Washington's First Sale of Lots - 1839
Last updated 07 Feb 2016
This information was published in The Evening Journal, Washington, Iowa - Centennial Edition - August, 1939. It describes the first sale of lots in the city of Washington and lists the names of the purchasers. Data transcribed by J. L. Breen.
Washington’s First Sale of Lots Held July 1, 1839
Twenty-four Lots Facing Square Brought $915, Average of $38.15
E.B. Bolens, founder of the first Washington Democrat in 1860, who wrote a history of the county states that the first regular session of the board of county commissioners, was held at or near Washington, on the first day of July, 1839. At this meeting Joseph Crill was allowed $24 for assessing the poll tax and taxable property of the county for that year, while now it frequently cost over $100 a month to assess a single township.
Mr. Bolens further says that “at this meeting the clerk of the board was ordered to advertise a sale of lots in Washington on Monday, August 19th, to continue two days, if necessary, upon which the following conditions: One eighth in cash in hand, the remainder in three equal payments in six, twelve and eighteen months, and to employ a surveyor to survey and plat the town of Washington. The clerk, under this order, employed J. M. Snyder as surveyor, who, with the assistance of Caldwell Neil, Thomas M. Neil, Wm {William} Busey, Nathan Baker and others performed the work. The sale took place on the day specified, Joseph Patterson acting as crier, upon the following conditions :
Conditions of Sale
“First: The commissioners of the county shall place an estimated price on each and every lot offered for sale, which shall be considered the bid of the county.
“Second: The highest bidder shall be the purchaser, by paying one-eighth cash down, and the remainder in three equal installments payable in six, twelve and eighteen months, for which notes will be required.
“Third: Bonds will be given for a general warrantee deed, of officially executed and bearing date August 19, 1839.
List of Lots Sold
“The following is the list of the sale:
Lot 1, Block 17 – Nathan Baker -------- -----$54.00
Lot 5, Block 14 – Joseph B. Rodgers --- ----$40.00
Lot 4, Block 14 – Joseph Patterson ---- -----$40.00
Lot 8, Block 8 – Jeremiah Buford ------------$72.00
Lot 3, Block 12 – George H. Stone -----------$25.00
Lot 6, Block 12 – Theodore Temple ---------$30.00
Lot 7, Block 12 – William Conner ------------$51.00
Lot 1, Block 18 – Thomas Baker---------------$68.00
Lot 4, Block 19 – John Duke -------------------$50.00
Lot 3, Block 18 – William Ayers ---------------$42.00
Lot 2, Block 18 – Richard Moore --------------$45.00
Lot 1, Block 18 – Luke Teeple ------------------$37.00
Lot 2, Block 15 – N. G. Livermore -------------$21.00
Lot 4, Block 15 – Wm {William} L. Harvey ---$15.00
Lot 8, Block 6 – Ephraim B. Hughs ------------$21.00
Lot 7, Block 7 – Joseph Basey ------------------$35.00
Lot 1, Block 24 –Joseph Patterson ------------$26.00
Lot 2, Block 24 – John Crill, Jr. -----------------$20.00
Lot 8, Block 17 – Thomas Baker ---------------$04.00
Lot 8, Block 18 – Israel Smith ------------------$30.00
Lot 8, Block 15 – William Basey ---------------$27.00
Lot 7, Block 15 – Marcus Hall ------------------$16.00
Lot 8, Block 7 – Jeremiah Buford -------------$50.00
Lot 5, Block 8 – Thomas Ritchey --------------$69.00
Average Price $38.15
“Twenty-four lots were sold at an average price of a fraction less than $38.15, amounting in the aggregate of $915.50.”
“The lot selling for $54,” wrote Nathan Littler in 1879, “is located on the southwest corner of the public square south of and across the street from the First National bank, owned by Hugh Smith and others and pretty fully covered with business houses occupied by Messrs. Wallace & Knox and others. The lot upon which the Bryson house stands (the Colenso hotel corner) sold for $72, and this lot sold for more money than any other one, being then as now considered the most valuable lot in town.
“The lot upon which the Everson block stands (the Masonic Temple corner) brought the next largest price, selling for $69. The lot on the southeast corner of the public square and occupied by R. T. McCall and others brought the third highest price, bring $68. The lot now occupied by the large and commodious house of worship of the First United Presbyterian church sold at the sale for $31.
“These prices now seem to have been extremely low and they certainly were very cheap, but they were not considered so at that time. Several years after this sale, lots but a little way from {the} public square were freely offered at $5 each and were not much sought after at that price. It would be a poor town indeed in these days, when the best and most valuable lot in it, having abundant room for three large business houses upon it, to say nothing of its being the county seat of one of the best counties west of the Mississippi river could be bought with $72.
“As an item of parallel history, we mention that this sale of lots in our county seat was just one day later than that of the capital of the territory at Iowa City which commenced on the 18th day of August, that place having been located on the 4th day of May – a little over a month before our seat of justice was chosen.”
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