LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

HISTORY of
LOUISA COUNTY IOWA

FROM ITS EARLIEST SETTLEMENT TO 1912
BY ARTHUR SPRINGER

Illustrated
Volume I

Chicago
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

CONTENTS

PIONEERS, a poem ~ page v.
 
PREFACE ~ page vii.
 
CONTENTS ~ page x.
 
CHAPTER I. ~ page 1
GEOLOGICAL STORY
Iowa Once A Tropical Country-Glacial Period-Physical Feaures-Rocks-Coal-Natural Gas, Etc
 
CHAPTER II. ~ page 9
THE MOUND BUILDERS
 
CHAPTER III. ~ page 15
VOYAGE OF MARQUETTE AND JOLIET DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI
They Land In Louisa County-History of Mississippi Valley Begins Here- First Banquet On Iowa Soil
 
CHAPTER IV. ~ page 23
SOME INDIAN HISTORY
The Illinois-The Iowas-The Sacs And Foxs-the Blawk Hawk War-Keokuk-Wapella
 
CHAPTER V. ~ page 37
THE IOWA DISTRICT
Our Various Rulers-Different Territories-Zebulon M. Pike-Rev. Cutting Marsh-Albert M. Lea-Rev. James L. Scott-Rev. Asa Turner-Colonel Crogan-Establishment of Demoine County
 
CHAPTER VI. ~ page 47
Early Settlements In The County-The Census Of Des Moines County, Wisconsin in 1836
Establishment Of Wisconsin Territory-Claim Laws-Establishment Of Iowa Territory
 
CHAPTER VII. ~ page 67
The Keokuk Reserve-Treaty Ceding It To The United States-Des Moines County Divided-Louisa County Established-Origin Of Name-First Term Of Court-First Sheriff-First Board Of Supervisors-Change In County Boundaries
 
CHAPTER VIII.
EARLY DISTRICTS, PRECINCTS AND TOWNSHIPS
Changes In Township Boundaries-Establishment Of New Townships ~ page 85
Early Settlers In The Several Townships ~ page 96
Early Land Entries ~ page 98
 
CHAPTER IX. ~ page 111
POLITICS AND ELECTIONS
Early Elections-Vote On New Constitution-The Soldiers' Ticket-Primary Election Adopted-First Whig Convention In Iowa-Republican Party Organized
 
CHAPTER X. ~ page 127
LIST OF OFFICERS
County Officers-Territorial Legislators-State Legislators-Members Of Constitutional Conventions-Other Officers-Gubernatorial Appointments-Congressional Districts And Congressmen
 
CHAPTER XI.
COUNTY FINANCES AND TAXES
Increase In Taxes-Local Government-Statistics From Treasurer's Reports and Tax Lists ~ page 145
Swamp Lands And Drainage ~ page 168
 
CHAPTER XII.
LOUISA COUNTY SOLDIERS
Territorial Militia ~ page 177
Alphabetical List Of Louisa County Soldiers In The War Of The Rebellion ~ page 179
Soldiers In The Spanish-American War and Philippine Wars ~ page 207
 
CHAPTER XIII.
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
The Rivers & Navigation on the Iowa and Cedar Rivers ~ page 209
The Railroads ~ page 215
The Air Line Railroad ~ page 217
 
CHAPTER XIV. ~ page 239
OUR COURTS AND LAWYERS
First Court-Judicial Districts-Judges ~ page 239
Some Early Lawsuits ~ page 248
Louisa County Lawyers ~ page 254
 
CHAPTER XV. ~ Page 257
LOUISA COUNTY DOCTORS
 
CHAPTER XVI. ~ page 267
PERSONAL MENTION includes:
Wright Williams, William Kennedy, William L. Toole, Andrew Gamble
George F. Thomas, John Deihl, John Ronalds, John Halle, Francis Springer
Wiliam P. Brown, Damon Noble Sprague, Mark Davison, Mrs. Jane Mincher
Cyril Carpenter, Andrew M. Taylor, George Gillaspy, Samuel K. Helmick, Daniel H. Reynolds
 
CHAPTER XVII.

  ~ page
VILLAGES AND TOWNS 289
      Iowa Town 290
      Florence 291
      Toolesboro 291
      Harrison 293
      Port Washington, Port Louisa (2) and Odessa 294
      Fredonia 296
      Lafayette and Hillsboro 299
      Clifton 300
      Oakland Township and its Towns 300
      Port Allen and Oakland 302
      Cairo and Hope Farm 302
      Cotterville 304
      Grandview 304
      Morning Sun 309
      Lettsville 314
      Columbus Junction 315
      Union Township 319
      Oakville, Elrick and Elrick Junction, Eliot Township 319
      Cannonsburgh, Marsh, Newport, Wyman 320
      Burris City 321
      Columbus City 325
           Union Guards of Columbus City 338
           Columbus City history continued 339
      Wapello 347
           Wapello News Items 357
           Church History of Wapello 369
     Interesting Items about Wapello and early Louisa County 373
     First Louisa county Homicide 381
     Early Iowa 383
     River Bridges 389
     Supervisor Districts 390
     First Things 390
     Historic Road 392
     Some Early Preachers and Late Church Statistics 394
     Schools 397
     Gold Seekers 405
     Welsh Settlement 406
     A Few Statistics (from Censuses) 407
     The Work of the Wapello Vigilance Committee 409
     Safe Robbbery 413
     Wolf Hunt 417

APPENDIX. ~ page 418
CHARTERS, GRANTS, TREATIES AND LAWS AFFECTING LOUISA COUNTY
 


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