Hamilton County 1883 Plat Map and County Map– News Reports
ADD TO COUNTY INDEX
The following news reports published by the Hamilton Freeman in Wesbster City, Iowa report the changes of township boundaries being proposed in 1882 and later adopted by 1883. They were researched by Nancy Eich Kayser, a key contributor to the 1883 Hamilton County map project.
Hamilton Freeman – June 14, 1882, page 1
Proceeding of the Board of Supervisors
….”The following resolution was presented and on motion
laid over to the second day of the next meeting, June 28th, 1882.
Whereas,
several petitions have been presented asking changes in the boundary lines of
the civil townships in the east part of the county, and to have them conform as
nearly as convenient to congressional township lines, bit it
Resolved,
That Twp. No. Eighty-eight (88) north; of Range No. Twenty-three (23) west of
the 5th P. M., Iowa, be and is hereby created a civil township under
the name of “Rose Grove.”
That Twp.
No. Eighty-nine (89) north; of Range No. Twenty-three (23) west of the 5th
P. M., Iowa, be and is hereby created a civil township under the name of
“Williams.”
That Twp.
No. Eight-eight (88) north; of Range No. Twenty-four (24) west of the 5th
P. M., Iowa, be and is created a civil township under the name of _____________
That Twp.
No. Eight-nine (89) north; of Range No. Twenty-four (24) west of the 5th
P. M., Iowa, excepting Sections No. Six (6), Seven (7), Eighteen (18), nineteen
(19), Thirty (30) and Thirty-one (31) of said township and Range, be and is
hereby created a civil township under the name of “Blairsburg.”
In the
matter of the petition of the citizens of Boone township asking that Township
No. 88, Range No. 25, be created an independent civil township, it is ordered
that the prayer of the petitioners be not granted, owing to the illegality of
the petition, the proposed township lines severing a portion of the
incorporated town of Webster City. …”
Hamilton Freeman – June 14, 1882, page 5
“The
scheme to “square up” the townships, as presented to and acted upon by the
Board of Supervisors, will probably result in making two more townships out of
the present territory of Boone. This
will make three civil townships out of the original territory – one more east
and one west of Webster City, with the incorporation erected into an
“independent kingdom” of its own. This
will probably suit the outside territory better than any other divisions that
could be made, and will be equally acceptable (so far as we can see) to the
people within the corporate limits of the town. For particulars as to what has already been done in this matter of “squaring up” townships, see proceedings of the Board of Supervisors, on our
first page. “[See above article]
Hamilton Freeman September 18, 1882, page 5
“The New Township of Liberty.
At the
recent session of the Board of Supervisors, the boundary lines of seven
townships were changed, and the new township of “Liberty” created out of
territory formerly belonging to Boone, Rose Grove and Blairsburg. Liberty now comprises the 36 sections of Township
88, Range 24. The east tier of sections
in Fremont, except the southeast quarter of 31 and the south half of 32 and 33
– which comprise a part of the Independent District of Webster City - , have
been given to Cass; and the two eastern tiers of sections formerly belonging to
Cass have been put into Blairsburg, and the eastern tier of Blairsburg attached
to Williams, which gives the four northern townships of Fremont, Cass,
Blairsburg and Williams their complement of 36 sections each, with the single
exception of the section and a quarter still retained from Cass in the
Independent School district of Webster City. By taking the 24 sections formerly belonging to Blairsburg and Williams, lying south of the congressional lines, and section, 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31
and 32 from the east end of Boone, the townships of Liberty and Rose Grove are
comprised of the necessary 36 sections each. The only other change made is the taking of sections 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 from the north line of Hamilton and attaching them to Boone. When Boone, Hamilton, Marion, and Webster shall have been “squared up”, as near as practicable, as they most surely will be in time, the county will contain its full complement of sixteen civil
townships, co-extensive in territory with the original Congressional township divisions. These changes will necessarily disarrange
school and road matters temporarily, but when these interests are made to
conform to the new order of things, we believe all interested will be well
satisfied with the changes – especially when it is considered that the township
divisions will then be fixed for all time.”
Hamilton Freeman – October 25, 1882, page 5
“A
petition is being circulated praying the Board of Supervisors at their January
session to erect the territory of East Boone into a separate township. We understand that the people in the
territory named are very generally in favor of the proposed change. With this project accomplished, the remaining territory in Boone township will be left with Webster City for township
purposes.”
Hamilton Freeman – November 29, 1882, page 5
“Randall
Station. – O. B. Vincent, who was engaged last week in surveying out the new
town of Randall, situated on the Des Moines branch of the N. W. R. R., some
four miles north of Story City, in Scott township, Hamilton county, says the
townsite is a beautiful one, and that the rich, well-improved country that will
be tributary to it will be sure to make of Randall a local trading point of
considerable importance. As The Freeman
said last week, Randall offers good inducements for parties desiring to settle
in a new railroad town in the midst of a splendid and fast developing
agricultural region.”
NEWS REPORTS OF THE PROPOSED 1883 MAP OF HAMILTON COUNTY
The following news reports published by the Hamilton
Freeman newspaper in Webster City, Iowa report the announcement of the map and
the company-contractor dispute. Refer to
the other news reports for details of the changes of the township
boundaries They were researched by Nancy
Eich Kayser, a key contributor to the 1883 Hamilton County map project.
Hamilton Freeman August 16, 1882, page 5
“The
people of Hamilton county are about to be supplied with something they have
long felt the need of – a comprehensive map of the county; for which Messrs.
Warner & Foote, of Minneapolis, have been making, for the last few months,
a complete survey of the county. This
company come (sic?) to Hamilton county with the best of recommendations from
other counties where they have published similar works, and our citizens may
rest assured that they will get a work worthy of their confidence and
support. And we earnestly hope that
every enterprising citizen will give the firm engaged in the work such
encouragement as will insure its publication at an early day.
We publish
below one of hundreds of letters received by this firm, from parties now using
their maps and coming, as it does, from one of the most careful as well as one
of the most prominent citizen’s of Linn county, it speaks volumes for the work
in which this company are engaged:
Marion,
Linn Co., Ia., Aug. 9th, 1882
Messrs. Warner & Foote, Willson House, Webster City,
Iowa.
Gentlemen: Yours of 8th, here, asking my
opinion of the county map you made of this county two years ago. Since I have resided in this county yours was
the fourth map made, all of which I have owned!
By far yours is the most complete, accurate and satisfactory one ever
made of this county. I have occasion to
refer to it almost daily, and so far have never detected an error. Aside from
its completeness as a mechanical job, I have never seen it surpassed. Have never heard an unfriedly (sic) criticism
passed on it. Yours, &c., R. D.
Stephens, Pres. 1st Nat. Bank of Marion.”
Hamilton Freeman – October 11, 1882
“Mr. E. C.
Hurd, who has charge of the surveys for Warner & Foote’s map of Hamilton County, has for several days past been “checking up” the different township plats. Owing to the fact that our business men are anxious to receive their maps, the company will immediately place the work in the hands of the engravers at Philadelphia, and hope to be able to deliver it about the last of November.”
Hamilton Freeman – January 2, 1883, page 5
“The Co.
Map. – Mr. Gillen, who canvassed for the publishers of the new county map, now
about ready for delivery, notifies subscribers not to pay their orders to
Messrs Warner & Foote, the publishers, as they are indebted to him on
account of work done for them. Unless
Mr. Gillen has an assignment from Messrs Warner & Foote he has no valid
claim for subscriptions. – Whatever misunderstanding may exist between Mr.
Gillen and Messrs Warner & Foote will not effect the contract between the
latter and the subscribers to the map. – We hope, however, the company will pay
Mr. Gillen any just claim he holds against them, and remove all change of
annoyance to subscribers to the map.”
Hamilton Freeman – January 19, 1883, page 5
“Warning. To the Subscribers to the Map of Hamilton
County:
You will each and every one take notice that you are
hereby warned not to settle with Warner & Foote, or any of their agents,
for the map of that county, for I hold many of the original order for salary
due me, and will hold you each responsible for the amount, whether paid to said
firm or not. Do not settle with them
until you see me. Farmers, take
notice. J. C. Gillen”
Hamilton Freeman – February 7, 1883, page 5
“The new
maps of Hamilton county, prepared and published by Mrs. (sic) Warner &
Foote, are now being delivered to subscribers. The maps seem to be perfect in every particular, and are executed in the best possible style. The work fully sustains the reputation of the publishers, and is a credit to the county. It will be a great convenience to citizens of the county, and is well worth what it costs.”
Hamilton Freeman – February 28, 1883, page 5
“County
Legislation – Adjourned Session Board of Supervisors. …
Ordered, that the Auditor issue warrant to Warner & Foot for two
maps of Hamilton county. $24.”
Note: The present
map hanging in the courthouse was donated by the Marvin Westrum and his
Family. His grandfather, Olof Westrom,
was a map subscriber.
