organized under the name of New Hampton; also 96-13 and the south half of 97-13, under the name of Washington; also 94-11 and 12 under the name Fredericksburg. At this term the west half of 94-12 was attached to Richland, and 95-11 was organized under the name of Stephen.
At the July term, 1857, township 95-13 was ordered organized under the name of Dayton.
At the March term, 1858, 96-12 and the south half of 97-12, were ordered organized under the name of Jacksonville, and at the same time 96-11 and the south half of 97-11, were ordered organized under the name of Utica.
In 1859, 94-12 was ordered organized under the name of Dresden. Subsequently, the east tier of sections of Dresden was detached and placed in Fredericksburg township, but these have been since replaced, except the southeast of section 12 and the northeast of 13.
A part of Dayton township has been taken from it and placed in New Hampton township, viz: the east half of northeast, and the northeast half of the southeast of section 12.
Precedent to its organization as narrated above, Chickasaw county was first created as a political subdivision of the State of Iowa, in 1851, by chapter nine of the act of the third general assembly, section that thirty-three of which reads as follows: "That the following shall be the boundaries of a new country which shall be called Chickasaw, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of township 97, range 10; thence west to the northwest corner of township 97, range 14, thence south to the southwest corner of township 94, range 14; thence east to the southwest corner of township 14, range 10; thence to the place of beginning;" which act was approved on the 15th day of January, 1851.
A chapter one hundred and twenty of the acts of the fourth general assembly, the boundaries were changed as follows: "Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Iowa, that the north half of township 97, of ranges number 11, 12, 13 and 14, following the line of the United States subdivision thereof, shall be, and the same are hereby detached from Chickasaw county and attached to Howard.
By the act of the fourth general assembly, chapter twelve, approved January, 1843, Chickasaw county, "attached to Fayette county for election, revenue and judicial purposes," and it was by Thomas Woodle, county judge of Fayette county, that the order appointing John Bird organizing sheriff of Chickasaw county, was issued June 30th, 1853, as related in preceding pages.
And here it will be in order to present a record of the
SUCCEEDING COUNTY ELECTIONS
in Chickasaw county, beginning with the first canvass of election that appears of record in the election book in the office of the county auditor :
AUGUST, 1856.
The first canvass of election recorded is that of the election- held in August, 1856. For State Senator, 34th District, 296 votes were cast, of which Jeremiah T. Atkins received 219 and Edward Ellis seventy-seven votes; for Representative, 48th District, E. R. Gillett received 205 and William Pattee ninety-two votes. Timothy Davis and Shepherd Leffler were opposing candidates for Congress from this, then the 2d Congressional District. Davis received 225 votes, Leffler eighty-one. For Secretary of State, Elijah Sells, 224 votes; George Snyder, seventy-nine; scattering, three. Clerk of district court, George W. Reed, 166; Wesley Swazee, 140. Prosecuting attorney, Frederick Hall, 219; A. G. Case, ninety-two.
For county surveyor, C. M. Webster received 164 votes out of a possible 303, H. H. Shaffer, being his unsuccessful competitor. Edwin Cudworth was elected coroner, receiving 168 votes, Elijah Gunn receiving ninety-one and C. M. Webster forty-seven votes for the same office. Forty-five votes were cast against the "hog law" to 236 in its favor, this beneficent measure being thus carried by a rattling majority.
SPECIAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 15, 1856.
A special election in aid of McGregor, St. Peter and Mississippi railroad. Total vote, 536; "for the railroad stock;" 352 "against the railroad stock," 176; ballots incorrectly worded, eight.
APRIL 6, 1857.
At this election D. A. Jackson was elected assessor by a vote of 381 out of a total of 579 votes, M. B. Taylor receiving 195, J. Jack-son one and F. Padden two. At the same election 309 votes were cast in favor of granting aid to the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska railroad and 216 votes against granting such aid. L. H. Bugsbee. received 329 votes for superintendent public instruction, Maturin L. Fisher seventy-nine. For commissioner of Des Moines river improvement. Edwin Manning received 329 votes to Gideon. S. Bailey's eighty-nine. For Register State Land Office. W. H. Holmes, 328; T. S. Parvin, eighty-nine.
AUGUST 3 1857.
Lorenzo Bailey was elected county judge, receiving 438 votes against I. C. H. Miller's 338. F. D. Bosworth was elected recorder and treasurer, the vote standing 421 for Bosworth to 353 for Wesley Swazee. For Sheriff; Frederick Padden, 414; A. E. Bigelow, 350. Surveyor, C. M. Webster, 430; H. H. Shaffer, 349. F. K. Figons was elected coroner and E. D. Filer, drainage commissioner. On the question of the adoption of the new constitution 685 votes were cast, 389 in favor of, and 296 against. On striking out the work "white" from the suffrage clause-ninety-one votes "yes," 109 votes "no."
OCTOBER 31, 1857.
In question of railroad tax-whole number of votes cast, 644; "yes," 270; "no," 375.
APRIL 5, 1858.
School fund commissioner, whole number of votes cast, 829; C. A. Orvis was elected. A. W. Billings, was elected surveyor;
Dr. J. Mack coroner; P. Green, drainage commissioner. On the question of locating county seat, 823 votes were cast the returns showing that Forest City received 432 votes and New Hampton 391. At this election a vote was taken on the question of rescinding the votes in aid of the McGregor, St. Peter and Mississippi and the Cedar Valley Branch of the Chicago, Iowa, and Nebraska railroads, the opponents of railroad aid coming out victorious by decided majorities. A proposed tax to the amount of $1,300 to aid in the construction of a bridge across the Big Cedar at Nashua was defeated.
OCTOBER 12, 1858.
C. O. Case was elected county clerk and William Tucker, drain-age commissioner. The vote for secretary of state was as follows: Elijah Sells, 427; Samuel Douglass, 322; total vote, 749. For member of Congress, 2d congressional district, William Vandever received 477 votes and W. E. Leffingwell, 322.
OCTOBER 11, 1859.
There were 730 votes east for county judge, E. H. Dore receiving 397, C. A. Orvis 333; W. E. Beach was elected recorder and treasurer; Patrick Gilligan, sheriff; G. J. Tisdale, superintendent; E. W. Davis surveyor, A. E. Bigelow, drainage commissioner and A. J. Smith, coroner.
NOVEMBER, 1860.
C. O. Case was elected clerk of district court, receiving the entire vote, 854. The following gentlemen were elected members of the first board of county supervisors: C. D. Johnson, F. D. Bosworth, Vinal Thayer, E. Perry, E. W. Davis, Gideon Gardner, E. Darst, William Tucker, Almon Harris, J. H. Vantassell, M. L. Palmer, D. R. Kerby.
OCTOBER 8, 1861.
There were 700 votes cast for county judge, Caleb Arnold receiving 483, W. C. Mitchell 217. Other county officers were elected as follows: Charles. Fitch, surveyor; J. A. Sawin, superintendent; Buell Sherman, coroner; Edwin Cudworth, drainage commissioner. For representative 685 votes were polled, of which J. F. Wilson received 440, William Tucker 244, and one "scattering."
FEBRUARY 25, 1862.
This was a special election for state senator, 40th senatorial district. But 294 votes were cast, of which G. W. Howard received 223, A. G. Case thirty-eight, scattering thirty-three.
OCTOBER 14, 1862.
C. O. Case was elected clerk of the district court and Samuel H. Young, surveyor. There were 112 votes cast by Chickasaw county volunteers in the service in various regiments.
OCTOBER 13, 1863.
For representative, 49th district, 927 votes were cast, Henry C. Vinton receiving 666 and Daniel Powd 261. S. G. Meriam was elected county judge his competitors being Caleb Arnold and B. E. Morton. The other officers elected were, Samuel H. Young, surveyor, F. D. Bosworth, superintendent; Buell Sherman, coroner; Edwin Cudworth, drainage commissioner.
NOVEMBER 8, 1864.
C. O. Case was elected clerk of district court, receiving 772 votes, the entire number cast. B. E. Morton was elected recorder. One hundred and 35 votes were cast by soldiers in the field. The question to appropriate funds to build county building was decided affirmatively by a vote of 497 to 270, and it was also voted to appropriate funds to build bridge at Nashua, there being 445 votes for, to 336 votes against.
OCTOBER, 10, 1865,
The total vote for representative, 49th district, was 908, as follows: G. J. Tisdale 489, D. A. Babcock 409, A. G. Case nine, W. A. Pitts 1. G. A. Hamilton was elected county judge, his competitors being M. C. Ayres and John Mays. John Dixon was elected sheriff, J. C. Johnson superintendent, S. H. Young surveyor, John A. Green drainage commissioner, L. H. Weller coroner.
OCTOBER 9, 1866.
C. O. Case was unanimously elected clerk of district court, total vote 1,085; B. E. Morton was elected recorder, and C. M. Webster, treasurer. The proposition to devote the swamp land fund to the erection of bridges and to public improvements, carried.
OCTOBER, 1867.
The total vote cast for representative, 4th district, was 1,074, of which William Tucker received 493. His unsuccessful competitors were G. J. Tisdale and L. H. Weller. G. A. Hamilton was elected county judge, James A. Albertson, sheriff, W. W. Birdsall, treasurer, J. C. Johnson superintendent, H. H. Potter surveyor, William Everingham coroner, J. H. Powers drainage commissioner.
NOVEMBER, 1868.
The Iowa Republican presidential electors received 995 votes; Democratic presidential electors, 520; total votes, 1,515. For Secretary of State, Ed. Wright received 1,023 votes; David Hammer, 492. William B. Allison received 960 votes for congress (3d congressional district); William Mills 529, and L. A. Thomas 4. "For the tax," 725; "against the tax," 619." Zelotes Bailey was elected clerk of district court. and B. E. Morton county recorder.
OCTOBER, 1869.
Representative, 57th district, total vote, 1,268; G. W. Butterfield 506, D. B. Hanan 441, William Tucker 311, one "scattering." The "stock act" was carried. W. W. Birdsall was elected county treasurer, G. A. Hamilton auditor, E. W. Beach sheriff, H. H. Potter surveyor, W. P. Bennett superintendent, Dr. Amos Babcock, coroner.
OCTOBER, 1870.
At this election 1,480 votes were polled, of which W, G. Donnan received 967, and J. T. Stoneman 517, for congress ; C. C. Cole, William E. Miller and James F. Day received majorities for judges of the supreme court; Ed. Wright received 988 for secretary of state, and county officers were elected as follows: C. A. Harris recorder, Joseph F. Grawe superintendent. Zelotes Bailey was elected clerk of district and circuit court. The proposition to establish a high school at Bradford was voted down.
OCTOBER 16, 1871.
For governor C. C. Carpenter received 1,001, and J. C. Knapp 694; for representative, 57th district, 1,677 votes were cast, of which D. B. Hanan received 889, his competitor being G. W. Butterfield. John Foley was elected treasurer, G. A. Hamilton auditor, R. O. Sheldon sheriff, C. Seeber Surveyor, J. F. Grawe superintendent, Dr. A. Babcock coroner, John A. Green members of board of supervisors. The proposition to restrain stock from running at large was voted down. The proposition to levy a tax of two mills to purchase a county poor farm, was decided affirmatively by a vote of 1,003 to 435.
NOVEMBER 12, 1872.
Total number of votes cast 1,660. For president, Grant received 1,122 and Greeley 501. Z. Bailey was elected clerk of courts, C. A. Harris recorder, W. D. Stafford member of the board of supervisor.
OCTOBER 14, 1873.
For representative, total vote 1,832; D. B. Hanan received 894 votes, F. D. Bosworth 641, William Tucker 296, and Daniel Pond one. George A. Hamilton was elected auditor, John Foley treasurer, R. O. Sheldon sheriff, J. F. Grawe superintendent, W. R. Geeting surveyor, Dr. I. K. Gardner coroner, E. R. Dickinson and E. C. Abbott member of board of supervisors. The county jail tax was defeated by a vote of 1,018 to 176.
OCTOBER 14, 1874.
Total vote, 1,500; J. M. Gilliland was elected clerk of the courts, C. A. Harris Recorder and E. C. Abbott member of Board of Supervisors.
OCTOBER 18, 1875.
The total vote for representative, 63d district, was 1,811; John McHugh was the successful candidate. Lee Chapman was elected auditor, John Foley treasurer, R. O. Sheldon sheriff, W. D. Collins superintendent, W. R. Geeting surveyor, I. K. Gardner coroner, Thomas Kenyon member of board of supervisors.
NOVEMBER 7, 1876.
J. M. Gilliland was elected clerk of the courts, C. A. Harris recorder, W. A. Eastman surveyor, E. R. Dickinson member of supervisors.
OCTOBER 9, 1877.
William B. Perrin was elected representative, 63d district; total vote polled, 2,471. The following county officers were elected: Lee Chapman auditor, John Foley treasurer, R. O. Sheldon, sheriff, W. D. Collins superintendent, W. A. Eastman surveyor, I. K. Gardner coroner, John Houser member of the board of supervisors.
OCTOBER 8, 1878.
Total vote, 2,539. J. M. Gilliland was elected clerk of the courts, C. A. Harris recorder, George W. Cotant surveyor, Thos. Kenyon supervisor.
OCTOBER 14, 1879.
Total vote, 2,974. W. B. Perrin was elected representative, 67th district; E. P. Sheffield auditor, John A. Green treasurer, R. O. Sheldon sheriff, Henry A. Simons superintendent, A. E. Quaife surveyor, I. K. Gardner coroner. At this election it was voted to increase the members of the board of county supervisors from three to five.
NOVEMBER 2, 1880.
Total vote, 2,758. J. M. Lynch was elected clerk of the court, A. H. Wight recorder, John Hauser, Hiram Bailey and Charles Cummerford supervisors. The act restraining stock from running at large was voted down.
OCTOBER 11, 1881.
The total number of votes cast for representative, 67th district, Was 1,763, of which James F. Babcock received 1,005, and Buell Sherman 758. E. P. Sheffield was elected auditor, John A. Green treasurer, Horton Mandeville sheriff, J. A. Lapham superintendent, C. L. Gabrilson supervisor, Geo. W. Cotant surveyor, I. K. Gardner coroner.
JUNE 27, 1882.
The vote on the Prohibition Amendment in Chickasaw county was as follows: Total vote, 2,450; for the amendment, 1,382; against the amendment 1,068-majority in favor of the amendment, 314.
CHAPTER III.
FIRST THINGS ; FIRST SETTLERS ; FIRST BIRTHS ; FIRST SERMONS ; FIRST STORE ; FIRST COURT ~ FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE ~ FIRST ROAD ; FIRST TAX LEVY ~ FIRST NATURALIZATION PAPERS ; EARLY TREASURER'S REPORT ~ FIRST BOARD OF COUNTY SUPER-VISORS ; FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS ; RECORDS FROM MINUTES OF MEETINGS OF BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ; BUILDING OF COURT HOUSE.
While the question of who has the honor of being the first white settler within the borders of what now constitutes the county of Chickasaw, lies clothed in doubt, misty tradition hath it, that several parties during the year 1840, came to the Indian Reservation, at or near where Bradford now stands, and staid all summer, breaking land, fencing, etc, (SEE BRADFORD TOWNSHIP). Still, as they did not remain permanently, they can hardly be considered in the light of first SETTLERS. The balance of evidence seems to point to the fact that Truman Merritt, who settled near Greenwood in the year 1848, is entitled to the name of being the first who brought his family into the county with the intention of remaining.
The first child born was a daughter of the above Merritt, who first saw light during the year 1850.
The first male child, however, was Elmer Case, whose birth in 1851, near Greenwood, brought joy to his family and a prospective voter to the county.
The first sermons preached were delivered in the year 1853, by a Mr. Ingam, at the house of Mr. John Bird, at the village of Bradford.
The first store ever opened in the county we are credibly informed was owned by J. A. J. Bird at Bradford and the date of its initiation was probably 1853.
For fuller particulars of all these events, we would respectfully refer our readers to the history of Bradford township, where, as that being the first settled portion of the county, these matters have been treated more in detail.
The first entry in the records of the county judges of Chickasaw county describes the boundaries of the county, and recites the order for organization and the appointment of John Bird "organizing Sheriff" in the election held on the 13th day of August, A. D., 1853. This, together with the entry recording the session of court held Sept. 5th, 1853, at which no business was transacted, signed by J. Lyons as county judge, and attested by S. C. Goddard as clerk, has been already quoted.
On the 5th of September, 1853, appears the first record of a marriage license granted, the contracting parties being Joseph Aving and Elizabeth Jarrard.
October 10, court again convened, but no business was trans-acted. At the session held November 7th, a petition signed by John Bird, Andrew Sample, E. A. Haskell and others, for a county road, to be called the West Union and Bradford road, was referred to E. A. Haskel as commissioner, to report at the next term of court.
On the 31st of December, 1853, a marriage license was granted to John Kerr and Loraine Philps.
On the 2d of January, 1854, Joseph Andrews was appointed selecting agent for swamp lands. On the 10th of February, 1854, S. E. Hackleton was granted license to peddle for three months, and on the same date a marriage license was granted to C. Rowley and Mary A. Thouraman. After this date matrimonial permits are of increasingly frequent occurrences.
At the April term, 1854, a petition of D. A. Babcock, S. C. Haynes and Joseph Andrews for a county road, to be called the West Union and Greenwood road, was referred to Samuel Thompson as commissioner ; road petitions and proceedings consequent there-on, forming a very considerable portion of the business transacted from and after this date. At the May term it was "ordered that the West Union and Bradford road become a road sixty-six feet wide, and that all roads hereafter be of the same width."
At a special term, August 28th, 1855, [From the connection of this paragraph with others, it is evident that this date should be 1854,] it was ordered that a tax on the taxable property in this county should be levied as follows : for state purposes, 3 mills ; for county purposes, 4 1/2 mills; for school purposes, 1/2 mill ; and a poll of 50 cents on each person liable thereto.
August 29th, 1854, "ordered that E. A. Haskell receive the appointment of recorder and treasurer."
Applications for county roads were especially numerous during the year 1855.
At a special term held July 23d, 1855, the following tax rates were established for the current year: for state purposes, 11 mills; for county, 6 mills; for schools, 1i mills; for roads, 3 mills; and a poll tax of 50 cents. An order was issued for an election of county officers, a vote for or against restraining hogs from running at large after April 1st, 1856, and a vote for or against vacating Greenwood village, the election to be held on the first Monday in Au-gust; and that Brink precinct be attached to Chickasaw for election purposes.
On the 20th of August the village of Greenwood was ordered vacated. On the same date appear the following entries:
"Ordered that Hazzard Green be appointed to sell intoxicating liquors for medicinal, sacramental and mechanical purposes only, for the salary of $50 per year, to sell in the Obispo precinct only;" and a similar entry with reference to J. A. J. Bird in the town of Bradford.
The first entry of B. E. DePuy as county judge, is of date October 1st, 1855, and has reference to the appointment of a commissioner, to locate a road to be known as the Waucoma road.
November 5th, 1855, James Lyons qualified as a justice of the peace.
At the February term, 1856, a petition was presented by Osgood Gowen from J. C. H. Miller and 224 others, for the selection of the-county seat at New Hampton, in the geographical center of the county, and an order was granted for a vote to be taken at the April election.
At the May term, 1856, W. E. Andrews, county judge ex-officio, "Samuel P. Elder was appointed liquor agent for the town of Bradford, at an annual salary of $100, and it was ordered that any liquor agent now acting in said county, or hereafter appointed, shall charge 25 per cent. profit on the cost of any intoxicating liquor sold by any such agent, until otherwise ordered by the court."
At the July term, 1856, it was ordered that a "road poll tax of $2 be laid on each person liable to pay county poll tax." The total tax levy for 1856 was 81 mills. One mill of the tax levied for road and bridge purposes, was "for building bridges too expensive to be constructed from the ordinary road tax.
"In pursuance of the code of Iowa, and by request of the people of Chickasaw county, an election was called for the 15th day of October, 1856, to vote upon the following question : "Whether the said county of Chickasaw will take $100,000 of the stock of the McGregor, St. Peters and Missouri river railroad company; said road to run by the way of Bradford; and issue bonds in payment therefore, bearing interest at the rate of ten per cent. per annum, the principal sum payable in twenty years; and that a tax be levied on the taxable property of said county, for the payment of interest and principal; said railroad company to pay the interest on said bonds until said road is in operation to the west line of said county. The form of the vote shall be: `For the railroad stock,' or, `Against the railroad stock.' "
By reference to the record of elections, it will be seen that at the election called for the above purpose, the question was decided in the affirmative, by a vote of 356 to 176; but at a subsequent election, held April 5th, 1858, this vote was rescinded by a majority as decisive.
The first record of naturalization is of date October 22d, 1856, when James Prior, a native of England, declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States.
At the November term, 1856, S. B. Carpenter was appointed liquor agent for Richland and adjoining townships, at a salary of $70.
The following is a copy of the settlement with the county treasurer of Chickasaw county, from September 1st, 1865, to March 18th, 1856:
G. W. Howard, County Treasurer,
To Chickasaw County, Dr.
To tax-list for 1855 ...................................... $ 5,853 14
" 281 polls........................................................ 140 50
" marriage fees................................................... 10 00
" fines................................................................ 10 00
" balance for 1854............................................ 183 43
Total..................................................... $ 6,197 07
Cr.
By delinquent tax.......................................... $ 1,635 72
" county warrants paid...................................... 787 97
" road ” “......................................... 212 77
" error in tax list................................................. 21 83
" payment to state treasurer............................. 500 00
" “ “ school fund commissioners............. 486 65
“ “ “ “ “ “........................... 15 00
Total....................................................... $ 3,659 94
The amount of taxable property as returned by the assessors for 1856, was $1,071,726.
There was placed in the hands of the county treasurer for collection, on the 15th day of September, 1856, the sum of $9,045.74, divided as follows: Amount of tax on property, $8,841.74; amount of poll tax, $204.00.
At the March term, 1857, a proclamation was issued, calling an election, to be held on the 6th day of April, 1857, to vote upon the question of taking $100,000 of stock of the Cedar Valley branch of the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska railroad company; said road to be run on the east side of the Little Cedar river, from a point near Bradford to a point at or near the village of Chickasaw; issuing bonds bearing 10 per cent. interest and running twenty years therefor. This proposition prevailed at the election by a vote of 309 to 216, but was also subsequently rescinded.
At the May term, 1857, the commissioners appointed by an act of the legislature to relocate the county seat of Chickasaw county, reported in favor of the geographical center at New Hampton.
The total tax levy for 1857 was 111 mills. A road poll of one dollar was levied, in addition to a poll tax of fifty cents, for county purposes.
We find under date of June 2d, 1857, that the county judge is-sue two marriage licenses, one to C. W. Taylor, and one to Geo. B. Holcomb, both to marry the same lady, and tradition hath it that the old adage in regard to two stools was borne out in this case as the lady remains unmarried to this day.
The first mention of Nashua in the county judge's record is, under date of December 15th, 1857, as follows: "Ordered that $1,000 of the special property tax be expended to construct a bridge across the Big Cedar at Nashua."
At Forest City, May 12th, 1858, the board of equalization reduced the assessment of 1857 upon real estate fifty per cent. The tax levy for 1858 was 91 mills.
Frederick Padden resigned as sheriff November 3d, 1858, and Charles E. Zwicks was appointed to fill the vacancy. W. S. Mower was appointed deputy sheriff and E. M. Aiken was appointed deputy clerk by C. O. Case. For 1859, a county tax of 4 mills, and a school tax of 1 mill were levied. On the 27th of October, 1859 the official bond of the county treasurer was placed at $8,000. For 1860, the tax rates for county and school purposes were the same as for the previous year.
The records of the board of county supervisors begin with the first meeting held at New Hampton on the 7th day of January, 1861. The following is a list of the
FIRST BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
C. D. Johnson, Bradford twp. E. Darst, Dayton twp .
F. D. Bosworth, Richland " Wm. Tucker, Chickasaw twp.
Vinal Thayer, Dresden " Almon Harris, Deerfield "
E. Perry, Fredricksburg " J. H. Vantassell, Washington twp
E. W. Davis, Stapleton " W. L. Palmer, Jacksonville "
Gideon Gardner, New Hampton D. B. Kerby, Utica
M. L. Palmer was elected president of the board, but resigned, and William Tucker was elected in his place. The appropriate committees were then appointed. On the following day rules and regulations were adopted, and miscellaneous business proceeded with.
At this term H. C. Baldwin was allowed ten cents per night for sleeping in the county office until further arrangements were made. The sheriff was instructed to move the safe, books, stationery and wood, for the use of the county officers, from the school house in New Hampton to the court room, and was given general charge of the few effects of the county. Blank books, to cost not more than seventy-five cents per copy, were voted the justices of the peace in each township, to be used as dockets. The total expense of this session, including pay of the supervisors, was $141.40.
On the 1st of June, 1861, the total amount of money in the county treasurer's hands for disbursement, was $3,302.93.
At the June term, 1861, it was ordered that the partition of the school building be removed, that the room be also used for district court purposes, and that Cotant & McCullow's building be rented for county offices, for one year at $60 per year.
At the same term the clerk was authorized to advertise for sealed proposals for the purchase of a farm, to be used as a county poor farm. At the October term, it was reported inadvisable, in the then condition of the county finances, to purchase a poor farm.
In the proceedings of the January term, 1862, appears the following entry: "Warn-no-cat and Mich-a-gan (Indians) presented accounts for bounty on wild cats. It was moved and seconded that the said accounts be allowed. The yeas and nays being called for, resulted nine yeas, and three nays. The members voting in the negative, said they did so on account of the oath of an Indian not being considered valid by our laws."
A resolution was introduced at this session, authorizing the employment of an attorney to represent the county in the case of Chickasaw county vs. Lorenzo Bailey, in the supreme court of the state, and reccommending J. O. Crosby.
A. W. Billings was appointed county surveyor in place of Chas. Fitch, who had left the state. The appointment of D. A. Jackson to be deputy sheriff was approved.
H. C. Baldwin, deputy recorder and treasurer, was requested and authorized to sleep in the county office, the records and moneys of the county being deemed liable to robbery and destruction, and Mr. B. was authorized to choose a person "as his company nights in said office," both to receive a suitable compensation, and accommodations to be furnished them by the county.
At the June term, 1862, citizens of Nashua asked an appropriation of $1,000 to build a bridge across the Big Cedar, which petition was referred to the committee on roads and bridges.
At the September term, 1862, Eli Darst was appointed county surveyor, vice E. W. Davis resigned, and Emily Stebbins was appointed deputy recorder and treasurer. At the October term, T. N. Skinner was appointed to fill vacancy as county superintendent occasioned by the removal of J. H. Sawin from the state. At this term, also, C. O. Case was authorized to purchase a county seal; and the salary of the clerk was fixed at $500 per year, deducting therefrom the amount of fees received.
At the September meeting of the board, 1863, the salary of the clerk was fixed at $600, exclusive of pay for assistance.
At the January term, 1864, the county treasurer's bond was fixed at $16,000. A petition from Nashua for $3,000 to build a bridge across the Big Cedar at that point, was denied, on the ground that the law prescribed the course to be pursued in such cases.
As an indication of the mighty onward march of progressive civilization, it may be mentioned that the board at this term authorized the clerk to purchase two kerosene lamps, one for the clerk's and the other for the treasurer's office.
At the June meeting, 1864, Mary Case was appointed deputy clerk.
J. H. Powers, for many citizens of the county, asked that, at the next regular election, the question of a sufficient appropriation from funds accruing out of the school lands to construct a bridge across the Big Cedar at Nashua, be submitted to the voters, and also asked that action be taken in the matter of providing a suitable county building, the latter of which requests is treated of in detail elsewhere in this book. The board arranged for ascertaining the amount necessary to construct a suitable bridge at Nashua, preparatory to submitting the matter to the voters.
The following bounties were fixed for scalps of wild animals; gray gophers, three cents; pocket gophers, five cents; wild cats, $3; prairie wolves, $5; timber wolves, $5.
At the September meeting, 1864, it was decided to submit to the voters, at the November election, the question of appropriating $4,000 out of the swamp land fund, to construct a bridge over the Big Cedar, at Nashua.
The tidal wave of progress still sweeps onward, over the bosom of the mighty west, and the sheriff is authorized to "procure a stove-pipe and fit a room for holding court."
At the meeting of the board of supervisors in June, 1865, the clerk was authorized to draw a warrant for fifty cents to pay for recording the deed given for the land donated by G. Gardner for the site of a court house, also a resolution was passed, appointing Messrs. Palmer of Jacksonville, Haslam of Dayton, and Wood-bridge of Bradford, a committee to enter into a contract on the part of the county, with some party or parties to build a court house.
The above contract was immediately placed before the board and bears date of June 6, 1865, and recites that the said court house was to be completed by November 25, 1865, and the terms of payment, according to the contract, were to be $840 cash down, $500 when the frame was raised, $500 when enclosed and finally eleven hundred and forty dollars when the building was completed and accepted by the county. The three last sums to be paid out of the funds known as the swamp land fund. J. H. Powers was the contractor, who filed his bond for the faithful performance of said contract, June 7th of the same year.
The tax assessments for the year are set as follows: state tax, 2 mills; county, 4 mills; school, 1 chill; bridge, I mill, and volunteer fund, 6 mills.
A resolution was passed by the board of supervisors at the September meeting, 1865, whereby W. B. Grant, W. Tucker and N. F. Lighthall were appointed a committee to oversee and take charge of the building of a bridge across the Cedar at Nashua, the erection of which was at that time being canvassed.
In October, 1865, a resolution was brought before the board, and by them passed, appointing to the office of county judge, G. A. Hamilton, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the removal from the county of S. G. Merriam.
In January, 1866, at a regular session of the board of supervisors, W. E. Beach, E. D. Woodbridge and E. K. Morrill were appointed a committee to ascertain the present and prospective indebtedness of the county, and devise some honorable means to re-store the warrants of said county to par and preserve the credit thereof.
At this meeting, the committee appointed at the September term, 1865, to oversee the building of the Nashua bridge, reported that the amount appropriated for that purpose would not be enough by two thousand dollars, and asked the appropriation of that sum, but after much discussion the matter was laid over until more prosperous times would allow it.
The indebtedness of the county as reported to the board, Jan. 1866, was as follows:
Outstanding unpaid warrants............................$ 8,510.98
Account of volunteers presented this session .... 13,315.51
Ordinary accounts................................................... 991.12
Probable additions.................................................. 100.00
Total indebtedness.................................. $22,917.61
Again at the meeting of the board of supervisors in June, 1866, the matter of the bridge at Nashua comes to the front and E. D. Woodbridge, Michael Cagley, and H. Case were appointed a committee to let the contract to build it if possible, and adding the sum of five hundred dollars to the four thousand dollars already appropriated for that purpose and to be helped by a private subscription of fifteen hundred dollars, the said bridge to be finished by March 1, 1867.
The tax rate fixed by the board for 1866, was as follows: state tax, 2t mills; county tax, 4 mills; with a poll tax of fifty cents; school, 1 mill; bridge, 3 mills, and volunteer fund, 10 mills.
According to a report made by the assessors of the several town-ships, to the board, the total valuation of the county for the year 1867 was $1,177,959.00.
At the June session, 1867, we find a report signed by A. G. Case, S. F. Eastman and E. H. Hall as commissioners, that they had let the contract for building the bridge over the Big Cedar at Nashua, to A. Spaulding, and that he had complied with the terms of the contract, and th