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HISTORICAL
AND
REMINISCENCES
OF
CHICKASAW COUNTY,
IOWA.
BY J. H. POWERS. |
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DES MOINES:
IOWA PRINTING COMPANY.
1894.
Dedication,
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
TO THE
OLD SETTLERS, WHO WADED SLOUGHS, SWAM
STREAMS, BREASTED THE STORMS OF
WINTER, LIVED ON CORN MEAL,
AND GREETED ALL COMERS
WITH GENUINE HOS-
PITALITY.
BY THE AUTHOR.
Preface.
The pages following do not pretend to reach the dignity of history, but only a rehearsal of events that were of interest at the time, and which are now recalled with the zest that time brings to events long past. In some measure, they show the way new settlers meet the loneliness of a new country, and how, out of hardship, they extracted recreation, and how crude character is developed and made to play a part in crystallizing a forming civilization. They recall some of the notable actors that took part in the opening up of the county, and in reducing a wild, wet and unattractive wilderness, to comfortable homes and productive fields. To the writer they recall experiences, that are revived with interest, repeated with pleasure. and recorded with pride.
Iowa.
The territory embraced within the present state of Iowa, is but a fraction of the vast domain originally discovered by French Jesuit missionaries during their frequent early incursions into the wilds of the Northwest, and taken possession of and annexed as French territory by right of discovery.
In the year 1763, after almost a hundred years of peaceful possession, France ceded to the Spaniards all of her possessions lying beyond the Mississippi river, and this vast rich territory remained under the management of Spanish authorities until the beginning of the present century when it again came into the possession of France.
In 1803 the treaty known as the "Louisiana Purchase" was consummated, whereby France, in consideration of $15,000,000 relinquished all her rights and title to the territory beyond the Mississippi river west to an indefinite boundary.
On the 31st of October, 1803. congress passed an act providing that all military, judicial and civil powers exercised in governing this new acquisition should be "vested in such persons and exercised in such manner as the president of the United States shall direct."
A year later (1804) the territory was divided, that part lying south of the 33d parallel becoming the Territory of Orleans, and that portion north of said line the District of Louisiana. The executive government of the latter division was placed under the control of General William Henry Harrison, then governor of Indiana, and the judiciary under the direction of the judges of Indiana Territory.
In 1805 congress again made an important change. On the 4th day of July of that year this district became the Territory of Louisiana, with executive and judicial powers vested in a governor and three judges, to be appointed by the president, with the consent of the senate.
December 7, 1812, the territory again underwent a great change, on that day becoming the Territory of Missouri, with the addition of an important factor in its government, that of a legislative department, consisting of a council and house of representatives, the latter composed of one representative for every five hundred free white male inhabitants, to be elected every two years by the votes of free white, male tax-paying citizens. The council consisting of nine members, was to be chosen by the president of the United States (with the approval of the Senate) from citizens residents of the territory, for an official term of five years. Vetoing power, absolute, was vested in the governor.
Congress, however, on the 29th day of April, 1816, enlarged the power of the people, granting, among other concessions, the right of popular vote to select council.
March 4, 1821, congress passed an act defining the boundaries of Missouri, and it was admitted as a state. This division left all that vast expanse of territory of which the present states of Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota are a part, again directly under the jurisdiction of congress, in which condition it seems to have remained until the middle of 1834, when it was attached to the Territory of Michigan.
Only as a matter of history, however, had these great changes affected in the least what is now known as Iowa, for it was not until the year 1833, the year previous to annexation to Michigan, that white people manifested any special interest in its settlement.
The Territory of Wisconsin was organized on the 3d day of July, 1836, carrying with it the two counties of Demoine and Dubuque.
The relationship thus existing between the counties of Wisconsin under one territorial government, of the people west of the Mississippi river, terminated July 3, 1838, with the organization of the general government, of the people west of the Mississippi river, into a separate territory to be known by the name of IOWA.
President Van Buren appointed Robert Lucas, of Ohio, Governor, and William B. Conway , of Pennsylvania, Territorial Secretary.
The seventh Territorial Assembly passed an act providing for the holding of a constitutional convention, and designated April 6, 1846, as the date for the election of delegates. This convention convened at Iowa City on May 4th of same year, and adjourned May 19th, after formulating a constitution which was afterwards ratified and adopted by the people at an election held August 3,1846, by the small majority of four hundred and fifty-six votes.
Under this constitution the State of Iowa was admitted as the twenty-ninth State of the Federal Union, on the 28th day of December, 1846, and the first State election held on the 26th day of October, 1846, so as to be ready to assume Statehood on Congress passing an enabling act.
Chickasaw County.
CHICKASAW COUNTY was first created as a political sub-division of the State of Iowa, in 1851, by Chapter 9, of the Acts of the Third General Assembly, Section 33 of which reads as follows: "That the following shall be the boundaries of a new county, 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 94, range 10; thence to the place of beginning," which act was approved on the 15th day of January, A. D. 1851.
By Chapter 120 of the Acts of the Fourth General Assemby the boundaries of Chickasaw county were changed as follows:
"Sec. 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 tile United States sub-division thereof shall be, and the same are hereby, detached from Chickasaw county, and attached to Howard."
By the Acts of the Fourth General Assembly, Chapter 12, approved January 12th, 1853, Chickasaw county was "attached to Fayette county for election, revenue and judicial purposes."
By Section 1 of this Act "the counties of Mitchell, Howard, Floyd, Worth and Franklin were attached to the county of Chickasaw."
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ORGANIZATION OF CHICKASAW COUNTY.
A PETITION having been presented to the county judge of Fayette county, asking that the county of Chickasaw be organized, the judge issued his warrant on the 31st day of June, 1853, as follows:
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 E. A. Haskell 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, 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 WOODLE, County Judge.
June 30, 1853.
In pursuance of this commission an attempt was made to organize the county in August, 1853, and officers were elected, but not in accordance with the wishes of the organizing sheriff, and as the easiest way to prevent the opposition getting control of the county no return was made, and as a consequence no power was given to those elected to perform the functions of their office.
Acting under the same authority the organizing sheriff called an election on the 3rd day of April, 1854, at which election the following officers were elected: James Lyon, county judge; S. C. Goddard, county clerk; John Campbell, treasurer and recorder; D. A. Babcock, prosecuting attorney; Andy Sample, sheriff. The only record showing date of election is the bond of John Campbell as treasurer and recorder, signed by G. R. Rowley and James L. Frazee as bondsmen (this was preserved from the wood box), and filed in county judge's office April 12, 1854. On the back of the commission is "Notice to organizing sheriff, filed December 31, 1854, in the office of county judge of Chickasaw county, J. Lyon, county judge."
Legend says that S. C. Goddard resigned as county clerk and J. A. J. Bird was appointed to fill the vacancy. The earliest record we find of J. A. J. Bird acting as county clerk is upon the commissioner's report for the locating of the county seat, which reads as follows: "Filed in the office of the clerk of the county court August 14, A. D., 1854, J. A. J. Bird, clerk."
TOWNSHIPS.
At the organization the whole county constituted but one precinct, and was known as Bradford.
In the County Judge's record is the following entry:
"At the March term of the county court, the 1855,
Ordered that the county of Chickasaw constitute five election townships.
1st. Township 94-14 and 13, to be called Bradford district.
2d. Township 95, Range 14 and 13, to be called Chickasaw district.
3d. Township 96, Range 14 and 13 to be called the Brink district.
4th. Township 961/2-97, Range 11 and 12 to be called the Obispo district.
5th. Township 94 and 95, Range 11 and 12 to be called Yankee district."
At a special session of the county court, held July 23, 1855, it was "Ordered that the Brink district be attached to Chickasaw for election purposes."
At the March term, 1856 "Application was made by petition to organize township 96, range 14, and asking for the name of Deerfield to be given the same, which was granted, and south half 97, range 14 added thereto."
"Township 94, range 14 (should have been 13) was ordered organized and called Richland."
"Application was made to organize 96 and south half 97, range 13, which was granted." No name given on the record, but should have been Washington.
June term of Record, says: "It appearing to this court that the township of Washington failed to effect a legal organization in accordance with the order of this court made at the March term thereof A. D. 1856, therefore the said township of Washington is attached to Deerfield township for township and county purposes." The real offense was that the vote of this town, if allowed, would have removed the county seat from Bradford to New Hampton.
February term 1857, "Town 95, range 13 was ordered to be organized under the name of Dayton."
April term, 1857, " Township 95, range 12 was ordered organized under name of New Hampton." Also, township 96, range 13, and south half of township 97, range 13 under the name of Washington; township 94, range 11 and 12, under name of Fredericksburg; the west half of township 94, range 12 was attached to Richland; township 95, range 11 under name of Stapleton.
March term 1858, township 96, range 12, and south half of township 97, range 12 was ordered organized under the name of Jacksonville.
Township 96, range 11 and south half of township 97, range I I was ordered organized under the name of Utica.
In 1859, township 94, range 12 was ordered organized under the name of Dresden.
Subsequently the east tier of sections of Dresden were detached and attached to Fredericksburg but were afterwards returned with the exception of the southeast quarter of section 12 and the northeast quarter of section 13. The northeast of the southeast and the southeast of the northeast of section 12 have been detached from Dayton and attached to New Hampton.
Thus it will be observed that we have lost as townships names the euphonious ones of Obispo, Brink and Yankee.
[NOTE: The original text contains five line drawings showing the layout of the townships in Chickasaw County in the years 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858 and 1894. These line drawings are not reproduced in this transcription. However, you may see similar line drawings on this web page http://iagenweb.org/chickasaw/mapstownshpsevol.htm].
NAMES.
Prior to the settlement of the County, it was occupied by a Tribe of Indians bearing the name of Chickasaw - in early documents it was Chickesaw - and their chief was named Bradford. The County and the Town of Chickasaw were named after this Indian Tribe, and the Township of Bradford after its chief.
The Town of Brink was named after a man by the name of Brink, who built the "Brink House" about two miles northeast of the present City of New Hampton, on the banks of the east Wapsie.
Obispo was named by "Yankee Smith," for his patron Saint, St. Obispo.
The Town of Yankee was suggested by Fred Padden, he declaring that it was settled by a set of "d----- Yankees."
Deerfield was named by J. A. Sawin, and the name was suggested by the vast herds of deer seen grazing on her prairies.
The name of Richland was selected at its first election by ballot. Malachi Havelick suggested Milan, J. D. Hawes Medina, and F. D. Hall Richland, remarking that the fertility of its soil would thus be expressed in its name. A motion was made to ballot for a name, and when the ballots were counted, it was found that the name of Richland had the most ballots, and that name was adopted.
Washington was named in honor of the Father of Our Country, by S. W. Byers.
Dayton was named by E. R. Gillett to commemorate the name of the man who run for vice-president with Fremont, Gillett having been his ardent supporter.
New Hampton was named by Osgood Gowen in honor of his old home, he having come from New Hampton, New Hampshire.
Fredericksburg was named after Fred Padden, who was one of its first settlers.
Stapleton was named after Thomas G. Staples, he being her first settler.
Jacksonville was named by J. H. Dickens in honor of his old home, he having emigrated from Jacksonville, Illinois.
Utica was named by Hugh Johnston, after his old home in Venango County, Pennsylvania
Dresden, having become settled with a large per cent of Germans, they desired to commemorate a spot of their father land, and named the township Dresden.
The villages of Bradford, Chickasaw, Fredericksburg and New Hampton, take their names from the townships in which located.
Nashua received its present name from E. P. Greeley, in honor of his old home in New Hampshire. It was at first called Bridgeport, and when Andy Sample and Dea. Woodbridge became its proprietors, Sample had it changed to Woodbridge. When Greeley became its principal proprietor he gave it its present name.
North was prefixed to Washington, for the reason there was so many post offices in the State by the name of Washington, that the department refused to grant another.
Lawler was named after John Lawler, of Prairie Du Chien, he being the active agent representing the railroad company when the town was laid out.
Ionia is a second thought, it being first named Dover, but as the department refused to grant another post office by that name it was changed to Ionia, but who suggested that name is not certain. Its first name was given to it by Mr. Hammond in honor of his former home.
Bassett was named after one of the firm of Bassett & Hunting, an extensive wheat buying firm along the line of the railroad, they both living in McGregor.
COUNTY SEAT.
At the organization of the County there was but one Precinct and that was Bradford and per force of that fact it became the County Seat.
Section Five of Chapter Twelve of the Laws of the Fourth General Assembly provided
"That a majority of the citizens of any County, after becoming organized, may petition the district judge in whose judicial district the same is situated, during vacation of the General Assembly, whose duty it shall be to appoint three Commissioners from three different adjoining Counties, who shall proceed to locate the County Seat of such County according to the provisions of this act."
Under the authority here conferred a petition was presented to Judge Wilson, who was at that time district judge of the Second Judicial District of Iowa, of which Chickasaw County was a part.
There is no record showing who was appointed except the report of the Commissioners, which was filed in the office of the Clerk of the District Court August 14, A. D. 1854, the filing on the back being "J. A. J. Bird, Clerk," and signed by William McClintock, of Fayette County, and John B. Onstine, of Winneshiek County. The third man not signing his name is lost in oblivion. The following is the report of the commissioners:
To the Honorable County Judge of Chickasaw County, Iowa:
The undersigned, Commissioners appointed by the judge of the Second Judicial District of the state of Iowa, to locate and establish the County Seat of said County of Chickasaw, respectfully report that having had the same under consideration, they have selected the town of Bradford in the county and state aforesaid, as the point at which said County Seat is hereby located and established.
Wm. McClintock,
John B. Onstine,
Commissioners.
At the February term of the County Court, 1856, a petition of J. C. H. Miller and two hundred and twenty-four others was presented, praying "that at the next April election to be holden thereafter in said county, a vote shall be taken between Bradford, the existing County Seat of said County, and New Hampton, for the County Seat."
The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and in accordance therewith an election was held, and New Hampton received two hundred and thirteen votes and Bradford two hundred and six votes.
When the vote was canvassed the township of Washington was thrown out, and this left a tie, giving each place two hundred and three votes, and as it took a majority to move the County Seat, the canvassing board decided in favor of Bradford.
On the sixth day of June, 1856, an information was filed by Osgood Gowen, in the office of the Clerk of the District Court, asking for a writ of mandamus, and in accordance with the prayer, a writ was issued against the board of canvassers the same day. On the day following, two members of the board -- W. E. Andrews, who was ex-officio County Judge, and John Bird, Justice of the Peace, filed a response, which is given in full, as it contains nearly all the history of the case, and is, moreover, a unique specimen of that legal explicitness which is supposed to be attained only through technical verbiage.
State of Iowa, In the District Court of
Chickasaw County. said County.
To the June Term thereof, A. D. 1856.
In the matter of the information of Osgood Gowen for Mandamus against the board of canvassers of Chickasaw County aforesaid, in the matter of an election between Bradford and New Hampton, for the establishment of the County Seat of said County.
"And the said W. E. Andrews and John Bird, canvassers of election in said information, mentioned, come, and answering, say that they admit that at the February term of the County Court, of said County of Chickasaw, A. D. 1856, a petition was presented to said County Court, by J. C. H. Miller and two hundred and twenty-four citizens, as alleged in said information, upon which said petition an order was made by said County Court that the question of a relocation of said County Seat of Chickasaw County be submitted to a vote of the legal voters of said County in the year 1856; and that, in pursuance of said order submitting the question of a relocation of said County Seat to a vote of the legal voters of said County at the April election A.. D. 1856, said question was submitted and voted on at said election. And your respondents further answering, say severally and respectively, that in the returns of said election and according to the same, it did appear that the town of New Hampton had received the number of two hundred and thirteen votes for the County Seat of said County, and that the town of Bradford received two hundred and six votes for the County Seat of said County as appeared on the face of the papers purporting to be said returns of the said election. And your respondents aver, and they so answer, that all the returns so made to the County Judge of said County of Chickasaw at the election so held in and for said County, were then and there to-wit: At Bradford in said County, duly examined and canvassed as the law directs, by said board of canvassers; and that after such examination and canvass as aforesaid it was found that the said election returns at the election held as aforesaid for the purposes aforesaid, were duly and properly made in compliance with law, with the exception of the Township of Washington in said County; and after duly examining and canvassing the returns of said election so held as aforesaid, for the purpose aforesaid for all the townships and precincts in said county, it was found that returns of the votes for the said Township of Washington were insufficient, irregular and of no effect, and utterly null and void in law, and so said respondents, answering as aforesaid, aver that said votes of the Town of Washington, given at said election, having been found and decided by said board of canvassers, and were then and there within the time aforesaid duly and legally rejected by said board of canvassers, after a legal canvass of the said votes and returns, then and there held for insufficiency, irregularity and nullity, and for no other reason.
"And your respondents, further answering, say that after said returns of all said townships and precincts of the said county of Chickasaw was so canvassed as aforesaid, and the returns of the votes of the said township of Washington were so rejected as aforesaid, the state of the canvass was as follows, to-wit: Bradford received two hundred and three votes; and of the votes so rejected after said canvass as aforesaid, ten votes were cast for New Hampton and three votes for Bradford; and that your respondents there made out and signed a statement of the canvass aforesaid, specifying the said number of votes cast for the respective places aforesaid, which remains of record in the office of the County Judge of said county, by reference to which will more fully appear. And your respondents, further answering, deny that they have done ought in the premises aforesaid; they have acted fairly, honestly and in good faith, as they believed, and still believe, in strict accordance with law and their duties as canvassers as aforesaid. And your respondents having fully answered herein, beg to be discharged.
W. E, Andrews,
John Bird."
It was claimed by the relators that the board of canvassers having found the returns from Washington Township irregular, were in duty bound to return them to the township officers for correction, and to stay the canvass until the returns were corrected and returned, and then complete the canvass. A change of venue from the County was applied for, and the case fell between the courts, it being claimed that the proper fees were not paid for a transcript, and the decision of the canvassers remained and the County Seat remained at Bradford.
The reason given for the change not being completed, seems strange at this late day, for it belongs to the applicants for the change of venue to pay this fee, and a failure on their part left the case pending in this County. It was more than a hint that the relator plowed with the Bradford heifer.
The throwing out of the returns from Washington Township not only defeated the removal of the County Seat to New Hampton, but changed the election of every County Officer in the county. The public mind was in a high state of excitement, and local party feeling run high.
A public meeting was called to meet at the Brink House -- a well known hotel on the banks of the east Wapsie, about one and one-half miles northeast of New Hampton --the objects and proceedings of which will more fully appear by a perusal of the report of one of the board of canvassers, and which was issued as a hand bill.
INDIGNATION MEETING.
Pursuant to notice the citizens of central, western and the northern parts of Chickasaw County, assembled at the Brink House on Wednesday, April 23, 1856, and organized by calling Hon. J. C. H. Miller to the chair and electing E. R. Gillett, Esq., secretary.
The chairman stated the objects of the meeting in a few words:
"It seems," he said, "that we are called together to deliberate upon the ways and means, whereby the people -- the majority of the people -- claiming to be republicans, shall be heard, and the 'elective franchise' vindicated." On motion, a report (minority) from G. R. Rowley, one of the county board of canvassers, was read and ordered to be printed in the Dubuque Tribune. On motion, a committee of three was appointed to procure counsel. Osgood Gowen, T. A. Jacobs and David Edwards were appointed said committee. Mr. Cutler introduced the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting, and the report of Mr. Rowley (together with 200 circulars struck off) be published in the Dubuque Tribune. On motion the meeting adjourned sine die.
E. R. GILLETTE, J. C. H. MILLER,
Secretary. Chairman.
A MINORITY REPORT.
To the Electors of Chickasaw County, Iowa:
As one of the canvassers of the election held in Chickasaw County on April 7th, I deem it my duty in justice to you, to inform you of the number of votes cast at the time for the different County Officers, and also for County Seat.
They are as follows:
Whole number of votes cast for County Judge was 426.
Mr. Miller received of these votes 215
Mr. Bailey received of these votes 210
Leaving a majority in Miller's favor of 5
Whole number of votes cast for County Clerk was 423.
Mr. Jacobs received of these votes 216
Mr. Webster received of these votes 207
Leaving a majority in Jacobs' favor of 9
Whole number of votes cast for County Surveyor was 423.
Mr. Webster received of these votes 196
Air. Billin as received of these votes 183
Leaving a majority in Webster's favor of 13
Whole number of votes cast for School Fund Commissioner, 412.
Mr. Tucker received of these votes 219
Mr. Wriollit received of these votes. 206
Leaving a majority in Tucker's favor of 6
Whole number cast for County Seat was 420.
New Hampton, or Geographical Center, received of these votes 213
Bradford received of these votes 206
Leaving New Hampton, or Center, a majority of 7
The Hon. W. E. Andrews, then acting as Judge, John Bird, Esq., and myself, constituted the board. We differed on the validity of the returns from the Washington Precinct. (The reasons assigned by the canvassers for the throwing out of Washington Precinct, was this: all the board of election in that Precinct did not sign the returns, and hence this ousting business. Washington is a new Precinct, having only organized at the last election, and they had not the Code to guide them.) But there being two to one they overruled me, and throw out those returns, after having them down on the clerk's tally list, which, if not destroyed, can yet be seen in the office; they were crossed off, and the remaining precincts counted, which changed the result of the election. If, fellow citizens, this was the first time that Bradford and her hirelings had polluted the sanctity of the ballot box, we might overlook it. It is no longer ago than last August that we elected this same J. C. H. Miller as our County Judge by over fifty majority. Then the Hon. Judge Lyons and E. A. Haskell, Esq., perverted the will of the majority of the votes of the County by throwing out a precinct with over sixty votes to obtain their ends, without any just cause, as I verily believe, and so the Court decided, before whom the honorable Judge was taken, and it saw fit to bind him over to answer for fraud and corruption in changing the result of the election.
But what do we now see? The same prosecuting attorney, who took such an active part against the Hon. Judge Lyons, and had him bound over, now is called upon to act as judge and canvasser. How much does he lack of perverting the will of the people? Has he not also taken advantage of ignorance or oversight, and changed the result of the election, when it was in his power to have avoided it ? "O, consistency thou art a jewel."
Fellow citizens, the day of our freedom and independence has gone by in this far-famed county of Chickasaw; the will of the majority has to succumb to a meager minority. The democratic will, "the greatest good to the greatest number," is perverted, and its glorious precepts trampled on with impunity. Again, the American principles, "The majority shall rule," is cast aside, and a new plank is instituted, thus "The minority shall rule in Chickasaw county henceforth and forever."
Fellow citizens, was ever so palpable gross fraud perpetrated as this? Were ever inconsistencies so glaring as those of our Bradford neighbors? We may boast of our love of liberty, and expatiate with owlish gravity upon the wrongs of Kansas, but I tell you the home ruffians in this county tower in brutal atrocity and unmitigated villany above the Kansas-Missouri brigands. We may talk of going to Kansas to defend the ballot-box from a Missouri mob; but we know little of our duty when we thus talk and act; we little think the same thing is transpiring in our very midst; the ballot-box is wrested from us -- the palludium of our liberties assaulted -- the voice of the majority slighted -- the rights of the people taken away.
Fellow citizens, how long shall we be slaves to the minority in this land of liberty, "this land of the free and home of the brave? " If our voice is not to be heard and heeded at the ballot-box, what security have we for our lives and our property? Are they not in jeopardy? Are they not in the hands of those that could barter them away for a "mess of pottage?" What! the minority rule? If the minority continue to rule how long before we are burdened with taxes. How long before we are called upon to build county buildings at Bradford? The minority rules and we must submit! Shall we let this wrong pass unnoticed and unrebuked? Is there any assurance that there will not be a repetition of the same offense next year? and the next? and so on for a series of years? In the language of Patrick Henry, "shall we gain strength by inaction and irresolution? shall we lay supinely on our backs, and hug the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies have bound us hand and foot?" Answer these questions, fellow citizens, upon the altars of your hearts. Answer them with an eye single to the welfare, happiness and prosperity of this beautiful county.
As your canvasser, fellow citizens, I have laid the subject before you for your consideration. Hoping that you will take notice of such facts as I have submitted to you.
I am, respectfully, your humble servant.
G. R Rowley.
Finding that they were thwarted at the ballot-box, and having elected E. R. Gillett as, Representative who was favorable to a change of the County Seat, an act was passed by the General Assembly appointing a Commission to relocate the County Seat, and by Chapter two hundred and thirty-six, of the Laws of the Sixth General Assembly it was provided, "That D. B. Wallen, of Bremer county, H. B. Hoyt and C. A. Newcomb, of Fayette county, be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to relocate the Seat of Justice of Chickasaw County, on the first Monday of March, 1857, or within two months thereafter, as a majority of them may agree in the pursuance of their duties under the provisions of this act."
Under this appointment D. P. Wallen and H. B. Hoyt met and relocated the County Seat at New Hampton. The entry in the County Judge's Record says: The Commissioners appointed by the Act of the Legislature to relocate the County Seat of Chickasaw county, report in favor of the Geographical Center, or New Hampton.
There was a general desire of the south part of the County that there should be an effort to take the County Seat from New Hampton at the next election. But one town could be voted for at one election, and there were three aspirants for the place, Fredericksburg, Forest City and Bradford. Many were the councils, and protracted the discussion as to how they should settle upon a place, for to even hope for success there must be harmony. At a final interview it was agreed that a representative of each town should together visit every voter in the southern tier of Townships, taking their first and second choice of places, and when so taken, they were to add the first and second choice together, and the town having the largest sum was to be the town to be voted for. This looked fair on its face, but it was soon found that the middle town bad greatly the advantage. When this dawned upon the outside towns it was too late to join and make common cause, for Forest City had foreseen this and had crowded the canvass so that nothing could be done and Forest City was successful.
Up to this time, one of the principal actors in representing the interests of Bradford, was John Bird. Of medium stature, dark complexion, and compact build, he was the early local politician and manager that controlled the interests of Bradford. To be a Bradford man was to evoke his interest at once. As a wire-puller, he stood head and shoulders above his compeers, and freely used all that came to band for his purposes, and even the shrewd Case and the cautious Howard, were more than once used III-o poke his chestnuts from the fire. Subsequently the other fellow poked the chestnuts, much to his sorrow. The trouble with him that he did not grow as fast as his surroundings, and when the County S6at left Bradford, Bird lost his prominence, and never regained it. Among the leaders that came to the front as managers of the changed interests of the south, was Hiram Bailey, who, so long as Forest City had interests, pulled the ropes that changed the scenes.
A petition was presented to the County Judge, asking that the question of the removal of the County Seat from New Hampton to Forest City and the prayer of the petitioners was granted and the question was submitted to a vote of the electors of the county, on the fifth day of April, 1858. When the vote was canvassed, the vote of Washington township was thrown out and not counted, for the reason that there was no accompanying poll list. It was found that the Deerfield poli-book had been tampered with, and the aggregate of the vote for County Seat, had been changed from fifty-three to forty-three, although the accompanying tally Sheet showed the number of fifty-three, and by counting only the forty-three, it left ten of the aggregate of the vote cast, unaccounted for. As soon as the vote on the County Seat question was canvassed, and without waiting to complete the balance of the canvass, declaration was made that the County Seat was at Forest City, and the canvassing board was adjourned to meet there at 2 o'clock that afternoon. Within a few minutes the books, furniture and papers of the county offices were in transit for the newly declared County Seat.
On the 3d day of June, 1858, an information was filed in the clerk's office, asking for a writ of mandamus compelling the board of canvassers to count the votes that had been cast, including those of Washington and the ten in Deerfield. A special term of the District Court was called to meet in August to hear the case. At the August term an alternative writ was issued, and after hearing, a peremptory writ issued as prayed, and respondents appealed.
At the time of the filing of the information for a writ of mandamus an information was filed asking for a writ of certiorari. At the special session of the district court these papers were lost and leave was granted to file new ones at the next term of the court.
The mandamus case was reversed by the supreme court as being an improper remedy, so far as the count of Deerfield was concerned, but that it was a proper remedy to force the counting of the vote of Washington, not with standing the poll list was lacking.
On the 12th day of April, 1859, an application was made to the district judge for an injunction restraining the county officers from holding their offices at any other place than at New, Hampton, and one was issued.
At the next term of court the injunction was made perpetual.
Thus was the wrong righted and New Hampton again received her own.
There has been talk of trying to take the county seat from New Hampton, and at one time there was an attempt to secure an election to that end, but the remonstrants so far outnumbered the petitioners that even a completion of their official count was prevented, by the petitioners withdrawing their petition.
[NOTE: The original text contains nineteen tables showing the voting results for State Senator, Representative, County Judge, Clerk, Treasurer and Recorder, Coroner, County Superintendent of Common Schools, Recorder, Sheriff, County Assessor, Auditor, Surveyor, Drainage Commissioner, and Supervisors. There is also a table of voting results for "Special Questions Submitted to the Electors of the County" and a table of yearly tax levies from 1855 to 1890. Among these tables is also found the text, transcribed below, about the School Fund Commissioner. These tables are not reproduced in this transcription. However, you may see a list of office holders during this period on this web page http://iagenweb.org/chickasaw/history1919ch05.htm].
SCHOOL FUND COMMISSIONER.
At the organization of the county John Bird was elected, but no record was made of his election.
The records in the office show that he acted continuously until October 20, 1856, at which time he made a contract with J. A. J. Bird for the sale of Northwest quarter of the Northwest quarter of section Sixteen, Township Ninety-four North of Range Fourteen West of the Fifth Principal Meridian.
William F. Wright was elected at the spring election of 1856, but no record made of the same. We find that he was acting on the 31st of July, 1856, when he received a school fund mortgage which was executed on that day to him as School Fund Commissioner. It would be impossible, and probably unwise, to reconcile the acting of two School Fund Commissioners at the same time.
In 1858, at the April election, C. A. Orvis received 470 votes for the office of School Fund Commissioner, and R. Baldwin 275. As the office was abolished Orvis never acted.
Reminiscence
About 2 o'clock of the morning of the 10th day of May, 1857, the whistle sounded and the steamboat swung in toward McGregor's Landing," and supposing that the shore had been reached I stepped over the edge of the boat and found myself in water. I was pulled on shore and thus found a helping hand on my return to Iowa. Went to the hotel and wrung out my clothes, and at the time of the starting of the stage at 8 o'clock, was enjoying a steam bath, but embarked on the stage for West Union, where I arrived in the evening, cold, hungry, and a little depressed. Went to my room early and proceeded to open up my wet clothes and hang them around the room to dry. Had just got to bed when I was disturbed by a rap on the door and, opening it, found that - there was another guest who was expected to lodge with me. On looking in and observing the appearance of things he declined to come in and share my room with me, and as he left I heard him remark, "that d--d fool has got his washing out."
Starting the next morning on foot, for the ample reason that I had no money with which to pay stage fare, at the hollow west of town, found a team stuck in the slough with a load of potatoes and stopped to give the men a lift, but as the stage came along and the passengers and driver refused to stop, concluded to pass on and let them help themselves. Passed the stage at the "Vermont House" and did not see it again until it reached Fredericksburg . My directions as to the road were: "Pass Potter's at the county line, follow the wagon trail leaving the twin trees to the right, and the first settlement will be the town."
My entrance into Chickasaw was on the 11th day of May, I857. I arrived in Fredericksburg some time in the afternoon, just as it began to rain.
As I came up to the old log hotel Webster Pease greeted me and asked if I had seen the stage. I told him that I passed it at the "Vermont House." where it had stopped for dinner, as I judged from appearances. Thus Webster Pease was the first man to speak to me in the county. He was acting as hotel clerk, the house being kept by Lorenzo Carter.
As I passed into the house I was greeted by E. W. Davis, who was then acting as County Surveyor. For the first time, through his kindness, instructions were given me about Townships, Ranges, Sections, and the subdivisions of sections, and other things pertaining to the United States survey. Among those present were Abner Pease and Charles E. Zwick, and soon Fred Padden came in and I was introduced to him. and he was represented to be the leading spirit of the place. He presented the prospective growth of the town with such a breezy confidence, and so glowing was the prospect, that I felt that fortune had smiled upon me in leading me to a place where my fortune was so fully assured.
As it rained all the balance of the day I was obliged to stay all night. As I desired to see all that was going on I was escorted to an upper room where was the only faro table I have ever seen in the county. As I had walked from West Union, for the reason that I had no money with which to pay stage fare, I did not make much display bucking the tiger. On the morning of the twelfth I started for Forest City, a prospective town located on sections twelve and thirteen, township ninety-four, range thirteen, being in what is now Richland township, and one mile west of the present Williamstown post office.
The first settlement on the road west of Fredericksburg was that of A. V. Allen, who kept hotel in a log house, situated on the northeast corner of section 18-94-12, he having a large straw-covered building for a horse barn. Opposite and further west was the log house of Vinal Thayer, about twenty rods from the road.
A little west of Vinal Thayers I called where a log shanty was being erected, and on accosting the workman, found it was E. W. Proctor, whom I had known in Ohio. Thus E. W. Proctor was the first acquaintance I met in the county. On the southwest corner of section seven was the log house of William W. Pike. Walking through the mud another mile, I came to the "city," where I found Hiram Bailey and wife, and a number of acquaintances that I had known in Ohio.
Here I took another lesson in western hopes and prospects, and learned how fortunate I had been in escaping Fredericksburg, and coming to so magnificent a place as Forest City was bound to be. Fredericksburg was well enough as an outlying town, but was too far to one side to ever amount to much, or to become a leading town in the county.
Forest City was in the center of the county, east and west, and would always be on the main stage and railroad route, and there would never be any trouble from the inhospitable and bleak prairies of the north part of the county. My presence in the city was soon known, and its denizens came to call upon me, and among the number was William B. Grant, to whom I was introduced, and who was reported as being the moving element of the place, and engaged at that time in the erection of a saw mill, to which was to be added a grist mill in due time.
If Fred Padden was breezy, Grant had a towering confidence that left no doubt, at least in his own mind, of his ability, and while the leading spirit of the "Burg" was we'll enough in his place, yet he would never do to look after the interest of such a place as Forest City was bound to be. Both of these old pioneers have been canonized by having the post-offices of their respective towns named after their given names, although Williamstown has been moved one mile east of the old cite of Forest City. In many things there was a striking likeness in the career of these old pioneers; both relying upon borrowed capital with which to carry on their work; both erecting saw mills; and while both did much to develop the country, both met disappointment in not realizing the full fruition of their hopes.
To be sure there has been a family compensation, for their respective brothers, " Low " and " Preck," have both been prospered and have each an abundance of this world's goods, thus again exemplifying that "one shall sow and another reap."
As I came through Fredericksburg, the ones that impressed me as being the leading spirits, were Fred Padden, Charles E. Zwick, D. B. Hanan and Lorenzo Carter. Padden showed symptoms of celtic origin, active, aggressive and ready for the main chance. Carter was more phlegmatic, and appeared to be ready to enter into a deal with any one who appeared to present good fallow ground for his speculative plow.
Charles E. Zwick was a slim, light haired, light complexioned, cadaverous and nervous appearing person, showing nervous zeal in whatever he engaged, and was subsequently appointed Deputy Sheriff under Padden and on Padden's resignation was appointed by the County Judge to fill the vacancy. He became a strong partizan, during the county seat fight, for the "south," and proved to have a wonderful memory, where there was an official act to be done in its interest, but where, in his judgment, delay was favorable, his memory was not so acute.
D. B. Hanan was, to all appearance, a representative of the "boys," and was interested in a bowling gallery and its accompaniment, talked horse and gun and played the fiddle.
The residents of Forest City were Hiram Bailey and wife, William B. Grant and wife, Joseph George, wife and two sons, Dr. Samuel B. Carpenter, who was living with his fifth wife and had come west to grow up with the country, Prescott Grant, Richard Elliott, Zelotes Bailey, Turner S. (commonly called " Tip ") Bailey, Amy Bailey and Henry H. Bailey.
Zelotes, Turner S. and Amy were minor wards of Hiram Bailey, lie having been appointed guardian. of his deceased brother's children.
Soon after my arrival I found an intense excitement, caused by a prospective meeting of a Legislative committee which was to locate the County Seat. There was great activity in circulating petitions to be used in influencing this committee, and it was with much regret that I could not sign, for I had not been in the county sixty days.
At Forest City, Dr. Carpenter and Hiram Bailey were living in unfinished frame houses, and the others were living in log shanties with shed roofs made with split shakes and in some instances these were covered with sod to make them warmer. Grant was building a frame house in town and Joseph George was building one half mile north.
Zelotes and "Tip" Bailey had burned a kiln of brick the fall before, being the first brick made in the county, and I went to work building a brick hen-house for Hiram Bailey, which was the first brick building erected in the county. I also built a chimney for Joseph George on his new house. As the town existed only on paper, I went to work, after finishing my brick work, surveying the town, according to the plat they had adopted. As it then stood it was covered with hazel brush, with the exception of the slough that run just south of the saw mill, and this was full of water.
On the Sunday following my arrival, I attended a Sunday School at the log house of Malachi Havelick, one mile north of town. This was followed by a temperance meeting, and among the speakers were Judge Bailey, Hiram Bailev, E. R. Gillett and M. Haverlick, and Mrs. E. R. Gillett read an essay, and here I made my first speech in the county. The singing was enthusiastic and did credit to the old song:
"Thrice welcome friends, and here we meet in friendship's circle bright,
Where nothing mars the pleasure sweet or dims the radiant light."
My next oratorical effort was made when the steam whistle sounded for the first time at the sawmill. This was looked upon as an event, and but the herald of the locomotive that would soon go screaming through and past the town. It was a good time to let the eagle soar and we let him fly. It was for a long time a disputed point as to which could be heard the farthest, the steam whistle, or Judge Bailey.
Judge Bailey was a character that could only exist in a new country, and could be developed and brought out nowhere else.
Born in a new and timbered country, of poor parents, his early life was spent at work and without the benefit of schools. At his majority he could hardly write his name, and the county records show that he never developed the art of chirography to any great extent.
Reared in a rural and sparsely settled country, surrounded by a class of religionists that related their experience with more fervor than thought, his imagination was developed in volume and spirit characteristic of uncultured force. Of large square build, with a small, compact and round head - given to being bald - with an uncommonly large and projecting nose, and a stentorian voice, he sounded forth his convictions and experiences, and exhorted the unrepentant to flee from the wrath to come in tones that would put to shame the " Mad Bull of Bashan," and shook up Stones's Corners and Joppa, where he used to live, like an earthquake. Of course this "Divine Affiatus" could not be enduring, and when relaxed his active mind sought other outlets, and, in his gropings, he became a firm believer in phrenology, as taught by Fowler, and turned his attention to "bumpology," as he called it.
About this time he fell in with a work on the theory of creation, known as " The Vestiges of Creation," and his lively imagination found new inspiration, and his intellect an inspiring thought, as be fancied he saw the creation of new worlds and systems, and saw evolved from the fiery mass of immensity the tangible forms of spheres and systems as developed under the author's theory. Hungering as he was for knowledge, absorbed as he was in the sublimity of the supposed discovery, pauperized by the want and knowledge of the use of words, and yet desiring to find expression and give vent to the sublime truths that he believed to be burning in his soul, he acquired an extravagant and hyperbolic, enunciation, not always strictly accurate or scientific, but always forcible, if force comes from volume and manner. Without the experience or education to take up work systematically, and without preparation, he entered upon the duties of County Judge, who at that time was not inappropriately called " County King," for he had charge of everything in the county, including roads, bridges, poor, county buildings, and the levy of all taxes, except local school taxes, and the disbursement of all funds.
Confiding to a fault, he was in the hands of his friends. George W. Reed had been elected County Clerk, and being wholly unqualified to conduct the office, F. D. Bosworth was appointed Deputy Clerk and did the business, and he proved himself wise beyond his years, and absolutely refused to draw or file a paper that in his judgment was not authorized by law and demanded for the public good, and the Judge yielded in most cases, and where be did not, the files show that the documents are in some other handwriting. In all premeditated cases the counsel of his brother Hiram was generally asked and usually followed with safety, unless overpowering personal motives biased his judgment.
His character can be summed up in this: He was a man of uncommon physical energy, with little experience or forethought; willing to reward his friends and, not adverse to hitting his enemies; easily persuaded and moving at once from the impulse; without the experience or acumen of a debater, but with the force of a pugilist; enamored with his own voice and power as a speaker, yet lacking the culture and tact to use this power to a purpose, he swept over the county like a prairie fire, not leaving many ashes or doing much harm.
The first of June I took a trip to New Hampton, to see the town that was destined to be a successful rival of Forest City. One mile north of Forest City was the log house of Judge Bailey and a little further along and on the opposite side of the road, was the log house of Malachi Haverlick. One mile further north was the log house of James Upham. When I reached his place I found him breaking, and as he had but one leg, be was using the plow handles for one and hopping along behind the breaking plow. The next settlement on the road and the only one before reaching New Hampton, was three miles south of town, where Wesley Swayzee lived in a log house on the west and John Johnson, a Norwegian, on the east, also in a log house, of the town line road. To reach this settlement from Upham's, it was necessary to make a detour westward, via the groves, for the sloughs and high grass prevented a more direct route.
On my arrival in New Hampton, I found the population to consist of Harrison Gurley, wife and son, Homer Hamlin, wife and three children, Gideon Gardner and wife, David Edwards, wife and two children, E. T. Runion, wife and two children, C. Carpenter and wife, and E. W. Parker.
Gurley bad a store in a log house and lived in the back part, this being the first store building in New Hampton, having been erected by James Jared and sold by him to Osgood Gowen, and was used for post-office, and the only place of public resort in the town, but he was building his old store building that has stood for the last third of a century on the southeast corner of Main street and Locust avenue. E. T. Runion had a pen of poplar poles, without cover, in which he had a bellows and anvil, and called it a blacksmith's shop. David Edwards was living in a frame house, the studding of which were flattened poplar poles, and it was sided with basswood boards and then filled in between the poles with prairie mud. There were seven houses and shanties in the town.
I remained until about two o'clock in the afternoon, and so well pleased was I with the town that I invested every cent I had in the world, before leaving, that is to say, I paid twenty-five cents to David Edwards for my dinner. I walked back to Forest City that night, and the next day went to laying brick on the sawmill arch and chimney.
Soon after this I attended my first wedding in the county; the contracting parties were Richard Elliott and Amy Bailey. I had the honor of being first man, and Lizzy Smith, subsequently Mrs. F. D. Bosworth, was bridesmaid. The bride was fourteen years old, an orphan, and not very well supplied with this world's goods. Tradition was still clung to that white was the only suitable color for a bride, and this was met by the bride borrowing a dress of regulation color, if not in form, of Mrs. Dr. Carpenter. It appeared to be in what has since been called Mother Hubbard style, but was adapted to the occasion by encircling the waist with a ribbon, borrowed from the same source. Her feet were encased in a pair of stockings borrowed of "Tiney," and shoes from Dr. Carpenter. Judge Bailey performed the ceremony, and in an exceedingly short time I had the pleasure of saluting the new made wife.
Crude as this may now seem, this couple have raised a family that are now occupying positions of confidence and trust, and the mother is an honored and benevolent woman, carrying a blessing with her where ever she is known. I am old fashioned enough to prefer seeing young people start at the end of the ladder that these young people did, and go up, than see them mount the upper round and go the other way.
As soon as the report of the commissioners was announced, locating the County Seat at New Hampton, means were taken to submit the question to a vote of the county, to bring it to some point in the south part of the county. Bradford, Forest City and Fredericksburg wanted it.
It was absolutely essential that the south part of the county be united, to give even a semblance of success. Much canvassing was had to devise some means by which there should be harmony as to the town selected. Hiram Bailey proposed a plan that was adopted. A committee of one from each of the southern townships, who were to go together and canvass the votes and have each one designate his first and second choice for places to be voted for, and when the canvass was completed they were to add the, first and second choice for each place, and the one, having the largest number, when thus added, should be the place to be voted for.
The committee appointed were John Bird of Bradford, Hiram Bailey of Richland and Fred Padden of Fredericksburg. There were but three townships then, as Dresden had not been formed. To make the thing safe for Forest City, the other townships were canvassed first. This was so that they could divide their second choice so as not to have either of the other towns secure the largest number. Forest City was selected, and then came the securing of petitioners to call an election, and as the lists of choice for Forest City had been kept with that in view, it was but little labor to prepare them so they could perform this second duty. As Judge Bailey was to pass upon their sufficiency, there was no fear but that they would be accepted, and notice was published that a petition would be pre6ented at the March term of the county court.
I attended the spring term of the District Court it being held in Bradford. As I passed west to the Wapsie, I came to the log house of Rev. S. M. Prentice, a baptist minister who used to preach over on Crane Creek and at Fredericksburg. Crossing the river was the log hotel of David Tingley, who had built his house on the bank of the river and had raised it high enough, as he supposed, to keep the water out of his house, but this season he was obliged to raise his threshold two inches to keep out the floods. In the grove west of Tingley's was the log house of David McDonald, it being the only house until Two Mile Creek was reached, where Truman Merritt had made the first permanent settlement in the county. No other settlements intervened between Merritt's and Bradford.
At this time G. W. Howard, A. G. Case and F. D. Hall were members of the bar and the only local practitioners. G. W. Howard was Treasurer and Recorder of the county, and did very little at the law. He was cool, reticent, and a self-contained mortal, and no one knew but little about him. With all his gravity, he was possessed of a grim humor, and while he had no special personal following, he was held in respect by everybody who met him, either in a financial, political or social capacity. His character may be illustrated by a little. incident. He had been boarding for months with a lady, having a suite of rooms of his own. Without notice, he failed to appear at his meals, and his whereabouts was unknown for months.
Returning to his rooms, he went to his breakfast the next morning and walking in he took his seat at the table just as though he bad been a continuous boarder, and no word from him betrayed the fact that he had been absent. After J. H. Powers resigned his seat in the State Senate, to enter the army, he was elected to fill the unexpired term. He was subsequently appointed Major of the twenty-seventh regiment of Iowa Infantry Volunteers and made a brave and cool officer.
F. D. Hall had been elected Prosecuting Attorney and was a young man of close and discriminating mind, when legal points were placed before him, but he lacked the gift to raise and grasp them of his own volition, as original proposition, either as main or auxiliary supports of a case. Added to this, he was weighted with a sensitive embarrassment that overwhelmed him, mentally and physically, which left him stranded, when be should have been possessed of his every faculty and power.
Thus lacking the vary element so much needed for success in anew country, "brass," he soon dropped out of practice and took up the work of an agriculturist and has remained an honest, influential and respected citizen.
A. G. Case was a young man who had received a classical education, and thus started with an advantage over his compeers, all of whom had graduated from the "Poor Man's College," the common schools.
He had studied law under the most favorable circumstances, yet, with all these advantages, his appearance was decidedly vernal, and his practice circumscribed. However, beneath this schoolboy appearance there slumbered a force as yet unknown and unfelt, that was to develop the man and show that he possessed legal acumen seldom equaled, and that he had a classifying power that could make all ends subserve his purpose, and bad not the enticements of a business life taken him from the profession, he would have stood the peer of the foremost.
This same marked power has not forsaken him in the business world, and he has become president of two National banks and is burdened with the care of his accumulations.
Think not that these were the only ones that a new comer had to meet, for there was the "traveling bar," consisting of William McClintock, Elijah Odell, Milo McGlathery, L. L. Ainsworth, S. S. Ainsworth, S. B. Zeigler and J. O. Crosby, who came from the eastern counties and carried free lances, ever ready to enter the lists, either singly or in a body, as chance presented itself.
It was something more than a surmise that most of them had formed a syndicate to crush out all local lawyers who proposed to attend to their own cases without calling in their aid.
Having studied law in Dayton, Ohio, and having attended the Law School at Cincinnati, I had an exalted idea of the dignity of courts, and when I entered the district Court of Chickasaw County for the first time and saw the presiding Judge sitting beside a table with his chair tilted back and his heels resting on the top of the table, while he was whittling a pine stick with all the enthusiasm of a yankee boy, and emitting vast floods of tobacco saliva front his mouth, I felt that my ideal was not realized.
It was at this term of court that I was admitted to the Chickasaw County Bar, and had my first case in the county. It was an appeal case, my client being James Upham; L. L. Ainsworth was opposing counsel, and it was found that in the court below, both parties had forgotten one and one-half bushels of potatoes that my client had received from the other party, and that they were worth eighty cents per bushel, making a judgment against my client of one dollar and twenty cents. My client declared that this was right, and that if either of them had thought of the potatoes, he would have paid for them. Thus in my first case a righteous judgment was given.
At this term of court, F. D. Bosworth was acting clerk, George W. Reed, who had been elected clerk, being wholly incompetent. Bosworth was a young man who had received a common school education, living with his father and attending school at Butternut Ridge, near Tiffin, Ohio, and on reaching his majority, came west to grow up with the country. After arriving here be taught school and split rails, and showed that he had the spirit of success in him. As Deputy Clerk, all the business of the office fell upon him, and he entered the office with little knowledge of men, but with the vigor of youth and a sterling integrity. The fact soon became apparent that the whole of the county business had fallen into his hands, and that in fact he was the arbiter of the county, as he found appeal for direction by the County Judge.
This was a misfortune to him, for he first found it out, then felt it, and then acted it, and it took long years of stern schooling and frequent disappointments, to eradicate the manner thus acquired. His brusqueness was only seeming, for no kinder or more considerate heart ever received a place in human breast than was his. With an unimpeachable integrity, a stainless character and a loving nature, be was esteemed and beloved by all who intimately knew him. Had he studied and known more of men, his public life would have been more of a success.
As a home and family man he had few peers.
On my first visit to Bradford I met, aside from the lawyers, Andy Sample, A. W. Billings, George A. Bronson, L. Corey, Leonard Kingsley, E. A. Haskel, Levi Hubbel, D. A. Babcock, J. A. Bird, John Bird, "Stick" Dodge, Captain W. W. Foster, Deacon E. W. Woodbridge, Judge DePuy and Judge Andrews.