|
|
Audubon County |
Home History Main 1915 History |
CHAPTER II.ORGANIZATION OF AUDUBON COUNTY.From History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915)
|
|
Audubon county was undoubtedly named in honor of the celebrated ornithologist, John James Audubon, who died in the year 1851. At the time of its organization by the state Legislature, it formed part of Keokuk county, which embraced at one period the southern portion of Iowa. Audubon county was organized by provision of section 18, chapter 9, acts of the third General Assembly of Iowa, approved January 15, 1851, which provided: "That the following shall be the boundaries of a new county, which shall be called Audubon, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of township 81 north, range 32 west; thence west on the line between townships 81 and 82. to the northwest corner of township 81, range 36 west; thence south on range line dividing ranges 36 and 37 to the southwest corner of township 78' north, range 36; thence east on the line between townships 77 and 78 to the southwest corner of township 78, range 32 west; thence north between ranges 32 and 33, to the place of beginning." This boundary was changed a few days later by subsequent act of the Legislature, namely, chapter 81, acts of the third General Assembly, approved February 5, 1851, which provided: "That the following shall be the boundaries of the county of Guthrie, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of township 81 north, of range 29 west; thence west on the township lines dividing townships 81 and 82, to the northwest corner of township 81 north, range 33 west; thence south to the southwest corner of township 78, range 33 west; thence east on the township lines between townships 77 and 78, to the southwest corner of township 78, range 29 west; thence north to the place of beginning." The cause of this change was remote. To adjust the boundaries of Polk county in such manner as to make Des Moines nearer the center of the county, a tier of townships was severed from the east of Polk and attached to Jasper county. To compensate for the change, a tier of townships was taken from the east of Dallas and attached to Polk county. Then a tier of townships was taken from the east of Guthrie and attached to Dallas county, and a tier of townships was taken from the east of Audubon and attached to Guthrie county. There was no one living in Audubon county at that time, and its interests were unprotected. The readjustment should have continued by adding a tier of townships to the west of Audubon taken from the east of Shelby county, and Shelby should then have received a like territory from the east of Harrison county, which would have fairly equalized the counties. The time for correcting the injustice to Audubon county has long passed. To disturb the county boundaries, now that permanent county seats have been located and public records of long standing have been established, would work irreparable injury and damage to the people now residing where such changes could and should have been made many years ago. We have since lived to experience the many permanent disadvantages resulting from that act of injustice. The relative expenses of county government must always remain greater in a small than in a larger county. In political affairs, in the distribution of state and district officers, the rights of a small county have frequently been disregarded and denied. The people of Audubon county have repeatedly experienced such prejudice and injustice and will probably continue to do so. Doctor Ballard and Peoria I. Whitted took an active part in procuring the organization of the county. At one time Mr. Whitted made a trip for that purpose to Iowa City and return, on foot. The expenses were paid principally by Doctor Ballard. It was provided by section 10, chapter 8, acts of the fourth General Assembly of Iowa, approved January 12, 1853. "That the county of Cass shall be composed of three civil townships for the present organization, that is: all the territory embraced in Cass county shall constitute one civil township; that which lies in the county of Audubon shall constitute one civil township; and all that which lies in the county of Adair shall constitute one civil township; the three for revenue, election and judicial purposes constituting the county of Cass. The first election to be held at Boshaw's [Bradshaw's] store, in Cass county, at Mr. Hamlin's in Audubon township, at the house of Alfred Jones in Adair township." It does not appear that any election was held in Audubon county under this law. It was further provided by section 2, chapter 12, acts of the fourth General Assembly, approved January 12, 1853: "Whenever the citizens of any unorganized county desire to have the same organized, they may make application by petition in writing, signed by a majority of the legal voters of said county, to the county judge of the county to which such unorganized county is attached; whereupon such county judge shall order an election for county officers in such unorganized county. Notice of said election must be given, the election conducted and the returns thereof made to the organized county to which the same was attached, and canvassed in the manner provided by law for filling vacancies in county offices." We suppose the county was organized under this statute. Peoria I. Whitted bore the petition from the people of this county to the county judge of Cass county at Lewis, praying for an order for the organization of the county, and for the first election of county officers, as is supposed, in the early part of the year 1855. No record of the transaction is to be found at this time in this or in Cass county. It is traditional that the proper order was made by Mr. Benedict, county judge of Cass county. The first election was held at the house of John S. Jenkins, in section 29, Exira township, April 2, 1855. John S. Jenkins, Walter J. Jardine and Isaac V. D. Lewis were judges of election, and John W. Beers and Carlos E. Frost were clerks. The first officers elected were: Thomas S. Lewis, county judge; John W. Beers, clerk of court; Miles Beers, treasurer and recorder; David L. Anderson, prosecuting attorney; Benjamin M. Hyatt, sheriff; Robert Stansberry, coroner; John W. Beers, surveyor; Urbane Herrick and Carlos E. Frost, justices of peace; William H. H. Bowen, assessor and road supervisor. In May, 1855, Hon. E. H. Sears, judge of the district court of Cass county, appointed T. N. Johnson, of Adair county; T. Bryan, of Guthrie county, and C. E. Woodward, of Cass county, commissioners to locate the county seat of Audubon county. The last two named members qualified as such, and reported on June 20, 1855, that they had located the county seat on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 22, in township 78, range 35. This land was then owned by Rev. Richard C. Meek, who conveyed it to Audubon county, retaining a share of the lots to be laid out. Under provisions of the statute, it was laid out and platted for the county by Thomas S. Lewis, county judge, as the town of Dayton, July 9, 1855. It became the county seat only in name; but two houses were ever built there, those of Norman Archer and Rev. Mr. Baker. The public records were kept and business transacted at the places of residence of the officers until the removal of the county seat to Exira in 1861. The town of Dayton received some notoriety abroad, and quite a trade of its town lots was carried on in other states, until its true character became known. [EARLY MAP OF AUDUBON COUNTY COMING SOON!!} At the general election in August, 1855, the following named county officers were elected: Daniel M. Harris, county judge; Nathaniel Hamlin, treasurer and recorder; Benjamin Hyatt, sheriff; Peoria I. Whitted, surveyor. Peoria I. Whitted was appointed swamp land commissioner. |
