~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ THE DIRECTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, IOWAAs Compiled for the 1883 Map of Hamilton County and
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| Library Catalog Information | |
| Title: | Directory of Hamilton County, Iowa; containing a historical sketch and population tables from the tenth United States census: also, the name and address of the many subscribers to the large, [40X44”], new maps of the county. |
| Publisher: | Minneapolis, Minn.: Warner & Foote, 1883. |
| Description: | 1 v. (unpaged); 17 cm. 3x5”, Approximately 45 pages |
| OCLC: | (OCoLC)ocm46566323 |
| Subjects: | Hamilton County (Iowa)—Directories. |
| Hamilton County (Iowa)—Population. | |
| Hamilton County (Iowa)—Statistics. | |
| Hamilton County (Iowa)—History. | |
| Location: | Historical Society Library Pamphlet Collection |
| Catalog: | UW Madison Call Number: 61-507 |
| University of Wisconsin – Madison Libraries http://www.library.wisc.edu/ A copy was made with the cooperation of Lori B. Bessler, Reference Librarian, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, WI. | |
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INDEX OF BUSINESSES
IN THE 1883 DIRECTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY
After the map was made, company representatives canvassed the county for subscribers who paid a small fee to have their names and businesses printed in the directory. These fees would finance the publishing of the 1883 map and the business directory. Some would focus on the Webster City businessmen or businessmen in Williams, Jewell, Stratford, Blairsburg, Randall and Ellsworth. Bankers, merchandisers of farm supplies, real estate agents and others agreed to be a part of the directory. County officials might have been listed as a courtesy for their help in promoting the map and directory.
Other representatives would travel around the county to convince prominent farmers to become subscribers. Then the representatives would use this subscriber’s name to encourage the neighbor or relative to subscribe. For example, in Marion township section 4, farm neighbors Jonas Westman and Olof Westrom were subscribers.
The index is alphabetical within the townships. The tight binding of this 3 x5 inch directory prevented accurate copying of the township sections. If possible, the correct section numbers were made on this copy.
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INDEX OF LAND OWNERS, RENTERS and RESIDENTS
NAMED ON THE 1883 HAMILTON COUNTY MAP
The publishers, Warner & Foote, have identified known land owners, renters and/or residents of land in Hamilton County in 1882 or 1883. The company representatives recorded the names based upon information that was on file at the recorder’s office of the Hamilton County Courthouse in Webster City, Iowa prior to their 1883 printing date. They needed time to collect this information plus time to meet individually with potential subscribers for the directory and the map.
The map information was as accurate as the representatives, the land owners, residents and renters. Frequently renters would move and land speculators would sell their land. Some people (squatters) lived on land without permission as some land owners lived outside of Iowa and lacked good land agents. The names in the index are as they appear on the map. Errors could have been made by the recorder’s staff, the company representatives and our volunteers.
Additionally, the townships had not been clearly defined by 1883. Adjustments for the township sections continued to be made until the 1890’s. Thus a person might be found in one section on this 1883 map and a different section on the 1896 map without moving.
The county boundaries for the upper townships were offset by two miles to accommodate the curvature of the earth on maps.
For detailed information about the formation of the townships and section assignments, consult the Hamilton County IAGenWeb or the genealogy section of the Kendall Young Library, Webster City, Iowa for additional county history.
In 1883 the following townships are listed on the map:
Blairsburg, Boone, Cass, Clear Lake, Ellsworth, Fremont, Hamilton, Liberty, Lincoln, Lyon, Marion, Rose Grove, Scott, Webster and Williams.
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Plat Map News Items
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.