Jefferson County Online 1848 Presidental Election Voters Index

The information provided on this page was researched by Orville and Mary Prill and Verda Baird and has been transcribed by Joey Stark. The primary source of information is transcribed from "Vol. 2, Jefferson Co., IA Records" pages 50 - 61. While compiling the Voters with over 1,400 names listed we thought it best to add an INDEX of the names. We are grateful to Joey Stark for transcribing this information.
We have tried to keep this information as accurate as possible. However, all information should be checked against the original documents.

From "History of Jefferson County, Iowa," Vol. 1, Chap. XXXI, by Charles J. Fulton, Pub. 1914, Chicago, by the S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, we quote:

"In 1848 took place the first presidential election in which the electors of the State of Iowa could participate. The Whig candidates were Gen. Zachary Taylor for president and Millard Fillmore for vice president. There was a vigorous campaign. The important national issues were the acquisition of foreign territory, the extension of slavery, free trade, and the free grant of reasonable portions of the public lands to actual settlers..."

"The election was held on Tuesday, the 7th of November. The original lists of the voters of the county made on that day at its eleven polling places as they exercised their right of franchise in this election fortunately have been preserved. For the purposes of a record a more desireable date could not well be selected. A dozen years earlier marked the coming of the first settlers. A dozen years later came the election of Lincoln and the opening of the Civil War. In the first half of this period occurred the erection of the Territory of Iowa, the organization of the county, the adoption of a state constitution and the admission of the territory as a State of the Union; in the second half came an exodus to California and Oregon and a ten years’ struggle to secure a railroad. These lists contain the names of many pioneers, of many who were active in the later development of the county, of many who migrated in the ‘50s to the Pacific Coast, and of many who volunteered, or whose sons volunteered, in the armies of the Union. On account of these things, they have an exceptional interest and value."
 

Township 72, Range 9 West, was set off from Fairfield and Lockridge Townships in 1856, and organized as an independent township, and called Buchanan. (Pg. 404, "1879 History of Jefferson County.") There is, therefore, no voting list for Buchanan Township. Residents of that part of Jefferson County voted either in Fairfield Township or Lockridge Township.

On 5 Jan., 1841 -
-Township 73, Range 10 West and Township 73, Range 11 West, shall be known as Black Hawk Township.

-Township 71, Range 9 West, to be known as Cedar Township.

-Township 71, Range 11 West, to be known as Des Moines Township.

(It was not noted in the pages being transcribed what Townships and Ranges comprised the remaining Jefferson County Townships.)
 

If you need further information on a listed name, contact the Jefferson County Genealogical Society or post a Query on our Query Board.