Iowa
Old Press
Maquoketa Excelsior-Record
Maquoketa, Jackson co. Iowa
December 1, 1920.
First Settlers in Jackson County - written by T.
E. Blanchard for the Sabula Gazette
It is believed that James Armstrong was the first settler in
Jackson county, locating immediately south of the site of
Bellevue, and that he built the first cabin in 1833. William
Jones and William Dyas settled immediately north of said site in
1843. Alexander Reed settled a little farther south in what
became Washington township about the same time; he always claimed
that he was the first settler. John D. Bell, after whom the town
of Bellevue was named, arrived soon after. The first sermon in
the county is supposed to have been preached in Bellevue by Rev.
Simon Clark, a Methodist preacher, in a saloon, amid card
playing, whiskey bottles and whiskey drinking, He opened
religious services, but to the credit of the crowd, it is said
the cards and the bottles were laid aside during the services and
an attentive hearing was given. The first political speech was
made in Bellevue by T. P. Burnett from Wisconsin in 1838. The
first post office was established in Bellevue with James D. Bell
as Postmaster. The first saw mill was built in Bellevue in 1836
by James D. Bell and J. T. Sublette. J. K. Moss opened the first
store in 1836. The first gristmill was erected in 1836 by Mr.
Kinkaid, containing a pair of millstones made from so called
“nigger heads.” The first transfer of land known to
exist was made in May, 1836. In these early days settlers staked
off their claims and occupied them, buying and selling same, a
number of years prior to the date of sale by the Government at
which time the occupant had a preference in paying the government
price of a dollar and quarter per acre, and woe be to the man who
undertook to jump a claim. A Reiling settled in Bellevue in 1838.
He was the owner of Steamer “A Reiling.” He figured
largely in city and county affairs. Capt. E. G. Potter came in
1842, carried on a large farm and built a large flouring mill,
was also member of the Board of Supervisors. Capt. W. A. Warren,
one of the most prominent characters in the early history of the
county, came about 1833. He had been in the Black Hawk War, as
Sheriff he executed the first man who was legally hung in the
Iowa Territory. He was Justice of the Peace twenty-seven years;
member of the constitutional convention in 1827-8; served in the
Civil War three years as Quartermaster. I will have more to say
about him under the head of the Bellevue War. J. L. Taylor was
one of the early settlers in Jackson township, was a Justice of
the Peace for many years; before him I tried and won my first
case in court. At his house during the trial his wife served the
best buckwheat cakes I thought I had ever eaten.
[Transcribed by K.W., February 2011]
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Maquoketa Excelsior-Record
Maquoketa, Jackson co. Iowa
December 14, 1920
FIRST WOMEN DRAWN FOR JURY DUTY
First Drawing Since Women Suffrage
The new order of things is getting started over at the court
house and women voters are being drawn for the jury service,
along with the men. The names of the voters of Jackson County
were placed in the box for drawing last month and this means the
names of the men and women alike. Saturday, those in authority
made the drawing and the result was that two ladies were drawn on
the petit jury, but none succeeded in alighting on the grand
jury.
The two ladies who were fortunate-or rather unfortunate-enough to
be drawn for jury service are Mrs. A. H. Moravec of Fulton and
Mrs. Edith Francois of this city. This is going to revolutionize
to a certain degree the jury work, and we’re guessing the
ladies will be a splendid addition to capabilities shown in
deciding on cases coming before them.
[Transcribed by K.W., February 2011]