|
CHAPTER
6
Organization of the County - Organization of and
Division into Townships - Officers - Patriotism, Etc.
The county of Pottawattamie was organized on September 21, 1848, with
only two or three voting precincts, which have been divided up into
twenty-seven townships, and several wards in the city of Council
Bluffs. But few of the early settlers of this county had any idea
of what would follow in the short time that has passed. They did
not dream of the railroads and triumphs that now astonish their
vision. The growth and advancement of this section of country
have been very much more rapid and extensive than could be foreseen by
the most observing or experienced in the early settlement of
countries. It may well be repeated, the change has been so vast
and rapid as to "astonish the oldest inhabitant." Many stand
amazed, and frequently express surprise that they should have lived to
see the grand changes that have taken place. The red men who were
here have departed, and given place to a sturdy, energetic and
progressive white race, who allow no obstacle to retard their onward
march. They are determined to recover every "lost art," and
improve upon every invention, and herein lies the cause of the triumphs
made and the progress developed in the new settlements of the great
American continent. Every new discovery seems to surpass it's
former attainments, and one surprise is left to astonish the other,
until surprises will become obsolete in the way of developments in our
new countries and settlements. Even now, this section, of but a
few years, is becoming too old for many of the early settlers, and they
are talking of the "West," as if they were on the extreme of the East,
and were too circumscribed to enjoy life. These restless spirits
have been the pioneers of every new country, and to them much of our
wonderful success is due. It was this spirit that caused the
discovery of America by Columbus - that sent Lewis and Clark to
explore this section and the Rocky Mountains; and in fact, it was this
spirit that settled and caused Pottawattamie County to bloom and
blossom.
In the early organization of Pottawattamie County, James Sloan was
selected as the first District Judge. The county was formed in
the usual way, from a survey made by the agents of the United States
Government, embracing a large territory. In 1852, Thomas Burdick
acted as first County Judge; Even Green, County Clerk and Auditor; Luke
Johnson, County Treasurer; Alexander McRae, Sheriff, and Dr. E.
Aylesworth, Coroner.
The county, at that time, was in its incipient state of formation, and
just emerging from wide scattered settlements, and establishing local
authorities for the protection of its people. The town site of
Kanesville (now Council Bluffs), having long been a garrisoned
fort of the Government, established for the protection of the early
pioneers seeking homes here, was naturally selected as the county seat,
and here the largest body of settlers accumulated by colonization,
under the aegis of a religious belief known as Mormonism. The
leaders of these people exercised a great control over their adherents,
and this contributed largely to good government, peaceful relations,
and the opening up of the county to speed settlement. In 1853,
Franklin Street, as County Judge, was authorized by the United States
Government to execute deeds to those who had settled upon the public
domain under what was commonly known as a 'squatter's claim." The
order was issued in 1853, and the deeds were generally given in
1854. Hons. J. P. Cassady and W. C. James were acting as Notaries
Public, the acknowledgments of deeds being made before David De Vol and
David Lindley, Justices of the Peace. The divisions of the county
into townships began back as long ago as its organization, and
divisions have continued until recently.
In August, 1853, Rockford Township was organized, and in 1880 the
census showed that it contained a population of 930. This
township occupies a prominent place in the history of the county, as it
was one of the first townships organized. Some of the old
settlers here are in a prosperous condition, and own well-improved and
well-stocked farms where they are surrounded by peace and plenty.
The organization of Wright Township took place in September, 1873, and
the report of the census of 1880 showed the population of the township
to be 683. This portion of the county contains some excellent
farms, many of which are under a good state of improvement and
cultivation, and their owners are growing independent.
In September, 1858, the township of Silver Creek was organized, and in
1880, the population numbered 634, with many fine and well-improved
farms. Many of the settlers are enterprising and are growing some
fine blooded stock.
Layton Township dates its organization back to June, 1878. It is
located on a high, rich, rolling prairie country, and is quite a
wealthy portion of Pottawattamie County. Walnut, a thriving town
and good grain market, on the Chicago, Rock Island& Pacific
Railway, in 1880, contained about one thousand of a population, and the
township, in addition to the town, 488, making the population of Layton
Township, complete, 1,488. Here many of the best farms are to be
found, and best farmers in the county reside, and many of them are
independent - have good improvements and fine stock.
On June 6, 1870, Washington Township was organized, and became one of
the important divisions of the county of Pottawattamie. In the
year 1880, the population of this township was 519. A large
proportion of this population are well-to-do farmers who are surrounded
with good improvements, including most of the late farm implements, and
possess some fine stock. The soil of this section of country is
generally excellent.
Lincoln Township was organized on April 5, 1876, and the census report
of 1880 showed a population of 628, mostly composed of thrifty,
prosperous farmers, some of whom are growing fine stock. This
township is rapidly growing into favor, as one of the best sections of
the county. At the present rate of growth, it will soon be one
among the most populous in the county.
Keg Creek Township was organized in January, 1873, and the population
in 1880 was given at 692, many of these persons being among the most
independent and oldest settlers of the county. Among the early
settlers in Keg Creek Township as Rasmus Campbell, wife and family of
four children (Mr. Campbell has officiated in several of the offices of
the township), Morrison M. Fay, William Orr, S. G. Underwood and
others. Mr. Underwood came to this county in 1854, and is now one
of the most prosperous farmers in his township, possessing 1,000 acres
of that rich and productive soil.
In June, 1878, Valley Township was organized, and is now one of the
most important townships in the county. The population of this
organization was given in the census of 1880 at 965. This section
is rapidly filling up, and ere long it promises to become one of the
most desirable townships in Pottawattamie. The farmers are taking
a deep interest in their improvements, as well as in
stock-growing. The yield of crops is generally good and
remunerative.
In August, 1857, Macedonia Township, one of the most populous in this
county, was organized. The census of 1880 showed a population of
1,064. It is about twenty-five miles southeast of Council Bluffs,
situated on the rich and fertile soil of the West Nishnabotna, which
land, for productiveness, is equal to any in the State of Iowa.
It is fine for grazing purposes also, and therefore, a great deal of
fine stock is grown and sent to the markets from this section.
here we find a good mill, an excellent elevator, stores, hotel and
other public buildings of interest. The town of Macedonia also
contains a bank and printing office, and it is a very good point for
trade. The country is rolling and beautiful, and is attracting
the attention of men of capital. Here blue limestone is found in
large quantities, but the quarries are just being utilized. Hon.
B. F. Clayton, R. H. and T. J. Woodmancy, F. J. Potter, Sylvester Dye
and Mr. Lane are solid men and enterprising citizens. We are told
this township is third in the State for stock-growing.
In addition to the town of Macedonia, we find the enterprising town of
Carson in this township, with elevator, stores, hotel and the Carson
Fairdealer, edited and published by Messrs. Jullian and
McManima.
This town is at the junction of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroads. These two
towns give to the citizens of Macedonia Township excellent markets for
all they have for sale.
Waveland Township, formerly Walnut Creek, was organized in January,
1857, and its population in 1880 was 776. Here are some of the
finest and most inviting lands to be found in the county. The
improvements are generally of a good character, and in some cases, many
of these are very costly. Much fine stock is to be seen in this
township, and the farmers are generally growing rich.
On June 10, 1876, Lewis township was organized, and the census report
in 1880 gave the population at 977. The land and improvements in
this township will compare very favorably with any other section of the
county, and the farmers here are making good progress in the growth of
fine stock. Some of the oldest settlers are nicely fixed, and are
in a condition to enjoy their hard-earned homes.
James Township was organized in September, 1858, and the population in
1880 was 570. The citizens of this township have battled along
manfully, and now many of them are enjoying fine homes and handsome
farms. They also grow a great deal of good stock, and are well
prepared to battle with life's difficulties. Many of these
individuals passed through severe trials and great difficulties in the
early days of the settlement of this county, and are entitled to the
pleasures they find in their nice homes and on their well-stocked farms.
On June 9, 1873, Norwalk Township was organized, and in 1880 the
population was 618. This township is possessed of some very
valuable lands, as well as many well-improved farms. Most of the
citizens of this section, after many struggles, are enjoying peace,
plenty and prosperity. They possess good houses, and some of the
best stock in the State, showing what time and industry will
accomplish. The population of this township is increasing with
commendable rapidity, and soon the population will be double that of
1880.
It appears, from the records of the county, that the township of York
was organized on the National birthday, July 4, 1856. The
population of this township in 1880 was 526. The farmers here,
like in the other townships, had to undergo many privations in the
early days of the settlement, but now they are enjoying good buildings,
orchards, well-cultivated places, with a large amount of excellent
stock of every kind.
Center Township was organized in June, 1856, and the population in 1880
was 1,075. Oakland, formerly called Big Grove, is located on the
east back of the West Nishnabotna, in Center Township, in the center of
a rich and extensive country. It is a leading point on the Avoca
& Southwestern Railroad. It is a picturesque place, being a
natural forest town. At this section of the Nishnabotna Valley
are found forest of oak, walnut, hickory and other trees of hard
wood. Not many years ago the hunter found wild game, such as
deer, turkey, prairie chickens and other game in abundance.
Oakland is near the center of one of these extensive forests, where the
belt of timber extends for some distance east of the town. This
town was founded by Hon. John T. Baldwin, of Council Bluffs. It
is supposed that at some day not far distant, Oakland will be the seat
of a new county. Center Township is put down as one of the best
stock growing townships in the State of Iowa, and that portion of it is
unrivaled for grain.
Pleasant Township was organized April 7, 1873, and in 1880, contained a
population of 654. This township is filling up fast with solid
farmers, who are making the lands bloom and blossom. They are
also raising some very fine stock, and making substantial
improvements. It will be, as the name indicates, a pleasant
section of country to dwell in.
The township of Belknap was organized in September, 1872, and we find
that the census report for 1880 gave the population at that time at
583. This township contains find lands, and is becoming one of
the popular sections of the county. The old settlers who are now
enjoying life had to pass through many trials and difficulties, but at
this time they have their railroad stations, and are in the midst of
good markets, where they find ready sales for their grain and fine
stock. Many of the improvements in this township will compare
favorably with the improvements in other portions of the county.
Considerable timber will be found in portions of this country.
Boomer Township was organized as early as 1858, in June, and, of
course, it has changed very materially in the years that have elapsed
since. The population of this township in 1880 was 870.
Here you will find well-improved, beautiful farms, where in 1856
nothing but the wild prairie was to be seen. The early settlers
toiled along for years with commendable energy, and they are now
enjoying their hard-earned homes of plenty. Here you will find
schools, churches and all the advancements of civilization.
It is recorded that Minden Township was organized in September, 1876,
and the population in 1880 was 700. The village of Minden is
located on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. It
contains about three hundred inhabitants, mostly Germans. This is
the place where most of the business of the township is
transacted. Here you will find merchants and grain buyers, and
men carrying on the various avocations of life. James Crow, a
Justice of the Peace, is an American by birth, and is
enterprising. This township is making good progress, and the old
settlers who went there when everything was wild, are enjoying the
fruits of some of the best farms in the county of Pottawattamie.
Either because of neglect or slow growth of population, some of the
townships of this county are of recent date; we find that Neola, with a
population in 1880 of 681, forming an organization in June, 1872.
while this township was slow in organizing, it has been progressing in
improvements, and contains some very excellent farms, fine stock and
many fruit trees, schools, churches, etc. The early settlers are
generally well fixed, and have good markets within short distances.
Knox Township, containing the largest population of any township in the
county, excepting Kane, was organized in January, 1855, and in 1880
contained 2,237 of a population. The town of Avoca is near the
center of this township, and it has grown into a place of considerable
importance, contains schoolhouses, churches, hotels, stores, two
newspapers, railroad and grain depots, etc. The town was platted
in the spring of 1869, but it did not take much of a start till
1871. Mr. Jules Priester is said to have erected the first
house. The first building of any note was the hotel, known as the
New England House. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
Railroad reached the town in April, 1869. The name first given
the town was Pacific, then Botna, and in June of the same year, the
name was again changed to Avoca by some ladies who were there on
a railroad excursion, and this name still remains. In 1873, Avoca
put on the mantle of a city, and the citizens elected the following
persons as officers: H. W. Wilson, Mayor; Fred G. Hetzel, Clerk;
Edward Davis, Treasurer; R. S. Heart, Charles Norton, George Phall,
James Hipsley, Nat. Acker and Samuel Temple, Aldermen.
The Catholic, Presbyterian, Congregational and Methodist denominations
each have an organization. The public schools were attended by
400 pupils.
This township is probably one of the best improved in several counties,
and contains a large amount of wealth. The early settlers are
mostly independent, and in a condition to enjoy life. Their
farms, in many cases, are perfect gardens, and they are surrounded by
an abundance of good stock.
Grove
Township was organized in August, 1859, and it's population in 1880
amounted to 958. The township was so called because of the
numerous groves in it. Wheeler's Grove is one of the principal
post offices, at which a large proportion of its citizens get their
mail matter. The land In this township is generally rolling, rich
and beautiful. Here some of the finest homes in the county are
found. The old settlers of this section would not exchange lands
with the farmers of any other section. They have taken great
pains with their homes in many cases, and have beautified their lands
until they are very attractive. This people have considerable
fruit and are very advanced in all the improvements of the times.
In 1869, Hardin Township was organized and took an independent position
in the county of Pottawattamie, and in 1880 the population, according
to the census of that year, was 549. The old settlers of this
township have some of the best lands and neatest homes in Iowa.
They appreciate their situation, and surrounded by good stock and all
the conveniences of the day are enjoying life as becomes the
Christian. They find ready markets for all the have for sale, and
their pleasures are so complete as to cause them to forget their early
trials and tribulations. The traveler passing over this township
now could scarcely be made to believe that many of the settlers had
passed through half the hardships they were compelled to undergo in its
early organization.
The township of Crescent was organized on March 2, 1857, and the first
election was held on the 19th of June following, when 109 votes were
polled. The Mormons originally settled this township. In
1848, immediately south of the bottom land skirting Pigeon Creek
Valley, in Township 76, Range 44, they erected a large tabernacle of
logs, capable of holding 500 persons. A mill was erected near
this point and a number of farms were opened. In 1852-53, when
the Mormons left for Salt Lake, they were succeeded by a number of
families from Indiana, among whom were William A. Reel and family in
1852. Mr. Reel erected a large frame dwelling in one of the most
beautiful localities in the northern part of the township. He
also built a saw-mill and laid out a town site, which place he called
Americus. Here a number of Gentiles settled, among whom were
Edmund Latham, Joseph Boulden, David Dunkle and Elkanah Hall.
After the location of the Mississippi & Missouri River Railroad and
the alleged discovery of rock bottom on the Missouri, at Florence, in
Nebraska, which point is just east of Crescent Township, much
excitement was created. It was supposed that the line of
railroad, instead of following the valley, would incline westward in
the northern part of the county, and run down the valley of Pigeon
Creek and across the Missouri at Florence. This created a furor,
and soon some speculative persons located a town site and called
it Crescent City. This was on Sections 24 and 25, in
Township 76, Range 43. J. E. Johnson, the wide-awake editor of
the Council Bluffs Bugle, had
a farm a short distance from the new
city, and he at once established a paper there to advocate the
interests of the town. The paper was called the Crescent City
Oracle, and it lived two years. During the years of
1856-57, the
new town grew rapidly. Stores and shops were opened. A
steam grist and saw mill were erected. A schoolhouse was put up
and a school opened. Early in 1857, a post office was
established, with Lewis J. Goddard as Postmaster. Samuel
Eggleston followed Mr. Goddard in this office, and he only remained in
it for a short time, when David Dunkle became Postmaster. The
principal business men in the town were Johnson & Blake, Reel &
Dutrow, Samuel Eggleston, William Meury, Allison & Nutting.
The financial crash of 1857, and the knowledge that the railroad
mentioned would continue its line to Council Bluffs, caused a check to
fall upon the growth of the new town. In 1858, Mr. Johnson
removed his press to the county seat. Many of the best buildings
were removed to Council Bluffs or to farms. The North Western
Railroad crosses this township from north to south. This is a
fine farming district. it is well supplied with water and
considerable timber. The population, as given by the census of
1880, was 575.
It is stated that the township of Garner, called so for William Garner,
one of the best citizens in the county, was organized in April, 1877,
and in 1880, the population was 908. This township, without a
doubt, contains a number of the very finest farms in Western Iowa, and
many of the citizens of this section are enterprising, industrious and
energetic, and after toiling many years, are in the enjoyment of peace,
plenty and prosperity. They are also very hospitable, and
entertain in the olden style, with a freedom that makes the visitor
feel at home. Here, too, they have taken great pains to get and
grow fine blooded stock, and in many cases some of the finest cattle,
horses and hogs can be seen.
Hazel Dell Township was organized in June, 1873. The population,
as given in the census of 1880, was 960. Many of the oldest
settlers in the county are comfortably located in this township.
William J. Cook, a native of England, settled in this county in 1857;
Mrs. Lucy A. F. Hall, a native of Kentucky; Capt. Robert Frost, a
native of England, came to this county in 1855; Joshua A. Gregg, a
native of Ohio, came to Pottawattamie in 1856, and all are well
rewarded for their stay in the county and their early settlement in
Hazel Dell Township. It is true, in the early settlement of this
township, the pleasures and advantages were few, but now schools and
churches abound, and every convenience that is to be found has its
locality here. The people are progressive and show it in their
way of living.
First District and County Officers. - James Sloan was first District
Judge; Thomas Burdick was County Judge; Even Green was first County
Clerk and Auditor; Luke Johnson was first County Treasurer; Alexander
McRae, Sheriff; E. Aylesworth, Coroner.
Present District and County Officers. - J. R. Reed, District Judge; C.
F. Loofbourow, Circuit Judge; J. P. Conner, District Attorney; S. D.
Street, County Clerk; T. A. Kirkland, County Auditor; John Bennett,
County Treasurer; Theodore Guittar, Sheriff; Samuel Denton, County
Surveyor; Bradbury W. Hight, County Attorney; Henry Faul, Coroner.
Board of Supervisors. - Eli Clayton, Chairman; S. B. Frum, S. Dye, J.
M. Phillips and S. J. Underwood.
City Organization. - It is stated in the Annals of Iowa, that "in
April, 1854, Congress passed an act authorizing the Judge of
Pottawattamie County to enter 640 acres of land for the benefit of the
owners and occupants of claims. Judge Street, accordingly, on the
10th day of May, 1854, entered, under the law, eighty acres in Section
30, and eighty acres in Section 31, Township 75, Range 43; and 240
acres in Section 25, and 240 acres in Section 36, Township 75, Range 44
- forming a square mile, and comprising within its limits nearly all of
the village of Kanesville."
We are told that it was a difficult matter to divide this land to give
satisfaction, in all cases, to the claimants. It frequently
happened that two parties claimed the same lot. In the spring of
this year, Judge Street employed Thomas Tostevin to survey the land
entered by him, and Mr. Tostevin performed his work with care, when a
large majority of the owners of claims became satisfied, and in all
subsequent conveyances, the original survey stood as the guide.
Many suits grew out of the disputed claims, and took much of the time
of the courts, for some years. The additions of S. S. Bayliss,
Mynster, Jackson, Stutsman and Mills were within the limits of the one
mile square entered by the County Judge. In the fall of 1854,
other lots were surveyed, and new additions made to the town.
Among these additions were the names of Grimes, Curtis, Hall and Beers.
End of Chapter 6
Return to Pottawattamie County
History 1882 index
|
