Extracted from the History of Harrison County Iowa
Chicago
National Publishing Company
1891

ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT.

CHAPTER II

 

For an account of the “Early Settlement, “ the reader is referred to the township history department, found elsewhere in this volume, where a detailed description of the first comers in the several civil townships is given in complete form.

Harrison county was at one time a part of Keokuk county.  It was established in 1851 and became an organized county, March 7, 1853, by an act of the Fourth General Assembly, which enactment also appointed Abram Fletcher, Charles Wolcott, and A. D. Jones, respectively from Fremont, Mills and Pottawattamie counties, as Commissioners to locate the county seat, the name of which was to be Magnolia, and who were to meet in early March for such purpose.  The county derived its name in honor of the Ninth President of the United States—William Henry Harrison.  An Organizing Sheriff was also appointed by the same authority, in the person of Michael McKenney.  The Commissioners assemble at the house of A. D. Jones in Pottawattamie county and executed the business for which they were appointed.  The selected the southeast corner of Section 32-8043 and then gave to the 160 acres thus selected the name of “Magnolia” and the Organizing Sheriff called an election on the first Monday of April, the same year—1863, at which time a full corps of county officers was elected.  There were other locations claiming the county seat—Daniel Brown wanted it at what he had platted and called Calhoun, while another faction wanted it located where Logan now stands, or on the opposite side of the Boyer river.

At the time of organizing, the county was divided into two voting precincts, one west of the Boyer river, at Magnolia, and the other east of the river at Owen Thorpe’s, who then lived at Jeddo—a defunct town site now owned by Hon. L. R. Bolter.  The first election returns were carried to the house of Stephen King to be “counted.”  Thomas B. Neeley and James Hardy took the poll books from the west side of the county to Kings.  Arriving at the banks of the then swollen, unbridged Boyer river, they staked out their horses, undressed and swam the river, carrying their wardrobe and poll-book above highwater mark; and having dressed proceeded to their destination.  [This makes good history now but was not half so romantic and funny to them at that date.]

The result of said election was the placing in office Stephen King, County Judge; P. G. Cooper, County Treasurer and Recorder; William Dakan, Prosecuting Attorney; Chester M. Hamilton, Sheriff, and William Cooper, Clerk of the Courts, G. H. White, Surveyor and John Thompson, School Fund Commissioner.  Properly speaking, Magnolia and Jefferson were the two voting precincts of the county, upon its first being organized, however, some of the persons living in the county prior to March 14, 1853—time of organization, had exercised the right of franchise by going to Council Bluffs to cast their votes.  Among such may be mentioned William Dakan, W. B. Copeland and W. S. Condit, who walked to Council Bluffs and voted at the Presidential election of 1852.

ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS.

February 4, 1854, County Judge, P. G. Cooper attempted to subdivide the county into civil townships as follows:  Magnolia, Sioux, Washington, Wayne, Jefferson; but through some irregularity this division did not stand.  Again in March of the same year, “Sioux” and La Grange were erected.  Where, when, and by what authority the prefix “Little” was added to Sioux, the records seem silent at the present time.  At the March term of county court, 1855, Calhoun township was set off from Magnolia.  Again in September, 1857, the entire county was re-township, making the civil sub-divisions to conform to the Congressional townships.  Some of these civil townships have had their names changed from time to time.  Their present boundary and names of the twenty civil townships of the county are as follows:

Allen, constituted in 1872, comprises township, 81, range 43, and was named from an old settler.

Boyer, constituted prior to 1857, comprises township 80, range 42, and was named from the river of the county bearing that name.

Cass, constituted prior to 1857, now comprises township 79, range 41, derived its name from Lewis Cass, the Michigan statesman.

Calhoun, constituted prior to 1857, with boundary changed subsequently, comprises township 79, range 43, and was named secondary from the village within its border.  The village was named from old Fort Calhoun, which was located on the right bank of the Missouri river at a point opposite where the village was platted in 1853.

Cincinnati, constituted in 1856, comprises township 78, range 45, and was so named because of the large number of persons, headed by Jacob S. Fountain, who came from Cincinnati, Ohio.  He laid out a town, near the present junction of the S. C. & P. and F. & M. V. & Elkhorn railroads, called Cincinnati.

Clay, constituted in 1856-60, comprises township 79, ranges 45 and 46, was named after Henry Clay.

Douglas, constituted in 1868, comprises township 80, range 41 and derives it name from Stephen A. Douglas.

Harrison, constituted in 1856, comprises township 81, range 41, was named in honor of the county, which took the name from President William Henry Harrison.

Jackson, constituted in 1856-60, comprises township 81, range 44, and part of range 43, derives its name from President Jackson.

La Grange constituted prior to 1855, now comprises township 78, range 43.

Lincoln, constituted in 1868, comprises township 81, range 42, and derives its name from that our lamented President—Abraham Lincoln.

Little Sioux, constituted in 1854, comprises township 81, range 45, was named from the Little Sioux river flowing through its domain.

Magnolia, constituted in 1853, comprises township 80, range 43, derives its name from the county seat, which the Fourth General Assembly of Iowa named “Magnolia”—a beautiful sweet scented flower of the Gulf States.

Morgan constituted in 1867, comprises part of township 80, range 45, and part of range 44, township 80, was named in honor of Morgan County, Ohio, from which section Capt. John Noyes, an early settler of Harrison county, came.

Raglan, constituted in 1867, comprises township 80, range 44, was named by Capt. John A. Danielson, for Lord Raglan, of Crimean War fame, who was then at the height of his glory.

St. John, constituted in 1856, comprises township 78, range 44.

Taylor, constituted in 1861, comprises township 79, range 44, except section 24, 25 and 36, was named after Gen. Zachary Taylor.

Union was constituted in 1858, now comprises township 78, range 42.  It was named by Samuel Wood because of the great friendship and unity of feeling among neighbors.

Washington, constituted in 1872, comprises township 78, range 41, derives its name from the “Father of this Country.”

COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

Magnolia having been made the seat of justice by the locating commission, the citizens had nothing now to do but to commence doing business for themselves, the same as other counties of Iowa.  The first government of Harrison County under the Old County Judge system—the one man power.  The management of county matters being left in the hands of a single officer, it became his duty to locate roads, build bridges, levy taxes, erect court houses and was amenable to no one, save on the day of election, when all things were promised to all men!  Notwithstanding this almost unlimited power and authority and the large amount of public money left at his disposal, we do not find that the trust was frequently betrayed.  During the whole term of years in which this system of county government was in vogue, we find but three instances where a default occurred in all Iowa.  As a rule the County Judges were held in high esteem and were usually reelected for several terms.  There were some exceptions, however, to this rule.

The County Judge system as then constituted continued until January 1, 1861, when part of the power vested in that system was taken from the Judge and given over to a “Board County Supervisors,” consisting of one member from each civil township in the county.  This was but little improvement, for where fifteen or twenty men assemble to do public business, the result is that of a pretty lively “debating society,” wherein but a small amount of business is ever transacted.  In 1871 the people tired of such a management and needless expense and a new law was made by which the several townships were divided into districts—three or five, owing to population, territory, etc. In this way Harrison County had three instead of fifteen men to attend to her business affairs. 

The gentleman first exalted to the honors and emoluments of County Judgeship in this county was Stephen King.  The early County Judge’s records have been lost or destroyed by the fire of 1854, so no positive data can be had as to just what the first county courts did accomplish.  Probably little else than routine work, hearing road petitions read, portioning out the small amount of school funds then required and auditing an occasional bill consumed the most of his Honor’s time.

February 4, 1854, P. G. Cooper, then acting County Judge (Stephen King having resigned) attempted to so divide the county that there should be five civil townships, but through some oversight his attempt was but an utter failure and still the whole domain was in two townships.  But little marked the action of the county court, until the Judgeship of D. E. Brainard, in 1857, when on the 19^th of September of that year, the county was divided into twenty civil sub-divisions, the boundary lines and names of which were as indicated below: 

Harrison,	Township 81,	Range 41
Madison	"	Range 42
Adams	"	Range 43
Jackson	"	Range 44
Sioux	"	Range 45
Marcy	Township 80	Range 41
Boyer	"	Range 42
Magnolia	"	Range 43
Raglan	"	Range 44
Washington	"	Range 45
Cass	Township 79	Range 41
Jefferson	"	Range 42
Calhoun	"	Range 43
Taylor	"	Range 44
Clay	"	Range 45
Webster	Township 78	Range 41
Union	"	Range 42
La Grange	"	Range 43
Hoosier	"	Range 44
Cincinnati	"	Range 45

 

In 1861, when the Supervisor system came into effect that County Judge was relieved of much work, and from that date on, until the abolishment of the office in 1869, when the Auditor system begins, his duties related to probate and part of the road business of the county.  It should be stated that the log cabin court house, by some never to-be-known manner, burned in September 1854 and the county records, including the earliest books and papers of the county, with its “cash on hand,” were all destroyed. 

The following transcribed from the Minute book of the Board, and bearing date January, 1861, may be of interest in these days, showing as it does the curious articles used and the prices paid for the same, in great contrast with the times we now live in.  This bill was made a few months prior to the breaking out of the Civil War:--

100 Large Envelopes	$       1.00
100 Small Envelopes	1.00
2 Reams of Letter Paper	10.00
1/2 Reams Fools-cap	2.50
1 Gold Pen and holder	2.50
15 lbs Tallow Candles
*1 N.Y. Bank Note Reporter	1.00
*1 St. Louis Bank Note Reporter	1.00
1 Ball twine	0.30
1 Broom	0.30
1 Water Bucket	0.30
5 Cords Seasoned Wood	15.00
Total.	$    34.90

 

*Note—For the younger generation it should be explained that prior to our present banking system (the finest in the world) that the paper State Bank money was so uncertain, as to value, that books known as “detectors” had to be corrected up weekly and kept by all dealers, that they might know what bills were worthless.

 

COUNTY BOARD. 

1861.—George H. McGavren,(Chairman) St. Johns Township; James Hardy, Magnolia; Jonathan West, Cincinnati; James W. McIntosh, Taylor; Asher Servis, Cass; Henry Olmstead, Harrison; George Harriott, Jackson; Chester M. Hamilton, Raglan; E. W. Meech, Calhoun; C. M. Patton, La Grange; Theodore Parshall, Clay; John S. Cole, Boyer; Barzillai Price, Little Sioux; Stephen King, Jefferson.

1862.—Joe H. Smith (Chairman) Magnolia; B. F. Dilley, Cincinnati; Lorenzo Kellogg, Harrison; Asher Servis, Cass; George H. McGavren, St. Johns; B. Price, Little Sioux; Stephen King, Jefferson; Dr. J. S. Cole, Boyer; A. Sellers, Union; C. M. Patton, La Grange; William McWilliams, Jackson; J. W. McIntosh, Taylor; Theodore Parshall, Clay;  W. B. Copeland, Calhoun; Donald Maule, Raglan.

1863.—J. S. Cole (Chairman); L. D. Kellogg, Stephen Mahoney, William McWilliams, Hiram M. Huff, Donald Maule, J. L. Pounds, Ed. Burke, Henry Sharpnack, Daniel Brown, G. H. White, Asher Servis, Alfred Sellers, C. M. Patton, G. H. McGavern.

1864.—J. S. Cole (Chairman); W. F. Benjamin, J. W. Chatburn, William McWilliams, S. W. Condit, Henry Garner, H. Sharpnack, Ed. Burke, Daniel Brown, G. W. White, Ed. Houghton, G. Patton, N. Harris, George West, Samuel Wood.

1865.—L. Vining, J. W. Chatburn, (Chairman), T. B. Neeley, Samuel Wood, George West, I. Evans, James Riddle, Ed. Burke, H. Craywood, Robert McGavren, Daniel Brown, W. F. Benjamin, W. S. Condit, Henry Garner, Ed. Houghton.

1866.—J. H. Patch (Chairman), J. M. Harvey, E. W. Meech, J. Nichols, Levi Motz, William Dakan, H. B. Lyman, B. Sherman, Ed. Houghton.

1867.—Francis Milliman, Mathias Rogers, B. Price, Robert McGavern, J. W. Chatburn, James L. Roberts, J. W. Smith, Benjamin Sherman, Elijah Cobb, Levi Motz, Israel Evans.

1868.—D. E. Brainard (Chairman), N. Johnson, Israel Evans, M. Winters, C. E. Wills, William Orr, David Gamet, J. W. Smith, E. W. Meech, A. Servis, J. L. Roberts, E. Cobb, R. McGavren.

1869.—Asher Servis (chairman), E. W. Meech, A. Johnson, C. E. Willis, A. S. Chase, Silas Cook, D. E. Brainard, J. S. Cole, Samuel Dakan, F. Milliman, E. J. Hagerman, J. M. Harvey, R. McGavren, J. W. Smith, James Hutchinson, John Brownrigg.

1870.—J. S. Cole (Chairman), Asher Servis, A. M. Ellis, D. E. Brainard, R. McGavern, Samuel Dakan, W. S. Meech, C. E. Willis, William Church, n. Johnson, F. Milliman, O. J. Goodrich, J. M. Harvey, S. M. Williams, E. Cobb, J. W. Smith, J. W. Browning.

1871.—From this date on representation from each civil township was abandoned and the county divided into three districts, under a new law.  The following were the first to thus serve}:

J. S. Cole, (Chairman), William Orr, H. B. Lyman.

1872.—H. B. Lyman J. S. Cole, A. S. Chase.

1873.—H. B. Lyman, J. S. Cole, A. S. Chase.

1874.—H. B. Lyman (Chairman), A. S. Chase, H. B. Cox.

1875.—H. B. Cox, H. B. Lyman (Chairman), A. S. Chase.

1876.—A. S. Chase (Chairman), H. B. Cox, H. V. Armstrong.

1877.—A. S. Chase (chairman), H. V. Armstrong, H. B. Cox.

1878.—H. V. Armstrong, Ed. Burke, (Chairman), A. H. Gleason.

1879.—Ed. Burke (Chairman), A. H. Gleason, I. Scofield.

1880.—A. H. Gleason, J. K. McGavren (Chairman), T. M. C. Logan.

1881.—J. K. McGavren, T. M. C. Logan (Chairman), Thomas Morrow.

1882.—J. L. McGavren(Chairman), Allen Stoker, Thomas Morrow.

1883.—Thomas Morrow (Chairman), J. K. McGavren, Allen Stoker.

1884.—Allen Stoker (Chairman), A. J. Gilmore, C. E. Cobb.

1885.—A. J. Gilmore (Chairman), E. A. Jones, T. L. Canfield.

1886.—A. T. Gilmore (Chairman), E. A. Jones, T. L. Canfield.

1887.—A.J. Gilmore (Chairman), T. L. Canfield, E. A. Jones.

1888.—A. J. Gilmore (Chairman). D. Satterlee, E. A. Jones

1889.—A. J. Gilmore (Chairman), E. A. Jones, D. Satterlee.

1890.—A. J. Gilmore (Chairman), D. Satterlee, William Morrow.

1891.—A. J. Gilmore (Chairman), D. Satterlee, William Morrow.

 

COUNTY SEAT CONTESTS.

County seats like the Methodist ministers are very liable to remove—indeed in some counties they operate like the olden-time school teacher, who boarded around—first in one family, then at another place in his district.  When Harrison county was organized, in 1853, by an Act of the Legislature, the county seat locating committee, A. D. Jones, of Pottawattamie, Abraham Fletcher, of Fremont county, and Charles Wolcott, of Mills county, decided upon Magnolia as the spot gest suited to the wants of the people.  But with the development of any new county, especially one settled in advance of railroad construction, there must needs be man y changes made and not unfrequently will these changes effect the location of the seat of justice.  At the time Magnolia was selected, Calhoun and the vicinity of the present Logan were both sharp competitors.  The question was ever uppermost in the mind of the people of Calhoun, and this extreme feeling over their own early defeat caused trouble all along down through the years.  The people residing along and east of the Boyer river, have always preferred the county seat to remain at Magnolia rather than to have it removed to Calhoun and as a natural result, whenever Calhoun would try to have it removed from Magnolia, the east side of the county would rally to keep it at Magnolia.

In the summer of 1864—during the Great Civil War—citizens living in the vicinity of Calhoun presented the Board of Supervisors with a petition, praying that the question be submitted to the voters, whether Magnolia should still remain the county seat.  Then came an equally long “well signed,” remonstrance asking the Board to deny the petitioners.  At the final count, Calhoun fell short in the matter of names and hence the question was dropped for six years.

In 1879, Missouri Valley, which was then six years old, also saw much advantage in possessing the seat of justice.  Hence that year was consumed in circulating petitions, thick as the leaves at autumn time, for a submission of the question at the General Election that year.  The issues were finally made up and the following questions balloted upon with pro and con votes, as here indicated:  

For removal to Missouri Valley – 991

Against removal to Missouri Valley – 935

Majority for retaining at Magnolia – 56

Nothing further was moved in the matter until the April Board meeting of 1873, at which time the Missouri Valley faction of county seat seekers presented a petition, again asking that the question be voted upon.  The Magnolia faction were not asleep and the Board also had remonstrances, “long as the moral law,” to offset the petition—it never has been a still hunt or one-sided walkway in Harrison county!

The names on the Petition – 1224

The names on the remonstrance – 1538

Majority against submission.  – 314

Again, at the June session of the same year, the Supervisor met by another petition from Missouri Valley, numbering this time only 931, while Magnolia came to the front with more than she possessed in April and showed up 1573 names.  At about this time Logan, “the new railroad town,” entered the county seat fight—to win.  Her petition contained 1,202 names.  This was the first time in a decade, when Magnolia and Missouri Valley joined their forces together—this time to do battle against Logan.  They having combined, their forces had a remonstrance with 1,405 names attached thereto, and this defeated the Loganites.  The county had peace within her borders for two years while the fires were slowly being re-kindled by selfish, yet human motives.  In 1875, Logan having grown and entwined herself into the business interests of many living along the Boyer Valley, she now must be heard from on the county seat question.  The Logan faction now held the balance of power, and had the forethought to spring the question at just the right time to insure success.  In this three-cornered fight, neither Magnolia or Missouri Valley attempted to remonstrate against Logan.  The question went before the  people—there were 2,569 votes cast:

For re-location to Logan. – 1269

Against re-location at Logan. - 1268

Majority for Logan.  - 2

On the ground of illegal voting, the Magnolia faction filed papers in a contested election case, but through the turning over of some prominent men from Magnolia, who had seen it for their financial interest to move to Logan, unbeknown to the masses at Magnolia, the case was dismissed and without real order of the court and little out of due time, the records and effects of the court house at Magnolia were all removed to Logan, to the utter amazement of the Magnolia faction, who claim to this day they were sold out by their supposed friends.  Had the contested election case been carried out, the result might have been different and again as many illegal votes might possibly have been shown on the one hand, as on the other.

The next move was in 1886, when Missouri Valley again presented a petition and was offset by remonstrances, as usual.  These appeared by these papers to be 5,600 voters in the county, but some wag has said all the voters between Chadron, Nebraska and Dunlap were used.  Other say, the Logan faction had committees visiting grave-yards for the purpose of procuring names!  The question never went before the people.  Again the spirit of unrest seized upon men in June, 1887, when a petition was presented to the Board of Supervisors, asking that the question be put before the legal voters at the following General Election, as to re-location to Magnolia.

The whole number of votes was. – 3920

For re-location at Magnolia. – 1480

Against re-location at Magnolia. – 2439

Majority against Magnolia. – 959

The past county seat “fight” is now—1891, exercising the minds of the people.  This time it is between Logan, which still holds the county seat and Missouri Valley, which place wished to possess the coveted prize.  The validity of a petition and remonstrance is now in the hands of the Supreme Court of the State.

COURT HOUSES.

In 1854, the county commenced building a court house at Magnolia, from funds derived from the sale of town lots.  This was a small frame structure, but met the requirements of the day in which it was fashioned; however as the years rolled on, the elements caused this pioneer landmark of public work to decay and in 1873, it was considered as unsafe by the Board of Supervisors and they that year, caused the erection of a frame (brick) office building, in which the records and county business matters were kept until Logan was made the seat of justice, in 1876.  The last mentioned court house, built at Magnolia, cost $5,000 and when no longer needed was sold to and used by the Methodist Episcopal church, who use it for church purposes.  The court house at Logan—still in use was erected in 1876.  It is situated within a level block of land given by the city.  The structure is of brick and is 55x70feet and two stories high.  The first floor is divided into six offices—Auditor, Treasurer, Clerk, Recorder, Sheriff and School Superintendent.  All but the last named is provided with a good fire-proof safe.  The fire-proof  vaults are found in the Treasurer’s, Recorder’s and Clerk’s offices.  The second floor of the building is used for court-room purposes and jury-rooms.  The former is 48x48 feet and twenty feet high.  The building was erected by contractors Yeisley & Stowell during the Centennial year.  It was built by an appropriation of $5,000 on the part of tax payers of the county and $9,000 donated by the people of Logan.  The building cost $14,000 and the ground upon which it stands was well worth, at that time, $2,000 making a property valued at $16,000 as a home for the seat of Justice in Harrison County.  The county business having increased, there is now much need of more vault room and better—more modern, office fixtures and appliances, by which business may be dispatched.

COUNTY JAIL.

Prior to the removal of the county seat to Logan, Harrison county had no fit and safe place in which to house and keep her culprits and law-breakers.  In 1877, the present two-story jail was erected on lots near the Court House.  It is a good brick building.  The second story is used as a residence for the Jailor.  On the ground floor, are cells for the safe keeping of ten prisoners, giving each ample room.  This jail property cost the county, in round numbers, $7000 and is equal to the present demands and is also as good, if not better, than half the counties in the State have.

THE COUNTY POOR FARM.

America, “the land of the free and the home of the brave” differs from all others, in that she has set the world an example in the way of building and maintaining all sorts of public, benevolent and charitable institutions, wherein are tenderly cared for all species of weak and unfortunate people, who may claim such care and protection by showing themselves to be American citizens and residents of any given county or State.  We have the best regulated prisons, alms-houses, poor farms, deaf, dumb and blind institutions—the best hospitals for insane, feeble-minded and homeless persons that can be found in the world and Iowa ranks second to none in this respect, among her sister states.  The unfortunate poor are found to-day in all parts of the world, even as they have been since Christ’s time, when it was said “The poor ye always have with you.”  Early in Harrison county records—at the August session of the Board of Supervisors in 1861 we find the authorities planning to care for the poor people in the best manner and at least expense to the tax-payers.  While the result has not been as good as in many counties in Iowa, through a mismanagement, yet we hasten on to give a brief history of the poor-farm.
In August, 1861, the Board selected the southwest quarter of section 7, township 79, range 44, and the north half of the southwest quarter of lot one (1), on section 15-80-45, which was County Swamp Land, for the purpose of obtaining a poor-farm.  These lands however, were not sold until January 1, 1868, when the Supervisors of the county, through their committee, Robert McGavern, James L. Roberts and Barzillia Price, selected a poor-farm from the following tract of land:  the southwest quarter of section 22, township 81, range 41, in Harrison Township.  The same being an improved tract, then as at the date looked upon by every one, as being the finest quarter section in the whole county.  The county paid the owners, Hammer & Ferbs the sum of $3600, or #22.50 per acre for it.  This place was used for the poor farm purposes until March 19, 1870, when the Supervisors, exchanged it for a tract of land nearer the center of the county, but of not near the value and real utility.  The land traded for is on sections 28 and 33—80—42, and is in Boyer Township.  It is crossed by the railroad and is quite rolling.  Since making this change, the county has expended $4,700 for buildings, improvements, etc., making a total cost to the county of about $10,000.  The farm is usually leased to an Overseer of the Poor, who pays a certain sum for the farm and charges a certain sum per week for the keeping of the pauper poor.

SWAMP LANDS.

By an Act of Congress approved September 28, 1850, Iowa came into rightful possession of her “Swamp Land”, the same having been set apart by the general government, as marshy or overflowed lands.  The same was to be apportioned by counties and disposed of, as the judgement of the county officials—the Judge at that time—should dictate.  The object was to construct, “levees and drains to reclaim the same,” and the balance, if any, of the moneys received for such lands was to be expended on roads and bridges over such lands—the remainder to be turned into the general county fund.  In Harrison County, George W. White, as agent for the county, proceeded to survey out such lands.  On July 5, 1854, he reported back to the Land Office, at Washington, that there was in the county lands of this character, amounting to 120,365 acres.  These lands were patented by Iowa to the county, October 17, 1859—see record book 2, pages one to eleven.  This land was supposed to be sold to actual settlers at $1.25 per acre, which would have given the county the princely sum of $150,794.  Some of these lands subsequently proved to be among the most valuable in all the fair domain of the county.  But to say that the county ever received such a sum, would be an untrue statement!  It is the same old story, so often told by the actual records of half the counties of Iowa.  It came easy and went from the county’s grasp almost uncounted for, so far as the real intent of the Congressional Act is concerned.
In Harrison County $22,000 worth went toward the laudable use of inducing men to volunteer into the Union ranks, during the Civil War period; each man getting a deed of eighty acres.  But the remaining $138,794 not one farthing is now in the till of the treasury of the county.  The most of that was spent for drains and roads and has long since gone the way of all earth.  From 1855 to 1857 these lands could be pre-empted, which law was taken advantage of by man y well-to-do farmers of to-day who were helped to cheap lands.  But suffice to say, over one half of these valuable lands were disposed of, so that the people really were not great gainers by the Act of the United States Congress in 1850.

COUNTY FINANCES.

Gold and silver was the currency of the county up to 1857.  This came about from the fact that those who came from the Eastern and Middle States brought such medium with them; again, at that time, Council Bluffs was the point at which overland freight trains, caravans, etc., bound for the mountains and the Pacific Coast, were made up.  How they purchased their supplies, hence the money was freely paid and placed in general circulation.  It was from here that the great Salt Lake trains were fitted out.  Those who came to Council Bluffs by water would purchase their teams, implements and family supplies, paying for the same, so long as their money lasted/  But little if any paper money was placed in circulation until late in 1857; but then it became plentiful up to the Civil War period—1861.  Not unlike other counties in Iowa, up to 1866, county warrants were not always at par, never above! The chief circulating medium was at an early day cottonwood lumber, swamp land scrip and county warrants—the latter about as apt to shrink as the others named!  This state of affairs afforded a harvest of speculators.  However in 1866 and 1867, county orders were at par, but soon fell back to sixty cents on the dollar.  Then, 1870 matters brightened up, only to be blighted by the panic of 1871-72, and whether by local mismanagement or upon general financial uneasiness throughout the entire country, at this date, the “bottom fell out” again!  To say that the country has always been well managed for the tax payer would hardly be true, however, with all her ups and downs, it may be said that in 1888, the country was able to pau her indebtedness, dollar for dollar.

During 1858-59-60 the large number of sawmills within Harrison County, especially along the Missouri bottom lands, became the cause for another currency medium.  Lumber was the order of the day and was exchanged for nearly everything needed.  This, together with the swamp-land scrip with now and then a county warrant issued for services rendered, constituted the bulk of circulating medium.  Then came the era of bank bills, said to have been issued by reliable banks in nearly half the States in the Union.  They were artistic beauties!  Their face presented the picture of deer and “wildcats;” also the portraits of men living as well as dead—of some banker’s fair daughter or her mother.  The country was flooded with these promises to pay; but so uncertain were they that bank “detectors” (books issued for the purpose) were found in every business man’s hands.  Even those failed to protect the innocent massed, and he who supposed he had plenty and to spare, to-day, found to-morrow that he had nothing of value.  He who is not pleased with our present banking system should consider that we never had the correct and safe banking system we now enjoy until after the close of the Rebellion.  If a man has “money” today, it is good wherever he goes, and “bank note detectors” are only known as among the things of the past-practically speaking. 

During the first part of the year 1854 and up to the autumn of that year, what little money was paid into the county for taxes, was received by William V. Cooper (treasurer by appointment.)  The records were then kept in the little log house at Magnolia.  His brother P. G. Cooper, was acting Clerk of the Courts, and while holding watch over the county books and cash, during September of that year, the offices and effects were burned.  In 1858 County Treasurer Cooper was “investigated” by Judge D. E. Brainard, County Judge, but the shortage was subsequently made good and the taxpayers suffered no loss, it appears from the records.  County finances were undisturbed by “crookedness.” Except an occasioning no great loss to the county until February 17, 1868.  Upon the evening of that day the County Treasurer’s safe was wedged open by burglars (to this day unknown) who worked their deeds of darkness financially fine, for it was at the season of the year when the safe contained more money than at other time of the year.  At the time it was generally understood, that not far from $14,000 was obtained, but upon more careful examination of the record of the various funds it is learned that the amount comes within $11,000.  All sorts of rumors were afloat regarding this robbery—some believing to this day that it was the work of those living within the county, while others believe that it was the work of professional “safe crackers.”  But be that as it may, the tax payers lost the above sum of money, it being looked upon as a public, rather than a private calamity, and caused by lack of suitable safes, vaults, etc.  It was general believed that one Michael Rogers and a gang under his leadership were the robbers.  In due time, he was indicted, the title of the case being “The State of Iowa vs. Mike Rogers.”  He was never caught however, and the case was dropped from the docket, and neither the Treasurer or his bondsmen were held accountable for the loss.  No other financial calamity overtook Harrison County until the County Treasurer’s defalcation, which was made public in January 1888.  This was brought about by a long train of circumstances by which the county lost nearly $22,000.  About $19,000, however, was recovered through the bondsmen and other interested parties.  From that day to this the business of the various county officials has been thoroughly looked after; the funds properly counted and all vouchers demanded at the times prescribed by law.

The county’s finances are now (1891) in a good condition, as will be seen by the subjoined official report.  The following balances were on hand June 1, 1891:

Sate Fund	$327
County Fund	7630
County School Fund	681
School House Fund	5192
Contingent Fund	544
Poor Fund	2110
Insane Fund	372
Bridge Fund	15444
County Road Fund	2420
Road Fund	2609
Dog Fund	859
City Fund	1209
Board of Health Fund	59
Sidewalk Fund	55
Temporary School Fund	4085
Permanent School Fund	164
Apportionment	2376
Fines	78
Cemetery Fund	108
Normal School	493
Swamp Land	3247
Permanent Bridge Fund	608
Total Balance on hand	$50,670
(Actual Book shows)	$50,650

 The following shows expenditures of the county from January 1 to June 1, 1891:

Board of Supervisors	$407
County Officers	2,527
Superintendent of Schools	316
Sheriffs and Bailiffs	1,455
Justices and Constables	392
Jurors	2,344
Township Officers	370
Criminal Prosecutors	1,169
Insane	1,545
Shorthand Reporter	282
Poor Farm	344
Paupers outside the Poor Farm	3,196
Fuels and Lights	930
Books and Printing	1,613
Elections	64
Highway Costs	102
Bounty on Wolves	120
County Roads	575
Assessors	1,066
Bridges	3,430
Total Expenses	$22,247
(Actual Book shows)	$22,747

ABSTRACT OF ASSESSMENT. 

The following shows the real estate and personal valuation as per assessment list by 1891, by townships, with villages and towns included.     

	LAND.	PERSONAL.
Harrison	$210,000	91,964
Lincoln	155,453	34,733
Allen	146,397	34,228
Jackson	124,618	44,131
Little Sioux	139,707	104,818
Douglass	183,884	41,678
Boyer	213,553	94,940
Magnolia	252,362	77,560
Raglan	125,126	34,774
Morgan	92,625	64,329
Cass	187,683	39,926
Jefferson	295,578	117,271
Calhoun	108,895	35,040
Taylor	123,528	49,701
Clay	78,100	15,229
Washington	224,856	55,870
Union	221,512	48,395
La Grange	164,536	42,339
St. Johns	264,032	133,156
Cincinnati	323,922	115,013
Total	$3,636,367	$1,275,095
(Actual Book Shows)	$3,433,141	$1,319,153

 

Transcribed by Alvin Poole, May 27, 2020, pages 27-38