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HISTORY OF IOWA
From the Earliest Times TO THE Beginning of the Twentieth Century
four volumes By benjamin F. GUE
luustrated with Photographic Views of the Natural Scenery of the State, Public Buildings, Pioneer Life, Etc.
WITH PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF NOTABLE MEN AND WOMEN OF IOWA
VOLUME III FROM 1866 TO 1903
SEAL OF THE STATE OF IOWA
THE CENTURY HISTORY COMPANY
41 Lafayette Place
New York City
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TPIENEW YOF •'
PU'BUCLIBRAKx.
ASTOR. LENOX AND TILD'^iV KfHMOAT'.ONa. R 1905 L
COPTRIGHT, 1903
B. F. GuE
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Publication Office
41 Lafayette Place
New York, N. Y., U. S. A.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME THREE
CHAPTER I
The Republican Convention of 1865— Declares for Negro Suffrage— The Union Anti-Negro Suffrage Party— The Democratic State Convention— A Warm Canvass— Republican Ticket Elected— The State Bank and Branches Retire from Business — The Eleventh General Assembly— The Swamp Land Indemnity Funds Embezzled— Legislative Investigation
Amendments Proposed to the Constitution — Kirk- wood and Harlan Chosen United States Senators- Geological Survey of the State— Soldiers' Orphans' Home— The Policy of President Johnson Alienates the Republican Party— Republican State Convention of 1866 — A Conservative Republican Convention and Ticket — Democratic State Convention Indorses the Conservative Ticket — Result of the Election 1-15
CHAPTER II
Financial Situation in 1867 — Republican and Demo- cratic Conventions of the Same Year — Result of the Elections— The Grasshopper Scourge— The Twelfth General Assembly — Ratification of Amendments to the Constitution — The Impeachment of President Johnson — Senator James W. Grimes on Impeachment
Political Conventions of 1868 — Result of the Elections — Legislative Control of Railroad Charges — Opening of the State Agricultural College— Railroad Building in Iowa and the Land Grants— Convention to Promote a Water Route from the Lakes to the Mississippi— Political Conventions of 1869— Republi- can Ticket Elected — The Thirteenth General Assembly —Wright and Howell Chosen United States Senators —Important Acts of Legislation— Crocker County Created and the Act Declared Void by the Supreme Court 17-32
CHAPTER III
Political Conventions of 1870 — Result of the Elec- tions — Great Reunion of Iowa Soldiers — 20,000
iv HISTORY
Veterans Assembled at Des Moines— The " Cardiff Giant " Deception — Opinions of Eminent Scientists — A Financial Bonanza— The Authors of the Fraud— The Great Block of Fort Dodge Gypsum— How the De- ception was Discovered and Exposed — Final Confes- sion of Hull, the Inventor of the Scheme— The Great Gypsum Quarries of Fort Dodge— Facts from the Cen- sus of 1870 33-44
CHAPTER IV
Political Conventions of 1871 — The Republicans Successful— The Fourteenth General Assembly— The Senatorial Contest — William B. Allison Nominated Over Senator Harlan — Cyrus C. Carpenter Inaugu- rated Governor — Revision of the Laws— Political Con- ventions of 1872— Republican Candidates Elected— The Second Grasshopper Scourge — Liberal aid to the Sufferers— The Presidential Campaign of 1872— Re- election of General Grant — Defalcation of the State Treasurer— A Legislative Investigation— The Patrons of Husbandry — Their Influence in Legislation — Politi- cal Conventions of 1873 — An Anti-Monopoly Party Organized — The Republicans Successful in the Elec- tion—Material Progress 45-62
CHAPTER V.
The Fifteenth General Assembly— Contest Over Election of Speaker— Investigation of the Agricul- tural College— Its Management Vindicated— A Bill Passed Regulating Railroad Charges— The Burlington Railway Resists the Enforcement of the Law — Judge Dillon of the U. S. Circuit Court Sustains the Law — A Decision of Vast Importance — Political Conventions of 1875 — Kirkwood Again Nominated for Governor— The Republican Candidates Elected— Governor Kirk- wood Chosen United States Senator— Temperance State Convention — Reunion of the Army of the Ten- nessee at Des Moines — Distinguished Generals in At- tendance—General Grant's Famous Speech— Misrep- resentation and Controversy Finally Settled — Political Conventions of 1876— Result of the Presidential Elec- tion in Doubt— George W. McCrary of Iowa Frames a Bill which Settles the Controversy 63-84
OF IOWA
CHAPTER VI
George W. McCrary in the Cabinet— Financial Con- dition of Iowa — An Important Decision of the Su- preme Court— The Political Conventions of 1877— The Southern Policy of President Hayes— John H. Gear Elected Governor— A Terrible Railroad Disaster— The Seventeenth General Assembly — Repeal of the " Granger Railroad Law " — Interesting Statistics- Political Conventions of 1878— Election of the Repub- lican Candidates— Conventions and Platforms of 1879— Governor Gear Re-elected— The Eighteenth General Assembly — National Conventions of 1880 .... 85-100
CHAPTER VII
Fencing Prairie Farms — The Invention of Barbed Wire — Formation of the First "Trust" — A Mon- opoly to Control the Manufacture and Sale of Wire Fencing — Farmers of Iowa Organize to Resist the Monopoly — A Free Factory Established — A Legal and Commercial Conflict — The State Aids the Farmers — Their Final Victory— The Farmers' Alliance — Kirk- wood in the Cabinet — Assassination of President Gar- field—Political Conventions of 1881— The First Woman Nominated for a State Office — Buren R. Sher- man Elected Governor— An Important Decision— He- roic Deed of Kate Shelly— The Nineteenth General Assembly— Election of United States Senators— Free Passes for Public Officials — Prohibition Amendment to the Constitution Adopted — Declared Void by the Su- preme Court 101-117
CHAPTER VIII
The Great Tornado of 1882— Destruction of Life and Property in its Track — Scenes in the City of Grin- nell — Iowa College in Ruins — Seventy Persons Killed and Hundreds Wounded— Political Conventions of 1882— A Rehearing of the Validity of the Constitu- tional Amendment— Former Decision Affirmed— Con- ventions and Elections of 1883 — Serious Damage to Orchards— The Twentieth General Assembly ]\Ieets in the New State House— The Dedication — Amend- ments to the Prohibitory Liquor Laws— Elections of 1884— Removal of the Auditor of State 119-133
vi HISTORY
CHAPTER IX
Political Conventions of 1885— The Twenty-first General Assembly — Attempts to Impeach Auditor Brown— He is Found Not Guilty— Reinstated in Office
— Conventions and Elections of 1886— Assassination of Reverend George C. Haddock — Interesting Statis- tics— The Drive Well Conflict — Important Decisions — The Twenty-second General Assembly— Governor Lar- rabee's Powerful Argument for Legislative Control of Railroads — The Legislature Responds with a Compre- hensive Law— Political Conventions and Elections of 1888— The Campaign of 1889— Horace Boies, Demo- crat, Elected Governor 135-156
CHAPTER X
The Twenty-third General Assembly— Contest for Speaker — The Last Message of Governor Larrabee— The Political Conventions of 1890— The Republicans Elect State Officers — The Democrats Elect a Majority of Representatives in Congress— Conventions and Election of 1891 — The Democrats Secure all of the State Officers and Half of the Senators— The Twenty- fourth General Assembly— The Campaign of 1892
— The Democrats Elect the President— The Republi- cans Carry Iowa for President and State Officers— The Columbian Exposition of 1893— The Tornado of 1893— The To^vn of Pomeroy Destroyed— Incidents
of the Calamity— Generous Aid for the Sufferers. . . .157-170
CHAPTER XI
Political Conventions of 1893— Frank D. Jackson Elected Governor— Expenditures for State Institu- tions — The Drought of 1894 — Financial Distress — The " Commonweal Armies "—Political Conventions and Elections of 1894— The Twenty-fifth General As- sembly—Saloons Legalized— Dedication of the Spirit Lake Monument — Political Conventions and Election of 1895— General F. M. Drake Elected Governor— The Twenty-sixth General Assembly— Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Omaha — The Semi-Centennial of Iowa Statehood— Terrible Railroad Collision at Logan. . . .171-186
CHAPTER XII
Two Iowa Candidates for President— The Political Conventions for 1896— Results of the Elections — Extra
OF IOWA vii
Session of the Legislature— The New Code— James Wilson in the Cabinet— Conventions and Elections of 1897— Leslie M. Shaw chosen Governor — The Twenty- seventh General Assembly— A State Board of Control —War with Spain— Legislature Appropriates $500,000 for War Purposes— Three Iowa Regiments Called For — One Regiment Sent to the Philippine Islands— Prog- ress of the War— Conventions and Elections of 1898 — Cold Winter of 1898-99— Great Destruction of Fruit Trees, Vines and Forests— Conventions and Elections of 1899— Twenty-eighth General Assembly— Political Conventions and Election of 1900 — Dedication of the Floyd Monument— Political Conventions and Election of 1901— Albert B. Cummins Chosen Governor- Twenty -ninth General Assembly— Jonathan P. Dolli- ver United States Senator 187-213
CHAPTER XIII
Des Moines River Land Grant of 1846— Decisions as to its Extent— Opinion of the Secretary of the Treasury in 1849 — Opinion of Secretary Ewing in 1850— Opinion of the Attorney- General in 1851 — Lands Conveyed to the Des Moines Navigation and Railroad Company— Opinion of the Attorney- General in 1856— Failure of the Navigation Company to Prose- cute the AVork— Unearned Land Granted to the Keo- kuk, Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad Company — Another Opinion from an Attorney-General in 1859 —First Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1859 — Settlement on the River Lands — Valid Titles Promised to Settlers — Act of Congress of 1861— Decision of the Secretary of the Interior in 1862— Another Decision of the Supreme Court Revers- ing its Former Opinion 215-227
CHAPTER XIV
The Walcott Decision as Understood by the Secre- tary of the Interior— The Herbert Battin Case— Set- tlers Authorized to Take Pre-emptions and Homesteads on River Lands— The Welles-Riley Case Before the Courts — United States Patent Set Aside — Settlers Driven from Their Homes by United States Marshals — The " Settlers Union " Organized — Action of Con- gress in the Premises— A State Commission Appointed
viii HISTORY OF IOWA
— Action of the National Commission— The Orr In- demnity Bill Passes the House— Defeated in the Senate
— The Crilly Patent Ignored— Further Action by Con- gress and the President— Another Supreme Court De- cision Against the Settlers — Indemnity Finally Grant- ed by Congress 229-247
CHAPTER XV
Progress of Women in the Nineteenth Century — Early Work and Vv^'orkers — Equal Rights Convention —Women in the Anti-Slavery Times— Legislation Re- lating to Suffrage — First Women Office Holders — Laws Relating to Property Rights of Women— Recent Workers in the Suffrage Cause— Women' s Clubs
— Their Influence — State Federation of Women's Clubs 249-262
CHAPTER XVI
Brief Sketch of Early Education in Iowa — Statis- tics Showing the Development of the Public School System— Free Text Books and Compulsory Education —Denominational Colleges — The State LFniversity— State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts- Experimental Station— State Normal School— The Penitentiaries — Four Hospitals for Insane — School for the Deaf — Institution for Feeble-Minded Children— Industrial Schools for Boys and Girls — Soldiers' Or- phans' Home — State Board of Control — State His- torical Society — Historical Department — Grand Army of the Republic — State Agricultural Society — State Horticultural Society— Pioneer Lawmakers Associa- tion—Statistics from the Census 263-290
Early History op Iowa Counties 291-438
Directory of Public Officials 439-531
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
The Capitol of Iowa Frontispiece
The Grasshopper Scourge Facing page 19
State College of Agriculture Facing page 26
The Cardiff Giant Facing page 42
Cyrus C. Carpenter Facing page 48
Joshua G. Newbold Facing page 87
John H. Gear Facing page 93
Kate Shelly Saving a Train Facing page 112
Buren R. Sherman Facing page 113
Iowa College Wrecked by a Tornado Facing page 120
William Larrabee Facing page 135
Horace Boies Facing page 160
Iowa Building at Columbia Exposition Facing page 167
Frank D. Jackson Facing page 171
Monument of Spirit Lake Massacre Facing page 181
Leslie M. Shaw Facing page 190
Floyd Monument Facing page 203
Albert B. Cummins Facing page 209
Battle Ship Iowa Facing page 214
Liberal Arts Building, State University Facing page 266
Close Hall, State University Facing page 267
Agricultural Hall, Iowa State College Facing page 268
Engineering Hall, Iowa State College Facing page 269
State Normal School Facing page 271
Iowa Hall of History Facing page 283
An Iowa Prairie Farm Facing page 287
Mississippi River South of Lansing Facing page 293
Bluffs on the Oneota River Facing page 299
Artesian Well at Belle Plaine Facing page 308
Field Strewn With Bowlders Facing page 315
Storm Lake Facing page 317
Raccoon River Facing page 321
Clear Lake Facing page 325
Islands in Mississippi River Facing page 333
Bluffs on Maquoketa River Facing page 340
Indian Spring near Burlington Facing page 341
West Okoboji Lake Facing page 342
HISTORY OF IOWA
Towers of Galena Limestone Facing page 343
Granite Bowlder at Nora Springs Facing page 346
Bluffs on the Iowa River Facing page 355
West Fork of the Des Moines River Facing page 360
Steamboat Rock on Maquoketa River Facing page 363
The Iowa River Facing page 368
Jasper Pool, Lyon County Facing page 379
Lithographic Stone, Mitchell County Facing page 388
Wild Cat Den, on Pine Creek Facing page 392
Chicaquaka, or Skunk River Facing page 412
Gypsum Ledges, near Fort Dodge Facing page 428
Plymouth Rock, Upper Iowa River Facing page 430
Oneota River, near Decorah Facing page 431
Flood Plain of Missouri River Facing page 433
An Iowa Stock Farm Facing page 437
Lead Mining near Dubuque Facing page 443
PREFACE
A DISTINGUISHED writer has said, "Happy is the country that has a dull history." The present volume takes up the narration of events of public interest following the graphic pictures of pioneer life and the thrilling tragedies and sacrifices of the great Civil War. While the record of the times of peace, progress and the ordinary passing events, which make up the greater portion of modern history, may be uninter- esting compared with the stirring scenes of pioneer years, and the mustering, marching and battles of great armies, yet the quiet evolution of a progressive people through successive steps toward a higher civilization, greater achievements in education, prosperity and happiness, are of no less importance. This volume deals in facts and figures in a large degree for the purpose of preserving a record of dates and events for future reference. It par- takes of the character of a cyclopedia of general informa- tion for those who have not access to the voluminous State and National public documents. In a republic where the people, through the various political parties, select their representatives and determine the policy of the Gov- ernment, a condensed history of political conventions, abstracts of the platforms adopted from year to year, show the trend of public opinion which becomes incorporated into the statutes of the State and Nation. A record of the results of Congressional, State and National elections is necessary to show the changing opinions of the electors and the peaceful acquiescence of the people in radical changes of officers and public policy, which, in many countries would lead to civil wars.
A record of the time and place of meeting of the various
adi HISTORY OF IOWA
Legislative Assemblies of the Territory and State and of the several Constitutional Conventions, with a brief ab- stract of their important acts, as well as decisions of the higher courts deeply affecting the public welfare, will always be of interest to such as are investigating the evo- lution of law in our commonwealth from the earliest periods.
The brief historical sketches of the creation, naming and organization of the various counties, which have at any time had an existence in the State, together with a record of the first settlements, their size, geographical location, establishment of the first newspapers, fixing and changing of county-seats, advent of the first railroads and names of the pioneer settlers, will serve as a guide to students of Iowa history who desire to obtain these im- portant facts in condensed form.
The Directory of Public Officials will be useful to all who would know who, among our citizens, have served the State and Nation in various capacities, from the or- ganization of the first civil government in Iowa to the opening years of the Twentieth Century.
CHAPTER I
THE Republican State Convention assembled at Des Moines on the 14th of June, 1865, nominating Governor Stone for reelection by acclamation. Benjamin F.Gue was nom- inated for Lieutenant-Governor, George G. Wright for Judge of the Supreme Court and Oran Faville for Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion.
Upon the reading of the report of the committee on resolutions, Edward Russell of Scott County moved to amend the fourth resolution which read as follows :
'* Resolved, that, with proper safeguards to the purity of the ballot box, the elective franchise should be based upon loyalty to the Constitution and the Union recogniz- ing and affirming the equality of all men before the law. ' '
Mr. Russell moved to amend this resolution by adding the following:
'' Therefore we are in favor of amending the Consti- tution of our State by striking out the word WHITE in the article on Suffrage."
This precipitated a warm discussion in which the amendment was earnestly supported by Hiram Price, Ed- ward Russell, Henry O'Connor and E. W. Eastman, while it was as warmly opposed by J. B. Grinnell, J. F. Tracy, W. S. Sample and others. The amendment was a bold and unmistakable declaration for negro suffrage in Iowa and was opposed as injudicious and likely to endanger the election of the Republican ticket. The position of its sup- porters cannot be better stated than by an extract from the speech of Hiram Price, who said :
" The Republican party is strong enough to dare to do right and cannot afford to shirk a duty. The colored men North and South were loyal to
[Vol. 3]
HISTORY
the Government in the days of its greatest peril. There was not a rebel or a traitor to be found among them. They ask the privilege of citizenship now that slavery has been forever banished from our country. Why should the great freedom-loving State of Iowa longer deny them this right? No one reason can be given that has not been used to bolster up slavery for the last hundred years. The war that has just closed has swept that relic of barbarism from our land; let the Republican party have the courage to do justice.
" I have no fear of the result in a contest of this kind. We shall carry the election and have the satisfaction of wiping out the last vestige of the black code that has long been a disgrace to our State."
It is a notable fact that Price and Eastman, who now so warmly advocated negro suffrage, were Democrats in early years, and that this party had placed on the statute books all of the laws hostile to the colored race; while Grinnell, who now opposed the enfranchisement of ne- groes, was a radical Abolishionist at that period. Slavery and Rebellion had driven Price and Eastman into the Republican party and they now represented the fear- less and uncompromising element of that organization which was striking deadly blows at oppression and race prejudice. Grinnell and many who opposed the Russell amendment were in favor of the principle for which it stood, but opposed a bold declaration for the reform as impolitic and liable to bring party defeat. There were also a number of Republicans who were opposed to negro suffrage while they were in favor of emancipation of the race and it was urged that they held the balance of power in Iowa politics and that this amendment would drive them from the party. Finally the roll of delegates was called and the vote stood five hundred and thirteen for the amendment to two hundred and forty-two against it, whereupon it was incorporated into the platform.
The Democratic State Convention was called to meet at Des Moines on the 23d of August and on the same day a Soldiers' Convention was called to meet at the same place. Conferences had been held by the leaders of the Demo- cratic party with prominent Republicans who were op-
OF IOWA
posed to negro suffrage and who had been gallant officers in the Union army. It was believed that if a Union ticket could be agreed upon by these elements and the entire Democratic vote given to it, that the defection of the Re- publicans would insure its election. The Soldiers' Con- vention, with the approval of the Democratic leaders, or- ganized the " Union Anti-Negro Suffrage Party," and placed in nomination the following ticket: for Governor General Thomas H. Benton; Lieutenant-Governor, Colo- nel S. G. Van Anda ; Supreme Judge, Colonel H. H. Trim- ble; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Captain J. W. Sennett.
The third resolution of their platform read as follows : "We are opposed to negro suffrage and to striking the word white out of the article on suffrage in our State Con- stitution, and will support no candidate for office, either State or National, who is in favor of negro suffrage or of the equality of the white and black races. ' '
The Democrats made no nominations, but decided by a unanimous vote to support the '' Soldiers' Ticket." They passed the following resolution on the absorbing issue: ' ' We are radically opposed to negro equality in all of its phases and accept the issue tendered by the late Repub- lican Convention on the 14th of June in making that doc- trine the chief plank in its platform by proposing to strike the word 'white' out of the article on suffrage in the Con- stitution of Iowa. ' '
Other resolutions were adopted by each of the conven- tions but the campaign of 1865 was fought on the one issue of negro suffrage.
The candidates nominated by the Soldiers ' Convention who were also supported by the solid Democratic party, were excellent men, all of whom had served with dis- tinction in the Union army in the late war. General Benton was originally a Democrat who had been twice elected Superintendent of Public Instruction and had served three times as Secretary of the State Board
HISTORY
of Education. Colonel Van Anda was a Republican who had been a member of the Legislature. Colonel Trimble was a prominent Democrat who had served in the State Senate and was a District Judge, Captain J. W. Sennett was a well-known Republican.
Of the Republican candidates, Governor Stone had for- merly been a Democrat, B. F. Gue an Abolitionist, while Judge Wright and Or an Faville had been Whigs. The Republican candidates for Governor and Lieutenant-Gov- ernor made a general canvass of the State and in all of their speeches advocated and defended the proposed amendment to the Constitution to grant suffrage to the colored race, while their competitors as strongly opposed and denounced the measure. The result of the election was a heavy loss to the Republicans from the year before, equal to about 16,500 votes. The candidates however were elected by the following majorities: Wm. M. Stone, 16,- 375; B. F. Gue, 19,370^; G. G. Wright, 19,076; Oran Fa- ville, 19,280. As the previous election had been for Presi- dent, when usually a much larger vote is polled than at an ordinary State election, it is difficult to estimate how many Republicans voted the " Anti-Negro Suffrage " ticket and how many refrained from voting to show their disapproval of negro suffrage. The opposition ticket received an average vote of about 54,100, while at the previous election the Democratic vote was about 49,- 500.
It was during this year that the Directors of the State Bank of Iowa determined to discontinue business and re- tire from the field. The new National Banking Act, by requiring the purchase and deposit of Government bonds to secure the circulation of the banks established under its provisions, was a powerful aid to the Government in estab- lishing a home market for bonds at a period when there was most vital need of such a market. During the war foreign capitalists held aloof from purchase of our bonds at fair prices, cautiously waiting to see how the Civil War
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would terminate. The Government was obliged to raise immense amounts of money by the sale of bonds to meet the enormous expenses of the war. Patriotism demanded that our own people sustain their Government by pur- chasing these bonds. National banks were being organ- ized in various parts of our State and the directors of our State bank system wisely determined to leave the entire field to the National banks and thus throw the weight of their influence in strengthening the credit of the National Government. The final act in teraiinating the existence of the State Bank of Iowa was taken on the 22d of No- vember 1865 when, the safety fund having been returned to the various branches, the outstanding currency to the amount of $35,460 was burned in the presence of the di- rectors. The system had been in existence seven years and twenty-five days, furnishing the people of Iowa with a safe and sound currency, which was never discredited and could at any time be redeemed upon demand, in law- ful money of the United States. No safer or more popu- lar paper money was ever issued by any institution. State or country.
The Eleventh General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 8th of January. In the Senate B. F. Gue became President, The House was organized by the election of Ed. Wright Speaker, The message of Gov- ernor Stone stated that the total expenditures for military purposes by the State during the war, from May, 1861, to January 1, 1866, amounted to $1,046,735.99. The amount due this State from the United States for all pur- poses arising from the war was estimated at $300,000. The total indebtedness of the State was $622,295.75. The Governor recommended an appropriation sufficient to com_ plete the building for the State Agricultural College. He also called the attention of the General Assembly to a serious misapplication of Swamp Land Indemnity Funds, which had been recently discovered, in the following lan- guage:
6 HISTORY
" A large number of warrants for the indemnity money have been issued by the United States Treasury and forwarded to this office. Some of these warrants, without coming into my possession, have been improperly and illegally applied by parties through whose hands they have passed and the counties to which the warrants belong have, up to this time, failed to re- ceive the money. This matter is of so grave a character that I deem it incumbent on me to call the early attention of the General Assembly to it, and I therefore ask the immediate appointment of a joint committee to in- vestigate the facts."
The General Assembly appointed a joint committee, in accordance with the Governor's request to make an in- vestigation of the alleged diversion of the Swamp Land Indemnity Funds, consisting of Senators Stiles, Richards and Udell and Representatives Hale, Barker, Clark, Rus- sell and Martin. This committee made a thorough in- vestigation and toward the close of the session made a majority and minority report. The majority report was signed by E. H. Stiles, Nathan Udell, Wm. Hale, John Russell and L. Clark, the Republican members of the committee. The following is a brief summary of their findings :
"During the month of December, 1864, and the year 1865, there was awarded to the State of Iowa by the General Government Swamp Indemnity Warrants amounting to the sum of $151,254.19. These warrants were sent by the Treasury Department at Washington to the Governor of Iowa by mail. In the Governor's absence these warrants were delivered to R. G. Orwig, the private secretary of the Governor. Of these warrants thus re- ceived by Mr. Orwig $33,094.36 were missing and not accounted for. We find that all of these unaccounted for warrants or drafts came into the hands of R. G. Orwig soon after their arrival by mail endorsed by his writing the name of the Governor on them, and most if not all of them were cashed by him or deposited in the two National Banks at Des Moines. The committee unanimously find that said $33,994.36 came into the hands of 11. G. Orwig and that he has not accounted for this amount and that said deficit is with and in the hands of R. G. Orwig. The committee fur- ther finds that on the 16th of December the said R. G. Orwig, for the pur- pose of securing all parties interested against loss, executed to B. F. Allen, as trustee, a deed of trust on property estimated to be worth from $30,000 to $40,000."
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The minority of the joint committee, B. B. Eichards, W. T. Barker and W. C. Martin, Democrats, made a report in which they say :
" While we concixr in much of the reasoning and many of the conclusions of the other members of the committee as to the serious derelection of duty and the corrupt practice of an obscure agent of a high official of the State, and believe that he has appropriated an amount of the public funds nearly or quite equal to the Swamp Land deficit, we yet must dissent from the main position of the other members of the committee, that this humble secretary — this obscure agent — is the chief or only wrong doer: That there is a serious deficit in the public treasury no one will find it diffi- cult to conclude. That the amanuensis of the Governor has been the wicked and willing agent to help to cause that deficit, all will admit. But painful as the duty may be (and it is one of the most painful we have ever performed), we deem it our duty nevertheless, to declare our conviction that the gross negligence of one high State official and the malpractice of another, are among the fruitful sources of all the loss, derangement and shame under which the State now labors, and which is partially exposed by this investigation. We cannot too strongly condemn the negligence in the Executive Department and the malpractice in the financial depart- ment of the State as revealed by the testimony submitted herewith."
Both reports recommended that the Attorney-General be instructed to institute legal proceedings against the persons and securities involved for the purpose of re- covering the missing funds. The General Assembly passed joint resolutions giving such instructions to the Attorney-General and further providing that all money thus recovered should be paid pro rata to the counties affected by the defalcation.
Among the important acts of the General Assembly was one to ratify the amendment to the Constitution of the United States, forever prohibiting slavery. An act pro- posing to amend the Constitution of the State of Iowa granting suffrage to negro citizens; also to amend the Constitution to disfranchise all citizens who might be guilty of treason or who have absconded for the purpose of avoiding any military conscription or draft and also prohibiting such persons from holding any ofi&ce in the
8 HISTORY
State; acts making appropriations for the completion of buildings for the State University and State Agricultural College.
A joint resolution was passed expressing the profound satisfaction by the people of Iowa that the unjust order dismissing Colonel Wm. T. Shaw from the service had been revoked and urging his promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General.
Hon. James Harlan, who had entered President John- son's Cabinet in May, 1865, resigned his position as Sec- retary of the Interior when it became evident that the President had become hostile to the Republican party and had adopted a policy that was obnoxious to the party which had elected him Vice-President. Mr. Harlan be- came a candidate for a seat in the United States Senate which he resigned when he entered the Cabinet. Ex- Governor Kirkwood had in the mean time, been an- nounced as a candidate for the Senate and was warmly supported by a large number of the prominent men of the party. When the Legislature assembled an animated con- test was inaugurated by the supporters of these two emi- nent men which resulted in the nomination of Governor Kirkwood for the short term to fill the vacancy, ending March 3d, 1867, while Mr. Harlan was nominated for the full term ending six years from that time. The Demo- crats of the General Assembly nominated Wm. Stoneman for the short term and Colonel H. H. Trimble for the full term. In the joint convention held for the election of Senators, Governor Kirkwood was elected, having received one hundred and eighteen votes to twenty for Mr. Stone- man. Mr. Harlan was chosen for the full term, having received one hundred and eighteen votes to twenty for Colonel Trimble.
The Soldiers' Orphans' Home, which was established by a private corporation and successfully carried on as a benevolent enterprise, was at this session officially rec- ognized and an act passed by which it came under the con-
OF IOWA
trol and support of the State. A board of trustees was chosen by the Legislature consisting of one member from the State at large and one from each Congressional Dis- trict. Twenty-five thousand dollars was appropriated for its support and the Census Board was authorized to levy a tax each year thereafter for its maintenance. The main buildings of the institution were at Davenport with branches at Cedar Falls and Glenwood. The number of children cared for at these three homes was at this time eight hundred and sixty-four. The Legislature passed acts at this session making the Clerk and Reporter of the Supreme Court elective by the people for terms of two years.
The Eleventh General Assembly in March, 1866, passed an act to resume the Geological Survey making an appro- priation of $6,500 annually for two years for carrying on the work and electing Dr. Charles A. White of Iowa, State Geologist. Dr. White appointed 0. St. John, assistant and Rush Emery, chemist. Under this act and one of the Twelfth General Assembly the work was carried on for four years. As no appropriation was made by the next Legislature, the work ceased. The act of 1866 required the State Geologist to prepare reports of the progress of his work from time to time to be given to the newspapers of the State for publication, giving information as to the character of the soils, deposits of coal and other minerals, which might be of general interest to the public. It also provided that the various specimens found should be di- vided among the collections at the State University, the State Agricultural College and other educational institu- tions. The Thirteenth General Assembly authorized the publication of 3,000 copies of White's report in two vol- umes and appropriated $18,000 for that purpose. The report was printed in two royal octavo volumes illus- trated with maps, diagrams, engravings and views of geo- logical formations in various parts of the State. When the act of 1855 was passed providing for a Geological Sur-
10 HISTORY
vey it was doubtless the intention of the promoters of the law that the work should be carried on until a thorough survey and geological examination of the entire State had been made. But the extent of the work was dependent upon biennial appropriations, and when such appropria- tions failed, the work was necessarily suspended. Halls' survey was confined largely to the east half of the State. Dr. White therefore began his work in the western half and, during the years 1866-1867, the work was largely car- ried on in the southern and middle portions of western Iowa. At the close of 1867 a preliminary report was made to the Legislature together with articles prepared and given to the newspapers during the period, all of which were published in pamphlet form. The field work for 1868-1869 was principally carried on in northwestern Iowa.
During the year 1866 there was growing up a serious estrangement between President Johnson and a large ma- jority of the Republican members of Congress. The President was strongly urging Congress to admit Sena- tors and Representatives from the States lately in re- bellion to seats in that body so that the citizens of those States might be again represented. He urged in his mes- sage to Congress that, as these States had adopted the amendment to the Constitution prohibiting the existence of slavery, had repealed the ordinances of secession and repudiated all debts created for revolutionary purposes, that they should be restored to their places in the Union by the admission of their duly elected members of Con- gress. A majority of the Republican members of Con- gress were unwilling to restore these States to their for- mer relations until further legislation was enacted for the protection of the colored race lately held in slavery. Con- gress framed and passed an act to establish a " Bureau for the Relief of the Freedmen " in the late slave States. The President vetoed the bill and returnd it with his ob- jections. The bill was passed over the President's veto, in
OF IOWA 11
the Senate, by a vote of thirty-three yeas to nine nays. All voting yea were Republicans and three Republicans voted nay. In the House the vote stood yeas, one hundred and four, all Republicans ; thirty-three voted nay, six of whom were Republicans and twenty-seven Democrats. In Feb- ruary, 1866, Congress passed the Civil Rights Bill which was vetoed by the President. The Senate passed the bill over the veto by a vote of thirty-three yeas, all Republi- cans, to fifteen nays, five of whom were Republicans and ten Democrats. In the House- the bill was passed over the veto by a vote of one hundred and twenty-two yeas, all Republicans, to forty-one nays, seven of whom were Republicans and thirty-four Democrats. By these acts the antagonism between the President and the Republican party was greatly intensified and grew more bitter from month to month. A joint committee of the House and Senate reported a plan of reconstruction for the States lately in rebellion which did not meet the approval of the President, this further alienating the President and Con- gress until the feeling became intense and bitter. All of the members of Congress from Iowa sustained the meas- ures of that body, while the Democratic party of the State favored the President's policy. In 1866 Johnson began the removal of Federal officers, in Iowa, who sided with Congress in the controversy, including a great number of postmasters, A large majority of the Republican papers and people of the State warmly supported the policy of Congress on reconstruction, yet it made a division in the party throughout the Union. William H. Seward, one of the founders of the party and now Secretary of State in President Johnson's Cabinet, as well as many other promi- nent Republicans, with a number of the leading Repub- lican newspapers of the country, warmly supported the President in his controversy with Congress and the entire Democratic party sustained the President in his plan of reconstruction.
In the midst of this division of the people on new issues
12 HISTORY
the Republican State Convention assembled at Des Moines on the 20th of June, 1866. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted as expressing the opinion of the Re- publicans of Iowa on the controversy between Congress and the President :
" Resolved, That the reconstruction of the States lately in rebellion be- longs, through their representatives in Congress, to the people who have subdued the Rebellion and preserved the nation and not to the Executive alone.
" Resolved, That we heartily approve the joint resolution lately passed by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled, pro- posing to the legislatures of the several States an additional article by way of amendment to the Federal Constitution, and we pledge the ratification of that amendment by the Legislature of Iowa.
" Resolved, That in the firm and manly adherence of the Union party in Congress to the above principles, we recognize new guarantees to the safety of the Nation, and we pledge to Congress our continued and earnest sup- port."
The following resolution was adopted in relation to the affairs of the State :
" Resolved, That we are in favor of the nomination and election to office of such persons as are known to be possessed of honesty and capacity, and we unqualifiedly condemn dishonesty and carelessness in every department of the public service."
The candidates nominated for State offices were Colonel Ed. Wright, Secretary of State; Major S. E. Rankin, Treasurer; John A. Elliott, Auditor; Colonel C. C. Car- penter, Register of Land Office; F. E. Bissell, Attorney- General ; E. H. Stiles, Supreme Court Reporter ; Charles Linderman, Clerk of Supreme Court.
The Republicans of Iowa who approved of the policy of the President, determined to hold a State convention and put a ticket in the field which they were assured would receive the support of the Democrats. A call was there- fore issued for the Conservative Republican Convention which assembled at Des Moines on the 27th of June. Gen-
FREDERICK E. BISSELL
OF IOWA 13
eral Thomas H. Benton was one of the most prominent movers for this convention, his name was at the head of the call and when it assembled he called it to order, was chairman of the committee on resolutions and was the author of the platform adopted by the convention. The platform was of great length indorsing the plan of re- construction proposed by the President and condemning the measures and general plan enacted by Congress which came in conflict with the policy of the President. The principal resolution on this subject was as follows :
" Kesolved, That we endorse the restoration policy of President John- son as wise, patriotic, constitutional and in harmony with the loyal senti- ment and purpose of the people in the suppression of the Rebellion and the platform upon which he was elected, with the declared policy of the late President Lincoln, the action of Congress and the pledges given during the war.
" That we are opposed to any further amendments to the Constitution of the United States imtil all the States are represented in Congress and have a vote in making the same."
On state affairs the following declaration was made :
" All officers intrusted with the management of funds should be held to a strict accountability for the faithful application of same and in case of the defalcation or misuse of such fimds they should not be permitted to evade responsibility by implicating irresponsible agents selected by them- selves. Any party that countenances such evasion becomes accessory to the crime."'
The following nominations were made: Secretary of State, Colonel S. G.VanAnda; Treasurer, General George A. Stone ; Auditor, Captain R. W. Cross ; Register Land Office, S. P. McKennie; Attorney-General, Captain W. Ballinger; Reporter Supreme Court, Captain J. W. Sen- nett; Clerk, Lewis Kimsey.
The Democratic State Convention met at Des Moines on the 11th of July and on the issue of reconstruction adopted the following resolutions :
14 HISTORY
" Resolved, That one great question of the day is the immediate and unconditional restoration of all of the States to the exercise of their rights within the Federal L'nion under the Constitution and tliat we will cor- dially support Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, in all necessary and proper means to carry out his policy as directed to that end, and especially in securing immediate representation in the Senate and House of Representatives to the eleven States from which it is now un- constitutionally and arbitrarily withheld.
" Resolved, That for the purpose above set forth, we will cooperate in public meetings, conventions and at the polls with all men without refer- ence to past party positions and who honestly and by their acts and votes, as well as by their professions, support the President in his policy of restoration as declared."
In relation to State affairs the following resolution was adopted :
" Resolved, That the plunder of the State Treasury by Governor Stone and accomplices calls for the condemnation of every honest man in the State, and if the radicals of the last Legislature had been true to the interests of the people, they would not have labored to save the criminals, but would have prosecuted them to a speedy and condign punishment."
The convention made no nominations for State officers but passed a resolution " to cooperate with the conserva- tive element of the Republican party in their efforts to restore the Union and defeat radical disunionism and for that purpose we hereby agree to support their candi- dates. ' '
The election resulted in the success of the Republican candidates by the following vote : Ed. Wright, Republi- can, 91,227 ; S. G. VanAnda, Conservative Republican and Democrat, 55,815; Republican majority, 35,412. The votes of the other candidates varied but little from the above. The vote at this election was far in excess of any heretofore given in the State, being 147,124; exceeding the vote of 1865 by 19,734. While many conservative Re- publicans and all of the Democrats who went to the polls voted the conservative ticket, it is a singular fact that Van Anda's vote was but 1,805 larger than that which he re-
OF IOWA 15
ceived the year before for Lieutenant-Governor; while the vote for Wright was 17,847 larger than the highest Republican candidate received in 1865 and was about the average vote received for the other Republican candidates. This would indicate that the great increase in population and votes for the year past was almost entirely Republi- can. This election clearly demonstrated the fact that the people of Iowa, by a large majority, were determined to remove from the organic laws of the State, as well as from its statutes, all race discriminations which in earlier years were enacted against persons of African descent. One by one these acts had been repealed and in the recent election the majority in favor of protecting the late slaves in the Southern States in all civil rights by amendments to the National Constitution, was very large, that being one of the principal issues involved in the late campaign. The policy of the State was thus permanently reversed from that of the first twenty years of Territorial and State ex- istence. The election for members of the House of Con- gress resulted in the choice of the Republican candidates in all of the six districts.
CHAPTER II
THE total receipts of the State Treasury dur- ing the two years ending November 2, 1867, were $1,365,158.57 and the expenditures for the same period $1,315,654.74. The debt of the State at this time was $385,000 of which $300,000 was for expenses incurred for mil- itary purposes during the Civil War.
The Eepublican State Convention met at Des Moines on the 19th of June, 1867, with nine hundred and eighty- four delegates in attendance. There was an animated con- test for the nominations, a nomination being considered equivalent to an election. The principal candidates for Governor were Colonel Samuel Merrill of Clayton County, J. B. Grinnell of Poweshiek, Colonel J. A. Williamson of Polk and J. W. Cattell of the same county. On the first ballot the vote was as follows : Merrill, four hundred and twenty-six; Grinnell, two hundred and sixty-two; Wil- liamson, one hundred and seventy-seven; Cattell, fifty- eight. On the next ballot Merrill was nominated by a large majority. The candidates for Lieutenant-Governor were John Scott, E. B. Woodward, S. A. Moore and Nathan Udell. On the second ballot Colonel Scott was nominated. Joseph N. Beck was nominated for Supreme Judge, Henry O'Connor for Attorney-General and D. F. Wells for Superintendent of Public Instruction. The following were the important resolutions adopted :
" Resolved, That we again proclaim it as a cardinal principle of our political faith that all men are equal before the law, and we are in favor of such amendments to the Constitution of Iowa as will secure the rights of the ballot, the protection of the law and equal justice to all men irre- spective of color, race or religion.
" We approve of the military reconstruction acts of the 39th and 40th Congresses.
[Vol. 3]
18 HISTORY
" The Republican members of Congress are entitled to the thanks of the Nation for their firmness in resisting the conspiracy to turn over the Government to the hands of traitors and their allies and defeating the purpose of a corrupt Executive, thus sustaining the interests of liberty in a great and dangerous crisis in our history."
The Democratic State Convention assembled at Des Moines on the 26th of June and nominated the following candidates for the various officers : for Governor, Charles Mason of Des Moines County; Lieutenant-Governor, D. M. Harris of Guthrie; Supreme Judge, J. H. Craig of Lee; Attorney-General, W. T. Barker of Dubuque; Su- perintendent of Public Instruction, Maturin L. Fisher of Clayton.
The important declarations in the platform were as follows :
" Resolved, That each State has the right to order and control its own institutions. Each State has the right to regulate the elective franchise for itself and, as citizens of Iowa, we are opposed to striking the word "white" out of our State Constitution.
" That the existing tariff should be repealed or greatly modified.
" That we favor taxing Government bonds the same as other property.
" That we favor the repeal of the present liquor law of the State and the enactment of a well regulated license law.
" That we are in favor of gi-anting the elective franchise to foreigners who have resided in the State one year and declared their intention to become citizens.
" That the denial of representation to ten States of the Union, through odious military reconstruction, in violation of the Constitution, should meet with the unqualified opposition of every good citizen."
No convention was held by the Conservative Republican party this year and its members generally united with the Democrats.
The election resulted in the success of the Republican candidates by the following vote: Colonel Samuel Mer- rill, 89,144 votes; Judge Charles Mason, 62,657: Mer- rill's majority— 26,587. The other candidates on the Re- publican ticket received substantially the same majorities.
THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE, 1867-8,- 1873-4, 1876-7.
OF IOWA 19
It was in August of this year that myriads of grass- hoppers first appeared in western Iowa. They seemed to come from the region of the Rocky Mountains where they breed in vast numbers. When large enough to fly, they rise in the air to a great height usually moving in a north- easterly direction. They seem to know in what direction they wish to emigrate and when on the wing, if overtaken by adverse winds, frequently settle to the earth and alight until the wind changes or subsides. While upon the ground they feed ravenously upon tender vegetation, de- vouring growing crops and garden vegetables. In 1867 they were traced from the mountain regions west of Kan- sas, alighting in that State at various points and doing serious damage to growing crops. Moving in a north- easterly direction they crossed the Missouri River and invaded the western counties of Iowa. Their ravages were most serious in the counties of Woodbury, Ida, Sac, Cal- houn, Page, Adams, Ringgold, Clarke, Adair, Warren, Polk, Madison, Cherokee, Carroll, Greene, Dallas, Boone and Webster.
Small grain was harvested before their appearance and escaped damage while corn and vegetables were freely devoured by the millions which literally shadowed the sun like a cloud, as they pursued their onward flight. On a bright day they first attracted the attention of persons looking toward the sun, when they had the appearance of snow flakes, their gauzy wings glistening in the sunlight at a great height above the earth. When wishing to feed they slowly settled to the earth until the ground was cov- ered with a moving swarm of the insects, devouring every green, growing thing within the line of their march. They often remained for weeks in the same region, at night crawling up corn stalks, large weeds, fences and the sides of buildings and when daylight appeared, descending again to the ground to feed. In some localities they re- mained until November, depositing millions of eggs just beneath the surface before they resumed their travels in
20 HISTORY
the air. After completing their stay, suddenly, as though a signal had been given, they would, after months of liv- ing on the ground, slowly rise with glistening white wings to a great altitude and disappear. The damage done by the pests was not great, as most farm crops were well matured before their advent to the earth. The first ob- served passed over high in the air and were seen no more ; while the eggs deposited by the swarms which came later and remained several weeks, hatched the next summer and from these great damage was done before their wings grew large enough to enable them to fly. While they re- mained their appetites were unlimited and as they hopped and crawled along, every green plant on their line of march was wholly or partially devoured. They spread out over most of western Iowa but were much more numerous in some localities than in others. Crops were only partially destroyed but the aggregate damage was very great in more than forty counties. Early in June the wings of the earliest hatched had become large enough to enable them to start on their travels and by the last of the month nearly all had disappeared.
The Twelfth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 13th of January, 1868. Hon. John Russell of Jones County was chosen Speaker of the House of Rep- resentatives.
In his message Governor Stone recommended the estab- lishment of a State Reform School for the reception, safe keeping and education of youthful criminals and convicts of tender age, whence they might be removed from the corrupting influence of hardened criminals confined in the penitentiary. He stated that of the convicts now in the penitentiary fifty-nine were under twenty-one years of age and a number of these from twelve to eighteen years of age. He recommended the resumption of the land granted to the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad Com- pany for the reason that the company had failed to com- ply with all of the essential conditions of the grant. He
OF IOWA 21
said : ' ' The Agricultural College building is nearly com- pleted. This structure, in its architectural design and me- chanical execution, is one of the most imposing and sub- stantial in the State." He recommended a liberal ap- propriation for its completion and equipment. He urged the prompt ratification of the proposed amendments to the Constitution of the United States and the necessary legis- lation to submit to a vote of the people the amendment to our State Constitution already approved by the last Legis- lature. He recommended the creation of the office of county auditor and the establishment of inferior courts to relieve the District Courts in the most populous counties.
On the 16th of January the two houses assembled in joint convention in the presence of which Samuel Merrill was sworn in as Governor and John Scott as Lieutenant- Governor; after which Governor Merrill delivered his inaugural address.
The most important acts of the General Assembly were the ratification of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States and ratifying and confirming the amend- ment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa, heretofore mentioned. Acts were passed providing for the estab- lishment of a State Reform School, creating the office of county auditor, providing for an Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb and for an additional institution for the insane; resuming the grants of lands to the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad Company ; and regranting to the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Company ; also resuming the grant to the McGregor "Western Railroad Company and granting the same to the McGregor and Sioux City Railway Company ; establishing a system of Circuit Courts ; requiring a reg- istry of voters and providing for the taxation of shares in National Banks. An act to encourage fruit growing and timber planting by exempting land thus planted from taxation for a term of years was also passed. Resolutions were passed in each house, by a strict party vote, in favor
22 HISTORY
of the impeachment by Congress of President Johnson, the Republicans voting for and the Democrats against ity In 1867 an attempt had been made in the House of Rep- resentatives of Congress to impeach President Johnson. The matter was referred to the judiciary committee. After several months spent by the committee in taking evidence, on the 25th of November, three different reports were made. Five of the Republican members reported in favor of impeachment. James F. Wilson of Iowa and Woodbridge, Republicans, reported against impeachment while the two Democratic members were also opposed to impeachment. When the resolutions came before the House that body by a vote of fifty-six yeas to one hundred and nine nays refused to impeach. Price and Loughridge of Iowa voted for impeachment; while Allison, Dodge, Hubbard and Wilson voted against it. In the following August the President suspended from the War Depart- ment, Secretary Stanton, and directed General Grant to act as Secretary in the interim. The removal of Secretary Stanton from the position he had filled with such marked ability during the war, aroused intense indignation throughout the Northern States among the members of the Republican party, as they had long regarded Stanton as the one fearless and uncompromising member of thp Cabinet who stood between the arbitrary designs of the President and the will of the loyal people as expressed by the acts of their Representatives and Senators in Con- gress. On the 13th of January, 1868, the Senate by a vote of thirty-five to five (a strict party vote) passed a reso- lution to the effect that the Senate did not concur in the removal of Secretary Stanton and General Grant there- upon retired from the position. In Februaiy the House committee on reconstruction reported a resolution as fol- lows: " Resolved, That Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, be impeached of high crimes and mis- demeanors." The resolution was adopted by the House on the 24th by a vote of one hundred and twenty-eight
OF IOWA 23
yeas to forty-seven nays, all the members from Iowa vot- ing for impeachment. A committee of seven was appointed to prepare articles of impeachment and James F. Wil- son of Iowa was a member of this committee. When the articles were adopted by the House he was one of the managers chosen by that body to conduct the trial before the Senate. The people of the country were wrought up to intense excitement over the trial, a large majority of the Republicans strongly approving the impeachment, while the opposition was bitterly denouncing the attempt to remove the President from office. The trial lasted from March 5th to May 16th when the vote was taken in the Senate.
It stood thirty-five for conviction to nineteen against. As it required two-thirds to convict the President was de- clared acquitted, amidst the most intense excitement. All who voted " Guilty " were Republicans, while seven Re- publicans voted " Not Guilty," as did all of the Demo- crats. Senator Harlan of Iowa voted to convict while our other Senator, James W. Grimes, voted to acquit. Never in the political history of the country has there been such a fierce and ungovernable outcry of rage and denunciation raised against public officials as was hurled by the Re- publican press and people at the seven Republican Sen- ators who conscientiously and bravely gave their votes for the acquittal of the President. It drove all of them from public life, for a time alienated life-long friends and cast a cruel stigma upon reputations earned by pure lives in long and faithful public service. The denunciation of Senator Grimes by Iowa Republicans was unmeasured, almost unanimous and brutal in the extreme. For a time reason was ignored, justice smothered and rage ruled su- preme. His motives were impugned and his superb and patriotic services to his State and country, during the darkest years of the war for the Union, were ignored, while his Republican constituents vied with each other in vile abuse of a Senator who was courageous enough to
24 HISTORY
render a judgment which met the approval of his con- science upon the trial of a bitter political opponent. Time has vindicated his judgment and the brave act which for a time overwhelmed the strong man and eminent states- man. He did not live to see the day, but it soon came, in which every citizen of the State he served so long and well honored his memory as one of the ablest and noblest pub- lic men.
The Republican State Convention assembled at Des Moines on the 7th of May, 1868, and renominated the State officers whose terms were about to expire. Henry 0 'Con- nor was nominated for Attorney-General in place of P. E. Bissell who died before the expiration of his term. The platform reaffirmed the principles declared in the last con- vention and imanimously recommended the nomination of General U. S. Grant for President.
The Democratic State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 26th of February and nominated the follow- ing candidates for State officers: Secretary of State, David Hammer; Treasurer, L. McCarty; Auditor, Har- vey Dunlavey; Register Land Officer, A. D. Anderson; Attorney-General, J. E. "Williamson. The resolutions de- clared the reconstruction policy of Congress to be un- constitutional; in favor of abolishing the National Bank system and the substitution of United States notes in place of bank currency; in favor of the repeal of the prohibi- tory liquor law and the enactment of a license law; op- posed negro suffrage in Iowa and interference by the General Government with suffrage in the States, and in favor of George H. Pendleton for President. The two conventions nominated candidates for Presidential elect- ors and chose delegates to their respective National con- ventions to nominate candidates for President.
The Republican National Convention met at Chicago on the 20th of May and nominated General Grant for Presi- dent and Schuyler Colfax for Vice-President. It ap- proved the reconstruction policy of Congress and de-
OF IOWA 25
noimced President Johnson and his executive acts and policy.
The National Democratic Convention assembled at New York on the 4th of July, nominated Horatio Seymour for President and Frank P. Blair for Vice-President. An- drew Johnson received considerable support in the con- vention during the twenty-one ballots. The platform of the convention was very lengthy and in general terms ap- proved the policy of President Johnson in his controversy with Congress over the reconstruction measures.
The campaign was waged with great determination by the two parties in Iowa and resulted in the following vote on President: Grant, 120,399; Seymour, 74,040. Ma- jority for Grant, 46,359. The vote for the State officers did not vary much from that for President, the highest vote being 120,265 for Wright for Secretary of State. The vote on the Constitutional amendment for striking the word ' ' white ' ' from the clause qualifying electors, stood as follows: for negro suffrage— 105,384, against— 81,- 119; majority for 24,265.
The Legislature in 1868 in regranting lands to the Iowa Falls and Sioux City, and McGregor and Sioux City Railway companies, incorporated in each act a clause which read as follows :
" Provided, said railroad company accepting the provisions of this act, shall at all times be subject to such rules, regulations and rates of tariff for the transportation of freight and passengers, as may from time to time be enacted and provided for by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa and further subject to the conditions, limitations, restrictions and pro- visions contained in this act and the act of Congress granting said lands to the State of Iowa."
The declaration by the State of this right to regulate the charges of railroads for conveying freight and passengers was very obnoxious to the various railroads and railroad construction companies and they joined in an attempt to defeat the enactment of the principle of such regulation
26 HISTORY
by the General Assembly. Their efforts were unsuccess- ful although they were supported in that position by many members representing portions of the State which were destitute of railroads, who were assured by the representa- tives of the companies that such restrictions would de- feat, for a long time, the extension of railroads into the sparsely settled regions of the State.
After the adjournment of the Legislature several of the railroad companies declared that they would build no more roads in Iowa so long as that restriction remained on the statute books. The people living in sections re- mote from railroads, organized strong movements to in- fluence the Governor to call an extra session of the Gen- eral Assembly for the purpose of removing the obnoxious restriction and thus promote railroad building. Com- mittees were appointed to correspond with members of the General Assembly with the object of securing the con- sent of a majority that, in the event of the assembling of the Legislature in special session, the restriction would be repealed. The effort was not successful and after a long delay railroad building was again resumed.
The main building of the State Agricultural College was completed in the fall of 1868 and a preparatory ses- sion was opened on the 21st of October. Dr. A. S. Welch, United States Senator from Florida, had been chosen President. Young women were admitted as students on an equality with young men. On the 17th of March, 1869, the college was formally opened. More than 1,000 per- sons assembled from all parts of the State to witness the inauguration of the people's college from which so much benefit was expected. Governor Merrill and Lieutenant- Governor Scott delivered addresses. B. F. Gue, Presi- dent of the Board of Trustees, which had erected the buildings and organized the college, gave a history of the work. Hon. John Russell, chairman of the building com- mittee, followed with an interesting address. President Welch then delivered his inaugural explaining the plan
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OF IOWA 27
of work and the chief aims of the industrial college. Strong opposition had been made to the admission of women but the trustees decided upon their admission mak- ing this the second Agricultural College to permit girls to be enrolled as students.
On the 1st of January, 1869, the Burlington and Mis- souri River Railroad had one hundred and eighty miles of its main line completed to Afton, in Union County. The gross earnings of the road for the year 1868 were $841,653. This road had, up to this date, received of its land grant 287,095 acres. The Chicago and Rock Island Company had completed on the 1st of January of the same year two hundred and seventy-six miles of railroad, had received 474,674 acres of public land and its gross earn- ings for 1868 were $1,051,828.
The Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company had completed a line from Clinton to Council Bluffs and re- ceived of public lands 775,454 acres, its gross earnings for 1868 were $3,372,628.
The Dubuque and Sioux City Railway had, up to Janu- ary, 1869, completed one hundred and forty-three miles of road of its main line, a branch to Cedar Rapids of fifty- six miles and one to Waverly of twenty miles. It received land upon completion of the road amounting to 1,226,588 acres. Its gross earnings for 1868 were $970,696.
The McGregor and Sioux City Railroad had eighty-five miles of road completed and received of public lands 372,- 800 acres. Its gross earnings for 1868 were $498,322.
The Des Moines Valley Railroad was completed from Keokuk to Des Moines, a distance of one hundred and sixty-two miles. Its gross earnings for the year were $710,240. Its entire land grant was estimated at 464,023 acres, of which 100,000 acres were reserved to secure its building into Fort Dodge.
The Sioux City and Pacific Railroad was a line built from Sioux City, a connection with the Northwestern at Missouri Valley in Harrison County, a distance of about
28 HISTORY
seventy-five miles. Its gross earnings for 1868 were $127,- 000. A land grant was obtained by this road in Nebraska.
The Council Bluffs and St. Joseph Railroad was com- pleted to the south line of the State, a distance of fifty-two miles. Its gross earnings for the year were $153,854. It had no land grant.
The Cedar Falls and Minnesota Railroad was extended north from Cedar Falls a distance of forty-two miles and had no land grant.
The Keokuk and Saint Paul Railway had built twenty- five miles of road but no land grant.
It will be seen from these reports that Iowa had, on the 1st of January, 1869, 1,473 miles of railroad completed and in operation. The entire amount of public lands granted to the roads to aid in their construction was 3,127,- 785 acres.
During the year 1868 there was entered at the United States Land Office in the Sioux City District 255,993 acres of public lands. Of these entries 31,738 acres were cash sales ; 78,240 acres were taken with Agricultural College scrip, 9,666 acres with military land warrants and 80,700 acres as homesteads. It was estimated at the end of the year 1868 that but one-third of the tillable land in the State had been brought under cultivation. The Auditor of State reported that during the two years from Janu- ary, 1866, to the close of 1868, there had been added to the material wealth of the State over $38,000,000. The total value of the real and personal property in 1869 shown by the Auditor's report was $294,532,199.
A convention was held at Dubuque on the 11th of No- vember, 1869, composed of prominent men of Iowa, Wis- consin and Illinois to promote water navigation between the great lakes and the Mississippi River. Resolutions were unanimously adopted urging Congress to make an appropriation to aid the improvement of the navigation of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers and the Michigan Canal.
The Republican State Convention met at Des Moines
OF IOWA 29
on the 10th of June, 1869, and renominated Governor Mer- rill by acclamation. The prominent candidates for Lieu- tenant-Governor were Major M. M. Walden, L. W. Ross, John A. Parvin and John Hilsinger. Major Walden was nominated on the first ballot. Judge John F. Dillon was nominated for reelection as Supreme Judge, by acclama- tion ; and A. S. Kissell was renominated for Superintend- ent of Public Instruction without opposition. The reso- lutions were unimportant, making no new issue. For the first and only time the Republican State Central Commit- tee made to the convention a full report of its receipts and expenditures for the last political campaign. The con- tributions were $3,132 and the total disbursements were $3,181.
The Democratic State Convention met at Des Moines on the 14th of July and nominated the following ticket: Governor, George Gillaspy; Lieutenant-Governor, A. P. Richardson; Supreme Judge, W. F. Brannan; Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, Edward Jaeger. The reso- lutions were substantially a reaffirmation of the platform of the last State convention.
At the election the Republican candidates were chosen by an average majority of 40,000. The vote for Governor was as follows: Samuel Merrill— 97,243, George Gil- laspy—57,257; Merrill's majority, 39,986. Dillon's ma- jority was 40,308.
The Thirteenth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 10th of January, 1870. A. R. Cotton was elected Speaker of the House. Governor Merrill and Lieutenant-Governor Walden were sworn into office in the presence of the joint convention of the General Assembly on the 13th of January by Judge C. C. Cole. On the fol- lowing day Lieutenant-G overnor Walden was installed as President of the Senate.
Hon. James W. Grimes, having resigned his seat in the United States Senate, this General Assembly elected a Senator to fill the vacancy and also one to serve for the
30 HISTORY
Ml term of six years from March 4, 1871. There was a warm contest for these positions before the Repubhcan caucus which made the nominations, as the Repubhcans had a large majority on joint ballot and their choice was sure to be ratified by the Legislature. George G. Wright of Des Moines, William B. Allison of Dubuque and Gov- ernor Samuel Merrill of McGregor were candidates for the full term; James B. Howell of Keokuk, J. B. Grmnell of Grinnell, William Vandever and D. N. Cooley of Du- buque and John Scott of Nevada were candidates for the
short term.
In the joint convention of the General Assembly which convened on the 20th of January, George G. Wright re- ceived one hundred and twenty-one votes for United States Senator for the full term of six years and Thomas W. Clagett, the candidate for the Democrats, received eighteen. For the short term James B. Howell received one hundred and twenty-two votes and John T. Stoneman, Democrat, received nineteen.
The most important acts of this General Assembly were the following: the creation of a State Board of Immigra- tion, consisting of the Governor and one member from each of the six Congressional Districts, its secretary to act as the Commissioner of Immigration. The board was authorized to send agents to the eastern States and to Eu- rope for the purpose of aiding immigration to Iowa.
A strong effort was made at this session to pass a bill to prescribe rules and regulations for railroads and to establish uniform and reasonable rates of tariff for transportation of certain freights thereon. The bill met with the powerful opposition of the railroad companies throughout the State and was the beginning of the long contest between the people and these corporations as to the power and right of the Legislature to control railroads. The bill was defeated in the Senate, where it originated, by a vote of twenty to twenty-one. An act was passed pro- viding for the taxation of railroad property, after a long
OF IOWA 31
and earnest debate. The plan was to tax the gross re- ceipts at the rate of one per cent, on the receipts of $3,000 per mile; on receipts over $3,000 and under $6,000 per mile, two per cent.; and on the excess of receipts over $6,000 per mile, three per cent. ; these taxes to be in lieu of all taxes on the road-bed, right of way, rolling stock and necessary buildings for operating the road ; any other property belonging to the company to be taxed as prop- erty of individuals in the county where situated.
An act was passed to enable townships, incorporated towns and cities to aid in the construction of railroads by voting taxes. A former law for this purpose had been declared unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court and this act was so framed as to endeavor to avoid the objec- tions raised to the former law.
The Legislature passed an act to divide the county of Kossuth and form the north three tiers of townships into a new county to be named Crocker, in honor of General M. M. Crocker. It provided for the election of super- visors in 1870 and other county officers; authorized the supervisors to locate a county-seat at its meeting in Jan- uary, 1871, which they did by establishing it at a new town laid out near the geographical center of the county, which was named Greenwood Center and where a post- office was established. Crocker County had but a brief existence, as the Supreme Court, in a case brought be- fore it, declared the act by which the county was created to be in conflict with the Constitution and void. Acts were passed for the government and management of the two insane asylums, one at Mount Pleasant and one at Inde- pendence, Acts were provided for the government of the State University at Iowa City and one authorizing the several counties to establish and maintain high schools. A commission was created to revise the statutes of the State.
A long and bitter contest was had in this General As- sembly over a bill to provide for the erection of a new
32 HISTORY OF IOWA
and permanent Capitol Building. It was ably supported by Hon. John A. Kasson who was elected to the House from Polk County for the purpose of securing the ap- propriation for a new State House. For years there had been strong opposition to the measure but never more de- termined than at this session. By judicious management, however, he succeeded in procuring an appropriation for the beginning of the great work which gave to the State a permanent building at a moderate cost, one which ranks among the most beautiful of State Capitols.
The Legislature ratified the fifteenth amendment to the National Constitution.
CHAPTER III
THE Democratic State Convention met at Des Moines on the lOtli of August, 1870, and nominated the following candidates: Secretary of State, Charles Doerr; Audi- tor, Wesley W. Garner; Treasurer, W. C. . James; Attorney-General, H. M. Martin; Register Land Office, D. F. Ellsworth; Clerk Supreme Court, Wm. McLennan; Reporter, C. H. Bane; Judges of Supreme Court, J. C. Knapp, P. H. Smythe and Reu- ben Noble. The only resolution of importance relating to State affairs was the following: '' We assert the right of the people by legislative enactment to tax, regu- late and control all moneyed corporations, upon which extraordinary rights are conferred by charters."
The Republican State Convention met at Des Moines on the 17th of August and placed in nomination the fol- lowing candidates : for Judges of the Supreme Court, C. C. Cole, W. E. Miller and James G. Day; Secretary of State, Ed. Wright; Auditor, John Russell; Treasurer, S. E. Rankin; Register Land Office, Aaron Brown; At- torney-General, Henry O'Connor; Reporter Supreme Court, E. H. Stiles; Clerk, Charles Linderman. The resolutions indorsed the administration of President Grant ; favored a tariff for revenue ; favored legislation to protect the people from the oppressions of corpora- tions and welcomed to our State persons of every race and color seeking homes in our midst.
The election resulted in the success of the Republican candidates. The vote for Secretary of State was as fol- lows: Ed. Wright 103,377, Charles Doerr, 60,888, Wright's majority— 42,489. The votes for other candi- dates did not vary materially from this. The proposi-
[Vol. 3]
g^ HISTORY
tion to hold a convention to revise the Constitution of the State was defeated by the following vote : for a con- vention 24,846 ; against a convention 82,039.
There was an animated contest m the Sixth Congi-es- sional District at the Republican Convention, where Hon Charles Pomeroy was a candidate for reelection. Me naa served but one term and strong opposition to his nomina- tion for a second time had grown up m the district, in the election of delegates Webster County, Ins liome was carried by the opposition and several candidates ap- peared before the convention. On the fourteenth ballot a majority of the opposition united upon Captain Jack- son Orr of Boone County, who was nominated ^J^'^f^ of one hundred and twelve to seventy-three divided be- tween Mr. Pomeroy and five other candidates.
In the summer of 1870 General N. B. Baker and Gov- ernor Merrill in conjunction with several distmguished officers of the late Civil War, planned a grand reunion of Iowa soldiers to be held at the Capital of the State where the comrades of the long years of the War ot the Rebellion might meet and renew the friendships ot the camp, march and battle-field. The proposition met with universal favor and was received with enthusiasm by the ''boys in blue." General Baker at once entered upon the formidable work of making all needful preparations for the transportation, care and comfort of the grand army of citizen soldiers sure to gather from all parts ot the State. The railroad officials were persuaded to grant free transportation. General Sherman and General Bel- knap, then Secretary of War, came from Washington to greet the Iowa soldiers. The time fixed for the reunion was August 31st and it continued through two days. More than 20,000 Iowa soldiers came together for the first time since the war and 30,000 citizens assembled to see and give them a cordial welcome. Five years had passed since the soldiers had been mustered out of the service and this meeting of comrades who had marched,
OF IOWA 35
camped and fought together in many campaigns, was an event never to be forgotten. No such reunion had oc- curred since the grand review at Washington in 1865, just before the close of the war. Most of the distin- guished Iowa officers who survived were present and took part in the interesting exercises and again greeted their old comrades. It was the proudest day in General Baker's life as he was continually reminded of the warm affection entertained for him by ' ' his boys. ' ' Every sol- dier wanted to take him by the hand. It was the first and last general reunion of Iowa soldiers.
In the month of October, 1869, it was reported in the newspapers that the petrified body of a man of gigantic proportions had been unearthed in digging a well near the village of Cardiff, some thirteen miles from Syracuse, New York. Upon investigation made by a reporter of the Syracuse Journal, who hurried to the spot, the follow- ing facts were learned. In digging a well on the farm of William Newell at a depth of three feet the spades struck what appeared to be a rock of large size.
Mr. Newell cautioned the men to be careful and taking one of the spades began to remove the earth until he un- covered an immense stone giant. He directed the work- men to carefully excavate the earth around the petrified man, as he called it, until the form was entirely uncov- ered, disclosing what appeared to be a human body in a state of petrifaction and of enormous size. The news of the discovery spread rapidly and soon an excited crowd of villagers gathered around the grave of the giant. The report of the affair was soon carried to Syracuse and crowds hurried to Cardiff to look at the wonderful dis- covery. Mr. Newell erected a tent over the giant, made an excavation around the body and had the water pumped out. He stationed guards about the tent and a door- keeper collected half a dollar from each of the rapidly in- creasing crowd of visitors. The Syracuse newspapers published glowing descriptions of the *' petrified giant "
36 HISTOBY
and day by day the throng of visitors increased. No one was permitted to touch or approach the majestic reclin- ing form of the mysterious man. A syndicate was speed- ly organized in the city which offered Mr. Newell $10,000 for his giant, but he refused to sell. Scientists were puz- zled by the discovery, not questioning the statement of Newell that it was a human petrifaction. Upon visitmg the spot to make investigations, they were not permitted to approach near enough to make satisfactory examina- tions or apply tests to determine the character of the alleged giant. Several of them were of the opinion that it was a statue chiseled from a rock. Among these was Dr. James Hall, the noted geologist of New York, who was the first State Geologist of Iowa and afterward of Wisconsin. He made as careful an examination as the owner would permit and published a lengthy report of his investigations. In that report he says ;
" It is certainly a great curiosity and, as it now presents itself, the most remarkable archiological discovery ever made in this country and entirely unlike any relic of the past age yet knoAvn to us. It is clearly a statue cut by human hands and is in no way connected with petrifaction ♦ • * nor is it a cast or model of any kind but an original. The importance of the object lies in its relation to the race or people of the past, formerly in- habiting that part of the country. The statue is of a far higher order and of an entirely diflferent character from the smaller works of rude sculpture found in Mexico, Central America, or the Mississippi Valley.
In regard to the question of the antiquity of its origin we are compelled to rely "upon the geological and chemical evidence. That the statue has lain for a long time where it now lies there can be no doubt. The entire , length of the left side and back of the statue is eroded to the depth of an ' inch or more from the solution and removal of its substance by water percolating through the .gravel stratum in which it lies imbedded. Such a process of solution and removal of the gypsum, a mineral of slow solubility in the waters of that region, must have required a long period of years. Any theory of the recent burial of the statue in this place is disproved by the fact of the extensive solution and removal of the surface by water coming in by the gravel bed from the southwest. The most extensive erosion has taken place on the left side and beneath the back upon that side corresponding to the direction from which the water came. You will see therefore upon any theory of inhumation must have time for the gradual
OF IOWA 37
dissolving of the stone. So long as the alluvial deposit was going on this portion was covered by water and there would be no current along the gravel bed and this movement of the water would only take place after the drainage of the stream or the lake to a lower level. Therefore so long as the alluvial deposit was going on and the water remained above the level, there would be no current and consequently no erosion.
This statement answers the inquiry as to what are some of the evidences of its antiquity.''
Thus an eminent geologist vouched for the great an- tiquity of the Cardiff Giant and for the fact that it could not have been buried in recent ages.
The mystery surrounding the whole affair seemed only to deepen with investigation. Learned men differed wide- ly as to what it was, its antiquity and probable origin, but all agreed that it was one of the most mysterious and re- markable discoveries ever made in America. People came by hundreds and thousands, from all parts of the country, looked with awe and wonder upon the giant and went away to spread the news among their neighbors. The receipts had now reached more than $1,000 a day and still the crowds increased.
One George Hull, a cousin of Mr. Newell, appeared upon the ground soon after the discovery and took charge of the exhibition. P. T. Bamum sent an agent to purchase the giant which was becoming a serious com- petitor to his museum but a local syndicate had been or- ganized which had made a contract for the giant at a price which was reported to be $40,000.
H. B. Martin of Marshalltown, Iowa, had recently ap- peared at Cardiff and it soon developed that he was one of the owners of the petrified man. A pamphlet was now issued by the owners showing a portrait of the giant at full length, prostrate, as he was discovered. He was named the '' American Goliath " and described as a ''Pet- rified Giant. ' '
Mr. Newell retained a quarter interest in the " Giant," and some weeks later after thousands of people came and
38 HISTORY
gazed with awe upon the wonder, and the receipts were reported to be reaching fabulous amounts, the value of the '' Giant " was estimated at $240,000. Hull and Mar- tin about this time were understood to have disposed of their interest in the '' petrified man " to the syndicate. But the reader will naturally inquire— what connection has all of this with the history of Iowa?
More than a thousand miles westward, in the upper valley of the Des Moines River, was the picturesque vil- lage of Fort Dodge. In its vicinity are extensive deposits of gypsum which have been known since the founding of the town. In the fall of 1867, one H. B. Martin stopped several days at the St. Charles hotel and spent some time in examining the gypsum formations. He seemed deeply interested in the beautiful variegated stone which had been used in the construction of some of the best resi- dences in the village. On the 6th of June, 1868, he re- turned in company with George Hull. They made the acquaintance of C. B. Cummins, a prominent citizen who owned a quarry on Soldier Creek. They informed him that they wished a block of the gypsum twelve feet long, four feet wide and from two to three feet thick for which they offered to pay well. They claimed that they wished to ship it to New York to exhibit as a specimen of the mineral productions of Iowa and thus interest capitalists in the development of the gypsum deposits. They were informed by Mr. Cummins that a block of such large di- mensions would be very expensive, that it would weigh five tons and that there were no wagons in that region strong enough to transport it forty miles to the nearest railroad station. They replied that expense was no con- sideration and that they could provide means to convey it to the railroad. Upon further conversation, Mr. Cum- mins came to the conclusion that they were adventurers having some fraud in view and refused to deal with them. They finally leased an acre of land south of town on Gyp- sum Creek, and employed Mike Foley an experienced
OF IOWA 39
^' ■ ■ ' — — — • — — ■
quarryman to get out the block of gypsum of the desired size. It was difficult to transport and had to be dressed down more than a ton in weight before it could be drawn to the station.
When, in November, 1869, the papers of the country were publishing sensational accounts of the wonderful '^ Onondaga Giant," a New York paper reached Fort Dodge in which it was stated that Professor Hall had pro- nounced the alleged petrified giant to be a statue carved out of crystalline gypsum but that the gypsum was of a diiferent color and appearance from any found in that State. The description of the gypsum as given corre- sponded with that found at Fort Dodge and the people of that village took note of the resemblance.
Galusha Parsons, a prominent lawyer of the village, on his way to New York viewed the '^ Petrified Giant " and wrote to the editor of the North West—** I be- lieve it is made of that great block of gypsum those fel- lows got at Fort Dodge a year ago." Syracuse papers were sent for, one of the pamphlets giving a description and alleged history of the '' Petrified Giant " was pro- cured and the name of George Hull appeared among the owners of the giant.
The North West published at Fort Dodge, now con- ducted a quiet but thorough investigation, tracing the movements of the block of gypsum, quarried in 1868 by George Hull, to Boone, then the nearest railroad station, from there to Chicago where it was carved into the fa- mous statue, thence to Union, an obscure station near Binghamton, New York, from whence it was conveyed by wagon to the vicinity of Cardiff where all trace of it dis- appeared. The chain of evidence thus far was complete. A pamphlet was issued exposing the fraud and copies sent to Syracuse where the '' Giant " was then on exhibition. They produced great excitement among the visitors and consternation among the owners of the giant. The pro- prietors promptly published a statement denying every
40 HISTORY
allegation of the exposure and for a time the public was in doubt, while the controversy among the newspapers brought increasing crowds to see for themselves. News- paper reporters were sent to Fort Dodge who followed the story of the pamphlet step to step from the quarry on Gypsum Creek to the artist who carved it into the statue, from there to Union, New York, and to Newell's farm where it was buried.
The controversy which arose over the remarkable *' Giant " was not by any means confined to the owners, the newspapers of the day and people who had traveled hundreds of miles to view the ' ' petrified man ' ' ; but the Popular Science Monthly, The Galaxy, SUliman's Journal and most of the magazines of that period contained learned and critical articles upon the '' remarkable dis- covery," presenting many theories as to the origin, an- tiquity and character of the colossal figure which was puzzling the scientific world.
The genius for deception displayed by George Hull, the author of this the most successful fraud, was shown in the selection of a block of gypsum lying partly in the creek where, for thousands of years, ero- sion had been going on. In having the statue carved, Mr. Hull instructed the artist to leave the portions of the block showing the erosion on the back and left side of the giant to prove its great antiquity. It was this erosion more than anything else which deceived Prof. Hall and other scientists and proved to their satisfaction that the giant gave evidence of *' great antiquity." Prof. 0. C. Marsh of Yale College and Andrew D. White, first Presi- dent of Cornell University, were among the early visitors at the Newell farm to investigate the famous *' Stone Giant " and they were not deceived. President White in an article on '* The Cardiff Giant," in the October (1902) number of the Century Magazine, says, in writing of the examinations made by Dr. Woolworth of the New York State University and Dr. James Hall :
OF IOWA 41
" On their arrival at Syracuse I met them and urged them to be cautious, reminding them that a mistake might prove very injurious to the reputa- tion of the regents and to the standing of scientific men in the State; that if the matter should turn out to be a fraud, and such eminent authorities should be found to have committed themselves to it, there would be a guffaw from one end of the country to the other at the expense of the men intrusted by the State with its scientific and educational interests. Next day they went to Cardiff; they came, they saw, and they narrowly escaped being conquered."
Yet with this caution before them, the erosion so shrewdly preserved by Hull convinced these eminent sci- entists. When such high scientific authority was deceived by Hull's inventive genius, it is not strange that the great public of America and Europe insisted on believing it to be a ' ' petrified giant. ' '
Dr. White in his history of the ' ' Giant ' ' above quoted says:
" At no period of ray life have I ever been more discouraged regarding the possibility of making reason prevail among men. There seemed no possibility of suspending the judgment of the great majority who saw the statue. As a rule they insisted in believing it a ' petrified giant '.
There was but one thing in the figure, as I had seen it, which puzzled me, and that was the grooving of the under side, apparently by currents of water which would require many years."
Dr. White continues :
" The catastrophe now approached rapidly as affidavits of men of high character in Illinois and Iowa established the fact that the figure was made at Fort Dodge, in Iowa, of a great block of gypsum and transported to the railroad and thence to Chicago where a German stone-cutter gave it its final shape."
When the evidence became too strong to be success- fully combated, and Hull had disposed of his interest in his *' invention " for $23,000, he became elated over the fame he had acquired, admitted that he was the originator of the " Petrified Giant " and enjoyed greatly the dis- comfiture of the scientists whom he had deceived. Finally
42 HISTORY
he made and published a full confession confinning in every important particular the history of the deception as published in the Fort Dodge pamphlet in 1870. This confession should forever have settled the thirty years' controversy, but thousands of people continued to believe in the '' petrified giant " to the end of their lives.
A graduate of the divinity school of Yale College, Alex- ander McWhorter, after long study and investigation, a few years ago evolved a new theory as to the " Onondaga Giant," that it was a Phenician idol, as proved by an in- scription he had discovered on the figure, and a crescent shaped wound on the left side. He said in conclusion of his investigations:
" We onlv know that at some distant period the great statue was brought in a ship of Tarshish across the sea of Atl, was lightly covered with twigs and flowers, and these with gravel."
Dr. White continues :
" McWhorter's theory' found one very eminent convert across the ocean in a plar-e where he might least have expected it. While residing at Berlin, as minister of the United States, I one day received a letter from an American student of the University at Halle, stating that he had been re- quested by the eminent Dr. Schlottmann, instructor of Hebrew, to write to me for information regarding the Phenician statue described by Alex- ander McWhorter."
Dr. White in reply gave the true history of the fraud but, as incredible as it may appear, the learned Dr. Schlottmann declared that he was not convinced, and that he still believed the Cardiff figure to be a Phenician statue bearing a most important inscription.
The original Cardiff Giant made from Fort Dodge gyp- sum was on exhibition at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo in 1901, and though thirty-two years had elapsed since it was resurrected on Newell's farm, public interest had not ceased and thousands of persons paid ad-
THE CARDIFF GIANT, Hoisted From its Burial Place on Newell's Farm
1 .-■ L.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY)*
^Astof, Lenox add Tilden Foundat'oas.
OF IOWA 43
mission to the inclosure to see the unique figure of the ** Onondaga or Cardiff Giant."
Fort Dodge and its gypsum deposits gained a world wide notoriety from the * ' Cardiff Giant, ' ' but it was the enterprise of three of its own citizens that developed from the gypsum ledges one of the great industries of the State. For more than a quarter of a century it had been known that extensive deposits of gypsum existed along the Des Moines River in the vicinity of Fort Dodge, and the stone had long been used in the construction of houses and foundations of business blocks. But no attempt had been made to utilize it for other purposes and little additional value attached to lands underlaid with the mineral.
In 1871, Webb Vincent, S. T. Meservey and George S. Ringland formed a partnership for the purpose of grind- ing and preparing the gypsum for plaster. They erected a mill near the railroad and began to manu- facture stucco for use in making a hard finish for plaster- ing buildings. For a long time but little demand was found for the product, but by some ingenious experi- ments stucco was produced which gradually found a good market. Theirs was the first mill for the production of stucco west of Grand Kapids, Michigan. The new State House at Des Moines, then being constructed, was one of the first public buildings in which it was used. In 1880 the firm organized '' The Iowa Plaster Company " and a second mill was erected which had five times the capacity of the first. The new mill was equipped with improved machinery and the industry grew under the enterprising direction of its managers until their trade reached the distant markets of the world and became one of the most formidable and profitable of the manufacturing industries of the State. Other mills were erected until more than $1,200,000 of capital is employed in the business, furnish- ing work for more than 1,200 men. The deposits extend over a large tract of country and the supply of gypsum is practically inexhaustible. So great has been the growth
44 HISTOEY OF IOWA
of the business, that solid trains loaded with stucco are daily sent from the mills conveying it to every part of the country. The development of the gypsum has con- tributed largely to the rapid growth of Fort Dodge in late years and must in the near future brmg auxiliary manufactures to that city. .
The National census of 1870 showed the population ot Iowa to be 1,191,720. Davenport was the largest city with a population of 20,141. Dubuque had 18,432; Bur- lington, 15,178; Keokuk, 12,769; Des Moines, 12,380; Council Bluffs, 10,021; Iowa City, 7,009 ; Cedar Rapids, 6 085 The State at this time held rank as fourth m the production of com, fifth in wheat and sixth in live stock. The assessed value of the property of the State was re- ported at $302,515,418. The aggregate value of tarm products was estimated at $114,386,441.
CHAPTER IV
THE Democratic State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 14th of June, 1871, and nominated for Governor, J. C. Knapp ; for Lieutenant-Governor, M. M. Ham; Su- preme Judge, John F. Buncombe; Super- intendent Public Instruction, E. M. Mumm. The resolutions declared in favor of universal amnesty, opposed the annexation of San Domingo, denounced the extravagance of the National Administration and de- manded taxation of railroad property on the same basis as that of individuals.
The Republican State Convention assembled at Des Moines on the 21st of June and put in nomination the following candidates : Governor, C. C. Carpenter ; Lieu- tenant-Governor, H. C. Bulls; Judge of Supreme Court, James G. Day; Superintendent Public Instruction, Alonzo Abernethy. The platform declared for a tariff for revenue, for a uniform system of State taxation of individuals and corporations, for legislative control of railroads to prevent extortion, for the aquisition of San Domingo by treaty, cordially approved and indorsed the administration of President Grant, also the State admin- istration.
At the election the Republican candidates were chosen by a majority of about 42,000.
The Fourteenth General Assembly convened in Janu- ary, 1872. During the season previous to the election there had been carried on the most energetic and bitter contest over the choice of a Republican candidate for United States Senator ever known in the political history of the State. Hon. James Harlan, whose term was soon to expire, was a candidate for reelection and, as it was
46 HISTORY
practically certain that the Republicans would have a large majority in the Legislature to be chosen, the only contest that could arise would be before the joint Repub- lican caucus which would select the candidate who should be elected by the General Assembly to be chosen at the October election. This transferred the fight to the Re- publican party. So warm was the contest that the sup- porters of the three candidates, in many of the Senatorial and Representative districts, made strenuous efforts to secure the nomination of candidates who, if elected, would vote for their choice for Senator. These contests were waged with intense vigor and in many cases much bitter- ness. As the campaign progressed almost the entire in- terest centered in the choice of members of the Legisla- ture. Most of the Republican papers made their choice for Senator known and gave him warm support.
The chief competitor of Senator Harlan was William B. Allison of Dubuque, who had two years before been de- feated by Senator Wright, in the Republican Legislative caucus. James F. Wilson, of Fairfield, a former well- known member of Congress from the First District, was also a candidate.
As the time for election of members of the Legislature approached so warm had the contest become that several Republican candidates were defeated in Republican dis- tricts, owing to the defection of voters who would not help to elect a candidate committed to the support of one of the candidates for United States Senator.
Senator Harlan had the active and earnest support of the Burlington Hawkei/e, Sioux City Journal, Des Moines Republican and other of the leading daily papers of the State and of a majority of the Republican weeklies. He was also warmly supported by a large majority of the Federal officers and old time Republican leaders of the State. Mr. Allison on the other hand was supported by the State Register, the Dubuque Times and a large num- ber of the most influential weeklies and generally by the
OF IOWA 47
younger men of the Republican party. In addition he was the candidate of northern Iowa which had never been represented by a Republican in the United States Senate. When the contest was transferred to the Capital where the Legislature was assembling, the city was crowded with the enthusiastic friends and supporters of the three candidates. It was generally believed that either Harlan or Allison would be nominated, as Harlan had the warm support of a large majority of the Republicans of south- ern Iowa and if he could not be nominated it was evident that no other man in the southern part of the State could succeed. It was equally certain that the supporters of Mr. Allison would stand by him to the end. Thus, while Mr. Wilson was the intellectual equal of either of his com- petitors, a legislator who ranked high and was in every respect well equipped for the position, his success at this time was not anticipated by well informed persons.
In the heat of the conflict serious charges were made by enemies of Senator Harlan against his official conduct which left some bitterness in the hearts of his host of de- voted friends. As the first Republican United States Senator from Iowa, always true to the great cause of hu- man freedom upon which that party was founded, for many years one of the most influential leaders in the Senate, a trusted friend of Lincoln and Grant, no man in the State possessed in a greater degree the confidence, esteem and admiration of the Republicans of Iowa than Senator Harlan. Had his home been in the northern part of the State his success would have been assured. Lo- cality largely decided the contest.
The joint caucus met on the 10th of January, 1872, and on the informal ballot the vote stood as follows :
William B. Allison 60 votes
James Harlan 38 votes
James F. Wilson 22 votes
48 HISTORY
On the third ballot the vote was :
Allison 63 votes
Harlan 40 votes
Wilson 17 votes
giving the nomination to Mr. Allison hy a majority of SLx votes over both of his competitors.
The Fourteenth General Assembly convened on the 8th of January, 1872. Robert Lowery of Scott County, was chosen President pro tern of the Senate. In the House James Wilson of Tama County was elected Speaker. On the 11th, the General Assembly met in joint convention and inaugurated Governor C. C. Carpenter and Lieuten- ant-Governor Bulls. Governor Carpenter delivered his inaugural address and on the 15th Lieutenant-Governor Bulls was installed President of the Senate. On the 16th of January William B. Allison was elected United States Senator for six years from the 4th of March, 1873, re- ceiving the votes of all of the Republican members ; Jo- seph C. Knapp received the votes of the Democratic mem- bers of the General Assembly.
Under the recent census Iowa was entitled to nine mem- bers of the House of Representatives in Congress and the Legislature proceeded to apportion the State into nine Congressional Districts.
Amendments were made to the prohibitory liquor law curing some defects that had become apparent. It was made the duty of the State Census Board to assess rail- roads for taxation. It was provided that railroad com- panies should be released from all taxes heretofore as- sessed by local authorities. An act was passed abolish- ing the death penalty as a punishment for crime. An- other act authorized a council of any incorporated town or city to levy a tax for the establishment of a free public library and its maintenance. An act was passed to estab- lish a board of Capitol Commissioners to take charge of
CYRUS C. CARPENTER Governor of Iowa, 1872 to 1876.
THE
NEW vor?K
PUBLIC LIBRARY'
Astor, Lenox and Tildsn Foundat'oAs.
OF IOWA 49
the erection of the new State House. Provision was made for the establishment of an additional penitentiary at Anamosa. A resolution passed the House to submit to a vote of the electors an amendment to the Constitu- tion granting the right of suffrage to women. It was de- feated in the Senate by a vote of twenty-four to twenty- two, four senators being absent or not voting. The Gen- eral Assembly adjourned to meet on the third Wednes- day in January, 1873, to complete the revision of the laws of the State. Under an act of the Thirteenth General As- sembly three commissioners had been appointed to revise the Statutes of the State. The commissioners, W. H. Seevers, W. J. Knight and W. G. Hammond, were in- vited to seats on the floor of the two houses of the General Assembly to participate in considering and perfecting the new code.
The first political State Convention of the year was held on the 27th of March, 1872, at Des Moines by the Ee- publicans, to select delegates to the National Kepublican Convention to nominate a candidate for President. It adopted resolutions indorsing the administration of President Grant and instructing the delegates to vote for his renomination and to support James F. Wilson for Vice-President.
On the 23d of April a mass convention was held at Davenport to choose delegates to the Liberal National Convention called to meet at Cincinnati to nominate a candidate for President. One hundred and fifty delegates were chosen to the National Convention and instructed to oppose the nomination of President Grant. The resolu- tions declared for economy, amnesty, reform, and one term for the President.
The Democratic State Convention met at Des Moines on the 11th of June and elected delegates to the Demo- cratic National Convention at Baltimore, also passed res- olutions indorsing the platform and candidate of the Lib- eral Republicans made at Cincinnati. On the 1st of Au-
[Vol. 3]
gQ HISTORY
sust the Democrats and Liberal Republicans united in holding a State Convention at Des Moines and agreed upon the following candidates for State officers: Secre- tary of State, E. A. Guilbert; Treasurer M J. Rohits, Auditor, J. P. Cassady; Attorney-General, A. G. Case; Register Land Office, Jacob Butler.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 21st of August and nominated for Secre- tary of State, Josiah T. Young; Treasurer, W"i:Christy; Auditor, John Russell; Attorney-General, M. E. Cutts, Register Land Officer, Aaron Brown. No important res- olutions announcing new issues were adopted by the vari- ous political conventions that year.
The election resulted in the success of the Republican candidates by an average majority of about 57,500 <Jn Secretary of State the vote was as follows : for Gmipert, Democrat and Liberal Republican, 74,497 ; for Wright, regular Republican, 132,359; Republican majority, 57,-
The first National Convention for the nomination of candidates for President and Vice-Pi-esident this year- was that of the Labor Reform party, which assembled at Columbus, Ohio, on 21st of February. Twelve States were represented, including Iowa. _
The platform declared for a National currency issued directly by the General Government without the inter- vention of banks, the currency to be legal tender for all purposes; public lands to be granted free to landless set- tlers ; modification of the tariff as to the taxation of lux- uries and free trade in articles of necessity not produced in this countrv; prohibition of Chinese immigration; an eight hour law for laborers ; abolition of contract labor m prisons ; regulation of railroad and telegraph charges by law; limiting the term of the President to four years; general amnesty for all persons engaged m the late war; subiection of the military to civil authority; opposition to the exemption of Government bonds from taxation.
OF IOWA 51
Judge David Davis of the United States Supreme Court was nominated for President and Governor Joel Parker of New Jersey for Vice-President. Both candidates de- clined the nominations and Charles O'Connor of New York was substituted as candidate for President, the other vacancy was not filled.
A National Convention of the colored race was held at New Orleans on the 15th of April at which thirteen States were represented. Frederick Douglass presided. The convention warmly indorsed the administration of Presi- dent Grant and favored his reelection. It also declared allegiance to the principles of the Republican party which had given freedom to the slaves.
A National convention of " Liberal Republicans " as- sembled at Cincinnati on the 1st of May and adopted a platform in which the following declarations were the most important: equality of all men before the law; in- dorsement of the late amendments to the National Con- stitution; universal amnesty; supremacy of the civil over military authority; radical civil service reform; maintenance of the public credit and a speedy return to specie payment; preservation of the public lands for actual settlers ; cultivation of peaceful relations with all foreign nations. Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune was nominated for President on the sixth ballot over Charles Francis Adams, Lyman Trumbull, David Davis and others. B. Gratz Brown of Missouri was nomi- nated for Vice-President.
The regular Republican National Convention assembled at Philadelphia on the 5th of June and nominated President Grant for reelection by acclamation. Henry Wilson of Massachusetts was nominated for Vice-Presi- dent on the first ballot. A lengthy series of resolutions was adopted reaffirming the well-known principles of the party.
The Democratic National Convention met at Baltimore on the 9th of July, and nominated Horace Greeley for
52 HISTORY
President and B. Gratz Brown for Vice-President and adopted a platform similar to that of the Liberal Republi- cans in all important declarations.
Other so-called National Conventions were held, one by Democrats at Louisville, which nominated Charles O'Con- nor for President ; another at the same place by colored men, which indorsed the nominations of Greeley and Brown.
In Iowa the Presidential campaign was contested be- tween the supporters of the regular Republican ticket and the united Democrats and Liberal Republicans, the other candidates receiving an insignificant vote. The result of the State vote in the Presidential election was as follows :
Grant 131,233
Greeley 71,119
O'Connor 2,221
Grant's majority over Greeley was 60,114. The number of Republicans in Iowa who voted for Greeley could not have been more than three hundred and ninety-seven, as the vote for Grant lacked but seven hundred and ninety- three of being as large as that for Young, Republican candidate for Secretary of State; while about 2,166 Dem- ocrats withheld their votes from Greeley. Grant's ma- jority exceeded that for the Republican State ticket. The result of the Presidential election in the country was as follows on the popular vote :
Grant 3,597,070
Greeley 2,834,079
O'Connor 21,599
giving Grant over Greeley 762,991. Of the electoral votes Grant received two hundred and eighty-six to eighty op- position; Greeley having died before the Electoral Col- lege met, this vote was scattered among several persons.
OF IOWA 53
The Fourteenth General Assembly met in adjourned session on the 15th of January, 1872, and proceeded to consider the new code of laws reported by the Commis- sioners, making some amendments and enacting it into law.
Rumors had been circulated for some months of a de- falcation in the State Treasurer's office. Major Samuel E. Rankin whose term as Treasurer had expired on the 1st of January, sent a communication to the Senate in which he acknowledged having used the funds of the State Agricultural College, of which he had long been treasurer. He had assigned to that institution all of his available property to secure the college against loss. In his confes- sion he made the following statement :
" A few years ago when times were good and money easy to obtain on loan, I invested my means in land and other property and in business and borrowed money for the same purpose and in some eases bought partly on time. Some of those investments did not prove profitable and especially the biisiness in which I had invested the largest amount, but as money was easy I had no difficulty in procuring extension of time on my notes as they became due. I held on to my property believing that in a short time I could dispose of it at a profit; but within the last six months times changed, business became dull and money scarce, those to whom I was indebted needed their money and required payment and, relying in part upon promise of money to borrow, and in part upon the belief that I could obtain the money by sale or mortgage of my property before it would be needed by the College, I used their funds."
Upon receipt of this communication a joint committee was appointed consisting of three members of the House and two of the Senate to make a thorough investigation of the affair. At the close of the investigation the fol- lowing facts were found: Major Rankin had been suc- cessively elected treasurer of the college for five years but in 1869, 1871 and in 1872 no bond had been given as re- quired by law. Early in 1869 he began to use the college money unlawfully for liis own purposes, first in small amounts which he replaced, and afterward in larger
54 HISTORY
amounts which were retained. On the 25th of January, 1871, the college treasury had become empty and the ag- gregate amount abstracted had reached $36,000. He then resorted to the State Treasury to meet drafts from the college for the sum of $38,500 which had been appropriat- ed for the use of that institution by the Legislature. A warrant to meet this requisition was paid and the amount placed to the credit due the college and this enabled the Treasurer to meet all demands until December, 1872, when a draft for $3,000 was received and paid out of the State funds, this deficiency being afterward made up by Major Rankin. After that time there was no evidence of mis- appropriation of the funds. When the defalcation be- came known to the trustees of the college they appointed a committee to take steps to secure it against loss. This committee settled with Rankin, taking his obligation for the amount of the deficit and an assignment of all his real and personal property except household furniture. This was done under the advice of the Governor and the At- torney-General. In concluding the report, the committee of the General Assembly said :
" From all the facts developed in this investigation the committee feels compelled, however unpleasant the duty may be, to say that in its opinion, while Major Rankin has probably made himself criminally liable for an infraction of the law, yet the several boards of trustees who were intrusted by the people to execute the laws in regard to the college are morally re- sponsible for the losses sustained and should be so regarded by the people. While each and every member of the board of trustees in office at the time and every officer of the college should be held liable to some extent to the bar of public opinion for the embarrassment caused and losses sustained by the defalcation of the late Treasurer, yet we are constrained to say that some of them should be held to more rigid accountability than others. About midsummer, 1869, the then chief executive officer of the State, who was also ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, had his suspicions aroused and opened a correspondence with the president of the college and secretary of the board in regard to the official bonds of the officers. In this correspondence he received information which should have led him, as Governor of the State and a member of the Board of Trustees, to act promptly and energetically but he let the matter drop and we hear no
OF IOWA 55
more of him in (his connection until some time in December, 1872, when at a meeting between a committee of the college board and Major Rankin he very innocently told them, ' that the responsibility was theirs and they must shoulder it.' The president of the college, although the chief executive of the institution, seems to have paid but little or no attention to the warnings he had received from Governor Merrill."
During the summer of 1873 some fifteen counties in the northwestern part of the State were visited by immense swarms of grasshoppers, surpassing in numbers any sim- ilar visitation before experienced. Crops were devoured, leaving thousands of farmers destitute of the means of subsistence or seed for the next season's crops. Many of the settlers in that section were of limited means who had recently settled on homesteads and were en- tirely dependent upon farm produce for subsistence for the coming year. Without liberal assistance from other parts of the State they would be compelled to abandon their homes. The Granges in various parts of the State collected grain, provisions and money which were dis- tributed among the most needy. Hundreds of these farm- ers had been soldiers in the late war, had recently made homes on the wild prairies and were just beginning to erect buildings and bring a portion of their homesteads under cultivation. As winter approached their situation became desperate and as there was no session of the Leg- islature to provide for the emergency private citizens were obliged to come to their relief. In order to establish an effective system for the collection of supplies and pro- vide for an equitable and judicious distribution, General N. B. Baker, the well-known Adjutant-General of the State, volunteered to superintend the work. He appealed to the people at large to contribute of their money, cloth- ing, provisions and seed grain to help their unfortunate fellow citizens. He arranged with the railroads to carry all contributions at very low rates to the various points selected for distribution. The people responded gener- ously and, with the aid of an efficient corps of assistants,
56 HISTORY
the good work was carried on for months. Thousands of the settlers were by this aid enabled to remain on their homesteads, sustaining their families on the absolute ne- cessaries of life, until another crop could be raised.
The attempt of the General Assembly in 1870 to fix by law maximum rates for the transportation of freight by railroads was earnestly pressed upon the members by the farmers of the State and was also urged but with less de- termination by grain and lumber dealers. Exorbitant rates had been exacted by the western roads on the plea that the country along their lines was sparsely settled and high rates must, in consequence, be charged to enable the western roads to pay fair dividends on the cai^ital in- vested in their construction and operation. It was urged on the other hand that the rates charged took so large a portion of the value of farm products, that the producers in many cases realized from their crops less than the cost of production. The rates on coal, lumber, farm machinery and all goods brought to the farms from distant regions were also exorbitant and, as the freight both ways was ultimately paid by the farmers, they felt the burdens im- posed upon them to be oppressive, leaving them but a bare living and often a load of debt at the close of a year of toil. When the attempt before the Legislature in 1870 failed to give them relief, the farmers conferred together to devise some plan of cooperation whereby the burden could be lifted from their chosen vocation.
A secret organization had been instituted having its origin in the District of Columbia and known as *' The Patrons of Husbandry." The aim of this organization was to secure cooperation among farmers in all ways wherein they could be mutually helpful. Each local or- ganization was known as a *' Grange." Meetings were held at stated times at which plans were made for coop- eration in buying groceries, lumber, wire, coal and such other articles as were largely purchased by farmers. Agencies were established for the purchase of farm sup-
OF IOWA 57
plies in large quantities, thus enabling individual farmers to order what they might need, the articles being fur- nished them by these agencies at wholesale prices less the actual expense incurred in maintaining the agency. In the same way farm products were delivered at the agency, sold in Chicago or New York for a price equal to that obtained by the local produce buyer and the profit he had heretofore made was saved to the farmers, less the small expense of the agents' salary. Those local Granges were gradually established through the State but more numerous by far in the great grain and live stock pro- ducing regions of the middle west.
In 1872 the number of local Granges in Iowa was more than five hundred and new Granges were being organized every week. A State Grange was established known as the Iowa State Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry which was composed of delegates from the local Granges and held annual meetings. A State Lecturer was chosen who traveled about explaining the principles of the order and assisting in organizing local Granges. Councils were established by several local Granges cooperating and these councils were the executive body through which the business of buying, selling and shipping was transacted. While the Patrons of Husbandry abstained from engag- ing in partisan politics, they became a power in securing legislation in the interest of the producers of the country where they came in conflict with the powerful corpora- tions engaged in the transportation of farm products and supplies. They could, through their Granges, ascertain whether candidates for Congress and the State Legisla- ture were favorable to the measures which they regarded as essential to their prosperity or were likely to favor the corporations which they regarded as hostile to their prin- ciples and thus, by working together, often turned an election in favor of friendly candidates. The subject of transportation was one in which they were most vitally interested and here they came in conflict with the power-
58 HISTORY
ful railroad corporations. "Wlieii the active agitation of the control and fixing of rates for transportation, by act of the Legislature began, there were but few railroads in the State. All communities were desirous of securing railroads as they were essential to the development and prosperity of both town and country. The first aim of citizens was to encourage the building of railroads and, in addition to the land grants of the general Government, free right of way and local aid by voting taxes, were com- mon inducements tendered to the construction companies by various towns, cities and farm communities. Such lo- calities were unwilling to have any '' hostile legislation," as it was termed, that would retard railroad building so that this influence was for many years used to defeat leg- islative control by limiting or fixing rates for transporta- tion. The combined influence of the corporations and these communities was so powerful that many years elapsed before the reform could be accomplished. Dur- ing the period when the conflict was most determined it is generally conceded that no one agency was so powerful in molding public opinion as the Grange.
The Granges also did a good work in promoting a spirit of sociability among families in rural neighborhoods. Women became deeply interested in the meetings and were important factors in the social work. Their home and household duties were talked over at these gatherings which became educational as well as social. The order of Patrons of Husbandry had a permanent helpful influence upon hundreds of farm neighborhoods in bringing the people into closer relations with each other and thus dis- seminating various improvements in farm and household labors. They were also valuable in introducing into the rural districts a general knowledge of conducting public as well as private business. Their tendency was to elevate the aims of the country people by the introduction of im- provements among them both educational and cooperative. In Iowa, General William Duane Wilson was for several
OF IOWA 59
years State Lecturer, and through his work and influence there were more local Granges established in Iowa than in any other State.
The two principal political parties found it necessary to incorporate in their platforms a recognition and in- dorsement of the demand made by the farmers through the Grange movement for the Legislative control of railroads and the establishment by law of reasonable charges for transportation.
On the 25th of June, 1873, the State Convention of the Republican party was held at Des Moines, and in its plat- form gave special attention to the demands of the farmers in relation to the transportation problem. It declared for the protection by law of the interests of the people in the granting of all franchises by legislation. The third reso- lution was as follows :
Resolved: that the producing, commercial and industrial interests of the country should have the best and cheapest modes of transportation possible and, while actual capital invested in such means of transit, whether by railroad or otherwise should be permitted the right of rea- sonable remuneration, any abuse in their management, excessive rates, oppressive discriminations against localities, persons, or interests, should be corrected by law and we demand Congressional and Legislative enact- ments that will control and regulate the railroads of the country and give to the people fair rates of transportation and protect them against existing abuses.
Another resolution denounced the political corruptions of public officials recently exposed by congressional in- vestigations in relation to the ''Credit-Mobilier" and of- ficial misconduct, and the punishment of unfaithful public men. The sixth resolution condemned the "back-pay steal" of Congress, denounced all members who voted for or received the money thus appropriated and demanded the repeal of the act. The last resolution expressed a de- sire for political reform and honesty, purity and economy in all official administration and declared it the duty of every Republican to oppose the election of a bad or in-
60 HISTOKY
competent candidate whether he be upon our own or any other ticket. Governor Carpenter, Judge J. M. Beck and Superintendent Alonzo Abernethy were renominated, and Joseph Dysart was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor.
The regular Democratic party of the State held no con- vention but united with the new Antimonopoly party which held a convention at Des Moines on the 13th of August and adopted a platform embracing the following declarations upon the issue most prominent before the people: in favor of Legislative and Congressional con- trol of all corporations, to prevent their becoming engines of oppression ; in favor of the property of all corporations being assessed and taxed as that of individuals ; in favor of the Legislature fixing a maximum rate of freight to be charged by railroads and such modification of the banking system as to extend its benefits to the whole people; in favor of a modification of the tariff on a revenue basis with salt, iron, lumber, cotton and woolen fabrics free ; in favor of the support of none but honest and competent men for office. The resolutions demanded the repeal of the back salary act, a return to the treasury of the money drawn from it under that act and the reduction of all salar- ies to public officials. The platform condemned the Credit- Mobilier steal and all other frauds and swindles by which Congressmen and other office-holders defraud the country. The following candidates were placed in nomination: Governor, Jacob Vail; Lieutenant-Governor, C. E. "Whit- ing; Judge of the Supreme Court, Benton J. Hall; Super- intendent of Public Instruction, D. W. Prindle.
A mass convention of the advocates of woman suffrage was held at Des Moines on the 4th of March, at which the following resolutions were adopted:
Resolved: that we deeply regret that the Fourteenth General Assembly refused to submit the question of woman suffrage to a vote of the electors of the State but that we will still labor in the earnest and confident hope that our legislators will at an early day grant to all, without distinction of sex, an equal voice in the formation of laws and election of rulers.
OF IOWA 61
Resolved: that the action of the adjourned session of the Fourteenth General Assembly, in striking from our code of laws all legal disabilities expressed therein to the rights of women, save that of suffrage, is a move in the right direction and we feel it our duty to express our high apprecia- tion of their action in that respect.
Resolved: that we believe that the ballot in woman's hands will be used in favor of virtue against vice, in favor of purity against corruption, in favor of peace against dissension and so believing, call upon the friends in all parties to come forward.
Resolved: that wc observe with special gratification the rapid improve- ment in public sentiment concerning this movement and the attitude of the most prominent and influential newspapers of the State towards it, some of which are fearless advocates of the cause and nearly all of which give it respectful consideration.
The result of the election in October was the success of the Republican candidates by majorities ranging from 22,012 to 36,294.
The extension of lines of railroad westward from the Mississippi River, where they made close connection with lines to Chicago, New York and the great seaports, had opened the interior prairie regions of Iowa to available settlement. Stage lines conveyed passengers, mail and express in numerous directions from the termini of the Iowa railroads. Freight lines were established by wagons to transport coal, lumber and goods to the chief towns of the interior and western portions of the State and return farm products to eastern markets.
The earlier settlers were now building frame houses, barns and better school-houses. Pretentious business blocks, substantial churches, and tasteful private dwell- ings were beginning to take the place in city, village and country of the log structures which everywhere prevailed in earlier years. Factories were relieving the overworked women by making cloth for the family garments. Farm- ers were buying reapers to displace grain cradles and mowers were taking the place of scythes.
Pine lumber was floated down the Mississippi River in huge rafts supplying lumber for fencing, emancipating
62 HISTOEY OF IOWA
the land owners from the slavish toil of rail making and furnishing the material for frame buildings in place of the pioneer log cabins. Improved breeds of domestic animals were introduced and spring wagons and carriages were gradually taking the place of the saddle horse and lumber wagon.
The Auditor's report showed the receipts of the State Treasurer, from November, 1871, to the same date in 1873, to be $2,129,577.51; the disbursements $2,180,100.69, leaving a balance of $31,217.66. The amount of the per- manent school fund was reported at $3,294,742.83. The number of children of school age was 491,344, showing an increase in two years of 29,862. The Soldiers' Orphans' Home supported five hundred and eight children in the three schools. The number of miles of railroad completed in the State at the end of the year 1873 was reported at 3,800, of which four hundred and sixty-nine miles were constructed in the last two years.
CHAPTER V
THE Fifteenth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 12th of January, 1874. In the House there was a long contest over the election of Speaker, as no party had a clear majority. After one hundred thirty- two ballots, on the 23d of January, John H. Gear, Republican, was chosen over J. W. Dixon, the candidate of the opposition. In the House there were fifty Republicans and fifty opposition. As the General As- sembly could not be organized until a Speaker was elected, no business was transacted until the 23d when the Gover- nor sent in his message. On the following day the two houses met in joint convention and canvassed the vote for Governor and Lieutenant-Governor. On the 27th Gover- nor Carpenter was inaugurated for the second time and Joseph Dysart became Lieutenant-Governor.
In his message the Governor called attention to reports of great destitution existing among the homestead settlers in the northwestern counties of the State. On motion of Senator Perkins a joint committee of five members, two from the Senate and three from the House, was appointed to inquire into the situation and report to the General As- sembly.
On motion of Senator Kephart a joint committee con- sisting of three members of the Senate and five members of the House was appointed to investigate charges made against the management of the State Agricultural College by its trustees, president and other officials. The com- mittee consisted of Senators Kephart of Linn County, Merrill of Clinton, Cooley of Dubuque, and Representa- tives Goodrich of Howard, Newbold of Henry, Peet of Delaware, Mitchell of Jackson, and Brown of Washington. The committee had authority to send for persons and
64 HISTORY
papers, administer oaths to witnesses andmake a thorough, investigation. The investigation began on the 3d of Feb- ruary and was continued until the 11th of March. It was developed in the course of the investigation that the charges against the management were made by three mem- bers of the college faculty whose connection with the col- lege as professors was, by action of the trustees, termin- ated. These gentlemen employed ex-Governor W. M. Stone, who was the son-in-law of one of the dismissed pro- fessors, to prosecute the charges made against the man- agement of the college. Forty-three witnesses were called before the committee and testified, among whom were all of the officials who had financial and administrative man- agement of the business of the college from the opening of the institution up to that time.
The charges made against the management were numer- ous, but the following were the principal allegations: First. The funds of the college have been mismanaged and misappropriated in the erection of buildings, purchase of lands and other purposes not contemplated in the laws. Second. Losses sustained by the defalcation of S. E. Ran- kin late treasurer, are not likely to be made good out of his property surrendered. Third. The college is drifting away from its original intent as a school of agriculture and mechanical arts and students are unjustly treated by of- ficers of the college.
After a thorough and rigid investigation the commit- tee made a report to the General Assembly, of which tlie following is a summary.
As to the improper use of the funds belonging to the col- lege the committee reported that all moneys of every de- scription and from whatever source, had been accounted for by the trustees and officers controlling the same, ex- cept the loss by the late treasurer, Samuel E. Rankin, and all appropriations and receipts from whatever source had been honestly used for the benefit of the college; though in some cases money received for the rent of lands, called
OF IOWA 65
the interest fund, had been used in erecting buildings and in the purchase of land deemed necessaiy by the trustees for the interest of the college and farm, without the authority of any existing legislative enactment. All of these irregularities had been reported to previous General Assemblies. In relation to the loss by de- falcation of S. E. Rankin the committee found that the real estate deeded to the college to secure loss, was estimated to be worth $29,000 in addition to $2,000 paid by said Rankin heretofore. Of the amount of the defalcation, $11,400.70 was from the interest fund and a portion of this sum must be lost unless the lands turned over by Rankin be held for a better price than could then be obtained for them. As to similar sums charged to have been improperly paid out of the interest fund, for locating and looking after lands, the committee found that the items had been approved by the trustees, reported to the General Assembly and were correct. The committee was of the opinion that the endowment fund had been wisely, judiciously and honestly managed, so far as any evidence accessible showed and that the leasing of the lands was the best policy that could have been pur- sued to make them available and remunerative to the col- lege. In conclusion, on this branch of the subject, the committee found no evidence tending to show that any officer or trustee of the college had speculated in or appro- priated to his own use any of the funds of the college or acted in bad faith in the management of the same. The committee found no evidence to sustain the charge that the college was drifting away from its original intent, or that students had been unjustly treated.
The report of the committee was unanimous and as both political parties were represented the conclusions were ac- cepted by the General Assembly. The dismissed profes- sors were not reinstated, their assaults upon the college management utterly failed and were dismissed by the pub- lic as malicious and false.
[Vol. 3]
66 HISTORY
The advocates of woman suffrage made an earnest ef- fort to secure the passage of a joint resolution at this session for the amendment of the Constitution, granting suffrage to women. They were successful and the joint resolution was adopted by both branches of the General Assembly.
By far the most absorbing subject considered by this General Assembly was the growing demand of the people for an act regulating the freight charges of the railroads. Frank T. Campbell, an able young journalist of Jasper County, was serving his second term in the Senate. Dur- ing the preceding session in 1872 he had given the subject of the regulation of railroad charges careful study. He had procured copies of a carefully prepared table of rates from the Illinois Railroad Commission, which had been made by experts at heavy expense. Taking these tables as a basis, Senator Campbell made a thorough study of the intricate problems involved and became well informed on the subject. With the assistance of Judge George R. Willett, Senator from Winneshiek County, on the legal questions involved, he prepared the bill which became the famous ' ' Grange Law. ' ' So general had been the feeling of opposition to the exorbitant rates fixed by the rail- roads, that delegations of business men came to Des Moines urging the enactment of laws regulating the charges of these common carriers.
Early in the session Senator Shane of Benton County offered a series of resolutions declaring that, '' In the sense of the Senate this General Assembly should not ad- journ until laws shall have been passed upon the follow- ing subjects:
First. Regulating and providing for a reasonable maximum rate of freight and passenger fares on and over the railroads of this State.
Second. Prohibiting railroad companies doing business in this State, from hereafter buying or holding more real estate than is necessary to carry on the legitimate business of railroading therein, also prohibiting the consolidation of parallel or competing lines of railway, or the issue
OF IOWA 67
of any stock or bonds by any railway company, except the same is in good faith paid for in money or other valuable consideration.
Third. Prohibiting railroad companies from issuing free passes, or passes at a discount from the uniform rate to any person residing in this State and holding any office of trust, honor or profit under or by virtue of any of the laws of the State.
Fourth. Prohibiting railroad companies from granting or giving to any of its officers any special privileges in carrying passengers or freight by express or otherwise, over their respective lines of roads.
Fifth. Regulating and taxing railroads and railroad property as the property of others."
These resolutions which were sent to the committee on railroads represented the growing radical sentiment of the people who demanded the right to control these cor- porations ; and they brought up for discussion and action the whole subject of legislative regulation of railroads. It became the absorbing topic before this General As- sembly as it had for several years been before the Granges. The representatives of the corporations came to the Capi- tal in force and used all of their persuasive and argu- mentative skill to defeat radical legislation and were par- tially successful; but, after a long and stubbornly con- tested struggle, the advocates of legislative control won a substantial victory. With the powerful aid of the Granges, long working for the education of the farmers on these lines, and a declaration of both political parties for legislative control of railroads, a majority of both branches was able to agree upon the Campbell bill which was passed, accomplishing one of the reforms, in many respects the most important.
Much time and work had been devoted to the framing of this bill to make it effective and to keep its require- ments in harmony with well defined constitutional limits.
The principal features of the law were as follows : the fixing of reasonable maximum rates for the transportation of freight and passengers on the different railroads of the State; the provisions of the act to fix the maximum rate for passenger fare at from three to four cents per
68 HISTORY
mile, regulated by the class under which the road is placed by the Executive Council; roads to be classified on the basis of their earnings ; a schedule fixed giving the maxi- mum rate to be charged for freight by each of the four classes of roads; reports of railroad officers required to be made during the month of January of each year show- ing the earnings of the different roads which shall govern the classification ; a penalty of one hundred dollars per day for failure of any road to make such report ; no railroad company to be permitted to charge any person or company for transj)ortation of any property a greater sum than it shall at the same time charge any other person or com- pany for like services and upon like conditions.
A number of railroad companies notified Governor Car- penter that, while the companies denied the justice and constitutionality of this act, they were disposed to subject it to the test of actual experiment, before assailing it in the courts. If an actual experiment should demonstrate that the continual observance of these schedules would not result in total or partial confiscation, it might not be nec- essary to raise any question as to the validity of the act. If such observance were found to involve the permanent surrender of the revenues to which the company was en- titled from the operation of its lines, a different policy would be adopted, with a view of securing such revenue ; and any attempt to enforce the act, as a valid law, would be resisted in the proper tribunal.
Lafayette Young, Senator from the Cass District, was chairman of the Senate railroad committee and an influ- ential friend of railroad control. Senators Shane and John P. West of Henry County did good service in sup- port of the *' Grange" legislation. In the House, John Q. Tufts of Cedar County led the friends of the bill, assisted by Lemuel R. Bolter of Harrison and John G. Newbold of Henry County.
The Legislature made an appropriation of $50,000 to aid the destitute people of the northwestern counties
OF IOWA 69
whose crops were destroyed the past year by grasshop- pers. Joint resolutions were passed instructing our mem- bers of Congress to support an amendment to the Consti- tution providing for the election of United States Senators by vote of the people ; to support an amendment prohibit- ing Congress from increasing the compensation of its members ; to request Congress to prohibit the granting of public lands to railroad companies and memorializing Congress for an increase of currency.
The opposition to the Republican party, under the name of the Antimonopoly party, held a State Convention at Des Moines on the 23d of June, 1874, and placed in nom- ination the following candidates: Secretary of State, David Morgan; Auditor, J. M. King; Treasurer, H. Gr. Hargis; Attorney-General, J. H. Keatley; Clerk of Su- preme Court, G. W. Ball ; Reporter, J. M. Weart ; Register Land Office, R. H. Rodermel. The resolutions were lengthy but raised no issues differing from the platform of the year before.
The Republican State Convention assembled at Des Moines on the 1st of July and placed in nomination the following ticket: Secretary of State, Josiah T. Young; Auditor, B. R. Sherman ; Treasurer, Wm. Christy ; Attor- ney-General, M. E. Cutts ; Clerk of Supreme Court, E. J. Holmes; Reporter, J. S. Runnells; Register Land Office, David Secor. The platform made but two new declara- tions; the first, favoring the election of President and Vice-President by a direct vote of the people and the sub- mission to the people of an amendment of the State Con- stitution admitting women to the right of suffrage.
At the election in October the Republican candidates were chosen by an average majority of about 28,000. The vote for Secretary of State was as follows :
Young, Republican 107,340
Morgan, Antimonopoly 78,597
Majority for Young 28,743
70 HISTOEY
The Republican candidates for Representatives in Con- gress were elected in eight of the nine districts, as fol- lows: George W. McCrary in the First; J. Q. Tufts in the Second ; L. L. Ainsworth, Democrat, in the Third ; H. 0. Pratt in the Fourth ; James Wilson in the Fifth ; E. S. Sampson in the Sixth ; John A. Kasson in the Seventh ; J. W. McDill in the Eighth; and Addison Oliver in the Ninth.
The act of the Legislature of 1874, known as the * * Grange Law ' ', fixing the schedule of rates to be charged by railroads for transporting freight and passengers, went into effect in July of that year. Most of the railroads complied with the provisions, reluctantly however, some making vigorous protests. The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, operated by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, determined to test the validity of the law in the courts and obtained a temporary injunc- tion restraining the Attorney-General of Iowa from prose- cuting the company, and the State Treasurer from paying out money for the expense of such prosecution. The case was brought before John F. Dillon, Judge of the United States Circuit Court for the District of Iowa, to have the injunction made perpetual. The position taken by the railroad company in the case was that the company had the exclusive power to fix the measure of its own com- pensation and that the act of 1874 was in violation of its chartered rights. After a full hearing Judge Dillon de- nied the injunction and in rendering his decision said :
" Without further enlarging upon the public nature and uses of railroads or undertaking to review the authorities cited or examine the positions assumed by counsel, which would necessarily lead through a broad field of discussion, I content myself on this branch of the subject with stating as my conclusion that the Legislature has not expressly conferred on railway corporations in this State the exclusive power to fix their own charges, and such a power cannot be deduced by implication from the constitutional act of the corporations and that whatever powers are conferred in this respect are subject to an implied condition that they shall not be oppressively or unreasonably exercised and also subject to the future exercise of the police
OF IOWA 71
regulations of the State, properly legislative in its nature, which includea the power to regulate, consistently with the charter, all of the franchises granted and to prescribe and limit the amount of toll or charges."
The case was appealed by the railroad company to the Supreme Court of the United States which confirmed the decision of Judge Dillon. M. E. Cutts, who was the At- torney-General for Iowa, argued the case before the two courts and was assisted in the preparation of the case by Senator Campbell who was familiar with every section of the act. Mr. Cutts met the ablest attorneys in the country, who had been employed by the combined railroad inter- ests, and won a victory of great magnitude in its far reaching effects. It was regarded as one of the most im- portant decisions ever rendered by a court in which the interests of the people came in conflict with those of cor- porations. It was hailed by the people of Iowa and the country in general with great satisfaction. The issues involved reached deeply the material prosperity of every farmer in the State for all time to come. Under this de- cision corporations could be restrained from practicing extortion in conveying the products of the farms to dis- tant markets and returning the supplies that every farm must have from the eastern cities and factories. Without this restraining power unlimited extortion could be en- forced upon the people for an indefinite period of time, for which no remedy would exist. This decision added much to the value of Iowa farms and insured to the tillers of the soil a fair compensation for the capital and labor invested in their pursuit. The untiring effort of the farmers in the Granges of the State was the most potent influence brought to bear upon the legislators to secure the enactment of the law fixing and limiting railroad charges. It was their united effort that compelled the two strong political parties to incorporate the demand into their plat- forms, thus committing these powerful organizations to the advocacy of the reform.
A State Convention of the Democrats and Antimonopo-
72 HISTORY
lists was held at Des Moines on the 24th day of June, 1875, at which the following candidates were nominated: Shepherd Leflfler for Governor ; E. B. Woodward, Lieuten- ant-Governor; W. J. Knight, Judge of the Supreme Court, and Isaac Doan, Superintendent of Public Instruction. The platform was substantially in accord with the former declarations of the two parties since the formation of their alliance against the Republicans.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 30th of June and was composed of six hun- dred and forty delegates. There was an animated con- test between those who were in favor of a positive in- dorsement of the prohibitory liquor law and those who were opposed to such a declaration. The prominent can- didates for Governor were Hon. John Russell of Jones County, late Auditor of State, and General James B. Wea- ver of Davis County, a distinguished officer in the Civil War and a radical advocate of the prohibitory liquor law. The radical prohibitionists united in the support of Gen- eral Weaver while those who opposed making prohibition a part of the platform for the most part supported Mr. Russell. John H. Gear, Robert Smyth and W. B. Fair- field were also candidates and each had warm supporters. But before the roll was called it became evident that the contest was narrowing down to a choice between Russell and Weaver. The names of the candidates had been pre- sented and a ballot about to be taken when, by precon- certed agreement among some of the leaders, Dr. S. M. Ballard, a veteran white haired Republican of imposing form arose, and, in a powerful voice that penetrated every part of the assembly, nominated Samuel J. Kirkwood, the ' ' Old War Governor. ' ' The vast audience responded with wild applause. General Trumbull of Dubuque arose and inquired by what authority Governor Kirkwood was nom- inated. Dr. Ballard responded in stentorian voice: **By authority of the great Republican Party of Iowa. ' ' John Russell arose and declined to be a candidate against Gov-
OF IOWA 73
ernor Kirkwood. John H. Gear followed, also declining to be a candidate against the ''Old War Governor." It was known to some delegates that Governor Kirkwood had sent word to a friend in the convention that he would not be a candidate. But it was of no avail, the leaders were determined that he should be nominated. In the midst of intense excitement the roll was called with the following result: Kirkwood, two hundred thirty- eight ; Weaver, two hundred ; Smyth, one huiiBred eleven ; Fairfield, thirty-three. Before another ballot was com- pleted so many votes were changed to Kirkwood that his nomination was made unanimous. Joshua G. Newbold of Henry County was nominated for Lieutenant-Gover- nor; Austin Adams of Dubuque for Supreme Judge, and Alonzo Abernethy was renominated for Superintendent of Public Instruction. The resolutions presented no new issues ; the convention defeated an attempt to commit the party to prohibition.
The State Convention of the temperance organizations of Iowa was in session at the time the Eepublican Con- vention assembled and earnest efforts were made by its delegates to secure from the Republicans an indorsement of the prohibitory liquor law but without success. The Temperance Convention thereupon adopted the following platform :
" Whereas existing political parties have ignored prohibition : " Resolved, That the temperance people of Iowa are forced to seek pro- motion of their cause in such a way as will be most effective without re- gard to parties; that the law of the State relating to the desecration of the Sabbath should be rigidly enforced; that there shall be no diversion of the school fund for sectarian purposes; that political organizations shall not control men in their action on moral questions; that county organizations be formed to elect temperance men to the Legislature."
Rev. John H. Lozier was nominated for Governor by the State Central Committee consisting of one member from each Congressional District.
After a spirited campaign the election resulted in the
74 HISTORY
success of the Republican candidates by a plurality of over 30,000. J. H. Lozier, the Temperance candidate for Gov- ernor, received 1,397 votes.
In September, 1875, the reunion of the Army of the Tennessee was held in Des Moines. It drew together at the Capital of Iowa the greatest military commanders of modern times. General Grant, who was President of the United States, Generals Wm. T. Sherman, Philip H. Sheridan, George H. Thomas, Oliver 0. Howard, John A. Logan, W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War, and Gren- ville M. Dodge were all present and participated in the meetings which continued several days. Immense crowds of i)eople from every part of Iowa gathered at the Capi- tal to meet and greet these veteran commanders of the late Civil War. A reception was held at the Government building where the famous generals, with President Grant at the head, stood in the main hall, between the United States Pension Office and the Post Office, where more than 10,000 citizens passed taking by the hand these world famous military chieftains. Nearly every building in the city was decorated with the National flag. At the public meeting, held at Moore 's Opera House on Septem- ber 28th, General Grant made a speech which attracted wider notice and interest than any before delivered by him. It was the subject of public discussion for more than thirty years. The school children of the city had been given a holiday to meet the President, and in their presence General Grant spoke of the common schools in the following sentence:
" Encourage free schools and resolve that not one dollar of money appro- priated to their support, no matter how raised, shall be appropriated to the support of anj' sectarian school. Resolve that either the State or Nation or both combined shall support institutions of leaniinfr sufllcient to afford every child Rowing up in the land the opportunity of a good com- mon school education, unmixed with sectarian, pagan or atheistical tenets. Leave the matter of religion to the family circle, the church and the private school supported entirely by private contribution. Keep the church and State forever separate."
OF IOWA 75
A report of this speech was sent by a reporter of the press which totally misrepresented the statement of the President in relation to the common schools. He was made to say — "support common schools and none above common schools." The journals of the country and col- lege presidents took up the subject, believing in the truth of the report sent out by the press and a long and bitter controversy arose. Professor Leonard F. Parker of Iowa College did not believe that the President's Des Moines speech had been correctly reported and in order to settle the matter he prepared a letter of inquiry to General Grant and procured the signature of Governor Kirkwood to the inquiry in order to make sure of a reply. The fol- lowing was received by Governor Kirkwood :
Executive Mansion, Washington,
November 17, 1875. Hon. S. J. Kirkwood,
Iowa City, Iowa: Dear Sir: What I said in Des Moines was hastily noted down in pencil and may have expressed my views imperfectly. I have not the manuscript before me as I gave it to the Secretary of the Society. My idea of what I said is this : " Resolve that the State or Nation or both combined, shall fur- nish to every child growing up in the land the means of acquiring a good common school education," etc. Such is my idea and such I intended to have said. I feel no hostility to free education going as high as the State or National Government feels able to provide — protecting, however, every child in the privilege of a common school education before public means are appropriated to a higher education for the few.
Yours Truly,
U. S. Grant.
This letter was published by all of the principal jour- nals of the country, but the misrepresentation continued to be spread by a class of persons and journals hostile to the President. Finally to set the matter at rest with all honest people, General L. M. Dayton, Secretary of the Society of the Army of the Tennessee, who received the manuscript directly from the hand of General Grant, as he finished his Des Moines address, called attention to the
76 HISTORY
printed copy of the proceedings which gave the correct version of the speech. General Belknap further had the original manuscript of the address photographed and a facsimile was published which set the libel forever at rest* Professor Hammond a few years ago pronounced this persistent misrepresentation among the "frauds of the most surprising character."
The State Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry held its annual session in Des Moines beginning on the 14th of December and continuing five days. The report of the treasurer showed the receipts of the year to be $22,000, property on hand including cash $13,761. Arrangements were made to procure crop reports through the local Granges to be published in the agricultural papers. A resolution was adopted asking the General Assembly to enact a law requiring all banks of deposit to give security in real estate first mortgages to be held by the Auditor of State, for the benefit of depositors in case of failure of said banks.
The Sixteenth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 10th of January, 1876. The House was or- ganized by the election of John H. Gear, Speaker. After the inauguration of Governor Kirkwood and Lieutenant- Governor Newbold the latter entered upon the discharge of his duties as President of the Senate.
A United States Senator was to be chosen for six years by this General Assembly and, as the Republicans had a large majority on joint ballot, the warm contest that en- sued was entirely within the ranks of that party. The candidates were Governor Kirkwood, Ex-Senator James Harlan, General W. W. Belknap, Hiram Price and George W. McCrary, all able and well known men who had served the State in various public positions. The contest was earnest but friendly and free from the bitterness that often attends similar campaigns. Mr. Harlan was Gov- ernor Kirkwood 's strongest competitor and, up to the
*A facsimile of the original manuscript of General Grant's famous address may be seen in the Historical Department of Iowa.
OF IOWA 77
time of the assembling of the joint caucus of the Repub- lican members, the result was in doubt. But just before the session began Harlan 's name was withdrawn and upon the first ballot Governor Kirkwood received the nomin- ation by a majority of two over all of his competitors. He was elected, by the joint convention of the General Assembly five days after his third inauguration as Gov- ernor, for a term of six years from the 4th of March, 1877.
There was little legislation of importance although there were warm discussions on subjects of deep inter- est. Among the measures defeated were bills to restore capital punishment; to repeal the act of 1874 fixing rates for railroad passengers and freights ; to modify the liquor law by establishing local option. The amendment to the Constitution, granting suffrage to women, proposed by the previous Legislature, was again approved by the House for submission to the people but failed in the Sen- ate by a close vote.
The attempt to repeal the railroad "Grange law" was vigorously pressed by the opponents with a large lobby representing the railroad companies. It was claimed that it was crippling the roads, putting a stop to railroad building and driving some of the companies into bank- ruptcy. The Senate railroad committee, to which the bills for repeal were referred made a careful investigation on the subject and a majority made a report from which the following statements are taken :
" We have examined the workings of the law and find that the people have been benefitted by it, the interests of the State advanced and there are many reasons why the law should be retained. We find the law has reduced rates largely, has wiped out unjust discrimination and extortions that existed throughout the State prior to its passage, has opened up mar- kets within our State for its products, facilitated the interchange of com- modities at home, fostered our manufactures, aided in the development of agriculture and is operating largely in favor of Iowa and Iowa people. No petition for its repeal has come from our constituents and we believe our people are content with the law and desire to have it thoroughly tested."
78 HISTORY
The first State Convention of the year was held by the Temperance Associations at Des Moines on the 20th of Januaiy, while the Legislature was in session. It adopt- ed a series of resolutions, among which were the following declarations :
"We regard drunkenness as a crime and the vendors of intoxicating liquor should be held accessory to and responsible for injury and crime committed by inebriates.
We favor the absolute prohibition of the sale and manufacture of all intoxicating liquors as beverages and the importation of the same.
We ask the General Assembly to urge the appointment of a National Commission to investigate the legislative criminal, scientific, economic and other aspects of the liquor traffic as relates to the public welfare.
One-half of all fines imposed for the violation of the prohibitory liquor law should be paid to the prosecuting witness.
The owner of the property where liquor is sold should be made criminally liable to the same extent as the vendor."
A State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 10th of May, 1876, to organize a Greenback party in Iowa. It adopted a platform, of which the following is a summary :
" Labor is the basis of all wealth and capital cannot be accumulated ex- cept as the product of industry.
It is the duty of the government to establish a monetary system based on the faith and resources of the nation and adapted to the demands of legitimate business.
We demand the immediate repeal of the resumption act of January, 1875, and that the circulating notes of the State and National banks, as well as all local currency, be withdrawn from circulation and their place supplied by a uniform currency, tlie same to be a legal tender for all pur- poses and interchangeable for bonds.
We demand the present bonded debt of the country be refunded as speedily as possible into registered interchangeable bonds that shall bear interest at a low rate, not exceeding 3.65 per cent, per annum.
We are in favor of the repeal of the act of March IS, 1869, making greenbacks payable in coin and making 5-20 bonds perpetual or payable only in coin and thus unjustly discriminating in favor of the money in- terest."
On the 20th of September the Greenback party held a convention at Des Moines to nominate candidates for
OF IOWA 79
State officers and adopted additional resolutions as fol- lows:
"We recognize the rights of capital and its just protection; we con- demn all special legislation in its favor.
We demand a reduction of official salaries proportionate to the reduc- tion of the profits on labor.
We demand the remonetization of silver.
We demand the equality of soldiers' bounties and favor Peter Cooper for President."
The following candidates were nominated: for Secre- tary of St^te, A. Macready; Auditor, Leonard Brown; Treasurer, George C. Fry; Register Land Office, G. M. "Walker ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. A Nash ; Judges Supreme Court, Charles Negus and Oliver Jones.
The Republican State Convention met at Des Moines on the 31st of May, 1876, and nominated the following ticket for State officers : Secretary of State, J. T. Young ; Audi- tor, B. R. Sherman; Treasurer, G. W. Bemis; Register Land Office, David Secor; Supreme Judges, W. H. See- vers and J. H. Rothrock; Superintendent of Public In- struction, C. W. Van Coelln; Attorney-General, J. F. McJunkin. The resolutions made new declarations on the following subjects:
" We are in favor of a currency convertible with coin and therefore advo- cate the gradual resumption of specie payment Ly continuous and speedy steps in that direction.
Wo cordially invite immigration from all civilized countries, guarantee- ing to emigrants the sarae political privileges and all social and religious freedom we ourselves enjoy, and favor a free and unsectarian system of common schools for their children with ours.
" We favor James G. Blaine for President."
The Democratic State Convention was held on the 30th of August, and placed the following candidates in nomin- ation : Secretary of State, J. H. Stubenbraugh ; Treasurer, Wesley Jones; Auditor, Wm. Groneweg; Register Land Office, H. C. Ridenour ; Attorney-General, J. C. Cook ; Su-
80 HISTORY
preme Judges, W. I. Hayes and Wm. Graham. The reso- lutions indorsed the platform of the Democratic National Convention and its candidate for President.
The political campaign was warmly contested by the Republicans and Democrats on the National tickets; the Republicans having nominated Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio for President, and William A. Wheeler of New York for Vice-President. The Democrats nominated Samuel J. Tilden of New York for President, and Thomas A. Hendricks of Indiana for Vice-President. The Na- tional Greenback party placed in nomination Peter Cooper of New York for President, and Samuel F. Gary for Vice-President.
The State election resulted in the choice of the Re- publican candidates by an average majority, over the Democratic and Greenback candidates, of about 50,000.
The first reports of the Presidential election in the country at large announced the choice of Samuel J. Til- den, by a large majority. Later returns indicated that doubts existed as to the result. Intense excitement pre- vailed over the entire country as contradictory returns were received from the States of Louisiana, South Caro- lina and Florida. It would require every electoral vote of these three States to elect Hayes. One vote from any of the three States would insure the election of Tilden. There was a bitter dispute between the representatives of the two political parties in the three States as to the re- sult, which could not be settled by any ordinary means. At the request of President Grant, John Sherman, Jolm A. Kasson, James A. Garfield and other prominent Re- publicans went to New Orleans to see that an honest count was made and returned. The Democratic National Com- mittee sent eminent men, among whom were Samuel J. Randall, Lyman Trumbull and Heniy Watterson to look after the interests of Mr. Tilden. Committees from each party of ''visiting statesmen" were invited by the can- vassing board to be present and witness the canvass. But
OF IOWA 81
the board completed the canvass in secret session declar- ing all of the Republican candidates elected including the Presidential electors. The Governor, Attorney-General and a District Judge examined the duplicate returns of the vote cast in the State and made a certificate declaring the Democratic candidates for Presidential electors were elected. A contest of a somewhat similar nature took place in South Carolina where the Republican canvassers declared that the Republican electors were chosen. In Florida a similar disagreement resulted in the Republican candidates for Presidential electors being declared elect- ed. That there were gross frauds perpetrated by both parties in each of these States in making returns there is little doubt. If these returns were accepted and held to be legal by Congress, Hayes would be elected by one majority of the electoral vote. Intense interest now cen- tered in the action of Congress and the state of public feeling was such that serious apprehension prevailed that a resort to arms might follow the decision of Congress. There was no dispute that Tilden had received a majority of the popular vote amounting to 157,394 over the com- bined vote of all other candidates. His majority over Hayes was 250,950.
Lnmediately after the assembling of Congress, Hon. George W. McCrary of Iowa offered the following reso- lution.
" Whereas there are differences of opinion as to the proper mode of counting the electoral votes for President and Vice-President and as to the manner of determining questions which may arise as to the legality and validity of returns of such votes by the several States;
And whereas, it is of the utmost importance that all differences of opinion and all doubt and uncertainty upon those questions should be re- moved, to the end that the votes may be counted and the result declared by a tribunal whose authority none can question and whose decision all will accept as iinal;
Therefore be it resolved, that a committee of five members of this House be appointed by the Speaker to act in conjunction with any similar com- mittee that may be appointed by the Senate to prepare and report without
[Vol. 3]
82 HISTORY
delay such a measure, either legislative or constitutional, as rijiy in their judgment be best calculated to accomplish the desired end and that said committee have leave to report at any time."
The resolution was referred to the judiciary commit- tee, which, after consideration, reported it back with the following additional resolution, all of which were adopted:
" Resolved, That a committee of seven members be appointed by the Speaker of this House to ascertain and report what are the privileges powers and duties of the House of Representatives in counting the votes for President and Vice-President of the United States and that said com- mittee have leave to report at any time."
The Senate agreed to the McCrary plan and appointed a committee of seven to cooperate with the House commit- tee in devising a plan for settling the question involved in counting the electoral vote. McCrary was made a member of the House committee which also consisted of seven members. Each of the political parties was rep- resented by trusted and prominent members on this most important joint committee. The feeling of intense anxiety and serious apprehension which pervaded the entire coun- try was somewhat allayed when it was seen that Congress was proceeding to act with fairness and freedom from partisan considerations. This joint committee reported the following plan to decide on the conflicting returns from the disputed States:
" They shall be referred to a commission composed of an equal number of members from the Senate, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court of the United States. This commission shall decide what is the constitutional vote of each State in question, and that decision shall govern, unless both houses shall determine otherM'ise."
The committee composed of an equal number of mem- bers of each political party agreed upon this plan of set- tlement, all but one of the members signing the report. Senator Morton of Indiana did not agree to the plan. The plan reported by the committe was enacted into law, re-
OF IOWA . 83
ceiving the votes of a large majority of the members of both the House and Senate and was approved by Presi- dent Grant. When the two houses of Congress met to re- ceive the returns of the States, and Florida was reached, there were conflicting returns, one declaring that the vote had been given to Hayes for President and another de- claring that it had been given to Tilden. The conflict was then referred to the Electoral Commission for a deci- sion. It decided in favor of the Hayes electors by a strictly partisan vote, all of the Eepublican members, (eight,) voting to report the Hayes electors legally chosen, and the Democratic members, (seven,) voting that the Tilden electors were legally elected. All of the contested returns submitted to the Commission were decided by a similar partisan vote in favor of the Hayes electors. As the Re- publicans had a majority on the Commission and as each member voted to recognize the electors from each con- tested State who belonged to the political party of which he was a member, Hayes, the Republican candidate, was given one majority of the electoral votes and was de- clared elected President.
The Senate having a Republican majority, by a strict party vote accepted the decision of the Electoral Com- mission and the House having a Democratic majority, by a strictly partisan vote refused to accept the deci- sion. As it required the concurrence of both houses to reject the decision of the Electoral Commission and as only the House of Representatives rejected the decision, it stood and made Hayes President.
The contest had lasted from the day of the Presiden- tial election up to the last day of February, and during all of this time intense excitement and gloomy apprehension of serious trouble prevailed over the entire country. No one could foretell the probable decision of the new tribu- nal created to make a peaceful solution of the conflict and public confidence and business were seriously depressed by the long strain. When the decision came, although
84 HISTORY OF IOWA
arrived at by a strictly partisan vote, such is the loyalty of the American people that it was accepted as a legal and equitable settlement. But the strictly partisan votes in every case, of the judges of the Supreme Court, was no small shock to that class of people who had hereto- fore believed that the members of that high judicial tribu- nal would put aside partisan considerations, in such a momentous case, and render a purely equitable decision. The country could not escape the conviction that had a majority of the Supreme Judges, acting on the Commis- sion, been Democrats instead of Eepublicans, Samuel J. Tilden would have been declared elected President.
CHAPTER VI
WHEN Hayes became President, George W. McCrary of Iowa, who was the author of the plan adopted by Congress for the peaceful settlement of the contested election for President, was invited into the Cabinet and became Secretary of War. John A. Kasson of Iowa, was appointed Minister to Austria-Hungary.
The financial conditions of the State of Iowa at the end of the year 1877 was not satisfactory. The appropria- tions of the Sixteenth General Assembly had been so large that there were outstanding warrants to the amount of $267,776.31, making a floating debt of $340,826 or $90,000 in excess of the constitutional limit. Besides, there was a funded debt of $543,065.15. The total amount of taxes levied in the State for all purposes, collectible in 1877, was $10,699,762.39. The amount of interest collected and apportioned among the schools for the two years was $559,981.59.
The Home for Soldiers' Orphans at Cedar Falls was closed in June, 1876, and the children transferred to the home at Davenport where there were now one hundred thirty-nine inmates.
The canal which had been in course of construction by the General Government around the rapids of the Mis- sissippi above Keokuk was formally opened in August, 1877. It was seven and a half miles in length, three hun- dred feet wide and had three locks each three hundred fifty feet long. It cost $4,281,000 and it was estimated that $100,000 additional would be required to complete it. During Governor Kirkwood's third term an import- ant decision was rendered upon an act of his, by the State Supreme Court. A convict in the penitentiary by
86 HISTORY
•j the name of R. D. Arthur was serving a sentence of ten years for larceny. His mother and sister living in Fay- ette County, prevailed upon the Governor to grant him a conditional pardon after three years of his term had ex- pired. The conditions upon which the Governor con- sented to release him were as follows: first, abstinence from the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage; sec- ond, the use of all proper exertions for the support of his mother and sister; third, that he should not violate any of the criminal laws of the State. By the terms of the pardon the Governor was to be the judge of the viola- tion of these conditions. The stipulations which were signed by Arthur accepted all of the conditions with the agreement that if he violated any one of them he was liable to be arrested and reimprisoned for the full unexpired term of his sentence. The conditions were violated, the Governor caused a warrant to be issued for Arthur's ar- rest and he was recommitted to the penitentiary. The prisoner sued out a writ of habeas corpus and was brought before the District Court of Lee County to test the legal- ity of his reimprisonment. Two points were raised on demurrer to the writ. First, that the Governor could not grant a conditional pardon. Second, that the violation of the conditions could only be determined by judicial investigation and not by the Governor. The District Court held that the points were well taken and the pris- oner was discharged. An appeal was taken to the Su- preme Court and the decision of the District Court was reversed. The course taken by the Governor was sus- tained and a precedent established which has been fol- lowed by Governors since, conditional pardons being not uncommon. In many cases the offender becomes thus thoroughly reformed and continues to remain a law abid- ing citizen.
Governor Kirkwood resigned the executive office on the 1st of February, 1877, to take his seat in the United States Senate and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Governor Joshua
Governor of Iowa, 1877
I
OF IOWA 87
G. Newbold who entered upon the discharge of the duties on the 1st of February.
The Eepublican State Convention met at Des Moines on the 28th of June, 1877, and nominated John H. Gear for Governor; Frank T. Campbell for Lieutenant-Gover- nor ; James G. Day for Judge of the Supreme Court, and C. W. Van Coelln for Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion. Among the declarations of special interest made in the platform were the following :
" We declare it to be the solemn obligation of the legislative and execu- tive departments of the Government to put into immediate and vigorous exercise all of their constitutional powers for the removal of any just cause of discontent on part of any class and for seciu-ing to every American citizen complete liberty and exact equality in the exercise of all civil, political and public rights. To this end we imperatively demand of Con- gress and the Chief Executive a courage and fidelity to these duties which shall not falter until their results are placed beyond dispute or recall.
The silver dollar having been the legal unit of value from the founda- tion of the Government until 1873, the law under which its coinage was suspended should be repealed at the earliest possible day and silver made with gold a legal tender for the payment of all debts, both public and private. We also believe that the present volume of the legal tender cur- rency should be maintained until the wants of trade and commerce demand its further contraction.
We favor a wisely adjusted tariff for revenue.
We are in favor of the rigid enforcement of our present prohibitory liquor law and any amendment thereto that shall render its provisions more effective in the suppression of intemperance."
A resolution expressing confidence in the ability and integrity of President Hayes and approving of his south- ern policy, was defeated.
The noticeable action of this convention was strong opposition to the President's conciliatory policy in deal- ing with the late Confederate States, especially Louisiana. The election for Governor in that State at the time of the Presidential election had resulted in the choice of the Hayes electors by a majority of 3,931, Stephen B. Packard the Eepublican candidate for Governor received a major- ity of 3,426 at the same election. The Democrats claimed
88 HISTORY
that the State had given a majority of 7,876 for the Tilden electors and a majority of 8,010 for Nichols, the Demo- cratic candidate for Governor. There were two Legis- latures also claiming to be elected. The Republican Legis- lature had met and declared Packard elected Governor and the Democratic Legislature had met and recognized Nichols as the legally elected Governor. A con- sional committee, which had been sent to Louisiana to in- vestigate, had reported on a strictly partisan basis; the Republican members reporting that Packard had been legally elected and the Democrats reporting in favor of Nichols. After Hayes was inaugurated he also sent a commission to investigate the situation. It appeared that during the conflict over the decision of Congress, as to who was the legal President, two influential friends of Hayes and also two friends of Tilden had come to a se- cret agreement, apparently by authority of Hayes, that if the Democratic House of Representatives would make no determined opposition to the seating of Hayes as Presi- dent, his administration would in return acknowledge the legality of the election of Nichols the Democratic claim- ant for Governor and his Legislature, which would elect a Democrat to the United States Senate from Louisiana. In compliance with this understanding President Hayes sent a commission to Louisiana which so manipulated the affair that a sufficient number of the members of the Packard Legislature were persuaded to go over to the Nichols Legislature to give it a quorum. The commis- sion then reported in favor of the Nichols government, President Hayes recognized it and ordered the withdrawal of the United States troops leaving everything in the control of the Nichols party. Great indignation was felt by a vast majority of Republicans throughout the coun- try at this surrender by the Hayes Administration of the rights of his own party in Louisiana through whom he was made President. A member of Grant's cabinet ex- pressed the prevailing opinion of the mass of the Re-
OF IOWA 89
publican party when it was first rumored tliat such a com- promise was contemplated by Hayes, saying : ' ' President Hayes would impeach his own title were he to refuse Gov- ernor Packard recognition. ' ' The Iowa Republicans were indignant over this surrender and the compromise which brought it about and so expressed themselves in this first State Convention held after its accomplishment.
The declaration of the State Convention in favor of the prohibitory law and its rigid enforcement was a radi- cal departure from the position of neutrality which the Republican party had up to this time maintained. Its emphatic declaration in favor of the restoration of the coinage of silver as a legal tender for payment of all debts was undoubtedly in accord with the prevailing sen- timent of a large majority of the Republicans of Iowa at this time, as was its indorsement of a tariff for revenue.
On the 12th of July the State Convention of the Green- back party was held at Des Moines, nominating the fol- lowing ticket : for Governor, D. P. Stubbs ; Lieutenant- Governor, A. Macready; Supreme Judge, John Porter; Superintendent of Public Instruction, S. T. Ballard. Its platform reaffirmed previous positions on all of the issues before the country and in favor of the prohibitory liquor law.
The Democratic party held its State Convention at Marshalltown on the 20th of August, and placed in nom- ination the following candidates : for Governor, John P. Irish; Lieutenant-Governor, W. C. James; Superintend- ent of Public Instruction, G. D. Cullison ; Supreme Judge, H. E. J. Boardman.
The new declarations were in favor of greenbacks in place of National Bank bills, indorsement of the policy of the President in the Southern States, the equal taxa- tion of every species of property according to its value and equal protection to labor and capital.
The State Temperance Convention met at Oskaloosa on the 30th of August and nominated Elias Jessup for
HISTORY
90
Pnvprnor making no other nominations. It passed a we numbrS resolutions in favor of promoting tem- p™ by State and National legislation and indorsed
ThTef^orresnlted in the choice of the entire Eepnb- lipjiT, ticket bv a plurality of about 42,000. ^ iCtrthfentfre vote for Jessup seems to have come frfm Eepnblieans who supported the remainder of the
%\rrnuTclnt::tion of the Wo-n's Sf ra.e^^^^ ciety was held in Des Moines on the 24th of October. iSlnlthe resolutions adopted were the following:
-W^erea, tie ballot i, necessary '".^t tCi:!^ ^^^ V^^.
Whereas. Wo.en are as intemgen as ^^^^^'^l Congress .or rSerarCrto^r<^ri o, t^.... state, .vmg women also the ballot upon equal terms with men.
the following:
KesoWed. .T>at t.e State grange '-rs^ *; ^i tJ^J^^ aet and the rcmonetization of s, ver and *= ^^P^> °^ the
aet. and asus '^^ ^^:;^X'^^^^^^^^^'"^''- T "'
financial policy of the country in a ^^^
i„ f.vor of the following ^^-^es^ our laws to abo ^^^^ ^^ .^^^
t. compel litigants to -e security ^-/-^^^rattorneys appointed by the to the losing party, to hx by law th. ,f shorthand re-
pT.;:rs^o"ris^t^:^;e^^^^^^^^^^^ - compel sh.i.s to
report their fees as other county officers.
OF IOWA 91
ever experienced in any portion of the State. It began about three o'clock in the morning. The darkness was intense and the rain came down in blinding torrents. Nine miles east of Des Moines the Rock Island Railroad crosses Little Four Mile Creek, ordinarily a small stream. At the railroad bridge the banks are some thirty feet above the bed of the creek. In this vicinity there seemed to have been a fall of rain similar to a cloud burst. The entire surface of the prairie was covered by the flood. Every ravine was filled with a torrent. The continuous roar of thunder, blinding flashes of lightning, the in- tense darkness and the rush of water combined to make a fearful night. The mail and passenger train from Chi- cago which was due at Des Moines at half past three in the morning was coming at a speed of thirty miles an hour. It consisted of a baggage car, a mail car, one of Barnum's advertising cars, a smoker, two passenger coaches and a sleeper. The engineer, John Rakestraw, was a veteran in the service familiar with the route, but evidently had no thought of danger on this part of the line. Suddenly the headlight flashed upon a wild roaring torrent carrying trees and floodwood on its angry current. There was not a moment for thought as the train was on the very brink of the flood and instantly took a leap into the chasm. The engineer was crushed beneath the loco- motive as it struck the opposite shore and turned over sinking deep into the mud and water. Abram Trucks, the fireman was thrown into the flood on the west shore. "When he recovered consciousness he saw the train crushed and piled in an awful wreck, telescoped and shivered, while the angry torrent was rushing wildly through the ruins. Bruised, dazed and helpless the fireman stood for a moment, then realizing that he was alone on the west shore and could not cross to help the wounded and drown- ing, or to give the alarm to any inhabitants in the vicin- ity, he started in the darkness and through the flooded country for Des Moines, to procure help. In the mean-
92 HISTORY
time the passengers in the sleeper had been rudely thrown from their berths by the shock of the wreck, and happily found their car standing safely on the track, on the very brink of the chasm. Some ran back to Altoona, about two miles distant, while others made desperate and heroic efforts to drag the crushed and drowning passengers from the wreck. For hours men worked with the energy of despair to extricate groaning and shrieking women, chil- dren and men from where they were held in the vice-like grip of broken, twisted iron and timbers of the piled up and telescoped wrecks of the cars. But it was not until a wrecking train arrived two hours after the ruin was wrought, that all of the victims were extricated from the piles of ruins. Seventeen were placed lifeless on the banks of the creek. Thirty-eight other passengers of the ill- fated train were crushed, mangled or bruised in various degrees, three of whom died. Many were maimed or crip- pled for life. The bridge had gone down in the flood be- fore the train reached the creek and two other railroad bridges between that and Des Moines were swept away by the same flood, so that the train was doomed to de- struction in any event.
The amount of public lands granted and certified to the State, for various purposes, up to 1878, was more than 8,000,000 acres, or nearly one-fourth of the entire area of the State. Of this amount 4,400,000 acres were granted to aid in building railroads and in improving the naviga- tion of the Des Moines River; 1,550,000 acres had been granted for the support of the public schools; 204,000 acres for the State Agricultural College; 1,570,000 acres of swamp land.
The report of the Auditor of State for the year ending November 1, 1877, shows some interesting facts :
The number of cattle assessed was 1,452,546 valued at $14,898,841 ; number of swine over six months, 1,654,708, value $3,899,301. The number of horses was 659,385, valued at $20,100,263; mules, 42,887, value $1,670,154.
Astor, Lenox aim k\M^
'foundsi'iiftS.
JOHN II. GKAK. Governor of Iowa. 1.S7S-1882
OF IOWA 93
The loss to farmers of swine from cholera this year was reported at $3,500,000 or nearly as much as the total value of those remaining. The number of sheep in the State in 1877, was but 318,439, showing a decrease in the ten years from 1867 of 1,197,787, which was claimed to arise largely from the severe losses by dogs, rendering sheep raising so hazardous as to be unprofitable.
The Seventeenth General Assembly met at Des Moines on the 14th of January, 1878. John Y. Stone of Mills County was chosen Speaker and on the 15th Governor Newbold sent in his message. On the 17th John H. Gear and Frank T. Campbell were inaugurated Governor and Lieutenant-Governor and the new Governor delivered his inaugural address. On the 18th Lieutenant-Governor Campbell was installed as President of the Senate.
On the 29th of January William B. Allison was elected United States Senator for a second full term of six years over Daniel F. Miller, Democrat.
The most important act of the General Assembly was the repeal of the so-called Grange Laws, fixing maximum rates to be charged by railroads for transporting freight and passengers, which had been enacted by the Fifteenth General Assembly. The courts had sustained these enactments and the only course left open to the railroad companies to relieve themselves from the restrictions, was to use their utmost power and influence to secure their repeal. From the time the law went into effect the railroad managers had systematically endeavored by dis- crimination against Iowa towns and shippers to render the law obnoxious. A powerful array of railroad officials came before the General Assembly in 1876, urging the repeal of the act of the former Legislature. Hon. James F. Wilson, one of the most influential of the public men of the State, Colonel Milo Smith and other well-known men appeared before the joint railroad committees of the General Assembly and made plausible arguments against the '* destructive legislation" of 1874, but the representa-
94 HISTORY
tives of the people stood firm for the law. In 1878 new tactics were determined upon for the pending campaign. Representatives of the principal railroad companies con- trolling lines in Iowa had been holding conferences for the purpose of devising some plausible method of cir- cumventing the ''unfriendly legislation" contained in the Granger Law, as it was generally designated. With such able and resourceful counsellors as Thomas F. Withrow, John F. Duncombe, Henry W. Strong, N. M. Hubbard, John S. Runnels, Thomas Potter and Major E. S. Bailey, it is not strange that a plan was devised by which the "Grangers" were circumvented. It was determined to unite the citizens of the sections of the State where rail- roads were wanted, and had not yet been extended, with large shippers who were favored with special rates, in a well organized movement for the repeal of the Granger Law. The next step was for the various construction companies which had been building railroads in Iowa to declare that no more roads would be built, or Iowa lines extended, under the ruinous restrictions enacted. News- papers were influenced to denounce the Grange legisla- tion, public meetings were held and resolutions passed de- manding repeal. To the public, who knew nothing of the secret concert of action, it appeared that there was a change in public opinion and a demand for repeal of the Granger Law.
/ Never before in the history of Iowa legislation has such a powerful and at the same time such a well chosen lobby gathered at the Capitol as that which appeared be- fore the Seventeenth General Assembly in the winter of 1878. The corporation managers had been active during the summer and fall in securing the nomination and elec- tion of their friends to seats in the Legislature and when the House was organized they secured the presiding offi- cer of that body, easily controlling the popular branch of the General Assembly. Senator Campbell had been elect- ed Lieutenant-Governor and was President of the Senate.
OF IOWA 95
Here the battle was fought out. The railroad committee of the Senate was made up with a majority opposed to repeal. As the fight grew warm two members of that committee were influenced to change their minds and vote for repeal and the Railway Commission bill. This bill had been prepared and drawn by the attorneys of two of the main trunk lines of Iowa railroads. It permitted the Governor to appoint the three commissioners who were clothed with the power to give advice and receive their salaries from the railroads ; but with no authority to enforce the advice. Excellent and well-known men were appointed and for many years a truce was established between the people and the railroad managers on terms that had been devised by the corporations. All that had been gained by years of agitation, years of untiring effort on the part of the people to establish their sovereignty over corporations through legislation and the courts, was now surrendered by act of the Seventeenth General As- sembly. It took ten years to recover the lost ground and, cost the people of the State millions of dollars. '^
Ex-Governor "William Larrabee, who has made a spe- cial study of railroad business and legislation and is re- garded as high authority, in his excellent work on '*Eail- roads" savs of the first act for the control of these cor- porations :
" The Granger Laws have been and still are severely criticised by those opposed to the principle of State control and by the ignorant. It is never- theless true that those laws were moderate, just and reasonably well adapted to remedy the evils of which the public complained. The obloquy heaped upon them was the work of designing men who desired to con- tinue their impositions upon the people. The Iowa law was imperfect in detail and yet its enactment proved one of the greatest legislative achieve- ments in the history of the State. It demonstrated to the people their ability to correct by earnestness and perseverance the most far-reaching public abuses and led to an emphatic judicial declaration of the common law principle that railroads are highways and, as such, are subject to any legislative control which may be deemed necessary for the public welfare."
Another important act of this Legislature was that
96 HISTORY
which amended the prohibitory liquor law so as to pro- hibit the sale of malt or vinous liquors at retail within two miles of any municipal corporation, or within two miles of the place where and when an election is held. Another act restored capital punishment, which had been recently abolished. A commission was created to investi- gate an alleged defalcation of the Warden of the Fort Madison penitentiary. A joint resolution was passed to amend the Constitution of the State to render colored men eligible to seats in the General Assembly.
The Greenback party held its State Convention at Des Moines on the 10th of April, 1878, and nominated candi- dates for State officers. The resolutions adopted re- affirmed the principles heretofore declared.
The Democrats held their State Convention at Cedar Rapids on the 7th of June, nominated a full ticket for State officers and passed resolutions similar to those of their last convention. Later in the season a conference was held between the leaders of the Greenback and Demo- cratic parties in which the following combination ticket was agreed upon which received the support of both par- ties at the election: Secretary of State, E. M. Farns- worth; Auditor, Joseph Eiboeck; Treasurer, M. L. De- vin; Register Land Office, M. Farrington; Supreme Judge, J. C. Knapp; Attorney-General, John Gibbon; Clerk of Supreme Court, Alexander Runyon; Reporter of Supreme Court, J. H. Elliott.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 19th of June and passed a long series of resolutions, which embraced no new declaration of prin- ciples. The following candidates were placed in nomina- tion : Secretary of State, J. A. T. Hull ; Auditor, Buren R. Sherman ; Treasurer, George W. Bemis ; Judge of the Supreme Court, James H. Rothrock; Register Land Of- fice, J. K. Powers; Clerk of Supreme Court, E. J. Holmes; Reporter of Supreme Court, J. S. Runnells; Attorney- General, J. F. McJunkin.
OF IOWA 97
The election resulted in the success of the entire Ke- publican ticket by an average majority of about 8,500.
The election for Kepresentatives in Congress resulted in the choice of seven Republicans, and two opposition. In the Sixth District, General James B. "Weaver, fusion candidate of the Democratic and Greenback parties, was elected ; and in the Seventh District, E. H. Gillette, fusion candidate, was elected.
The first political State Convention for the year 1879 was held by the Democrats at Council Bluffs on the 21st of May. The only new declaration among the resolutions was the following:
" We favor the free and unlimited coinage of the silver dollar of 412^4 grains and the providing of certificates for silver bullion which may be deposited in the United States Treasury, the same to be legal tender for all purposes."
The following candidates were nominated for State officers: for Governor, H. H. Trimble; Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, J. A. 0. Yeomans : Supreme Judge, Reuben Noble ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Erwin Baker.
The State Convention of the Greenback party was held at Des Moines on the 28th of May and adopted a lengthy series of resolutions, making the following new declara- tions :
" We demand the unlimited coinage of the Bilver dollar of the present standard of weight and fineness.
We demand the reduction of the official fees and salaries of all officers from twenty- five to fifty per cent.
We favor the suppression of the evils of intemperance by all just and legal means.
We desire that mortgages be required to pay an equitable share of the taxes on mortgaged land.
We desire the reduction of the penalty on delinquent taxes to ten per cent, per annum.
We favor the repeal of the railroad commissioners law and legislation to reduce and equalize freights.
We desire that prison contract labor should never come in competition with free labor."
[Vol. 3]
9g HISTORY
The following candidates were nominated by this con- vention: for Governor, Daniel Campbell; Lieutenant- Governor, M. M. Moore; Supreme Judge, M. H. Jones; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. A. Nash.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 11th of June and nominated the f ollowmg candidates : for Governor, J. H. Gear ; Lieutenant-Gover- nor, F. T. Campbell; Supreme Judge, J. M. Beck; Super- intendent of Public Instruction, C. W. Van Coelln. The resolutions reaffirmed the position of the party hereto- fore expressed on temperance and prohibition, a tariff for revenue and the money issue. The convention further declared that the profit arising from the comage of gold and silver should inure to the Government and not to the owner of the bullion. A just reduction of fees and sal- aries of public officers to place them upon an equality with like positions in private employment.
The State Temperance Convention was held at Cedar Rapids on the 16th of June, which passed resolutions favoring the maintenance and strict enforcement of the laws prohibiting the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors ; also declaring in favor of woman suffrage. A faction of the convention nominated the following candi- dates : for Governor, D. R. Dungan ; Lieutenant-Gover- nor, F. T. Campbell; Supreme Judge, J. M. Beck; Super- intendent of Public Instruction, J. A. Nash.
The election resulted in the choice of the Repubhcan candidates by pluralities ranging from 72,000 to over 75 000 For Lieutenant-Governor Frank T. Campbell, having received the nomination of the Temperance Con- vention as well as of the Republicans, received a larger vote than Governor Gear.
Hon George W. McCrary of Iowa had resigned his position as Secretary of War, and had been appointed United States Judge for the Eighth Circuit, consisting of the States of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mis^ souri, Nebraska and Colorado.
OF IOWA 99
The Eighteenth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 12th of January, 1880. Lore Alford was chosen Speaker of the House. On the 15th, Governor Gear and Lieutenant-Governor Campbell, who had been reelected, were sworn in for a second term. The most important acts of this session were the following ;
To increase the salaries of the Judges of the Supreme Court to $4,000 a year.
To increase the compensation of members of the General Assembly to five hundred and fifty dollars for each regular session and not to exceed six dollars per day for an extra session.
To provide a new military code for the organization, government and support of the militia of the State.
To establish a State Board of Health to collect vital statistics and as- sign certain duties to local boards of health.
To protect depositors of banks and to punish fraudulent banking.
To establish a reform school for girls at Mitchellville and provide for its government.
To authorize a special tax to pay the War and Defense bonds issued for war purposes by act of the extra session of May, 1861.
To consolidate the State Land Office with the office of the Secretary of State.
A joint resolution was passed to submit to a vote of the people an amendment to the Constitution of the State to prohibit the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors. A joint resolution was also passed confirming a proposed amendment to render negroes eligible to seats m the General Assembly and to submit the same to the people at the next election.
At the National Republican Convention held at Chi- cago, James A. Garfield was nominated for President and Chester A. Arthur for Vice-President.
The Democratic National Convention nominated Gen- eral W. S. Hancock for President and W. H. English for Vice-President.
The National Greenback Convention nominated Gen- eral James B. Weaver of Iowa for President and B. J. Chambers for Vice-President.
100 HISTORY OF IOWA
The Greenback State Convention met at Des Moines on the 19th of May, 1880, and nominated the following candidates for State officers: Secretary of State, G. M. Walker; Treasurer, M. Farrington; Auditor, G. V. Swearengen; Attorney-General, W. A. Spurrier; Regis- ter Land Office, Thomas Hooker. The former declara- tion of principles and policy were reaffirmed.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 25th of August, and placed in nomination the following ticket: Secretary of State, J. A. T. Hull; Treasurer, E. H. Conger; Auditor, W. V. Lucas; Attor- ney-General, Smith McPherson; Register Land Office, J. K. Powers. The Convention reaffirmed the policy here- tofore declared by the party and heartily ratified the nomination of Garfield and Arthur.
The Democratic State Convention met at Des Moines on the 2d of September and placed the following candi- dates in nomination: Secretary of State, A. B. Keith; Treasurer, Martin Blim ; Auditor, C. I. Baker ; Attorney- General, C. A. Clark; Register Land Office, C. A. Daugh- erty. The convention indorsed the platform of the late National Convention and pledged its hearty support to Hancock and English.
The election resulted in the choice of all the Republican candidates by an average majority of 45,000. The vote for President stood as follows in Iowa: Garfield, 183,927; Hancock, 105,745; Weaver, 32,701.
CHAPTER VII
THE earliest settlements in Iowa were uni- versally made in groves or along rivers or smaller streams, in the timber belts which lined their banks. The native trees were indispensable in those days for build- ing the cabin to shelter the family, for fencing the new farm, for fuel and a score of other uses for which at that period there was no substitute. The first consideration with the early settler was to secure a large body of good timber and as much prairie adjoining as would make a farm. As the prairie in the vicinity of timber was usually more or less rolling, sometimes quite rough, the first settlers as a rule did not secure the richest or most productive farms.
In the early years there was little or no pine fencing lumber and little money with which to purchase such costly fencing had it been within reach. The first gener- ation of pioneers was almost universally inured to hard labor and considered it no hardship to handle the axe and maul day after day through the winter months, making rails for fencing their farms. It was slow and tedious labor to fell the forest trees, chop them into rail-cuts and split them into rails, to fence a forty or eighty acre field. Nearly all of the pioneer farms were thus fenced in. But in later years when thousands of immigrants poured into the new State, attracted by the great fertile prairies, where a hundred and sixty acre farm, all cleared for the breaking plow could be secured for two hundred dollars, timber land was held by the early settlers at high prices and the newcomers were compelled to find some substi- tute for the old worm fences from seven to nine rails high. In order to reduce expense various devices were invented— posts with three rails nailed on, osage orange
102 HISTORY
and willow hedges were resorted to and when the prairie fanners became the majority, they caused the laws to be changed so that such fences were made lawful by a vote of the people in the counties where the prairie farmers were strong enough to control the elections. For several years these contests over "hog tight" fences were waged with varying results and no little bitterness. As rail- roads were built and pine lumber from the forest regions of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan became accessible, the three rail or three board fences were made legal in most of the counties. Even then the great expense of opening a farm was the fencing and it was a burdensome tax on farmers of limited means who made up the major- ity of the settlers. Smooth wire was tried but made in- secure fences.
The inventive genius of the people was stimulated to devise cheap fencing. Several individuals in different parts of the west began to experiment with constructing various kinds of barbs to be attached to the wire to pre- vent animals from working through the fences. A black- smith and farmer in Scott County, by the name of Sam- uel Freeman, built a wire fence on his farm near Hickory Grove in 1859, and was troubled with cattle getting through between the wires. In 1861 his son, Pembroke E. Freeman, devised a barb which he applied to the wire. This proved effective in stopping the cattle and was doubtless the first application of barbed wire to fences. No effort was made by Freeman to have his in- vention patented but the fence was well known to his neighbors and attracted attention from many farmers in the county. In 1867 a Mr. Hunt devised a spur wheel to be attached to wire acting as a barb to prevent cattle from getting through the fence. He secured a patent for his device but it never came into use. A Mr. Glidden in- vented a wire barb to be attached to fence wire in 1876, had it patented and quite an amount of barbed wire was manufactured under this patent. Other inventors were at
OF lOAVA 103
work upon the barb device and gradually considerable wire with barbs attached came into use.
In 1875 about eight tons of barb wire were sold. Im- provements were made from year to year and barbed fencing wire began to come into quite common use on the great prairies remote from timber or pine lumber. When it was seen by shrewd observers that barbed wire was likely to be so improved and perfected as to become the popular fencing material of the country a ''trust" was organized by Washburn & Moen of Massachusetts and J. M. Elwood of Illinois, for the purpose of buying up the best patents covering the most valuable inventions and thus control the manufacture of the entire product, close up all competing factories and fix the price of barbed wire for the whole United States. This is believed to have been one of the first of the " trusts " that have since grown into a power so strong and arbitrary as to threaten to put an end to free competition and close all small manufacturing concerns in the country. This Washburn syndicate succeeded in purchasing several pat- ents on the various processes of barbing wire and also on various machines used in the different processes. Thus fortified it began suits in the United States Courts to prohibit other firms and individuals from manufac- turing barbed wire. One of these suits was brought in the United States Circuit Court in Chicago where a de- cision was obtained which, the syndicate claimed, gave it the exclusive control of the manufacture of barbed fenc- ing wire for the entire country. Acting upon this as- sumption the syndicate succeeded in organizing a ''trust" consisting of forty factories in various portions of the, United States which were bound together by a secret com- pact. Among the conditions of this compact were the following :
"First, plain wire to be purchased of Washburn & Moen and Elwood; second, all factories to pay a royalty to Washburn & Company on every pound of wire barbed and sold; third, no wire to be sold direct to farmers
104 HISTORY
or other consumers, but all sales to be made to dealers at a price fixed by the syndicate; fourth, all dealers to sell to farmers at a price fixed by the syndicate; fifth, all factories outside of the "trust" to be prosecuted in the courts for infringement of patents and closed."
The ''trust" proceeded to advance the price of fence wire to farmers from seven to eight cents a pound to ten cents for painted wire and eleven cents for galvanized wire. The farmers of Iowa held a State Convention at Des Moines on the 2d of April, 1881, and proceeded to form a ''Protective Association" for the purpose of re- sisting, by all legal means in their power, this extortion. The methods proposed were first, to establish a free barbed wire factory at Des Moines, carried on independ- ently of and in defiance of the "trust"; second, to sell the product of the factory to all members of the Association at as low a price as could be afforded. W. L. Carpenter and John Given, who owned a factory, were employed to manufacture the fencingwire and fill orders from members of the Association. Wright and Cummins were employed as attorneys to defend the Association in any legal pro- ceedings instituted against it by the Washburn syndi- cate.
Attempts were made repeatedly by the syndicate and its attorneys to arrange terms of compromise with the Farmers' Protective Association under which this fac- tory would be closed and the farmers purchase wire of the syndicate; but all propositions which contemplated the closing of the factory and leaving the field clear to the "trust", however plausible the promises, were rejected by the Association. It had been organized to fight the powerful combination, to furnish wire fencing to the farmers at a reasonable price and to test in the courts the validity of the broad claim of Washburn & Company of the exclusive right to manufacture barbed wire. Wlien plausible promises, followed by attempts at intimidation failed, suits were instituted against the Association for infringement of patents and to secure a mandate of some
OF IOWA 105
court to close the free factory. The Association, through its attorneys and officers, met the syndicate at every point of attack in the courts and A. B. Cummins made a special study of the patent laws and decisions and was fully pre- pared to meet every new assault. The contest became one of national importance and was watched with absorb- ing interest by all who were interested in free factories and cheap fencing. While the legal battle was in progress attempts were made to bribe the officers of the Associa- tion, the superintendent of the free factory, the attorneys employed and the inventor of some of the machinery used in the free factory. These attempts were only partially successful. A large sum of money was used by the syndi- cate in this way with very unsatisfactory results. One of the patentees of machinery, employed by the Associa- tion, was bought out at a large price and one of the prom- inent attorneys was alienated from the Association but the free factory continued furnishing fence wire to its members at prices fifty per cent, less than those fixed by the syndicate. The chief attorney for the Association, A. B. Cummins, the President, M. L. Devin, and the Su- perintendent of the factory, W. L. Carpenter, were al- ways true to the cause in which they were engaged and none of the alluring inducements held out to them by the Washburn combination could swerve them from their fidelity to the cause in which they had enlisted. For more than five years the contest continued. Intimidation, costly litigation and large amounts of money were the weapons used by the syndicate in the vain efforts to close, tie up or buy this free factory which was demoralizing the powerful combination and compelling it to reduce prices which the members were bound by a compact to maintain. A number of the most important suits brought by the syndicate were decided against its vital claims. The example of one free factory defying all efforts of the syndicate in the end broke the combination. Other factor- ies were started independent of the syndicate, prices be-
106 HISTORY
came hopelessly demoralized and the monopoly that at one time had seemed impregnable was losing its power.
The contest was of such importance to the farmers of Iowa that the Legislature came to the aid of the Protec- tive Association. A joint resolution was passed urging the President of the United States to instruct the Attor- ney-General to bring an action in the United States Courts to set aside the patents and reissues held by Wash- burn, Moen & Company, relating to barbed wire, as far as they were fraudulent, to restrain such persons from prosecuting actions under such patents and to take all steps and proceedings just and equitable in relation thereto. An appropriation of $5,000 was made by the General Assembly to aid the Farmers' Protective Asso- ciation in the contest. These acts of the Legislature in sup- porting the farmers of Iowa in their conflict for justice, enabled the Association to push the work to final victory.
The free factory began by selling direct to farmers at seven and one-half cents. As their machinery was per- fected, from time to time, and expenses in other ways lessened, the price was reduced to four and one-half and five and one-half cents. This convinced all that the syn- dicate prices were beyond reason and it soon became im- possible to maintain them. It became evident that unless the free factories could be closed or purchased that the syndicate prices would be obliged to follow the prices fixed by the farmers' factory. With State aid for the free factory the syndicate saw that the battle was lost. Its compact with dealers was soon broken, prices fell to the farmers' prices which left only a reasonable profit and the victory was complete. The Association had ac- complished the purpose for which it was organized and the factory was closed. This far reaching victoiy saved to the farmers of the entire country a yearly tax the most enormous in magnitude of any that had, up to that time, ever been levied by a combination of capitalists. Among the men who organized and conducted this lengthy and
OF IOWA 107
stubbornly contested fight against extortion, to final suc- cess, should be named C. F. Clarkson, M. L. Devin and W. L. Carpenter of Polk County, L. S. Cofl&n of Webster, G. H. Crosby of Poweshiek, J. D. Whitman of Dallas, James Wilson of Tama, Andrew Hastie of Warren, J. G. Brown of Marshall, John Scott of Story, J. W. Murphy of Jasper and Eugene Secor of Winnebago.
In the Grange movement, which had brought the leg- islative control of railroads, and the Farmers' Protective Association, which had broken the monopoly on fencing wire, it was clearly demonstrated that it was within the power of the united efforts of the farmers of the State to bring about the overthrow of oppressive extortions however powerful and shrewdly organized.
On the 12th of January, 1881, representatives from the various farm organizations of the State, such as Farm- ers' Clubs, Granges and Alliances, assembled at Des Moines for the purpose of uniting the various societies in a general organization for mutual cooperation. The State Alliance was established whose purpose was the discussion of farmers' interests and the encouragement of organization of Farmers' Clubs, Alliances and societies throughout the State. The following officers were chosen to serve one year: president, L. S. Coffin; vice-president, John Scott; secretary, C. F. Clarkson. An executive committee was chosen to prepare plans for local Alliances and to urge the farmers to cooperate in their various organizations.
On the 5th of May, 1881, at Omaha, Nebraska, occurred the death of ex-Governor Ansel Briggs, the first Gov- ernor of the State of Iowa. Under the old Constitution the term of the Governor was four years and Governor Briggs served from 1846 to 1850. Governor Gear issued a proclamation announcing his death in which he paid a deserved tribute to the services and memory of the first executive of Iowa after its admission into the Union.
Upon the inauguration of President Garfield on the
108 HISTORY
4th of March, 1881, ex-Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood of Iowa was called to his Cabinet as Secretary of the In- terior. This created a vacancy in the United States Sen- ate from Iowa and there was a general desire expressed by the Republicans that Hon. James F. Wilson should be appointed to the vacant seat. Governor Gear, however, tendered the place to J. W. McDill, one of the railroad commissioners, who accepted.
/ On the 2d of July, 1881, the country was horrified by the news of the assassination of President Garfield at Washington. As he was about to take a train, Charles Guiteau, a disreputable lawyer from Chicago, who was regarded as partially demented, walked up to the Presi- dent and shot him twice with a revolver. He made no effort to escape and was arrested. The President ling- ered, suffered greatly, until the 19th of September when he died. Vice-President Arthur was sworn in and became President. The members of Garfield's Cabinet tendered their resignations soon after and Kirkwood returned to private life, having served as Secretary of the Interior but seven months.
/ On the 2d of June, 1881, the Greenback State Conven- tion assembled at Des Moines and nominated the follow- ing candidates : for Governor, D. M, Clark ; for Lieuten- ant-Governor, J. M. Holland; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Adeline M. Swain; Supreme Judge, W. W. Williamson. The resolutions adopted in addition to af- firming the platform of former conventions, declared: ''We demand a revision of our patent right laws, placing a fair limit upon the royalties of inventors and protecting the people from injustice." They also demanded equal political rights for men and women. The nomination of Mrs. A. M. Swain of P'ort Dodge for Superintendent of Public Instruction, by this convention, was a notable event in the political history of the State. She was the first woman placed in nomination for a State office by any political party of Iowa. She was a woman of supe-
OF IOWA 109
rior qualifications for the position, an able writer on public affairs, was highly educated and a teacher of great merit.^
The Democratic State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 16th of June and placed the following ticket in nomination: for Governor, L. G. Kinne; Lieu- tenant-Governor, J. M. Walker; Supreme Judge, H. B. Hendershott; Superintendent of Public Instruction, W. H. Butler. No new declarations were made in the reso- lutions.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 27th of June, 1881, and the following nom- inations were made: for Governor, Buren R. Sherman; Lieutenant-Governor, 0. H. Manning; Supreme Judge, Austin Adams; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. W. Akers, The convention declared in favor of a revis- ion of the patent laws such as would protect the people against the wrongs and abuses practiced under the then existing system. It also declared in favor of submitting to a vote of the people the proposed amendment to the Constitution prohibiting the sale and manufacture of in- toxicating liquors.
The election resulted in the success of the Republican ticket by a plurality of about 31,000.
At a term of the United States Circuit Court held at Omaha in 1881, Judge George W. McCrary, of Iowa, ren- dered an important decision relating to the powers and obligations of railroads which was of vast interest to the public and solved one of the questions long in contro- versy. A suit was brought to restrain the Iron Mountain Railroad Company from discriminating in rates charged for transportation. The plaintiffs also sought to restrain the railroad from discrimination against the Southern Express Company in favor of itself or of other parties as to rates charged. A temporary injunction had been ob- tained and, on a motion to dissolve that injunction. Judge McCrary gave his decision. The motion to dissolve was overruled and the injunction was modified so as to enjoin
110 HISTORY
and restrain the respondent from charging complainant for transportation of express matter more than fair and reasonable rates, such charges in no case to exceed the rates charged on similar matter to itself or any other ex- press company. The following are the main points of the decision: " the railroad company is a quasi-public corporation and bound by the laws regulating the powers and duties of common carriers, persons and property. It is the duty of such company as a public servant to re- ceive and carry goods for all persons alike, without in- jurious discrimination as to rates or terms."
This decision confirmed a principle which the people had long been contending for, viz : that railroads are pub- lic carriers ; that as such they are bound to carry all goods offered them by any party at reasonable rates ; that they have no right to discriminate in favor of preferred patrons or against individuals or corporations that patronize them. That in cases where extortion has been practiced they may be compelled to disgorge. Judge Mc- Crary went still farther and declared the power of the court to fix a maximum rate where no such rate is fixed by law. This was a decision that deeply interested the farmers and shippers of the West, where unjust discrim- inations had long been practiced in favor of persons and business houses who enjoyed the advantage of having special rates for transportation secretly granted them by railroad officials.
In 1881 there was living on the east side of the Des Moines River in Boone County, near the track of the Northwestern Railway, in a little cabin, the widow of a Mr. Shelly who had been killed in a railroad accident. Her eldest daughter Kate was about fifteen years of age. On the night of the 6th of July, a terrific storm of wind and rain swept over that region. Honey Creek, ordin- arily a small stream coming from the prairie south and west of the town of Boone, winds its way through the forest in a westerly direction emptying into the Des
OF IOWA m
Momes Eiver not far from the railroad bridge which was first built across the river near the coal town of Moin- gona. The banks of the river here rise to a great height. The grade of the railroad, down the valley of Honey Creek, descends rapidly and not far from the Shelly cabin the track crosses the creek on a bridge of considerable elevation. On this wild night the Shelly family was aroused from their sleep by the roaring torrent of Honey Creek which was rushing by the cabin with the force and volume of a small river, uprooting great trees along its banks and bearing towards the river huge masses of flood- wood. Upon striking a light they saw that it was time for a freight train to pass. Suddenly they heard the rumble of the train and then a fearful crash of timbers and a wild cry for help. They realized at once that the tram had gone down into the flood with the wreck of the bridge spanning the creek near the cabin. Lighting a lantern Kate started in the direction of the bridge with the fierce storm beating in her face. The darkness was so great that she could see nothing, but guided by the noise of the roaring torrent she reached the bridge. Where the flood was roaring by, she soon discovered the wreck of the train which had gone down with the bridge, and heard the shout of the engineer who was clinging to the limb of a projecting tree which had been partlv up- rooted by the flood. He was the only survivor and on the opposite side of the creek where it was impossible for Kate to cross to his aid but he assured her that he was out of danger. Both knew that the night express from the west would soon be due and realized the terrible fate that awaited it, unless warned of the fallen bridge. The engineer could not cross the raging flood to go on this mission and so brave Kate Shelly hesitated not a moment but turned her face towards the river. The fierce wind and driving rain beat in her face and nearly carried her off her feet. The lantern was soon extinguished. It was a mile through the dense forest to the river with a long,
112 HISTORY
high railroad bridge to cross before she could reach the Moingona telegraph office where warning could be sent to the approaching train. Hurrying on with all the strength she could summon, she at last reached the rail- road bridge four hundred feet in length and fifty feet above the river. The tempest was now at its worst ; there was no floor on the bridge, the rails resting on the cross- ties. It was impossible for the girl to stand at that height against the fierce gale that swe^Dt over it and on her hands and knees and with the wild gale beating in her face she slowly made her way over the ties until the farther shore was reached. Lacerated and exhausted as she was, sufficient strength remained to enable her to reach the telegraph office, half a mile farther and give the alarm. Almost overcome by the unparalleled exertions, she had scarcely strength to rouse the agent and tell him of the impending danger before she sank helpless and fainting. Instantly a message flashed over the wire carrying warn- ing to the approaching train which was fortunately reached barely in time to avert a greater horror than has ever yet overtaken an Iowa railroad. As the train halted at the little station, the last before the wrecked bridge, the passengers learning of the narrowescape from destruc- tion hastily gathered about the brave little Irish girl at- tempting to express some measure of their gratitude to her for saving them from a fate too awful to contemplate. As her heroic deed became known through the press the story of that fearful night adventure was told in every portion of the country and the name of Kate Shelly became as widely known as that of any famous women of modern times. The Northwestern Railroad made her a small gift in acknowledgment of the deed. The Iowa Legislature at the session in 1882, made an appropriate recognition of the noble action of the obscure little heroine, by authoriz- ing the Senator and Representative from Boone County, together with the Governor of the State, to procure and present to the brave girl a gold medal with an inscription
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BURBN R. SHERMAN, Governor of Iowa, 1882-86
OF IOWA 113
commemorating the act, with two hundred dollars in money. The Legislature also placed on record a vote of thanks for her heroic and humane deed.*
The Nineteenth General Assembly met at Des Moines on the 9th of January, 1 882, and the House was organized by the election of George R. Struble, Speaker. After the inauguration of Buren E. Sherman as Governor and 0. H. Manning, Lieutenant-Governor, the inaugural ad- dress was delivered and Lieutenant-Governor Manning assumed his position as President of the Senate.
On the 17th James F. Wilson was chosen United States Senator for a full term of six years from the 4th of March, 1883, and J. W. McDill was elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Senator Kirk- wood. The votes of the Democratic members of the Legislature were given to L. G. Kinne for the long term Senator and to M. M. Ham for the short term ; while the Greenback members voted for D. P. Stubbs for the long term and Daniel Campbell for the short term.
But little legislation of general public interest was en- acted during the session. The most important measure considered was a bill introduced into the House to pro- hibit the issuing of free passes by railroad companies to public officials or delegates to political conventions. The bill also made it unlawful for such officials or delegates to accept such free passes on railroads. Suitable penalties were provided for violation of the act. The bill was framed and introduced by Charles Aldrich, the repre- sentative from Hamilton County and earnestly advocated by him on the floor of the House. The issuing of free passes by railway officials to public officers had grown into a dangerous evil in the influence such valuable favors were likely to have upon such officials as were called upon, in the discharge of their duties, to act upon measures in which these corporations were interested parties. These gifts were bestowed upon such officials in order to place
♦The great new bridge built by the Northwestern Railway in 1901, across the Des Moines River, near the home of Kate Shelly, has been named in her honor.
[Vol. 3]
114 HISTORY
them under obligation to the corporations. The bill en- countered most determined opposition as all of the legis- lators were recipients of these free passes. The dis- cussion extended throughout the State, among the people and in the press. There was a strong public sentiment aroused against the practice but the favors were so liber- ally extended and the evil so strongly intrenched in the lawmaking powers that the bill was defeated.
Another important measure which met a similar fate was a bill prepared and introduced into the Senate by Pliny Nichols of Muscatine County. It provided for the establishment of a Department of Agriculture and Indus- trial Arts whose object was to provide a department of State which should be under competent direction to pro- mote the agricultural and industrial interests of Iowa.
Under the census of 1880, Iowa was entitled to eleven representatives in Congress and the Legislature there- fore apportioned the State into eleven Congressional Dis- tricts at this session.
After a spirited contest in both branches, a joint reso- lution was finally passed proposing an amendment to the State Constitution granting suffrage to women.
A joint resolution was passed agreeing to the proposed amendment to the Constitution of the last General As- sembly, prohibiting the sale and manufacture of intoxi- cating liquors. An act was passed providing for the holding of a special election on the 27th of June, 1882, to enable the voters of the State to cast their ballots for or against the proposed constitutional amendment. At this election there were 155,436 votes cast for the amend- ment and 125,677 against it, whereupon Governor Sher- man issued his proclamation declaring the amendment adopted by a majority of 29,759 and therefore a valid part of the Constitution of the State of Iowa.
The friends of prohibition held a convention at Des Moines on the 27th of July for the purpose of taking such steps as were practicable for the enforcement of the
OF IOWA 115
prohibitory laws and to secure the election of members of the next Legislature who should provide such addi- tional legislation as would be deemed necessary to fully enforce the decision of the people in favor of prohibition. An address was issued to the saloon keepers and liquor dealers of the State urging them to discontinue a business that had been outlawed by a vote of the people and by the laws and Constitution of the State.
But the liquor dealers had no intention of abandoning the fight. A case was made up in Scott County to test in the courts the validity of the late constitutional amend- ment. Koehler & Lange, brewers, brought suit before Judge Walter I. Hayes at the October term of the Dis- trict Court, for the collection of a bill for beer sold to John Hill, a saloon keeper in Davenport. All of the par- ties, as well as the attorneys, were known to be unfriendly to the prohibitory laws and the suit attracted little atten- tion. But when the arguments were submitted the friends of prohibition saw that a powerful effort was being made before the unfriendly court to overthrow the amendment to the Constitution, The position taken by the counsel for the plaintiff was, that the amendment had not been passed by the Eighteenth and Nineteenth General As- semblies in the manner prescribed by the Constitution and consequently was invalid. Judge Hayes held that the amendment was not legally enacted and was therefore not a part of the Constitution. The friends of prohibition were now thoroughly aroused to the danger and employed Judge W. E. Miller to appear in the case which had been appealed to the Supreme Court. Governor Sherman di- rected Attorney-General McPherson to appear for the State and in December the case was heard by the Supreme Court. J. C. Bills and Wright, Cummins & Wright ap- peared as the attorneys attacking the validity of the amendment. On the 18th of January, 1883, the Court rendered its decision and to the great surprise of the pub-
116 HISTORY
lie affirmed the decision of Judge Hayes, declaring the amendment invalid.
The majority of the Court based the decision on the following facts: the amendment proposed to the Con- stitution, which passed each house of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth General Assemblies, was in the following lan- guage :
" No person shall hereafter manufacture for sale, or sell, or keep for sale as a beverage any intoxicating liquor whatever, including ale, wine and beer."
It was found upon examination of the journals of the houses that in the House of Representatives of the Eigh- teenth General Assembly the words ''or to be used" were inserted after the word beverage and those words did not appear in the record made of the proposed amendment as copied in the other journals; that therefore a different resolution had been adopted by that House from the one shown in the other journals.
The Court held that the journals must show that the House and Senate of both General Assemblies had voted upon the same identical resolution in form and words ; and that the journals of the House and Senate of the Eighteenth General Assembly, as they appeared were the only com- petent evidence to prove what was adopted by these bod- ies in legal session. The journals of the Eighteenth Gen- eral Assembly showed affirmatively that the Senate and House did not adopt the same resolution. No other evi- dence of what they did do was competent. Therefore the amendment was void.
Judge Beck dissented from the decision in an able opin- ion, in which he says:
" Under the practice of the General Assembly of the State all acts and joint resolutions are enrolled and signed by the presiding officer of each house and by the Governor. They are then deposited with the Secretary of State and become the original and authoritative acts of the General As- sembly. This enrollment is the record of the final action of the legislative
OF IOWA 117
department of the government in making laws and of the Governor in approving them. * * * it is the authoritative and conclusive expression of legislative will and is a verity. Whatever may be found in the prior proceedings inconsistent therewith, cannot invalidate the enrolled act."
Judge Beck showed that the Supreme Court of Iowa had in prior decisions held this view, (Duncombe vs. Prindle, 12th Iowa, and Clare vs. the State, 5th Iowa) and in this last case it was declared that "behind the enrolled act it was impossible for any court to go for the purpose of ascertaining what the law is." Judge Beck was sustained in his views by the decisions of the Su- preme Courts of twelve States while the majority of the Court was sustained by the courts of but two States. Much and deserved criticism was passed upon the judges who thus, on a purely technical point where a large ma- jority of the decisions were against their view, set aside the overwhelming decree of the people twice made by their legislative enactments and endorsed in an election which left no doubt of their will.
CHAPTER VIII
N the 17tli of June, 1882, the Weather Serv- ice observations showed that Iowa was in an area of low barometric pressure which extended from Dakota to the Mississippi River. An immense storm cloud began to form in the northwest which was observed in Cherokee, Carroll, Buena Vista and Calhoun counties over which it was gathering and increasing in size before it assumed tornado formations. As the thunder storm swept on into Greene County a terrific wind arose accom- panied by a heavy fall of rain. As it passed over Rippey, swiftly flying clouds from the northwest met others driven by a strong gale from the south. Then began the whirling motion of the clouds. The storm increased in fury and blackness as the stronger southern current of wind swept it in a northeasterly direction and the deadly funnel began to form, hanging down toward the earth. It first touched the earth in the southwest corner of Boone County, destroying houses, barns and live stock and kill- ing a boy. It then raised and for nine miles no damage was done. After crossing the Des Moines River the funnel again descended to the earth carrying death and destruction in its path. It was about six o'clock in the evening when the tornado passed into Story County and several funnel shaped clouds were observed to be lower- ing and raising as the storm swept on in an easterly direc- tion. A continuous heavy roar was heard and the elec- trical display was continuous and fearful. People sought safety in cellars and caves at the approach of the storm. Buildings were suddenly reduced to fragments ; orchards and groves were destroyed; crops and fences ruined, while domestic animals were mangled and killed. Hun- dreds of persons lost all of their possessions except the
120 HISTORY
bare land or lots upon which an hour before stood com- fortable homes. For more than a hundred miles the tor- nado swept eastward over farms and prairie, fortunately missing towns, until at half past eight in the evening it struck Grinnell.
Eye witnesses give the following description of the tor- nado as it was seen approaching:
" An hour before sunset the northwestern sky was hung with conical downward pointing clouds, the like of which none of us had ever before seen. After sunset and even when the darkness was gathering the western sky half way to the zenith was lurid, brilliant and unearthly; an ominous sight which fascinated while it filled us with an ill defined dread. Almost before the brilliant apparition in the west had disappeared the storm broke upon us. A distant heavy roar was heard like the rumbling of a dozen heavy freight trains. With a dense dark cloud of dust the wind came sweeping leaves, branches of trees, chimneys, houses and everything in its awful pathway. The rain came like a waterspout, blinding flashes of lightning were continuous and amid the wreck and roar came total dark- ness, wild confusion and chaos. As the tornado bore down upon us, most of the terror stricken people fled to their cellars for such safety as they could afford. All say they felt the monster coming and tliat it had the power and rock of an earthquake in it. It seemed to strike a sliding or gyrating blow, as if its mighty power were taking them in a circle to com- press them to utter demolition. At places it would appear to crush a house together as in a vise, then it would expand itself hurling the debris in every direction or carry it miles away, leaving hardly a fragment where the house had stood. In places it would cut off the front or side or take out the end of a building. Again it would lift a house from its founda- tion and drop it in a complete wreck near by. Some houses were crushed into shapeless wrecks and their ruined rooms were filled with fragments of other buildings. A phaeton was taken from a barn and its wreck lodged in a tree thirty feet from the ground.
The College buildings were struck witli terrific force; the stone building was unroofed and the upper story destroyed; while the brick building went do^vn in a mass of ruins. Seven students were in their rooms in the tliird story, three were killed and others severely injured.
One- fifth of the town was in ruins in less than ten minutes from the time it was struck. Dead, dying and mangled forms of more than a hun- dred men, women and children were strewn around, torn, bruised and mutilated in every conceivable way, covered with mud so that they could not at first be recognized. Thirty loaded freight cars were hurled in a
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OF IOWA 121
confused wreck from the Central Railroad, and three miles away an ap- proaching Rock Island train was caught up and thrown into the ditch, crushing to death two men in the ruins."
Six miles east of Grinnell the tornado struck the village of Malcom where seven persons were killed, many in- jured and several business houses and one-third of the residences wrecked. As it passed Malcom three distinct branches of the tornado were visible and many farm houses were destroyed for a distance of thirteen miles. Raising and lowering as it swept eastward its branches spread over a wide scope of country and damage was done in Iowa, Keokuk, Johnson, Jefferson, Henry, Wash- ington and Des Moines counties. As it spread out wider in its eastward sweep, the whirlwind funnels disappeared and a straight wind took their place. In Keokuk County several houses, barns and orchards were destroyed but no lives lost. In Henry County the destruction of prop- erty was great. In Mount Pleasant many residences, business blocks and several churches were wrecked while in the country many farm buildings, orchards and groves were in ruins. Two persons were killed and the loss of animals was large. The number of persons killed was two in Boone County, two in Story, seven in Jasper, fifty- seven in Poweshiek and two in Henry. Of the hundreds crushed, mangled and mutilated many died after intense suffering and others were crippled for life. /The property destroyed was estimated at more than a million of dollars. Governor Sherman promptly issued a proclamation calling upon the people of the State to aid the sufferers. This was generously responded to./
The week following this tornado brought three more terrific storms which wrought great destruction. They came on the 22d, 23d and 24th, and swept over Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indi- ana. While extending over the entire upper Mississippi valley and destroying property to the amount of more than a million of dollars, the loss of life was compara-
122 HISTORY
tively small. In Iowa the greatest losses were in the counties of Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Emmet, Cherokee, Palo Alto, Buchanan, Linn and Black Hawk. Eleven persons were killed in Iowa and many seriously injured. It was a week of terrifying storms of wind, hail and rain such as had never been known in this latitude.
The Greenback party held its State Convention at Des Moines on the 6th of June and adopted resolutions sub- stantially reaffirming the declaration of previous plat- forms. The following candidates were nominated for State officers: Secretary of State, W. J. Gaston; Treas- urer, George Derr; Auditor, G. A. Wyant; Attorney- General, J. H. Rice ; Supreme Judge, M. H. Jones ; Clerk of Supreme Court, E. N. Clark ; Reporter Supreme Court, J. H. Williamson.
The Republican State Convention met at Des Moines on the 2d of August and nominated the following ticket: Secretary of State, J. A. T. Hull ; Treasurer, E. H. Con- ger; Auditor, J. L. Brown; Supreme Judge, W. H. See- vers; Attorney-General, Smith McPherson; Clerk Su- preme Court, G. B. Pray; Reporter Supreme Court, E. C. Ebersole. The resolutions reaffirmed former declara- tions.
The Democratic State Convention met at Marshalltown on the 16th of August and nominated the following candi- dates: Secretary of State, T. 0. Walker; Treasurer, John Foley; Auditor, Wm. Thompson; Attorney-Gen- eral, J. H. Bremerman ; Supreme Judge, C. E. Bronson ; Clerk Supreme Court, H. F. Bronorden; Reporter Su- preme Court, L. A. Palmer. The resolutions adopted were similar to the usual declarations of policy.
The Republican ticket was elected by an average plural- ity of about 36,000.
The election for Representatives in Congress resulted in the choice of McCoid, Wilson, Cutts, Kasson, Hepburn, Holmes and Struble, eight Republicans ; Murphey and Pu- sey, two Democrats; and Weller, Greenback.
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The Prohibition State Convention was called to as- semble at Des Moines on the 7th of February, 1883, to confer upon the nullification of the constitutional amend- ment by the Supreme Court and decide upon what action it was advisable to take in the premises. James Wilson of Tama County was chosen president and J. R. Sage of Linn County secretary. The committee on business re- ported in favor of the union of the different temperance organizations of the State for the purpose of making their work more effective. A committee was appointed to present to the Governor a petition for an extra session of the Legislature to be called for the purpose of taking the steps necessary to again submit to the people an amendment to the Constitution for prohibition. Among the resolutions adopted by the convention the following were the most important :
Resolved, That it is the deliberate judgment of this convention that the Executive and General Assembly should immediately take steps to put in force and effect the will of the people as expressed by the vote of the 27th of June last, by providing an extra session called at as early a date as can legally be done; first, for submission of a prohibitory amendment to the Constitution of Iowa; second, for such other relief by statutory law as will relieve the people and the homes of the State from the curse of the liquor tratEc.
Resolved, That as a law must be enacted and enforced by State officials who are elected by the people and who ought to be their representatives, we pledge our support at the polls only to such as are unreservedly pledged to carry out in good faith the expressed will of the people on the subject of legal prohibition.
After mature consideration Governor Sherman de- clined to call an extra session of the Legislature for the purpose of inaugurating proceedings for a constitutional amendment. The principal reason given by the Gover- nor for this decision was that he had serious doubts as to whether it was competent for an extra session to pro- pose such amendments to the Constitution. At the April term of the Supreme Court an attempt was made to se- cure a reversal of the decision on a petition for a rehear-
124 HISTORY
ing which had been filed by Judge C. C. Nourse and J. A. Harvey in February. Able and exhaustive arguments were made for the validity of the amendment by James F. Wilson, John F. Duncombe and C. C. Nourse and against it by John C. Bills. The majority of the Court, however, adhered to its former opinion and the amend- ment was finally set aside as invalid. In relation to a new point raised by the counsel for the prohibitionists, that it was not competent for the Court to determine whether an amendment to the Constitution was legally adopted where a majority of the legal voters had ap- proved the amendment, the Court uses the following lan- guage :
" No heresy has ever been taught in this country so fraught with evil as the doctrine that the people have a constitutional right to disregard the Constitution. It tends to revolution and anarchy. It is incumbent upon all who influence and mould public opinion to repudiate so dangerous a doctrine before it bears fruit destructive of republican institutions. The cause of temperance can sustain no injury from the loss of this amend- ment which would be at all comparable to the injury to our republican institutions which a violation of the Constitution would inflict. What- ever interests may be advanced or may suffer, whoever or whatever may be voted up or down, no sacrilegious hand must be laid upon the Constitu- tion. Abidingly and firmly convinced of the correctness of our former conclusions, recognizing no superior higher than the Constitution, acknowl- edging no fealty greater than loyalty to its principles and fearing no con- sequences except those which would flow from dereliction of duty, we ad- here to and affirm the doctrine already announced. The petition for a rehearing is overruled."
The friends of prohibition were sorely disapy)ointed by this affirmation of the former decision as it would require nearly five years to secure a new amendment to the Con- stitution. The more practical among them, however, saw that the Legislature had ample power and undisputed authority to enact as rigid prohibition without a change in the Constitution, as it would had the amendment been held valid. The contest must now be made direct in the choice of members of the next Legislature and the Gov-
OF IOWA 125
ernor. The fight with the liquor power must begin in the political nominating conventions. It was evident that a majority of the Republican voters were in favor of pro- hibition and it was equally certain that a majority of the members of the Greenback party were also prohibition- ists, while on the other issues they were too widely at variance to afford any hope that they could be united upon candidates in the next election.
The Democratic State Convention met at Des Moines on the 6th of June, 1883, and nominated the following candidates : for Governor, L. G. Kinne ; Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, Justus Clark; Supreme Judge, W. I. Hayes; Su- perintendent of Public Instruction, E. B. Farr. On the subject of prohibition, which was regarded as the chief issue likely to be involved in the campaign, the following resolution was adopted:
" Resolved, That we are opposed to constitutional prohibition and in the interest of practical temperance we favor a well regulated license law, with penalty of forfeiture of license for violation thereof."
In the nomination of Judge Hayes, who had given the decision in the District Court declaring the prohibitory amendment to the Constitution to be invalid, and the res- olution of the convention declaring against constitutional prohibition, the challenge was made to the prohibitionists to fight the battle out in politics. They accepted the issue and determined to carry it into the Republican State Con- vention and, if possible, procure an outspoken declaration for prohibition from that body. It soon became evident from the tone of the Republican press and the voice of many of the leaders of that party that the prohibitionists would easily control the convention and that the chal- lenge of the Democratic Convention would be accepted, making prohibition the chief issue in the approaching campaign.
The Republican State Convention convened at Des Moines on the 27th of June, 1883, and was one of the larg-
126 HISTORY
est ever held by the party. The opening speech of the president, Hon. John A. Kasson, in which he declared that ''the Republican party in this contest would not take the side of the saloon" clearly indicated the temper of the convention on the absorbing issue. There was no oppo- sition to the renomination of Governor Sherman and Lieu- tenant-Governor Manning; J. R. Reed was nominated on the second ballot for Supreme Judge over Judge Day, who was vigorously opposed by the prohibition delegates owing to his action on the prohibitory amendment, uniting with the majority of the Court in declaring the amendment void. J. W. Akers was nominated for Su- perintendent of Public Instruction. On the subject of prohibition the convention declared:
" Without making any new test of party fealty we recognize the moral and political obligation which requires the enactment of such laws by the next General Assembly as shall provide for the establishment and enforce- ment of the principle and policy affirmed by the people at the non-partisan election and to this end the faith of the party is pledged.
"That while we extend our earnest sympathy to the people of all countries who are struggling for their rights, in opposition to oppressive laws and systems, we also plant ourselves on the side of the homes of our own people in their contest against the saloons."
The fifth resolution made a clear declaration on another issue which had become prominent in many other States of the Union which was as follows :
" The General Assembly at its next session, should enact a law pro- hibiting the giving to or receiving by public officers any railway pass dur- ing their term of office and the same should be enforced by proper penalties both against the giver and receiver,"
The Greenback State Convention met at Des Moines on the 11th of July, 1883, and, by unanimous vote nomin- ated General J. B. Weaver for Governor. Sanford Kirk- patrick was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor; D. W. Church for Supreme Judge; and Abbie 0. Canfield for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Among the reso- lutions adopted were the following :
OF IOWA 127
" The manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage shall be prohibited and the will of the people as expressed in the non-partisan election of June 27th, 1882, be respected and carried out; and we arraign the present Executive of the State for permitting the will of the people to be overthrown:"
" We demand equal political rights for all men and women."
The campaign was conducted with great vigor, espec- ially as to candidates for the Legislature. Prohibition was the chief issue and there was a large defection from the Republican vote on that account. The loss of that party from the vote of 1880 was 19,984, while the Demo- cratic vote for the same period was increased 33,363. The loss of the Greenback vote was 9,691 during the same time. There was a Republican majority over the com- ' bined vote of the other parties, of less than 20,000. The contest over members of the Legislature was very warm but the Republicans elected a majority of each branch of the General Assembly.
M. E. Cutts, a Republican member of Congress, died before the expiration of his term and a special election in the Sixth District for his successor resulted in the choice of J. C. Cook, the Democratic candidate over E. H. Stiles, Republican, by a majority of two hundred forty-one.
The winter of 1882-83 will long be remembered by the fruit growers of Iowa from the great and widespread damage to orchards. During the latter part of the sum- mer and the early weeks of autumn an unusual drouth prevailed and early in October warm rains began to fall. The vegetation which had been dried up and withered in August was revived by the moisture and heat of October, making an unusual and very late growth. Buds started and sap was found to be abundant. While in this abnor- mal condition a sudden and very hard freeze came in No- vember, which found an unusual amount of sap in the stimulated late growth which had not ripened. When spring came it was observed that the orchard trees were
128 HISTORY
suffering from some severe injury. Careful examination disclosed the fact that the inner bark, next to the wood, was discolored and as the season advanced it was ob- served to turn black and the trees to wither and gradually die. The greatest damage was found to be in the bearing orchards wliile the nursery trees and young orchards which had not yet come into bearing were, as a rule, nearly exempt from injury. Bearing cherry trees were seriously injured and thousands of them died as the sea- son advanced. A very few varieties of apples seemed to have escaped with slight injury but many which were heretofore regarded as hardy were as badly damaged as the tender kinds. All through the central and southeast- ern counties the destruction was very great and hundreds of thousands of bearing orchard trees perished as the season advanced. It was a discouraging sight to the fruit growers who saw widespread ruin of the orchards that had cost them long years of patient waiting and care. Of the bearing orchards of more than forty counties in the central, eastern and southeastern portions of the State, very few escaped great and fatal injury. Many of the trees lingered for several years producing fruit of an in- ferior quality but their vitality was so seriously blighted that it was never recovered. The escape of the younger orchards and the trees in the nurseries seemed to puzzle the most experienced fruit growers as to the cause of the general destruction of the older trees. There was wide differences of opinion on the subject and it is still an un- settled problem.
The Twentieth General Assembly met at Des Moines on the 14th of January, 1884, and William P. Wolfe of Cedar County was elected Speaker. Lieutenant-Gover- nor Manning presided over the Senate; Governor Sher- man and Lieutenant-Governor Manning were inaugu- rated for a second term on the 17th of January in the new State House which was so far completed as to accommo- date this General Assembly. As the members prepared
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to vacate the old Capitol building to assemble in joint convention for the first time in the new State House, the following entry was made on the journal of the House:
"As the Senate filed into the room the Speaker's gavel fell for the last time upon the time-worn desk; a desk the blows upon which had wakened into existence concurrent legislation which had brought relief to the op- pressed and suflfering, pangs and dread to those who choose the ways of darkness rather than light. The walls re-echoed to the stately tread of progress and the old legislative halls which had, biennially since 1856, sheltered the representatives of a great people from the incipient days of pioneer zeal and self-sacrifice, in panic and war and into the bloom and fruition of peace and prosperity; halls in which statesmen have been made and heroes been sent to perform missions of freedom, to free men, as only such truly noble patriots and freemen could. These rough old walls scarred and nicked, seamed and worn by the work of weary years, saw the departing shadow of former greatness, as at 2.14 p. m. the last line of members left the old house and silence fell like leaves from memory's journal upon the beach of years, whispering a regret, yet sighed relief that time had worked such changes."
The magnificent structure which now became the per- manent State Capitol is classic in style with a superstruc- ture of buff limestone. It is three hundred and sixty- three feet in length, two hundred and forty-seven feet in width, with a central dome rising to a height of two hundred and seventy- five feet. At the time of completion it was surpassed only by the Capitol of the State of New York at Albany. The building was dedicated in Janu- ary, 1884, with imposing ceremonies, at which Hon. John A. Kasson, delivered the principal address. It was due to his untiring efforts in past years that the General As- sembly was induced to adopt the general plan and make appropriations for the erection of a State House com- mensurate with the rank and growing wealth of Iowa.
At the biennial meeting of the Pioneer Lawmakers ' As- sociation in 1896, Mr. Kasson gave an interesting history of the legislation leading to the erection of the building. He says :
[Vol. 3]
J30 HISTORY
" From this time onward the three active Commissioners manifested the areatest care and a most wise discretion in every detail of the work. Never was a corrupt or misspent dollar charged to their account. The prime principle of honesty in the expenditure of public money, which re- quires a dollar's worth for every dollar spent, was their constant guide. Thahks to their unusual fidelity to this obligation and to their wise tact in procedure, the Senators and Representatives trusted them session after session with amounts largely in excess of the original estimates until the cost of the finished structure has amounted to $2,871,682.05. Instead of grumbling and dissatisfaction on part of the people over the cost, there was universal pride in the noble building. * * * Every farmer and mechanic, every merchant and patriotic citizen of Iowa, as he views the grandeur of its proportions, the massive, time-defying walls, the splendid legislative chambers, the beautiful library, the fire-proof vaults, the large and convenient executive offices, the ample committee rooms, and its gen- eral adaptation to the wants of an intelligent and advancing State, feels and expresses satisfaction over this home of his State government. It is his constant boast that there is not a dishonest dollar from the base course to the crown of the dome. * * * The names of John G. Foote, Peter A. Dev and Robert S. Finkbine should long be remembered among us as names of men who executed their duties faithfully and well, and who were above the sordid temptation to make private profit out of a public trust, under which so many men elsewhere have fallen."
On the 23d of January William B. Allison was elected for a third time to the United States Senate for a term of six years. The Democratic members voted for Ben- ton J. Hall and the members of the Greenback party gave
their votes to D. M. Clark. , . xt, n
In relation to the prohibitory amendment to the Con- stitution, which had been declared void by the Supreme Court, Governor Sherman in his message says :
"The proposition to amend the fundamental law by the prohibition of the sale of int^^xicants as a beverage, having passed the several stages of legislation prerequisite, was at last submitted to the citizens of the State and by them adopted by a decisive vote. The amendment so adopted was attempted to be nullified by a coordinate branch.
" Various opinions prevailed as to such an attempt and its binding force and effect; but one only can obtain as to the moral obligation resting upon the representatives of the people in the General Assembly in such an emergency The duty remains to the lawmaking powers that the principle thus adopted by the people must be voiced in proper statutory enactments;
OF IOWA 131
and I confidently trust that ere your session shall end, the legal remediea will be provided whereby the people may protect themselves from further devastation caused Dy this unlawful traffic, destructive alike to present and future generations. * * * Partisan ties should be laid aside in considera- tion of this great question and forgetful of all else save the ultimate good of the State, let us vie with each other in perfecting the law in response to the public demand."
The General Assembly proceeded to amend the pro- hibitory liquor laws of the State, strengthening them in many important features, providing additional penalties and declaring buildings in which the illegal traffic was carried on, public nuisances. All of the reasonable de- mands of the advocates of rigid prohibition were enacted into law.
One of the most important acts of the session was that providing for the semi-annual payment of taxes. A bureau of labor statistics was provided for. The amendment proposed to the Constitution by the Nineteenth General Assembly, granting suffrage to women, was defeated by this Legislature, while the other proposed amendments were adopted changing the time of holding elections, from October to November; permitting any General Assembly to reorganize the judicial districts of the State ; providing that a grand jury might consist of any number not less than five nor more than fifteen, to be determined by the General Assembly; and providing for the election of county attorneys.
The presidential campaign of this year opened with the Greenback National Convention which was held at In- dianapolis on the 28th of May, at which General B. F. Butler was nominated for President and A. M. West for Vice-President. The Republican National Convention met at Chicago on the 6th of June and nominated James G. Blaine for President and John A. Logan for Vice- President. The Democratic National Convention assem- bled at Chicago on the 10th of July, nominated Grover Cleveland for President and Thomas A. Hendricks for Vice-President. The Prohibition National Convention
132 HISTORl
met at Pittsburg on the 23d of July, nominated John P. St. John for President and Wm. Daniel for Vice-Presi- dent.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 20th of August, 1884, and nominated the following candidates: for Secretary of State, Frank D. Jackson; Auditor, John L. Brown; Treasurer, V. P. Twombly; Supreme Judge, J. H. Rothrock; Attorney- General, A. J. Baker.
The Democratic Convention convened at Davenport on the 3d of September and nominated the following can- didates: Secretary of State, James Dooley; Treasurer, George Derr; Auditor, J. E. Henriques; Attorney-Gen- eral, M. V. Gannon; Supreme Judge, L. E. Burton.
The election resulted in the success of the Republican candidates for State officers by a plurality of about 18,500; the vote for President was, for Blaine, Republi- can, 197,089. The Democratic and the Greenback parties effected a fusion on the Presidential electors, as well as on the State officers and the combined vote for Cleveland and Butler in Iowa was 177,316. St. John received 1,472 votes. The majority for Blaine of 18,126, was the small- est majority given by Iowa to a Republican candidate for President since 1860, when the entire vote of the State was 128,205. The Congressional delegation stood politi- cally, seven Republicans to four Fusion.
Upon the reelection of J. L. Brown as Auditor, a con- troversy arose between that officer and Governor Sher- man as to the approval of his official bond. When the bond was presented the Governor declined to approve it on the ground ''that the Auditor had failed to account for all of the funds during his first term ' ' and had failed to produce vouchers as required by law for public money expended. As the two officers were unable to reach an agreement over the subject in controversy, the Governor appointed a Commission to make an examination of the accounts in the Auditor's office. The Commissioners re-
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ported some irregularities in the affairs of that office and upon the filing of the report the Governor issued an order suspending Auditor Brown from exercising the duties of the office. The Auditor refused to vacate the office and thereupon the Governor called the military and on the 19th of March, 1885, the Auditor was forcibly expelled from the office and J. W. Cattell installed in the position upon appointment by the Governor.
WILLIAM LARKAUEE, Governor of Iowa, 1SS6-90
CHAPTER IX
AT the Republican State Convention held at Des Moines on the 26th of August, 1885, William Larrabee of Fayette County was nominated for Governor, and J. A. T. Hull for Lieutenant-Governor; J. M. Beck for Supreme Judge; and J. W. Akers for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
The Democrats and Greenbackers supported a fusion ticket consisting of the following candidates: Governor, Charles E. Whiting of Monana County; Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, E. H. Gillette; Judge of Supreme Court, C. F. Brennan; Superintendent of Public Instruction, F. W. Moore.
The Prohibition ticket consisted of the following candi- dates: Governor, J. Mickelwait; Lieutenant-Governor, W. M. Steere; Supreme Judge, Jacob Rogers; Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, W. M. Taft.
The result of the election was the choice of the Repub- lican candidates by an average plurality of about 7,000.
The General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 11th of January, 1886. The House was organized by the election of Albert Head, Speaker; Lieutenant-Governor Hull presided over the Senate. The Governor-elect, Wil- liam Larrabee, was inaugurated on the 14th of January and delivered an address to the General Assembly.
Among the most important acts of the Twenty-first General Assembly were :
An act for the more effectual suppression of the liquor traffic; an act for the appointment of mine inspectors and defining their duties; an act to provide for tribunals of voluntary arbitration to adjust industrial dis- putes; an act reducing the number of grand jurors to five or seven; an act providing for the establishment and maintenance of a Soldiers' Home: an act providing for the election of county attorneys; an act abolishing Circuit Courts and providing additional district judges.
136 HISTORY
The Legislature appointed a committee to investigate the charges made against J. L. Brown as Auditor. Upon the report of that committee the House proceeded to frame thirty articles of impeachment against him.
Articles one to six charged Brown with collecting fees as Auditor and failing to render an account of such fees. Articles seven to eleven charged Brown with official mis- conduct in relation to the examination of the Bremer County and various other banks. Articles twelve to fif- teen charged him with drawing various warrants for pay- ment of clerks, for which no vouchers were taken. Ar- ticles sixteen and seventeen charged Brown with resist- ing the order of suspension and exercising the duties of the office after suspension. Articles eighteen and twenty- two charged Brown with official misconduct in relation to his deputy, Stewart. Article nineteen charged that he refused to permit the Governor to enter the Auditor's office and examine the records. Articles twenty-three to twenty-seven charged Brown with exacting, from various banks, illegal fees for examinations. Articles twenty- eight to thirty charged him with exacting excessive fees for examination of various insurance companies. After a lengthy trial by the Senate, the Auditor was acquitted on all of the various charges made against him.
It required thirty-four votes to convict. On articles one to six, inclusive, and eighteen every Senator voted not guilty. On article twenty, but one Senator voted guilty. The largest vote to convict was on articles sixteen and seventeen which charged Brown with resisting the Govern- or's order of suspension, and exercising the duties of Auditor after such order of suspension. Twenty-nine Senators voted not guilty on every charge. Governor Lar- rabee on the 23d of January, upon investigation, revoked the order of suspension and reinstated Brown. When ar- ticles of impeachment were filed against Brown he was suspended on the 13th of April, 1886, and Charles Beards- ley was appointed to serve during the impeachment trial.
OF IOWA 137
Upon the acquittal of Brown he was, on the 14th of July, reinstated. The Legislature subsequently refunded to him the amount he had paid the attorneys who had conducted his defense.
At the Republican State Convention at Des Moines on the 25th of August, 1886, the following candidates were nominated : for Secretary of State, F. D. Jackson ; Audi- tor, J. A. Lyons; Treasurer, V. P. Twombly; Attorney- General, A. J. Baker; Clerk Supreme Court, G. B. Pray; Reporter Supreme Court, E. C. Ebersole.
At the Democratic and Greenback State conventions the following candidates were agreed upon and supported by both parties : Secretary of State, Cato Sells ; Auditor, Paul Guelich; Treasurer, Daniel Campbell; Attorney- General, C. H. Mackay; Clerk Supreme Court, William Theophilus ; Supreme Court Reporter, E. P. Bradley.
The Prohibition candidates were, for Secretary of State, V. C. Farnam ; Auditor, J. L. McReynolds ; Treas- urer, J. Mickelwait ; Attorney-General, Jacob Rogers ; Clerk Supreme Court, E. B. Howard; Supreme Court Re- porter, J. W. Wolfe.
The Republican candidates were elected by a plurality of nearly 15,000. The Republicans also elected eight Rep- resentatives to Congress, while the opposition elected three.
The Republican State Convention of 1887 renominated Governor Larrabee and Lieutenant-Governor Hull. Gif- ford S. Robinson was nominated for Judge of Supreme Court and Henry Sabin for Superintendent of Public In- struction.
The Democrats nominated T. J. Anderson for Gover- nor; J. M, Elder for Lieutenant-Governor; C. S. Fogg for Supreme Judge, and H. W. Sawyer for Superintend- ent of Public Instruction.
The Labor organization placed the following candidates in the field : Governor, M. J. Cain ; Lieutenant-Governor,
138 HISTORY
J. R. Sovereign; Supreme Judge, M. J. Jones; Superin- tendent of Public Instruction, S. L. Tipton.
The Prohibitionists placed in nomination V. G. Farnam for Governor and W. C. Caldwell for Lieutenant-Gover- nor.
The Republican candidates were elected by a plurality of from 16,000 to 20,000.
On the night of August 3d, 1886, an actrocious murder was perpetrated in Sioux City which aroused the indig- nation of the public, not only in Iowa but throughout the country. Rev. George C. Haddock, pastor of the First Methodist Church of Sioux City, had for a long time been the most energetic and fearless prosecutor of violators of the prohibition liquor law in that city, where the saloon keepers were persistent and habitual defiers of law and order. He had secured the conviction of a number of the persistent lawbreakers and was untiring in his efforts to close the resorts of this character. He was warned by let- ters containing threats of personal violence unless he de- sisted from trying to enforce the law against the saloon business. But he was fearless and conscientious in the crusade against the traffic, refusing to be intimidated. On the evening of the assassination the Rev. Mr. Haddock with Rev. C. C. Turner procured a livery team and drove to Greenville, returning about 10 o'clock, when Mr. Had- dock drove alone to the stable. As he started towards his home he observed several men standing on the sidewalk near a saloon. As he started to cross the street a shot was fired from the group which pierced his neck killing him almost instantly. The murder caused intense excite- ment and indignation and the next evening a public meet- ing was held, crowding the court-house. The respectable citizens expressed their abhorrence of the cowardly crime and large rewards were offered, to which Governor Larra- bee added a reward in behalf of the State. Detectives were employed and every effort possible was made to dis- cover the assassin and evidence to convict him. But the
OF IOWA 139
saloon element made common cause in screening the mur- derer; and although arrests were made and confessions and strong incriminating evidence secured, able lawyers were employed by the saloons and no convictions were made.
The financial condition of the State at the close of the fiscal year, as shown by the reports of the Auditor and Treasurer, was as follows : resources of the State for the biennial period ending June 30th, 1887, from all sources :
Balance from last report $ 147,151.94
From Counties 2,882,179.27
From Insurance Companies 140,355.24
From Railroad Taxes 40,302.67
Fees from State Officers 67,407.36
From Telegraph and Telephone Com- panies 22,559.87
From miscellaneous sources 21,080.96
Transfers from Temporary School Fund 38,073.26
Total $3,359,110.57
PAYMENTS AND CASH
Auditor's warrants redeemed $3,231,151.39
Interest on warrants 107,563.95
Cash in Treasury, June 30th, 1887 20,393.95
The total assessment for taxation is reported at $495,- 710,241. The warrants outstanding July 1, 1887, amounted to $455,987.30.
Reports from the State institutions showed that there were in the two Insane Asylums 1,498 patients; in the two Penitentiaries six hundred seventy-three inmates; there were but forty-two children in the Orphans' Home and sixty persons in the Soldiers ' Home. In the Boys ' In- dustrial School there were three hundred thirty and in the Girls' Department there were one hundred twelve.
140 HISTORY
The reports of the public schools showed 12,444 school- houses and 14,829 schools in which are employed 24,675 teachers. The school houses are valued at $11,360,472. The permanent school fund at that time amounted to $4,187,839.94. The total disbursements for the past year for school purposes were $6,323,172.42; the number of children enrolled in the schools was 480,788 out of 638,156 of school age.
Governor Larrabee appointed Delos Arnold to assist in making a settlement with the Capitol Commissioners who had built the new State House and after carefully examining the records of their work, extending over the entire period, their accounts were approved. The total amount of expenditures under their direction was $2,871,- 682.05 ; it was estimated that it would require about $130,- 000 to complete the building and grade the grounds. The entire work was carried on under the personal supervis- ion of Robert S. Finkbine and is an enduring monument to the fidelity and business ability of the Commissioners.
A contest had, for many years, been going on between the farmers of the West and one Greene who had procured a patent on a method of making wells by driving an iron tube into the earth. By virtue of this patent he and his associates claimed the right to collect a royalty of ten dollars from every person in the United States who used a well made by driving a tube into the ground. This kind of well had been in use in various parts of the country for a generation. Encouraged by some of the early de- cisions of the courts, in granting the broad claims to the first patentees of barbed wire, the Greene combination saw an immense fortune for them if a similar decision could be obtained for the drive well patents. With the aid of good lawyers such a decision was obtained and the crusade against the users of drive wells was inaugurated. Many well owners paid the demand rather than be forced into expensive litigation. Others took counsel and formed associations similar to the one which in Iowa was fight-
OF IOWA 141
ing the barbed wire battles. Then began one of the most determined conflicts in the courts known in the history of litigation in the State. An association of farm- ers in Buchanan, Black Hawk, Butler and Fayette coun- ties was organized to carry on the litigation and meet the expenses. A similar one had been organized in New Jersey which was making a vigorous fight. The Iowa farmers employed Colonel Jed Lake, a talented lawyer and vigorous fighter to defend them against the Greene combination. In May, 1883, in a case tried in the United States District Court of Iowa before Judges Shiras and Love, the Court held that the patent of Greene was void on two grounds. First, that Greene had slept upon his rights in that he did not apply for a patent until the de- vice had for a long time been before the public. Second, that a fatal defect in his patent was found in the fact that the reissue embraced an important principle not found in the original application for a patent and was consequently void. This was a most sweeping decision and left the patent combination no ground to stand upon. The well owners over the entire country at once refused to pay claims and the Greene combination had but one hope of continuing the extortions so long practiced by threats and intimidation. The case was taken to the United States Supreme Court in the hope that this de- cision would be reversed or that the farmers would be unable to continue the expensive litigation. One hundred and seventy-five suits had been brought against the farmers in the four counties mentioned, in 1878, and one hundred and twenty of them were defended by Lake and Harmon for the Association. The money was raised and the cases were ably presented in the Supreme Court. In 1887 the final decision was rendered in which the decis- ion of the United States District Court was affirmed and the so-called patents declared invalid.
It was estimated that this decision saved to the farmers of Iowa, who were owners of drive wells, not less than
142 HISTORY
$2,000,000; while the heavy expense of carrying on the litigation for nine years had been borne by one hundred and twenty farmers of moderate means. Too much credit cannot be awarded the courageous and public spirited citizens who fought this great battle against an extortion of such magnitude in which the farmers of the entire country were deeply interested. In Minnesota the Legis- lature made an appropriation of $7,500 to enable the farmers of that State to resist the claim, but m Iowa the entire expense fell upon a few private citizens.
The legal questions involved in the drive well suits were in many respects similar to those raised in the barbed wire contests. The final triumph of the people m both cases was far reaching, as an adverse decision would have en- abled the combinations to have extorted for many years, an annual tax upon the farmers of the entire country, that would have reached high up into the millions and gone to enrich a few eastern capitalists.
The Twenty-second General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 9th of January, 1888, Lieutenant-Governor Hull presiding over the Senate. In the House W. H. Ked- man was elected Speaker. The Governor and Lieutenant- Governor were inaugurated for a second term. In his in- augural address Governor Larrabee made a powerful ar- gument for the control of railroad charges by the Legis- lature. He presented a strong array of facts and fi^ires to fortify his position, showing the gross injustice of the pooling system inaugurated by the railroads, by which territory and business is so divided among the roads, that there is practically no competition as to rates for trans- portation. The Governor proceeded to say:
" steel rails can now be purchased for one-third of the pri^ paid for iron rails fifteen years ago; and engines, cars and coal i^^v^/^P/^^^^ in cost nearly as much while local freight and passenger rates have not been reduced'in any perceptible degree. The railroads of I-a J^e re^ ceived as donations from various sources a value of over $50,000,000. The tracts of land granted to them by the Nation, State, count.es, mumcipah-
OF IOWA 143
ties and private individuals which aggregate an amount equal to more than one-eighth of the total area of the entire State. The total amount of money actually invested in Iowa railroads by stockholders and bondholders probably does not exceed an average of $15,000 per mile and $13,000,000 of net earnings which are annually distributed among them would be a fair profit upon twice the amount which they have actually invested . . . Railroads have in the course of time usurped powers dangerous to the public welfare and have practiced extortions perhaps less cruel, but in the aggregate more gigantic than those of the British landlord. It has been found necessary to limit the power of public oflBcers to levy taxes for the maintenance of our schools and the support of the State, county and municipal government, notwithstanding the fact that those taxes are used for the benefit of the people. Yet a few railroad managers are free to meet in Chicago and levy an extra tax of one, two or even five million dollars upon the people of Iowa without giving them anything in return. . . . It is impossible to compute or even approximate the loss sustained by the people of Iowa in consequence of railroad discriminations. . . . By granting special rates, rebates, drawbacks and other favors here and there to men of influence in their respective localities, they have secured the favor of many who, after having divided with them their spoils are ready to defend their wrongs and to advocate a policy of neutrality on part of the State. By retaining the ablest attorneys, by influencing the press and by flattering and favoring politicians they have for many years man- aged to prevent an open outburst of popular indignation; and their long continued success greatly added to their boldness in usurping unlawful powers and invading public rights. When it is considered that the rail- road companies doing business in Iowa, have an annual cash income of over $100,000,000, their past influence can readily be appreciated. It is not an extravagant statement that the power exerted by them has in many instances proved greater than that of the State to which they owe their corporate existence. . . . Setting at naught the power of the State they nullify with impunity the principles of equity which for centuries have been enunciated by the courts. Such combinations as are maintained by them would, in other branches of business, be considered conspiracies against the public welfare and would subject their originators to indict- ment."
This inaugural address was the most courageous ar- raignment of the railroad corporations and the most fear- less exposition of the extortions and wrongs inflicted by them upon the people of the State, ever made by a public official in Iowa. Governor Larrabee had long been a prominent member of the State Senate and was thoroughly
l^ HISTORY
familiar with the great influence which the railroad com- panies had been able to bring to bear upon legislation through an ever present lobby sent to watch their inter- ests at each session of the General Assembly. The liberal distribution of free passes and other special favors to members, had long prevented what they were pleased to term *' hostile legislation." This indictment of the rail- road ofiacials and the unimpeachable recital of their extor- tions by the new Chief Executive of the State fell like a bomb in the camp of the railroad managers.
In the Governor's message sent to the General Assembly a few days before, he made the following recommenda- tions ;
" First. I recommend the passage of a law destroying tbe pass system
root and brancli.
" Second. I recommend that maximum passenger fares on first class
railroads be fixed at two cents a mile.
" Third. I recommend the passage of a law fixing reasonable maximum rates of freight on the principal commodities transported by rail; and also authorizing and requiring the Railroad Commissioners to reduce said rates at any time when in their judgment they are too high.
"Fourth. The salaries of the Commissioners should be paid by the State and not by the railroad companies."
On the other issues before the people the Governor was equally outspoken. He said:
« Much progress has been made in the enforcement of the prohibitory law . . Many judges have given strong testimony in its favor
showing that where it has been well executed there has been a marked reduction in criminal offences and also in court expenses. ...
"There has been a decided falling off in penitentiary convicts and a very large number of jails have been empty, some of them for the first time in years. While there is very little difficulty in enforcing the law m rural districts and in a very large majority of the counties, there are still a few portions of the State, particularly in some of the larger cities, where the law is not enforced. This does not include all such «ties however, for Des Moines, Sioux City and Cedar Rapids three of the largest cities of the State, the prohibitory law is now, and has been for the past year well enforced. v u k»
« Our people are strong in their convictions that this law should be
OF IOWA 145
enforced as well as others and it is the duty of the Legislature to provide the means. The authority of the Legislature in these matters is no longer a subject of dispute. The recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States settles that question on grounds so broad and just as to make it impregnable and final. . . . With this powerful support it only remains for the friends of good government and law and order in Iowa to press patiently, yet resolutely, forward with this great reform until the saloon and all illegal manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors are utterly destroyed. Such amendments should be made to the law as are needed and best calculated to make it thoroughly effective in accomplishing its purpose."
Fortified by the determined stand taken by Governor Larrabee in his message and inaugural, for legislative control of railroads, the General Assembly at once pro- ceeded to grapple with the subject in a most vigorous man- ner. A bill was carefully framed to meet the abuses so long suffered by the public and to provide adequate rem- edies. The Commissioners were given power to fix sched- ules of charges for transportation and ample authority to enforce their mandates. Under this bill the Railroad Com- missioners were clothed with power to protect the people from all of the oppressions of the corporations which had been for years the subject of complaint and for which no remedy by law had been provided. The bill met with the most determined opposition from the railroad officials and all of the personal and political influence it was pos- sible for them to command, at every stage of its prog- ress. But for the first time since the famous Grange I^egislation these corporations found an organization equal to their own. It could not be circumvented, intimidated nor beaten. It was active, aggressive, intelligent and un- compromising. It was sustained by a large majority of the people and in the end succeeded in placing on the statute books a series of acts which provided ample reme- dies for most of the wrongs perpetrated by the railroad managers and at the same time deprived them of no rights of property.
The repeal of the Grange Legislation by the General
[Vol. 3]
146 HISTORY
Assembly of 1878, was followed so closely by a business revival due to other causes, that the people of the State for a time lost sight of the railroad question as a political issue. The problem of the control of common carriers had not, however, ceased to claim the attention of a large and influential element of the country's population east as well as west; and the agitation for National control of some sort continued without interruption until the year 1887, when an act to regulate commerce between the States was given a place on the statute books of the Federal Govern- ment.
A revolt of the Republicans in the Eighth Congressional District, composed of the southwestern counties, resulted in the election of Albert R. Anderson ; and the election of General James B. Weaver in the Sixth, or central Dis- trict, and emphasized the desire of the people of Iowa for affirmative legislation on the subject of railroad control. The interstate commerce law prohibited discriminations in freight charges between shippers and localities ; the pool- ing of railway earnings by competing carriers and the charging of a higher rate for a shorter than for a longer haul, the shipment being over the same line, in the same direction and under substantially similar circumstances and conditions.
The railway managers unused to legal restraints during the formative period of the railway system of the coun- try, at first resented even the moderate limitations im- posed upon their freedom of action by this conservative statute and manifested a disposition to use the provisions of the measure oppressively and in such a way as to dis- commode shippers, irritate the public and convince the country that legislation in relation to transportation was not practicable.
Throughout this period local freight rates were rela- tively higher than charges on shipments from the great commercial centers. The manufacturers and jobbers of the State were able to compete with their rivals in the
OF IOWA 147
large cities only by means of the rebates paid them by the railways. These rebates were now withdrawn and the Iowa shipper informed that since the enactment of the interstate commerce law, he must if he desired to con- tinue in business, remove to those large and important terminal points from which, alone, it was possible to grant living rates. The business outlook in the cities of the State was gloomy. Factories and wholesale houses were closing their doors and removing to other States. Agri- culture was depressed by the prospect that its future markets would be in distant cities, restricting its activity to the production of bulky staples and cutting off those miscellaneous refined products so profitably grown when populous cities are near.
Previous to this time there had been little cooperation between the rural and urban population of the State in efforts to obtain legislation controlling railroad charges. If there had been a community of interests it had not been discovered on either side. Of partisan cooperation on moral and political issues there had been many cases ; but the capacity to work together for common purposes con- nected with their industrial interests had not been devel- oped. It had awaited the opportunity now at hand. Lead- ers were not wanting. A score or more of earnest and well informed men of affairs, engaged in commercial, finan- cial and agricultural pursuits, several of them learned in the law, now came into prominence as organizers of a movement for the solution of the difficult problem of sav- ing important industries of the State from destruction.
Each of the chief political parties of the State furnished champions of the rights of the people of Iowa to a share in the industrial life of the country. They worked together with a patriotism rarely equalled and with results which may serve as an inspiration to legislators in the future. In the Executive chair Governor William Larrabee, in the General Assembly James G. Berryhill, on the Board of Railway Commissioners Frank T. Campbell and Spencer
148 HISTORY
Smith, were the prime movers in the work which gave the State its railroad legislation and the practical solution of problems of administration thereunder. So important was the part taken by each of these public officials that it may safely be said that if any one of them had at any time flinched the formidable work might have met defeat.
Mr. Berryhill was the lawyer who made a careful ex- amination of the constitutional points involved in the pro- posed legislation. Familiar with the decisions of the State and Federal Courts in relation to fixing rates, he so framed the bill that unquestioned principles of con- stitutional law were back of every part of the statute. While some of the more radical reformers were impa- tiently urging the fixing of inflexible rates, Mr. Berryhill firmly urged that the State could not safely go beyond the point of establishing a maximum rate which should only be prima facie evidence of a reasonable rate. While this simply shifted the burden of proof in the event of litiga- tion from the shipper to the carrier and left the former with nothing more substantial than a better standing in court, the outcome proved that this was all that the ship- per really needed in the way of laws. The railroad com- panies were so thoroughly convinced of the constitution- ality of the legislation that they never permitted the controversy to go to the Supreme Court of the United States. They preferred to submit to what they declared to be disastrous reductions of rates, rather than permit the legal questions involved in railway control to go to the court of last resort on grounds chosen for the test by the framers of this statute.
The battle-ground of the movement was in the first in- stance in the State Legislature, after years of agitation through the press and the Granges. The prelim- inary skirmishing was in the Twenty-first General Assem- bly, while the Twenty-second carried the struggle to a conclusion. James G. Berryhill was the acknowledged organizer and leader in the House of Representatives of the
OF IOWA 149
two General Assemblies and the committees of that branch of the Legislature were made up largely with reference to friendliness to railroad restriction.
Governor Larrabee had long been a recognized leader in the State Senate and was conservative as to railroad legislation. His first term as Chief Executive of the State was nearing its end before events convinced him of the need of legislation which later he did so much to promote. Most men become more conservative under official re- sponsibility; but Governor Larrabee had the genius of a thorough business man and the conscience of a New Eng- lander of Puritan stock. When he became the Executive of the people of Iowa in business affairs, it was inevitable that he should have a clear insight into their rights and an invincible determination to secure and safeguard their interests.
The test came in the Glenwood coal case. The railroads charged a rate for transporting coal to a State institution which the Governor believed to be excessive, unjust and discriminating. He determined to resist the over-charge and appealed to the Board of Railway Commissioners, the tribunal created by the Legislature of 1878, which he had helped to enact as a substitute for direct legislative control of railways. The Commissioners decided that they had no power to remedy the abuse complained of, that their functions were merely advisory. That decision convinced the Governor of the inefficiency of the Railway Commis- sion and the necessity of clothing the tribunal with some real power to remedy wrongs. From this time Governor Larrabee became the leader of the movement for legis- lative control of railways, of which prior to that time he had apparently been a disinterested observer.
In the appointment of Ex-Lieutenant Governor Frank T. Campbell a member of the Board of Railway Commis- sioners, Governor Larrabee had selected the able leader of railroad control who led the contest in the enactment of the Grange legislation many years before. The Governor
150 HISTORY
now had become convinced of the necessity of direct legis- lation for the regulation of business transactions between the people and the powerful corporations which controlled the transportation of the country. He gave the problem careful investigation as chief Executive of the State and his influence was a powerful factor in securing the needed legislation.
There had long been a general belief among the people that ''friendly legislation " for the railroads had been largely influenced by a distribution of free passes to pub- lic officials, such as members of the Legislature, judges of the courts. Railroad Commissioners and assessors ; and the prohibition of this practice had been strongly de- manded by the people since the first movements for rail- road control. Yet the free passes were distributed so judiciously and effectively by the various companies, to all officials who had the power to curb the extortions of these powerful corporations, that bills to prohibit this system of influencing public officials were always defeated. All efforts made by the reformers before the Twenty- first General Assembly to prohibit free passes to public officials; to make the Railroad Commissioners elective by the people, and to give the Board power to fix freight and passenger rates, were defeated, notwithstanding the earnest efforts of the antimonopoly members of the vari- ous political parties. James G. Berryhill of Polk, George L. Finn of Taylor, Silas Wilson of Cass, Thomas Teale of Decatur, J. G. Brown of Marshall, and S. A. Converse of Howard were foremost among the advocates of rail- road control in the House of Representatives during this session of 1886; the Senate giving little attention to the
subject.
When the Twenty-second General Assembly convened m January, 1888, the advocates of railroad control realized the importance of thorough and systematic organization of their forces and able and aggressive leadership. In the Senate were George L. Finn, Lafayette Young, J. H. Swe-
OF IOWA 151
ney, F. D. Bayless and other firm and aggressive advo- cates of the reform. In the House were James G. Berry- hill, L. W. Lewis, N. B. Holbrook, John F. Dayton, John T. Hamilton, John W. Luke, James A, Smith, John C. Hall and W. H. Redman who was chosen Speaker.
The bills making the office of Railroad Commissioner elective by the people, empowering the Board to make rates prohibiting discriminations and placing the entire business of railway management and operation under a system of legal control, were easily carried through the General Assembly. Public sentiment had become irre- sistible and there was little opposition to the reform in either branch of the General Assembly. The railways succeeded in defeating the House bill establishing a schedule of maximum freight rates only to see sub- stantially the same rates adopted and put in force by the elective Railroad Commissioners a few months later. This schedule was based upon rates voluntarily adopted by the railroad companies for shipments between Chicago and other Illinois points. The diplomacy of Mr. Berryhill secured the adoption of a most effective long and short haul clause in the general railway law enacted at this time. There was a disagreement between the House and Senate upon a number of material points in the bill under consideration, which were referred to a conference committee composed of Senators J. H. Sweney, Ben Mc- Coy, Lafayette Young, 0. "W. Schmidt and James Dooley, and Representatives James G. Berryhill, A. B. Cummins, Silas Wilson, John W. Lukje and John T. Hamilton.
A section was reported by the conference committee which made any low fixed rate by any carrier over any part of its line applicable to its entire system. This provision was stronger than any requirement incorpor- ated in the original bill as it passed the House. Its adop- tion was in effect the most advanced position taken by the antimonopolists in regard to discriminations in rates. Its far reaching importance was not discovered by the rail-
152 HISTORY
way managers until after the amended bill became a law. It is recognized as the keystone of the arch of Iowa rail- way legislation.
The railway companies appealed to the Federal Courts to enjoin the Commissioners from putting into effect the schedule of freight rates adopted by the Board; but, as before indicated, the new laws had been so carefully pre- pared that the corporations had little expectation of hav- ing them set aside. A few months later litigation was suspended; the Commissioners' rates were accepted by the roads and peaceful relations were finally established between the people of Iowa and the railroads.
The ruin predicted in some quarters as certain to result from the legislation of 1888, did not ensue. The loss of revenue to the companies foretold by the opponents of moderate rates did not take place. On the contrary the Iowa earnings of the railroad companies doing business in the State were increased by several million dollars per annum. This effect of establishing such local freight rates as would permit the people of Iowa to interchange their products among themselves had been predicted by the framers of the measures, and justified the prediction.
Futile efforts have been made by the railway companies to secure a reversal of the popular verdict, and by the re- formers to carry the movement into National politics; but the public has failed to respond to either of these appeals, and within a few years the railroad question has substantially disappeared from the politics of the State. The attempt to abolish free passes over railroads to pub- lic officials was again defeated; but railroads were re- quired to fence their tracks and keep the fences in repair. The Twenty-second General Assembly will be long re- membered for the inestimable service it rendered to the people, in the framing and enactment of laws controlling railroads which have proved to be wise, just and bene- ficial.
James F. Wilson was elected to the United States Sen-
OF IOWA 153
ate for another full term of six years. The Legislature revised and amended the prohibitory liquor laws and made better provisions for their enforcement.
At the Republican State Convention held at Des Moines on the 22d of August, 1888, Frank D. Jackson was nom- inated for Secretary of State; J. A. Lyon for Auditor; V. P. Twombly for Treasurer; C. T. Granger for Su- preme Judge; John Y. Stone for Attorney-General and Spencer Smith, John Mahin and F. T. Campbell for Rail- road Commissioners.
The Democratic State Convention nominated the fol- lowing candidates : Secretary of State, Walter McHenry ; Auditor, D. T. Ockerson; Treasurer, Amos Case; Su- preme Judge, P. H. Smith; Attorney-General, J. C. Mitchell; Railroad Commissioners, Peter A. Ley, C. L. Lund and H. E. Willis.
The Labor Union Convention nominated J. B. Van Court for Secretary of State ; C. M. Farnsworth for Audi- tor ; James Rice for Treasurer ; M. M. Jones for Supreme Judge, and D. H. Williams for Attorney-General.
The Prohibitionists nominated J. Mickelwait for Sec- retary; Malcom Smith for Auditor; E. 0. Sharp for Treasurer.
This being the year for Presidential election the cam- paign was conducted with considerable spirit on the part of the Republicans and Democrats. Grover Cleveland was renominated for President by the Democrats and Allan G. Thurman for Vice-President. The Republican Na- tional Convention nominated Benjamin Harrison for President and Levi P. Morton for Vice-President. The Labor Union party nominated A. J. Streeter for Presi- dent and C. E. Cunningham for Vice-President. The Prohibitionists nominated C. B. Fisk for President and J. A. Brooks for Vice-President.
The result of the election in Iowa was the success of all of the Republican candidates, except John Mahin for Railroad Commissioner, who was defeated by the railroad
154 HISTORY
influence being used against him and for Peter A. Dey one of the Democratic candidates. The Republicans elected ten of the eleven Representatives in Congress. In the Second District the Democratic candidate, Walter I. Hayes, was chosen over P. W. McManus, Republican.
The total receipts of the State Treasurer for the bien- nial period ending June 30th, 1889, were $3,292,665.19. The total equalized assessment of the property of the State for the year 1889 was $522,567,000. The total amount paid out for school purposes that year was $6,848,128. There were 8,298 miles of railroad in the State, the assessed value of which was $43,271,008 and the net earnings amounted to $9,515,957.71. The farm pro- ducts for the past year were estimated to be worth $365,- 179,917.
The Republican State Convention met in Des Moines on the 14th of August, 1889, and nominated J. C. Hutchi- son for Governor, A. N. Poyneer for Lieutenant-Gover- nor, Josiah Given for Judge of Supreme Court, Henry Sabin for Superintendent of Public Instruction and Spencer Smith for Railroad Commissioner. The plat- form affirmed the principles and policy of State railway regulation and declared in favor of absolute prevention, by Congress, of rebates and discriminations. The fifth resolution declared:
" That we reaffirm the past utterances of the Republican party of Iowa upon prohibition which has become the settled policy of the State and upon which there should be no backward step."
The eighth resolution declared in favor of courts of arbitration for the settlement of labor difficulties.
The Democratic State Convention met at Sioux City on the 18th of September and nominated Horace Boies for Governor, S. L. Bestow for Lieutenant-Governor, W. F. Brannan for Judge of Supreme Court, T. M. Irish for Superintendent of Public Instruction and David Morgan for Railway Commissioner. The resolutions declared in
OF IOWA 155
favor of the Australian ballot, the regulation of railroads and other corporations against unjust discriminations and oppressive charges, in favor of a license law where desired by a majority of the voters.
The State Convention of the Union Labor party, held at Des Moines, nominated the following ticket: S. B. Downing for Governor, E. Brownell for Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, M. H. Jones for Supreme Judge, Harriet J. Be- lange for Superintendent of Public Instruction and L. H. Griffith for Railway Commissioner. The convention in- dorsed the platform of the National Labor Union plat- form of the past year.
The Greenback party put the following ticket in the field: for Governor, Elias Doty; Lieutenant-Governor, J. M. McDonald; Supreme Judge, E. M. Farnsworth; Superintendent of Public Instruction, T. F. Tobin; Rail- way Commissioner, R. Garrett. On the issues involved in the State campaign the party declared for local option in the liquor traffic, for the single land tax and govern- ment ownership of railroads.
The Prohibitionists nominated the following candi- dates: for Governor, Malcom Smith; Lieutenant-Gover- nor, J. W. Murphy; Supreme Judge, J. W. Rogers; Su- perintendent of Public Instruction, Mrs. M. H. Dunham; Railway Commissioner, J. W. Noble. The resolutions favored rigid prohibition, woman suffrage, arbitration of labor disputes, Australian ballot, opposition to all trusts and monopolies.
The campaign was confined largely to the liquor con- troversy, the old conflict between license and prohibition and for the first time in the history of the State a major- ity of the voters cast their ballots for the leading candi- date who boldly advocated a local option license law.
The principal contest was between the candidates for Governor, nominated by the Republicans and Democrats, who ably advocated the respective positions taken by the two parties on the absorbing issue of license against
156 HISTORY OF IOWA
prohibition. The result was that a great number of Re- publicans in the river counties, where the sentiment was strongly for license of the liquor traffic, voted for Mr. Boies, the Democratic candidate, electing him by a plu- rality of 6,573.
The Republican candidates for Supreme Judge, Lieu- tenant-Governor, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Railway Commissioner were elected by pluralities ranging from 1,781 to 8,480. Counting the entire vote cast for the candidates of the two parties, which in their platforms declared for license, it amounted to 185,690 for Boies, and Downing ; while the combined vote given for Hutchison and Smith, who stood on prohibition plat- forms was 174,891, which appeared to indicate a change in sentiment on this issue among the electors of the State since the prohibitory amendment had been adopted, of more than 20,000 votes from prohibition to license.
CHAPTER X
THE Twenty-third General Assembly, which met at Des Moines on the 13th of January, 1890, stood politically as follows: Senate, Republicans, twenty-eight ; opposition, twenty-two. In the House the Republicans had elected fifty members and the combined opposition had chosen fifty.
The House was called to order by B. B. Lane of Polk County, and an attempt was made to elect a temporary chief clerk. Ben Van Steinburg was nominated by the Republicans and F. W. Lehman by the Democrats and op- position. The members of the House continued to ballot for these candidates without a choice, each receiving an equal number of votes, until the 18th when the name of Van Steinburg was withdrawn by the Republicans and H. S. Wilcox was nominated in his place. The balloting continued without a choice until the 27th, when a compro- mise was arranged between the parties by which L. D. Hotchkiss, Democrat, was elected temporary Speaker and H. S. Wilcox, Republican, was chosen temporary clerk.
The Republicans nominated Silas Wilson for perman- ent Speaker and the opposition nominated J. T. Hamil- ton, Democrat, for the same position. The roll call for the election of Speaker continued from day to day, with frequent attempts at compromise, until the 19th of Feb- ruary, without an election. One hundred and thirty-six ballots had been taken. It was now evident that no elec- tion could be accomplished without a compromise. An arrangement was finally agreed upon by which John T. Hamilton, Democrat, was chosen Speaker and H. S. Wil- cox, Republican, was elected chief clerk and the remain- ing offices were divided between the two parties. The
158 HISTORY
standing committees were also arranged between the par- ties by agreement and thus the House was finally organ- ized on the 20th of February. The inauguration of Gov- ernor Boies had been delayed, by the failure of the House to organize, and did not take place until the 27th of Feb- ruary when the unusual event of the inauguration of a Democratic Governor and a Republican Lieutenant-Gov- ernor took place.
The last message of Governor Larrabee showed a better financial condition of the State than had existed for sev- eral years. The public debt, which in January, 1886, had amounted to $817,857.35, had been reduced to $39,388.33. The assessed value of property of the State was now $516,509,409. The Governor strongly recommended the abolition of corporal punishment in the public schools as a relic of barbarism. The permanent fund of the State University at this time was $226,899; and the annual in- come derived from it the past two years, $31,119. The receipts of the Agricultural College from the endowment fund for the same period were $94,130. The endowment fund at this time amounted to $649,306, most of which was invested in mortgages drawing interest from seven to eight per cent. The total agricultural products of the State for 1889 were stated to be worth $134,060,725.
Governor Larrabee gave an elaborate review of the working of the new railroad laws enacted by the last Legislature in which he said :
" Experience has now demonstrated the wisdom and justice of the measure. The Commissioners proceeded under the law to prepare a sched- ule of rates for the roads, having in view the general prosperity of the State. The roads have never been so crowded with business as at present, nor has the service ever been more satisfactory to the people. It is now admitted that our present local freight rates are more equitable than any previously in force in the State and it affords me pleasure to say that there is at present but little friction between the railroad com- panies and the people. The gross earnings of the railroads of the State for the year ending June 30, 1S89, were $37,469,276, being an increase of $193,689 over the preceding year. It must be evident to the impartial
OF IOWA 159
observer that the legislation of the Twenty-second General Assembly has had most gratifying results.
" Railroads have been called into being by the people to promote the common welfare and the State can tolerate neither usurpation of power nor conspiracy on the part of its creatures. We are building for the future and the importance of keeping intact those principles which lie at the foundation of every government of, for and by the people cannot be overestimated."
This closing message of Governor Larrabee to the General Assembly clearly reviews the lengthened con- flict which had been going on between the railroad man- agers and the people for more than twenty years. Numer- ous attempts had been made during this period by the representatives of the people, to bring the powerful cor- porations directly under legislative control but without permanent success. The cooperation of the Governor and the Twenty-second General Assembly had at last brought a remedy for most of the extortions of the railroads which had long oppressed the people. The legislation of that General Assembly, which had been strongly urged by the Governor in devising and applying the control by law to these corporations, has stood the test of time and the courts. It has become the settled policy of the State, has inflicted no wrong upon the railroads and has been of in- estimable benefit to the people. The evil effects of at- tempts to influence public officials with free passes still remains so strongly intrenched that all attempts to eradi- cate that dangerous form of bribery have failed.
The Governor made a powerful argument in his re- tiring message for the maintenance and enforcement of the prohibitory laws and against the establishment of legalized saloons in Iowa by any kind of license. He states the following facts in support of his position:
" While the number of convicts in the country at large rose from one in every 3,442 of population in 1850 to one in every eight hundred sixty in 1880, the ratio in Iowa is at present only one to every 3,130. The jails of many counties are now empty a good portion of the year and the number of convicts in our penitentiaries has been reduced from seven
160 HISTORY
hundred fifty in March, 1886, to six hundred four, July 1, 1889. It is the testimony of the judges of our courts that criminal expenses have dimin- ished in like proportion. We have fewer paupers and tramps in our State in proportion to its population than ever before. The poorer classes have better fare, better clothing, better schooling and better houses. ... It is safe to say that not one-tenth and probably not one-twentieth as much liquor is consumed in the State as was five years ago. The standard of temperance has been greatly raised, even in those cities where the law has not yet been enforced. The present law was enacted in response to a popular demand, as evidenced by a majority of nearly 30,000 votes cast in favor of the prohibitory amendment. Had the women of lawful age been permitted to vote, the majority would probably have been more than 200,000. It is the duty of the legislative power to respect the rights of all citizens of the commonwealth, of non-voters as well as of voters. If provision were made for suspending for gross negligence such officers as are charged with the enforcement of the law and ample funds were placed at the command of the Governor to aid prosecutions^ the saloon would soon be a thing of the past in Iowa."
In his inaugural address, following the retiring Gover- nor's message, Governor Boies made a strong plea for a license law to be adopted by such localities as preferred it to prohibition. He believed that the people in the re- cent election had by a considerable majority declared for such a change in the liquor laws and that the Legislature was bound to respect this verdict. The Governor said :
" The people have not undertaken to deprive any locality in the State where public sentiment upholds it, of our present proliibitory law or its equivalent. They have simply declared that each city, town or township shall have the right to determine for itself whether it will be governed by the prohibitory law or by a carefully guarded license law. Those who believe in this decision and feel it their duty to respect it cannot rightfully depart from the letter of that decision as it was made. » » * The license law which is to supersede prohibition must be all that has been promised. We are bound in honor to furnish for localities adopting it a most carefully guarded license law. * * * The greatest care should be exercised to take the trafiic out of the hands of immoral and irresponsible parties. Every safe- guard should be thrown about those who are in this respect legitimate sub- jects of legal control. A wilful sale to a minor or drunkard should be cause for revoking a license. What Iowa needs is practical legislation on this subject, legislation that is broad enough to meet the views of more than .a single class, that is liberal enough to command the respect of all her people,
HORACE BOIES, Governor of Iowa, 1890-94.
OF IOWA 161
that is generous enough to invite to her borders every class of respectable persons, that is just enough to protect the person and property of every one of her citizens and wise enough to exercise a practical control over a traffic that to-day is unrestrained in most of her centers of population."
All attempts to enact a local option license law in ac- cord with the recommendation of Governor Boies, were defeated.
Acts were passed to prevent the formation of trusts; to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors for lawful pur- poses; to reduce the legal rate of interest from ten to eight per cent. ; to provide for State bank examiners ; to establish a State Historical Department; to provide for an exliibit at the Columbian Exposition to be held at Chi- cago in 1893; to provide for the erection of a soldiers' monument. Additional powers were conferred upon the Railway Commissioners. A United States Senator was to be elected at this session and there was a strong ele- ment which desired the election of Governor Larrabee to that important position. The great service he had rendered the people in bringing the railroads under the control of law rendered him the most popular public of- ficial in Iowa and a large majority of the citizens strongly desired to have him retained in the public service. He declined, however, to enter the contest for United States Senator against Mr. Allison who was nominated by the Republican caucus for reelection; notwithstanding which many of the members of the General Assembly cast their votes for Larrabee for Senator. Allison was reelected for another term of six years; most of the Democrats voting for S. L. Bestow.
The Republican State Convention met at Sioux City on the 25th of June, 1890, and nominated the following candidates for the various offices: Secretary of State, W. M. McFarland; Auditor, J. A, Lyon; Treasurer, B. A. Beeson; Judge of Supreme Court, J. H. Rothrock; Attorney-General, J. Y. Stone; Clerk of Supreme Court, G. B. Pray; Reporter Supreme Court, N. B. Raymond;
[Vol. 3]
162 HISTORY
Railway Commissioner, J. W. Luke. The resolutions declared against any compromise with the saloons and supported the people in their hostility to their existence and spread of the liquor traffic.
The Democratic State Convention assembled at Cedar Rapids on the 6th of August and placed the following candidates in nomination: Secretary of State, W. H. Chamberlin; Auditor, G. S. Witters; Treasurer, W. L. White ; Attorney-General, C. H. Mackey ; Judge Supreme Court, P. B. Wolfe; Clerk of Supreme Court, E. J. San- key; Reporter Supreme Court, T. W. Ivory; Railway Commissioner, P. A. Dey. The resolutions reaffirmed the position of the party in favor of a license law for the control of the liquor traffic.
The Labor Union party held its State Convention at Des Moines on the 14th of August and nominated the following candidates: Secretary of State, E. P. Brown; Auditor, C. F. Davis; Treasurer, A. J. Blakely; Attor- ney-General, T. F. Willis; Judge Supreme Court, G. D. Potter ; Clerk, A. Wooster ; Reporter, D. J. Morris ; Rail- way Commissioner, J. M. Joseph. No declarations were made on State issues.
The Prohibition party held its Convention at Des Moines on the 4th of September and made the fol- lowing nominations: Secretary, C. R. McFarlin; Audi- tor, Ira Dorcas; Treasurer, J. C. Reed; Attorney Gen- eral, J. L. Warren; Supreme Judge, D. B. Tourney; Clerk, S. F. Spurrier; Reporter, 0. P. Crawford; Rail- way Commissioner, Cabel Dailey. The resolutions de- clared for prohibition and woman suffrage.
The entire Republican ticket was elected by pluralities ranging from three hundred ten for J. W. Luke, Railway Commissioner, to 3,993 for John Y. Stone for Attorney- General.
For the first time since the organization of the Repub- lican party the Democrats elected a majority of the Rep- resentatives in Congress for Iowa, and the political revo-
OF IOWA 163
lution swept the entire country. In the new Congress the Republicans had but eighty-seven members while the Democrats elected two hundred and thirty-seven. In the last House the Republicans had one hundred and seventy- six members and the Democrats one hundred and fifty- five.
The first State Convention of the People's party as- sembled at Des Moines on the 3d of June, 1891, and in- dorsed the platform of the Cincinnati National Confer- ence of May 19th, 1891.
On State issues it demanded an increase in the assess- ment of railroads in Iowa to $80,000,000; the enactment of the Australian ballot law ; the taxation of mortgages ; a two-cent railroad fare; uniform school books; con- demned the action of the Republican and Democratic par- ties in making the main issue on the temperance question ; legislation for the suppression of private corporations. The following nominations were made for State ofiicers: for Governor, A. J. Westfall; Lieutenant-Governor, W. S. Scott; Judge of Supreme Court, H. Chrisman; Super- intendent of Public Instruction, C. W. Bean; Railway Commissioner, T. F. Willis.
The Prohibitionists held their State Convention at Des Moines on the 10th of June and nominated the following ticket: for Governor, Isaac Gibson; Lieutenant-Gover- nor, J. G. Little; Judge Supreme Court, D. B. Turney; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mrs. M. H. Dun- ham; Railway Commissioner, C. D. Hart. On State issues declarations were made in favor of absolute pro- hibition of the liquor traffic, the Australian ballot, arbi- tration in place of strikes, the payment of wage earners in cash.
The Democratic State Convention was held at Ottumwa on the 24th of June and placed the following candidates in nomination : for Governor, Horace Boies ; Lieutenant- Governor, S. L. Bestow; Supreme Judge, L. G. Kinne; Superintendent of Public Instruction, J. B. Knoepfler;
164 HISTORY
Eailway Commissioner, P. A. Dey. The platform on State issues made the following declarations :
"We favor a license law, -where desired by a majority of the electors; equal taxation of every species of property; the Australian ballot; the control of railroads by legislation; legislation to secure to laboring men a fair share of income derived from a union of capital and labor; and oppose all pools, trusts or combines."
The convention warmly indorsed the administration of Governor Boies.
The Eepublican State Convention met at Cedar Rap- ids on the 1st of July and nominated the following ticket : for Governor, H. C. Wheeler; Lieutenant-Governor, George Van Houten; Supreme Judge, S. M. Weaver; Railway Commissioner, F. T. Campbell; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Henry Sabin.
On State issues the party declared in favor of equal taxation for all classes of property ; the saloon to be made an outlaw in the State, the issue to be between true tem- perance and free traffic in intoxicating liquors; that the success of the Democrats means breaking down of the temperance legislation in the State, while the success of the Republicans means opposition to the saloon power and enforcement of the laws.
The campaign following was conducted with great vigor by Governor Boies largely on the issue of local op- tion as against prohibition. The Republican candidate was no match for him in public discussion and avoided debate on the main issue of the campaign. The result of the election was the success of the entire Democratic ticket and an increased majority for Governor Boies.
The Twenty-fourth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 11th of January, 1892; Lieutenant-Gover- nor S. L. Bestow presiding over the Senate. This was the first time since the creation of the office, that a Democrat had been chosen to the position of Lieutenant-Gov- ernor and the first time since the extra session of 1856
OF IOWA 165
that the presiding officer of the Senate had been a Demo- crat, a period of thirty-six years. Judge L. G. Kinne was the first and only Democrat ever elected by the people to a seat on the Supreme bench. In the House, W. 0. Mitchell was elected Speaker.
In his inaugural address Governor Boies again strongly urged the enactment of a local option license liquor law, but the General Assembly again refused to enact such a law.
The most important acts of the session were the fol- lowing: the adoption of what is known as the ** Aus- tralian ballot ' ' system of voting at elections ; an act to provide for Historical Collections at the State Capitol; an act to provide for a Geological Survey of the State; an act making an appropriation of $125,000 for an ex- hibit for the State of Iowa at the World's Columbian Exposition; an act to provide a Commission to examine the revenue laws of the State and report such changes as were desirable to the next General Assembly. A joint resolution was passed urging our members of Congress to secure indemnity to settlers on the Des Moines Eiver lands, where their titles had failed.
The Republican State Convention of 1892, was held at Des Moines on the 29th of June and nominated the following ticket for State officers: Secretary, W. M. McFarland; Auditor, C. G. McCarthy; Treasurer, B. A. Beeson; Attorney-General, J. Y. Stone; Railway Com- missioner, G. W. Perkins. The resolutions simply in- dorsed the platform adopted by the late National Con- vention.
The Democrats met in State Convention on the 18th of August at Davenport and nominated the following can- didates : Secretary of State, J. H. McConlogue ; Auditor, S. P. Vandike; Treasurer, Charles Reugnitz; Attorney- General, Ezra Willard; Railway Commissioner, W. G. Kent. The resolutions indorsed the administration of Governor Boies and again declared for a local option
166 HISTORY
license law. They also proposed a non-partisan Board of Control for the government of the State institutions.
A Convention of the People's party was held at Des Moines on the 11th of August at which the following nom- inations were made: Secretary of State, E, H. Gillette; Auditor, A. J. Blakeley ; Treasurer, Justin Wells ; Attor- ney-General, C. McKenzie; Railway Commissioner, J. H. Barnett. The resolutions indorsed the policy on State and National issues as declared in former conventions.
The Convention of the Prohibition party was held at Des Moines on the 17th of June at which the following ticket was placed in nomination: Secretary of State, S. H. Taft; Auditor, F. E. Whitmore; Treasurer, R. M. Dihel; Attorney-General, William Orr; Railway Commis- sioner, Malcom Smith. The resolutions reiterated former declarations of the party.
The National Conventions of the various parties made the following nominations: Republicans, Benjamin Har- rison, for reelection, and Whitelaw Reid for Vice-Presi- dent. The Democrats for the third time nominated Grover Cleveland for President and Adlai Stevenson for Vice- President. The People's party nominated Gen. James B. Weaver of Iowa for President and J. G. Field, Vice-Pres- ident; the Prohibitionists nominated John Bidwell for President and J. B. Cranfill, Vice-President.
The result of the election in Iowa was as follows :
Harrison 2W,795
Cleveland 196,367
Weaver 20,595
Bidwell 6,402
Plurality for Harrison, 23,428.
The average plurality for the Republican candidates for State officers was about the same as that for Harri- son, all being elected.
Governor Boies was a candidate for President before
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the National Democratic Convention and received one hundred and three votes.
The Presidential election resulted in the success of the Democrats: Cleveland receiving two hundred and sev- enty-seven electoral votes, Harrison one hundred and forty-five, and Weaver twenty-two.
The Republicans elected ten of the eleven Eepresenta- tives in Iowa and the Democrats but one, while in the previous Congress the Democrats had six of the eleven members.
/ During this year the people of Iowa became deeply interested in the World's Columbian Exposition to be opened at Chicago in 1893, in commemoration of the an- niversary of the discovery of America. In 1890, Con- gress recognized the enterprise by an act making an appropriation for a National exhibit. The same year the Legislature made an appropriation of $50,000 and provided for the appointment of a commission to consist of eleven members, one from each Congressional Dis- trict, to have charge of the Iowa exhibit and devise and execute plans for making such exhibit. The members of the Commission met at Des Moines in September, 1890, and organized by the election of the following officers: president, Edward Johnston of Lee County; vice-presi- dent, James Wilson of Tama; secretary, F. N. Chase, Black Hawk; treasurer, W. H. Dent of Plymouth; execu- tive committee, S. H. Mallory, J. W. Jarnigin and John F. Duncombe. The next General Assembly increased the appropriation so that the Commissioners had at their command $130,000. In agriculture, horticulture, live stock, dairy, machinery, manufactures, schools, woman *s work, minerals and various arts, the display from our State was highly creditable. The attendance from Iowa was very large during the entire season of the exhibition. Owing to the death of Edward Johnston and the resig- nation of James Wilson in 1891, J. 0. Crosby was chosen president and J. F. Duncombe vice-president. They
168 HISTORY
served until the close of the exposition in these positions. Up to the 1st of January, 1894, the Commissioners had expended $132,500, including the sum of $12,500 paid to the Iowa State Band which was employed at the expo- sition.
On the afternoon of July 6, 1893, on the west side of the Little Sioux River, Cherokee County, the people ob- served a dark cloud lying low in the western horizon. When first seen it presented no unusual appearance but as it slowly arose, with varying currents of air frequently shifting suddenly, angry clouds were seen in the south- west rapidly approaching another swiftly moving cloud from the northwest which seemed to be driven by a strong wind. The distant roar of thunder and sharp flashes of lightning indicated the gathering of a severe storm. The two light colored swiftly moving clouds soon came to- gether and a great commotion was observed. Soon the funnel shape indicating a tornado descended towards the earth and a distant roar was heard. The storm did its first damage in Rock township where two women were killed. The iron bridge over the Sioux, a one hundred twenty feet span, was hurled from its piers into the river. As the storm neared the Buena Vista County line the cloud lifted for several miles and no damxage was done, when it again descended to the earth and destruction again began. It crossed the county about half a mile south of the town of Storm Lake, plowing through the waters of the lake, raising a waterspout nearly a hundred feet in height and wrecking a steamboat. The tornado kept nearly parallel with the Illinois Central Railroad and far enough south of it to miss the villages along its line until Pomeroy, in Calhoun County was reached. Several miles west of the town it is described as presenting an appearance quite similar to that observed when first dis- covered in Cherokee County. A steady roar was heard and great masses of white clouds were still rushing swiftly together from the northwest and southwest.
OF IOWA 169
Where they seemed to come in violent collision, a dense mass of inky black vapor in violent commotion was form- ing into elongated trunks dropping down towards the earth, one of which reached and trailed upon the ground swaying back and forth, while the others bounded up and down as they swung along like the trunk of an elephant. The one reaching the ground seemed to be sweeping everything in its path— trees, fences, buildings and ani- mals were raised into the vortex and hurled with terrific force to the earth. Cattle and horses crouched to the ground in terror and the hogs tried to bury them- selves in straw stacks. Within and along the surface of the storm cloud there was an incessant play of electric- ity and fearful jagged bolts shot out of the white clouds on either side of the black mass from which the tongues depended. As seen from Pomeroy "the sky was a fearful sight to behold. Clouds of inky blackness filled the en- tire west rolling and swaying in wild commotion. One cloud came from the northwest and united with another moving from the southwest and trailing beneath the place of collision was the black whirling column dragging upon the earth, from which came a continuous discharge of electricity.
The heavy and incessant roar of the approaching storm seemed to make the earth tremble. Persons just outside of its track, described the tornado as it struck the town as a rolling, writhing mass of a greenish blackness through which thousands of tongues of electric flame were darting. There was one wild crash and all was blackness and desolation where but a moment before Pomeroy stood. For a few moments every survivor seemed dazed and not a living form or a building could be seen in the ruins. The shrieks of the wounded and cries for help were heard on every side. Roused to a realization of the calamity that had suddenly come upon the town, the sur- vivors hastened to rescue the wounded from the wrecks of their homes. For four hours they worked with the
170 HISTOEY OF IOWA
energy of despair amid rain, hail and gathering dark- ness, guided by the cries and groans of the sufferers im- prisoned by fallen timbers and crippled by ghastly wounds, not ceasing until all were cared for. All through the night search among the ruins for the dead went on as assistance from the surrounding country and neighboring towns came.
Dr. D. J. Townsend, one of the physicians who was prominent in attending upon the wounded, gives a vivid description of the peculiar character of the injuries that came under his observation. He says :
" The wounds were not of a class that were met with in any other calamity than a tornado. The tissues were bruised, punctured, incised, lacerated with the addition of having foreign matter of every conceivable kind literally ground into the flesh and broken off in such a manner that no matter how proficient the surgeon, they would escape his notice. In- flammation and pain in a certain region did not always justify exploratory incisions, as many were contused from one end of the body to the other. The dirt and sand were plastered upon and into the skin in such a manner that it was extremely diflicult to remove them."
Such was the terrible nature of the injuries that had suddenly come upon more than a hundred people. From a population of more than a thousand but twenty-one families were left with no dead or wounded of their own to care for. The dead in the village numbered forty-two the day after the tornado.
Governor Boies issued an appeal for aid and the peo- ple of the State responded generously, not only furnish- ing all the temporary assistance needed but sufficient to rebuild the homes destroyed and to supply furniture, clothing and food. Besides providing a ]arge amount of lumber, provisions and clothing, nearly $70,000 in money was contributed for relief of the sufferers. The total number of deaths from the tornado along its entire path of about one hundred miles, was seventy-one in all, of which there were in Cherokee County twelve, in Buena Vista six, in Pocahontas four, in and around Pomeroy in Calhoun County, forty-nine.
FRANK D. JACKSON, Governor of Iowa, 1894-1896
CHAPTER XI
THE Prohibition party was the first to hold a State Convention in 1893. It assembled at Des Moines on the 31st of May and nomin- ated the following ticket: for Governor, Bennett Mitchell ; Lieutenant-Governor, J. C. Reed; Supreme Judge, J. A. Harvey; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Belle H. Mix; Railway Commissioner, G. "W. Button. The reso- lutions reiterated the former declarations of the party for rigid prohibition and other refoims.
The Republicans were determined to redeem the State from Bemocratic rule and the State Convention of that party which assembled at Bes Moines on the 16th of August was largely attended. The candidates before the Convention for Governor were Frank B. Jackson, Lafay- ette Young, F. M. Brake, W. H. Torbett, E. S. Ormsby and B. F. Clayton. The contest was warm and the first ballot stood as follows: Jackson, four hundred and ninety-three; Young, two hundred and forty-one; Brake, one hundred and fifty-four; Lyons, eighty-four; Ormsby, eighty-one; Torbett, sixty-seven. On the second ballot Jackson received eight hundred and forty votes which gave him the nomination. For the other offices the nom- inations were: Lieutenant-Governor, Col. W. S. Bun- gan; Supreme Judge, G. S. Robinson; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Henrv Sabin ; Railway Commissioner, J. W. Luke.
The election of Governor Boies and his reelection upon a local option platform, had alarmed the Republican leaders and convinced them that the party would have to "take a backward step" on prohibition or lose perma- nently the saloon voters of the party. Instead of boldly
172 HISTORY
declaring for local option license, an adroit resolution was constructed by the committee on platform to enable the party to secure the saloon vote, without openly placing the party on the Democratic platform for local option.
The following is the resolution which was reported and adopted :
" Resolved, That prohibition is no test of Republicanism. The General Assembly has given to the State a prohibitory law as strong as any that has been enacted by any country. Like any other criminal statute, its retention, modification or repeal must be determined by the General As- sembly, elected by and in sympathy with the people and to it is relegated the subject, to take such action as they may deem just and best in the matter, maintaining the present law in those portions of the State where it is now or can be made efficient and giving to other localities such methods of controlling and regulating the liquor traffic as will best serve the cause of temperance and morality."
The Democratic Convention met at Des Moines on the 23d of August and renominated Governor Boies and Lieu- tenant-Governor Bestow; John Cliggett was nominated for Supreme Judge, J. B. Knoepfler for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Thomas Bowman for Railway Commissioner. The resolutions favored a local option license law and a Board of Control for the public institu- tions.
The Populist Convention met in Des Moines on the 5th of September and placed in nomination the following candidates for State officers: Governor, J. M. Joseph; Lieutenant-Governor, J. E. Anderson; Supreme Judge, A. C. Weeks ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mrs. E. J. Woodrow; Railway Commissioner, John Idle. The resolutions reiterated the former declarations of the party on national issues, favored woman suffrage, and on the liquor question made the following declaration:
" The utter demoralization of the Democratic and Republican parties is again manifest in their attitude towards the liquor question. They are engaged in an attempt to outbid one another for the support of the saloon element in the State and are seeking to drown by their cry for the saloon
OF IOWA 173
every other important consideration relating to the public welfare. We demand that the present law shall remain until such time as it can be replaced by what is known as a State and National control with all profits eliminated — which we believe to be the true method of dealing with the question."
Prohibition or local option was no longer the chief issue between the Republican and Democratic parties, as both in this campaign advocated a policy of allowing each local- ity to determine whether saloons should be tolerated. This position satisfied the Republicans who had heretofore supported Governor Boies and in this election they re- turned to the support of the Republican ticket, which was elected. It also continued to receive the support of a great majority of the prohibitionists. Thus the ** back- ward step ' ' on prohibition restored the Republican party to power in the State.
Jackson's plurality over Boies was 32,161; the other Republican candidates were elected by pluralities ranging from 36, 904 for Colonel Dungan, to 38,629 for Luke. The Republicans elected candidates in each of the eleven Con- gressional Districts by large majorities.
The Twenty-fifth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 8th of January, 1894, Lieutenant-Governor W. S. Dungan presiding over the Senate. Henry Stone was elected Speaker of the House.
In his message to the General Assembly Governor Boies informed it that the State was now out of debt, except the amount due to the school fund. The total re- ceipts for the last biennial period amounted to $3,706,- 151.77 ; the disbursements for the same time amounted to $3,781,229.27; of which $234,498.01 was in payment of school fund bonds. Of the amount received, the General Government had repaid the State the sum it had paid for direct war taxes, $384,274.80. The Governor again urged the establishment of a Board of Control for the manage- ment of the State institutions ; and a local option license law for the regulation of the liquor traffic. A report was
174 HISTORY
made showing the total expenditures for various State institutions, from the beginning of each, up to the 30th of June, 1893, as follows :
Agricultural College $612,143.11
Capitol at Iowa City 110,248.08
Old Capitol and ground at Des Moines . . 87,783.21
New State House at Des Moines 2,997,214.64
Hospitals for the Insane at
Mt. Pleasant 903,820.63
Independence 1,055,107.40
Clarinda 590,673.85
College for the Blind 1,060,268.85
Industrial Schools 1,107,531.52
Institute for the Deaf and Dumb 1,638,014.16
Institute for Feeble Minded 981,708.16
Normal School 293,026.04
Orphans' Homes 1,278,598.32
Penitentiary at Anamosa 1,349,577.32
Penitentiary at Fort Madison 1,175,840.41
Soldiers' Home 262,853.53
State University 1,045,733.84
Industrial Home for the Blind 64,641.51
State Arsenal 48,902.73
This included the cost of buildings, improvements, re- pairs and support. There had also been appropriated for the State Agricultural Society, including the purchase of the Fair Grounds at Des Moines, $96,309.25. The total amount paid for the aid of County Agricultural Societies was $504,269.72 up to June 30th, 1893. The total expense of the State Railroad Commission was $211,399.31. The assessed value of the railroads of Iowa in 1893, was $44,- 869,784. The number of miles of railroad in the State at this time was 8,478, the gross earnings of which were, for the previous year, $44,284,053. Up to this date the Iowa railroads had received from grants of public lands 3,724,801 acres. They paid in taxes in 1893, $1,343,305.
OF IOWA 175
In 1886 the first serious damage was done to the crops of Iowa by a protracted season of drouth. The early part of the season witnessed the ordinary amount of rain. Crops made about the usual growth until July. The small grain was fairly well matured, producing an average yield in most parts of the State. Late in July the rains almost entirely ceased in the central and southern portions of the State and the com began to suffer seriously. August passed without rain, pastures dried up and entirely failed. The hay crop was seriously injured, thousands of acres of com were blighted and produced no ears and the stalks were cut for fodder to supply the place of pastures and hay. Wells that had always furnished an abundance of water and creeks that had been considered permanent, went dry early in August and stock suffered greatly for water. Ponds, marshes and sloughs on the unbroken prairies as well as on farms failed, and muskrats perished by the thousands. From this time for seven years came a succession of dry seasons in which most of the ordinary wells failed and farmers were compelled to have new and deep wells bored down to a permanent water reservoir. Creeks, ponds and springs that had never before failed since the first white settlements were made, dried up and hundreds of thousands of dollars were expended by the farmers in search of permanent water supplies. These dry seasons continued with barely enough moisture to mature most of the crops, until 1894. This year came a drouth which for severity and widespread damage to crops, has never been equalled in the State. Hay, pas- tures and com suffered to a most disastrous extent. Early in July pastures were as dry as though destroyed by fire. Hundreds of thousands of acres of com were withered by the hot winds and continued absence of rain, and no ears were formed on the stalks ; hay was less than one-quarter of a crop, and the serious problem that confronted the farmers was how to keep their stock alive.
For several years there had been an over production
176 HISTORY
of horses and prices had gradually declined to a lower figure than ever before known. When it became appar- ent that the corn crop was ruined, hay reduced to one- fourth the usual yield and pastures dried up, nearly every farmer found himself short of feed. Thousands of horses were sold at from ten to twenty dollars per head to buyers who came from other States ; young cattle were sacrificed at ruinous prices and hogs of all ages were disposed of at any price offered. Hundreds of the poorer horses were killed when they could not be sold, to save them from starvation. Still there were localities in the State where sufficient rain fell to mature the crops, so that in the aggre- gate the State produced over 128,000,000 bushels of com and over 107,000,000 bushels of oats. The next year the yield of corn was 285,000,000 bushels and of oats 201,000,- 000. The hay and forage crops generally suffered in pro- portion. These dry years were disastrous to the older forest trees which perished in great numbers, especially the oak and black walnut, while the white elms were seri- ously damaged. The older orchard trees also suffered permanent injury which eventually proved fatal over a large extent of country. As great as was the loss by this unprecedented drouth, by far the most severe that ever existed in the State, there was more than enough food grown and matured to supply its population. The great- est loss was occasioned by the selling off of young stock, which was seriously felt for many years, as stock raising had long been the most profitable branch of farming. This drouth of 1894, however, ended the lengthened dry period; the rains came again from year to year, gradu- ally sending the moisture deep down into the soil and again maturing bountiful crops. But with the bringing of so large a proportion of the great prairies under culti- vation, together with surface and tile draining of the wet lands, the water reservoirs are decreased from year to year, the springs dry up, the ponds disappear and the former wet sloughs become dry land. Consequently the
OF IOWA 177
rivers and creeks are slowly becoming smaller and the source of water supply disappearing with cultivation.
The year 1894 brought a general depression in busi- ness, throughout the entire country. Thousands of labor- ing men in every State of the Union found it difficult and, in many places impossible, to procure work to support themselves and families. Many attributed the cause of the depression to unwise ** National legislation." A movement began among the laboring men to organize what were termed '' Commonweal Armies " for the pur- pose of marching to the National Capitol and demanding of Congress some kind of legislation to furnish work for the enforced idle. It does not clearly appear what reme- dial legislation was demanded or agreed upon by these armies to bring the relief desired, but the movement grad- ually assumed considerable proportions. The working- men who joined in this movement chose officers and main- tained a good degree of discipline. The largest of these armies began its movements in California and, selecting for its commander General Kelly, began its march to- ward Washington. Many of the railroads helped the army on its long journey by giving the men free trans- portation. It finally reached Omaha and as it was about to enter Iowa, Governor Jackson went to Council Bluffs for the purpose of turning it back. The appearance of a peaceful body of men proposing to travel across the State disarmed suspicion, however, and no authority was found for legal interference on the part of the Governor. The army entered the State and the people showed their sympathy along the line of march by contributing food for its subsistence. A stop was made at Des Moines where the people furnished supplies generously and thousands visited the camp and conversed with the men. The ranks were found to contain men of almost every trade and of many of the professions, who had been unable to find employment, most of them had families and were seeking work. They were well behaved and respectable appearing
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178 HISTORY
persons who seemed to believe that by marching to Wash- ington they could procure some legislation for the relief of those willing to work who could find no one to employ them.
Kelly's army when in Des Moines numbered 1,118 men, and remained in camp in the eastern part of the city about three weeks. It was unable to procure transporta- tion from any of the railroads and finally, by the aid of the citizens, procured lumber, constructed flatboats and descended the Des Moines River finally reaching Wash- ington. Similar armies were also on the way to the Na- tional Capitol, some of which reached the city, while others became discouraged by the difficulties of procuring sub- sistence and transportation and disbanded. Altogether these armies numbered in the aggregate about 7,500 men. While this unique movement did not bring about any direct legislation by Congress for relief, it called the attention of the entire country to the vast number of unemployed men and the necessity of providing work to enable them to earn a livelihood.
The Prohibition party met in State Convention at Des Moines on the 27th of June, 1894, and made the following nominations: for Secretary of State, B. M. Mitchell; Auditor, C. H. Gordon; Treasurer, Mrs. A. E. McMurray; Supreme Judge, J. W. Rogers; Attorney-General, W. A. Maginnis ; Clerk Supreme Court, M. A. Atwood ; Reporter, Mrs. M. H. Dunham; Railway Commissioner, Malcom Smith. The resolutions reaffirmed former declarations of the party and condemned the ' * mulct law " as an out- rage upon the moral citizenship of the State.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 25th of July and made the following nom- inations: Secretar>^ of State, W. M. McFarland; Audi- tor, C. G. McCarthy ; Treasurer, John Herriott ; Supreme Judges, C. T. Granger and H. E. Deemer (to fill a va- cancy) ; Attorney-General, Milton Remley; Clerk Supreme Court, C. T. Jones; Reporter, B. I. Salinger; Railway
OF IOWA 179
Gommissioner, C. L. Davidson. No declarations were made as to State issues.
The Democratic party held its Convention at Des Moines on the 1st of August and nominated the follow- ing ticket : Secretary of State, H. F. Dale ; Auditor, B. C. Benham; Treasurer, L. W. White; Judges Supreme Court, John Cliggett and W. E. Mitchell; Attorney-Gen- eral, J. D. F. Smith; Clerk Supreme Court, T. F. Ward; Reporter, J. J. Shea; Railway Commissioner, J. C. Cole. The administration of President Cleveland was indorsed, the mulct law condemned, the repeal of the prohibitory liquor law demanded, local option and a State Board of Control favored.
The State Convention of the People's party was held at Des Moines on the 5th of September at which the fol- lowing candidates were nominated: Secretary of State, S. B. Crane; Auditor, J. Bellangee; Treasurer, Aaron Brown; Judges Supreme Court, John Cliggitt and J. E. Anderson ; Attorney-General, A. W. C. Weeks ; Clerk Su- preme Court, C. A. Farber ; Reporter, J. J. Shea ; Railway Commissioner, W. W. Pattee. The resolutions endorsed former declarations of the party on National issues and a two cent passenger rate on railroads.
The Republicans elected the entire ticket by an average plurality of about 79,000. The vote for Secretary of State shows the relative strength of the four parties at this election.
McFarland, Republican 229,376
Dale, Democrat 149,980
Crane, Populist 34,907
Mitchell, Prohibition 7,457
Cliggitt for Supreme Judge, nominated by the Demo- crats and Populists received 183,148 votes.
The Republican candidates for Congress were elected in each of the eleven districts.
180 HISTORY
The Twenty-fifth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 8th of January, 1894. The House was or- ganized by the election of Henry Stone, Speaker. Lieu- tenant-Governor Warren S. Dungan was President of the Senate. Frank D. Jackson was inaugurated Governor. The most important act of the Twenty-fifth General As- sembly was the enactment of a law taxing the liquor traffic and, under certain conditions, protecting saloons from the enforcement of the penalties of the prohibitory liquor law. This act, while not repealing the prohibitory liquor law in terms, provides that the penalties for the vio- lation of the same should be suspended, if the saloon keep- ers procure the written consent of a majority of the voters in the city for the establishment of saloons and pay an an- nual tax of six hundred dollars for the privilege of keeping a saloon. This act was devised and enacted by the Repub- lican members of the Legislature to comply with a virtual agreement made by the managers of that party at the late Republican State Convention, with that element of the party which was opposed to the prohibitory liquor law and had united with the Democrats in demanding local option. The enactment of the ^' Mulct Law," as this was called, satisfied the license Republicans as will be seen by the elections held since the compromise was agreed upon. The license Republicans in the two former elec- tions for Governor had supported Horace Boies as the champion of local option and had been numerous enough to defeat the Republican candidates. The Prohibition party, instead of uniting with the Republicans, had put a ticket in the field and thus far had aided in dividing the prohibition vote and indirectly contributed to the over- throw of prohibition. The Republican prohibitionists re- mained in the party but were completely shorn of their influence in its councils, in the selection of candidates and in shaping of policy. Thus a small minority of the party, the license Republicans, became the leaders of the organi- zation and the prohibition Republicans surrendered with-
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OF IOWA 181
out a determined effort to save the prohibitory law. Their devotion to the party was stronger than their hostility to saloons and for the first time in the history of the State saloons were established wherever a majority of the voters could be induced to consent.
An act was passed providing for the appointment of commissioners to revise and codify the laws of the State. The Commission consisted of John Y. Stone, Charles Baker, Emil McClain, H. S. Wilson and H. F. Dale.
The year 1895 brought bountiful crops throughout the State but prices were very low, leaving no profit to farm- ers and consequent business depression to almost every branch of industry except money loaning.
Through the efforts of Mrs. Abbie Gardner Sharp and Senator A. B. Funk of Dickinson County, the General As- sembly of 1894 appropriated $5,000 to be used in the erec- tion of a monument to the memory of the victims of the Spirit Lake massacre of 1857, and the members of the Relief Expedition under Major Williams who marched to the scene of the tragedy to rescue the survivors and bury the dead. The Commissioners appointed by Governor Jackson to superintend the erection of the monument were Ex-Governor Cyrus C. Carpenter, Hon. John F. Dun- combe and Hon. Roderick A. Smith who were members of the Relief Expedition; Abbie Gardner Sharp, the sole surviving woman captive ; and Hon. Charles Aldrich, Cura- tor of the Historical Department. The monument is of Minnesota granite with bronze tablets bearing a brief history of the affair and the names of the victims of the massacre, the captives, the two men who perished from hardships and exposure on the Relief Expedition, as well as a complete roll of the officers and men of the command.
The monument stands upon ground formerly belonging to Rowland Gardner, one of the victims of the massacre, and near his cabin, which has been preserved. It was dedicated July 25th, 1895, when Ex-Governor Cyrus C. Carpenter, chairman of the Commission, presented the
182 HISTORY
memorial to the State in an address, giving a brief recital of the tragic events which the monument conmiemorates. The gathering was one of unusual historic interest ; among those present being several actors in the darkest tragedy ever enacted on Iowa soil.
The first State Convention was held by the People's party at Des Moines on the 11th of June, 1895, at which the following nominations were made for the various State officers: Governor, S. B. Crane; Lieutenant-Governor, A. R. Starrett; Supreme Judge, T. W. Ivory; Superin- tendent Public Instruction, L. S. Tabor; Railway Com- missioner, E. J. Stason. The platform favored additional security for depositors of banks; inspection of work- shops; a general reduction of salaries of officers and a State tax on gold contracts.
On the 18th of June the Prohibition State Convention was held at Des Moines which nominated the following ticket: Governor, Francis Bacon; Lieutenant-Governor, M. W. Atwood; Supreme Judge, J. W. Rogers; Superin- tendent Public Instruction, Mrs. L. D. Carhart; Railway Commissioner, H. F. Jones. The resolutions denounced the mulct law; favored arbitration, the reduction of of- ficial salaries and of legal interest.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 10th of July and, as Governor Jackson had declined a reelection and it was altogether probable that the Republican candidates would be elected, an animated contest arose in the party over the selection of the candi- date for Governor. One of the candidates before the convention was James Harlan, the old time United States Senator and Secretary of the Interior, who had always had the confidence and admiration of the Republicans of Iowa and the Nation, for his unsurpassed services in the great conflict over slavery during the most critical period of our country's history. There was a strong feeling that his services should have been retained by the State he had so ably and loyally represented for a quarter of a century
OF IOWA 183
and upon which he had brought honor by his superb leader- ship in the Senate in the defense of President Grant when be was viciously assailed by a faction of Republican Sen- ators. But when the movement of the people became strong in the determination to call Senator Harlan back into public life by tendering him the position of chief Ex- ecutive, the political managers of a quarter of a century, fearing the influence of the great statesman in that office, sent forth the decree that he must not be nominated. When the first ballot came the vote stood as follows : F. M. Drake, three hundred and sixty-six; James Harlan, two hundred and forty-eight; with the remainder of the votes divided between Matt Parrott, W. M. McFarland, J. B. Harsh, E. S. Ormsby and J. L. Kamrer. On the third ballot the vote for Harlan had reached three hundred and eighty-four, when the opposition rallied and threw its strength as far as possible for General Francis M. Drake and gave him the nomination on the sixth ballot with eight hundred and sixty-four votes. The other nomina- tions were: for Lieutenant-Governor, Matt Parrott; Su- preme Judge, Josiah Given; Railway Commissioner, George W. Perkins. The resolutions were devoted ex- clusively to National affairs.
The Democratic party held its Convention at Marshall- town on the 8th of August and nominated the following candidates: Governor, W. I. Babb; Lieutenant-Gover- nor, S. L. Bestow ; Supreme Judge, T. G. Harper ; Super- intendent Public Instruction, L. B. Pearshall; Railway Commissioner, George Perkins. The resolutions de- nounced the mulct law and favored local option and a non-partisan Board of Control for State institutions.
The election resulted in the choice of the Republican candidates by an average plurality of about 65,000 for all of the Republican candidates except General Drake, whose plurality was 59,286, majority 16,083.
The General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 13th of January, 1896. H. W. Byers was chosen Speaker
184 HISTORY
of the House ; Matt Parrott was President of the Senate. F. M. Drake was inaugurated Governor.
The following were the most important acts of this session of the Legislature: an act imposing a collateral inheritance tax and providing for its collection; an act to define express companies and to provide for taxing the same. Also one declaring such companies common carriers and placing them under control of the Railway Commissioners. An act for the regulation and control of loan and saving associations; an act to prohibit the sale and manufacture of cigarettes in the State ; an act author- izing the Executive Council to purchase a site and pro- cure plans for the erection of a State Historical Building ; an act to provide for the semi-centennial of the admission of Iowa into the Union ; an act providing for the payment of the Commission selected to locate and mark the posi- tions held by Iowa regiments at the Battle of Shiloh.
Much feeling had been aroused among the soldiers of Iowa over the action of the Commission appointed to superintend the erection of the Iowa Soldiers ' Monument, in selecting certain names and medallion portraits to be placed upon the monument, and the Legislature passed a joint resolution of instruction for the Commission which directed that no medallion portrait of any person living or dead should be placed upon the monument to exalt one soldier over another of equal or more deserving record, ''that the Commission in place thereof shall have inscribed on the monument the name of each regiment and organi- zation, the number of men enlisted and date of muster into service. ' '
The Legislature made an appropriation of $10,000 to enable Iowa to make preparations for participating in the Trans-Mississippi International Exposition to be held at Omaha in 1898. It was provided that the Executive Coun- cil should appoint a Commission of one from each Con- gressional District to collect and superintend the mate- rial for an Iowa exhibit. The Commission consisted of the
OF IOWA 185
following persons: J. H. Wallbank, S. D. Cook, F. N. Chase, J. E. E. Markley, S. B. Packard, R. H. Moore, Allan Dawson, S. H. Mallory, G. W. McCoid, Owen Love- joy and A. W. Irwin; who proceeded to organize by the election of the following officers: S. H. Mallory, presi- dent; Allan Dawson, vice-president; F. N. Chase, secre- tary ; G. W. McCoid, treasurer.
A Semi-Centennial Celebration of the admission of Iowa into the Union was held at Burlington in the month of October, 1896. The Governor appointed a Commission consisting of P. M. Crapo, George F. Henry and John Scott to make arrangements for this celebration. It was largely attended by the pioneers of the State and many valuable historical addresses and papers were contributed.
On the 28th of March, 1896, the battleship ''Iowa," which had been built by the Government and named in honor of our State, was launched at Philadelphia. The Governor and Staff and most of the Iowa members of Congress were present and participated in the exercises. The ship was christened by Miss Mary Lord Drake, daugh- ter of the Governor. By authority of the General As- sembly a silver plate service was procured and presented to the commander of the " Iowa."
During the latter part of the year a terrible famine prevailed in India and appeals were made to the people of the United States for aid. Governor Drake appointed a commission consisting of Hoyt Sherman, E. H. Conger, Rev. Leon A. Harvey, Colonel G. L. Godfry, W. L. Car- penter and J. D. McGarraugh to collect and forward pro- visions to the sufferers in India. The people of Iowa contributed liberally and the Commissioners were enabled to furnish generous aid.
On the 11th of July, 1896, there occurred a collision of trains on the main line of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway near Logan in Harrison County, the most destruc- tive to human life that has ever been known within the State.
186 HISTORY OF IOWA
From an investigation made by the Railway Commission- ers the following facts were gathered: the Society of Union Pacific Pioneers of Nebraska had arranged for a special train to carry the members and their families, to the num- ber of 1,200 on an excursion to Logan. There were sixteen passenger coaches filled with men, women and children. When the party was ready to return the train was on a side track at Logan about 6.40 p. m. awaiting the regular east bound passenger train to pass that point, as it does not stop at Logan. This train came on time and carried a signal that another train was following it. Disregard- ing this danger signal the engineer and conductor of the excursion train started out on the main track and at a curve about a quarter of a mile west of Logan collided with the east bound fast mail train running at a speed of thirty-five miles an hour. The shock was terrible as the heavy engines struck each other and a moment later cries and groans of the mutilated passengers arose from the wreck of the crowded cars of the excursion train. Men, women and children were crushed and mangled beneath the broken and twisted fragments of wood and iron in an awful scene of confusion, terror and agony that defies de- scription. Twenty-seven persons were killed and thirty- two injured, some of them fatally. The citizens of Logan rendered every assistance in their power and were untir- ing in their efforts to relieve the suffering. The Railway Commissioners made an investigation of the affair and found the facts as here stated.
^ ■■ ^1
CHAPTER XII
HE first political State Convention in 1896 was held by the Republicans at Des Moines H on the 11th of March. Resolutions were
■ adopted presenting Senator William B. Al-
^BL. lison as a candidate for President on behalf
of Iowa, to the National Republican Con- vention, and delegates were chosen to represent the State in that Convention.
At the Democratic State Convention, held at Dubuque on the 20th of May, it was unanimously agreed to present the name of Ex-Governor Boies to the National Demo- cratic Convention as a candidate for President.
The Iowa candidates of the two great political parties were able and popular men who were eminently qualified for the high office; they received strong and enthusiastic support in the National Conventions, but the prominence of William McKinley, from the association of his name with a popular tariff bill, carried the Republican conven- tion for him and the wonderful eloquence of William J. Bryan of Nebraska carried the Democratic Convention over any one who could be named.
A later Republican Convention nominated the follow- ing ticket for State officers: Secretary of State, G. L. Dobson; Auditor, C. G. McCarthy; Treasurer, John Her- riott ; Supreme Judge, S. M. Ladd ; Attorney-General, Mil- ton Remley; Railway Commissioner, E. A. Dawson.
The Democrats and Populists united upon the follow- ing ticket for State officers: Secretary of State, H. L. Karr; Auditor, G. W. Davis; Treasurer, John Foley; Su- preme Judge, L. R. Bolter; Attorney-General, W. D. Boies ; Railway Commissioner, Amos Steckel. The Popu- lists also united with the Democrats in the support of Brvan for President.
188 HISTORY
A small faction of the Democrats of the State and Na- tion supported John M. Palmer for President on a ' * gold standard " platform.
The Prohibition party nominated the following candi- dates for State officers : Secretary of State, W. G. Wright ; Auditor, J. W. Wonder; Treasurer, J. E. Bye; Supreme Judge, Samuel Holmes; Attorney-General, C. E. Board- man; Railway Commissioner, W. S. Peile.
The National campaign was one of unusual vigor and enthusiasm, the great issue being for or against the gold standard.
The Republicans were successful on both the State and National tickets. The vote in Iowa was as follows :
On President, McKinley, Republican 289,293
Bryan, Democrat and Populist 223,741
Palmer, Gold Standard 4,515
Levering, Prohibition 3,192
Plurality for McKinley over Bryan, 65,552. The vote on Secretary of State was as follows :
G. L. Dobson, Republican 288,715
H. L. Karr, Fusion 224,812
W. G. Wright, Prohibition 3,553
The Republicans elected all of the Representatives in Congress, eleven in number.
An extra session of the Legislature was held, beginning on the 19th of January, 1897, for the purpose of taking action on the report of the Commissioners appointed to revise the laws and prepare a new code, which, when com- pleted, was published and known as * ' The Code. ' '
The Soldiers' Monument Commission was abolished and a new Commission appointed by joint resolution to make a thorough investigation of the acts of the trustees, regents, commissioners and all officers of the various State institutions from July 1st to January 1st, 1897.
OF IOWA 189
The Democratic State Convention of 1897, was held at Des Moines on the 23d of June, at which the following nominations were made: for Governor, F. E. White; Lieutenant-Governor, B. A. Plummer; Supreme Judge, L. G. Kinne ; Railway Commissioner, S. B. Crane ; Super- intendent Public Instruction, F. G. Rinehart. A lengthy series of resolutions was adopted denouncing the acts and general policy of the Republican party. State and Na- tional.
The '* Gold Democrats " held a convention at Des Moines on the 7th of July and nominated the following candidates : for Governor, John Cliggitt ; Lieutenant- Governor, S. H. Mallory; Supreme Judge, W. I. Babb; Superintendent Public Instruction, J. B. Knoepfler ; Rail- way Commissioner, Peter A. Dey. The resolutions re- affirmed the general policy of the National Gold Demo- crats, condemned the " Mulct Law " and favored a State Board of Control.
The State Convention of the Prohibitionists was held at Des Moines on the 27th of July at which the following ticket was nominated : for Governor, S. P. Leland ; Lieu- tenant-Governor, M. W. Atwood; Supreme Judge, N. T. Hellyer; Superintendent Public Instruction, Marion H. Dunham ; Railway Commissioner, A. N. Coats. The reso- lutions reaffirmed the former declarations of the party on the liquor question.
The People's party held its Convention at Des Moines on the 19th of August and made the following nomina- tions: for Governor, C. A. Lloyd; Lieutenant-Governor, B. H. Perkins ; Supreme Judge, J. A. Lowenburg ; Super- intendent Public Instruction, William Blain; Railway Commissioner, L. H. Griffith. The resolutions indorsed the former declarations of the party.
Governor Drake declined to be a candidate for reelection and, as it was regarded as certain that the Republican candidate would be elected, great interest centered upon the Republican State Convention which met at Cedar Rap-
190 HISTORY
ids on the 18th of August. The candidates for Governor first in the field were Lieutenant-Governor, Matt Parrott of Black Hawk County; A. B. Funk, a prominent mem- ber of the Senate from Dickinson ; J. B. Harsh of Union ; L. M. Shaw, a comparatively new man in politics from Crawford ; W. E. Fuller of Fayette, and Ex-Senator James Harlan of Henry. It was understood early in the cam- paign that the men who had for a quarter of a century been the most influential managers of the party machin- ery had decided to support Lieutenant-Governor Parrott for Governor, and as these managers usually succeeded in their plans, the general expectation was that Parrott would be nominated. Senator Funk was a journalist of ability who had served two terms in the Senate and had the support of most of northwestern Iowa, with strength in other sections. L. M. Shaw of Crawford had never been in any way prominent in State politics and was less known than any other candidate. "When the Convention assembled it soon became apparent that the old leaders were about to transfer their support from Parrott to Shaw. Why, it was not generally known, but it proved to be true. On the first ballot the vote stood as follows: Parrott, three hundred forty-four; Funk, three hundred eight; Shaw, two hundred ninety- three ; with the remain- der of the votes divided between Fuller, Harsh andHarlan. It was in vain that the friends of Parrott appealed to the potent leaders to stand by him, the fiat had gone forth, * ' rally around Shaw. ' ' Parrott gained a number of votes on the second ballot, but Shaw had gained enormously and it became evident that the next ballot would give him the nomination. Then began the landslide amid great ex- citement as the leaders whispered about the Convention, '' keep your eye on Shaw." The third ballot stood two hundred twenty-three for Funk, three hundred forty-six for Parrott, seven hundred ninety-three for Shaw, giving him the nomination.
J. C. Milliman a former member of the House of Rep-
LESLIE M. SHAW, Governor of Iowa, 1898-1902
OF IOWA 191
resentatives from Harrison County was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor. The other nominations were: Su- preme Judge, C. M. Waterman; Superintendent Public Instruction, R. C. Barrett; Railway Commissioner, C. L. Davidson. The platform contained no new declarations of policy. At the election the plurality for Shaw was 29,876.
Upon the organization of his Cabinet President McKin- ley selected James Wilson of Iowa to be Secretary of Agriculture.
The assessment of the Iowa railroads for 1897 was fixed by the Executive Council at $44,405,196; sleeping cars were assessed at $150,607.
The Twenty-seventh General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 10th of January, 1898, Lieutenant-Gover- nor Milliman presiding over the Senate. J. H. Funk was elected Speaker of the House. Leslie M. Shaw was in- augurated Governor.
The committee appointed by the last General Assembly to investigate the State institutions made an elaborate re- port early in the session, showing that its investigation had been thorough. Many irregularities were found in the management, some extravagant expenditures, and much to criticise in the general methods of doing business. The committee came to the conclusion that the institutions could be better and more economically managed by a State Board of Control which should have supervision of all of the institutions. The facts stated and the arguments pre- sented for the establishment of such a system made a pow- erful impression upon the members of the General As- sembly and resulted in the enactment of a law providing for such a Board of Control, to consist of three members to be nominated by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate ; the members of the Board to hold their positions for a term of six years and not more than two members to belong to the same political party.
A joint resolution was passed to amend the State Con-
192 HISTORY
stitution to provide for biennial elections in place of an- nual elections.
The people of the United States had long sympathized with the citizens of the Island of Cuba, in their struggles to throw off the rule of Spain and to secure to themselves an independent government. The war against the revolu- tionists had been waged with terrible barbarity by Spain. Hostile demonstrations had been made in January, 1898, at Havana, against American citizens, and the battleship Maine was sent to Havana harbor on the 25th of January for their protection.
On the night of February 15th the Maine, while lying peacefully in the harbor, was blown up in some mysterious way and two hundred of her officers, crew and marines perished in the terrible explosion. The destruction of the battleship produced a frenzy of excitement and indigna- tion throughout the country and, although Spain hastened to officially express regrets for the ' ' incident, ' ' the belief prevailed that in some way the Spanish authorities had at least been accessory to the terrible crime, if they were not the secret perpetrators of it.
A court of inquiry was convened by the President which proceeded to Havana and, on the 20tli of February began a rigid investigation of the affair, reporting to the Presi- dent in March. Yet, the way in which the crime or acci- dent occurred was not unraveled and will doubtless always remain a mystery.
The indignation felt by the people of this country over the outrage, was one of the chief elements in bringing on the war against Spain which soon followed. Early in March Congress made an appropriation of $50,000,000 for National defense. Soon after a squadron of warships was gathered off the coast of Cuba, under command of Com- modore Schley, of the American navy. In April, Congress declared Cuba free from Spanish control and directed the President to use the military forces of the United States to aid Cuba in her struggle to overthrow the authority of
OF IOWA 193
the Spanish government in that island. Congress at once passed an act to increase the regular army to 61,000 men and the President issued a proclamation to the general powers announcing war with Spain. The North Atlantic Squadron, under Rear Admiral Sampson was ordered to blockade the Cuban ports. This was followed by a formal declaration of war by Spain, and President McKinley issued a call for 125,000 volunteers.
Before the adjournment of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly the prospect for war seemed to render it pru- dent to take such action as would obviate the necessity for an extra session. An appropriation of $500,000 was therefore made, or so much thereof as might be necessary to be used in aid of the General Government in case of war. Anticipating a call for volunteers, the State authori- ties were making preparation to promptly fill any requisi- tion that might be made for volunteers.
On the 1st of February, 1898, Brigadier-General Melvin H. Byers of Glenwood was appointed Adjutant-General. On the 21st of April a general order was issued to the company commanders of the regiments of the National Guard to have all officers and men of their companies undergo a physical examination. It was also ordered that all men with dependent families should, upon request be discharged ; and that men under twenty-one years of age, who could not procure the consent of their parents or guardians and all who failed to pass the required examin- ation, should also at once be discharged. It was ordered that none but ex-members of the National Guard and those having received military training, should be accepted.
On the 25th of April the Secretary of War sent to the Governor of Iowa a requisition for three regiments of infantry and two batteries of light artillery. On the same day Governor Shaw replied as follows : ' ' Full quota will be mobilized at Des Moines and ready to be mustered in May 2." Four regiments of the Iowa National Guard were ordered to report at Camp McKinley which had been
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194 HISTORY
located at the State Fair Grounds at Des Moines, for the purpose of being organized into volunteer regiments to be mustered into the service of the United States. Colonel J. R. Lincoln was placed in command of the camp.
On the 30th of April Governor Shaw was notified that the quota of Iowa had been changed to four regiments of infantry and two batteries of light artillery. On the same date the Second, Third and Fourth Regiments of the Iowa National Guard were selected as a basis for the volunteer troops required from Iowa.
In May the Second Regiment was ordered to New Or- leans, its number having been changed to the Fiftieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Colonel D. V. Jackson commanding. This regiment was sent from New Orleans to a camp that had been established at Jacksonville, Florida. The Iowa soldiers were exceedingly anxious to be ordered to the seat of war but so rapidly did events in the field and on the ocean follow one another that the conflict was ended before any of the Iowa troops were ordered to the front. The Fiftieth Regiment remained at Jacksonville until the 13th of September when, the war being ended, it was or- dered home. It lost by death, mostly from typhoid fever, thirty-two men and was mustered out at Des Moines on the 30th of November.
The Fifty-second Regiment left Des Moines on the 28th of May, and went into camp at Chickamauga Park, in the State of Georgia, where it remained until the 28th of August when it returned to Des Moines where it was mus- tered out of the service on the 30th of October, 1898. The losses from sickness were thirty-six men, thirty-one of v/hom died of typhoid fever.
The Fifty-first Regiment left Des Moines on the 5th of June for San Francisco, where it remained in camp until July 29th, then embarked on the transport ''Pennsylvania" for the Philippine Islands, by way of Honolulu. Reach- ing Manila Bay on December 7th it participated in the fol- lowing engagements : Gaudalupe Church, March 5, 1899 ;
OF IOWA 195
Quingua, April 23 ; East and West Pulilan, April 24 ; Cal- umpit, April 25 ; San Tomas, May 4 ; San Fernando, on several days ; Calulut and Angeles on the 9th of August. On the 6th of September, 1899, the regiment returned to Manila on its way home and on the 22d sailed on the trans- port ' * Senator ' ' arriving at San Francisco on the 22d of October, 1899. Governor Shaw, Adjutant-General Byers, Secretary of State Dobson and Auditor Merriam pro- ceeded to San Francisco to meet and welcome the return of the only regiment of Iowa that had seen active service in the war. The Fifty-first Regiment received a most cor- dial welcome after its long voyage, from the Iowa State officials and on the 2d of November was mustered out of the service, the members reaching Council Bluffs on the sixth. The losses of the regiment were one killed and forty who died of disease.
The Forty-ninth Regiment left Des Moines for Jackson- ville on the 11th of June, 1898, and was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division, Seventh Army Corps. On the 19th of December it was sent to Havana, Cuba, remain- ing until April, 1899, when it returned to the United States and was mustered out of the service. Before leaving Ha- vana the regiment participated in the ceremonies attending the evacuation of that city by the Spaniards on the 1st of January, 1899. The losses were fifty-four men from dis- ease. The regiment was not engaged in any battle with the Spanish Army.
In June, 1898, the War Department called upon the Gov- ernor of Iowa for two batteries of light artillery. From several organizations offering their services the follow- ing were selected : the Fifth Battery from Cedar Rapids under command of Captain George W. Bever; and the Sixth Iowa Battery from Burlington commanded by Cap- tain Frank S. Long. These batteries went into camp at Des Moines on the 8th of July. But the War with Spain having closed before their services were needed they were j^ mustered out on the 5th of September.
196 HISTORY
In June, 1898, Captain Frank E. Ljnnan recruited a com- pany of fifty men for service in the Signal Corps. They left the State for Washington on the 25th of June and were discharged from service on the 18th of April, 1899.
Amos W. Brandt of Des Moines was commissioned in June, 1898, to organize a company of colored immunes for service. This company left Des Moines on the 17th of July and was mustered into service at St. Louis as Com- pany M of the Seventh United States Infantry Volunteer Immunes and was sent to Macon, Georgia, where it was mustered out on the 28th of February, 1899.
During the War with Spain, which began in April, 1898, and terminated on the 10th of December of the same year, it was not the fortune of any of the Iowa Volunteers to participate in battles, but they performed every duty in a manner that reflected credit upon the State and exhibited a degree of patriotism similar to that of the volunteers of the Civil War, thirty-seven years before.
The field officers of the several regiments called into the service were as follows : of the Forty-ninth, Colonel William G. Dows, Lieutenant- Colonel Clifford D.Ham, Majors S.E. Clapp, B. F. Blockinger and F. E. Fisher ; Fiftieth Eegi- ment. Colonel D. V. Jackson, Lieutenant-Colonel E. E. Lambert (promoted to colonel August 20th), Majors J. T. Moffit (promoted to lieutenant-colonel August 20th, 1898), John Tillie and H. H. Caughlan; Fifty-first Regiment, Colonel John C. Loper, Lieutenant-Colonel M. M. Miller, Majors W. J. Duggan, J. T. Hume and S. P. Moore ; Fifty- second Regiment, Colonel W. B. Humphrey, Lieutenant- Colonel I. R. Kirk, Majors S. J. Parker, Otto Hile and W. A. Kirk.
Amos W. Brandt was commissioned Captain of Com- pany F in the Thirty-second United States Infantry which sailed for the Philippine Islands in October, 1899. His company was in several engagements with the enemy dur- ing that and the following year and Captain Brandt re-
OF IOWA 197
ceived high commendations from his superior officers for the gallant manner in which he met and defeated the foe.
As the last Iowa regiment engaged in the War of the Eebellion was numbered Forty-eight, it was decided by the State authorities to make the numbering continuous and the first mustered in for the Spanish War was there- fore numbered Forty-nine,
The State Board of Control, provided for by the General Assembly, was organized in the appointment by the Gov- ernor of Ex-Governor William Larrabee, Ex-Supreme Judge L. G. Kinne and John Cownie. L. A. Wilkinson was chosen secretary and H. F. Liebbe, architect. On the 1st of July, 1898, the Board took charge of the business management of the various State institutions, the treasur- ers retired from their positions, and the funds were turned over to the State Treasurer.
The first political State Convention of the year was held by the People's party at Des Moines on the 2d of June, 1898. The following ticket was placed in nomina- tion: Secretary of State, R. M. Daniels; Auditor, C. A. Wickes ; Treasurer, A. M. Hutchinson ; Attorney General, J. A. Lowenberg ; Judge of Supreme Court, L. H. Weller ; Clerk, Alii Reed; Reporter, C. R. Smith; Railway Com- missioner, Joseph Ash. No new or important declara- tions were made in the resolutions adopted.
The Prohibition State Convention was held in Des Moines on the 28th of June at which the following nomi- nations were made: Secretary of State, Malcom Smith; Auditor, Edgar Brintnall; Treasurer, J. C. Reed; Attor- ney-General, Samuel Holmes; Judge Supreme Court, H. F. Johns; Clerk, B. J. Bowers; Reporter, Benjamin Rad- cliffe; Railway Commissioners, R. M. Dihel and A. M. Johnson. No new issues were raised in the resolutions.
The Republican State Convention was held at Dubuque on the 1st of September at which the following nomina- tions were made: Secretary of State, G. L. Dobson; Aud- itor, F. F. Merriam; Treasurer, John Herriott; Attorney-
198 HISTORY
General, Milton Remley; Judge of Supreme Court, H. E. Deemer; Clerk, C. T. Jones; Reporter, B. I. Salinger; Railway Commissioners, Welcome Mowry and D. J. Pal- mer. The resolutions endorsed the State and National administrations.
The Democratic State Convention assembled at Mar- sh alltown on the 7th of September and placed the follow- ing ticket in nomination : Secretary of State, C. R. Por- ter ; Auditor, E. H. Gillette ; Treasurer, N. Anderson ; At- torney-General, J. M. Parsons ; Judge of Supreme Court, W. A. Spurrier; Clerk, E. R. Perkins; Reporter, W. A. Ferren; Railway Commissioners, A. Hanson and H. E. Wills. The resolutions affirmed former positions on Na- tional issues and declared that the acceptance of free passes or mileage on railroads, by public officers, or free use of telegraph, telephone or express favors by such of- ficials should be declared a misdemeanor and be punished as such.
The entire Republican ticket was elected by an average plurality of about 63,500.
The Socialists had a full ticket in the field which re- ceived in the entire State but little more than 1,000 votes.
The winter of 1898-99 will long be remembered in the upper Mississippi valley as one bringing widespread dis- aster to nurserymen and fruit growers. The most seri- ous damage was done to nurseries and vineyards. In many localities the destruction was complete, leaving not a solitary tree or vine of varieties which heretofore had survived the coldect winters. The destruction of plum trees in the orchards was very great, and young apple or- chards were in many cases entirely destroyed. Owing to some peculiarities of the season the roots of nursery trees, young orchards, grape vines, blackberry and rasp- berry bushes were found to be entirely killed, or so badly damaged that they could not be saved. At one time in the winter the cold was very severe but not a lower tempera- ture than has often been experienced in Iowa since the
OF IOWA 199
first planting of orchards. Yet no such root killing has ever before swept entire nurseries, young orchards and vineyards out of existence, no varieties escaping. The ** Iron-clads " were wiped out with the tender varieties. The Concord grape and Snyder blackberry, which had heretofore withstood the severest winters known in Iowa, were mostly destroyed or seriously injured. Iowa nur- serymen were obliged to import trees and vines from States further south to supply their customers in the spring of 1899, and it was very difficult to find unin- jured nursery trees anywhere in the upper Mississippi valley. The older orchards of apple trees were much less damaged, many escaped with slight injury. The State Horticultural Society made searching investigations into the causes which produced the widespread devastation, but there was a great difference of opinion as to causes and remedies for the future. The report of the secretary says:
" Perhaps no one can crystallize into a brief statement all of the many causes which resulted in so much damage to the fruit industry of the State. Some of these causes may be traced to the past few dry years in which the subsoil lost much of its moisture; to the cool air and rains of the last decade of October which stimulated an excessive root action late in the season; to a long cold winter without a blanket of snow to protect the soil from the alternating extremes of freezing and thawing."
The damage was not confined to fruit trees, vines and bushes ; red clover, evergreens and many varieties of for- est trees were killed and such as survived were seriously injured. No such general damage to evergreens and forest trees was ever before known in Iowa.
The Prohibitionists held a State Convention at Des Moines on the 23d of May, 1899, and nominated the fol- lowing candidates for the various offices: Governor, M. W. Atwood; Lieutenant-Governor, George Pugsley; Supreme Judge, H. F. Johns; Superintendent of Public Instruction, D. S. Dunlavy; Eailway Commissioner, A.
200 HISTORY
B. Wray. Resolutions were passed reaffirming former declarations for prohibition of the liquor traffic.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines on the 2d of August at which Governor Shaw and Lieutenant-Governor Milliman were renominated; J. C. Sherwin was nominated for Supreme Judge; Richard C. Barrett for Superintendent of Public Instruction ; and E. A. Dawson for Railway Commissioner. Resolutions were adopted indorsing the State and National administra- tions.
The Democratic State Convention held at Des Moines on the 16th of August nominated the following ticket: for Governor, F. E. White; Lieutenant-Governor, M. L. Bevis ; Supreme Judge, A. Wan Wagenen ; Superintend- ent of Public Instruction, B. P. Hoist; Railway Commis- sioner, W. H. Calhoun. The platform enunciated no new principles or policy.
The Convention of the People's party was held at Des Moines on the 30th of August and placed in nomination the following candidates: for Governor, C. A. Lloyd; Lieutenant-Governor, S. M. Harvey; Supreme Judge, L. H. Weller; Superintendent of Public Instruction, C. Wirth ; Railway Commissioner, R. L. Dunning. The res- olutions raised no new issues on State affairs.
The entire Republican ticket was elected by an average plurality of nearly 60,000.
The number of miles of railroad in the State on the 1st of January, 1899, was 8,518, which was assessed at $44,- 550,129. The sleeping cars on the various roads were assessed in the aggregate at $183,303. The taxable value of the telegraph and telephone companies of the State was reported at $1,028,845. The total value of the per- sonal property as reported for the year 1899 was $361,- 196,017. The real estate was valued at $391,618,831.
The Twenty-eighth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 8th of January, 1900, and was organized by the election of D. H. Bowen, Speaker of the House, Lieu-
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tenant-Governor Milliman, presided over the Senate. Leslie M. Shaw was inaugurated Governor for a second term. In his message to the General Assembly the Gover- nor made the following statement as to the improved financial condition of the State:
" The receipts of general revenue from July 1st, 1897, to the same date in 1899 were $5,079,403.29. There was a balance in the treasury July 1st, 1897, of $36,672.96, making the total revenue for the term of two years, $5,116,076.25.
" Against this sum warrants were drawn during the term, together with outstanding warrants to the amount of $4,165,786.58. The treasury is in better condition than it was two years ago by $1,008,580.50."
The Governor continues:
" Iowa is exceedingly fortunate in her banking interests. She has more banks than any other state in the Union. At the date of their last reports, the deposits amounted to $163,715,560.85, showing an increase in two years of fifty-five per cent. Unquestionably the proportions of unen- cumbered farms in the State exceeds that of any other period."
Speaking of the Board of Control provided for by the last General Assembly, the Governor says :
" The policy thus inaugurated has resulted in a very considerable saving to the State, and in addition, the service at most of the institutions has been improved. When the amount of work necessary to reorganize the operative forces of thirteen State institutions, and personally examine the practical operations of each, to inaugurate a system of bookkeeping appli- cable to each institution separately and to all jointly, to install a main office at the Capital with its corps of untried clerks and assistants is con- sidered, it must be conceded that the three men composing this Board undertook on July 1st, an Herculean task. The results show more clearly than any words of mine how conscientiously this duty was undertaken and how earnestly, faithfully and untiringly it has been prosecuted."
Among the more important acts of the Twenty-eighth G eneral Assembly may be enumerated the following :
Eegulating the taxation of telephone, telegraph, insur- ance and express companies ; providing for the assessment and collection of taxes not found by the assessors; ere-
202 HISTORY
ating a Department of Agriculture; providing for a re- formatory industrial institution for women at Anamosa; providing for the consolidation of the miscellaneous por- tions of the State Library with that of the Historical De- partment; creation of a Library Commission and provid- ing for the establishment of free public libraries and school libraries throughout the State; providing for the appointment of a commission to determine the position of Iowa regiments during the siege of Vicksburg; and pro- viding for the erection of monuments to mark the posi- tion of Iowa volunteers during the Battle of Shiloh. The Legislature passed a joint resolution to amend the Con- stitution of the State to provide for biennial, in place of annual elections.
The Republican National Convention of 1900 nominated William McKinley for reelection and Theodore Roosevelt for Vice-President.
The Democrats nominated William J. Bryan for Presi- dent and Adlai E. Stevenson for Vice-President.
The Prohibition party held a State Convention at Des Moines, June 12th, 1900, and placed the following candi- dates in nomination: Secretary of State, S. 0. Pillsbury; Auditor, C. H. Lockins; Treasurer, W. L. Ransom; At- torney-General, J. P. Ferguson; Judge Supreme Court, J. A. Hai'vey; Railway Commissioner, C. H. Gordon.
The Socialists held their Convention at Davenport, July 1st, and nominated the following ticket for State officers: Secretary, J. M. Kremer; Auditor, B. H. Wil- liams; Treasurer, E. C. Matson; Railway Commissioner, ¥'. E. Macha.
The Republican State Convention was held at Des Moines, August 1st, and placed the following candidates in the field : Secretary of State, William B. Martin ; Aud- itor, Frank F. Merriam; Treasurer, Gilbert S. Gilbert- son; Attorney-General, Charles W. Mullan; Judge Supreme Court, Emil McClain; Railway Commissioner, David J. Palmer.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LI3,SAnY
^Astor, Lenox and fildan /^ Foundat'Ofts. ''■'
FI.OYI) MONUMENT, NEAR SIOUX CITY
OF IOWA 203
The Democrats held their Convention at Cedar Eapids, August 16th, and nominated the following ticket: Secre- tary of State, S. B. Crane; Auditor, I. M. Gibson; Trea- surer, H. L. Williams; Attorney-General, T. G. Harper; Judge Supreme Court, J. W. Freeland; Railway Com- missioner, J. E. Anderson.
The Populists held a Convention at Des Moines, August 28th, and made the following nominations: Secretary of State, T. G. Wheeler; Auditor, R. Weller; Treasurer, M. E. Smith ; Attorney-General, A. M. Hutchison ; Judge Supreme Court, L. M. Morris; Railway Commissioner, 0. Tyson.
No important changes were made in any of the party platforms.
The Republican candidates were elected on both the National and State tickets. The plurality for McKinley was 98,606, and the plurality for the Republican candi- dates on the State ticket was more than 96,000.
The constitutional amendment providing for biennial elections was adopted by a vote of 186,105 for, to 155,506 against it. The Republican candidates for Representa- tives in Congress were elected in each of the eleven dis- tricts.
An important historical event took place on the 30th of May, 1901, when a monument in memory of Sergeant Charles Floyd, was dedicated near Sioux City. The idea of erecting this memorial to the member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition who was buried on the bluff, was con- ceived by John H. Charles a quarter of a century ago. Through his efforts combined with the influence of Hon. George D. Perkins, who secured an appropriation from Congress of $5,000 towards the work, and liberal aid from the State Legislature, Woodbury County and Sioux City, as well as from private citizens, the monument stands as one of the most beautiful and appropriate his- torical memorials in the United States. Captain Chitten- den, the United States engineer under whose direction
204 HISTORY
the monument was constructed, says: *' It is a solid masonry obelisk built in careful conformity with the pro- portions of the ancient Egyptian models." The material is Kettle River (Minnesota) sandstone. The shaft is slightly more than one hundred feet above the base with two massive tablets of bronze bearing historical inscrip- tions. At the dedication of the monument Hon. John A. Kasson, Iowa's distinguished statesman and diplomat, de- livered the principal address which was characterized by Hon. George D. Perkins as a * * distinct contribution to the history of the Louisiana Territory and purchase. ' ' In the address Mr. Kasson says :
" In honor of the dead they dedicated to his memory both the burial bluflf and the little river in which they were moored. Thenceforth for all time these two objects in nature will preserve the name of their dead comrade. So does the name — a mere sound in the air — become more im- perishable than any structure of human workmanship. Unaffected by flood or tempest, or war's destructiveness, it is repeated from father to son, for all generations. But this lofty monument is not erected solely to commemorate the modest life and humble career of the army sergeant whose bones were deposited in this soil long before the plow of civilization had disturbed it. Nor will the memorial serve only to celebrate the splen- did exploration accomplished by his more fortunate companions. It also perpetuates the memory of a great historic act which influenced the fate of three nations and opened the way to new liberties and increased the happiness of mankind. It changed the development of our people and gave a new pathway to the march of our young republic. It is this his- torical significance of the monument which induced the National Congress, the Legislature of Iowa, and the patriotic people of Sioux City to combine their efforts for its erection."
In conclusion Mr. Kasson said :
"May this great memorial stand for ages to come to remind our children of the manly virtues of their race, which in the Nineteenth Century made the Republic so glorious in the armals of history."
The first political State Convention in 1901, was that of the Prohibition party, which convened at Des Moines on the 21st of May. The candidates nominated were A.
OF IOWA 205
XJ. Coats for Governor; A. B. Wray, Lieutenant-Gover- nor; J. A. Harvey, Judge of the Supreme Court; Ella Moffatt, Superintendent of Public Instruction; and Wes- ley Suddoth, Railroad Commissioner. The platform made the usual declarations.
The great interest of the campaign was concentrated upon a remarkable contest which began early in the ranks of the Republican party for the control of the State Con- vention by two well defined wings of the party. Albert B. Cummins, a brilliant lawyer living in Des Moines, was a prominent candidate for United States Senator in 1894, when Ex-Governor John H. Gear was nominated by the Republican caucus of the Twenty-fifth General Assembly. In 1900, he was again a candidate for the same position when Governor Gear was a candidate for reelection. His supporters were enthusiastic and remarkably well organ- ized and for a time it seemed not improbable that he might be successful. But in addition to his great personal fol- lowing and eminent qualifications for the position he had filled with marked ability. Governor Gear had the active support of most, if not all, of his colleagues from Iowa in Congress, as well as that of the old time Republicans of the State and most of the Federal officials. Mr. Cummins and his friends made a determined contest and their fol- lowers throughout the State were numerous among the younger men who organized a compact wing of the party, which came near winning a victory. When the campaign opened for nomination of a candidate for Governor to succeed Shaw, Mr. Cummins friends at once announced that he would be a candidate for that position. The dom- inant wing of the party, which had controlled its political conventions and selected its candidates for many years, now endeavored to unite upon a candidate who could de- feat the nomination of Mr. Cummins. In the years which had elapsed since he had entered the field of politics Mr. Cummins was inclined to act independently of the party leaders and now had the largest personal following of any
I
206 HISTORY
man in the party. When the old time leaders determined to defeat the nomination of this independent and aggres- sive new leader who was steadily gaining strength, Mr. Cummins in a public speech in Des Moines, threw down the gauntlet and boldly declared his purpose to become a candidate for Governor without the consent of the time- honored chieftains. Then began the most notable contest within the Republican party since the famous Harlan- Allison senatorial campaign of thirty years before. Every county in the State was fought for most vigorously by the contending wings of the party and almost every Re- publican in its limits was drawn into the conflict before the State Convention assembled. The former leaders were for some time unsettled as to the choice of a candidate who could be reasonably expected to unite all elements of opposition to Mr. Cummins and overcome the strong tide which was evidently turning towards the new leader.
It was finally determined to rally all of the opposition upon Major Edwin H. Conger, the American Minister to China, who had recently won world-wide fame in the defense of Pekin against the Boxers. He was communicated with and announced his willingness to become a candidate for Governor. He was on his way home and a special train was chartered to meet him at Council Bluffs and extend to him a royal welcome. Governor Shaw and other State officials gave Minister Conger an enthusiastic reception as he entered Iowa and escorted him to the Capital where thousands greeted his safe return with high honors. But when the county conventions were held for the selection of delegates to the State Convention which would nomi- nate the candidate for Governor, Mr. Cummins carried a majority of the counties in the home district of the two candidates. No artifice could alienate the mass of his en- thusiastic supporters and, although desperate efforts were made by the leaders to unite and concentrate all elements of opposition against Mr Cummins, when the Convention assembled at Cedar Rapids on the 7th of August, with
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1,641 delegates, the contest was settled on the first ballot. Senator Harriman of Franklin County received three hundred and fifty-nine votes, Senator James H. Trewin of Allamakee, three hundred and sixty-nine; Major E. H. Conger, forty-two ; while Albert B. Cummins having eight hundred and sixty, a clear majority over all, was nomi- nated amidst wild enthusiasm. John Herriott, late State Treasurer, who had a strong support for Governor, was nominated for Lieutenant-Governor. Judge S. M. Wea- ver of Hardin County was nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court, Richard C. Barrett for reelection as Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Ed. C. Brown, for Eailway Commissioner. The new declarations in the resolutions were as follows:
" We favor such changes in the tariff from time to time as become advisable through the progress of our industries and their changing rela- tions to the commerce of the world. We indorse the policy of reciprocity as the natural compliment of protection, and urge its development as nec- essary to the realization of our highest commercial possibilities. We favor such amendment to our interstate commerce act as will more fully carry out its prohibition of discrimination in rate making, and any modifi- cation of the tariff schedules that may be required to prevent their afford- ing shelter to monopoly."
The Democratic party held its Convention at Des Moines on the 21st of August and placed the following candidates in nomination : for Governor, T. J. Phillips of Wapello County; Lieutenant-Governor, G. E. Ferguson of Harrison ; Judge of the Supreme Court, John Shortley of Dallas; Superintendent of Public Instruction, W. P. Johnson of Carroll; Eailway Commissioner, A. C. Brice of Taylor. The resolutions made no new declarations.
The People's party held a State Convention at Des Moines on the 23d of August and nominated the following ticket : for Governor, L. H. Weller of Chickasaw County ; Lieutenant-Governor, Perry Engle of Jasper; Judge of Supreme Court, J. R. McDonald of Polk; Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ira C. Harlan of Woodbury; Rail-
208 HISTORY
way Commissioner, Luke McDowell of Shelby. The plat- form indorsed the well-known principles of the party.
The Socialist party held its Convention at Des Moines on the 5th of September and made the following selec- tions for State officers : for Governor, James Baxter of Monroe County; Lieutenant-Governor, W. A. Jacobs of Scott; Judge Supreme Court, A. F. Thompson, Appa- noose; Superintendent of Public Instruction, E. E. Stev- ens, Des Moines; Railway Commissioner, H. C. Middle- brook of Lyon. The declaration of principles may be condensed as follows :
" We believe Socialism to be a scientific solution of the labor problem and that it will provide an ethical construction of society, whereby equal and exact justice will be meted out to every individual. We declare our unalterable opposition to competition for bread and to the capitalistic control of the means of production and distribution. And to secure a sys- tem whereby want, misery and poverty shall be forever eliminated, we pledge ourselves to the final and complete overthrow of the competitive and capitalistic system and the substitution therefor of the cooperative commonwealth and the collective ownership of all the means of produc- tion and distribution."
" Our methods are peaceful and our appeal is to the reason and con- science."
The country was shocked by the intelligence that Presi- dent McKinley was assassinated on the 6th of Septem.ber, 1901, while addressing the people at the Pan-American Exposition at Buffalo, New York. An anarchist by the name of Czolgosz, an Italian by birth, approached the President and with a concealed pistol suddenly fired but a few feet from his victim, inflicting a mortal wound. The President lingered between life and death until the morn- ing of the 14th when he passed away in the presence of the members of his Cabinet who had been summoned to Buffalo, when hope for recovery had been abandoned. Vice-President Roosevelt reached the city the afternoon of the same day and the oath of office as President was administered to him immediately. The new President issued a proclamation the same day announcing the Na-
ALBERT B. CUMMINS, Governor of Iowa.
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tional bereavement; notice of the death of President Mc- Kinley was officially communicated by the Secretary of State to foreign nations.
Theodore Roosevelt was the youngest man who had ever been elevated to the highest executive office of the Nation, being but forty-two years of age. All of the mem- bers of McKinley's Cabinet were invited to remain in their positions, and President Roosevelt announced that there would be no change in the policy of the McKinley administration.
This was the third assassination of the Chief Magis- trate of the Republic since Iowa became a State. In each case swift punishment overtook the perpetrators of the cowardly crime, and although the whole civilized world held the crimes in horror, the peaceful succession of the lawful successor in each case demonstrated the solidity and perpetuity of our republican government.
Albert B. Cummins and the entire Republican ticket were elected by a plurality of more than 83,000 over the Democratic candidates, in a vote of more than 390,000. The Democrats polled over 143,000 votes ; the Prohibition candidate for Governor received 15,659; the Socialist 3,- 463, and the People's party candidate seven hundred eighty-two.
The Twenty-ninth General Assembly convened at Des Moines on the 13th of January and Willard L. Eaton of Mitchell County was chosen Speaker. Lieutenant-Gover- nor John Herriott presided over the Senate. In Gover- nor Cummins inaugural address to the General Assembly were declarations which fearlessly and scathingly ar- raigned some of the attempts which, for years, have pre- vailed among a class of people who have sought by dis- reputable methods to control legislation in the interest of corporations. He said: ,
" Wealth gives to him who owns or controls it power for great good and for great evil; it gives him power to endow schools, found libraries and relieve want; but it also gives him power to seduce and coerce his
[Vol. 3]
210 HISTOBY
fellow men, and this power should be most jealously scrutinized. Incor- porated wealth has many rights; but it should always be remembered that among these is not the right to vote. Corporations have, and ought to have many privileges; but among them is not the right to sit in political conventions or occupy seats in legislative chambers. The conscience and intelligence of the natural man must be the sole factors in determining what our laws shall be and who shall execute them. One phase of cor- porate interference ought speedily to disappear under the righteous in- dignation of honest men. The professional lobbyist has, I regret to say, become one of the features of legislative assemblies; he has become a stench in the nostrils of a decent community and ought to be driven out with the lash of scorn, pursued by the penalties of the law from the presence of every official and from the precincts of every legislative body in the re- public. The lobbyist who is for or against anything for hire, who haunts the chamber of legislation and taints the atmosphere with his corrupt de- signs, who shadows members at their homes and hotels, injecting his poison into the public service, is a criminal, whose approach is an insult, and to whom the doors of the Capitol should never swing inward."
Among the more important acts of this session may be mentioned, one requiring railroad companies to follow a uniform system in making reports to the Executive Coun- cil to aid in the assessment of their property ; an act mak- ing it a crime for a tenant to sell property upon which the landowner has a lien for rent ; an act making a special levy of taxes for the benefit of the State University, State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, and the State Normal School; an act to provide for an exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition ; for the erection of monu- ments to mark the position occupied by Iowa regiments in the siege of Vicksburg, and at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. An act was also passed for the creation of a commission to superintend the com- pletion of the State House; and one making important changes in the supervision of road work. The supervisor districts are consolidated into but one composed of an en- tire township, over which one superintendent has entire charge. The whole road tax is to be paid in money and the work to be done by contract.
The joint resolution passed by the Twenty-eighth Gen-
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eral Assembly proposing to amend the Constitution of the State to provide for biennial elections, was passed by this Legislature. The salary of the Governor was in- creased to $5,000, that of the Supreme Judges to $6,000, and the salary of District Judges to $3,000.
A question was raised in the District Court in Washing- ton County as to the validity of the amendment to the State Constitution providing for biennial elections. In a case tried before Judge A. E. Dewey in that county it was de- cided that the amendment was not legally adopted, *^ not having been entered upon the journal of the House of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, it was not adopted as required by our Constitution and has not become a part thereof." The case was appealed to the Supreme Court which confirmed the decision of the District Court.
The Republican State Convention for 1902 was held at Des Moines July 30th, at which the following candidates were nominated for the several State offices: Secretary of State, William B. Martin; Auditor, B. F. Carroll; Treasurer, G. S. Gilbertson; Judges of the Supreme Court, Scott M. Ladd for full term, and Charles A. Bishop for the vacancy; Attorney-General, Charles M. Mullan; Clerk of Supreme Court, J. C. Crockett; Reporter Supreme Court, W. W. Cornwall ; Railway Commissioner, Edward A. Dawson.
At the Prohibition State Convention held at Waterloo, August 20th, the following nominations were made : Sec- retary of State, William Howard; Auditor, J. W. Leedy; Treasurer, A. W. Hoff; Judges of Supreme Court, J. A. Harvey, long term, and D. M. Turnball for vacancy ; Clerk Supreme Court, E. A. Graves; Reporter, W. P. Briggs; Railway Commissioner, E. H. Albright.
The Socialist State Convention was held at Davenport, September 2d, and nominated the following candidates: Secretary of State, W. A. Jacobs; Auditor, T. J. Grant; Treasurer, F. F. Fetters; Attorney-General, J. S. Mc-
212 HISTORY
Grilles; Clerk Supreme Court, A. M. Lauren; Reporter, W. H. Luebbe; Railway Commissioner, J. S. Lorimar.
The Democrats held their State Convention at Des Moines on the 3d of September and made the following nominations : Secretary of State, Richard Bourke ; Aud- itor, T. J. Grant; Treasurer, R. U. Chapman; Judges of Supreme Court, Thomas Stapleton for full term and J. H. Quick for the vacancy; Attorney-General, J. S. Deni- son; Clerk of Supreme Court, J. T. Tripp; Reporter, J. F. Dalton; Railway Commissioner, T. J. Denson.
The Republican candidates were elected by a plurality of about 79,000. In the Congressional Districts the Re- publicans carried all but the Second, which elected Judge M. J. Wade, Democrat, of Iowa City.
The summer of 1901 was one of the hottest ever experi- enced since the first settlements were made in Iowa, the mercury reaching the one hundred mark during many suc- cessive days. Early in July the heat became very op- pressive with occasional hot winds from the south, unre- lieved for weeks by the usual rains. Streams dried up, springs failed and thousands of wells furnished no water. The com crop, which early in the season gave promise of an unusually large yield, was withered by the intense heat and long continued drouth which blasted the ears and greatly damaged the crop. Thousands of large for- est trees died and fruit trees as well suffered severe in- jury.
The summer of 1902 was on the other hand one of the coolest on record. The rains began, in May, to be serious from the frequency and almost continuous moisture which rendered thousands of acres of low lands too wet for culti- vation. In many portions of the State the small grain made such rank growth that it was prostrated by winds before it matured. The fields were too wet for the use of reapers, and a large portion of the oats was lost. Much hay was seriously injured for lack of sunshine to cure it, and threshing was impossible on large areas of flat land.
OF IOWA 213
All through the northern portion of the State the imma- ture corn was seriously damaged by early frosts.
Notwithstanding these extremes of drouth and excess- ive heat in 1901 and excessive rains in the year following, Iowa produced a large surplus of the principal farm products. J. R. Sage, Director of Weather and Crop Ser- vice, made a report from which the following items are taken relating to the chief products of the two years. In 1901 the corn crop yielded an aggregate of 227,000,000 bushels which was valued at $118,000,000. In 1902 the crop was estimated at 296,950,230 bushels, valued at $83,- 000,000, or about 69,000,000 bushels more than in the pre- vious year but, owing to the damage from wet weather and lower price, the aggregate value of the crop was far below that of 1901. The report from the entire State showed forty-seven per cent, of the crop to be sound and fifty-three per cent, soft and unsalable in the markets. The oats crop suffered greater damage than any other cereal from the excessive rains. The estimated yield being in 1902, 92,907,960 bushels, while the crop of 1901 was 114,000,000 of bushels. The value of the crop of 1901 was $40,209,000, while the crop of 1902 was worth but $22,297,910. The tame hay crop in 1901 was 3,711,000 tons, valued at $30,721,000; while the yield of 1902 was 4,439,040, valued at $30,071,592. The prairie, or wild hay yielded in 1902, 1,202,860 tons, valued at $6,615,730, while that of the previous year was 1,268,700, worth $7,992,000. The fruit and vegetables in 1902 were valued at $9,500,000. The total products of the farms of the entire State were valued at $215,722,339 for the year 1902.
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CHAPTER Xin
OF all the various grants of public lands made by Congress to aid works of internal im- provement in the several States, probably none has been the subject of so much and long continued litigation as the grant of 1846, to aid in the improvement of the navi- gation of the Des Moines River. No land grant failed more signally in accomplishing the purpose for which it was made and none inflicted greater wrongs or hardships upon the pioneers who, in good faith, settled upon the public lands. The early history of the grant and the extrava- gant expectations indulged in by the projectors of the scheme to make the Des Moines River navigable for steam- ers, has been given in another place.
A summary of the conflicting claims to portions of the lands embraced in the grant and the diverse decisions of government officials and courts in relation thereto, reflects little credit upon these representatives of a great Nation. The grant was made by an act of Congress on the 8th of March, 1846, for the purpose of aiding the Territory of Iowa to improve the navigation of the Des Moines River from its mouth to the Raccoon Fork of said river. The grant embraced each alternate section, on both sides of the river, for a distance of five miles including such lands as had not been otherwise disposed of, the lands to be selected by agents to be appointed by the Governor of the Territory. Iowa became a State on the 28th of Decem- ber, 1846, and the Legislature in January, 1847, by joint resolution accepted the grant. Jesse Williams and Josiah Bonney were the Commissioners appointed by Governor Briggs to select the lands. The Commissioners selected the odd numbered sections within the limits of the grant
216 HISTORY
and reported to the Governor, on the 17th of December,
1847. The title to the lands thus selected by the terms of the grant, became vested in the State.
The Board of Public Works having charge of the im- provement of the navigation of the river, being in doubt as to the extent of the grant, applied to the Commissioner of the General Land Office at Washington to learn how far north the grant extended. On the 23d of January,
1848, the Commissioner replied in these words:
The State of Iowa is entitled to the alternate sections within five miles the Des Moines the limits of Iowa.
of the Des Moines River throughout the whole extent of that river within
As the grant was made while Iowa was a Territory, when its northern boundary was many miles farther north than it was when admitted as a State, there was still some doubt as to the extent of the grant. To settle this doubt our members of Congress on the 8th of January,
1848, addressed a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, who then had jurisdiction over the public lands, to pro- cure an official decision as to the northern limit of the grant. Secretary Robert J. Walker, on the 2d of March,
1849, wrote as follows:
" I am of the opinion that the grant in question extends on both sides of the river from its source to its mouth but not to the lands on the river in the State of Missouri."
This decision placed the northern limit of the grant much further north than the northern boundary of the State. The Commissioner of the General Land Office, under this ruling, June 1, 1849, directed the local land officers to reserve from sale all the lands included in the grant, according to that construction. The amount of land thus reserved, was estimated to be about 900,000 acres. On the 6th of April, 1850, Thomas Ewing, then Secretary of the Interior, gave his opinion that the grant
OF IOWA 217
did not extend above the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines River. The Iowa members of Congress appealed from this decision of the Secretary, to the President, and cited the former construction placed upon the extent of the grant by Secretary Walker, on March 2d, 1849. The Pres- ident referred the question to the Attorney-General, Reverdy Johnson, who after careful examination of the subject, gave it as his opinion that ^' The grant ran the entire length of the river within the then Territory of Iowa," and that the decision of Secretary Walker could not be legally revoked; that it was a final adjudication and was beyond the control of his successor This opinion was given on the 19th of July, 1850.
In the early part of 1851, President Taylor died and his successor, President Fillmore, selected a new Cabi- net with Mr. Crittenden as Attorney-General. The ques- tion as to the extent of the grant was submitted to him. On the 30th of June, 1851, he gave an opinion that the grant did not extend above the Raccoon Fork. Here in a period of less than four years we have the opinions of five eminent lawyers, all high Government ofi&cials, three holding that the grant extended throughout the entire limit of the Des Moines River in the Territory of Iowa; and two holding that it did not extend above the Raccoon Fork.
On October 30th, 1851, the Secretary of the Interior, approved a list of 81,707 acres of land lying above the Raccoon Fork and in March, 1852, another list of 143,- 908 with the following qualifications:
" Subject to any right which may have existed at the time the selec- tions were made known to the Land Office by the agents of the State, it being expressly understood that this approval conveys to the State no title to any tract or tracts which may have been sold or otherwise disposed of prior to the receipt, by the local land officer, of the letter of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, communicating the decision of Secretary Walker, March 2, 1849— to the effect that the grant extended above the Raccoon Fork."
218 HISTORY
The State authorities then undertook to make the lower part of the Des Moines River navigable by the construc- tion of a system of locks and dams, selling lands embraced in the grant to meet the expenses.
In December, 1853, the State through its officers, let a contract to one Henry O'Reiley of New York to con- tinue the river improvement and to complete the entire work in four years from the 1st of July, 1854, for which he was to receive all of the unsold lands, the tolls, water rents, and all other profits arising from the work for a period of forty years. The State was discouraged with the vast undertaking and was only too glad to have the impracticable scheme transferred to other parties. It was becoming evident to careful observers that the coming means of inland transportation was to be by railroads in- stead of rivers and canals. Railroad construction had progressed far enough in the East to clearly demonstrate the fact that it must, in the near future, supersede all kinds of artificial slack-water navigation. Canals were too expensive and navigable streams too few to supply in- land districts with sufficient means of transportation when the great West should become settled and seek the world's markets for a vast surplus of food products. Already lines of railroad were being projected over the prairies and through the forests of Ohio, Michigan and Indiana and it was evident that the almost unlimited inland trade and travel in the not distant future must depend largely upon railroads instead of river and canal transportation. The numerous attempts to render small rivers navigable by a system of dams and locks, to secure a sufficient depth of slack water for steamboat navigation for a consider- able portion of the year, had usually proved impracticable. Floods from melting snows, the breaking up of ice and the shifting sands, had destroyed the dams or filled up the locks and channels ; drouths left insufficient water sup- ply for the late summer and early fall months ; while the ice of the long winters closed navigation at a time when
OF IOWA 219
a greater part of the agricultural products sought market. On the other hand railroads could be constructed to reach every portion of the country; trains could be de- pended upon to run every day in the year ; the transporta- tion was rapid and reliable and it was only a question of time and money when they would extend to every part of the country which produced enough to pay a reasonable interest on the capital required to build and equip a road. These were the chief considerations which, in 1853, in- fluenced the State to abandon an impracticable scheme and convey the unused portion of the great land grant tc private parties who were willing to undertake to com- plete the work to the Raccoon Fork. As soon as 0 'Reiley had secured his contract with the State, he returned to New York and proceeded to organize the *' Des Moines Navigation and Railroad Company ' ' which became incor- porated under the laws of Iowa on the 9th of May, 1854. On the 9th of June, at the request of 0 'Reiley, his con- tract with the State was cancelled and one precisely the same was made between the State and the company which he had organized.
In May, 1856, Congress granted to Iowa public lands to aid in the construction of four trunk lines of railroad across the State from the Mississippi to the Missouri rivers. This grant was made subject to the following proviso :
" That any and all lands heretofore reserved to the United States, by any act of Congress, or in any other manner by competent authority, for the purpose of aiding in any object of internal improvement, or for any other purpose whatever, be and the same are hereby reserved, to the United States from the operations of this act."
On the 5th of May, the day this act became a law, the Commissioner of the General Land Office directed the officers of the local land offices in Iowa, to withhold the lands covered by this grant from sale or location untU further orders.
220 HISTORY
The question of the extent of the Des Moines Eiver grant now became of vital interest to the various parties to whom the several grants were to inure and application was again made to the Secretary of the Interior to settle the conflicting decisions as to the northern limits of the Des Moines River grant. The Secretary referred the mat- ter to the Attorney-General, Cabel Gushing, who on the 29th of May, 1856, gave his official opinion as follows :
" I have come to the conclusion to advise you to stand on the last de- cision, by Secretary Stuart, which gives the State the lands along the course of the Des Moines, up to the northern boundary of the State."
Up to this time the State had been claiming the lands on each side of the river to the northern limits of the Territory, which was much further north than the north- ern line of the State as it was admitted into the Union. Thus the matter stood when the Seventh General As- sembly took steps to terminate the contract with the Navi- gation Company, on the ground that it had failed to prose- cute the work in good faith in accordance with the con- tract.
A joint resolution was passed proposing terms of set- tlement with the Company and instructing the Governor to enjoin the Company, in case of its failure to accept the terms of the settlement proposed, from proceeding fur- ther with the improvement of the Des Moines River. The president of the Company had brought mandamus pro- ceedings to compel the transfer to the Company of 89,000 additional acres of land, but the Supreme Court denied the writ for the following reasons :
" I. That the Company had failed to complete one-fourth of the vrork each year, as required by the contract.
" II. That the Company had failed to show a readiness or willingness to perform such work as required by the contract.
" III. Because from the petition and record, it was doubtful whether any amount was due the Company."
The Legislature at this session passed an act making
OF IOWA 221
a grant of the lands conveyed to the Des Moines Navigation Company, to the Keokuk, Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad Company, to aid in the construction of a railroad from the city of Keokuk up and along the valley of the Des Moines River by way of the city of Des Moines and thence to the northern line of the State. On the 15th of April, 1858, the Navigation Company accepted the terms of the settlement proposed by the State and the plan of making the Des Moines River navigable was finally abandoned.
The plan of improvement contemplated the erection of fifty-seven dams and locks between Keokuk and Des Moines. Two only of the fifty-seven, had been completed ; one was nearly finished, and some work and materials had been supplied for five or six more at the time the work was abandoned. The State had expended a large amount of money derived from the sale of lands before turning the work over to the Des Moines Navigation Company. That Company proceeded with the work until it had ex- pended $332,634 and when the settlement was made with the State, April 15, 1858, the Company had received 226,- 107 acres of land. The remainder of the lands, embraced in the grant lying north of the Raccoon Fork, were on the 3d of May, 1858, certified to the Navigation Company in final settlement. The Company then began to sell the lands wherever purchasers could be found.
After twelve years of work and the expenditure of a great amount of money derived from land sales, no part of the river had been made navigable, excepting for small steamers during the seasons of high water. The mag- nificent land grant had been disposed of without any ben- efit whatever to the State, or to its citizens. But in the meantime, while the officers of the General Government were promulgating different opinions and decisions as to the extent of the grant, the lands of the upper Des Moines valley were in the market, being sold to settlers by the
222 HISTORY
Government which conveyed them by the highest and best title it could give.
In March, 1859, United States Attorney-General Black gave the opinion officially, in response to a request of the Secretary of the Interior, that the grant of lands did not extend above the Raccoon Fork. The old River Company still claimed the lands above the Raccoon Fork and E. C. LitchjBeld, a member of that Company, brought suit to procure a decision of the United States Supreme Court to settle the disputed northern limits of the grant of 1846. The Supreme Court rendered a unanimous decision at its December term, 1859, that the grant of 1846, was lim- ited to the lands south of the Raccoon Fork and that the selection of lands under that grant north of that point was unauthorized and passed no title to Litchfield or the Des Moines Navigation Company from whom he pur- chased.
Thus after a long controversy and conflicting rulings of the Land Department the highest Court of the Nation had unanimously decided that no public land north of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines River was ever granted for the improvement of that river to the State and con- sequently could never have been legally certified or sold to that Company or its grantees. Consequently the lands still belonged to the Government or the people who had acquired title to them by entiy or preemption.
After the early decisions of the Land Department to the effect that the grant of 1846 did not extend above the Raccoon Fork, hundreds of settlers made preemption or entered lands in Polk, Boone, Hamilton and Webster counties within the five miles limit of the Des Moines River. The Government officials accepted payment for the lands and the United States conveyed title to them. The grant of 1856 to aid in the construction of four lines of railroad across the State from east to west, embraced every alternate section of public land, designated by odd numbers, for six sections in width on each side of the
OF IOWA 223
roads. It was further provided that if any of the public lands had been sold, or preempted by settlers within the six miles limits on each side ''then the nearest public lands within the distance of fifteen miles from said roads shall be appropriated to make good the amount of land in- tended to be granted to the State for the construction of the four lines of railroad. ' ' The agents of the State pro- ceeded under this act to select the land embraced in these grants, and as it had been decided by the officers of the Land Department of the General Government that the grant to aid in the improvement of the navigation of the Des Moines River did not extend above the Raccoon Fork, the public lands within five miles of the Des Moines River were selected under the grant of 1856. Two powerful cor- porations were deeply interested in having this decision circumvented and, as their claims had been declared void, the Des Moines Valley Railroad Company and the old Navigation Company now organized a powerful lobby to secure an empire of valuable lands to which they had neither title nor an equitable claim. Strange as it will ap- pear to the present generation, they succeeded in a scheme that not only nullified in effect the late equitable decision of the Supreme Court but also ejected the settlers on Gov- ernment lands who held their homes by the highest and hast title the Nation could give to its citizens.
On the 3d of November, 1860, the Secretary of the In- terior notified Governor Kirkwood that the land which had been in dispute in the upper Des Moines valley, by virtue of conflicting opinions of Government officials, could now be preempted or entered and that such settlers would receive from the Government valid titles for the lands thus entered, preempted or settled upon.
On the 2d of March, 1861, in order to avoid the hard- ships that might arise from the late decision of the Supreme Court as to the extent of the original land grant, Congress passed the following joint resolution:
224 HISTORY
" Resolved, That all the title which the United States still retains in the tracts of land along the Des Moines River, above the Raccoon Fork thereof, which has been certified to said State improperly, by the De- partment of the Interior as a part of the grant by act of Congress ap- proved August 8, 1846, and which are now held by bona fide purchasers under the State of Iowa, be, and the same is hereby relinquished to the State of Iowa."
On the 10th of April, 1862, Cabel B. Smith, then Secre- tary of the Interior, states officially.
" That the lands above the Raccoon Fork were improperly certified as a portion of the grant of 1846, and that such of these lands as are em- braced in the railroad grant of 1856, are to be disposed of according to the terms of that grant, without regard to the fact of their having been certified under the act of 1846. After satisfying the demands of the act of 1856, so much of the residue of the lands north of the mouth of the Raccoon River, as were certified under the supposed grant of 1846, and which the State of Iowa has sold to bona fide purchasers prior to March 2, 1861, will also be certified to the State of Iowa. The act of March 15th, 1856, granting lands for railroad purposes excepts such lands as the right of preemption have attached thereto. This last grant is made because it oflfects the case of Crilly .and many others, claiming preemptions on said lands. ' '
To show the intent of Congress in passing this joint resolution it is necessary to turn to the explanations made in the report of the committee on public lands in the House of Representatives, by the chairman of that com- mittee when he reported the resolution as follows:
In the Thirty-sixth Congress on the 2d of February, 1861, Mr. Trimble said in explanation of the purpose of the resolution:
" In 1846 Congress made a grant of land to the State of Iowa to aid in the improvement of the navigation of the Des Moines River. The Secretary of the Interior certified to the State some 400,000 acres of land above the mouth of the Raccoon Fork of that river. It has been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States that those lands were im- properly certified. A subsequent grant made by Congress to the State of Iowa for railroad purposes, covers the whole of these 400,000 acres, with the exception of about 1,000 acres. These lands, therefore, do not revert to the United States in consequence of that decision but are still to be
OF IOWA 225
retained by the State for railroad purposes. The lands have been sold to actual settlers, who have paid their money for them. They are now occupied and there are three or four towns built upon them. There are, to my certain knowledge, lands among them worth from $50 to $60 per acre. Tlie settlers want their titles confirmed. The State sold and pat- ented these lands to the present occupants; and all that this resolution asks is that their titles be confirmed."
With this explanation, which was undoubtedly honest and made in good faith, the House passed the resolution without opposition, never for a moment supposing that it was to inure to the benefit of the members of the old Des Moines Navigation Company who had purchased of that corporation and who were not settlers, but eastern specu- lators, thus attempting to secure a good title to lands be- longing to the Government and to actual settlers who held titles direct from the Government. When the resolution went to the Senate, Mr. Harlan of Iowa, in explanation of its purpose said:
" They propose nothing more than a relinquishment of the title held by the United States in the lands which have been certified by the Secretary of the Interior under the Des Moines River grant, and afterwards sold bona fide purchasers."
Senator Grimes made a similar statement and added: ' * My own individual opinion is that the grant did not ex- tend above the Raccoon Fork."
Mr. Polk proposed to amend the resolution so that it should release the lands only sold to actual settlers and should exclude speculators from the benefit. He said:
" There is no claim in the law or equity against the United States for granting this land; but I am willing that the United States shall relin- quish the title where an actual settler has bought the land and gone on it; but I am not willing to do that favor to persons who have bought as speculators."
During the course of the debate. Senator Johnson, who was chairman of the Senate committee on public lands, said that this resolution never could have obtained the
[Vol. 3]
226 HISTORY
sanction of that committee, as it was an attempt to cre- ate a title to an immense tract of land where no title had ever been granted to the claimants. He further said that a majority of the committee believed the whole propo- sition was wrong and that no part of the resolution ought to be passed.
The entire debate on the resolution shows that the in- tent of Congress was first to protect the actual settlers upon these lands and then permit the remainder of the grant to be used by the State to make good the titles given by sale of lands, by the State, to purchasers and settlers and to quiet the titles.
On the 7th of April, 1862, the General Assembly of Iowa passed a joint resolution requesting Congress to grant or confirm to the State all of the odd numbered sections known as river lands to the north line of the State to be used in paying the just claims assumed by the State against the Des Moines River improvement and in build- ing a railroad along said river.
In compliance with this resolution Congress passed the following act which was approved on the 12th of July, 1862:
" That the grant of lands to the then Territory of Iowa, for the improve- ment of the Des Moines River, made by Act of August 8th, 1846, is hereby extended to include the alternate sections designated by odd numbers, lying within five miles of said river, between the Raccoon Fork and the northern boundary of the State; such lands are to be held and applied in accordance with the provisions of the original grant, except that the consent of Con- gress is hereby given to the application of a portion thereof to aid in the construction of the Keokuk, Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad, in ac- cordance with the provisions of the act of the General Assembly of Iowa, approved March 22, 1858. If any of the said lands shall have been sold or otherwise disposed of by the United States before the passage of this act; except those released by the United States to the grantees of the State of Iowa under joint resolution of March 2d, 1861, the Secretary of the In- terior is hereby directed to set apart an equal amount of lands within said State to be certified in lieu thereof. Provided, that if the State shall have sold and conveyed any portion of lands lying within the limits of this grant, the title of which has proved invalid, any lands which shall be
OF IOWA 227
certified to the State in lieu thereof by virtue of the provisions of this act, shall inure to and be held as a trust fund for the benefit of the person or persons whose titles shall have failed as aforesaid."
The amount of lands including this additional grant, embraced in the Des Moines River grant, lying within five miles of the Des Moines River from the Raccoon Fork to the north line of the State, was found to be 558,004 acres, and among the most valuable lands in the State, embracing coal, gypsum and the best timber lands in Iowa.
This was known as the indemnity grant and under it D. W. Kilbourne, one of the officials of the Keokuk, Des Moines and Minnesota Railroad Company, was made the agent of the State to select these indemnity lands, amount- ing to 297,603 acres.
The old Navigation Company and its grantees now came before the Commissioner of the General Land Of- fice, after having received its full share of the indemnity, and claimed the lands held by the settlers, preempted or purchased from the Government.
The Commissioner informed this Company on the 29th of June, 1867:
"That it is not understood upon what ground a claim upon theDes Moines River grant can now be set up to the tracts covered by actual settlement by preemption, when in the final settlement of the grant, allowance for the benefit of said improvement claim has been fully given in other lands by way of indemnity and accepted by the State accordingly. Your request, therefore, that all preemption claims to the lands within the limits indi- cated be rejected unless they had their inception prior to the original grant of August 8, 1846, is hereby declined."
In March, 1868, the State of Iowa granted to the Des Moines Valley Railroad Company 297,000 acres of these indemnitv lands.
CHAPTER XIV
THE decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the Litchfield case having established the fact that the original Des Moines River grant did not extend north of the Raccoon Fork, the Secretary of the Interior, Cabel B. Smith, on the 10th of April, 1862, directed the Commissioner that the lands granted to Iowa, May 15th, 1856, to aid in the construc- tion of east and west railroads, that said railroads were entitled to the odd numbered sections of land north of the Raccoon Fork within five miles of the Des Moines River, without any regard to the claim of the old Navigation Company, except such lands as had been preempted by settlers. It will be observed in all legislation and de- cisions of the Land Department the rights of the settlers had been carefully protected. It seemed now after sixteen years of uncertainty as to titles to lands within the limits of the old Des Moines River grant that all doubt was removed and a permanent settlement and perfection of titles had finally been adjusted.
The claim of the Navigation Company, however, was revived and given new life by a decision of the United States Supreme Court. In March, 1859, the Attorney- General of the United States had given an opinion that the grant of 1846 did not extend north of the Raccoon Fork; but a land speculator in New York by the name of Samuel Walcott, five months after that opinion was published, took his chances on the title and bought three hundred twenty acres of land of the Des Moines Navigation Com- pany, lying in Webster County, north of the Raccoon Fork. By arrangement with the Company he brought suit in the United States Circuit Court of New York, in order to have the court pass upon the title given by that
230 HISTORY
Company. The court decided that the Des Moines Navi- gation Company had good title to the land. The case was taken to the United States Supreme Court and that tribu- nal confirmed the decision in December, 1866.
That Court held that the lands above the Raccoon Fork, within five miles of the Des Moines River, which were at one time claimed to belong to the grant of 1846, had been withdrawn from sale and entry on account of a difference of opinion on part of the officers of the Land Department as to the extent of the grant. That it had never been legally restored to market and that the Congressional legislation of 1861-62 conferred the title on the Des Moines Navigation Company and its grantees, thus re- versing in effect the former decision in the Litchfield case and laying the foundation for the confiscation of the homes of all of the settlers on the " river lands " who held titles from the Government of the United States.
Under this decision the Navigation Company and its grantees claimed more than 100,000 acres of land above the Raccoon Fork and at once began to notify the settlers upon these lands to vacate their homes. After this de- cision was made, however, the Secretary of the Interior, 0. H. Browning, reviewed the various acts of Congress, the decisions of the courts and the Land Department and decided against the claim of the Navigation Company to the lands held by actual settlers.
This decision was given in the case of Herbert Battin who settled on a tract of land lying within five miles of the Des Moines River in an odd numbered section above the Raccoon Fork and claimed as a part of the grant to Iowa for the improvement of the Des Moines River made in 1846. It was also within the six miles limit of the rail- road grant of 1856, and was approved and certified to the State under both grants. Herbert Battin had purchased the improvements made on the land by a pioneer settler and comi>lied with all of the requirements of the preemp- tion laws and was allowed by the Land Department to
OF IOWA 231
enter and perfect his title. The Secretary in reviewing the law in this case refers to the Walcott decision in the following language :
" The effect of this decision is therefore only to exclude from the rail- road grant, lands lying north of the Raccoon Fork, and to restore them to the public domain, at least so far as to subject them to the operations of the preemption and homestead laws. Further by act of Congress, June 2, 1864, amendatory of the grant of 1856, additional lands were granted to the State, and new provisions were engrafted upon the original law. One of these, the last proviso to the fourth section, excludes from the railroad grant any land settled upon and improved in good faith by any bona fide inhabitant under color of title derived from the United States, or the State of Iowa, adverse to the grant. The bona fide inhabitants need not neces- sarily be preemption settlers but must be bona fide settlers claiming from the United States or the State of Iowa. It is not material to consider whether this land has ever been reserved so as to exclude it from the oper- ation of the preemption laws. Even if such had been the case the diffi- culty would be removed by the proviso of the act of 1864, and it is only necessary to ascertain whether he is a bona fide settler. From the evidence it appeared that Battin settled upon the land in good faith in October, 1857, and has complied with the requirements of the preemption laws and has been allowed to enter the land. That entry is in accordance with the law and will be carried into patent."
Mr. Browning was not only the highest official of a Government Department having control of the public lands, but he was one of the most eminent lawyers of the United States. His decision in this case was in strict accord with the various acts of Congress and of the State of Iowa and with the intention of the individual members of these legislative bodies who framed the acts, all of which were designed to fully protect the rights and homes of the actual settlers from all classes of adverse claim- ants.
The ruling of the Secretary of the Interior was fol- lowed in numerous similar cases. On the 10th of June, 1868, the Commissioner of the General Land Office di- rected the Register of the Land Office at Des Moines to allow Jeremiah Elliott to prove up and pay for a tract
232 HISTORY
of land upon an odd numbered section within the five mile limit of the Des Moines River above the Raccoon Fork.
On the 17th of June the officers of the Des Moines Navi- gation Company brought suit in the United States Dis- trict Court to enjoin the officers of the Des Moines Land Office from carrying out the orders of the Secretary of the Interior in the case of Herbert Battin and others. The Secretary immediately instructed the Des Moines officers to employ counsel at the expense of the United States to defend the action of the Department.
On the 28th of August, 1868, the Commissioner of the Land Office, under instruction of the Secretary of the In- terior, instructed the Land Office at Des Moines to receive and file all declaratory statements from actual settlers in all cases falling under the ruling made in the Battin case regardless of the injunction. The officers of the Fort Dodge Land Office were instructed to admit preemption and homestead applications upon this class of lands.
In July, 1855, a man by the name of Riley made a claim and settled with his family on the northwest quarter of section thirty-three, in township eighty-nine, range twenty-eight, near Fort Dodge, in the county of Webster. He built a house and improved the land. In 1857 he died and his wife, Hannah Riley, with her children, con- tinued to live on the farm. In July, 1860, after the pub- lic lands had been surveyed in that part of the State and a Government Land Office had been established at Fort Dodge, Mrs. Riley filed a preemption claim to it and in 1862 located a land warrant upon it at the Fort Dodge Land Office. On the 15th of October, 1863, she received a patent for it signed and executed by Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. This is the highest and best title that the Government can give to a citizen who purchases a tract of public land.
At a time when the Des Moines Navigation Company claimed the odd numbered sections north of the Raccoon Fork and within five miles of the Des Moines River, a
OF IOWA 233
New York capitalist, William B. Welles, purchased the title, such as it was, of that Company to section thirty- three, which embraced the one hundred sixty acres upon which Mr. Riley settled in 1855, and which became the home of his widow and her family. In April, 1868, after Mrs. Riley and her family had lived on her farm thirteen years, improved and made it valuable and Fort Dodge had become a flourishing town, Mr. Welles brought suit to dispossess Mrs. Riley of her home and have her title from the Government annulled and his claim declared valid. Fearing to risk the decision on his claim before an Iowa court or jury, Mr. Welles made affidavit that he could not obtain justice in the State courts and, being a non-resi- dent, succeeded in having the case transferred to the United States Circuit Court for trial, where Mrs. Riley discovered when it was too late, she could not obtain jus- tice.
The Court declared that the preemption entry and pat- ent issued to Mrs. Riley by President Lincoln were null and void, that they conveyed no legal title and that the patent was hereby cancelled, that the claim of Mr. Welles was confirmed and that Mrs. Riley should at once surren- der possession of her home to Mr. Welles, she paying all costs of the suit, and that an execution be at once issued by the clerk of the court to enforce such collection of costs.
Wlien this a-stounding decision became known to the thousands of settlers on the so-called '' River lands " who held titles from the United States, they were filled with dismay and could not believe that the highest title the Government could give to a citizen for a home purchased from its officers would be set aside by the Supreme Court. They could not believe that tribunal from whose decree there was no appeal would rob them of their homes for which they had paid their hard earnings and had complied with every requirement of law in preempting or entering the public lands. They therefore contributed to a fund to
234 HISTORY
employ counsel and meet the expenses of taking the case before the United States Supreme Court. Galusha Par- sons, an eminent lawyer of Fort Dodge, was employed to conduct the trial before that tribunal.
The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Circuit Court and more than 2,000 bona fide settlers were driven from their homes by the United States marshals and their farms awarded to eastern speculators who had risked trifling amounts on doubtful titles and then sent a strong lobby to Congress to have their titles made good by legis- lation. It seemed incredible that the highest court of the country would utterly ignore the rights of bona fide set- tlers which Congress, the Iowa Legislature and the United States Land Office, Secretary of the Interior, United States Attorney-General and the President, had sought to protect in their homes by every official act in their power. It was shown in the debates in Congress, when the resolution of 1861 and the act of 1862 were under con- sideration, that every possible protection was given, or intended to be given, to guard the settlers on the lands in- volved, before any other claim was recognized. But the lawyers who made up the highest courts found a way to annul the intent of the lawmakers and all of the executive officers who had sought to protect the rights of the set- tlers and awarded their homes to non-resident specula- tors. The pretense of these courts that the lands above the Raccoon Forks were ' ' withdrawn from sale and entry from 1846, to the time that Congress passed the acts of 1861-62 " was not true. The Land Department had re- stored them to market, granted preemptions and home- stead entries and the President had issued patents for the lands thus sold to settlers. In order to reach its decision the Supreme Court was obliged to annul all of these of- ficial acts of the executive officers of the Government and utterly ignore every act and intent of legislation to make good the titles of the settlers. This decision of the Su- preme Court will always rank with the famous Dred
OF IOWA 235
Scott decree in ignoring the dictates of humanity and the principles of equity.
Now began an era of inhumanity which has never been equalled in the history of our State. United States mar- shals armed with writs of ejectment came among the set- tlers and forcibly drove them from their homes, turning the women and children out of their houses to wander homeless over the prairies ; while it was only by virtue of a State law that any compensation was wrung from non- resident speculators for the valuable improvements the farmers had for long years made on the homes from which they were driven.
The unfortunate farmers organized a ** Settlers Union " for mutual defense and protection and in some cases reinstated the ejected farmers in their homes. In other cases they attempted to resist the marshals and their posses but in the end they were overcome and some of them imprisoned. The conflict was kept up for years but in the end the settlers were doomed to defeat. Their more discreet friends advised them to submit to the inevitable and apply to Congress for indemnity for the loss of their homes.
In February, 1870, Charles Pomeroy, member of Con- gress from the Sixth District which embraced most of the lands in controversy, introduced into the House of Eep- resentatives the following bill for the relief of the settlers :
" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled, that the grant of lards made by the act of Congress approved Julj' 24, 1862, for the improvement of the Des Moines River and for other purposes, shall not be held to include any tracts of alternate sections des- ignated by odd numbers, within five miles of said river, between the Rac- coon Fork and the northern boundary of the State, upon which any bona fide settler shall have made settlement and improvement at or prior to the date of such act; and any actual bona fide settler having made such settle- ment, improvement and residence on any of said lands as herein prescribed, shall if otherwise qualified, be entitled to the right of preemption thereto under the provisions of the act of Congress, September 4, 1841."
236 HISTORY
The bill failed to become a law. At the next session Senator Harlan introduced the following bill:
" Be it enacted by Congress, that should any settler on any of the public lands who made said settlement with bona fide intent to enter the same under the provisions of the homestead or preemption laws of the United States and who has continued to reside upon and improve the same, or the assigns of any such claimant, who has continued such settlement, as aforesaid, until judgment may have been or may be rendered against him by a competent court of the United States; such settler shall be entitled to all the remedies and reliefs provided by the laws of the State in which said lands are located, enacted for the protection of the rights of occupying claimants. But nothing in this act shall be so construed as to affect the rights of the United States."
'b^
This bill also failed. Mr. Harlan then introduced a
" bill to authorize the President of the United States to ascertain the value of certain lands in Iowa, north of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines River, held by settlers under the preemption and homestead laws of the United States and subsequent to the settlement thereof determined by the Supreme Court of the United States to be Des Moines River improvement lands."
This bill was not acted upon, as it was near the close of the session.
Captain Jackson Orr succeeded Mr. Pomeroy in Con- gress and at once proceeded to collect all of the important facts involved in the long controversy, had the statement printed and laid upon the desks of the members. The Iowa Legislature at its session of 1872, passed an act pro- viding for the appointment of a Commission by the Gov- ernor
" to ascertain and report the names of all claimants, the amount and value of improvements, the value of each tract of land, the date of preemption, homestead entry or purchase, the loss sustained by each claimant and such other facts as they may deem important, of all persons who have made improvements upon what are known as Des Moines River lands and have sustained or will sustain loss by reason of the decision of the courts in favor of the title of the Des Moines Navigation Company, or ita
OF IOWA 237
grantees. The report shall be made to the Governor before the first of August, 1872, and a copy sent to the Senators and Representatives in Congress from Iowa, with a memorial asking for relief for such settlers as have lost their lands as aforesaid."
The Governor appointed as Commissioners Norman Hart of Webster, Charles Aldrich of Hamilton and John A. Hull of Boone counties. On the 25th of July the Com- mission reported to the Governor that it had found 1,032 claimants who would lose by the late decision 109,- 057 acres of land. That the value of the land was in the aggregate $902,777, and the value of the improvements on the land was $758,031, making a total value of the property of the claimants $1,560,808. The number of suits brought against the settlers then pending was re- ported at two hundred forty-five.
The Commissioners prepared the memorial to Congress giving a concise history of the case, in which they say :
" The United States has sold and granted preemption and homestead rights to actual settlers on lands she claimed to own in Iowa, but which by the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case of William B. Welles vs. Hannah Riley, determined at the December term, 1869, were not public lands; hence the titles of such settlers have failed. This much said, we believe every friend of justice will extend to us a helping hand."
Governor Carpenter in forwarding the memorial to Congress says:
" If a case has ever arisen since the organization of the Government, wherein land titles have become so involved by the action of the officers having the Land Department in charge, as to warrant Congress in securing the rights of innocent settlers and purchasers by appropriations of money, then no argument in addition to a simple statement of facts can strengthen and no reference to pledges of administrative economy can either weaken or dissipate the consideration to which these suffering claimants are en- titled."
" The annals of the Land Department of the Nation fail to furnish a full parallel to the case presented by these gentlemen. No other instance can be found in the records of that department where the misinterpretation of
238 HISTORY
a law, by ministerial officers respecting the boundaries of a land grant, has ever before produced so much sufl'ering to the settlers on the public do- main; threatening the irreparable ruin of so many families and the deso- lation of so many homes."
Upon the presentation of this report and memorial by Jackson Orr to Congress, he introduced a bill in the House and secured its passage providing for the appoint- ment of Commissioners—
" To ascertain the value, exclusive of improvements of all such lands lying north of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines River, in the State of Iowa, as may now be held by the Des Moines Navigation Company or per- sons claiming title under it adversely to persons holding said lands either by entry or under the preemption or homestead laws of the United States and on what terms the holders thereof will relinquish the same to the United States."
The Commissioners appointed were 0. P. Chubb of Minnesota, Charles Aldrich of Iowa, and James Robinson of Ohio. Their report was made on the 20th of Novem- ber, 1873, to the Secretary of the Interior, showing the number of acres to be 39,549, the average value was re- ported to be $10.22 per acre, making a total value of $404,- 228; and $14.25 as the average price per acre asked by the River Company and its grantees, making the total amount required to purchase it $563,416.
These lands were only such as were then claimed by the Navigation Company and its grantees and did not embrace those where the settlers had become discouraged in secK- ing justice from the Government and had purchased the title a second time rather than be driven from their homes. This accounts for the difference in the amount reported by the State and National Commissioners.
Upon the receipt by Congress of the report of the Na- tional Commissioners, Captain Orr promptly introduced a bill to indemnify the settlers whose titles had failed and appropriating $404,288 for that purpose. Willis Drummond, an Iowa man, was at that time Commissioner
OF IOWA 239
of the General Land Office and while the bill was before the committee on public lands, he addressed a communica- tion to that committee strongly urging its passage as an act of justice. He said:
" The settlers are without remedy to save their homes which they have practically been invited by the officers of the Government, acting in their official capacity, to rear upon these lands * * * Considering the fact that these settlers have acted in good faith, relying upon the decisions of the Government ofllcers, who were supposed to know the law, I think they are entitled to relief. * * * As the settlers in going upon these lands had a right to believe that their titles would be perfected in the ordinary manner and have invested their labor and means in improvements which they cannot abandon without ruinous loss, an exception to the general rules and practice should be made in their favor."
After a full hearing the act was seen to be one required by every consideration of justice and it passed the House by a large majority.
If all of the settlers could at this time have realized that this decision was to be final, that their homes were lost to them bej'^ond hope of recovery, that the only rem- edy possible for Congress to provide was compensation for their losses, and had all united in urging the passage of the bill, there is no doubt that it would have been passed by the Senate and become a law in 1874. But many of them could not be made to believe that the Gov- ernment which had given them its highest title to their homes, for which it had taken their money, would permit them to be driven from them; and still entertained a strong hope that, in some way, it would make their titles good. In this belief they not only refused to apply to Congress for indemnity but actively opposed that rem- edy.
George Crilly who had entered his farm when the Gov- ernment lands were offered for sale, had received a patent signed by the President of the United States conveying to him the best title it was possible for the Government to give a citizen. This farm was adjoining the town of Fort
240 HISTORY
Dodge and was worth, not less than one hundred dollars per acre. It had been Mr. Crilly's home since the early- settlement of the pioneers in that region. After theWelles- Eiley decision an eastern capitalist by the name of Bur- rows, who claimed Mr. Crilly's farm, having purchased the claim of the Navigation Company, brought suit to eject him and his family from their home. Mr. Crilly would not believe that he could be robbed of his home by any legal process. It seemed incredible to him that the Government which had taken his money and given him its title, would permit any one to seize his homestead and turn his family out of doors. He borrowed money, went to Washington, laid his case before Congress and ap- pealed to that body for protection. When informed that his only remedy for the great wrong inflicted upon him by the courts, was such indemnity as he could prove him- self entitled to, he refused to believe it, declaring that his farm was not for sale and no power could compel him to sell it. The Orr indemnity bill which had passed the House was then before the Senate. Mr. Crilly was so confident that some branch of the Government could and would protect him and his home that he had a memorial prepared denouncing the indemnity bill as unjust to the settlers and in their behalf he urged the Senate to defeat it. This memorial and Mr. Crilly's personal efforts de- feated the bill. When this was accomplished he returned to Fort Dodge and for a long series of years in the courts and by all other means that could be devised, continued the fight. He suffered imprisonment and poverty in de- fense of his rights but it was a hopeless struggle of a despairing man; he was finally ejected and the farm passed into the possession of eastern speculators.
For more than twenty years the rights of the settlers who had lost their homes were ignored by the Govern- ment. Millions were appropriated by each successive Congress during all of this period for public buildings to ornament ambitious cities and strengthen the hold of Con-
OF IOWA 241
gressmen upon their constituents; millions more were poured out among the districts to improve the navigation of rivers that were only navigable at flood time and to annually dredge harbors of shifting sand, while the pio- neers whom the courts had dispossessed of their homes, plead in vain for justice and common honesty at its hands.
In the meantime the United States marshals were driv- ing the settlers from their farms and imprisoning them for resisting the evictions. Some became insane over the loss of their homes, some were reduced to abject poverty in their old age and became finally inmates of the poor- houses, others wandered off to the distant Territories with their families in emigrant wagons, to find cheap lands and again endure the privations of the pioneer which they had years before, in youthful days encountered in Iowa. Many purchased the title of the Navigation Company and its grantees and encumbered their homes with heavy mortgages which absorbed their hard earnings for the remainder of their lives. During all of these long years of fruitless struggle and suffering many of the settlers still had a hope that the decision of the Supreme Court might be reversed; and in order to give them an oppor- tunity of again placing their claim before the courts. Sen- ator James F. Wilson, in 1888, secured the passage of a bill through Congress requiring the United States Attor- ney-General to begin proceedings in the courts, to cancel the claim or title of the old Des Moines Navigation Com- pany to the lands conveyed by the Government to the ac- tual settlers. This bill passed both branches of Congress but was vetoed by President Cleveland, for which he gave the following reason:
" I am not immindful of the fact that there may be persons who have suffered loss through a reliance upon the erroneous decisions of Govern- ment officials as to the extent of the original grant from the United States to the Territory of Iowa. I believe cases of this kind should be treated in accordance with the broadest sentiments of equity and that [Vol. 3]
242 HISTORY
where loss is apparent, arising from a real or fairly supposed invitation of the Government to settle upon the lands mentioned in the bill under con- sideration, such loss should be made good.
" But I do not believe the condition of these settlers will be aided by encouraging them in such further litigation as the terms of this bill invite, nor do I believe that, in attempting to right the wrongs of which they complain, legislation should be sanctioned in principle and in its practical operation doing injustice to others as innocent as they and as much en- titled to consideration."
The reasoning and conclusions of the President were correct and sound, as will be seen hereafter.
Senator William Evarts of New York, one of the most eminent lawyers of the country, in discussing the bill when it was before the Senate, said:
"My judgment is that the settlers who are sought to be benefited by this act, are ill-advised or misconceive their resort. Indemnity would an- swer their purpose as well as the maintenance of their footing on the land. I do not wish to disparage the adherence to what they may suppose their right; but in my judgment this act will only introduce a new series of litigation which must terminate in the utter disappointment of the plans and hopes of the settlers, and must finally bring us back after much litigation, and after their hopes are still longer deferred and still more bitterly disappointed, to the only proper remedy which I submit with great respect to the Senate."
He then introduced a bill, similar to the one introduced by Captain Orr which passed the House in 1874, granting indemnity to the settlers whose titles had failed through the decision of the Supreme Court in the Riley and Crilly cases. The Navigation Company and its grantees were willing and anxious to join with the settlers in securing indemnity for those who had lost their homes, in order that their titles might be no longer questioned, but many of the settlers still had a hope that there was a chance to reverse the decisions of the courts which awarded the title to the Navigation Company. After the repeated con- firmations of those decisions there was no good reason to believe that they would ever be reversed. The Evarts
OF IOWA 243
indemnity bill was presented as a substitute for the bill which was passed and vetoed, but it was not adopted.
After Harrison became President, Attorney-General Miller was instructed to begin a suit, such as was con- templated by the act which was vetoed. The case was brought in the United States Circuit Court for the North- ern District of Iowa and was tried at Fort Dodge before Judge Shiras. The suit was entitled '' United States of America vs. Des Moines Navigation and Eailroad Com- pany, et al."
John Y. Stone, the Attorney-General of Iowa, Whiting S. Clark and D. C. Chase appeared for the Government and B. J. Hall and C. H. Gatch for the defendants. The case was decided in favor of the defendants (the Des Moines Navigation Company) and the Government ap- pealed to the United States Supreme Court which con- firmed the decision.
In the course of his opinion Judge Shiras said :
" Should the court in the effort to protect the settlers, now hold them entitled to their homes, a manifest wrong would be done to the grantees of the Navigation Company, who for many years have paid taxes on these lands and have sold and conveyed the same in many instances, to parties paying full value thereof. If the courts, disregarding the many decisions heretofore made, should find some ground for holding that the United States might, at this late day, make a decree adjudging the title to be in the Government for the benefit of the settlers, Paul might thereby be paid, but Peter would be robbed. * * * i cannot refrain in concluding this opinion from urging upon Congress the claim of these settlers for some relief.
The question is not as to the legal title to these lands as between the Navigation Company and its grantees and the settlers, but as to the duty and obligations resting upon the United States to remedy a wrong done to its grantees and resulting from the acts of its own officials."
This decision was accepted by all parties as the end of litigation. There was but one way to, in some measure, repair the great wrong done the settlers by the Gov- ernment and the courts and that was the method pro- posed by Captain Orr in his indemnity bill which passed
244 HISTORY
the House in 1874, and failed in the Senate. Congress, therefore, in 1894, after twenty years of delay, finally ap- propriated $200,000 to begin to indemnify the surviving settlers and the heirs of the great majority who did not live to see their wrongs righted. The Commissioner ap- pointed to settle the claims was required to investigate, hear and determine the claims of all settlers, their heirs and assigns, who under the homestead, preemption or other public land laws, entered or filed upon lands in- cluded in the grant of August 8, 1846, or by the joint res- olution of March 2, 1861.
The Commissioner was also required to find the rea- sonable sums due the respective claimants, the measure of whose damages should be the amounts heretofore ex- pended by them respectively to purchase the paramount title of the lands ; or in case they had not purchased such title, the reasonable value of such title, if they were still in possession, or in case of eviction the reasonable value of the same at the time of such eviction.
He was further required to find and determine:
" First — The amount of just claims of persons, their heirs or assigns holding patents or other written evidences of title from the United States, who are now or have been in continuous possession thereunder.
'•' Second — The claims of persons, their heirs or assigns, holding written evidence of title from the United States who have been evicted from said lands by process of court at the suit of the Des Moines Navigation Com- pany, or its assigns.
" Third — The claims of persons, their heirs or assigns, for a valuable consideration, whose claim of title runs back to the person making the original entry of said lands who have heretofore purchased the paramount title."
There was a further provision that
" if the amount appropriated is not sufficient to settle all claims for entries where the entry men or their grantees appeared and presented their claims to the Commissioner, such remaining claims unpaid shall be submitted to Congress by the Secretary of the Interior, giving the amount of such claim, and payment made, and shall not include any claim or any prSemptor or
OF IOWA 245
homesteader who had actual notice of the adverse claim of the Des Moines Navigation Company at the time of making such preemption or homestead claim, and only paid the necessary fees to the land officers, and who made no valuable improvements on the land so preempted or homesteaded. Such claims and all the facts relating to them shall be reported to Congress. All other just claims shall be paid in the order of their approval, by the Secre- tary of the Interior; and no money shall be paid thereunder in any case until the findings of the Commissioner, in each case, are approved by the Secretary of the Interior, who shall have full authority to control all pro- ceedings authorized by this paragraph."
Finally a clause was incorporated in the Sundry Civil Act of March 3, 1893, in the Fifty-third Congress which read as follows :
" To enable the Secretary of the Interior to ascertain what persons made entry of lands within the limits of the so-called Des Moines River land grant for the improvement of the navigation of the Des Moines River in Iowa, the date of such entry, and the respective amounts paid to the United States and the date of such payments ; also the names of the persons who received certificates of entry or patents from the United States and the date of such certificates" or patents : also the sum or sums paid by the holders of such certificates or patents, their heirs or assigns, to purchase the paramount title as settled by the decisions of the courts and also the value of such paramount title in cases where such purchase has not been made by any of the holders of such certificates or patents and to ascertain such other facts as in his judgment are necessary to enable the United States to properly and equitably adjust the claims of persons who entered upon such lands, receiving from the proper officials written evidence of entry or settlement upon any of such lands, $8,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, to be immediately available and the said Secretary shall make report thereon at the first session of the Fifty-third Congress."
In pursuance of this act Robert L. Berner was ap- pointed a special agent to investigate the Des Moines River land grant claims. He proceeded to make a thorough examination of the entire complicated subject with eminent fairness and ability, and on the 7th of May, 1895, submitted to the Secretary of the Interior a com- prehensive history of the original land grant with a clear statement of all of the various decisions of the officers of the Land and Treasury Departments, the different At-
246 HISTORY
torney-Generals, the conflicting decisions of the courts, the supplementary legislation of Congress and the Iowa Legislature and all other official acts concerning this grant.
The report is accompanied by a detailed statement of the names of all of the claimants, dates of entry, descrip- tion of the land, number of acres, to whom patented, where recorded, amount paid the government, date of payment, the purchaser of the paramount title, the present holder of the title, the present value of each tract of land, the amount paid by each settler who had purchased the title the second time from the Eiver Land Company or any of its grantees, with remarks in each case showing other facts of interest.
Mr. Berner found the aggregate value of all of the lands where title had failed in consequence of the de- cisions of the highest courts, under which the settlers were dispossessed of their homes, to be $387,232.64.
Congress at last began to realize the enormity of the wrongs inflicted upon the innocent settlers on the Des Moines River lands, and on the 19th of August, 1894, made the first appropriation to be applied towards in some degree indemnifying the survivors and heirs of those who wore out their lives in vainly waiting for jus- tice. This appropriation amounted to $200,000. As the examination of claims proceeded, it soon became evident that nearly as much more would be required to meet the payment of the just dues to which the settlers were en- titled. On the 1st of July, 1898, $25,000 additional was appropriated; and on the 3d of March, 1899, another ap- propriation of $150,000 was made, making a total of $375,000.
Of this amount there had been paid to the settlers, up to the close of the year 1900, $183,854.07, leaving a balance of the appropriation of $191,145.93 still to be paid as the claims are adjusted and reported by the Coromissioner to the Secretary of the Interior.
OF IOWA 247
It was largely owing to the persistent efforts of Hon. J. P. DoUiver, Kepresentative in Congress from the Tenth District, and of Senator Allison, that these indemnity appropriations were finally secured for the wronged set- tlers and their heirs.
CHAPTER XV
THE Nineteenth Century witnessed the first organized movement of women to secure equal rights with men in civil, political and industrial affairs. In barbarous ages and uncivilized countries women have been held as inferiors, subject to servitude little better than slavery. The first indication of civilization is the growing tendency to accord to women better treat- ment and the recognition of their rights and privileges. As nations become enlightened they gradually remove oppressive laws and customs, and their degree of enlight- enment will be determined by the removal of restrictions upon women from the enjoyment of equal rights and privi- leges with men. In the early years of the century, in America as well as in the old world, the industrial occu- pations open to women were confined almost wholly to housework, sewing and school teaching, and a vast major- ity of school teachers were men. Colleges and all learned professions were closed against girls and women. Every step of their advancement has met with bitter opposition ; but step by step they have slowly won their way; first from housework to teaching ; then the doors of a few col- leges were opened to them ; a few of them began to speak in public as preachers and reformers; others became authors and editors, later physicians and lawyers ap- peared among them; some were elected to public offices; many States granted them qualified suffrage and some removed all restrictions and accorded them equal rights with men.
The movement for the equal rights of women in Amer- ica began as early as 1837 when a National Woman's Antislavery Convention was called to meet in New York,
250 HISTORY
in which eight States were represented by seventy-one delegates. Among those who took part in the delibera- tions were Lydia Maria Child, Abby Kelley, Mary S. Parker, Deborah Shaw, and Abigail Hopper Gibbons. Abby Kelley was a young and beautiful woman of Quaker ancestry, an eloquent and logical speaker who gave her early years to the Antislavery movement. When she be- gan to speak in public in behalf of freedom for the slaves she was assailed by the clergy, ridiculed by society women, churches and public halls were closed against her, and personal violence, encouraged by wealthy citizens and high officials, was often visited upon the courageous girl who dared to plead for universal freedom. Mobs assailed her and broke up her meetings ; men and women were ex- pelled from churches for listening to her on Sunday. But she never faltered in the good cause and never quailed be- fore the tirades of personal abuse or the assaults of mobs. Her eloquence and courage paved the way for women as public speakers and illustrated their power in that capac- ity. In 1840 Margaret Fuller wrote an essay, published in the *' Dial," demanding equal rights for women with men, in education, industry and politics. In 1849 Lucre- tia Mott, the eminent Quaker minister, delivered a pow- erful discourse in Philadelphia in reply to a lecture by Richard H. Dana ridiculing the idea of political equality for women. In 1847 Susan B. Anthony made her first public speech in Canajoharie, New York, and the same year Antoinette L. Brown and Lucy Stone made their first appearance as public speakers.
The question of the right of women to speak in public, vote, and to serve as delegates to conventions, caused a division in the ranks of the American Antislavery Soci- ety in 1840 and disturbed the peace of the World's Anti- slavery Convention held in London the same year. Several j American societies had sent women as delegates to that Convention, among whom were Lucretia Mott, Abby Southwick and six other young women under thirty years
OF IOWA 251
of age. When Wendell Phillips, the eloquent apostle of universal freedom, moved the admission as delegates, of all persons having proper credentials, an English clergy- man objected to the admission of the American women " as it would shock the sense of propriety of the people of England. ' ' He was supported by the Rev. Henry Grew of Philadelphia, who gravely proclaimed that '' the re- ception of women as a part of this Convention would be a violation of the customs of England, and the ordinance of Almighty God." Wendell Phillips, George Thompson, a member of the British Parliament, Daniel O'Connell and other friends of human rights made earnest and elo- quent pleas for their admission, but English and Ameri- can prejudice prevailed and the women delegates were refused seats in the Convention. William Lloyd Garri- son, the great Antislavery leader, thereupon refused to take a seat in the Convention which had by an arbitrary power of numerical strength excluded all women dele- gates. This act of tyranny was led by clergymen from both England and America, fortified with frequent quo- tations from the Bible showing the inferiority of women. George Bradbum sprang to his feet in the midst of this **■ thus saith the scripture *' argument, and towering like a knight, he indignantly exclaimed : * ' Prove to me gentle- men that your Bible sanctions the slavery of women— the complete subjugation of one-half of the race to the other— and I should feel that the best work I could do for human- ity would be to make a grand bonfire of every Bible in the universe." Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the other women delegates who had come 3,000 miles to represent their constituents in the World's Antislavery Convention, now realized that the American negroes were not the only people deprived of rights, and then and there was inaugurated the plan of beginning a crusade, upon their return to America, in behalf of the enfranchisement of women. Susan B. Anthony says in her *' History of Woman Suffrage ": *' The movement for woman's suff-
252 HISTORY
rage, both in England and America, may be dated from this World's Antislavery Convention."
The suffrage movement in Iowa began in the summer of 1854 when Frances Dana Gage of Ohio delivered a series of lectures in the southwestern part of the State on temperance and woman's rights. In 1855, Mrs. Amelia Bloomer of Council Bluffs gave several lectures on the subject in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. In 1868 Martha H. Brinkerhoff, a talented and eloquent young woman, traveled through the chief towns of northwestern Iowa speaking on suffrage and awakening deep interest in that section as the pioneer advocate of equal rights, organizing many societies. In 1868-9-70 Annie C. Savery of Des Moines lectured on the subject in various locali- ties.
On the 17th of April, 1869, the first organization was made in Dubuque, called the ' * Northern Woman Suffrage Association. ' ' Mary N. Adams was one of the leaders of the movement; she lectured in many places in that part of the State and wrote able articles for the press. The Polk County Suffrage Society was organized on the 25th of October, 1870. In the fall of the same year a society was established in Burlington, through the efforts of Mary A. P. Darwin, who delivered a series of lectures through the southern part of the State. Mattie Griffith of Davenport was a pioneer in the cause in that city and vicinity as early as 1868. In 1870 Mrs. Bloomer and Mrs. Hannah Tracy Cutler lectured at Oskaloosa where a soci- ety was soon after organized. During the year 1870-71- 72-73, lectures were given by Nettie Sanford, Lizzie B. Reed, Mrs. A. M. Swain, Susan B. Anthony and others who carried on an active campaign for the cause, and many societies were established.
On the 17th of June, 1870, a State Convention of advo- cates of woman suffrage was held at Mt. Pleasant where was organized the " Iowa Woman Suffrage Society." The following officers were elected: president, Henry
OF IOWA 253
O'Connor; vice-presidents, Amelia Bloomer, Nettie San- ford, Mrs. F. W. Palmer, Joseph Dugdale and John P. Irish; secretary. Belle Mansfield; corresponding secre- tary, Annie C. Savery; executive committee, Mary A. P. Darwin, Mattie Griffith, Mrs. J. L. McCreery, Eev. Augusta Chapin and Charles Beardsley. The object of the organization was to secure the ballot for women by amendment of the Constitution of the State which limits the right of suffrage to men.
At the session of the Thirteenth General Assembly, in 1870, John P. Irish of Johnson County, introduced into the House of Representatives a joint resolution providing for submission to a vote of the people of an amendment to the Constitution, striking the word '' male " from the article on suffrage. The resolution passed both branches and was approved by Governor Merrill. Before a pro- posed amendment to the Constitution becomes effective it must receive the approval of two successive General Assemblies and the votes of a majority of the electors voting at an election in which it is submitted for approval or rejection.
The first annual meeting of the State Society was held at Des Moines on the 19th of October, 1871, at which Amelia Bloomer presided in the absence of the president. There was a large attendance and many accessions were made to the membership. The principal speakers were Mrs. Delia Ruttkay, Nettie Sanford, Amelia Bloomer, An- nie C. Savery and Mrs. Spaulding. When the Four- teenth General Assembly convened, John A. Kasson who was a most influential member, proposed to the officers of the Suffrage Society to secure a joint meeting of the Legislature at which the advocates of the amendment should have a hearing before that body and present their arguments for its consideration. For some reason not explained the managers neglected to avail themselves of the opportunity to plead their cause under such favorable circumstances. Had they made their arguments through
254 HISTORY
their ablest advocates to the tribunal which must decide the case, it was the general belief of impartial observers that they would have won a victory. But instead, they called a mass meeting of the public, where excellent speeches were made but a majority of the members who were to decide the fate of the amendment were not pres- ent and the bill lacked four votes of a constitutional ma- jority on the Senate roll call. It passed the House by the decisive vote of fifty-eight ayes to thirty-nine nays. Had the suffrage managers taken the advice of the able and experienced legislator, there is little doubt that equal suff- rage would have been engrafted upon our State Consti- tution. The liquor power at that time was in the minor- ity and powerless to manipulate the defeat of woman suffrage as it has ever since done. The advocates of equal suffrage have never ceased to press the reform upon succeeding Legislatures but every saloon in the State stands on guard to defeat a reform which would strike the death knell to its existence.
When the Republican State Convention met in 1874, Elizabeth Boynton Harbert was given a hearing before the committee on resolutions where by argument and elo- quence she succeeded in securing the following declara- tion from the Convention:
" Resolved, That since the people may be entrusted with all questions of governmental reform, we favor the final submission to them of the ques- tion of amending the Constitution so as to extend the right of suffrage to women, pursuant to the action of the Fifteenth General Assembly."
Governor Carpenter, in his message to the Sixteenth General Assembly, urged the approval of the suffrage amendment ; Matilda Hindman was granted a hearing be- fore the Legislature and Susan B. Anthony made a power- ful appeal to the members in a public speech. The meas- ure was, however, defeated in the Senate after having passed the House.
In the face of many discouragements the crusade went
OF IOWA 255
on year after year. New workers were continually swell- ing the ranks of the reformers; among the active advo- cates for the next ten years may be mentioned Amelia Bloomer, Margaret Campbell, a logical and brilliant speaker whose services were in demand from Maine to California, Elizabeth Boynton Harbert, Lizzie B. Reed, Caroline A. Ingham, Mary A. Work, Narcissa T. Bemis, Eliza H. Hunter, Mary J. Coggeshall, Jennie Wilson, Elizabeth Parker Gue, Adeline M. Swain, Amanda Stew- art, Orilla M. James, Harriet G. Bellangee, Martha C. Callanan, Florence English, Ellen Armstrong, Angeline Allison, Mariana T. Folsom, all of whom served during a portion of this period as officers of the State Society.
Each year the society has kept open house in a build- ing on the State Fair Grounds, during the annual exhi- bitions, where literature has been distributed and petitions presented to all visitors for signatures asking for the enactment of an equal suffrage amendment to the State Constitution.
The first woman appointed to a clerkship in a State of- fice in Iowa was Linda M. Ramsey of Tipton, afterwards Mrs. Hartzell, an active suffrage worker; as early as 1864, Adjutant-General N. B. Baker appointed her one of his clerks where she served with marked efficiency for several years. Miss Augusta Mathews was employed by Governor Stone as a clerk in the Executive office a few years later. In 1870 Miss Mary E. Spencer of Clinton County was a candidate for engrossing clerk of the House of Representatives and was elected over her male com- petitors. She gave such satisfaction that each succeeding General Assembly has chosen women to some of the legis- lative offices. In 1871 Ada E. North was employed as a clerk in one of the State offices. In September, 1872, she was appointed by Governor Carpenter State Librarian and is believed to have been the first woman in America to hold a State office. In 1874 Governor Carpenter ap- pointed Deborah Cattell a Commissioner to investigate
256 HISTORY
charges of cruelty in the State Reform School at Eldora. In 1876 Governor Kirkwood appointed Nancy R. Allen, a notary public; Mrs. Merrill a teacher and chaplain at the State penitentiary; Miss Dr. McCowen and Dr. Sara A. Pangborn on the staff of physicians at the State in- sane asylums. Governor Gear, in 1880, appointed Dr. Abbie M. Cleaves a delegate from Iowa to the National Conference of Charities and Correction and to the Na- tional Association for the Protection of the Insane; and the General Assembly elected Jane C. McKinney a trustee of the Insane Asylum at Independence. Governor Sher- man appointed Mary H. "Wright and Dr. Abbie Cleaves delegates to the National Association for the Prevention of Insanity, in 1883.
In 1880, the General Assembly passed an act to extend to women the right to hold the office of county recorder and the first woman elected under its provisions was Miss Addie Hayden of Warren County. Mrs. J. C. Hill was chosen recorder of Osceola County at the same election.
The question of the eligibility of women to hold office in Iowa was raised in 1869, in the case of Julia C. Adding- ton, who had been elected county superintendent of schools. The case was referred to Attorney-General Henry O'Connor, who held that "there is no provision of law in Iowa preventing women from holding the office of superintendent of schools." The question was again raised at the election of October, 1875, when Elizabeth S. Cooke was elected to the office of superintendent of schools in Warren County. Her competitor, a Mr. Huff, who was not elected, sought to procure the office by hav- ing women declared to be ineligible. He succeeded in pro- curing a decision of the District Court which declared that ** the defendant. Miss Cooke, being a woman, was ineligible to the office." The case was taken to the Supreme Court which reversed the decision of the lower Court, holding that '' there is no constitutional in-
OF IOWA 257
hibition upon the right of women to hold the office of superintendent of schools."
The Sixteenth General Assembly being in session promptly enacted the following law which settled the question :
" Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Iowa, that no person shall be deemed ineligible, by reason of sex, to any school office in Iowa.
" Section 2. No person who may have been, or shall be elected or ap- pointed to the office of county superintendent of schools, or director. In the State of Iowa, shall be deprived of office by reason of sex. ' '
In 1880 in Polk County, Mary A. Work was unani- mously elected school director in Delaware township and soon after was chosen president of the school board. In 1885 the school board of the city of Des Moines elected Louisa M. Wilson to the office of superintendent of schools, at a salary of $1,800 a year. She had supervision over eighty teachers, two of whom were men principals of grade schools. The office of State Librarian in Iowa was filled by women from 1872 to 1898, and several women have been elected trustees of the various State institu- tions.
At the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Women held at Des Moines in October, 1885, Dr. Jennie McCowen in her report for Iowa, said :
" An increasing number of women have been elected on school boards, and are serving as officers and county superintendents of schools. Last year six women served as presidents, thirty-five as secretaries and fifty as treasurers of school boards. Of the superintendents and principals of the graded schools about one in five is a woman; of county superintend- ents, one in nine; of teachers in normal institutes, one in three; of princi- pals of secondary institutions of learning, one in three; of tutors and instructors in colleges, one in two; and in the twenty-three higher institu- tions of learning, thirteen young women are officiating as professors and in three of these colleges the secretary of the faculty is a woman. One of the State Board of Examiners, is Ella A. Hamilton of Des Moines. The * Northwestern Educational Journal ' is edited by a woman. The school of Domestic Economy at the State Agricultural College, is in charge of
[Vol. 3]
258 HISTORY
Mary B. Welch as dean. A number of young ladies, graduates of the State University and other literary schools, have gone to this School of Domestic Economy to finish their education."
Many of the most talented editorial writers for Iowa journals have for many years been women; and among Iowa authors of books on various subjects are many bril- liant women. '
Ellen S. Tupper of Iowa was for twenty years the highest authority in the United States on bee-keeping. She contributed to the best bee journals and conducted de- partments in the New York Tribune, the Iowa Home- stead, and other papers of wide circulation. Two of her daughters were talented Unitarian ministers. Mary A. Emsley of Mason City and Louisa B. Stevens of Marion, were among the pioneer women bankers of Iowa. Mrs. M. A. Turner was for many years secretary and treasurer of the Des Moines Street Railway Company.
During the War of the Rebellion Iowa furnished many devoted and heroic nurses to the army in the field and camp. Among them may be mentioned Annie Witten- myer, Ann E. Harlan, Almira Fales, Phoebe Allen, Mrs. I. K. Fuller, Mrs. Simmons, Jerusha R. Small, Melcena Elliott and Arabella Tannehill. No State in the Union has produced a truer heroine than Iowa, in the brave little Irish girl of Boone County, Kate Shelley, who at the peril of her life, saved a night train loaded with sleeping passengers on the Chicago and Northwestern Railway.
The legislation of Iowa as to the rights of women, from the first, has been more liberal than that of a large ma- jority of the States. Under the first code of the Terri- tory, 1842-3, the widow inherited one-third of the real estate and personal property; and if there were no chil- dren she received one-half of all property. If there were no kindred, she received the entire estate. The code of 1851 provided that the personal property of the wife did not vest in the husband at once but, if left in his control.
OF IOWA 259
II _ _ - II a.
it became liable for his debts, unless she filed a notice with the recorder of deeds setting forth her claim to the property with a full description. The same rule applied to specific articles of personal property. Married women abandoned by their husbands could, upon application to the court, procure authority to transact business in their own names.
The Code of 1860 did not materially change these pro- visions. Under both the husband was entitled to the wages and earnings of his wife. The Code of 1873 was intended to place the husband and wife on an equality as to property rights. By its provisions a married woman may own in her own right real and personal pro]3erty ac- quired by gift, descent, or purchase; and she may exer- cise as absolute ownership over her property as the Iius- band does over his. The wife may receive wages for her personal labor, maintain an action therefor in her own name and hold the same in her own right. She may prose- cute and defend actions at law, or in equity, for the preser- vation and protection of her rights and property. Con- tracts may be made by a wife, and liabilities incurred and the same enforced by, upon or against her, to the same ex- tent as though she were unmarried. The property of both husband and wife is equally liable for the expenses of the family and the education of the children and neither is liable for the debts of the other without express contract. The parents are the natural guardians of the children and are equally entitled to their care and custody. A man is not permitted to mortgage the homestead, household fur- niture or other exempt property without the cooperation and joint signature of the wife.
In 1894 an act was passed by the Legislature granting suffrage to women at municipal or school elections, where bonds are to be issued or taxes levied.
The Democratic party of Iowa has never, in convention, indorsed woman suffrage. The Republican party, as mentioned, once only, approved equal suffrage. Neither
260 HISTORY
of these two parties has ever nominated a woman for a State office. In 1877 the State Prohibition party, by reso- lution demanded suffrage for women and again in 1879 the State Convention of the same party approved suff- rage for women. In 1881 the Greenback State Conven- tion nominated Adeline M. Swain of Fort Dodge for Superintendent of Public Instruction. At the election she received 26,794 votes. In 1883 the Greenback party in State Convention again indorsed woman suffrage and nominated Abbie 0. Canfield of Burlington for Superin- tendent of Public Instruction. In 1884 Mrs. H. J. Bal- langee of Des Moines and Mrs. A. M. Swain of Fort Dodge were among the delegates elected by the Green- back State Convention to represent that party in the Na- tional Convention to nominate a candidate for President. They were received by the National Convention with great courtesy and participated in its deliberations. The Popu- list party in National Convention indorsed woman suff- rage.
Among the political and temperance speakers of note may be mentioned J. Ellen Foster, Matilda Fletcher, Ade- line M. Swain, Mrs. W. R. Cole and Mary J. Aldrich. The first woman minister in Iowa was Rev. Augusta Chapin, TJniversalist and Rev. Mary A. Safford was one of the l^ioneer Unitarian ministers of the State.
In 1874 Mary B. Welch was appointed lecturer on Do- mestic Economy at the State Agricultural College and was subsequently elected to a full professorship in charge of that department which has from that time been pre- sided over by women professors. Miss Phoebe Ludlow was appointed professor of English literature in the State University. In all of the professions, law, medicine, journalism and divinity, Iowa women have become nu- merous, taking as high rank as men. As dentists, sten- ographers, telegraph operators, bankers, farmers, mer- chants, librarians, insurance solicitors and officers, book- keepers, cashiers, photographers, newspaper reporters,
OF IOWA 261
and many other occupations, girls and women have made their way by merit and business enterprise, until the time has arrived in the opening years of the Twentieth Cen- tury when almost every vocation is open to women. Prejudice has slowly been overcome by efficiency, until a woman can choose among the occupations the one best suited to her qualifications and tastes as men have done in all the years of the past.
The friends of equal suffrage have never ceased to pre- sent their petitions at each succeeding session of the Gen- eral Assembly and earnest workers urge the reform be- fore the members.
Among the efficient advocates of the cause who in re- cent years have aided in the work, in addition to those heretofore named, may be mentioned Mrs. Carrie Lane Chapman Catt, the efficient president of the National Wo- man Suffrage Association, the worthy successor of Susan B. Anthony, and the Iowa woman who has attained great- est prominence in her chosen work ; Mrs. Evelyn H. Bel- den of Sioux City, Mrs. J. B. Romans of Denison, Mrs. Adelaide Ballard of Hull and Mrs. C. H. Flint of Des Moines. For many years the Woman's Standard, con- ducted by women, has been a most efficient aid in the re- form work. In 1891 the State Association was incorpor- ated under the name of ''The Iowa Equal Suffrage As- sociation. ' '
With the organization of the first woman's club in Iowa, a movement was inaugurated the influence of which has been more far reaching than might at first thought be realized. The first step in this direction was taken late in the seventies ; for a time the movement made slow prog- ress, the clubs were few and limited in scope. From the meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Wo- men at Des Moines in 1885 dates the general awakening of the desire for a wider culture. Many of the clubs were devoted to study, others to philanthropy, church interests and social affairs. The study of literature, arts, sciences,
262 HISTORY OF IOWA
history, parliamentary law and innumerable subjects has not only interested women in a wide range of topics but enabled them to become proficient speakers and writers. Clubs devoted to philanthropy, organized industrial schools, libraries, village improvement and humane soci- eties.
So widespread and varied had this movement become that the need of a State organization was felt and at a meeting held in Des Moines, in April, 1893, the Iowa Fed- eration of Women's Clubs was organized. The object of the Federation was stated in the constitution to be '^ to bring into communication with one another the various Women 's Clubs throughout the State, that they may com- pare methods of work and become mutually helpful. ' ' The officers consist of a president, first vice-president, record- ing secretary, corresponding secretary and auditor.
It was further provided that the president of each fed- erated club should be a vice-president of the State Fed- eration and that these, with the general officers, consti- tute the executive board to transact the business of the Federation subject to its direction. The constitution of the clubs, applying for admission to the Federation, must show that no sectarian or political test is required and that while distinctly humanitarian movements may be rec- ognized, their chief purpose is not philanthropic, or tech- nical, but social, literary, artistic or scientific culture. The meetings of the State Federation are biennial. The num- ber of clubs belonging to the State Federation at the close of the Nineteenth Century was one hundred ninety-eight, the number of members 7,000. The number of towns and cities represented by these clubs was one hundred thirty- six.
CHAPTER XVI
IN the State in which the per cent, of illiteracy is so small as in Iowa inquiry is naturally made as to the causes of this comparatively high grade of in- telligence being found so far from the acknowl- edged centers of culture. One reason may be found in the fact that the pioneers of this section were largely from the New England and Middle States where the standard of intelligence has always been of a high order. These men and women being largely depend- ent upon their own resources, often engaged in school teaching as the means to the study of a profession. This made a class of teachers rarely equaled in intelligence and enthusiasm. Another cause of the low per cent of illiteracy in our State may be traced to the men who enacted the early laws and secured the grant of public lands for the support of free schools. This early care in legislation enabled Iowa to build up a school system of which her citizens may be justly proud.
Glancing back to Territorial times we find Governor Lucas a champion of higher education, recommending in a message to the Legislative Assembly the adoption of the township system as a basis of school organization. The office of Superintendent of Public Instruction was estab- lished in 1841 and William Reynolds of Iowa City was the first to occupy the position. The following year the office was abolished and previous to 1846 Iowa had no definite free-school system owing to the rigid economy necessary in the pioneer period, leaving no money for school taxes, rather than to indifference or willful neglect of the people. The Constitution under which the State was admitted as well as the first General Assembly dealt with the sub-
264 HISTORY
ject of education with earnestness and from 1846 to 1856 there was a constant movement towards more and better free schools.
Governor Hempstead in his message of 1852, says :
" The first great object of public schools should be to place within the reach of every child in the State the opportunity of acquiring those in- dispensable elements of education -which shall fit him for the enlightened discharge of social and civil duties to which he may be called."
Professor L. F. Parker tells us that when Iowa became a State it contained 20,000 persons of school age and one hundred schoolhouses valued at one hundred thirty-five dollars each. During the decade from 1846 to 1856, over 1,300 schoolhouses were built, valued at $266,000; while 2,153 ungraded schools were established and 2,500 teach- ers were employed of which more than one-half were men.
In his message of 1854, Governor Grimes says :
" The State should see to it that the elements of education, like the elements of universal nature are about, around and beneath all."
He continues :
" The statistics of the penitentiaries and almhouses throughout the country abundantly show that education is the best preventive of pauper- ism and crime. Education, too, is the great equalizer of human conditions. Every consideration of duty and policy compels us to sustain the common schools of the State in the highest possible efficiency."
. The first Superintendent of Public Instruction after Iowa became a State, James Harlan, was succeeded by Thomas H. Benton who laid the foundation for our mag- nificent school system. Although the report of the Com- mission on revision of school laws in 1856, consisting of Horace Mann, Amos Dean and F. E. Bissell was not adopted, it had great influence in shaping our school pol- icy; the rate bill disappeared and the schools became free
OF IOWA 265
to the children of every citizen of the State. In 1858 a law was passed providing for county high schools and permitting, by vote of two-thirds of the members of a school board, the introduction of studies other than Eng- lish. In 1862 the school board of any district was author- ized to establish graded or union schools and to employ a suitable person to superintend them. The Constitution authorized the courses in collegiate and scientific depart- ments to begin where the high schools terminated.
In 1866 we find 5,900 schoolhouses in the State with 9,343 teachers of which but twenty-eight per cent, were men. This small number of men engaged in teaching was doubtless due in large part to the Civil War which had just closed ; but it is a noteworthy fact that women hence- forth formed a large majority of the teachers. During the ten years then passed, salaries had increased from fourteen dollars and a half a month for men and eight for women, to thirty-four for men and twenty-four dollars for women. There were 5,000 schoolhouses valued at $2,900,- 000 with an enrollment of 242,000 pupils.
In the decade following, the schools increased to 9,859, or nearly seventy-five per cent., and 399,000 pupils were enrolled. The schoolhouses were valued at $9,376,000, and the school year averaged six and one-half months.
Ten years later, in 1886, there were 24,828 schools, 24,- 700 teachers, not quite one-fourth of whom were men; pupils numbered 481,000 and the school year had been lengthened to more than seven months. The State now expended $6,000,000 on schools and the 12,444 school buildings were valued at $11,560,000.
The Twenty-sixth General Assembly made a most im- portant addition to the laws governing education when it passed an act making it possible for the schools to procure free text books. The laws provide that the books be pur- chased by the school districts *' on petition of one-third or more of the legal voters in said district." Each dis- trict was authorized to buy books and make new or renew
266 HISTORY
old contracts once in five years. This act enables many to attend school who have heretofore been deprived of that privilege and is proving popular, as over one-half of the counties had availed themselves of the benefits of the law at the beginning of the Twentieth Century.
During the decade ending with 1896, there were 28,121 teachers employed in the public schools and the school year had been extended to eight months; 543,652 pupils were in attendance at 13,686 schoolhouses valued at $15,- 867,425.
An act of the Twenty-ninth General Assembly, making education compulsory " from the ages of seven to four- teen inclusive, for all children in proper physical condi- tion," places Iowa in rank with the most progressive of the States and fulfills the promise of her pioneer educa- tors.
After tracing thus briefly the growth of the public school system in Iowa, we turn with interest to the insti- tutions for higher education, the State University, State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts and the State Normal School. In addition to these there are a number of denominational colleges, each occupying a field pecul- iarly its own. Foremost among these stands Iowa Col- lege at Grinnell, a worthy representative of the Congre- gational Church and a college which has given to Iowa high rank in the educational world. The Methodists sup- port five educational institutions of which Cornell College at Mt. Vernon is the best known. Coe College at Cedar Rapids is one of the foremost Presbyterian schools, while Penn College at Oskaloosa, the Friends regard as their special educational institution of the northwest. Des Moines College, among the Baptists, and Drake Univer- sity, among the Christians, are regarded as among their leading colleges in this section. Griswold College at Davenport, Luther College at Ducorah and Western Col- lege at Toledo are representatives of the Episcopal, Lu- theran and United Brethren denominations.
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OF IOWA 267
THE STATE UNIVERSITY
The doors of the University were thrown open for the first time in March, 1855, and seventy-five students were found to be in attendance. An act of the General As- sembly, approved in 1847, had directed the establishment of such an institution at Iowa City, but for various rea- sons the school was not formally opened until eight years later. For several years the institution led a precarious existence, as in 1857 the University proper was closed upon the recommendation of Chancellor Dean because of lack of funds and suitable buildings ; the Normal Depart- ment continued its work. On September 19th, 1860, the institution was formally opened and from this time the real organization of the University may be said to date. The catalogue of 1860-1 shows one hundred and seventy- two students, of whom but nineteen were of collegiate rank, and eight professors. Until 1867 elementary Eng- lish branches were taught, and in 1879 all preparatory in- struction was abolished. The Normal and Collegiate de- partments were consolidated in 1873. In 1868 the Law Department was opened with twenty-five students ; in 1870 the Medical Department was organized with fifteen stu- dents ; in 1877 the Homeopathic Medical Department was established with eighteen students; in 1882 a Dental De- partment with fifteen students, and in 1885 the Pharma- ceutical Department with fourteen students. Since 1860 the faculty has grown from eight to one hundred sixty-five in 1902 ; and the attendance in the Collegiate Department from nineteen to 1,512. One small building accommodated the institution in 1855, while in 1902 the buildings num- bered eighteen, exclusive of two in process of erection. The library of the University in 1900 contained 58,000 vol- umes, while eleven laboratories, several hospitals and museums add to the equipment of the various depart- ments. Close Hall, built through the efforts of the Chris- tian associations, furnishes gymnasium, reading rooms,
268 HISTORY
and baths. In connection with the chairs of English, Latin, German, History, Political Science, Philosophy and Pedagogy are excellent seminaries which furnish facilities for advanced study and original work. Moot courts prepare the law students for actual practice. The collegiate department offers four general courses of study, classical, philosophical, general scientific and letters ; two technical courses, civil and electrical engineering; also special courses under direction of the faculty. The last biennial period brought the University an income of $402,- 000, the sources of which were State and National endow- ments and private bequests. The value of the buildings, furniture and grounds amounts to something like $653,000. The total number of graduates since the organization of the institution is 6,130. The University has been fortu- nate in the election of regents whose aim has invariably been the highest good of the institution, each instructor being free to teach the truth unbiased by religious creed or party expediency. The spirit of the University is broad and distinctly cosmopolitan.
STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANIC ARTS
The organic act of this institution provided for the establishment of an '' Agricultural College on a model farm to be connected with the entire agricultural interests of the State." The proceeds of five sections of land granted by Congress for the erection of Capitol buildings were diverted to the College, as well as ' ' the proceeds from all other lands granted, or to be granted by Congress to the State for purposes contemplated by this act. The sum of $10,000 was appropriated for the purchase of a farm of not less than six hundred and forty acres. This farm was located in Story County. Certain branches relating to agriculture, horticulture and forestry were required to be taught as well as those relating to mechanic arts.
An act of Congress in 1862 making a grant of lands to
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OF IOWA 269
the several States and Territories for the support of col- leges of agriculture and mechanic arts, was accepted by the extra session of the General Assembly in September upon the conditions and under the restrictions contained in the act. Iowa received by virtue of this grant 204,309 acres which were selected within the limits of the State. Appropriations were made for the erection of a central building, which in the fall of 1868 was so far completed that a preliminary term was held, continuing through the winter. On the 17th of March, 1869, the first regular term began with a president and seven professors and instruc- tors and one hundred and seventy-three students, thirty- seven of whom were girls. Fifty-five counties were rep- resented by students.
For two years after the organization the departments consisted of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, but in 1871 the former was divided into courses in Agriculture, Hor- ticulture and Pomology ; while the Department of Mechan- ics was divided into Mechanical, Civil and Mining En- gineering, and a course in Architecture was added. In 1870 Botany, Physics and English Literature were added; in 1872 Veterinary Science, and in 1874 Zoology and Entomology; in 1876 Domestic Economy. The work in agriculture has been greatly differentiated in late years until there may be found professors and instructors in Dairying, Animal Husbandry, Agronomy, Soil Physics and Farm Mechanics. The course in Mining Engineering was soon discontinued, but reestablished in 1891. The course in Electrical Engineering was introduced in 1890. Of the one hundred and seventy-three in attendance at the opening, twenty-six graduated in the first class, while the number of graduates in 1902 was seventy-two and the attendance reached 1,220, in 1901. The total number of graduates has been 1,162.
From the original four story building designed to ac- commodate every department including dormitories, lo- cated in a plat destitute of trees, has gradually developed
270 HISTORY
sixteen buildings grouped about a campus of surprising beauty. Thirteen laboratories, machine shops, two mu- seums and a library of 14,000 volumes facilitate the work of the students. The biennial income of the institution is about $182,000 and the value of the equipment including buildings and grounds amounts to something like $900,000. The Iowa Experiment Station was established in ac- cordance with act of Congress in 1887, for the purpose of aiding in acquiring and diffusing among the people useful and practical information upon subjects connected with agriculture, and to promote scientific investigations re- specting the principles and application of agricultural science. The sum of $15,000, annually, was appropriated for this purpose and experimental stations established as a department of the land grant colleges. These stations are subject to regulations of the United States Department of Agriculture and are regularly inspected by officers of that Department. The results of these investigations are pub- lished quarterly and distributed free to residents of the respective States. The reports of the Iowa station have proven extremely popular throughout the entire country; the reports of some experiments having been republished in full in foreign countries. It is needless to suggest the value of such an institution in a community whose prosperity depends largely upon agriculture. To the tiller of the soil is intrusted the production of the State's greatest wealth. By means of his larger intelli- gence and ability to preserve, as well as glean from forest, stream and soil, is assured increased wealth in the years to come.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL
This institution which has for its province the special training and education of teachers, was established under an act of the Sixteenth General Assembly approved in 1876 and located at Cedar Falls. The enrollment on the
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opening day, September 6tli of that year, was twenty- seven students, the faculty numbered five. In 1901 the enrollment was 2,017 teachers' grade, and three hundred and fifty-six in the training school. The institution sends out annually some two hundred graduates. The total num- ber of graduates since the organization is 1,947. The buildings formerly used for the Orphans' Home were, by act of the General Assembly, transferred to the use of the Normal School and the institution in the beginning re- ceived a biennial appropriation of $14,500. In 1882 the Trustees discontinued graduation at the end of the second year and gave diplomas only at the end of the third or fourth years. This same year the General Assembly so far recognized the growth and needs of this institution as to appropriate $30,000 for the building of South Hall which contains library, chapel, laboratories, etc.
*' The erection of this building marked an era in the history of the school ; with its completion the preliminary stages were passed and the institution emerged from its experimental existence," says Henry Sabin. In 1887 a course especially designed for high school teachers was instituted. The entire course of study was revised to make it harmonize with the law for State certificates and diplo- mas and a course for college graduates was established. In 1888, by act of the General Assembly, the Superintend- ent of Public Instruction was made president and member ex-ofl&cio of the Board of Directors. On a campus dotted with beautiful trees stand the four large school buildings interspersed with residences of the faculty and smaller buildings. The value of the entire equipment, buildings, furniture and grounds is estimated at $321,342.00. While the income resulting from the levy of one-tenth mill tax provided for by the Twenty-ninth General Assembly will bring the building fund up to $300,000 insuring great im- provements. The income of the biennial period ending with June, 1902, amounted to $242,800.
272 HISTORY
THE PENITENTIARIES
The first State institution provided for by law was the Penitentiary at Fort Madison. By an act of the First Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa, approved January 25, 1839, Governor Lucas was authorized to draw $20,000 which had been appropriated by Congress in July, 1838, for public buildings in Iowa. The directors, John Claypool and J. S. David were authorized to locate and direct the building of a penitentiary at Fort Madison. Ten acres of land were secured and Amos Ladd was appointed superintendent of the building. The cost was estimated at $55,000, for a building which was to hold one hundred and thirty-eight convicts. The main building and the warden's house were completed in 1841. Additional buildings have been provided from time to time until the capacity of this Penitentiary has reached six hundred, supplying the re- quirements of the State for thirty-four years.
In 1872 the Fourteenth General Assembly passed an act providing for the building of an additional peniten- tiary at Anamosa, where fifteen acres of ground were donated by the citizens. A building four hundred thirty- four feet front by three hundred deep, containing four hundred ninety-six cells was erected. Workshops, ward- en's house, dining room, kitchen and laundry were con- structed from stone quarried near the buildings, largely by the labor of convicts.
COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND
The College for the Blind was established in April, 1853, at Iowa City. In July, 1862, it was removed to the new building erected at Vinton. A competent oculist was employed and a liberal system of education adopted for this class of the unfortunate, many of them becoming self- supporting after leaving the institution. In 1890 the Twenty-third General Assembly passed an act providing
OF IOWA 273
for an Industrial Home for the Blind, and the Commis- sioners appointed by the Governor located the institution at Knoxville. The building was completed and opened for inmates by January 1st, 1892. The object of the in- stitution is to instruct the adult blind in some suitable trade or profession and to furnish a home for such as desire em- ployment therein. Each inmate works at that occupation for which he is specially fitted receiving reasonable wages for the same.
HOSPITALS FOB THE INSANE
A Hospital for the Insane was established at Mt. Pleas- ant by act of the Fifth General Assembly in 1855. An appropriation of $44,425 was made for the purchase of grounds and the erection of buildings. The institution was opened March 6th, 1861.
The second Hospital for the Insane was provided for by act of the Twelfth General Assembly and was located at Independence. E. G. Morgan, Maturin L. Fisher and George W. Bemis were the Commissioners who superin- tended the erection of the buildings. Three hundred and twenty acres of land were donated to the State and beauti- ful and substantial buildings were completed and rapidly filled with inmates.
In 1884 a third Hospital for the Insane was required and the Twentieth General Assembly made an appropri- ation of $150,000 for the erection of the necessary build- ings. J. D. M. Hamilton, E. J. Hartshorn and George B. Van Saun were appointed Commissioners to select a loca- tion in the southwestern portion of the State, purchase a site of not less than three hundred twenty acres and pro- cure plans, specifications and estimates upon the cottage system. Clarinda was chosen as the location and the cor- ner-stone of the structure was laid on the 4th of July, 1885. The buildings were completed ready for the reception of inmates in December, 1888; the capacity being two hun-
[Vol. 3]
274 HISTORY
dred fifty and the cost of the structure $237,564.79. The Twenty-fifth General Assembly in 1894 passed an act pro- viding for a fourth Hospital for the Insane to be located at Cherokee and the following persons were appointed a Board of Commissioners to adopt plans, secure the ground and erect the buildings : H. A. Oilman, Gershom H. Hill, Frank C. Hoyt, Jed Lake, Ed. Wright and William G. Kent. This board carried on the work until the creation of a Board of Control, which took charge of the con- struction of the buildings. This institution was completed in 1901.
DEAF AND DUMB ASYLUM
An institution was provided for the deaf and dumb by act of the Fifth General Assembly in 1855, which was located at Iowa City and was under the supervision of a board of seven trustees. W. E. Ijams was chosen prin- cipal. In 1866, by act of the Eleventh General Assembly, the institution was removed to Council Bluffs. One hun- dred and sixty acres of land were secured near the city, where, in 1870, a central building was erected. Additions have been made from time to time and instruction given to the inmates by a competent corps of teachers.
X FEEBLE MINDED ASYLUM
An institution for the care and instruction of the feeble minded was provided for by act of the Sixth General As- sembly. A board of three trustees was chosen and Dr. W. E. Robertson was elected Superintendent. The buildings, formerly occupied by a branch of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home, at Glenwood, were refitted and in 1876 the institu- tion was there opened. Children between the ages of five and eighteen years of age, residents of the State, who, deficient in intellect, are unable to acquire an education m the regular schools, are entitled to receive training free in this institution.
OF IOWA 275
REFORM AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS
In 1868 the Twelfth General Assembly passed an act for the establishment of the Iowa Reform School. The trustees leased a building at Salem, in Henry County, where a school was opened for the reception of pupils. The Fourteenth General Assembly made an appropria- tion for suitable buildings which were located at Eldora. In 1879 the buildings and grounds of Mitchellville Semi- nary were purchased for the girls ' department, which had been established. The Twentieth General Assembly changed the name of these institutions to the State In- dustrial Schools. The design of the schools is the recep- tion and reformation of juvenile offenders of law, by a systematic course of moral and physical training, under such restraint as may be necessary.
SOLDIERS^ orphans' HOME
The Soldiers' Orphans' Home was organized by patri- otic citizens of Iowa, in October, 1863, for the support and education of orphan children of soldiers of the Civil War. The institution was opened in 1864 by leasing a building in Van Buren County where, on the 13th of July, it was ready for the reception of children. It was supported by private contributions until 1866, when the Eleventh Gen- eral Assembly provided a special fund for its mainte- nance and the institution was removed to Davenport.
soldiers' HOME
The Twenty-first General Assembly established the Iowa Soldiers' Home by making an appropriation of $75,000 for grounds and buildings and $25,000 for mainte- nance. The institution was located at Marshalltown where suitable buildings were erected and the home opened November 30th, 1887. It was the design of the
276 HISTOKr
General Assembly to provide a comfortable home for all honorably discharged soldiers and sailors who served in the army or navy of the United States and were disabled by disease, wounds or otherwise. Applicants for admis- sion, unless having served in an Iowa regiment, or ac- credited to the State, must have resided in Iowa three years preceding application for admission.
BOAED OF CONTROL
The Board of Control of the State institutions, created by act of the Twenty-seventh General Assembly, has full power to govern and manage, subject to the provisions of law, the following State institutions: the Soldiers* Home, the four Hospitals for the Insane, College for the Blind, Industrial Home for the Blind, School for the Deaf and Dumb, the Industrial Schools, the Institution for the Feeble Minded, and the Penitentiaries. The Board of Control is required to investigate and report upon the management of the Eegents of the State University, the Trustees of the Iowa State College and of the State Nor- mal School. This supervisory Board was organized April 6th, 1898, and took charge of the institutions first named and from that time the offices of various trustees and com- missioners heretofore in charge of them, ceased to exist. The funds in charge of the various treasurers were turned over to the State Treasurer July 1st, 1898. The members of the Board of Control visit and inspect the several in- stitutions at least twice each year and one member visits and inspects the Hospitals for the Insane monthly.
STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Sixth General Assembly in January, 1857, passed an act making an annual appropriation of two hundred fifty dollars to be expended in collecting and preserving charts, books, pamphlets, maps, manuscript, papers and
OF IOWA 277
other documents, to rescue from oblivion the memory of its pioneers and collect and preserve the history of In- dian tribes. With this as a nucleus, several public spirited citizens organized the State Historical Society at Iowa City. A quarterly historical magazine was estab- lished named the Annals of Iowa, in which were published valuable articles relating to the early history of the State. Old files of newspapers, rare old pamphlets, maps and ar- ticles illustrating pioneer life in Iowa were collected for preservation. Among the most active promoters of this society were Theodore S. Parvin, Samuel Storrs Howe, Willard Barrows and President Oliver M. Spencer of the State University. In March, 1860, the appropriation was increased to five hundred dollars annually. The publica- tion of the Annals of Iowa was suspended in 1874 but was revived by S. S. Howe in 1882 and continued until the close of 1884. In January, 1885, The Historical Record was established, devoted to Iowa history and biography. The State Historical Society has removed its valuable col- lection to one of the buildings of the University. In re- cent years more liberal appropriations have been made by the Legislature enabling the Society to enlarge its scope of usefulness, and issue in place of the Record the Iowa Journal of History and Politics, a quarterly publi- cation of the highest class, ably conducted by Dr. B. F. Shambaugh, Professor of Political Science in the State University.
GBAND AEMY OF THE KEPUBLIC
The first steps taken for the organization of this frater- nal association of Union soldiers, who had participated in the Civil War, were upon suggestion of Dr. Benjamin F. Stephenson, surgeon of the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He, in conjunction with the chaplain of that regiment, W. J. Rutlege, met at Springfield, Illinois, in March, 1866, and prepared a ritual for the association. On the 6th of
278 HISTORY
April the first Post of the Grand Army of the Eepublic was organized at Decatur, Illinois. A district organiza- tion was also made and officers chosen. The Constitution of the order made provision for precinct Posts, District, State and National organizations.
The National organization was to be known as " The Grand Army of the Republic," the officers to be a Commander, Adjutant-General and Quartermaster-Gen- eral. The purpose of the organization was stated in the ^* Declaration of Principles " to be as follows:
" The soldiers of the Volunteer Army of the United States, during the Rebellion of 1861-5, actuated by the impulses and convictions of patriotism and eternal right, and combined in the strong bands of fellowship and unity by the toils, the dangers and the victories of a long and vigorously waged war, feel themselves called upon to declare in definite form of words and in determined cooperative action those principles and rules which should guide the earnest patriot and the enlightened freeman and the Christian citizen in his course of action; and to agree upon those plans and laws which should govern them in a united and systematic working method with which, in some measure, shall be effected the preservation of the grand results of tlie war, the fruits of their labor and toil, so as to benefit the deserving and worthy."
The first National Convention of the order was held at Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 20th of November, 1866, and a National Encampment was held at Philadelphia, Janu- ary 16th, 1868.
The local Posts are numbered and named for some localitj'', battle, or deceased loyal person, usually a Union soldier or sailor. There are State organizations called Departments. The motto of the order is " Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty.'' It is the custom of members of the local Posts to visit the cemeteries on Memorial Day and decorate the graves of their fallen comrades. The original purpose of the organization was to emphasize, by mutual assent, the principles of Union and National honor to which its members had given devoted adherence in the field. Each Post is required to establish a relief fund for
OF IOWA 279
the assistance of needy comrades and the wives and fam- ilies of those deceased who may need aid.
No person who at any time has borne arms against the United States is eligible to membership. But at occa- sional gatherings where Union and Confederate veterans have assembled there has always been manifest the sol- dierly magnanimity due a worthy foe. As the years pass by the feeling of fraternity between those who wore the blue and the gray has grown and the late War with Spain almost obliterated the last remnant of antagonism of the period of the Civil War.
The first Commander-in-Chief of the National organi- zation was General Stephen A. Hurlbut of Illinois.
In the fall of 1865 an organization of veterans of the Union Army was made in Davenport, Iowa, under the name of the ' ' Old Soldiers ' Association of Scott County, ' ' of which General Addison H. Sanders was chosen presi- dent, and Captain N. N. Tyner, secretary. The Associa- tion was merged into the Grand Army of the Eepublic as Post No. 1, Davenport Department of Iowa.
In July, 1866, General ganders visited Dr. Stephenson at Springfield, was instructed in the work of the order, provided with the ritual and constitution and authorized to organize Posts. A charter was issued, dated July 12th, 1866, by Dr. Stephenson, commanding the Department of Illinois, to General A. H. Sanders, Colonel E. M. Littler, General J. B. Leake, Lieutenant 0. S. McNeil, Captain N. N. TjTier, Lieutenant-Colonel T. J. Saunders, A. P. Alex- ander, Captain A. T. Andreas, Captain J. G. Cavendish and J. W. Moore. A meeting was held in Davenport, July 24th, 1866, to organize the Post and a provisional depart- ment was formed with General Sanders as Commander. On the 26th of September a meeting of representatives of Posts was held at Davenport where a permanent depart- ment was organized. Ninety-five Posts had been organ- ized in the State at the time of the Second Encampment, April 10th, 1867.
280 HISTORY
For some reason the order ceased to prosper in Iowa and, in 1870, there were not more than five hundred mem- bers and the State Department was dissolved. But after a few years the interest revived and made steady gains in membership until in 1902 the number of Posts was five hundred seventeen.
IOWA STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
At a meeting of the Jefferson County Agricultural So- ciety held at Fairfield, October 13th, 1853, C. W. Slagle offered the following resolution:
" Resolved, That the officers of this society be instructed to take immedi- ate steps to effect the organization of a State Agricultural Society, and that the officers use their influence to have said society hold its first annual exhibition at Fairfield in October, 1854."
The resolution was adopted, and the oflScers, who were P. L. Huyett, president; Caleb Baldwin, vice-president, and J. M. Shaffer, secretary, made a report at a meeting of the Board of Directors held November 26th, in which they stated that a conference of representatives of county Agricultural Societies had been called to meet at Fairfield December 28th, to organize a State Society. Representa- tives of five counties met at the time and place designated and a committee of one from each society reported a plan of organization.
The name chosen was the Iowa State Agricultural So- ciety and its object was stated to be the promotion of agri- culture, horticulture, manufactures, mechanics, and house- hold arts. A constitution and by-laws were adopted and the following officers chosen : president, Thomas W. Clag- ett of Lee County; vice-president, D. P. Inskeep of Wa- pello; recording secretary, J. M. Shaffer of Jefferson; corresponding secretary, C. W. Slagle of Jefferson; treasurer, W. B. Chamberlain of Des Moines County.
It was decided to hold the first fair at Fairfield, on the
OF IOWA 281
25th of October, 1854. A committee was appointed to me- morialize the General Assembly for pecuniary aid. In February the president, Judge Clagett, issued an address to the farmers, mechanics and others to become members of the society and cooperate in holding the First Annual Fair. Among the active members of the society were James W. Grimes, James F. Wilson, T. S. Parvin, Thomas H. Benton and Lauren Dewey.
The First Annual Fair was largely attended and was successful in every respect. Not less than 8,000 visitors came from every settled portion of the State. When it is remembered that there were no railroads in the State at that time and the population was but 326,500— that first fair was a remarkable success, having no State aid. The premiums paid amounted to about $1,000. Aid to the soci- ety was finally given by acts of the General Assembly and for the following decade the receipts averaged $2,680 per year and the premiums paid during the same period aver- aged $2,026 per annum. For the second decade from 1864 to 1873 the receipts averaged $11,612, and the premiums paid averaged $5,240. The third decade, from 1874 to 1883, the receipts had increased to $26,418 and the pre- miums to $11,292. The fourth decade, from 1884 to 1893, the average receipts had advanced to $44,067, and the premiums to $21,055. The Annual Fairs were for twenty- four years held in various cities of the State; but since 1878, have been held continuously at Des Moines where the State owns permanent grounds and buildings. In 1894 the grounds embraced an area of two hundred sixty- six acres while the buildings and improvements had cost about $180,000. From time to time the General Assembly has made appropriations to aid the society, in addition to its various revenues.
After forty years of work and growth the State Agri- cultural Society ceased to exist and was succeeded by a Department of Agriculture established in 1900, by act of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly.
282 HISTORY
The Department was created for the promotion of agri- culture, horticulture, forestry, animal industry, manufac- tures and domestic arts; and embraces the district and county agricultural societies, the State weather and crop service and the offices of the Dairy Commissioner and the State Veterinarian. It is managed by the State Board of Agriculture, of which the Governor, President of the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, Dairy Com- missioner and State Veterinarian are ex-offlcio members. An annual convention is held at the Capitol on the second Wednesday of December which elects officers and may hold a State Farmers' Institute for discussion of topics relating to the various branches of agriculture. It also has control of the State Fairs and every agricultural inter- est of the State. A Year Book of Agriculture is published annually and distributed as provided by law.
IOWA STATE HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY
In May, 1866, Mark Miller, editor of the Iowa Home- stead, issued a call in that weekly agricultural journal for a meeting of persons interested in fruit growing, fores- try and gardening to meet at Iowa City on the 26th of June for the purpose of organizing a State association for the promotion of horticulture. Twenty-eight persons as- sembled at the time and organized the Iowa State Horti- cultural Society. A constitution was framed and the fol- lowing officers were chosen to serve one year: President, Dr. James Weed of Muscatine; vice-president, D. W. Kauffman of Des Moines ; secretary, Mark Miller of Des Moines; treasurer, David Leonard of Burlington. A board of eight directors was chosen, a corresponding com- mittee of twenty appointed, and the first annual exhibition fixed for the period from the 18th to the 21st of the follow- ing September at Burlington, in connection with the Fair of the State Agricultural Society. The object of the soci- ety was stated to be " the promotion and encouragement
NEW YORK
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of horticulture and arboriculture by collection and dissem- ination of correct information concerning the cultivation of such fruits, flowers and trees as are adapted to the soil and climate of Iowa. ' ' From that time forward the soci- ety has held annual meetings and exhibitions of fruits and its transactions, published by the State, embracing the experience of the leading fruit growers and horticulturists of Iowa and many other States, make up a library of valu- able information on these subjects nowhere excelled. The General Assembly has recognized the value of its work by making appropriations to aid in paying the current ex- penses of the society. Rooms in the State House are fur- nished for the use of the officers, and safe keeping of the library and other property.
THE HISTORICAL, DEPARTMENT
This department was created by act of the Twenty- fourth General Assembly in 1892. The first step in this direction was taken by the previous Legislature in pro- viding for collections of historical materials relating to Iowa. The later act made a liberal appropriation for the Historical Department to be expended largely in securing records, data and objects relating to Iowa and the terri- tory of which it originally formed a part. The Twenty- fifth and Twenty-sixth General Assemblies made appro- priations for the erection of a section of the Hall of His- tory, on lots northeast of the State House grounds. The laying of the corner-stone was an occasion of unusual in- terest ; both because of the importance of the department and the large number of distinguished lowans who par- ticipated in the ceremonies, among them were Hon. Theodore S. Parvin, Rev. William Salter, Hon. A. B. F. Hildreth, Hon. James Harlan and Hon. John A. Kasson, the latter of whom delivered the principal address. He called attention to the fact that " the Historical Depart- ment for which the State is providing a home, will be an
284 HISTORY
important auxiliary to the development of the higher edu- cation of our future citizens." He further says:
" We have a right to expect in the development of Iowa a truthful, sensible and incorruptible journalism and a literature which gives more strength to the mind than agitation to the nerves. Every township should have its modest library of well chosen volumes of history, biography, travel, popular science and healthy romance for the winter evenings and leisure hours of farm life."
The beautiful fire-proof building contains a library of more than 10,500 volumes of books and pamphlets, while the bound volumes of newspapers number 2,704. A mu- seum occupies a considerable portion of the building and is of interest to thousands of visitors. The private auto- graph collection of Charles Aldrich, the founder of the department, is one of the largest and most complete in the country and is of great value. It contains autographs, photographs and manuscripts as well as historical docu- ments of noted persons and events from all parts of the world. The building also contains a spacious and well lighted art gallery adorned with portraits of noted men and women of Iowa. This room is also the meeting place of the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association of Iowa, as well as many gatherings of State interest.
THE PIONEER LAWMAKERS ' ASSOCIATION
This Association had its origin in a reunion of the early lawmakers of Iowa which assembled at Des Moines on the 24th of February, 1886. The gathering was one of the most notable in the history of the State. Nearly one hundred of the early lawmakers of more than a quarter of a century before, met and held a session of two days, in which many valuable historical addresses were made by former public officials who were instrumental in laying the foundations of the Territory and State of Iowa; who enacted its first laws and framed its several Constitutions. A reception
OF IOWA 285
was tendered the members by Governor Larrabee, as- sisted by Governors Gear and Sherman, Lieutenant-Gov- ernor Hull and Speaker Head and other State officers and members of the Twenty-first General Assembly. Four years later the early lawmakers again assembled at Des Moines and organized a permanent society known as *' The Pio- neer Lawmakers' Association of Iowa." The objects of the organization were to cooperate with all persons and societies engaged in the collection and preservation of the early history of Iowa and biography of its public men of that period. All State officials, including Federal officers, from Iowa and members of all lawmaking bodies who served twenty-five years or more previous to any biennial meeting of the Association became eligible to membership. The General Assembly recognizing the semi-official char- acter of the Association and the value of the work in which it was engaged, provided by law for the publication of the official proceedings and historical contributions and addresses of its sessions. The published proceedings of the several sessions of the Association now make more than nine hundred pages of valuable contributions to Iowa history. The regular sessions are held biennially at Des Moines on the second Wednesday in February during the regular sessions of the General Assembly.
STATISTICS FROM THE CEKSUS
The first enumeration of the population of the region embraced in Iowa, was made under an act of Congress creating the Territory of Wisconsin in 1836. A similar census was taken in 1838 by authority of Congress when Iowa was organized into a Territory; and both of these enumerations were confined to counting of the people. In 1840 the sixth Federal census was taken and was the first in which inquiries were made as to the productions of the country. This gives us the first official report of a few of the principal agricultural products of the new Territory.
286 HISTORY
From time to time the inquiries have been enlarged until the census of 1900 gives a vast amount of valuable infor- mation as to the population of towns, cities, country, edu- cation, productions of almost every description and a vari- ety of subjects which make a very comprehensive history of the people and their industries at the close of the Nine- teenth Century.
The steady progress of Iowa in population and devel- opment can be seen by giving a few of the general items from the successive Federal enumerations during the period which has elapsed since Iowa has had civil govern- ment extended over its domain.
The first teams of the immigrants were mostly oxen and the increase of these animals up to 1860 shows the period of the greatest amount of breaking up of the wild prairies which, in those years, was largely done by teams, usually consisting of from three to six yoke of oxen to one plow. Oxen for many years also made the teams for drawing produce to market, as well as for cultivating the soil. The last enumeration of oxen we find in the census, is in 1895, when in all of Iowa but four hundred and sixty of the slow, patient and reliable cattle teams survived.
FEDERAL, CENSUS STATISTICS
|
Year. |
Population. |
No. of Dwellings. |
Horses. |
Oxen. |
Mules. |
|
1836 |
10,531 |
||||
|
1838 |
22,859 |
||||
|
1840 |
43,112 |
10,794 |
|||
|
1846 |
102,388 |
||||
|
1850 |
192,214 |
38,536 |
21,992 |
754 |
|
|
18.56 |
517,875 |
||||
|
1860 |
674.913 |
59,629 |
175.088 |
56.964 |
5,734 |
|
186.5 |
756.209 |
114,351 |
316,702 |
37,717 |
|
|
1870 |
1,194,020 |
219,846 |
433,642 |
22,058 |
25,485 |
|
1875 |
1,3.50,544 |
221.568 |
698,205 |
12,712 |
|
|
1880 |
1,624,615 |
301,. 507 |
792,.322 |
2,506 |
44,424 |
|
1885 |
1,75.3,980 |
.345,404 |
843,607 |
6,769 |
|
|
1890 |
1,911.896 |
379,318 |
1,312,079 |
2,367 |
41,648 |
|
1895 |
2.0.58.009 |
441.063 |
1,38.3,302 |
460 |
|
|
1900 |
2,231,853 |
1,392,573 |
57,579 |
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FARM STATISTICS |
||||
|
Average |
||||
|
Year. |
Number of Farms. Value of Farms. |
Size in Acres. |
||
|
1850 |
14,805 |
$16,657,567 |
185 |
|
|
1860 |
61,163 |
119,899,547 |
165 |
|
|
1870 |
116,292 |
392,662,441 |
133 |
|
|
1880 |
185,351 |
567,430,227 |
133 |
|
|
1890 |
201,903 |
857,581,022 |
151 |
|
|
1900 |
228,622 |
: |
1,497,554,790 |
151 |
|
FARM PRODUCTS AND LIVE STOCK |
||||
|
Butter |
||||
|
Produced. |
||||
|
Year. |
Value of Live Stock |
. No. of Hogs. Tons of Hay, |
lbs. |
|
|
1840 |
No Keport. |
|||
|
1850 |
$3,689,275 |
323,247 |
89,055 |
2,171,188 |
|
1860 |
22,476,293 |
934,820 |
813,173 |
11,953,666 |
|
1870 |
82,987,133 |
1,153,908 |
1,777,339 |
27,512,179 |
|
1880 |
124,715,103 |
6,034,316 |
3,613,941 |
55,481,958 |
|
1890 |
206,436,242 |
8,266,779 |
7,264,700 |
72,893,079 |
|
1900 |
278,830,096 |
9,723,791 |
6,851,771 |
61,789,288 |
|
Bushels of Corn. |
Bu. of Wheat. |
Bu. of Oats. Bu.of Potatoes. |
||
|
1840 |
1,406,241 |
154,693 |
216,385 |
234,063 |
|
1850 |
8,656,799 |
1,530,581 |
1,524,345 |
276,120 |
|
1860 |
42,410,686 |
8,449,403 |
5,887,645 |
2,806,720 |
|
1870 |
68,935,065 |
29,435,692 |
21,005,142 |
5,914,620 |
|
1880 |
275,024,247 |
31,154,205 |
50,610,591 |
9,962,537 |
|
1890 |
313,130,782 |
18,249,786 |
146,679,289 |
18,068,311 |
|
1900 |
383,453,190 |
22,769,440 |
168,364,170 |
17,305,919 |
At the close of the Nineteenth Century we find that al- most the entire area of the State had been inclosed in farms and was either under cultivation or utilized for pas- ture or hay land. Of the 35,504,000 acres of land in the entire State 34,574,337 acres are reported in farms, leav- ing but 929,443 acres out of more than 35,500,000 yet to be brought into farms. Oxen as teams seem to have dis- appeared as too slow for the age of rapid travel and trans- portation. The log school houses have also passed away with the log cabins of the early settlers and the entire system of farming and living has been revolutionized.
288 HISTORY
In the early years when the land was new, an impres- sion widely prevailed that fruit raising in Iowa and the prairie country generally in this latitude would never be successful north of the central portion of the State and even below that line would never become profitable. It was almost the universal opinion for many years, after the first prairie farms were brought under cultivation, that Iowa would for all time be obliged to depend largely for its fruit supply upon the eastern States. But as the years passed, pioneer fruit growers and nurserymen, in various portions of the State, began a series of experi- ments to determine what, if any, fruits could be success- fully grown in Iowa. They persevered in their endeavors, undismayed by costly failures, until they demonstrated that many varieties of the different fruits grown in this latitude in the eastern and middle States could be suc- cessfully grown in Iowa. To James Weed of Muscatine, D. W. Kauffman and James Smith of Des Moines, D. W. Adams of Waukon, W. W. Beebe and Mark Miller of Du- buque, James Mathews of Knoxville, David Leonard of Burlington, J. L. Budd of Shellsburg and others, the peo- ple of Iowa are largely indebted for the practical demon- stration, in early days, that a large variety of fruits could be grown with reasonable safety and moderate profit in a majority of the counties of the State.
We find in the census of 1900, that there were 6,869,588 apple trees in the orchards of the State which the year before produced 3,129,862 bushels of apples; 1,302,217 plum trees, 791,327 cherry trees, 516,145 peach trees and 104,046 pear trees. The total value of orchard fruits had reached $1,849,767 ; while the value of small fruit, raisins and wine amounted to $1,044,807.
Every county is permeated with lines of railroad, tele- graph and telephone lines and rural mail routes are dis- tributing daily mails widely throughout the country dis- tricts. Nine thousand three hundred and thirty-six miles of completed railroad were reported by the Commissioners
OF IOWA 289
in the first year of the Twentieth Century, with many in process of construction.
Electric lines are reaching out from the chief cities into country districts and through the smaller towns, afford- ing rapid and cheap transit of passengers from country to village and city by many cars daily.
Manufactures are assuming formidable proportions numbering nearly 15,000 establishments in which is in- vested capital to the amount of $102,733,103. The number of persons finding employment in them reaches more than 56,000, whose aggregate yearly earnings amount to $23,- 391,680. They pay out, for material, annually more than $100,000,000; while the value of their product reaches more than $164,000,000.
There are in the State seven hundred and two flouring mills ; nine hundred and seven butter, cheese and milk fac- tories; three hundred and twenty-nine lumber working fac- tories, including saw mills; ten hundred and twenty-five printing and publishing houses; nine hundred and ten newspapers and periodicals and two hundred and four public libraries.
The value of milk, butter and cheese produced in the State was $27,516,870; value of eggs, $10,016,707; and of poultry, $9,491,819.
Coal is mined in the following counties: Adams, Ap- panoose, Boone, Dallas, Davis, Greene, Jasper, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marion, Monroe, Page, Polk, Scott, Story, Taylor, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Wayne, Webster.
Clay is manufactured into brick or tile or both in all but the following counties: Allamakee, Buchanan, Butler, Carroll, Cedar, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Clarke, Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Howard, Humboldt, Ida, Jack- son, Kossuth, Lucas, Madison, Mitchell, Pocahontas, Sac and Warren.
Gypsum is found only in Webster. It is sold for about five dollars per ton ordinarily but when competition is
[Vol. 3]
290 HISTORY OF IOWA
sharp has been sold as low as $3.50 per ton. About seventy-five per cent, of the product of the mills is sold for plaster purposes and the total product for 1901 was about 125,000 tons.
The lead and zinc is all produced in the counties of Du- buque and Allamakee. The amount of zinc produced in 1901 was three hundred and fifty tons and of lead ore the product was 13,800 tons.
The only county producing iron ore is Allamakee. The only body of ore thus far developed is at Iron Hill, the highest point in the county which rises to a height of two hundred feet above the water level of the Oneota River, three miles northeast of Waukon.
Iowa in 1901, ranked eighth as a clay producer among the States of the Union. The number of tons of coal mined in 1901 was 5,663,016, sold at an average price of one dol- lar and forty-two cents per ton. The average number of men employed was 13,032 ; and Iowa ranked ninth in ton- nage and sixth in the value of coal produced in the United States in the year 1900.
Clay products used for making brick and
tile valued at $2,774,200
Stone quarried, lime manufactured 781,756
Gypsum 562,500
Lead and Zinc 16,500
Iron ore 4,876
The number of producers were of
Coal 242
Clay 349
Stone 229
Gypsum 7
Lead and Zinc 10
Iron ore 1
EARLY HISTORY OP IOWA COUNTIES
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EARLY HISTORY OF IOWA COUNTIES
THE first legislation providing for the cre- ation of counties within the limits of the territory which eventually became the State of Iowa, was an act of the Legislative As- sembly of Michigan Territory in 1834, as follows : An act to lay off and organize counties west of the Mis- sissippi River.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan — That all that district of country which was attached to the Territory of Michigan by an act of Congress entitled " An act to attach the territory of the United States west of the Mississippi River and north of the State of Missouri, to the Territory of Michigan, and to which tho Indian title had been extinguished, which is north of a line to be di'awn due west from the lower end of Rock Island to the Missouri River, shall constitute a county and be called Dubuque; said county shall constitute a township which shall be called Julien, and the seat of justice shall be at the village of Dubuque.
Section 2 — All that part of the district aforesaid which was attached to the Territory of Michigan situated south of said line to be drawn due west of the lower end of Rock Island, shall constitute a county and be called Demoine; said county shall constitute a township and be called Flint Hill; the seat of justice shall be at such place therein as shall be designated by the judge of the county court of said county.
Section 4 of the act provided " That all laws now in force in the county of Iowa* not locally inapplicable, shall be and are hereby extended to the counties of Dubuque and Demoine and shall be in force therein."
The Indian title was at that time extinguished to a re- gion extending from the north line of Missouri to the mouth of the Upper Iowa River and fifty miles in width west of the Mississippi River. It will be seen that the two
•This was the name of a county east of the Mississippi River in that portion of Michigan Territory which afterwards became the State of "Wisconsin.
294 HISTORY
new counties embraced the entire " Black Hawk Pur- chase," and were the only counties created within the limits of the territory embraced in Iowa, by the Legisla- tive Assembly of Michigan, while it was a part of that Territory. When it became a part of Wisconsin Terri- tory twenty-two counties were created; and when Iowa Territory was created, twenty-three additional counties were established. After it was admitted as a State many changes were made in the boundaries and names of coun- ties and the remainder of its area was divided into coun- ties until they numbered ninety-nine.
The organization of the older counties was provided for by special legislative acts ; but the First and Fourth Gen- eral Assemblies of the State provided general laws di- recting the method of county organization. The Consti- tution of 1857 gave a measure of stability to the bounda- ries of the counties as they then existed and all attempts to create new counties, divide or change the limits since the adoption of that Constitution have failed. The act expressly prohibits the creation of a county having less than four hundred and thirty-two square miles. The counties of Mitchell, Worth, Winnebago, Emmet, Dickin- son and Osceola were each found to lack sixteen square miles but, by the terms of the Constitution, their bounda- ries were not interfered with.
Another clause of the Constitution provides ** That no law changing the boundary lines of any county shall have effect, until upon being submitted to the people of the counties affected by the change at a general election, it shall be approved by a majority of votes in each county cast for and against it." In 1862, notwithstanding this provision, the General Assembly passed an act authorizing counties to readjust their boundaries as they might see fit. Acting under this statute the people of Monona and Crawford counties moved the division line between them six miles west. The Code Commission- ers in 1873, regarding this action as in conflict with the
OF IOWA 295
Constitution, omitted the act from the code and it ceased to have effect after the 1st of September, of that year.
The Third General Assembly, in 1850, created twenty- five new counties embracing all of the territory in which counties had not been established heretofore.
A bill providing for the creation of these counties was prepared by P. M. Casady, Senator from the Polk County district, and was referred to the committee on new coun- ties of which Mr. Casady was a member.* In the original bill the county now bearing the name of Union was named * ' Mason, ' ' for Judge Charles Mason. The committee was opposed to discriminating among the many living men of note in the State and changed the name to Union. Objec- tion was also made to the name of Buncombe but when it was explained that it was in honor of a distinguished offi- cer in the Revolutionary War from North Carolina, it was permitted to remain. The bill also gave the name of Floyd to the one which is now Woodbury, to commemo- rate Sergeant Floyd of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The House amended the bill by naming that county " Wahkaw." The committee fixed upon a large number of the names in the following manner: three were named in honor of colonels who fell in the War with Mexico— Hardin of Illinois, Clay of Kentucky and Yell of Arkan- sas. Three more were named for battle-fields in the same war— Cerro Gordo, Buena Vista and Palo Alto. Three for Irish patriots— Emmet, Mitchell and O'Brien. One county was named Worth, for Major-General William J. Worth; one for General William 0. Butler who was the Democratic candidate for Vice-President in 1848 ; one for Major Frederick Mills, a talented young lawyer from Bur- lington who was killed at the Battle of Cherubusco; one for Edwin Guthrie, an early pioneer of Fort Madison, who died of wounds received in battle in Mexico. The Mexican War had closed but two years before this ses-
*Many of the facts In relation to the naming of these counties were first given to the public in a paper read by Judge Casady In 1894, at a session of the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association.
296 HISTORY
sion, the names of its battle-fields and military officers were so fresh in the memory of the people that they were liberally drawn upon for names of the new counties.
ADAIR COUNTY was created by act of the Legislature of 1851 from territory embraced in the original county of Des Moines. It lies in the third tier north of Missouri and in the third tier east of the Missouri River. The county is twenty-four miles square and embraces an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. The north tier of townships was from December 31st, 1837, to July 30, 1840, embraced in the old county of Keo- kuk as first established. The county was named for General John Adair a distinguished officer of the War of 1812 and afterwards the sixth Governor of Kentucky.
Thomas N. Johnson is the first white man known to have made a home within the limits of the county. He made a claim and built a log cabin in 1849 on section four in Washington township where, in 1850, he built a mill on a stream running through his farm. In 1850 William Alcorn made a claim on Middle River at a point known as '' the upper crossing." During the same year a Mr. Lyon took a claim and built a cabin near a large spring in a grove in what became Jefferson township. In 1851 J. J. Vawter purchased the claim and the grove took his name. Among the early settlers were William McDon- ald, who settled at the lower crossing of Middle River, Alfred Jones in Jackson township, Robert Wilson in Grand River, George M. Holiday in Jefferson, Joshua Chapman in Richland and Jacob Bruce in Grove.
In April, 1854, the first election was held in Alfred Jones' cabin at which George M. Holiday was chosen county judge and John Gibson, clerk. The first court was held in the cabin of the judge on the 6th of May fol- lowing. On the 24th of April, 1855, the county-seat was located at Summerset, a town laid out by G. M. Holiday,
OF IOWA 297
D. M. Valentine * and Abram Ruth, and six miles south of the center of the county. In 1856 by act of the Legisla- ture the name was changed to Fontanelle.
The first house in Summerset was a double log cabin built in June, 1855, by James C. Gibbs for a tavern and post-office. Mr. Gibbs was the first postmaster in the town and county. A store was opened in 1856 by Calvin Ballard.
At the time the county was organized the population was about one hundred fifty. The town of Greenfield, laid out in September, 1856, by Milton C. Munger is about six miles northeast of Fontanelle and in 1875 became the county-seat. Matthew Clark built the first house the same year which was used as a store by A. D. Littleton as well as a station of the Western Stage Company. The first school in the county was taught by Miss Huldah Lee in 1857 in the court-house at Fontanelle. The Congre- gationalists organized the first church in 1856 at the same place.
The Chicago and Rock Island Railroad was built through the extreme northern limits of the county in 1868 upon which the towns of Adair and Casey were laid out. The first newspaper was established by James C. Gibbs in 1863 and named the Adair Coimty Register. After a long and bitter contest extending from 1865 to 1875 the county-seat was removed from Fontanelle to Greenfield.
ADAMS COUNTY is the third east of the Missouri River in the second tier north of the Missouri State line. It contains twelve Congressional townships, embracing within its limits four hundred thirty-two square miles. The county was created in 1851 from territory formerly within Des Moines County and was named for John Adams, second President of the United States.
The county-seat was located by commissioners a little north of the center of the county and named Quincy, for
*D. M. Valentine moved to Kansas in 1859 where he has been a member of both branches of the Legislature, District Judge and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
298 HISTORY
John Quincy Adams, the sixth President. The land upon which the county-seat was located belonged to Jacob M. B. Miller who laid out the town and deeded to the county all even numbered lots and a public square. J. R. Hol- brook built the first house in August, 1853, in which he opened a store. The first white man known to have settled in the county was Elijah Walters who, in 1849, took a claim two miles south of Quincy. Samuel Baker, Morgan Warren and Samuel Hardesty made claims and built cabins soon after.
At the election held in April of that year, Samuel Baker was chosen county judge and John H. Calvin recorder. In 1853 a French colony composed of socialists purchased about 3,000 acres of Government land near the East Noda- way River. The people were followers of Etienne Cabet, a French philosopher. The community located here to make the experiment of owning property in common and gov- erning themselves in accordance with the socialistic the- ories of their leader. They organized a local government consisting of a general assembly composed of the male members of the community over twenty-one years of age. All property was owned in common and controlled by a board of directors consisting of a president, secretary, treasurer and a director of agriculture, industry and clothing. New members were admitted upon consent of three-quarters of the male members twenty-one years of age. All were required to surrender their property to the community, give their services in consideration of a living, sharing equally the benefits. No money compen- sation was given for any kind of service. There was no religious creed and no form of worship but the members of the colony professed the religion of the primitive Christians. Sunday was a day of recreation and amuse- ment and in all respects held to be no more sacred than any other day. The membership after an existence of nearly half a century numbers about fifty.
In 1855 a town was laid out by D. N. Smith about five
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OF IOWA 299
miles south of Quincy which was named Corning, in honor of a New York politician and capitalist, Erastus Corning. It is on the main line of the Burlington Railroad and has become the county-seat. The first church in the county was organized at Quincy in 1856 by the Methodists. In 1859 they organized a seminary at Brookville and in the same year the first newspaper was established at Corn- ing by D. N. Smith, with L. Raguet as editor, and named the Corning Sentinel.
Adams County has an undulating surface and is well watered by the East and West Nodaway rivers and their branches. One-tenth of the county was originally covered with forests. Coal, limestone and good building stone abound in portions of the county and it lies in the famous blue grass region.
ALLAMAKEE COUNTY was established in 1847 by act of the First General Assembly. The name is of Indian origin says Fulton in his " Red Men of Iowa "; while other authorities claim that it took its name from '' Allen Makee " a famous Indian trader and trapper who estab- lished a trading post within its limits at an early day. The county was formerly a part of Fayette and occupies the extreme northeastern portion of the State and, geo- logically considered, is the oldest in formation. The eastern boundary consists of the Mississippi River and the northern is the Minnesota line. It embraces five town- ships north and south and from three to four east and west, containing six hundred fifty-eight square miles. Much of the county has a rough surface of hills, ravines and narrow valleys. The bluffs along the Mississippi River are abrupt and in many places have an altitude of four hundred feet above the water, thence having a grad- ual ascent westward reaching a height of six hundred feet. A large portion of the county was originally cov- ered with a growth of hazel brush and trees of many varieties. It is well watered by the Upper Iowa and Yel-
300 HISTORY
low rivers and numerous rapidly flowing creeks of pure water. A series of large sloughs extends along the Mis- sissippi River in width of from one to three miles. The *' Iowa Slough " extends from the northern line of the county to near Lansing,
Allamakee was in the limits of the " Neutral Ground " and was long held as a peaceful hunting land over which hostile tribes of Indians pursued the chase without col- lisions. It was given to the Winnebago Indians in 1833, when they were forced to surrender their Wisconsin homes. In 1846 they exchanged the *' Neutral Ground '^ for lands in Minnesota and two years later removed to their new homes. There is a tradition that as early as 1818 some white trappers and Indian traders made a set- tlement on the west bank of the Mississippi within the limits of Allamakee County, remaining there many years. But all traces of their cabins had disappeared before the first pennanent settlers came. It is known that traders had a station at ''Old Mission," long before the Indian title was extinguished; but no record of their names has been preserved. As early as 1828 Colonel Zachary Tay- lor, who was in command at Fort Crawford (Prairie du Chien), sent a detail of soldiers across the Mississippi River to erect a saw mill near the mouth of Yellow River where a large amount of lumber was made for buildings at the fort. Lieutenant Jefferson Davis was among the officers at Fort Crawford and the future President of the Southern Confederacy was a frequent visitor to the Iowa shore. In 1835 Colonel Taylor established an Indian Mis- sion not far from the old saw mill. This Mission was in charge of Rev. David Lowrey, who endeavored to edu- cate and civilize the Indians, while Colonel Thomas, in charge of the farm, gave them instruction in growing crops and raising stock. But little success attended these efforts. The warriors considered labor degrading and after a few years the Mission was abandoned.
In 1838 Patrick Keenan and Richard Cassiday settled
OF IOWA 301
in Makee township and William Gamsin and John Haney at Lansing. In 1839 Henry Johnson, a discharged sol- dier, built a cabin near the mouth of Paint Creek where he lived several years with Indian wives. Johnsonport was named for him. A military road was opened by the Government about this time, on the west side of the Mis- sissippi between Fort Crawford and Fort Atkinson and, in 1841, Joel Post obtained permission to keep a public house in the Government building. Here at the " Half Way House " he and his wife often entertained Captains E. V. Sumner, Nathaniel Lyon, Lieutenants Alfred Pleas- anton and Jefferson Davis at that time young officers in the regular army but afterwards famous leaders in the War of the Rebellion. The village of Postville now occu- pies the ground where the old public house stood and takes its name from the landlord of pioneer times. In 1840 Jesse Danley built a dam across the Yellow River and erected a saw mill. In 1841 Jacob Rynerson settled in the Old Mission and, after the removal of the Winne- bago Indians, the property was purchased by Thomas C. Linton who was selected sheriff in 1848 to organize the county.
The first county-seat was located a mile and a half northwest of Rossville and was named Columbus. In 1848 Archy Whaley settled east of Waukon and William C. Thompson and Professor Whaley came in 1849. The first county officers were chosen the same year : Elias Top- liff, county judge; John B. Twiford, clerk; James M. Sumner, recorder and treasurer. In 1851 Father Thomas Hore, a Catholic missionary, settled at Wexford where he founded a colony of his countrymen from Ireland. He there built the first church in the county. In 1848 H. H. Houghton made a claim where Lansing stands and in 1851 he and John Hainey laid out the town of Lansing. The first houses were rude log cabins. The first court was held in Columbus in July, 1852, by Judge Thomas S. Wilson. In 1851 the first newspaper was established by
302 HISTORY
W. H. Sumner at Lansing and was named the Intelli- gencer and later becoming the Lansing Mirror. In the fall of 1849 G. C. Shattuck made a claim where Waukon stands. The town was laid out by Mr. Shattuck in De- cember, 1853, and forty acres deeded to the county upon condition that it be made the county-seat. The proposition was accepted and Waukon remained the county-seat until 1861 when it was removed to Lansing by a vote of the people, but in 1867, Waukon again became the county-seat and has so remained. It was not until 1872 that a rail- road was built into the county, running along the Mis- sissippi River from Dubuque to Lansing.
APPANOOSE COUNTY, originally a part of Demoine, was established in 1843 and temporarily attached to Van Buren. In 1854 it was attached to Davis and fully or- ganized in August, 1846, at an election held on the third of that month. It was named for a noted chief of the Sac and Fox Indians. This county is the fourth west of the Mississippi River in the tier on the Missouri State line. In size it is twenty-four miles east and west and about twenty-one and a half north and south, containing five hundred sixteen square miles. The principal streams are the Chariton River and its two branches running in a southeasterly direction. The supply of timber is abun- dant, consisting of white, black and burr oak, hickory, black walnut, hard and soft maple, ash, elm and other varieties. A large portion of the county is underlaid with coal and good building stone is found in many locali- ties.
The first known white men within its limits were a company of United States Dragoons sent from Rock Is- land in the summer of 1832 to make an examination of the region. One night they camped near a large spring in the south part of the county near Cincinnati. In 1833 Joseph Shaddon from Missouri went on an excursion through Appanoose where he found an abundance of deer
OF IOWA 303
and wild turkeys. He saw the trail made by the dragoons the year before near the Chariton. Frequent trips were made by people from Missouri into Appanoose in search of game and bees but no settlements were made until the spring of 1838, when Ewing Kirby a young man from Missouri crossed into the then Indian country with his family and built a cabin near where Cincinnati now stands. Colonel James "Wells a year later made a claim and built a mill in the southern part of the county. Others came soon after but, as the country still belonged to the Indians, complaints were made and a company of dragoons was sent from the Agency on the Des Moines River to drive the intruders out and burn their buildings In 1843 William Cooksey took a claim near the Chariton River, and the next year J. F. Stratton from Missouri made a claim where Cincinnati stands. Solomon Hobbs, George Buckner, J. F. Stratton and others came during the fol- lowing season. They were mostly young men without families doing their own housework and living in the most primitive manner. George W. Perkins was the first settler in Center township and planted the first orchard in the county. Rev. W. S. Manson preached the first sermon in a log cabin on the west side of the river. About this time S. F. Wadding opened a store where Centerville now stands.
The Indian title to Appanoose was not extinguished until 1843 but there was a strip of country about nine miles wide extending along its southern border which was claimed by Missouri and in this disputed territory, which was finally awarded to Iowa, settlers were not molested as they claimed to be in Missouri. The north line of this strip ran close to where Centerville stands.
On the 1st of April, 1844, the first election was held in a log cabin built by J. F. Stratton, at which nine votes were polled. Benjamin Spooner was chosen judge, and J. F. Stratton clerk of the District Court. In 1846 Center- ville was laid out and first named Chaldea but the citizens
304 HISTORY
were not satisfied with that name and at a house raising held not long after there was a large gathering and a proposition was made to change it. Dr. W. S. Manson, who was a great admirer of Governor Senter of Tennes- see, proposed in an eloquent speech to change the name to Senterville in honor of the Governor. A petition was | signed by those present to that effect and forwarded to the Legislature. The committee to which it was referred re- ported in favor of the change but thinking to correct an error in orthography in the bill, spelled the name Center- ville, and in that shape it became a law, to the great chagrin of the admirers of Governor Senter. The first house in the town was built by S. F. Waddington who opened a store in it. The Methodists organized the first church in the county with Rev. Hugh Gibson, pastor. Amos Harris was the first lawyer and Dr. W. S. Manson the first physician in the new town.
In October, 1856, the first newspaper in the county was established by Fair Brothers and named the Appanoose Chief, published at Centerville. In 1868 the town of Moulton was laid out on the line of the North Missouri Railroad, twelve miles southeast of Centerville. This was the first railroad in the county, built in 1869.
AUDUBON COUNTY was created by act of the Legis- lature of 1851 out of the then large county of Keokuk. It was named for John J. Audubon the naturalist and in 1853 was attached to Cass and divided into civil town- ships. It lies in the third tier east of the Missouri River' and in the fourth north of the State of Missouri, contains twelve congressional townships and has a superficial area of four hundred forty-six square miles.
The first settlement within its limits was made in March, 1851, by Nathaniel Hamlin, John S. Jenkins and Arthur Decker, with their families, who took claims in a fine body of timber which became known as Hamlin's Grove. In the fall of the same year Dr. S. M. Ballord and B. M.
OF IOWA 305
Hyatt made claims in another body of timber which was named Big Grove. William Powell the same year took a claim where Exira stands.
The county was organized in 1855, and the seat of jus- tice located on the 20th of June on section twenty-two, township seventy-eight, range thirty-five west. Here a town was laid out and named Dayton. An election was held April 2d, 1855, at the house of John S. Jenkins at which Samuel Lewis was chosen county judge. In 1861 the county-seat was removed to a new town called Viola, laid out by D. M. Harris and David Edgerton; but the name was soon changed to Exira, in honor of a lady then living in the county. Dayton soon after disappeared from the map and its site became a farm. Oakfield was laid out in 1857 by E. D. Bradley who then opened the first store in the county. Oakfield took its name from a large oak grove which originally covered the town site on the east bank of the Nishnabotna River. The first newspaper in the county was established at Audubon City in December, 1860, and was named the Audubon Pio- neer. Its proprietor was John C. Brown, who was killed in the War of the Rebellion at the Battle of Milliken's Bend where he was serving as captain of Company I, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteers. East Nishnabotna is the largest stream running through the county from norfli to south, with numerous branches which aiford a good supply of water. The surface of the county is rolling with deep ravines in places. The soil is very fertile producing abun- dant crops of grass, grain, fruit and vegetables. A branch of the Rock Island Railroad from Atlantic was the first to enter the county.
BANCROFT COUNTY was created by act of the Legis- lature in 1851 from a portion of old Fayette and embraced the twelve northern townships of what is now Kossuth County, extending to the Minnesota line, making an area of four hundred four square miles. The county was named
[Vol. 3]
306 HISTORY
in honor of George Bancroft, the historian. In January, 1853, it was attached to Boone County for election, revenue and judicial purposes. In 1855 by act of the General As- sembly it was made a part of Kossuth and Bancroft County ceased to exist. The county was one vast level prairie through which the east fork of the Des Moines Eiver flowed and its lands in early times were considered too wet for profitable cultivation but in later years the soil has been found to be exceedingly productive and has been converted into fine farms of increasing value. No county-seat was established during the brief period that Bancroft had an existence and no organization of a county government was perfected.
BELKNAP COUNTY was created by act of the General Assembly in 1874, embracing townships seventy-four, seventy-five, seventy-six and seventy-seven in ranges thirty-eight, thirty-nine and forty in the eastern portion of Pottawattamie Count)^ In compliance with the Con- stitution the proposition to establish this county was sub- mitted to a vote of the electors residing in the county of Pottawattamie which it was proposed to divide and at this election was rejected so that Belknap County ceased to exist. The name was given in honor of General William W. Belknap, a distinguished Iowa officer in the Civil War and afterwards Secretary of War in the Cabinet of Presi- dent U. S. Grant.
BENTON COUNTY was created by act of the Legisla- ture of Wisconsin Territory in 1837 and embraced at that time all of the territory between its northern and southern lines west to the Missouri River and was attached to Jackson County temporarily. It was named for Thomas H. Benton who was for thirty years United States Sena- tor from Missouri. In November, 1840, Benton County was attached to Linn and in February, 1843, was reduced in size to its present limits, containing twenty congres-
OF IOWA 307
sional townships, making seven hundred twenty square miles.
The first pioneers who made homes in the county were James Scott and Samuel Lockhart who, in the spring of 1839, took claims near where the village of Marysville stands. Several families from Indiana soon settled in that vicinity and the place was known as '' Hoosier Point." The same year Samuel Parker made a claim embracing a body of timber which was called " Parker's Grove." Oilman Clark located a mile east of where Shellsburg stands and L. F. North, John Smith and George "Wright settled in the vicinity during the year, opening farms.
The county was organized in May, 1846, and the county- seat located where a new town named Fremont was laid out. A log court-house was erected two stories in height. The name of the town was afterwards changed to Vinton, in honor of Plynn Vinton, a member of Congress from Ohio, who paid fifty dollars for the honor. A portion of the county on the east side was embraced in the '' Black Hawk Purchase " and was therefore opened to settlement several years before the remainder. The early settle- ments were made on this strip, which was on the extreme frontier, by a band of desperadoes who found shelter in the Indian country beyond, and preyed upon the property of the pioneers for several years. It was impossible to arrest and punish these thieves and murderers and finally the settlers organized a " vigilance committee," hunted them down and by lynch law rid the county of them.
The first election was held in August, 1843, when the county was attached to Linn. The first officers were chosen at an election held at Parker's Grove in 1846, when twenty-nine votes were polled. James Mitchell was chosen county judge, John Royal sheriff, and David Pratt clerk. The first court was held in May, 1847, at the house of Thomas Way at which Judge J. P. Carlton presided. Among the attorneys present were Norman W. Isbel, I.
308 HISTORY
M. Preston and D. P. Palmer. A scliool was opened near JMarysville and a saw mill built on Mud Creek soon after the first settlers erected their log cabins. In October, 1846, a post-office was established at Vinton with Stephen Holcomb as postmaster. In early days a fine grove of red cedars stood on the banks of the Cedar River but a vandal squatter named Thompson cut them down and sold the logs down the river. A few years later several similar groves were destroyed in like manner. It was from these and other groves that the Cedar River derived its name.
The first newspaper in the county was established in January, 1855, by Frederick Lyman and S. C. Foster and named the Vinton Eagle. The Presbyterians organized the first church at Vinton in 1852, with Rev. John Sum- merson as pastor. In 1858 Thomas Drummond the young editor of the Vinton Eagle was a member of the Legisla- ture and secured the passage of an act locating the Asylum for the Blind at Vinton. In 1861 the town of Belle Plaine was laid out on the line of the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad which had just been extended through the southern part of the county. Another town was also laid out on this line the same year, named Blairstown, for John I. Blair, who was the president of the construction company.
In 1854 Jacob Cantonwine laid out a town on Bear Creek which was named Shellsburg for a city in Pennsyl- vania. Norway was laid out in 1863 on the line of the Northwestern Railroad and thus named at the request of Osborn Tuttle who gave five acres of land to the railroad company. Benton County is well watered by the Cedar and Iowa rivers and their tributaries which furnish water power in many places. Native timber is found along the streams and the prairie soil is of the best qual- ity. Building stone is quite abundant along the Cedar River and granite boulders are found in many sections of the county.
ARTESIAN WELL AT BELLE PLAINE. Benton County.
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BLACK HAWK COUNTY, created on the 17tli of Feb- ruary, 1847, by act of the General Assembly, lies in the third tier south of the Minnesota line and fourth west of the Mississippi River and contains sixteen congressional townships embracing an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. It was attached to Buchanan in 1851.
The first white settler was Paul Somaneux, a French trader who, in the summer of 1837, ascended the Cedar River to the rapids where Cedar Falls stands, there built a cabin and opened a profitable trade with the Indians in furs and skins. Robert Stuart, another trader, reached the rapids the same season and engaged in traffic with the Indians. In 1844 William Chambers of Louisa County came to the rapids, built a cabin and also opened trade with the Indians, but none of these earliest settlers en- gaged in farming. In the spring of 1845 William Sturgis and wife of Michigan and A. E. Adams and wife of John- son County made an excursion up the Cedar River in search of good water power. They were charmed with the beauty of the valley and finding excellent water power at the rapids, took claims on the river banks where Cedar Falls now stands. Mr. Sturgis soon began to construct a dam across the river and for many years the settle- ment was known as '* Sturgis Falls." In May, John Hamilton and his sons came to the new settlement and took claims. George Hanna and family, John Melrose and William Virden soon after took claims near Black Hawk Creek, while E. G. Young and James Newell set- tled in the northern part of the county. In February, 1847, John W. Overman, D. C. Overman and J. F. Bar- rick came to Sturgis Falls, purchased the water power and land belonging with it, finished the dam and erected a sawmill. In 1851 a town was laid out and named Cedar Falls. Andrew Mularky opened a store in his log cabin, the first in the county, which was known as the '' Black Hawk store. ' ' In 1846 Mrs. J. F. Taylor opened the first school with six pupils. For many years the site of Cedar
310 HISTORY
Falls was covered with beautiful forest trees which grad- ually disappeared.
The county remained unorganized until the summer of 1853 when the first election was held for county officers with the following result : J. R. Pratt was chosen county judge ; Aaron Dow, treasurer ; John H. Brooks, clerk, and John Virden, sheriff. The county-seat was located at Cedar Falls. The first term of district court was held in June, 1854, at which Judge Thomas S. Wilson presided. On the 11th of July, 1853, W. H. McClure and S. H. Pack- ard established the first newspaper in the county at Cedar Falls with A. F. Brown as editor.
In June, 1846, James Virden and Charles Mullan located claims on the west side of the river about seven miles below Cedar Falls at a point known as Prairie Rap- ids and erected a cabin. In the fall they with G. W. Hanna and J. H. Brooks laid out a town which they named Water- loo. The first store was opened by Nelson Fancher in his log cabin and a public house by Seth Lake in another cabin. Charles Mullan was the first postmaster and in 1853 Eliza May taught the first school.
In 1854 James Eggers built a dam across the river at Waterloo and erected a sawmill. In 1856 George W. Couch built a flouring-mill. The spring and summer of 1858 were noted for heavy rains which raised the streams to flood height and a small steamer at Cedar Rapids came up to Waterloo loaded with freight afterward making sev- eral trips. In 1855 a movement was inaugurated to re- move the county-seat from Cedar Falls to Waterloo. At an election held for that purpose three hundred eighty- eight votes were cast for Waterloo and two hundred sixty for Cedar Falls. The removal was delayed several months by legal proceedings. A newspaper was established at Waterloo in December, 1855, by William Haddock named the Iowa State Register. After the close of the Civil War a home for soldiers' orphans was established at Cedar Falls.
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In June, 1855, Jesse Wasson laid out the town of La Porte in the southern part of the county. The Cedar River runs diagonally through the county from north to south and the Wapsipinicon runs through the northeast- ern portion, both having many tributaries. The county was named for the famous Sac chief. In 1861 the Du- buque and Sioux City Railroad was completed to Cedar Falls. The Burlington and Cedar Rapids road follows up the valley of the Cedar River.
BOONE COUNTY is near the geographical center of the State, lying in the fifth tier from its north line, in the eighth west of the Mississippi River and containing six- teen congressional townships with an area of five hun- dred seventy-six square miles. It was created by act of the Legislature in January, 1846, and named for Captain Nathan Boone who, in 1832, commanded a company of Rangers in an expedition which explored the Des Moines and Boone River valleys. Lysander W. Babbitt, a young man with the expedition, was so fascinated with the beauty of this region, that in the spring of 1842 he, with two com- panions, went into the Boone valley where they spent sev- eral months hunting and exploring. They traveled nearly to the headwaters of the Boone, then crossed to the Des Moines and camped where Moingona stands. There they found the ruins of an Indian village, near which they made claims. They were at one time robbed of their furs by a band of Sioux Indians and finding it dangerous to remain so far from white settlements, surrounded by roving bands of Sioux, early in the winter of 1844 pru- dently abandoned their claims and returned to a settled country. They were the first white men to select homes in Boone County. In 1846 another member of Captain Boone's company, Charles G. Gaston, with his family ascended the Des Moines valley as far as Elk Rapids where he made a claim and built a log cabin. Soon after John Pea, James Hull, J. M. Crooks and others built
312 HISTORY
cabins in that vicinity along a creek three miles north of Boonsboro. Benjamin Williams the same year took a claim near where Madrid stands.
The county was organized in 1849 and attached to Polk. In 1851 commissioners were appointed to locate the county-seat and, as there was no town yet laid out, they drove a stake in the ground near where the first court- house was afterward built and there established the county-seat. A town was laid out and, upon the sugges- tion of S. B. McCall, named Boonsboro and a public sale of lots was made in October, 1851. Samuel B. McCall was the sheriff selected to organize the county, and at the first election John M. Wayne was chosen clerk; John M. Crooks, treasurer ; S. H. Bowers, sheriff, and W. C. Hull, prosecuting attorney. The first term of court was held in Boonsboro in October, 1851, at which Judge William Mc- Kay presided. The first building in the town was a two story log house erected by W. C. Hull on the east side of the public square.
In 1865 the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad was extended into the county to the new town of Mon- tana which had been laid out by John I. Blair and other builders of the railroad. This town was a mile east of Boonsboro and the citizens of the county-seat were re- quired to pay a large bonus to secure the road. Feeling sure of the road, they declined to pay the amount de- manded and the construction company turned the road toward the southwest following the valley of Honey Creek, leaving Boonsboro a mile or more from the line. Then began a life and death struggle between the proprietors of Montana and the citizens of Boonsboro for supremacy which lasted for many years. Buildings were erected in each town but in the end the citizens of Boonsboro began to move to Montana, its name was changed to Boone and the old county-seat became a suburb of the new city which had absorbed its business and much of its population. The first newspaper was established by Capron and Sanders
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in July, 1856, at Boonsboro and named the Boone County Neivs, Its editor, Luther C. Sanders, was one of the sharpest paragraphists in the State among the pioneer editors.
The Des Moines River flows through the county from north to south, with a heavy body of excellent timber growing along its banks, under which are found extensive deposits of coal. The soil of the entire county is of un- surpassed fertility.
BREMER COUNTY was organized from a portion of the extensive territory at onetime embraced in the original county of Fayette, It lies in the third tier west of the Mississippi River, in the third tier south of the Minne- sota line and contains but twelve townships six miles square, giving it an area of but four hundred thirty- two square miles. In 1845 Charles McCaffrey of Scott County made a claim in the valley of the Cedar River at the '' Big Woods," near where the village of Jefferson stands. He built a cabin and opened a farm and during the year other claims were made in that vicinity by George Beeler, Andrew Sample, J. H. Messenger and others. The early settlements were within the limits of the Winne- bago reservation and the last of the Indians remained until 1851. In 1850 Jacob Hess and Frederick Cretz- meyer settled on the west side of the Cedar River where the town of Waverly stands.
The county was established in 1851 by act of the Gen- eral Assembly and at the suggestion of General A. K. Eaton, then a member from Delaware County, was named for the Swedish author Frederika Bremer. It was first attached to Buchanan County for revenue, election and judicial purposes. In 1853 William P. Harmon settled on the east bank of the Cedar River and laid out the town of Waverly. A log dam was built across the river, a sawmill and log hotel erected. The commissioners located the county-seat the same year at the new town.
314 HISTORY
John T. Barrick located six miles south of Waverly in the spring of 1853 and laid out the town of Janesville, named for his wife, Jane. This was the first town laid out in the county and there the first newspaper was estab- lished in 1855, named the Bremer County Herald and pub- lished by Phineas V. Swan. The county was organized in 1853 and had at that time but eighty-two voters. The first officers were Jeremiah Ferris, county judge ; Austin Fer- ris, sheriff; John Hunter, treasurer; and Herman A. Miles, clerk.
The first newspaper at Waverly was established on the 6th of March, 1856, by Herman A. Miles and was called the Waverly Republican. Richard Miles taught the first school in the county in 1853 in a log house in Jefferson township. Judge Thomas S. Wilson held the first term of court at Waverly in June, 1854.
BUCHANAN COUNTY is in the third tier west of the Mississippi River and in the third south of the Minnesota line; embraces an area of five hundred and seventy-six square miles and is divided into twent^^ congressional townships. It was established in De- cember, 1837, and at that time contained all of that portion of the original county of Dubuque lying directly west from Delaware to the Missouri River. The county was named for James Buchanan, afterwards President of the United States. The name was suggested by S. P. Stoughton a prominent Democrat of the new county. In 1843 the territory was reduced to its present limits.
The first white man known to have settled in the county was William Bennett who with his family came from Delaware County in February, 1842, took a claim and built a log cabin on the east bank of the Wapsipinicon River where Quasqueton was afterwards laid out. Soon after S. G. and S. H. Sanford and Ezra Allen took claims in the same vicinity. Early in the spring Dr. Edward
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OF IOWA 315
Brewer, R. B. Clark and Frederick Kessler joined the first settlers. In 1845 a post-office was established named Quasqueton with William Richards as postmaster. The town was laid out by D. S. Davis in 1847, the name being of Indian origin and signifying ' * rapid water. ' ' In 1847 the commissioners selected to locate a comity-seat, chose the site where Independence stands. Rufus B. Clark was the first to call attention to this spot as a beautiful location for a town and, associating himself with N. A. McClure and S. P. Stoughton, entered a quarter section of land embracing the water power and a portion of the ground upon which Independence was built. In March, 1847, Mr. Clark built a log cabin on the land thus entered which was the first house in Independence. A dam was built across the river, a sawmill erected, a store opened and a post-office secured by the proprietors of the new town during the year 1848. Mr. Clark kept a hotel in Lis two-room log cabin while Mr. Stoughton opened a store and kept the post-office in his cabin. Edward Brews- ter practiced medicine and kept a school in his house.
The county was organized in 1848 by the election of the following officers : Elijah Beardsley, judge ; E. D. Phelps, sheriff; S. P. Stoughton, clerk; and Elijah Beardsley, prosecuting attorney. The first term of the District Court was held in April, 1849, by James Grant, judge of the Third District. In May, 1855, B. F. Parker and James Hillery issued the first number of a newspaper named the Independence Civilian. In December, 1856, Jacob Rich and Mr. Jordon began the publication of the Quasqueton Guardian in the rival town. The first railroad built into the county was the Dubuque and Sioux City, which reached Independence in December, 1859.
During the session of the Legislature of 1868, Senator William G. Donnan secured the passage of an act provid- ing for the location and building of an additional Hos- pital for the Insane at Independence.
316 HISTORY
BUENA VISTA COUNTY is located in the third tier from the western boundary of the State and in the third south of the Minnesota line; it contains sixteen congres- sional townships, making an area of five hundred seventy- six square miles. This territory was originally a part of the counties of Dubuque and Buchanan but in 1851 was formed into a county and named to commemorate the Battle of Buena Vista. It was first attached to the county of Wahkaw (now Woodbury) in 1853.
In May, 1856, Abner Bell of New Jersey and his brother-in-law, W. K. AVeaver and family, and John W. Tucker settled in the northern part of the county near the Little Sioux River at a point called Sioux Rapids. Soon after Arthur T. Reeves, Moses Van Kirk, James H. Glea- son and Moses Lewis took claims in the vicinity. In the spring of 1857 the settlers were plundered by a band of Sioux Indians under Inkpadutah while on their way to massacre the colony at Okoboji and Spirit lakes. The men were overpowered by the savages while the women were most brutally treated but no one was killed.
In 1859 the county government was organized by the election of the following officers: A. T. Reeves, judge; W. K. Weaver, treasurer ; J. W. Tucker, clerk ; and Abner Bell, sheriff. In 1860 the county-seat was located by com- missioners in the northwest quarter of section eighteen, township ninety-three, range thirty-six on land belonging to W. S. Lee and the town named Prairieville but no buildings were erected and it never advanced beyond a paper town.
While the county was sparsely settled some of the offi- cials entered into a conspiracy to enrich themselves by levying and collecting taxes in large amounts for build- ing bridges, school-houses and the making of other public improvements. Contracts were let to friends of these of- ficials at enormous prices and the profits divided. School- houses were built on unsettled prairies, non-resident taxes appropriated and when finished the houses were
T h ! i- NEW YORK \\ PUBLIC LIBRARY
Astor, Lenox and Yiiden ;j FouiuJsl'oas.
STORM LAKE, nuena Vista County
OF IOWA 317
occupied by favored settlers for residences. Hundreds of thousands of dollars of county warrants were issued of which no record was kept, then sold and traded for property. County and school bonds were beautifully en- graved and sold through brokers at a discount which tempted eastern buyers to invest in securities which bore ten per cent, interest. When other settlers came and saw how business had been managed, the perpetrators of the frauds fled, leaving enormous debts standing against the county and school districts. For many years suits were pending in the courts for the collection of these fraudulent bonds and warrants and great odium was brought upon the county. None of the perpetrators of these crimes were brought to justice. But after the year 1865 the county government passed under the control of honest settlers and the frauds ceased.
In 1858 a Mr. Barnes laid out the town of Sioux Rap- ids near the Little Sioux River and, being a man of prop- erty, hoped to be able to build up an important place. In 1859 the Sioux Indians were again threatening the fron- tier settlements and Mr. Barnes sent his son-in-law to Fort Dodge to procure arms for the defense of the set- tlers. While traveling over the unsettled prairies he was overtaken by a blizzard and so badly frozen that both feet had to be amputated. Mr. Barnes was so disheartened by this calamity that he abandoned his town enterprise and left the country. " Barnes " township and '* Barnes Grove " perpetuate his memory. For many years Sioux Rapids was the county-seat. In 1870 the town of Storm Lake was laid out on the north shore of the beautiful lake of that name. The original proprietor was John I. Blair, the builder of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Rail- road, which was the first in the county. The lake is about two miles wide by five miles long, having its outlet in the Boyer River. In October, 1870, Vestal and Young estab- lished the Storm Lake Pilot, a weekly newspaper, in the new town. The Little Sioux River runs through the
318 HISTORY
north part of the comity and in early days its bluffs were covered with timber.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY was established in 1851 and named for an officer in the War of the Revolution. It was the extreme northwestern county in the State. While bearing this name there were no permanent settlers within its limits but for eleven years it appeared on the map of Iowa as Buncombe County until at the extra session of the Ninth General Assembly in September, 1862, it was changed to Lyon.
BUTLER COUNTY is in the third tier south of the Min- nesota line, in the fourth west of the Mississippi River, and contains sixteen congressional townships, making an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. It was taken from territory formerly embraced in the counties of Fayette and Buchanan, was established in 1851 and named for General William 0. Butler, an officer in the Mexican War and Democratic candidate for Vice-Presi- dent in 1848.
The first white men who settled in the county were two brothers, Harrison and Volney Carpenter who, in 1850, went from Linn County up the Cedar and Shellrock riv- ers hunting and trapping. They were charmed with the country and made claims and built a log cabin in a grove where the town of Shellrock stands. In September of the same year Henry J. Hicks and Robert T. Crowell, from Wisconsin, settled at Coon Grove near where Clarksville has since been built. During the winter these pioneers carried on their backs supplies for their families from Cedar Falls. They found support through hunting, trap- ping and fishing until land could be brought under culti- vation. In 1851 Jeremiah Perrin, M. A. Taylor, Mahlon B. and William S. A¥amsley, Seth Hilton and others came and also entered land.
In 1853 the county-seat was located at Clarksville, a
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town laid out by Thomas and Jeremiah Clark and D. C. Hilton, and named for the proprietors ; the plat embraced forty acres.
The first county officers were : John Palmer, judge ; W. C. Burton, clerk; Abner G. Clark, treasurer; R. T. Cro- well, sheriff, and Hardin Baird, prosecuting attorney. The permanent organization of the county was made in October, 1854. A post-office was established at Coon Grove in 1853 of which Abner G. Clark was the first postmaster; later this settlement became Clarksville. In the spring of 1855 Miss Malinda Searls opened the first school in a log cabin at Clarksville. J. D. Thompson, judge of the Thirteenth District held the first term of court in the county in October, 1857. In July, 1858, Pal- mer and James established a newspaper at Clarksville, naming it the Butler County Transcript. This was the first paper in the county. The Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad was built through the south part of the county in 1865.
CALHOUN COUNTY is in the fourth tier from the north line of the State, also in the fourth east of the Mis- souri River and has sixteen townships, each six miles square, making a total area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. It was originally named Fox but at the ses- sion of the Legislature of 1853 a change was made to Cal- houn, in honor of the famous South Carolina Senator. Twin Lakes, lying in the northern part of the county, cover an area of about seventeen hundred acres and vary in depth from three to twenty feet. The northern lake is about half a mile wide and two and one-half miles in length.
Ebeneezer Comstock was the first white settler in the county. In April, 1854, he moved with his family into the grove where Lake City has since been built and here made his log cabin. His nearest trading point was Des Moines, eighty-five miles distant. He was soon joined by John
320 HISTORY |
Condron, J. C. Smith and Peter Smith from Cass County, Michigan.
In August, 1855, the county was organized by the elec- tion of Peter Smith, judge; Christian Smith, treasurer; Joel Golden, clerk; William Oxenford, sheriff; and Ebe- neezer Comstock, prosecuting attorney. The election was held at the house of Christopher Smith and the entire population of the county was less than one hundred. The county-seat was located by a vote of the people in April, 1856, and Charles Amy was employed to survey and plat a town which was named Lake City. The first house on the plat was built by him in 1857 and the first store was opened the same year by Peter Smith and Daniel Reed in a log cabin. In 185G David Reed taught the first school near Lake City and the Methodists organized the first re- ligious society the same year.
For many years in the early history of the county Charles Amy was its treasurer and by honest and econom- ical management of the ofBcials the warrants of the county were always kept at par and no debt was incurred, a con- dition of affairs rare among the counties of northwestern Iowa.
In June, 1859, Judge A. W. Hubbard held the first term of court in the county. In June, 1871, B. F. Gue of Fort Dodge established the first newspaper at Lake City named the Calhoun County Pioneer of which E. W. Wood was the editor and manager. In early days a good wagon road was graded from Lake City to Fort Dodge and the streams were bridged for a distance of about forty miles over unsettled prairies. In 1870 the first line of railroad was built into the county, running through the northern townships. It was the main line of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City road and the towns of Manson and Pomeroy were built upon it. In the spring of 1876 the county-seat was relocated on land belonging to Colonel J. M. Rock- well nearer the center of the county where a town was laid out and named Rockwell City. A court-house was built
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in the spring of 1877. A railroad reached the new county- seat in 1882.
CARROLL COUNTY was at onetime a part of the large territory of Benton but, in 1851, was established by act of the Legislature and named for Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. It lies in the third tier east of the Missouri River, in the fifth south of the Minnesota line and contains sixteen congres- sional townships, making an area of five hundred and seventy-six square miles.
In 1854 Enos Buttrick of Greene County made a claim and built the first log cabin in the limits of Carroll, on section two, township eighty-two, range thirty-four. The old Indian trail known as the '^ War Path," a dividing line between the Sioux and Pottawattamie hunting grounds, ran through townships eighty-two to eighty-five, range thirty-six. It was a well beaten path visible for many years after the Indians were removed from the State. The penalty was death for any Indian who should be found hunting on the land belonging to the other tribe. The old battle-field where the last conflict took place be- tween these hostile tribes was near Crescent Lake in Car- roll County.
In July, 1855, the first steps were taken toward organ- izing a county government in Carroll and at the August election the following officers were chosen: A. J. Cain, judge; Levi Thompson, clerk; James White, treasurer; J. Y. Anderson, sheriff, and L. M. Curdy, prosecuting attorney. The population at that time was about one hundred. The first school was opened by Jane L. Hill in the spring of 1856 at Carrollton, a town which was that year laid out on the middle branch of the Raccoon River in the southern part of the county. It became the first county-seat and 0. H. Manning here established a paper named the Carroll Enterprise. The Methodists organized the first church in the county at this place. A term of
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322 HISTORY
court was held here by Judge M. F. Moore in November, 1858. The Northwestern Railroad was built in 1867 and a new town laid out on its line near the geographical cen- ter of the county named Carroll, which soon became the county-seat. The Carroll Herald was started the follow- ing year by J. F. H. Sugg.
CASS COUNTY lies in the second tier east of the Mis- souri River in the third north of the south line of the State and contains sixteen townships, making an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. It was within the limits of Demoine County from 1834 to 1836 and was a part of the old county of Keokuk from 1837 to 1840. By act of the Legislature of 1851 Cass County was estab- lished with its present boundaries. The first white set- tlers within its limits were Mormons who stopped there on their exodus from Nauvoo in 1845-6. They established a station near the west bank of the Nishnabotna River, two and a half miles west of the point where Lewis stands. It was near the old Indian village of the Pottawattamies and was named Indiantown. For many years this was the chief trading post on that route from the Mississippi to the Missouri River.
The first permanent settlers in the county were Jere- miah Bradshaw, V. M. Conrad, Peter Hedges, David Chapman, Joseph Everly and J. M. Watson who took claims near Indiantown in 1852. Here Bradshaw opened the first store in the county and a post-office was estab- lished called Cold Springs. In the summer of 1852 R. D. McGeehon built a log cabin and opened a farm near Tur- key Creek. The first election was held at Uniontown in August, 1852, at which but thirteen votes were polled. The county officers were chosen in 1853, consisting of Jere- miah Bradshaw, judge; V. M. Conrad, treasurer; C. E. Woodward, clerk; Francis E. Ball, sheriff. Thomas G. Palmer and Milton Richards were chosen commissioners to locate the county-seat and on the 11th of March, 1853,
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selected the site where Lewis stands. This town was laid out on the east side of the Nishnabotna Kiver the next year and became the county-seat. The first house was built by S. M. Tucker and the first newspaper was estab- lished by J. C. Brown in 1861, named the Cass County Gazette. In 1868 the town of Atlantic was located on the line of the Rock Island Railroad which was built through the northern part of the county in that year. After a bit- ter contest the county-seat was removed from Lewis to Atlantic in November, 1869. Anita and Wiota were lo- cated on the line of the Rock Island Railroad.
CEDAR COUNTY was established from territory em- braced in the original county of Dubuque and lies in the second tier west of the Mississippi River and in the fifth north of the Missouri boundary line. It contains sixteen townships, making an area of five hundred and seventy- six square miles, and was named for the Cedar River which flows through the county in a southeasterly direc- tion.
The first white man known to have traveled through this county was Colonel George Davenport who, in 1831, established a trading post on the west side of the Cedar River just above the mouth of Rock Creek. Poweshiek, a chief of the Fox Indians, had a village in that vicinity where he made his headquarters and here Colonel Daven- port, through his agents, carried on a profitable trade with the Fox Indians. The first claims made in the county were taken by Colonel Davenport, Antoine Le Claire, Major "William Gordon and Alexander McGregor. These men went about twenty-five miles west of Davenport to a fine body of timber which was afterward named " Posten's Grove " and staked out claims embracing all of the tim- ber land. From there they passed on to Onion Grove and took possession of that timber land by the same process, all for purposes of speculation. Neglecting to comply with the claim laws, however, by making actual set-
324 HISTORY
tlement, they were unable to hold these valuable lands. A few months later David W. Walton of Indiana made a claim on Sugar Creek, a name he gave to the stream owing to the sugar maples growing along its banks. He built a cabin and early the following spring moved his family to the new home. They were probably the first permanent settlers in the county. In May, 1836, Enos Nye of Ohio took a claim on the bank of Cedar River four miles west of Walton's. In June, 1836, Andrew Crawford and Robert G. Roberts made claims in the central part of the county. In July of the same year James Posten made a claim in the eastern part of the county in the grove which bears his name. George McCoy and Stephen Toney settled on the east bank of the Cedar River in 1836 where McCoy established a ferry. In August McCoy and Toney laid out a town which they named Rochester, for the city of that name in New York. Benjamin Nye opened the first store and built a mill near the mouth of Rock Creek. Rev. Martin Baker, a Christian minister, was the pioneer preacher in the county, beginning services in 1836. Moses B. Church taught the first school in 1837 at the house of Colonel Henry Hardman.
In 1837 Rochester was made the county-seat and there the first election was held in March, 1838, at which the following officers were elected: Christian Holderman, treasurer; Robert G. Roberts, register, and Richard Ransford, J. M. Oaks and Joseph Wilford, commission- ers. The first court was held in May, 1838, at Roches- ter, Judge David Irwin presiding. In 1839 commissioners were chosen by the Legislature to select a location for a permanent county-seat. The site was located near the geographical center of the county and named Tipton for General John Tipton, United States Senator from In- diana. A town was platted in 1840 by John G. Tolman, the county surveyor, on a claim made in 1836 by William M. Knott, and the first sale of lots took place on the 15th
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of June. A fierce contest was waged for several years between Rochester and Tipton for the county-seat which was finally settled by a vote of the people in 1852 in favor of Tipton.
On the 6th of April, 1850, the first newspaper was estab- lished in Tipton named the Tipton Times and Cedar County Conservative which was succeeded in 1853 by the Cedar County Advertiser. In 1855 the Mississipioi and Missouri Railroad was built from Davenport through the southern part of the county. Previous to 1853 the county had voted aid to the Lvons and Iowa Central Railroad Company which proposed to build from Lyons by way of Tipton to Iowa City. This company caused grading to be done near Tipton and secured bonds of the county for $20,000 to aid the work but never built the road.
CERRO GORDO COUNTY lies in the second tier south of the Minnesota line, in the fifth west of the Mississippi River and is twenty-four miles square embracing twenty- four congressional townships, making an area of five hun- dred seventy-six square miles. It was established from the original county of Fayette in 1851 and named for a battle-field of the Mexican War.
In July, 1851, Joseph Hewitt and James Dickinson, who were hunting near Clear Lake, were so delighted with the beautiful country bordering it that they built cabins on the south and west shores and, sending for their families, became the first white settlers in the new county. They were fifty miles from the nearest neighbor and were fre- quently visited by parties of Winnebago Indians who came to the lake to hunt and trap. In 1853 David and Ed- win Wright made claims about three miles north of where Mason City stands. In September of the same year An- son C. Owens settled at a grove which bears his name in the eastern part of the county. James and Robert Ser- rine took claims at the east end of Clear Lake the same year. John B. Long and John L. McMillan soon after
326 HISTORY
settled on the ground where Mason City stands. Clear Lake is a beautiful body of water about six miles long by two miles wide and its greatest depth is about twenty- five feet. The Shellrock River flows through the north- eastern portion of the county.
In 1854 the town of Mason City was laid out and the first store was opened by J. L. McMillan one of the pro- prietors of the new town site. The town of Clear Lake was laid out in the fall of 1856 by James Dickinson on the east end of the lake which bears the same name.
Judge Samuel Murdock of the District Court in 1855 appointed commissioners to locate the county-seat. They selected Mason City. Most of the early settlers in that town were members of the Masonic order and the set- tlement was first called " Masonic Grove " but when the town was platted in 1854 was named Mason City, by and for that fraternity. The first school in the county was taught by Eliza Gardner, a daughter of Rowland Gard- ner who, with most of his family, perished in the Spirit Lake massacre in the spring of 1857. Eliza was fortu- nately absent from home at the time and thus escaped the fate of her father ^s family.
The first newspaper in the county was established at Mason City by Datus E. Coon in 1858, and named the Cerro Gordo Press. Its proprietor became a prominent officer in the Union army during the Civil War. The first railroad was completed from McGregor to Clear Lake, through Mason City, in 1870 by the Milwaukee and St. Paul Company.
CHEROKEE COUNTY is in the second tier east of the west boundary of the State and in the third south of the Minnesota line, is twenty-four miles square and contains five hundred seventy-six square miles. Its territory was at one time divided between Fayette and Dubuque coun- ties but in 1851 it was established with the present boun- daries as Cherokee County, being named for a southern^
OF IOWA 327
tribe of Indians. It was first attached to Wahkaw County in 1853.
In 1856 a colony from Milford, Massachusetts, selected lands near the center of Cherokee County for a settle- ment. There were about fifty members of the association most of whom were mechanics. The following named members with their families moved onto their lands the same year: Dr. Dwight Russell, Dr. Slocum, G. W. Le- bourvean, B. W. Sawtell, Lysander Sawtell, Albert Simon, Daniel Wheeler, Lemuel Parkhurst, Albert Phipps, Carl- ton Corbett, J. A. Brown, A. J. Slayton, Robert Hammond and Benjamin Holbrook. Each member took about a hun- dred acres of the lands which had been entered. A large body of timber was taken along the Little Sioux River which was divided among the members of the colony. Dr. Dwight Russell built the first house, a log cabin in which nine families were sheltered until additional houses could be erected.
During the year 1856 twelve families formed another settlement in the southern part of the county near the Little Sioux River, in the vicinity of Pilot Rock. This immense rock was in early days a well-known landmark which could be seen at a great distance over the unsettled prairies. It was a red granite boulder about sixty feet long by forty wide rising above the surface about twenty feet, near the river on the east side of a high point of land. Many mounds are found in this county north of the town of Cherokee which are believed to be the work of the ancient ' * mound builders. ' '
The first colony laid out the town of Cherokee on the west side of the Little Sioux River in 1856 and it became the county-seat. In the spring of 1857 Inkpaduta's band of Sioux Indians on their way to perpetrate the massa- cre at Okoboji, robbed many of the settlers in Cherokee County and killed many of their cattle. Later in the sea- son a stockade was erected at Cherokee for protection
328 HISTORY
and a company of soldiers stationed to protect the set- tlements in that part of the State.
The county was organized in August, 1857, and at the election the following persons were chosen for the first county officials: A. P. Thayer, judge; B. W. Sawtell, clerk; G. W. Labourvean, treasurer and recorder; S. W. Hayward, sheriff; and Carlton Corbett, prosecuting at- torney. The Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad was built through the county in 1870 and in January of that year J. P. Ford issued the first number of the Cherokee Chief. The railroad was located some distance from the old town and gradually a new town grew up near the sta- tion. One of the Hospitals for the Insane has been re- cently located at Cherokee.
CHICKASAW COUNTY at one time a part of Fayette, was created by act of the Legislature in 1851, and named for a southern tribe of Indians. When first established Chickasaw extended three miles further north than its present boundary which was fixed in 1855. It lies in the third tier west of the Mississippi River and in the second south of Minnesota with an area of five hundred four square miles.
The first settlement within its limits was made in 1848 by Truman Merritt near Greenwood. In 1852 J. A. Bird and John Bird made claims near the junction of the Little Cedar with the Red Cedar River. They there built a cabin and during the season several other families took claims near them. In 1854 James Jared took a claim on the land where New Hampton now stands and before the close of the year settlements were made in other parts of the county in the vicinity of woodland. Chickasaw was attached to Fayette until 1853 when John Bird was author- ized by the judge of Fayette County to organize the county. The first legal election was held in August at which the following officers were chosen: James Lyon, judge; S. C. Goddard, clerk; John Campbell, treasurer
OF IOWA 329
and recorder; Andrew Sample, sheriff; and N. D. Bab- cock, prosecuting attorney. In 1854 the county-seat was located at Bradford, a new town near the southwest corner of the county. The first term of court was held there in June, 1854, by Judge T. S. Wilson of Dubuque. New Hampton was laid out near the geographical center of the county and soon became a competitor for the county- seat. The first attempt at removal was defeated but in 1858 New Hampton was successful.
The first newspaper in the county was established at Jacksonville in 1857 by Isaac Watson and was called the Chickasaiu County Republican but after three years it was suspended. In 1860 W. E. Beach started the Courier at New Hampton. Nashua is the second town of import- ance and is located on the Cedar River in the southwestern corner of the county. The first railroad to enter the county was the Milwaukee and St. Paul which runs through New Hampton.
CLARKE COUNTY lies in the second tier north of the Missouri line, in the seventh west of the Mississippi River and contains twelve congressional townships embracing an area of four hundred thirty-two square miles. It was originally a part of Demoine County but in January, 1846, the new county was established and named for James Clarke who was then Governor of Iowa Territory. The boundaries formerly included the east half of Union County but did not then embrace the eastern tier of town- ships. In 1849 the boundaries were changed and the county assumed its present form. In 1846, when the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo took place, John and James Longley and John Conger, with their families, became separated from one of the trains and camped six miles south of where Osceola stands. Not being able to find the train they decided to remain where they were, open farms and make homes. The place was long known as " Lost Camp " and became the first settlement in Clarke County.
330 HISTORY
In the spring they found other families of Mormons who had made homes but a few miles from them and all re- mained and became prosperous farmers. In 1850 Robert Jamison, A. Colier, Bernard and James G. Arnold, J. Ellis, John Shearer and William Overton settled in the southern part of the county. Soon after a colony from Van Buren County came and laid out the town of Hope- ville near the west line of the county, settling in that vicinity.
In 1851 the county was organized by the election of the following officers: John A. Lindsley, judge; Alonzo R. Williams, clerk ; G. W. Glenn, treasurer, and Ivison Ellis, sheriff. The commissioners chosen to locate the county-seat selected a farm entered by George W. Howe, which was purchased for one hundred dollars and the town of Osce- ola laid out upon it. George W. Howe built the first house in Osceola in 1851 in which he opened the first store in the county. At a sale of lots in October eighty- five were sold at an average price of twenty-two dollars each. The first term of court was held in 1853 by Judge J. S. Townsend. At the general election in August, 1852, but eighty-one votes were polled. The first newspaper was established in 1858 by G. S. Pike and T. R. Oldham and named the Osceola Courier. The Burlington and Missouri Railroad was built through the county and through the town of Osceola, and completed to the Missouri River in 1868.
CLAY COUNTY is in the second tier south of the Min- nesota line, in the third east of the western boundary of the State and contains sixteen congressional townships embracing an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. It was created in 1851 and named for Lieutenant- Colonel Henry Clay, Jr., who was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican War. In January, 1853, Clay County was attached to Wahkaw for judicial and election purposes.
OF IOWA 331
In July, 1856, the first white settlers came and took claims in the woods on the south side of the Little Sioux River in the southwest corner of the county. They were Christian Kirchner and Andrew S. Mead with their fam- ilies and John J. Bicknell. They built cabins and broke up prairie for farms. In the fall Ezra Wilcox, James Bicknell and two brothers named Gillett brought their families and settled in the same vicinity. A town was laid out on the river bluff and named Peterson which be- came the first county-seat. In the spring of 1857 Inkpa- duta's band of Sioux Indians stopped in this settle- ment, robbed the people, killed or drove off about fifty head of cattle and fourteen horses belonging to Kirchner, Mead and Gillett, shot their hogs and destroyed much other property. The settlers were so few in number that they were unable to defend their homes and possessions. A deep snow covered the ground, the cold was intense and the few isolated settlers had all they could do to defend their families from the savages.
The county was organized in October, 1858, by the election of the following officers: C. C. Smeltzer, judge; S. M. Foreman, treasurer, and E. M. Wilcox, clerk. John A. Kirchner built a dam across the river and erected the first saw and grist mill in that part of the State. The public business was recklessly managed for many years, fastening a heavy indebtedness upon the county which brought it into bad repute and retarded settlement. The officials who were responsible for these disreputable transactions were, as the county settled up, dislodged from the control of the county business and the large bonded indebtedness was declared illegal by the courts. In 1859 George E. Spencer of Jasper County made a claim on the west side of the Little Sioux River near the geographical center of the county, laid out a town giving it his own name.* In 1869 the town of Spencer was es-
♦George E. Spencer became a distinguished officer in the Civil War, and after peace was established settled in Alabama, where he was elected to the United States Senate.
332 HISTORY
tablished on the east side of the river where a flourishing town grew up which became the county-seat. In 1878 the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad was built through the county from east to west through the town of Spencer. The first newspaper was the Clay County News which was established at Spencer in January, 1871.
CLAYTON COUNTY is the first west of the Mississippi River in the second tier south of Minnesota and con- tains twenty-four townships making an area of seven hun- dred ninety-two square miles. It was first created in De- cember, 1837, and then contained a portion of the present county of Allamakee. The county was named for John M. Clayton a United States Senator from Delaware.
The first settlement (after the Spanish grant to Basil Giard in 1795) was made by Robert Hetfield, William D. Grant and William W. Wyman and families in the spring of 1832. They made claims on the north side of the Turkey River about four miles from its mouth. In
1836 other settlers came, among whom was Dr. Frederick Andros, who took a claim about a mile southeast of where Garnavillo stands. John W. Gillett and a Mr. Loomis took claims in the same vicinity and opened farms. The same year Elisha Boardman settled upon the land where Elkader has been built. Prairie La Porte was laid out in
1837 and in 1847 the name was changed to Guttenburg. It was the first county-seat where the first term of court was held in a log cabin occupied by Herman Gray- bill and family. It convened in May, 1838, and was pre- sided over by Judge Charles Dunn. At this time a por- tion of Minnesota was embraced in Wisconsin Territory and in the county of Clayton.
The county was fully organized in the fall of 1838. In 1843 the county-seat was removed to the new town of Jacksonville and in 1846 the name was changed to Gar- navillo. In 1847 the town of Elkader was platted by Thompson, Davis and Sage who built a mill on the Tur-
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key Eiver at that place. The first houses were built by Elisha Boardman and H. D. Bronson in 1836 on the land where the new town was located. Elkader first became the county-seat in 1856, lost it for a time but permanently regained it in 1860. In 1855 Elias H. Williams was elected first county judge.
The first newspaper published between Dubuque and St. Paul on the west side of the Mississippi Eiver was the Clayton County Herald. It was established in January, 1853, by H. S. Granger at Garnavillo and two years later sold to A. W. Dripps who changed the name to the Jour- nal. Dripps was Captain of Company A, in the Ninth Iowa Infantry in the Civil War and was killed at the Battle of Pea Eidge.
McGregor, the largest town in the county, was laid out in 1847 by Alexander McGregor. In 1836 he established a ferry across the Mississippi Eiver at this place opposite the old French town of Prairie du Chien. Soon after he made a claim where the town of McGregor stands and built a log cabin at the foot of Main street. In 1847 he moved his family into it and a store and public house were soon opened. For many years the village which grew up was called McGregor's Landing. The ravine where the town was located was named by the early French traders *' Coolie de Sioux." The bluffs here rise to the height of nearly four hundred feet and overlook the mouth of the Wisconsin Eiver and the adjacent country for a great distance.
The first newspaper in McGregor was established by Colonel A. P. Eichardson in October, 1856. The first railroad constructed in the county was the McGregor Western which was built west in 1857. This company secured a large land grant but failing to comply with the requirements the lands were given to the Milwaukee and St. Paul Company which completed the road west to Sheldon in 1878.
334 HISTORY
CLINTON COUNTY was created in December, 1837, from territory embraced in the original county of Du- buque. It was named for De Witt Clinton the illustrious Governor of New York, contains an area of seven hun- dred twenty square miles and lies on the Mississippi River in the fifth tier south of the Minnesota line extend- ing farther eastward than any other county in the State. The city of Clinton lies farther east by more than sixty miles than Keokuk, both on the Mississippi River. Clin- ton and Jackson are the most easterly counties in the great bend of the Mississippi River forming the east boundary of Iowa. The Wapsipinicon River enters the county from the northwest and forms a large portion of the boundary line separating Clinton from Scott County.
In July, 1835, Elisha Buel crossed the Mississippi and made a claim where Lyons was laid out. In 1836 James D. Bourne who was an agent of the American Fur Com- pany established a post and made a claim on the Wap- sipinicon, becoming a permanent citizen. He was the first postmaster in the county and kept the office named Mon- roe which was on the mail route from Davenport to Du- buque. He also kept a ferry across the Wapsipinicon at that place. During the year 1836 Dr. George Peck made a claim on the banks of the Mississippi and laid out the town of Camanche, named for an Indian tribe. Joseph M. Bartlett made a claim two miles below Buel 's the same year and built a log cabin. He opened a store and laid out a town where Clinton stands, which he named New York. In 1837 Mr. Buel, G. W. Harlan and Suel Foster laid out the town of Lyons. Eli Goddard, D. C. Bourne, W. D. Follett and others settled in various parts of the county during the following year.
In February, 1838, the county-seat was established by a vote of the people at Camanche. The county was fully organized in 1840 and the first election was held April 6th in the house of Lyman Evans at Camanche. In 1841 three commissioners were chosen by the Legislature to
OF IOWA 335
relocate the county-seat. They selected a place twenty miles west of the Mississippi and gave it the name of Vandenburg. A log court-house and hotel were built and the court-house was used for school and church purposes. J. Wood was the first school teacher in the county. The name of the town was soon changed to De Witt and the county-seat remained there about thirty-five years, when it was removed to Clinton.
Clinton was laid out on the old site of New York in 1855 by the Iowa Land Company. The Chicago, Iowa and Ne- braska Eailroad Company was organized in 1856 to build a railroad from Clinton to the Missouri River. The road was pushed with energy and was the first to cross the State, reaching Council Bluffs in the fall of 1867.
The first newspaper in the county was established at Camanche in 1854 by Bates and Knapp and named the Camanche Chief. In .June, 1860, Camanche was destroyed by the great tornado which swept through central Iowa that year. A railroad bridge was built across the Mis- sissippi at Clinton and in the course of years Lyons and Clinton grew together and became one city.
COOK COUNTY was established from territory origin- ally embraced in Demoine County, on the 7th of Decem- ber, 1836. It included a portion of Scott County and other territory not clearly defined. The county was never or- ganized and the following year the territory was divided among other counties created by act of the Legislature of December 21, 1837. The origin of the name given it is not known.
CRAWFORD COUNTY lies in the second tier east of the Missouri River and in the fifth south of the Minnesota line. It has twenty-four townships containing an area of seven hundred twenty square miles and was named for William H. Crawford who was Secretary of the Treasury from 1817 to 1825 and a candidate for President in 1824.
336 HISTORY
The county was created in 1851 from territory originally embraced in Benton but at that time did not include the four western townships. In 1853 it was attached to Shelby County and in 1855 was organized at the April election by choice of the following officers : E. W. Fowler, judge ; Thomas Dobson, clerk; A. R. Hunt, treasurer; D. J. Fowler, sheriff; and Cyrus Whitmore, prosecuting attor- ney. The present boundaries were established in 1865.
The first settlers were Franklin Prentiss, Cornelius Dunham and their families, who with Reuben Blake took claims on the East Boyer River in a grove about six miles east of where Denison stands, in the year 1849. The place was long known as Dunham Grove. Jesse Mason, George J. and Noah V. Johnson settled the next year at Mason's Grove on the West Boyer. J. W. Denison came to the county in 1855 and entered a large tract of land for the Providence Western Land Company. In 1856 he laid out the town of Denison, and with others began the erection of houses.
The first school-house was built at Mason's Grove in 1856 in which Morris McHenry taught the first school in the county. The Methodists organized the first church at Mason's Grove in October, 1856, through the efforts of Rev. William Black who was a pioneer preacher in that part of the State. S. J. Comfort was the first lawyer in the county and in 1864 represented that district in the Legislature.
The county-seat was located at Denison in 1856, soon after the town was laid out. In October, 1860, J. W. Denison began the publication of a newspaper named the Boyer Valley Becord. The Northwestern Railroad was built through the county in 1867, following down the Boyer valley to Council Bluffs.
CBOCKEB COUNTY was created by act of the Legis- lature of 1870, embracing the northern part of Kossuth County which had at one time made the county of Bancroft.
OF IOWA 337
It was named for General M. M. Crocker of Iowa, a distin- guished officer of the Civil War. The county-seat was located at Greenwood and the organization was completed in October, 1870, by the election of the following officers: George V. Davis, auditor; Cyrus Hawks, clerk; William Gibbon, treasurer; A. J, Garfield, recorder; J. H. Coffin, sheriff; Sarah A. Littlefield, superintendent of schools.
In December, 1871, the Supreme Court of Iowa declared the act creating this county a violation of the Constitution, which in article eleven declares that no new county shall be created which contains less than four hundred thirty- two square miles. Crocker County thus ceased to exist from and after the rendition of that decision and its ter- ritory reverted to Kossuth.
DALLAS COUNTY lies in the fourth tier north of the Missouri State line, in the fifth east of the Missouri River and was formerly included in the county of Keo- kuk. On the 17th of January, 1846, the county was cre- ated and named for George M. Dallas, then Vice-President of the United States. It contains sixteen congressional townships with an area of five hundred eighty-eight square miles. The Indians continued to occupy the county until the beginning of the year 1846 and soon after it was opened to settlement by whites.
On the 12th of March, 1846, Samuel Miller took a claim in the central part of the county near the Raccoon River and built a cabin. Soon after Wilson Miller, John Wright, Levi A. Davis and others made claims in the fine groves in that vicinity. During the year many settlers came to different parts of the county and opened farms. Samuel Miller built the first mill in that region which was run by horse power.
The county was organized in February, 1847, and com- missioners chosen to locate the county-seat. They selected a site in May, a town was laid out and named Panouch, a word of Indian origin. The claim upon which the town
[Vol. 3]
338 HISTORY
was platted had been taken in 1846 by Elijah T. Miller of which he conveyed a part to the county. S. K. Scovell, the clerk of the county, built the first house for an office and Benjamin Green opened the first store. The first term of court was held by Judge Carlton in September, 1847. In 1849 the name of the town was changed to Adel. The first newspaper was established in 1856byRippey and Reed and named the Ship of State. The Des Moines Valley Railroad was constructed through the county from the southeast during 1869-70 and several towns were laid out on its line. Among them were Dallas Center and Perry, the latter the largest town in the county. Redfield, laid out on the Raccoon River, was established by Colonel James Redfield who was killed in the Civil War.
Upon the organization of Dallas County the following officers were chosen: Samuel Miller, clerk; L. A. Davis, recorder and treasurer; J. K. Miller, sheriff, and W. W. Miller, surveyor.
DAVIS COUNTY is in the third tier west of the Missis- sippi River on the south line of the State and embraces an area of five hundred three square miles, as the southern tier of townships is divided by the State line. It was formerly included in the original county of Demoine and afterwards in Van Buren but was created with its pres- ent boundaries in 1844 and named for Garret Davis a Kentucky statesman.
As early as 1837 hunters and trappers built cabins in the southern part of the county long before the Sac and Fox Indians had been removed. In 1837 James H. Jor- don established a trading post among these Indians on the banks of the Des Moines River in the northeast cor- ner of the county. Van Caldwell and others located near him in 1839-40. In 1842 a post-office was established in the county on the extreme western limits of the Black Hawk Purchase, at a point called Fox, with S. A. Evans as postmaster.
OF IOWA 339
The county was organized in 1844 by the election of the following officers : S. W. McAtee, W. D. Evans and Abra- ham Weaver, commissioners; Calvin Taylor, treasurer; Israel Kister, recorder ; F. C. Humble, sheriff, and Frank- lin Street, clerk. The county-seat was located at Bloom- field and the first term of court was held in September, 1844, with Judge Charles Mason presiding. James H. Cowles had, in 1846, entered the land upon which Bloom- field was located and conveyed it to the commissioners who had there established the county-seat. The town was platted the same summer and a post-office secured. The first merchant in the new town was John Lucas who had taken a claim adjoining it in 1844, upon which he had built a log cabin occupied by his family and used also for his store. Hosea B. Horn built the first frame house in Bloom- field in 1849. In 1854 the first newspaper was started by George Johnson named the Western Gazette.
DECATUR COUNTY lies on the south line of the State and in the fifth tier east of the Missouri River. It em- braces an area of five hundred thirty-four square miles, was taken from the original county of Demoine and in January, 1846, established with present boundaries. The county was named for Commodore Stephen Decatur a dis- tinguished naval officer in the War of 1812.
The first settlers were William Hamilton, Eeuben and James Hatfield, Alfred Stanley, John McDaniel, John E. Logan and Allen Scott who came from 1838 to 1840, sup- posing they were settling in Missouri. A number of them brought slaves which were held by them until it was de- cided that they could not hold them as such in Iowa.
The county was organized on the 1st of April, 1850, by the election of the following officers: Josiah Morgan, William Hamilton and Asa Burrill, commissioners ; Henry B. Norton, clerk; J. J. Stanley, sheriff. On the 21st of July, 1851, the county-seat was located by commissioners chosen for that purpose at a place which was named De-
340 HISTORY
catur. W. Westcoat was employed to survey and plat the town and a sale of lots was held in August, 1851. A log court-house was built in October. The first session of court was held in the log cabin of Daniel Moat in May, 1851, at which Judge McKay presided. In 1853 the county-seat was ordered by vote of the people to a more central location, where a town was laid out and named Independence. A new court-house was built of brick ; and, by act of the Legislature in 1854, the name of the new county-seat was changed to Leon. A claim had been made by Thomas East and a log cabin built on the ground where Leon stands before it was chosen for the county-seat. The next house was built by Judge S. C. Thompson soon after the town was platted. I. N. Clark opened the first store in September, 1853. The first newspaper in the county was the Leon Pioneer, established in 1855 by P. H. and George Binkley.
DELAWARE COUNTY is the second west of the Mis- sissippi River in the third tier south of the Minnesota line and contains sixteen townships embracing an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. It was named for the State of Delaware and was created on the 21st of De- cember, 1837, and at that time attached to Dubuque.
In the summer of 1836, William Bennett, the first set- tler, made a claim in a grove in the limits of the county and built a log cabin. The place was afterwards known as Eagle Grove. The next summer two brothers named Livingston, Hugh Rose and others, all Scotch, moved from the Red River country and settled in Delaware County at a place which became known as Scotch Grove. Early in 1838 Joel Bailey and John Keeler settled on the banks of the Maquoketa River and opened farms. The place took the name of Bailey's Ford. The county was or- ganized in August, 1841, by the election of the following oflBcers: W. H. Whiteside, Daniel Brown and William Eads, county commissioners, and Le Roy Jackson, sheriff.
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The county-seat was located at this election and a town laid out by Joel Bailey on the ground chosen on the 5th of April, 1842, which was named Delhi. The following summer Charles H. Hobbs built a log cabin on the town site and for two years he and his family were the only inhabitants of Delhi. A post-office was established and Mrs. Hobbs was the postmistress, keeping the office at her home. In the spring of 1845 John W. Clark, A. K. Eaton, "William Phillips, Thomas Norris and Joseph Mitchell came with their families to Delhi. In 1844 the citizens assembled from the various settlements, cut trees, hewed and drew the logs to a high point overlooking Silver Lake and built a court-house eighteen by twenty-four feet in size and two stories high. The first term of court had been held before the court-house was built in September, 1844, at which Judge T. S. Wilson presided. Miss Koxy Brown taught the first school in the court-house in the summer of 1846. The first settlement in the vicinity of Manchester was made in 1850 by a Norwegian who built a cabin and opened a farm. In 1855 the claim was pur- chased by Allan Love who in company with 0. P. Eeeves and L. Burrington projected a town. In 1856 it was sold to the Iowa Land Company which resurveyed and platted the town of Manchester. In 1850 the town of Hopkinton was laid out by William Nicholson, on ground which he had taken in 1838. Lenox College was established here in the same year by the Presbyterians. In 1853 the first newspaper was established in the county by Datus E. Coon and named the Delhi Argus. When the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad was extended through the county it ran three miles north of Delhi, which was a fatal blow, as Manchester secured the railroad and eventually the county-seat.
DES MOINES COUNTY as first established inl834 em- braced nearly one-half of the territory of the future State of Iowa. But in December, 1836, the counties of Lee,
342 HISTORY
Van Buren, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine and Cook were cre- ated from territory within its limits. It was named for the Des Moines River and in January, 1838, was reduced to nearly its present boundaries, lying on the Mississippi River in the second tier north of the Missouri State line. It has an area of but four hundred thirteen square miles. An account of the early settlements of Burlington and this county will be found elsewhere.
DICKINSON COUNTY Hes along the Minnesota line in the third tier east of the western boundary of the State. It is one of the smallest of counties containing but four hun- dred five square miles, was originally a part of Fayette but in 1851 was created with its present boundaries and first attached to Polk. The county was named for Daniel S. Dickinson, a distinguished New York statesman and contains several of the most beautiful lakes in the west, among which are East and West Okoboji, Spirit Lake, Sil- ver Lake and Swan Lake. It is estimated that the lakes in the county cover an area of about fifty square miles. A history of the first settlements and their extermination by the Sioux Indians is given in another place.
In the year 1857, after the massacre, other settlers came to the county and made homes about the lakes. Among them were R. A. Smith, Dr. J. S. Prescott, B. F. Parmenter, R. U. Wheelock, 0. C. Howe, Henry Barkman, Morris Markham and George E. Spencer. In 1857 a town was laid out on the peninsula, formed by Spirit Lake and East Okoboji, by George E. Spencer, 0. C. Howe and B. F. Parmenter and named Spirit Lake; this became the county-seat. The first officers of the county were elected in 1857, as follows: Judge, 0. C. Howe; recorder and treasurer, M. A. Blanchard ; clerk of District Court, R. A. Smith; sheriff, C. F. Hill; prosecuting attorney, B. F. Parmenter. In August, 1870, Orson Rice established the Spirit Lake Beacon, the first newspaper in the county, at the county-seat. The editor was A. W. Osborne and the
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OF IOWA 343
paper was printed the first year at the office of the North- ern Vindicator, at Estherville in Emmet County.
The beauty of the lakes and groves of Dickinson County annually attracts thousands of tourists from a dis- tance during the summer. Hotels, cottages, scores of boats of all classes and other accommodations have made Okoboji and Spirit Lake most delightful summer re- sorts.
DUBUQUE COUNTY as originally established in 1834 embraced more than half of the future State of Iowa but was reduced to its present limits in 1837. It lies on the Mississippi River in the third tier south of the Minnesota line and embraces an area of six hundred one square miles. The county was named for Julien Dubuque, the first white man who made his home within the limits of Iowa. The first election was held in October, 1836, in which the citizens voted for delegate in Congress and members of the Territorial Legislature of Michigan. John King was the first county judge after Iowa Territory was created. Further particulars of the early settlements of the county have been given elsewhere.
EMMET COUNTY, originally included in the limits of Fayette, was created by act of the Legislature in 1851 with its present boundaries and named for the Irish pa- triot Robert Emmet. Its northern boundary is the Min- nesota line, it is the fourth county from the western limits of the State and contains twelve townships embracing an area of four hundred four square miles. East and west branches of the Des Moines River flow southeasterly through the county and it contains several beautiful lakes. In 1856 George and William Granger, R. E. and A. H. Ridley, Henry and Adolphus Jenkins, Jesse Coverdale and D. W. Hoyt made claims in the vicinity of a beautiful grove where Estherville stands. A strong stockade was built near the river in 1857 to protect the settlers from the
344 HISTORY
Sioux Indians and a company of soldiers was stationed there. In 1858 a town was laid out by Adolphus Jenkins, R. E. Ridley and Jesse Coverdale and named Estherville for Esther *A. Ridley, the wife of one of the proprietors, who was the pioneer woman of the settlement and the only one during the first winter. R. E. Ridley built the first house in the new town.
The county was organized in February, 1859, and the following officers chosen : Adolphus Jenkins, judge ; Jesse Coverdale, clerk ; R. E. Ridley, treasurer ; and A. H. Rid- ley, sheriff. The county-seat was located at Estherville by L. H. Smith and 0. C. Howe, commissioners, appointed by Judge A. W. Hubbard of Sioux City. The first news- paper was established in 1868 at Estherville by 0. C. Bates and Eaton Northrop and named the Northern Vin- dicator.
FAYETTE COUNTY, as originally established in De- cember, 1837, was the largest county in the United States. It extended to the British Dominions on the north and from the Mississippi River west to the "\A^iite Earth, thus em- bracing nearly all of the present State of Minnesota and all of the Dakotas east of the Missouri and White Earth rivers, making a total area of nearly 140,000 square miles. In 1847 the county was reduced to its present boundaries, lying directly west of Clayton and north of Buchanan. It contains twenty townships embracing an area of seven hundred twenty square miles and was named for the Mar- quis de Lafayette.
An Indian trader named George Culver was the first white man to build a cabin in the county in the spring of 1841, in Illyria township. In 1842 Andrew Hensley came to Fairfield township where he settled with his family. Other families soon after located in various parts of the county. In 1850 it was organized by the election of the following officers: Thomas Woodle, judge; J. W. Neff, sheriff ; J. A. Cook, treasurer, and William Wells, Charles
OF IOWA 345
Sawyer and Jared Taylor, commissioners. Judge Thomas S. Wilson held the first term of court in July, 1852, at West Union. This town was laid out in the fall of 1849 by William Wells, J. W. Kogers and Jacob L. Brand. The first house was built by J. W. Rogers the same year. In 1850 a post-office was secured and Mr. Rogers was ap- pointed postmaster. A store was opened by Daniel Cook and a log school-house was built in which a school was opened by J. S. Pence. In 1851 West Union was made the county-seat by a vote of the people. In 1853 an effort was made to move the county-seat but at an election a ma- jority decided it should remain at West Union. On the 21st of October John Gharky issued the first number of a weekly newspaper named the Fayette County Pioneer.
The first settler on the site of the town of Fayette was a man by the name of Mullican who took a claim in 1846 and sold it in 1849 to Robert Alexander. In 1850-51 a settlement was made a mile west of the Alexander farm where a town was laid out and named Westfield by Robert Alexander who had sold the Mullican place. In 1856 Samuel H. Robertson who owned the Mullican farm laid out a town upon it which he named Fayette. For several years there was a sharp rivalry between the two towns but eventually Fayette became the larger and the Upper Iowa University was located there.
The first settlement at Clermont was made in the spring of 1849 by Andrew Moats, John Thompson purchased large tracts of land on each side of Turkey River as soon as they came into market and laid out a town which he named Norway, afterwards changed to Clermont. In 1872 the Burlington and Cedar Rapids Railroad was built into the county.
FLOYD COUNTY lies in the second tier south of the Minnesota line, and in the fourth west of the Mississippi River. It contains an area of five hundred four square miles and was named for William Floyd, one of the sign-
346 HISTORY
ers of the Declaration of Independence from the State of New York. Flovd was at one time included in the old county of Fayette, but was made a separate county in 1851. "When first established the north line was three miles north of the present northern boundary which was fixed July 1, 1855.
In 1850 Joseph Kelley ascended the Cedar valley to the old village of the "Winnebago Indians, which had stood in a large forest. Here Kelley staked out a claim where Charles City now stands. Jerome Watson the same year took a claim farther down the river. Soon after C. P. Burroughs, Joseph Hewett and H. M. Brown took claims six miles above Kelley 's near the river. In the summer of 1853 Mr. Kelley platted a town on his land and named it St. Charles for his eldest son. In 1854 he built a log house on the town plat and also constructed a dam across the river and erected a saw mill. Soon after he changed the name to Charles City.
The county was organized in August, 1854. by the elec- tion of the following officers: John M. Hunt, judge; S. C. Goddard, clerk; David Wiltse, prosecuting attorney; William Montgomery, sheriff; C. M. Burroughs, school fund commissioner, and D. B. Mead, superintendent of schools. Charles City was made the county-seat as soon as the organization was completed and several attempts were made to secure its removal which were not success- ful.
The first newspaper established was the Charles City Intelligencer, the first number of which was issued on the 31st of July, 1856, by A. B. F. Hildreth and D. D. W. Carver. In July, 1855, the town of Floyd was laid out about six miles north of Charles City by James Griffith and Henry Tatum. Here the first bridge across the Ce- dar River was built. The town of Rockford was laid out on the banks of the Shellrock River in the western part of the county in June, 1856, by men from Rockford, Illinois.
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OF IOWA 347
The first railroad built through the county was the Mil- waukee and St. Paul, running from east to west.
FOX COUNTY was created by act of the General As- sembly in 1851 and named for the Fox Indians. It was attached to Polk County but never organized under that name. In January, 1853, the name was changed to Cal- houn.
FRANKLIN COUNTY lies in the third tier south of Minnesota and in the fifth west of the Mississippi River. It contains sixteen townships making an area of five hun- dred seventy-six square miles, and was named for Ben- jamin Franklin of Revolutionary fame. The county was created in 1851 and attached to Chickasaw for judicial and election purposes.
In October, 1852, James B. Reeves, John Mayne and Addison Phelps made claims near a creek in the eastern part of the county where they found a fine body of tim- ber. The grove and creek were named for Mr. Mayne. The following year Dr. Aldrich took a claim and built a cabin near where Ackley stands. He sold the claim to Thomas Downs who was frozen to death in 1855 by a fierce blizzard which overtook him while crossing an un- settled prairie. During the summer and fall of 1852 sev- eral families made claims along Mayne Creek. In 1853 B. F. White settled near the Iowa River in the western part of the county. In 1854 a report reached the scat- tered settlers that a band of three hundred hostile In- dians was approaching and the families fled for protection to Beaver Grove in Butler County. Upon their return their property was found unmolested. The first school in the county was taught by Mrs. H. J. Mitchell in 1854 in a log cabin at Maynes Grove.
At the August election in 1855 the county was organ- ized by the choice of the following officers: James B. Reeves, judge; S. R. Mitchell, clerk; Isaac Miller, treas-
348 HISTORY
urer; and Soloman Staley, sheriff. The first county seat was located by the Commissioners about two miles north of Hampton. On the 7th of April, 1856, the citizens at an election voted to move it to the new town of Benjamin which had been laid out in June, 1856. The name was soon after changed to Hampton which became the per- manent county-seat. The first settler in the new town was James Thompson who moved from Vinton early in 1856. Job Gardner and George Ryan donated to the county the undivided half of eighty acres of land upon which Hamp- ton was located in order to secure the county-seat. The first newspaper was the Franklin Record which was es- tablished by Stephen M. Jones and M. S. Bowman at Hampton in 1859. The Illinois Central Railroad touches the county on the south while the Iowa Central runs through from south to north.
FREMONT COUNTY lies in the extreme southwest cor- ner of the State and is bounded on the south by Missouri and on the west by the Missouri River. It contains an area of five hundred nine square miles. The county was created in 1847 and named for Colonel John C. Fremont, a famous explorer of the Rocky Mountain region and an officer in the Mexican War.
The first settlements were made within its limits as early as 1840 when the southern townships were claimed by Missouri. James Cornelius, Daniel McKissick, Thomas Farmer, David M. English and others settled in that part of the county at McKissick's Grove prior to 1842. A. M. Hitchcock was one of the early settlers near Sidney where he kept a public house. Major Stephen Cooper was one of the pioneers in the vicinity of Bartlett and at one time a member of the Missouri Legislature. In 1848 several families from Oberlin, Ohio, settled on the east bank of the Missouri River five miles above Nebraska City with the intention of founding a college; but the floods overflowed their lands and they moved to where
OF IOWA 349
Tabor now stands. Eev. John Todd was one of the found- ers of the college which was there established in 1857.
The county was organized in 1850 by the election of the following officers : Thomas Greenwood, judge ; A. H. Ar- gyle, treasurer and recorder ; J. S. Jones, prosecuting at- torney; Milton Eichards, clerk of court; and Tilden M. Buckham, sheriff. Among the earliest settlers in the southern part of the county were John Gordon, James Applegate and Dr. David Lincoln. The first term of the District Court was held in 1850 by Judge William McKay in a log cabin at McKissick's Grove where a town had been platted, named Austin. The town of Sidney was laid out in 1851 on land belonging to Judge Thomas Green- wood. J. J. Singleton opened a store the same year and S. T. Crowell built and kept the first public house. Ham- burg was laid out in 1857 by Augustus Borcher, a young German, who had settled there to trade with the Indians. He named it for his native city in the old country. In May, 1851, the county-seat was located at Sidney and in 1863 the Sidney Union, a weekly newspaper, was started there by L. J. Easton. The Kansas City and Council Bluffs Railroad was built through the county from north to south in 1867-8.
GREENE COUNTY was created in 1851 from territory at one time belonging to Benton. It lies in the fifth tier south of Minnesota and in the fourth east of the Mis- souri River and contains sixteen townships making an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. The county was named for General Nathaniel Greene of the American Revolution and was first attached to Polk. The North Raccoon River flows through it in a southeasterly direction with heavy timber along its banks.
Truman Davis was the first settler in the county; tak- ing a claim in 1849 near where Rippey stands. Enos But- trick located near the mouth of Buttrick's Creek and Rich- ard Hardin, at Hardin's Creek, the same year. In 1850-
350 HISTORY
51 E. W. Babb, William Crumley, Josiah Bluncett, Thomas Greenup, John Barr and others settled along the Raccoon River.
The county was organized in 1854 by the election of the following officers: William Phillips, judge; S. G. Crum- ley, clerk; James H. Phillips, recorder and treasurer; Isaac D. Crumley, sheriff, and N. S. Daniels, prosecuting attorney.
The town of Jefferson was laid out on the banks of the Raccoon River in 1854 and named for the author of the Declaration of Independence. It was made the county-seat and the first house was built by G. S. Walton in June, 1855. The first term of court was held by Judge C. J. McFarland in May, 1856. It was ten years before a newspaper was started. In 1866 M. L. and H. Money es- tablished the Jefferson Bee. The Chicago Northwestern Railroad was built through the county from east to west in 1868. The town of Grand Junction was laid out at the point where the Des Moines Valley Railroad crosses the line of the Northwestern.
GRIMES COUNTY was created by act of the Sixteenth General Assembly in 1876, embracing twelve townships lying in ranges thirty-eight, thirty-nine and forty in Potta- wattamie County. The act provided in compliance with a provision of the Constitution, that the proposition should be submitted to a vote of the electors in Potta- wattamie County at the general election of 1876. The division of the county was defeated at that election and the new county was never organized. It was named for Ex-Governor James W. Grimes, for many years a distin- guished member of the United States Senate.
GRUNDY COUNTY lies in the fourth tier south of the Minnesota line in the fifth west of the Mississippi River and contains five hundred four square miles. It was created in 1851 from territory formerly belonging to Benton and
OF IOWA 351
Buchanan counties and was named for Felix Grundy, a prominent citizen of Tennessee. The county contains no large streams and but little native timber but consists of a vast stretch of prairie of great fertility.
On the 4th of October, 1853, William D. Peck made a claim in the northeastern part of the county, now Franklin township. About two weeks later John Freel took a claim on Black Hawk Creek in the southeastern part of the county and built a log cabin. Thomas G. Hoxie made the first settlement in the vicinity of Grundy Center in 1855. C. F. Clarkson was the pioneer settler in the western part of the county where he built a house and established his fam- ily in May, 1855.
The county was organized in 1856 by the election of the following officers: A. W. Lawrence, judge; Thomas G. Copp, treasurer ; T. G. Hoxie, sheriff ; Elias Marble, clerk, and C. F. Clarkson, prosecuting attorney. The county- seat was located at Grundy Center in 1856 and the first term of the District Court was held in 1857 in a log house at which Judge J. D. Thompson presided. In 1861 a weekly newspaper was established by W. H. Hartman and J. M. Chaffee, named The Pioneer. The Burlington and Cedar Rapids Railroad runs in a northwesterly direction through the county and Grundy Center.
GUTHRIE COUNTY was at one time a part of the original county of Keokuk and was created in 1851. It con- tains sixteen townships embracing an area of five hundred ninety-three square miles, and lies in the fourth tier east of the Missouri River and in the fourth north of the State of Missouri. The county was named in memory of Ed- win Guthrie who was captain of the only company Iowa furnished for the Mexican War. He was mortally wounded in battle and his name was given to this county through the influence of his friend Theophilus Bryan.
In 1848 John Nevins made a claim and built a log cabin in what is now Jackson township. Other settlers came
352 HISTORY
during the next two years and in July, 1851, Theophilus Bryan was appointed sheriff to organize the county gov- ernment. At the first election the following officers were chosen : Theophilus Bryan, judge ; Silas G. Weeks, clerk ; Thomas M. Boyles, treasurer ; Michael Messenger, sheriff, and William Carson, prosecuting attorney. The county- seat was named Panora.
When first created the eastern and western bounda- ries of the county were six miles east of the present lines. The first term of court was held by Judge McFarland in 1854. In December, 1855, William Tracy established a weekly newspaper at Panora called the Western Pioneer. During the same year a town was laid out near the geo- graphical center of the county and named Guthrie Center. In 1859 it became the county-seat which was two years later removed to Panora but in 1873 again removed to Guthrie Center where it has remained. The county is traversed by the south and middle branches of the Raccoon River and its surface is for the most part rolling with a good supply of native timber. The Rock Island Railroad tra- verses the southern part of the county, the Des Moines Northern the eastern and the Milwaukee the northern townships.
HAMILTON COUNTY lies in the fourth tier south of Minnesota and in the sixth east of the Missouri River. When first created in 1851 the county was named Risley. The Fourth General Assembly changed the name to Web- ster. At the same session Webster County was enlarged by consolidating it with Yell County which joined it on the west. In 1857 Hamilton County was created by taking from Webster the territory on the east formerly embraced in Risley. It was named for W. W. Hamilton, then presi- dent of the State Senate. The new county of Hamilton contained sixteen congressional townships making an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. Webster City was made the county-seat.
OF IOWA 353
Wilson Brewer and Nathan and William Stanley were the first settlers within the limits of the county; they made claims on the Boone Elver in November, 1850, where Brewer and William Frake laid out a town which they named Newcastle. In 1851 Peter Lyon, Isaac Hook, S. Bell and Jacob Crooks settled along the Boone River. The first school was taught by John Hancock in a log cabin three miles north of Newcastle in the winter of 1854.
The first store in the county was opened by Isaac Hook in 1852 near the Des Moines River, at a place called Hook's Point. The first physician was Dr. H. Corbin who located at Homer which was the county-seat of Webster when it embraced the present counties of Hamilton, Web- ster and a part of Humboldt and was at that time one of the best and most promising towns in northern Iowa. The division of the county, however, ruined its prospects. The county-seat was lost and for many years it was a deserted village fast going to decay. In 1856 Brewer and Frake sold their interest in Newcastle to Walter C. and Sumler Wilson who changed the name to Webster City.
In 1857 the county was organized by the election of the following officers : John D. Maxwell, judge ; Cyrus Smith, treasurer; Charles Leonard, sheriff. The first newspaper was established in June, 1857, by Charles Aldrich and named the Hamilton Freeman. The Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad was built through the county from east to west on the line of Webster City.
HANCOCK COUNTY was created in 1851 from terri- tory formerly embraced in Fayette and was attached to Boone in 1853. It lies in the second tier south of Minnesota in the sixth west of the Mississippi River and was named for John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress. Several tributaries of the Iowa River take their rise in the county and the east fork flows through the east side. A number of small lakes are found in various sections,
[Vol. 3]
354 HISTORY
among which are Twin Lakes, Crystal Lake and Eagle Lake.
On the 9th of September, 1854, Anson Avery made a claim at Upper Grove and in October, George Nelson located near him. The following year Reuben and Orick Church, Thomas and Malcom Magill and Benoni Haskins joined the settlement. In September, 1855, John Mabin and Jacob Ward settled in a grove on Lime Creek near Ellington. The first settlers at Crystal Lake were Edwin Trumbull and Myron Booth who arrived in 1865.
The county contains sixteen townships, making an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles, and was organ- ized in June, 1858, by the election of the following officers : R. P. Rosecrans, judge; George Loupee, clerk; Reuben Church, treasurer, and Benoni Haskins, sheriff. On the 4th of November, 1865, John I. Pope joy and James Goodwin were appointed commissioners to select a site for the county-seat. They located it where Concord now stands. A tract of land was donated to the county by Thomas Seymour and in May, 1867, was platted and named Concord. Previous to the selection of Concord the county business had been transacted at Ellington, where in 1860 W. E. Tucker and Mr. Tobin had established a newspaper named the Hancock Sentinel. A brick court- house was built at Concord in 1868. The Milwaukee Rail- road was built through the county in 1869-70, running a mile north of Concord, where in July, 1870, John Mabin laid out a town named Garner. Britt is a flourishing town on this road near the middle of the county. In the south- east part of the county the town of Goodell is located on the line of the Cedar Rapids Railroad.
HARDIN COUNTY lies in the fourth tier south of Min- nesota and midway between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. It is twenty-four miles square and contains an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. The county was created in 1851 and named for Colonel John J. Har-
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OF IOWA 355
din of Elinois who was killed iq the Mexican War. The Iowa Eiver flows through the county from the northwest in a southeasterly direction furnishing water power and along its banks are found borders of woods and excellent stone quarries.
The first settlement was made by Greenbury Haggins who came with his family from Keokuk County in 1849 and made a claim on the Iowa River in the southeast corner of the county. During the next season Samuel Smith, James A. Dawdey, William Robinson and Abra- ham Grimsley came with their families and settled in the same vicinity. In the fall of 1850 Jacob Kidwiler made a claim about ten miles above Eldora. The next settlement was made in the vicinity of Iowa Falls by B. I. Talbott and family. In 1851 several families of Quakers settled on Honey Creek in the southern part of the county. Dur- ing the same year Isaac S. Moore, James Miller, Thomas Benedict and others settled on the north fork of the Iowa River where they laid out a town called Point Pleasant. In January, 1853, Jonathan and Samuel Edgington set- tled near Eldora. The county entered the land where El- dora was located in June, 1853, for the county-seat. In 1853 the Edgington Brothers opened a store on the new town site. During the same year mills were built at Har- din City and Iowa Falls.
The county was organized in February, 1853, by the election of the following officers : Alexander Smith, judge ; James D. Putnam, clerk; Samuel Smith, recorder and treasurer; Thomas Bennett, sheriff, and William Shafer, school fund commissioner.
The first term of District Court was held at Eldora in November, 1854, by Judge C. J. McFarland. In October, 1855, the town of Iowa Falls was laid out in the northern part of the county by J. L. Estis, Homer Stevens and others who emigrated from Kane County, Illinois. The first building in the new town was erected by M. C. Wood- ruff and J. F. Brown the same year. 0. M. Holcomb es-
356 HISTORY
tablished the first newspaper at Eldora in 1856, the Har- din County Sentinel, with J. D. Thompson as editor. A town was laid out in the northeast corner of the comity by J. W. Ackley in 1857 to which he gave his own name. No houses were built until the advent of the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad in 1865 when Ackley began to make a rapid growth. Steamboat Rock was laid out in 1855 on the Iowa River five miles above Eldora. The Central Railroad of Iowa runs through the county from north to south.
HARRISON COUNTY was created in 1851,lying on the Missouri River in the fourth tier north of the Missouri State line. It contains an area of six hundred ninety-five miles and was named for General William H. Harri- son, ninth President of the United States. The valley of the Missouri River on its western border spreads out in level bottom land to the width of from four to ten miles and is of unsurpassed fertility. The Boyer River runs through the county in a southwesterly direction and the Little Sioux crosses its northwest corner. On the 3d of April, 1848, Daniel Brown took a claim on "Willow Creek in a grove near where the village of Calhoun stands. He was robbed by the Indians who plundered his cabin and drove away his horses and cattle. Among the earliest settlers were Silas Condit, two brothers named Chase, James Hardy, Charles Lepenta, Dr. Robert McGovern, Andrew Allen and Jacob Pattee. For several years the early settlers were annoyed by wandering bands of In- dians who came through that region on hunting expe- ditions.
The county was organized in 1853 by the election of the following officers : Stephen King, judge ; P. G. Cooper, treasurer; Chester Hamilton, sheriff; William Cooper, clerk, and John Thomson, school fund commissioner. In March, 1853, the county-seat was located by commissioners near the geographical center of the county where a town
OF IOWA 357
was laid out and named Magnolia. The first term of court was held in May, 1855, by Judge S. H. Riddle in a log house. A newspaper was established in 1858 by Isaac Parish at the town of Calhoun, named the Harrison County Flag; it was the first in the county. The North- western Railroad was constructed through the county fol- lowing down the Boyer valley and in a southwesterly di- rection reaching Council Bluffs in 1868. Dunlap and Lo- gan are towns on this line of road which were laid out in 1867. Missouri Valley is at the junction of the Sioux City and Pacific Railroad with the Northwestern and was laid out in 1867. Many of the earliest settlers in the county were Mormons who crossed the State in 1846-7 and remained when their brethren continued their journey from Kanesville to Salt Lake.
HENRY COUNTY as first established in December, 1836, from the original county of Demoine, embraced por- tions of the present counties of Lee, Des Moines, Van Bu- ren, Jefferson and Washington. On the 21st of January, 1839, it was established with present boundaries. It lies in the second tier west of the Mississippi River and also in the second north of the Missouri State line, contains an area of four hundred thirty-three square miles and was named for Governor Henry Dodge of Wisconsin Terri- tory, The Skunk River runs through the county in a southwesterly direction.
In the spring of 1834 James Dawson made a claim west of Mt. Pleasant. In the fall of the same year Presley Saunders of Springfield, Illinois, made a claim where Mt. Pleasant is located and the following year made the first plat of the town. In 1837 the Legislature of Wisconsin Territory located the county-seat at Mt. Pleasant. A post- office had been opened the year previous. Among the earliest settlers were Joseph Moore, A. C. Dover, John Wilford, Aaron Street, Jesse Hancock, Rev, W. M. Mor- tow, Rev. Samuel Hutton and Presley Saunders.
358 HISTORY
The county was organized in 1837 when the following officers were elected: Robert C. Roberts, treasurer; W. D. Brown, sheriff, and Robert Caulk, Samuel Brazelton and George J. Sharp, commissioners. The first term of court was held in a log cabin at Mt. Pleasant in April, 1837, at which Judge David Irwin presided. The first house in Mt. Pleasant was built in the fall of 1835 by Jo- seph Moore who opened a store in it. William Thompson was the first mayor of Mt. Pleasant. In 1849 D. M. Kel- sey established the first newspaper called the Iowa Free- man. In and about the town of Salem a large number of families of Quakers settled at an early day. The first insane asylum of the State was located at Mt. Pleasant. The main line of the Burlington and Missouri Railroad runs through the county from east to west.
HOWARD COUNTY lies in the third tier west of the Mississippi River and its northern boundary is the Minne- sota line. It was originally a part of Fayette and as first established in 1851 contained but twelve townships. In 1855, however, the north half of townships ninety-seven, ranges eleven to fourteen were detached from Chickasaw and added to Howard, giving it an area of four hundred seventy-six square miles. The county was named for General T. A. Howard of Indiana.
The first white man who built a cabin within the limits of this county was Hiram Johnson who in December, 1851, settled at Oregon Grove on the Turkey River. In 1854 several families came to Oregon Grove among whom were S. M. Cole, H. S. Shuttleworth, George Scofield, Thomas Lewis and C. M. Munson. This grove is about two miles south of the town of Cresco. Soon after the beginning of this settlement several families located near Cresco. Among them were C. S. Thurber, M. L. Shook, James Sid- dall, M. G. Goss and others. In 1855 other families set- tled on the Little Wapsipinicon.
The county was organized in 1855, electing the follow-
OF IOWA 359
ing officers: James G. Upton, judge; Edmund Gillette, clerk; William Woodward, recorder and treasurer; John Harlow, sheriff, and M. V. Burdick, prosecuting attor- ney. Vernon Springs was the first county-seat and there the first mill was built on the Turkey Eiver by George Sprague in 1853. Mr. Miller opened the first store the following year. Harriet Cole taught the first school in a log cabin at Oregon Grove in 1854. The land upon which Cresco stands was entered in 1853 by one Mr. Barber who built a log cabin in the woods which was purchased by Martin L. Shook in 1854 and was known as Shook 's Grove. In 1866 it was owned by Augustus Beadle, W. M. Strong and B. H. Edgarton who laid out the town of Cresco. Judge Samuel Murdock held the first court in the county at Howard Center in 1857.
In February, 1858, a weekly newspaper was established at New Oregon named the Hoiuard County Sentinel with J. H. Field as editor. The Milwaukee Railroad runs through the northeast part of the county passing through the towns of Cresco and Lime Springs.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY, as first created in 1851, em- braced sixteen townships, including the four northern townships of Webster. In 1855 the General Assembly ap- portioned the territory constituting Humboldt, equally be- tween Kossuth and Webster, and on the 1st of July follow- ing. Humboldt County became extinct. On the 26th of February, 1857, the county was again established with its original boundaries. Through some unexplained manipu- lation of the bill for the restoration of the county it was discovered, that, after its passage and before it reached the Governor for his approval, the south tier of townships had been erased from the act. The next Legislature at- tempted to correct the error but in the meantime the new Constitution had been adopted which provided that county boundaries could not be changed without the consent of a majority of the electors of each county affected. The legal-
360 HISTORY
ity of the act for the correction of the error was attacked in the courts and at the December term of the Supreme Court in 1860 it was decided that the act for correction was in conflict with the Constitution and void. This left Hum- boldt County with but twelve townships.
The county lies in the second tier south of the Minne- sota line, in the fifth east of the Missouri Eiver and contains four hundred thirty-two square miles. It was named for Baron Alexander von Humboldt the German scientist. The east and west forks of the Des Moines River flow through the county from the north and unite near its southern boundary and the Boone River crosses its northeast corner, all affording excellent water power.
The first white man to build a cabin within the limits of the county was the desperado Henry Lott, who in 1852, located on the stream which has been named Lott's Creek. The first permanent settlers were Edward McKnight, Charles Bergk, Soloman Hand, Newton Bowling and E. Hackman who settled on the east fork of the Des Moines River about three miles above the junction of the two branches, in the year 1854. The following year they were joined by J. C. Cusey, George W. and Fletcher Hand, Eber Stone and William Miller with their families. Da- kota City was laid out by Edward McKnight in 1856 and in 1857 was made the county-seat. A mill was built on the river by Bergk and McKnight and a post-office estab- lished with Charles Bergk as postmaster. The Methodists organized a society in 1856.
The county government was established in 1857. The following were the first officers chosen at the August elec- tion in 1857 : Jonathan Hutchison, judge ; J. F. Williams, clerk; Alexander McLane, treasurer; D. H. Nivers, sheriff, and J. S. Ellis, prosecuting attorney. In August, 1860, A. S. White and Charles Bergk issued the first num- ber of a newspaper named the Humboldt County Inde- pendent. In 1863 Rev. S. H. Taft arrived with a colony of some forty persons from central New York, who set-
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362 HISTORY
postmaster in the county serving from 1860 to 1872 at Ida Grove. The old town of Ida Grove was on the north side of the river near the junction of the Odebolt and the Maple. "When the Northwestern Railroad was built in 1877, a new town was laid out on the south side of the Odebolt which also took the name of Ida Grove and became the county-seat. In 1877 the Blair Company laid out the town of Battle Creek on the Maple VaUey branch of the North- western road.
IOWA COUNTY was created in February, 1847, from territory belonging to Keokuk. It lies in the fourth tier west of the Mississippi River, also in the fourth from the south line of the State and is twenty-four miles square containing an area of five hundred eighty-four square miles. It was named for the Iowa River which flows through the northern part of the county.
The first settler within its limits was Edward Ricord in 1837. Linaeas Niles, John Burget and Mr. Cleveland in 1844 made claims near where Homestead now stands. Soon after Robert McKee, R. F. Mason, Amos Crocker, Charles Kitchen, William Downward and Absalom Wash- ington with their families settled along the Iowa River near where Marengo now stands. Edward Ricard built the first house in the county in 1844 in a grove on Old Man's Creek in the south part of the county.
In 1843 representatives of a German community se- lected a large tract of land in Iowa County for the pur- pose of planting a colony called the Amana Society. The members hold peculiar religious views in some respects similar to the Quakers. They own most of the land in Amana township, which is held in common and the busi- ness is conducted by persons chosen for that purpose at annual elections. They are divided into seven settlements where they have stores, shops, mills and factories. Many of their dwellings are large and each occupied by several families. The county was organized in 1847 and the fol-
STLiAMIttiAT HOCK OX MAQUOKIOTA UIVKU
OF IOWA 363
lowing officers were chosen: Lewis Lansing, treasurer; G. W. Kitchen, recorder; A. D. Stephens, probate judge; A. P. Kitchen, sheriff.
Commissioners selected a site for the county-seat on the banks of the Iowa River and caused a town to be platted which was named Marengo. William Downward built the first house in the new town and, in company with H. H. Hull, opened the first store. Robert McKee was appointed postmaster and Mr. Klrkpatrick opened a pub- lic house. The Methodists organized the first church in 1848. In 1859 the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad was built to Marengo which was the terminus for several years. The town of Victor is on this railroad in the west- ern part of the county. In 1856 Clinton Edwards estab- lished a newspaper at the county-seat named the Marengo Visitor. The first court was held by Judge J. P. Carlton at the house of H. H. Hill in May, 1847.
JACKSON COUNTY lies immediately south of Du- buque on the west shore of the Mississippi River. It was created in 1837 from the territory originally embraced in Dubuque County and named for General Andrew Jackson. The county contains an area of six hundred thirty-eight square miles and large tracts of native woodland lie well distributed over the county. The Maquoketa River runs from west to east with several large tributaries. The first settlers came in as soon as the Indian title was ex- tinguished and took claims along the Maquoketa River.
Among the earliest pioneers were William Jones, James Armstrong, Alexander Reed, Thomas Nicholson, David Dias and his sons. They built cabins in the forests and cleared the timber for farms near the Mississippi in the vicinity of Bellevue. James McCabe, Nicholas Carroll, Arthur Mullen and Anson Newberry made claims near Sabula. At the time the county was created it had a popu- lation of two hundred forty-four. J. E. Goodenow, in the spring of 1838, took a claim, built a cabin and the next
364 HISTORY
year laid out a town which he named Springfield and a few houses were built. But in the winter of 1856 Mr. Goodenow in company with A. Spaulding and Z. Liver- more platted a large tract of land owned by them embrac- ing that upon which Springfield had been laid out and gave the new town the name of Maquoketa. John Shaw purchased a claim now in the limits of Maquoketa, in 1837, and removed to it in 1841. The first store was opened by S. M. Marr in 1844. In 1837 John Kindley took a claim and built a cabin at Andrew. The county was or- ganized April 2d, 1838, by the election of the following officers: commissioners, William Jones, J. Leonard and William Morden ; treasurer, John Sublett ; probate judge, J. K. Moses ; clerk, J. H. Rose ; recorder, John Howe.
A movement was made to secure the county-seat to the new town of Andrew laid out on Hindlej'-'s farm. Com- missioners were appointed to relocate the county-seat and they selected Andrew in 1841. In 1845 a weekly news- paper was started there by M. H. Clark and Andrew Keesecker, with Ansel Briggs editor. In 1851 the county- seat was again removed to Bellevue, and in 1861 it was again transferred to Andrew. In 1873 it was moved to Maquoketa where it has since remained. In the fall of 1835 John D. Bell made a claim, built a cabin, laid out a town and gave it the name of Bellevue. It was a beautiful site on the bank of the Mississippi River and protected on the north and west by a semi-circle of wooded bluffs. A hotel was built the following year by Peter Dutell. In 1837 Bellevue was made the county-seat.
In early daj^s desperadoes settled in the Big Woods along the Maquoketa. They had confederates in Illinois and Missouri at points along the Mississippi River and for a time Bellevue appeared to be their headquarters. Horse stealing and passing counterfeit money were their chief crimes though they did not hesitate to commit mur- der when attempts to arrest them were made. In the spring of 1840, after a series of desperate conflicts be-
OF IOWA 365
tween the criminals and tlie sheriff's posse under the di- rection of Captain W. A. Warren, known as the ''Bellevue war," the gang was broken up and twelve of the number captured.
The county was organized April 2d, 1838, by the elec- tion of the following officers: county commissioners, William Jones, J, Leonard and William Morden; John Howe, recorder; J. K. Morse, probate judge; John Sub- lett, treasurer; and J. H. Rose, clerk.
Sabula is a thriving town on the Mississippi River in the southeast corner of the county. The Milwaukee Railroad follows the valley of the Mississippi through the eastern part of the county.
JASPER COUNTY lies in the sixth tier west of the Mississippi River and in the fourth north of the Mis- souri line. It contains twenty townships, embracing an area of seven hundred thirty square miles and was cre- ated in January, 1840, from territory formerly included in the original county of Keokuk. It was named for Ser- geant William Jasper of the Revolutionary War. Powe- shiek, a noted Fox chief, had his principal village in this county on Indian Creek and a smaller one a mile west of Newton.
A portion of the county was opened to settlement in May, 1843, and the remainder in October, 1845. William Highland and family were the first white settlers who, in May, 1843, took a claim in a grove near Monroe. A few months later Adam M. Toole, John Frost and John Vance located in the same vicinity which became known as Tool's Point. In 1845 settlements were made on Clear Creek by Mr. Ejiitz at Hixon's Grove by Jacob Bennett and on the site of Newton by Ballinger Adeloytte.
In April, 1846, a county government was organized by the election of the following officers: J. R. Sparks, Manley Gifford and Jacob Bennett, commissioners; J. H. Franklin, clerk; J. W. Swann, treasurer; David Ed-
366 HISTORY
mundson, sheriff ; Seth Hammer, recorder ; and W. Flee- ner, probate judge. The comity-seat was located by com- missioners in July, 1846, at a central place where a town was laid out and named Newton City. A rude log build- ing was erected for a court-house in which Judge Joseph Williams of Muscatine held the first term of court. The first store in the county was opened at Tool's Point by Daniel Hiskey in 1851. The first school was taught by William E. Smith at Elk Creek settlement in the winter of 1848.
In 1850 commissioners chosen by the General Assembly to select a site for the permanent Capital of the State de- cided on a tract of prairie four miles northwest of Toole 's Point. A sale of lots was held but the State refused to make it the Capital and the plat was eventually vacated and used for farms. Monroe was laid out at Toole's Point by David Hiskey in 1856 and has grown into a flourishing town. Prairie City was platted in 1856 by James Elliott and was first named Elliott. Kellogg, which was first called Jasper City, was laid out in September, 1865, by Enos Blair and A. W. Adair. Colfax, on the Skunk Eiver, was named for Schuyler Colfax, Vice-Presi- dent of the United States, and has long been famous for its mineral springs. The Neivton Free Press was a weekly newspaper established in 1859 by the Campbell brothers. The main line of the Rock Island Railroad runs from east to west, while the Keokuk division runs through the western part of the county.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, originally a part of Demoine, was established in January, 1839. It is the third county west of the Mississippi River in the second tier north of the Missouri State line and contains twelve townships, embracing an area of four hundred thirty-two square miles. It was named for Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. The county-seat was lo- cated in March, 1839, where a town was laid out and
OF IOWA 367
named Fairfield. The county was organized by the elec- tion of the following officers: J. J. Smith, Daniel Seares and B. F. Chatlin, county commissioners ; John A. Pizer, clerk ; J. W. Sullivan, treasurer ; James Sanders, re- corder.
The first settlement had been made in the spring of 1836 by James Lanman, Amos Lemon, George Stout, Al- fred Wright and others who took claims in the eastern part of the county. The first term of court was held by Judge Joseph Williams in August, 1839. A court-house was built in the fall of the same year and a jail was built in 1841. The first house in the town was erected by Henry B. Notson in the spring of 1839. The United States Land Office was removed from Burlington to Fairfield in 1842. The first store was opened by William Hutson immedi- ately after the town was platted and a tavern was kept in a log cabin with but one room and a loft, by Thomas Dickey. Miss Clarisa Sawyer taught the first school in a log cabin in the spring of 1839. On the 12th of June, 1847, the first number of a weekly newspaper was issued by A. R. Sparks, called the Iowa Sentinel.
The State Agricultural Society was organized at Fair- field on the 28th of December, 1853. Parsons College was located at Fairfield in December, 1874, in consideration of $30,000 donated to the institution by the citizens. The Burlington Railroad traverses the county from east to west.
JOHNSON COUNTY was created in December, 1837, and named for Richard M. Johnson, Vice-President of the United States. It lies in the third tier west of the Mississippi River and in the fourth from the south line of the State, containing an area of six hundred eighteen square miles. The Iowa River flows through it in a south- easterly direction, bordered by fine woodlands and fur- nishing water power.
As early as 1836 John Gilbert, an Indian trader, es-
368 HISTORY
tablished a post on the Iowa River where for several years he carried on traffic with the Indians. Soon after Philip Clarke and John Myers settled near him and opened farms. In 1838 Gilbert and Clarke laid out a town which they named Napoleon and which became the first county- seat. Settlers came rapidly and in the fall of 1838 S. C. Trowbridge received a commission from Governor Lucas to organize the county. He called an election at Gilbert's trading house on the 10th of September at which Henry Felkner, Abner Wolcott and Samuel Sturgis were chosen county commissioners. The first term of court was held at Napoleon in 1839 at which Judge Joseph AVilliams pre- sided. The county-seat remained at Napoleon until the Capital of the State was located at Iowa City when it was moved to that place and the town of Napoleon soon reverted to a farm. The first school was opened by Jesse Berry at Iowa City in 1840. On the 10th of June, 1841, the first number of a weekly newspaper was issued by William Crum and called the lotua Standard which was a supporter of the Whig party. In December of the same year the Iowa Capital Reporter, a Democratic journal, was established by Van Antwerp and Hughes. The first frame house was built in Iowa City by Wesley Jones in 1839 in which he opened a store. Walter Butler the same year built and kept a hotel. Jacob De Forest was the first mayor of the capital city in 1853.
JONES COUNTY was established in December, 1837, from territory belonging to the original county of Du- buque. It lies in the second tier west of the Mississippi River and the fourth south of the Minnesota line. It is twenty-four miles square and contains an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. The county was named for General George W. Jones who, as delegate in Con- gress, secured the creation of the Territory of Iowa, and who was one of the first United States Senators when it became a State. The Wapsipinicon and Maquoketa rivers
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OF IOWA 369
flow through the county in a southeasterly direction and their shores are lined with woodland.
In 1836 Hugh Brown, Moses Collins, John Flynn and Alfred Weatherford made a settlement at Bowen's Prairie in the northeast part of the county. During the same year Daniel Varvel and William Clark made claims and built cabins near Montecello. In 1837 a colony from the Red River of the north emigrated southward and made a set- tlement at Scotch Grove. Among them were Alexander Sutherland, James Brimner, David McCoy and their fam- ilies numbering in all about thirty persons. In 1839 thirty-three of their old neighbors joined the settlement. In 1837-8 a settlement consisting of about thirty persons was made along Farm Creek. Among them were Abra- ham Hostetter, John Rafferty, Charles P. and James Middleton. The first settlers at Buffalo Forks of the Wapsipinicon River were George Russ and Sherebrick Dakin who came from Maine in 1838. Gideon H. Ford came in the fall and bought their claims which included the site of Anamosa. He sold a portion of the tract to Timothy Davis and George H. Walworth who laid out a town which was named Walworth. Three years later a town was laid out west of Walworth which was named Lexington. In 1842 David Wood and Edmund Booth built a frame house where Anamosa stands.
The county was organized in August, 1838. In 1840 a commission chosen by the Legislature located the county- seat near the geographical center of the county and laid out a town which was named Edenburgh. The first term of court was held there the following year by Judge Thomas S. Wilson. In 1845, by a vote of the people, the county seat was removed from Edenburgh to Newport where the only house was a small log cabin. In 1847 the people voted to move the county-seat and it was located at Lexington. The name of this town was soon after changed to Anamosa in honor of a beautiful Indian girl who once lived there and whose father was a chief named Nas-i-nus.
[Vol. 3]
370 HISTORY
The name of the daughter signifies ' * "White Fawn. ' ' The first newspaper in the county was the Anamosa News, published by William Haddock and first issued in Febru- ary, 1852.
Montecello was laid out in September, 1853, by G. H. Walworth and D. Varvel. Branches of the Milwaukee Railroad run through the county. One of the large peni- tentiaries of the State is located at Anamosa where there are extensive stone quarries.
KEOKUK COUNTY as first created in December, 1837, comprised all of townships seventy-seven to eighty- one from the west line of Johnson County to the Missouri River. This immense county was afterwards divided into a number of smaller ones. On the 17th of February, 1843, the present county of Keokuk was created. It lies in the third tier west of the Mississippi River and in the third north of Missouri, is twenty-four miles square and has an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. This county was named for the Sac chief whose name signifies " Watchful Fox." The northern tier of townships was contained in the old county of the same name, while its entire territory was once embraced in the original county of Demoine.
The first white settlers came before the Indian title be- came extinct but no record of their names has been pre- served. Aaron Miller settled in Richland township in the spring of 1838 and was soon followed by William Searcy, John Wasson, Cyrus Jordon and Jacob Wisner. Mr. Griffith took a claim on Clear Creek in 1837, Dr. W. Neeley settled near him in 1838 and in 1839 Harvey Stevens and William Grimsley joined the settlement. Farther up the river at Stillman's Grove Jacob Shaver, Robert Linder, John and William Shaver located in 1843-4.
The county was organized in March, 1844, and the fol- lowing officers chosen: Enos Darnell, J. Hollingsworth
OF IOWA 371
and J. H. Smith, commissioners ; J. M. Waters, judge of probate ; Edom Shugarth, clerk ; W. H. Brown, treasurer ; and George W. Hayes, sheriff. In 1844 the commissioners appointed for that purpose located the county-seat near the geographical center of the county and gave it the name of Sigourney for the well-known author, Lydia H. Si- gourney. Previous to this time the county business had been transacted at a place called Newton, consisting of a log cabin and school-house. Edom Shugarth built the first house in Sigourney in 1844 and in it Judge Williams held his first court in July of that year. A town was soon laid out and a public sale of lots held in October at which but one lot was purchased and that by Joel L. Landreth for twelve dollars. A court-house square was laid off upon which in 1845 a hewed log house twenty by twenty-four feet was built for the use of county officers and courts, at a cost of two hundred eighteen dollars. The first news- paper was the Western Friend established in June, 1854, by J. N. and J. L. Paschal.
The oldest town in the county is Eichland which was laid out by Pryor C. Woodward in 1840. Extensive coal mines have been opened in various parts of the county and the town of What Cheer is in the midst of these coal beds. Numerous railroads furnish excellent shipping facilities.
KISHKEKOSH COUNTY was created in February, 1843, and named for a famous Fox Indian chief. It was organized in July, 1845, when E. S. Rand, Israel Kister and J. A. Galligher were appointed commissioners to lo- cate the county-seat. They chose a site where Albia now stands, and a town was laid out named Princeton.
In May, 1843, John B. Gray went from Burlington into the northeasterly part of the new county, made a claim and built a cabin. James Hilton, James and Josiah Boggs, John and W. G. Clark and James Myers settled in the county a few months later. During the next two years
372 HISTORY
many families arrived and in the summer of 1845 the pre- liminary steps were taken to organize the county govern- ment. In 1844 an election had been held at Clark's Point, two miles northwest of where Albia stands, at which W. G. Clark was chosen justice of the peace. During the same year Mr. Clark laid out a town at Clark's Point named Clarksville. The first election for county officers was held here in August, 1845, at which the following were chosen: W. Ct. Clark, probate judge; James Hilton, clerk; T. Tem- pleton, treasurer ; John Clark, sheriff, and J. M. McMul- len, M. H. Clark and J. S. Bradley, county commissioners. The election was held at John Clark's log cabin where the first term of the District Court was also held in 1845. On the 19th of January, 1846, an election was held to decide upon a permanent county-seat which resulted in favor of Princeton. >.
On the 1st of August, 1846, the name of the county was changed to Monroe and the county of Kishkekosh ceased to exist.
KOSSUTH COUNTY was established in 1851 and named for the Hungarian patriot, Louis Kossuth. When first created it was twenty-four miles square and its northern boundary was on the north line of township ninety-seven, lying immediately south of Bancroft. In January, 1855,'by act of the General Assembly, Bancroft County ceased to exist, its territory having been added to Kossuth as was also the north half of Humboldt. In Feb- ruary, 1857, the townships taken from Humboldt were re- stored to it and Kossuth was left with territory reaching from Humboldt to the Minnesota line. It lies in the fifth tier east of the Missouri River ; is twenty-four miles wide and forty and one-third long, containing nine hundred seventy-seven square miles, making it the largest county in the State. The east fork of the Des Moines River flows through the county to the south and the Blue Earth River flows to the northwest.
OF IOWA 373
The first settlers in the county were Ambrose A. and Asa C. Call who, in July, 1854, took claims along the Des Moines River near where Algona stands. The place was long know as ' ' Call 's Grove. ' ' Later in the year Malachi Clark, Levi Maxwell, William Hill and Soloman Hand, with their families, took claims on the west side of the Des Moines River about four miles below Call's Grove. In January, 1855, W. H. Ingham and Andrew L. Seeley took claims near the river four miles above Call's Grove. In the summer of the same year Jacob Wright, Thomas and John Robinson, W. G. Clark and others settled near where Irvington stands.
In August, 1855, the county was organized by the elec- tion of the following officers : Asa C. Call, judge ; Robert Cogley, clerk; J. W. Moore, recorder and treasurer; H. F. Watson, sheriff, and Lewis H. Smith, surveyor. The county-seat was located on the claim of A. C. Call and named by his wife Algona. Mrs. Call was the first woman to settle in the county. The town of Algona was platted by A. C. Call, A. A. Call and J. W. Moore in April, 1856. The first newspaper was issued in September, 1861, by Ambrose A. Call and was named the Algona Pioneer Press. A flouring-mill was erected on the Des Moines River in 1867 by J. E. Stacy. Lewis H. Smith was the first lawyer in Algona. The first bank was established by W. H. Ingham in 1867.
In the fall of 1870 the Milwaukee Railroad was com- pleted to Algona giving a direct line to the Mississippi River and Chicago. Algona College was established in 1872 under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination. *
LEE COUNTY was first established in 1836 but the boundaries were changed in 1838 and in 1839 its present boundaries were fixed by the Territorial Legislature. On the 18th of January, 1838, the county-seat was located at Fort Madison. The county lies in the extreme southeast
374 HISTORY
corner of the State, the Mississippi Eiver forming the eastern boundary, while the Des Moines River forms the western and part of the southern boundary.
The origin of the name of the county is involved in doubt. It was named in an act of the Legislature of Wis- consin Territory on the 7th of December, 1836. It has been claimed that it was named for Robert E. Lee but when it is remembered that he was an obscure lieutenant in the regular army when the county was named, not hav- ing been in or near that region until 1837, from which time he was an engineer in charge of improvements of the Mississippi until 1841, there is not even a remote prob- ability that he had ever been heard of at Belmont where Lee County was created and named. There was a land speculator from New York operating in the " Half Breed Tract," by the name of Charles Lee, about the time the county was created and it has been supposed that the county might have been named for him. There is no evi- dence to substantiate this supposition. Lieutenant Albert M. Lea had, in 1835, descended the Des Moines River in charge, as engineer, of an exploring party making a sur- vey of its course and rapids. He surveyed and mapped the shore of the Mississippi River in Lee County and above the same year. He was an officer in General Kear- ny *s command at old Fort Des Moines, in Lee County, for some time. In 1836 he became widely Imown as the author of a book and map of the ** Iowa District." This publication made his name familiar to the people of the " Black Hawk Purchase " the year that Lee County was named. Many of the prominent citizens of pioneer times understood and believed that the county was named for Albert M. Lea, who gave the name of " Iowa " to the region which afterwards became the State of Iowa. Lee County has an area of five hundred twelve square miles and an abundant supply of native woodland.
In 1843 the county-seat was removed to West Point where the first term of court was held the same year. In
OF IOWA 375
the fall of 1845 by a vote of the people Fort Madison was again made the county-seat. Commissioners appointed in 1840 had selected a site for the county-seat near the geo- graphical center of the county, where a town was laid out and named Franklin but no buildings were erected and the business of the country was never transacted there. By act of the Legislature of 1855 a court with concurrent jur- isdiction was established at Keokuk where a deputy clerk kept records of the court. A history of early settlements at Fort Madison and Keokuk will be found elsewhere.
LINN COUNTY was created in December, 1837, and named for Lewis F. Linn, United States Senator from Missouri. It lies in the third tier west of the Mississippi Biver and in the fourth south of the Minnesota line. The county is twenty-four miles wide by thirty long contain- ing an area of seven hundred twenty square miles. The Cedar and Wapsipinicon rivers flow through it in a southeasterly direction having fine belts of woodland along their banks.
In February, 1838, John Mann of Pennsylvania, set- tled at Linn Grove on Upper Big Creek, where he built a mill and log cabin for his family. In 1851 his mill was carried away by a flood and he was drowned. John Crow of North Carolina took a claim on the Wapsipinicon in April, 1838. Soon after Eobert Dean, John Gibson, Peter McRoberts and others settled in Franklin township; Judge Mitchell, Jacob Leabo and Mr. Henry in Bertram township and several families made homes in Linn town- ship, in Marion and other localities. In July, 1838, Israel Mitchell laid out the first town and named it Westport. In September of the same year William Stone staked out a town plat where Cedar Eapids stands and called it Col- umbus. The first store in the county was opened at West- port in the fall of 1838 and William H. Merritt opened one at Ivanhoe in the spring of 1839. The first election
376 HISTOEY
was held at Westport in October, 1838, for member of the Legislative Assembly, at which thirty-two votes were cast.
The county was organized in June, 1839, by the elec- tion of the following officers : Samuel C. Stewart, Peter McRoberts and Luman M. Strong, county commission- ers ; John C. Berry, clerk ; W. H. Gray, sheriff ; Thomas W. Campbell, treasurer; Ross McCloud, surveyor. The commissioners chosen to locate the county-seat selected the site of Marion where a town was laid out in 1839. The first store was opened the same year by Woodbridge and Thompson and Luman M. Strong built a hotel. A mill was built by Bales and Thompson and several shops were opened. A court-house was built in 1840 ; and a Methodist church organized the same year with Rev. Mr. Hodges as pastor. A school was opened the following year. In 1852 a weekly newspaper was established by A. Hoyt called the Prairie Star which in later years became the Marion Register. The first cabin on the site of Cedar Rapids was built by an outlaw by the name of Shepard, in the year 1838. It was for a long time the rendezvous of horse thieves which infested that region in early days. They secreted stolen property among the islands of the Cedar River. The gang was not broken up until 1851. The first permanent settlement of that place was made in 1839 by T. Gaines and D. W. King who took claims on the west side of the river.
In 1841 the town of Cedar Rapids was laid out by N. B. Brown and others ; the following year a dam was built across the Cedar River and a sawmill erected. In 1844 N. B. Brown built a flouring-mill at a cost of $3,000 ; and in 1849 a woolen factory was built at a cost of $10,000. In 1850 D. 0. Finch established a newspaper named the Progressive Era.
In 1847 the town of Mt. Vernon was laid out by A. J. Willits and others, where Cornell College, one of the lead- ing educational institutions in the State, is located. The main line of the Northwestern Railroad runs through Linn
OF IOWA 377
County from east to west and was the first built to Cedar Rapids which has become one of the important railroad centers of the State.
LOUISA COUNTY was created in 1836 from territory originally included in Demoine. When first established it included parts of Washington, Henry and Des Moines. On the 12th of January, 1839, the boundaries of Louisa were fixed as they are now embracing an area of four hundred seven square miles. The county lies in the third tier north of Missouri and its eastern boundary is the Mississippi River. It was named for Louisa Massey, a young woman in Dubuque, who had recently shot a ruf- fian who had helped to murder one of her brothers and was attempting to kill another when she put an end to his career.
The Iowa River flows through the county in a south- easterly direction emptying into the Mississippi within its limits. This county was at one time the home of the famous Indian chiefs Black Hawk, Wapello, Keokuk and Poweshiek.
The first white settler in the county was Christopher Shuck who made a claim near Toolsboro previous to 1834. In 1835 William L. Toole, P. Harrison, W. Cray- ton, S. Smith and L. Thornton settled near the mouth of the Iowa River. Francis Springer, Colonel Garner, N. W. Letts, David Hurley and Rev. Josiah Vetrees were among the early settlers who came before 1840.
The county was organized in 1837 and the following officers chosen: William L. Toole, Levi Thornton and Robert Williams, county commissioners ; John Gilliland, recorder and treasurer; Z. C. Ingham, clerk and C. M. McDaniel, sheriff. The county-seat was located at Wa- pello where a town was platted by order of the commis- sioners in 1838. The first court was held by Judge David Irwin who presided over a number of the earliest courts held within the limits of Iowa. The first citizens who
378 HISTORY
settled in Wapello were John Drake, Jacob Minton, John Gilliland, C. McDaniels and William Thomas. Francis Springer was one of the first attorneys. In 1841 Clark and Nofifinger established the first newspaper, the Wa- pello Intelligencer. The first school in the county was taught by John Ferguson.
The county-seat was located on the banks of the Iowa River about eighteen miles from its mouth on the site of an Indian village where the chief Wapello lived many years and is named in his memory. Columbus is a thriv- ing town in the northern part of the county at the junc- tion of the Burlington and Cedar Rapids, and the Chicago and Southwestern Railroads.
LUCAS COUNTY was created in January, 1846, and at that time embraced a portion of Clarke County but in 1849 was reduced to its present limits. It lies in the sec- ond tier north of Missouri and midway between the Mis- sissippi and Missouri rivers and contains twelve town- ships embracing an area of four hundred thirty-two square miles. The county was named for Robert Lucas the first Governor of the Territory of Iowa. In 1846-7, the year of the Mormon exodus through Iowa, several families stopped at Chariton Point near the river of that name in Lucas County, where they built cabins and re- mained several years. They were the first white settlers in the county. In September, 1847, William McDermott and family made a claim ten miles east of the Chariton River. In March, 1848, Elijah Baldwin and family set- tled west of McDermott 's and in June, James Rolland lo- cated south of them. Before the close of the year there were eight families in the neighborhood. During the fol- lowing year many families made homes in various parts of the county.
In August, 1849, an election was held and the following officers chosen: William T. May, Jacob Phillips and J. G. Robinson, county commissioners, who proceeded to or-
PUBLIC LiBRARY'
, Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundat'oas.
QUARTZITK ROCK ON JASI'KK POOL, In Lyon County
OF IOWA 379
ganize the county. In September, 1849, the commission- ers chosen to locate the county-seat reported a site on the Chariton River which they had named Polk. The citizens of the county at a public meeting held in November changed the name to Chariton and a town was platted and a public sale of lots ordered in December. In April,
1850, a contract was let for the building of a log court- house in which the first term of court was held in May,
1851, over which Judge McKay presided. A mill was built by Isaac C. Cain and Pleasant Williams on White- breast creek. In the winter of 1852-3 Crawford Sellers taught the first school in the court-house.
The first newspaper in the county was the Little Giant, established in 1856 by George M. Binckley. The Chariton Patriot was a weekly journal started by John Edwards in 1857. The Burlington Railroad runs through the county from east to west passing through the towns of Russell, Chariton and Lucas.
LYON COUNTY lies in the extreme northwest corner of the State and when first created in 1851 was named Buncombe. By act of the Legislature of September 11, 1862, the name was changed to Lyon in honor of General Nathaniel Lyon who was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek while in command of the Union army in 1861. The county is about thirty-five miles in length east and west and about seventeen miles wide, containing five hundred eighty-seven square miles.
The first white man who built a cabin within its limits was Daniel McLaren a hunter and trapper who lived sev- eral years near the Big Sioux River at the mouth of a creek which bears his name. In the summer of 1862 Roy McGregor, George Clark and Thomas Lockhart, three adventurous young men from Massachusetts settled on the- Iowa side of the Big Sioux River and built a cabin. McGregor was killed by the Sioux Indians, Clark was drowned in March, 1863, and Lockhart, after many nar-
380 HISTORY
row escapes from the hostile Indians, returned to the settlements. In July, 1866, Lewis P. Hyde of Minnesota took a homestead on the Big Sioux River two miles below where Beloit stands. In 1868 Ole Nelson and his brother Halver of Clayton County, with a colony, settled near the Big Sioux River where they built a mill. During the same year Dr. H. D. Rice and wife, Emerick Irwin and H. W. Reeves settled on the Rock River near the present town of Doon. D. C. "Whitehead and several others set- tled at Rock Rapids in 1869 and at the close of that year the population of the county was about one hundred.
The first school was taught at Rock Rapids during the winter of 1870-71 by Mrs. D. C. Whitehead and the first minister in the county was Rev. Ellef Oleson of Beloit. On the 25th of July, 1871, a weekly newspaper was estab- lished at Rock Rapids by C. E. Bristol which was named the Rock Rapids Journal. The county was organized in October of the same year by the election of the following officers : Charles E. Goetz, auditor ; James H. Wagner, treasurer; D. C. Whitehead, clerk; T. W. Johnson, sheriff, and Thomas Thorson, recorder. Rock Rapids on the Rock River was made the county-seat. The Big Sioux River forms the western boundary of the county and State in this section. The Milwaukee and other rail- roads furnish transportation facilities.
MADISON COUNTY which was at one time a part of the original county of Demoine, was established in Janu- ary, 1846, lies in the third tier north of the Missouri line and in the fourth east of the Missouri River and was named for James Madison, fourth President of the United States. It is traversed by the North, Middle and South rivers along which are borders of native forest.
The first settler in the county was Hiram Hurst who came from Missouri in May, 1845, and took a claim in Crawford township. In May, 1846, Joel, Isaac and Charles Clanton and Caleb Clark with their families set-
OF IOWA 381
tied along Clanton's Creek. About the same time Samuel Guye and family located on the divide between Middle and North rivers. Crosby B. Jones and Seth Adams took claims near Middle River. Alfred D. Jones opened the first store at a place called the *' Narrows " about four miles east of where Winterset stands. The first post-office was established at this place with Mr, Jones postmaster.
In July, 1849, the commissioners chosen for that pur- pose selected a site for the county-seat on a farm owned by John Guiberson who sold it to the county. The day was cold for midsummer when the commissioners as- sembled at the house of Enos Berger to agree upon a name for the new town. One of them suggested '' Summer- set." William Combes, who had been fortifying himself with " sod corn juice " against the cold, exclaimed *' We had a site better call it Winterset ' ' ; his colleagues at once agreed and that became the name of the new county- seat.
The first county officers were chosen in April, 1849, con- sisting of G. W. McClellan, clerk ; P. M. Boj'^les, recorder ; Joseph K. Evans, treasurer ; A. D. Jones, prosecuting at- torney, and William Combes, David Bishop and William Gentry, county commissioners. The commissioners caused a double log house to be erected for the use of the county officials and courts. Judge William McKay held the first court in May, 1849, in a cabin used for a store and saloon. Enos Barger built the first house in Winter- set and became the first postmaster. He also built a log house for a hotel in 1849 which was the largest building in the town. John A. Pitzer the following year built the first frame house in the county.' In 1856 James Ilor brought an old printing press and type in a wagon from Sandusky, Ohio, and began the publication of a weekly newspaper called the Iowa Patriot which afterwards be- came the Winterset Madisonian. The Rock Island Rail-
382 HISTORY
road runs through the northern part of the county with a branch to Winterset.
MAHASKA COUNTY was embraced in the original county of Demoine and was created in February, 1843. It lies in the fourth tier west of the Mississippi River in the third north of the Missouri State line and is twenty- four miles square containing five hundred seventy-six square miles. It was named for the noted chief of the Iowa Indians, Mahaska, which signifies ^' White Cloud." The county is watered by the Des Moines, the North, South and Skunk rivers and their tributaries, contains extensive deposits of coal and is well supplied with native timber.
The first white settler in the county was Mr. Macbeth who, in October, 1842, selected a claim one mile above the '' Hardfish " Indian village which then occupied the site of Eddyville. The cabin was occupied some years by John B. Gray and family. The county was not opened to white settlers until May 1, 1843, but scores of families were camped near the line in April, and, when the last night of the month came, rushed across the border to make a choice of claims. Among those who made homes in the southern part of the county at this time were Dr. E. A. Boyer, W. A. Delashmutt, John B. Gray, A. S. Nichols, and many others. For months settlers flocked into the county selecting homes mostly in the groves and along the timber belts which bordered the streams.
In February, 1844, M. T. Williams was appointed clerk and William Edmund&on sheriff to organize the county. At an election held in April the following county officers were chosen: A. S. Nichols, William Stanley and Robert Curry, commissioners; William D. Canfield, treasurer; William Edmundson, sheriff; William Pilgrim, recorder, and John Cunningham, clerk. Commissioners chosen to locate the county-seat made choice of a farm belonging to W. D. Canfield at a place called the '* Narrows " and
OF IOWA 383
gave it the name of '' Mahaska." The county purchased the farm upon which the town was platted by David Stump, the county surveyor. At the suggestion of M. T. Williams the commissioners changed the name of the new county-seat to Oskaloosa.
In June, 1843, a town had been laid out by William James on *' Six Mile Prairie " which he named Harris- burg. George W. Jones afterwards purchased the ground and changed the name to Auburn. John W. Jones, his brother, who became State Treasurer, lived in the town and owned an interest in the plat. A strong effort was made by the proprietors to secure the county-seat.
The first mill in the county was built on Muchekinock Creek by Joseph H. and John K. Bennett in 1843. Miss Semira Hobbs taught the first school in 1844; and a church was organized the same year by the Methodists at Six Mile Prairie. The Oskaloosa Herald was established in July, 1850, by W. H. Needham and Hugh McNeeley. The Des Moines Valley Eailroad was the first built into the county.
MARION COUNTY was created in June, 1845, from territory embraced in the original county of Demoine. It lies in the fifth tier west of the Mississippi Eiver and in the third north of Missouri, is twenty-four miles square and contains five hundred seventy-six square miles. The county was named for General Francis Marion of the Revolutionary War. The Des Moines River and its tributaries flow through the county in a south- easterly direction ; the water courses are usually bordered with forests and the county has large deposits of coal.
The first white settlers were Indian traders who, as early as 1841, established trading posts at several points. William Phelps was the first who opened a trading house near the eastern border. John Jordon, Gaddis, Nye, Tur- ner and Shaw established posts near Red Rock. The county was opened to white settlers May 1, 1843, when
384 HISTORY
a large number secured claims upon which they made homes. During the year settlements were made at Red Rock, White Breast, Bluffington and other localities, mak- ing a population of more than seventy families.
In the spring of 1845 the citizens held a meeting at the house of Nathan Bass on Lake Prairie and took the first steps toward organizing a county government. Com- missioners were chosen, located the county-seat in Au- gust and gave it the name of Knoxville in honor of Gen- eral Knox of the Revolutionary War. An election was held at which the following county officers were chosen: Conrad Walters, William Welch and David Durham, commissioners ; Sanford Dowd, clerk ; F. A. Barker, pro- bate judge; James M. Walters, sheriff; David T. Durham, treasurer, and Robert S. Lowrey, recorder.
Judge Williams held the first court at the new county- seat in March, 1846. The first settlers in Knoxville were Luther C. Conrey, Lysander W. Babbitt, George Gillaspy and Lewis Pierce. Mr. Conrey built the first house.
In 1847 a colony of Hollanders under the leadership of Henry P. Scholte located at Lake Prairie where they pur- chased 13,000 acres of land upon which they built sod houses thatched with slough grass. In the spring of 1848 Mr, Scholte and others laid out a town which tliev named Pella, the '' city of refuge." In February, 1855, H. P. Scholte and Edwin H. Grant issued the first number of a weekly newspaper called the Pella Gazette which was the first journal established in the county. In 1853 the pre- liminary steps were taken to organize a college at Pella which was named the Central University of Iowa.
In October, 1855, William M. Stone, afterwards Gov- ernor of the State, established the Knoxville Journal at the county-seat. The Des Moines Valley Railroad was the first built into the county.
MARSHALL COUNTY was created in January, 1846, by a division of the original county of Benton. It lies in
OF IOWA 385
the sixth tier west of the Mississippi River, in the fifth south of the Minnesota line and was named for Chief Jus- tice John Marshall of the United States Supreme Court. The Iowa River flows through it in a southeasterly direc- tion which, with numerous tributaries, waters a large por- tion of the county. It contains sixteen congressional townships making an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. Excellent building stone is abundant and the county contains more than 30,000 acres of native for- est.
Joseph and William Davison were the first white set- tlers in the county. In 1847 they took claims in what is now Le Grand township. The following year Joseph M. Ferguson, Josiah Cooper and others settled near Timber Creek and a large number of families made homes in other parts.
In 1849 the county government was organized by the election of the following officers : David E. Cooper, clerk ; J. M. Ferguson, sheriff; J. Hobbs, probate judge; Zeno B. Freeman, treasurer; Jesse Amos, Joseph Cooper and James Miller, county commissioners. The first court was held by Judge William McKay in the fall of 1851 in a iog cabin belonging to John Ralls which stood in the grove north of where Marshalltown was built. In 1851 the county-seat was located at Marietta where a town was laid out. William Dishon was the first postmaster, keep- ing the office in his store. Doctors Whealen and Nixon were the first physicians in the town and county.
In the summer of 1853 Henry Anson and John Childs laid out a town on a claim made by Anson two years be- fore, where he had built a log cabin. It was named Mar- shall for a town of that name in Michigan. But upon learning of one in Henry County bearing the same name, the proprietors changed it to Marshalltown. A fierce con- test at once began to secure the removal of the county-seat from Marietta to Marshalltown which continued for sev- eral years until in December, 1859, a decision of the Su-
[Vol. 3]
386 HISTORY
preme court settled the contest in favor of Marshalltown. The first newspaper in the county was established by T. J. Wilson in 1855 at La Fayette, now Albion, named the Iowa Central Journal. The paper was moved to Mar- shalltown in 1857 by E. N. Chapin and R. N. Barnhard who changed the name to the Marshall County Times. Wells Rice was the first postmaster when the office was established at Marshalltown in 1854. G. M. Woodbury was for many years one of the most enterprising citizens in securing railroads and promoting manufacturing in the growing city. In 1863 the Iowa and Nebraska Rail- road was built through the county from east to west, passing through Marshalltown.
MILLS COUNTY was created in 1851 and named for Major Frederick Mills, a gallant young Iowa officer who was killed at the Battle of Cherubusco in the Mexican War. Its western boundary is the Missouri River and it lies in the second tier north of the Missouri State line. The county is twenty-four miles in length from east to west and eighteen miles in width, containing four hundred forty- four square miles. The western portion of the county consists of level bottom land of the Missouri River valley, in places reaching a width of from three to seven miles, east of which rise the high bluffs which in remote ages formed the shore of the river.
The first white settler was Colonel Peter A. Sarpy who as early as 1836 established a trading house and was an agent of the American Fur Company. He laid out a town near the mouth of Mosquito Creek and named it St. Mary. For many years it was a thriving village but the Missouri River encroached upon it gradually under- mining the buildings until most of them disappeared be- neath the floods and the town was abandoned. Henry Alice, who came as a missionary to the Pawnee Indians in 1834, made his home near St. Mary. In 1846 thirty Mormons, who were among those driven out of Nauvoo,
OF IOWA 387
stopped in Mills County on the east side of Key Creek near the Missouri and built cabins to shelter them through the approaching winter. They formed a village to which they gave the name of Rushville. Among them was William Brittain who became a permanent resident of the county. In 1847-8 Silas Hillman, Libeons Coon, Ira Hillman, G. N. Clark, J. Everett and others settled near the present site of Glenwood. In 1849 Mr. Coon laid out a town on his farm which he named Coonville.
In 1851 the county government was organized by the election of the following officers : William Smith, judge ; W. W. Noyes, clerk and James Hardy, sheriff. The county-seat was located at Coonville where the first term of court was held in 1851, at which Judge James Sloan, a Mormon, presided. In 1849 the first flouring-mill in the county was built by J. W. Coolidge. Here D. H. Solo- man, a young lawyer taught the first school in a log cabin ten feet by twelve in size. Mr. Soloman became a promi- nent lawyer and was one of the framers of the Constitu- tion of the State in 1857.
In 1853 the name of the county-seat was changed from Coonville to Glenwood. Soon after the close of the War of the Rebellion one of the Soldiers ' Orphans ' Homes was located at Glenwood and later the Institution for the Feeble Minded was built there. The first newspaper in the county was the Glemuood Times, established in May, 1856, by J. M. Dews. The largest apple orchard in the State was planted in Mills County by John Y. Stone. The soil of this region seeins to be peculiarly adapted to fruit growing. Malvern is ? thriving town near the center of the county. The Burlington Railroad was the first built in the county.
MITCHELL COUNTY, originally a part of Fayette, was created in 1851 and named for the Irish patriot John Mitchell. Its northern boundary is the Minnesota line and it is in the fourth tier west of the Mississippi River.
388 HISTORY
The county embraces an area of four hundred seventy- three square miles. The Red Cedar, the Little Cedar and the Wapsipinicon rivers flow southward through the county. James B. Cutler and "William Ramsdell were the first settlers in 1852 ; they took claims and built cabins about a mile north of where Osage stands. L. S. Hart and his son Orin entered land and settled at Spring Grove the same year. In June, 1853, a colony of Nor- wegians under the leadership of C. L. Clanson came from Wisconsin and settled near where St. Ansger stands on the Red Cedar River. In September of the same year Josiah Cummings and his son William E. located at Mitchell.
The county government was organized in 1854 by the election of the following ofl&cers: A. H. Moore, judge; Amos Cummings, clerk; B. C. Whitaker, treasurer and recorder, and L. S. Hart, sheriff.
In 1853 a town was laid out on the Cedar River by Dr. A. H. Moore and B. C. Whitaker which was named Cora. In 1854 the property was sold to Boardman, Downs and Gibbs, who changed the name of the town to Osage, in honor of Orin Sage of Massachusetts.
In 1855 the county-seat was located at Mitchell where a town had been platted on the east bank of the Cedar River. A bitter contest soon arose between the citizens of Osage and Mitchell for the permanent county-seat. Several elections were held with varying results until April, 1861, when Osage was declared the county-seat by a majority of nineteen votes. By injunction proceedings Mitchell held the county records until the fall of 1871 when the courts settled the contest in favor of Osage. In July, 1856, the United States Land Office was moved from Decorah to Osage.
The first mill in the county was built at Newburg in 1854. The first court was held by Judge Samuel Mur- dock at Mitchell in June, 1857. The Osage Democrat was the first newspaper in the county; it was established in
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the spring of 1856 by Datus E. Coon of Osage, who issued the first number under the shade of a tree. In 1857 the Methodists organized a church at Osage with Rev. Hol- brook as pastor. A. S. Faville taught the first school at Mitchell in 1854.
The first railroad constructed through the county was the Cedar Falls and Minnesota which followed the valley of the Cedar River.
MONONA COUNTY lies on the Missouri River in the fifth tier south of the Minnesota line. It is about thirty miles long from east to west by twenty-four wide con- taining an area of six hundred eighty-five square miles. The county was created in 1851 from territory in the old county of Benton ; the name is of Indian origin. In 1865 the eastern tier of townships was detached and given to Crawford County. The valley of the Missouri River spreads out to a great width in this county containing more than 165,000 acres of level bottom lands of unsur- passed fertility, the black soil varying in depth from six to fifteen feet. The Little Sioux River runs in a south- westerly direction through the county.
The first permanent settler was Isaac Ashton who, in 1852, made a claim about two miles north of Onawa, while Josiah Sumner located near him. The same year Aaron Cook settled on the bank of the Missouri River at a place which became known as Cook's Landing. In 1854, Charles B. Thompson, a Mormon leader, with several followers settled on Soldier Creek. During the year he was joined by about fifty Mormon families who preempted several thousand acres of the best lands in that vicinity. Thomp- son laid out a town called Preparation. A quarrel arose among the members of the colony; litigation ensued and the members gradually disposed of their lands and re- moved to other parts.
The county government was organized in 1854 by the election of the following officers : Charles B. Thompson,
390 HISTORY
county judge ; treasurer and recorder, Hugh Lytle ; clerk, Andrew Hall ; and J. F. Lane, sheriff. The county busi- ness was transacted at the Mormon town, Preparation. The commissioners chosen to locate the county-seat se- lected Ashton in the fall of 1854. The same year Mr. Thompson started two papers; one, a weekly called The Messenger, and the other a monthly named Zion's Har- binger. They were published at Preparation.
In 1857 the Mormon Land Company laid out the town of Onawa and the first house was built by S. S. Pearse in July, while J. E. Morrison the same season built a hotel called the Onawa House. C. E. Whiting was one of the early settlers in the county who planted large orchards and extensive groves of trees.
In 1858, by a vote of the people the county-seat was moved to Onawa. The Sioux City and Pacific Railroad was the first built through the county.
MONROE COUNTY lies in the second tier north of the Missouri line and in the fifth west of the Mississippi River. It has twelve congressional townships containing an area of four hundred thirty-two square miles. The county was first named Kishkekosh and organized under that name but changed to Monroe August 1, 1846, in honor of the fifth President of the United States. A his- tory of its organization and early settlements will be found in the sketch of Kishkekosh County. The name of the county-seat, Princeton, was changed to Albia. In 1854 A. C. Barnes established a newspaper at Albia in the in- terest of the *' free soil " movement which was called the Albia Independent Press. The main line of the Burling- ton Railroad runs through the county from east to west with a branch to Des Moines.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY lies in the second tier east of the Missouri River and also in the second tier north of the Missouri State line. It was created in 1851 and
OF IOWA 391
contains twelve congressional townships with an area of four hundred thirty-two square miles. The county was named in memory of General Richard Montgomery an offi- cer of the Revolutionary War who was killed in the as- sault on Quebec in 1775. The Nodaway and Nishnabotna rivers flow through the county in a southwesterly direc- tion.
John Ross was the first white man to make a home in the county in 1849. Among the settlers previous to 1853 were Amos G. Lowe, S. C. Dunn, John W. Patterson, John Stafford, Carl Means, John and James Ross and Samuel Baker. The first settlements were made along the Noda- way River in the eastern portion of the county.
In 1853 the county government was organized by the election of the following officers: Amos G. Lowe, judge; S. C. Dunn, clerk; John W. Patterson, treasurer, and R. W. Rogers, sheriff. The commissioners chosen to lo- cate the county-seat selected a tract of land in the center of the county where a town was laid out and named Frank- fort, July, 1854. The first house was built by John Burn- side. Dr. Asa Bond and A. G. Lowe soon located there and the new town made a rapid growth. Samuel Baker taught the first school in the county in 1856. In 1857 Al- fred Hebard, David Remick and Charles Hendrie laid out the town of Red Oak on the banks of the Nishnabotna River. The same year Joseph Zuber built the first house on the town site. In 1863 by a vote of the people the county-seat was removed from Frankfort to Red Oak. From that time Frankfort declined and many of its build- ings, including the court-house, were removed to Red Oak. In March, 1868, Webster Eaton established a weekly newspaper named the Montgomery County Express, the first in the county. The main line of the Burlington Rail- road runs through the county from east to west.
MUSCATINE COUNTY was created from territory originally embraced in Demoine County. In 1836, when
392 HISTORY
the boundaries were first established, it included a por- tion of the present counties of Scott, Johnson and Wash- ington. Soon after the creation of the counties of Scott, Slaughter and Johnson, Muscatine was reduced to its pres- ent limits. The name is derived from the Musquetine tribe of Indians which at one time possessed the island in the Mississippi Eiver and the west shore. The county lies on the Mississippi River, includes Muscatine Island and is in the fourth tier north of the Missouri State line. It embraces an area of four hundred thirty-seven square miles.
In the fall of 1833 Major George Davenport, who had a trading post at Rock Island, sent Mr. Farnam down the river to where Muscatine stands to establish a trading post. Farnam built a log cabin in which he placed a stock of goods and opened trade with the Indians. After two years the store was sold to John Vanata. In May, 1834, Benjamin Nye settled at the mouth of Pine Creek. The following year James Casey built a cabin just below the Davenport trading house. Dr. Eli Reynolds soon after laid out a town three miles farther up the river named Geneva. Other settlers located at Moscow, on the Cedar River. In the spring of 1836 Colonel Vanata occupied his claim and laid out a town which he named Bloomington. A few months later J. W. Casey and others laid out a town lower down the river which was named Newberry.
The county was organized in January, 1837. In 1837 a postoffice was established at Bloomington and the fol- lowing year was made the county-seat. By this time about fifty houses had been built and the population of Bloomington numbered about two hundred. Adam Ogil- vie opened the first store in 1837 and Edward E. Fay was the first postmaster. The Iowa House was the first hotel, which was opened by Robert C. Kenney in the spring of 1837. On the 18th of August of that year the steamer Du- buque, Captain Smoker, exploded its boiler seven miles above Bloomington where twenty-two lives were lost.
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Seventeen of the dead were buried in one grave in the cemetery at Bloomington. Suel Foster was one of the pro- prietors of Bloomington, laying out additions. In 1849 the name of the town was changed to Muscatine which signifies '' little prairie."
The first school was taught by George Baumgardner at Bloomington in the spring of 1837. The Methodists or- ganized a church in the village the same year with Rev. Norris as pastor. Judge David Irwin held the first term of court at the house of Samuel Parker in April, 1837, of which John S. Abbott was clerk. When Lieutenant Zebu- Ion M. Pike explored the upper Mississippi Eiver in 1805, he named the high ground which rises from the river at Muscatine, " Grindstone Bluff."
The first court was held by Judge David Irwin at Bloomington in April, ] 837 ; the next year the county was organized by the election of the following ofl&cers : sheriff, James Davis; clerk, J. G. Monroe; treasurer and re- corder, Lewis McKee; commissioners, John Vanata, E. Thornton and Aaron Usher.
The first newspaper established in the county was the Iowa Standard published by Crum and Bailey in 1840. Early in the next year it was moved to Iowa City, the new Capital of the Territory and the first number of the Bloomington Herald by Hughes and Russell was imme- diately issued to take its place. The Rock Island Rail- road was the first line built through the county.
O'BRIEN COUNTY lies in the second tier east of the western boundary of the State and also in the second south of the Minnesota line. It is twenty-four miles square, containing an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles and was originally one vast prairie, entirely desti- tute of timber with the exception of a few small groves along the Little Sioux River in the southeast corner. The county was created in 1851 from territory belonging at
394 HISTORY
one time to Fayette and was named for William 0 'Brien, one of the leaders for the independence in Ireland in 1848.
The first white settlers in the county were H. H. Water- man and family who came from Bremer County and set- tled in a grove in the southeast corner of the county on the banks of the Little Sioux Eiver in 1856. Other set- tlers entered claims in that vicinity and in 1860 a county government was organized by the election of the following officers: J. C. Furber, judge; H. H. Waterman, trea- surer and recorder; Archibald Murray, clerk and sur- veyor.
The first county-seat was O'Brien, a village in the southeast corner of the county, in the vicinity of most of the settlers. Here the first term of the District Court was held by Judge Henry Ford. The first school was taught by Mrs. H. H. Waterman and for some time religious meetings were held in the Waterman cabin. The O'Brien Pioneer was the first newspaper which was published by B. F. McCormack and J. R, Pumphrey. At an elec- tion held in 1872, it was decided to locate the permanent county-seat in the center of the county where a town was laid out by the county officers. The name for the town was fixed upon in the following manner: the first letter of the names of the officials and a few others was taken— Pumphrey, Roberts, Inman, McCormack, Green, Hays, Al- bright and Renok. These, P-R-I-M-G-H-A-R, made the name of the new county-seat. The first house was built by J. R. Pumphrey for the use of the county. A hotel was erected by C. F. Albright. In 1873 the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad was built through the county and the town of Sheldon was laid out upon the line in the north- west part of the county.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, once a part of Fayette, was cre- ated in 1851 and named for an Indian chief. It lies on the Minnesota line in the second tier east of the western boundary of the State and contains twelve townships em-
OF IOWA 395
bracing an area of four hundred square miles, being the smallest county in the State. It was originally a gently rolling prairie without a tree. The east fork of the Rock River and the Ocheydan furnish water and drainage.
The first white man who settled within its limits was Captain E. Huff who in the fall of 1870 took a claim in the southwest corner in the valley of Otter Creek. In the spring of 1871 D. L. McCausland, C. M. Brooks, F. M. Robinson, W. W. AVebb, A. M. Culver, Frank Stiles, R. 0. Monroe and A. M. Churchill came from the eastern part of the State and took homesteads.
The county government was organized in October, 1871, by the election of the following officers : F. M. Robinson, auditor; A. M. Culver, treasurer; C. M. Brooks, clerk; D. L. McCausland, recorder; and Delia Stiles, superin- tendent of schools. The election was held in the house of A. M. Culver. In the fall of 1872 the Sioux City and St. Paul Railroad was built through the town of Sibley which was laid out upon its line. The town was named for Gen- eral H. H. Sibley of Minnesota. The first building was erected the same year by F. M. Robinson, and the first business house by H. K. Rodgers. Rev. S. Aldrich, a Methodist minister, organized the first religious society in June. The first school was taught in the fall of 1871 by Mrs. Delia Stiles.
The county-seat was located at Sibley in 1872 and the first term of court was held by Judge Henry Ford in July of the same year. L. A. Baker established the first news- paper, the Sibley Gazette, in July, 1872. During the same year a court-house was erected costing $5,000.
PAGE COUNTY lies immediately north of the Missouri State line and in the second tier east of the Missouri River. It was created in 1847 and named for Captain John Page of the Fourth United States Infantry who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Palo Alto in the Mexi- can War. The area of the county is five hundred fifty-
396 HISTORY
seven square miles and the eastern portion is well sup- plied with timber along the Nodaway River which flows south through the county.
As early as the spring of 1840 three brothers, George AV., Henry and David Farrens, all young unmarried men, came from Jackson County, Missouri, took claims near the southeast corner of the county where they built a cabin and opened farms. In the spring of 1841 George and David Brock settled near them and in 1842 Burket and Thomas Johnson, William Campbell and Robert Wil- son with their families joined the settlement. In 1843 three brothers, Joseph, Moses and Larkin Thompson set- tled a few miles southeast of where Clarinda stands. Nod- away is an Indian name signifying '' vindictive " and was given by the Indians to the river because in early days its banks were infested with rattlesnakes.
In 1851 the county was organized by the election of Dr. Alexander Farrens, clerk; Benjamin W.Stafford, sheriff; S. F. Snyder, John Duncan and William Shearer, com- missioners. The election was held at Boulwar's mill where for several years the county business was trans- acted. The first court was held there in September, 1851, Judge Sloan, presiding. The commissioners chosen to locate the county-seat met at Boulwar's mill in March, 1853, and selected a site two and one-half miles north on the Nodaway River, where a town was laid out and named Clarinda. In April, 1853, the first house was built on the plat by Rev. S. Farlow and soon after Judge Snyder erected the second cabin at the new county-seat. George Rible kept the first hotel and Isabella Farlow opened the first school in the summer of 1853. The first mill was built by George Stonebraker in 1846 on the Nodaway River and afterward became known as Boulwar's Mill, where quite a village grew up. The first orchard in the county was planted in the spring of 1842 by George W. Farrens. Shenandoah is a thriving town in the western part of the county on the line of a branch of the Burlington Railroad.
OF IOWA 397
Amity or College Springs is in the southern part of the county where a college has been established. The first newspaper was the Page County Herald, which was es- tablished in May, 1859, at Clarinda, by Shoemaker Broth- ers.
PALO ALTO COUNTY lies in the second tier south of Minnesota and in the fourth east of the west line of the State. It is twenty-four miles square, containing five hun- dred seventy-six square miles. The county was created in 1851 and named for the Battle of Palo Alto, the first fought in the Mexican War. The west fork of the Des Moines Eiver flows through it in a southeasterly direc- tion and the broad valley is of unsurpassed fertility. Among the beautiful sheets of water in the county are Medium Lake, Lost Island Lake, Silver Lake, Rush Lake and Elbow Lake. There were originally about 2,000 acres of native timber in the county, mostly lying along the Des Moines River.
The first settlers were members of an Irish colony who, in July, 1856, made claims in the vicinity of Medium Lake where they built cabins and opened farms. Among them were John and James Nolan, John Neary, Martin Laugh- lin, Edward Mahan, Thomas Downey, Jeremiah Evans, R. F. and William Carter, John McCormack, R. Shippey and others, nearly all of whom had families. They came from Kane County, Illinois, and engaged extensively in stock raising.
The county was organized on the 20th of December at an election held at the cabin of James Nolan where the fol- lowing ofiicers were chosen : James Hickey, judge ; John W. Mulroney, treasurer; Thomas H. Tobin, sheriff. Pa- oli, the first county-seat, is situated on the east bank of the Des Moines River near the center of the county. Here the first court-house was built about two miles from the south end of Medium Lake.
Emmetsburg was laid out by Martin Coonan at the
398 HISTORY
south end of Medium Lake but for a long time was a town in name only, though it finally became the county-seat. Most of the early settlers were Catholics and their first religious services were held in the cabin of James Downey, July, 1857. In 1869 James P. White established the first newspaper at Emmetsburg called the Palo Alto Demo- crat. In 1871 the proprietor of Emmetsburg replatted the town in anticipation of the Milwaukee Railroad which was located through the county-seat.
PLYMOUTH COUNTY lies on the Big Sioux River in the third tier south of the Minnesota line and is one of the largest counties in the State containing eight hundred sixty square miles. It was created by act of the Legis- lature in 1851 and named for the Plymouth Colony of the Massachusetts Puritans. It was attached to Wahkaw County in 1853. The Little Sioux and Floyd rivers flow through a portion of the county. In the summer of 1856 J. B. Pinckney, David Mills, Isaac T. Martin, J. McGiU, Bratton Vidito, John Hopkins, James Dormichy and Mr. Galletin took claims in the valley of the Bix Sioux River and built cabins. In July they laid out a town which they named Westfield. The same year A. C. Sheets, James B. Curry, E. S. Hungerford, Joel Phillips and Coryden Hall took claims on the Floyd River. The county was organ- ized on the 12th of October, 1858, by the election of the following officers: William Van Linda, judge; Isaac T. Martin, recorder and treasurer; A. C. Sheets, clerk; David M. Mills, sheriff, and A. E. Rea, superintendent of schools. The place first recognized as the county-seat was the village of Melbourne on the Floyd River where the first court was held by Judge A. W. Hubbard of Sioux City. Here the first school was taught by William Van Linda. Westfield, the competitor of Melbourne for the county-seat, was abandoned in 1860 on account of a settle- ment of half-breed Indians on lands in the vicinity upon which their scrip was located. The plat upon which Le
OF IOWA 399
Mars was laid out was first owned by Jerry Ladd, Mr. Marvin and B. F. Betsworth. The town was platted the summer of 1869, soon after the completion of the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad to that point. John I. Blair, who built the road, visited the place with officials of the company and a party of ladies. It was agreed to form the name of the new town by using the initial letter of the Christian names of the party which were arranged by them to spell Le Mars. The ladies were Mrs. Adeline M. Swain, Mrs. Galusha Parsons, Mrs. W. W. Walker, Mrs. John Weare, Mrs. W. R. Smith and Mrs. John Cleg- horn. The letters when arranged would make the names Selmar, or Le Mars, and the ladies decided by ballot in favor of Le Mars, which thus became the name of the town.
Among the first to open business houses in Le Mars were Blodgett and Foster, J. W. Young, John Gordon, Orson Bennett and C. H. Bennett. On the 3d of Febru- ary, 1871, J. C. Buchanan established the first newspaper, called the Le Mars Sentinel. At the general election in 1872 Le Mars was made the county-seat.
POCAHONTAS COUNTY was created in 1851 and named for the Indian maiden who saved the life of Cap- tain John Smith in the early years of the settlement of the colony of Virginia. It lies in the third tier south of the Minnesota line in the fourth east of the Missouri River and contains an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. The county was attached to Webster in 1855. The Lizzard and the west fork of the Des Moines River flow through the eastern part of the county and among the small lakes within its limits are Swan Lake, Clear Lake and Lizzard Lake.
In February, 1855, Michael Collins, Mr. Hickey and families ascended the Lizzard from Fort Dodge, took claims and built cabins. The following year John and Patrick Calligan, Dennis Connors, Patrick McCabe,
400 HISTORY
James Donahue and others joined the settlement and opened farms near the Lizzard. In May, 1857, Robert Struthers, William H. Haite, A. H. Malcome and Gurn- sey Smith of Fort Dodge settled in the northern part of the county in what is now Des Moines township. In 1858 David Slosson, 0. F. Avery, Ora Harvey and others set- tled in the same vicinity and a county government was established by the election of the following officers : David Slosson, judge ; W. H. Haite, treasurer and recorder ; A. H. Malcome, clerk; Oscar Slosson, sheriff. In August, 1859, Judge A. W. Hubbard appointed C. C. Carpenter of Webster County, Miles Mahon of Palo Alto, and Hiram Benjamin of Humboldt, commissioners to locate the county-seat. They selected a site near the Des Moines River and gave it the name of Rolfe. Here a town was laid out which became the county-seat. The entire county was organized into one school district and Miss Nellie Harvey taught the first school in the house of W. H. Haite in 1860. In the fall of that year a brick court- house was built in which Judge Hubbard held the first term of court in November. On the 15th of July, 1869, W. D. McEwen and J. J. Bruce issued the first number of a weekly newspaper named the Pocahontas Journal, which was the first in the county.
Unlike the early officials of many of the counties of northwestern Iowa, those of Pocahontas were honest and competent men who protected the public interests and labored unselfishly for the permanent prosperity of the county. The town of Pocahontas Center was platted by Frederick Hess on land belonging to Warrick Price in 1870. It was near the geographical center of the county and in 1875 was made the county-seat. In 1869 the Iowa Falls and Sioux City Railroad was built through the southwest corner of the county and the town of Fonda was laid out on its line. The town of Rolfe was laid out in Sep- tember, 1881, where the Rock Island Railroad crosses the
OF IOWA 401
line of the Northwestern, several miles west of the old town of that name.
Gilmore is a town on the line of the Des Moines and Fort Dodge Eailroad which was platted by L. C. Thorn- ton for a land company in 1884.
POLK COUNTY was established from the territory of the original county of Keoknk in January, 1846, and named for President James K. Polk. When first created it embraced a part of Jasper and Dallas but in 1853 the boundaries were fixed as they now are. It lies in the sixth tier east of the Missouri River and in the fourth north of Missouri. The Des Moines River flows through it from north to south and the Raccoon entering from the west unites with the Des Moines.
An account of its earliest settlements and the estab- lishment of Fort Des Moines will be found elsewhere. Thomas Mitchell settled at Apple Grove in April, 1844, and in 1845 John Saylor located in a grove on the east side of the Des Moines River about six miles north of the fort. In 1846 Eli Trullinger settled in Franklin township at a grove which bears his name. Walker Corey and John Fisher with their families located in Elkhart township in 1846 near Corey's Grove; Riley Thornton settled in Dela- ware township, the same year, on Little Four Mile Creek and George Bebee located in Madison township. James N. Stewart settled in Camp and James Smith in Douglass township in 1847. Dr. T. K. Brooks, in 1845, bought a claim on the east side of the Des Moines River and was the first postmaster of Fort Des Moines. A town was laid out on the east side and named Brooklvn which as- pired to become the county-seat but failing disappeared from the map. James C. Jordon took a claim several miles west of the fort in 1846 on a creek which flows into the Raccoon River.
The first election in the county was held April 2, 1846, at which the following officers were chosen : John Saylor,
[Vol. 3]
402 HISTORY
probate judge ; W. T. Ayres, treasurer ; Thomas Mitchell, sheriff; Thomas McMullen, recorder; Benjamin Saylor, W. H. Meacham and E. W. Fonts, commissioners. On the 25th of May of the same year the county-seat was estab- lished at Fort Des Moines and the first term of court was held that spring by Judge Joseph Williams, one of the log houses of the garrison serving as a court-house.
The town of Fort Des Moines was platted by A. D. Jones, county surveyor, in July, 1846. In July, 1849, Bar- low Granger established the first newspaper in the county which was a weekly named the lotva Star. In 1847 Miss Davis opened a school in one of the government buildings, room No. 26. The Capital of the State was located at Des Moines in 1857 and the first railroad, the Des Moines Valley, reached the city on the 29th of August, 1866. This road was built up the Des Moines valley from Keokuk. The Rock Island Railroad reached the Capital a year later.
POTTAWATTAMIE COUNTY lies on the east side of the Missouri River in the third tier north of the Missouri State line. It is one of the largest counties in the State containing an area of nine hundred sixty square miles. Next the Missouri River are level bottom lands ranging in width from three to ten miles ; while back of these high bluffs rise abruptly to a height of from one to three hun- dred feet. Eastward the surface is broken into steep ravines and hills gradually becoming gently rolling prai- rie. As originally created in 1847 Pottawattamie County embraced the territory now divided into the counties of Fremont, Page, Taylor, Adams, Montgomery, Mills, Cass and a portion of Ringgold, Union, Adair, Guthrie, De- catur and Harrison. Its name is derived from the Potta- wattamie tribe of Indians which formerly occupied that portion of Iowa. A sketch of the earliest settlements has been given in another place.
The county was organized in September, 1848, by the
OF IOWA 403
election of the following officers: A. H. Perkins, David D. Yearsley and George D. Coulter, commissioners; T. Burdick, clerk; Alexander McRea, sheriff.
The first town laid out was called Hart's Bluff and stood on the present site of Council Bluffs, which was later called '' Traders Point," and was established by Mormons who were the early settlers. In 1846 Colonel Kane of Pennsylvania came to the settlement and organ- ized the '^ Mormon Battalion " for service in the Mexican War. He was a warm friend of the Mormons who changed the name of their town to Kanesville in his honor. It retained this name until 1853 when the Legislature, act- ing upon a petition of the citizens of the village, changed it to Council Bluffs. Evan Greene was the first postmas- ter, appointed in 1848. The first court was held by Judge James Sloan in 1851. In 1849-50-51 vast numbers of gold seekers passed through Kanesville on their way to Cali- fornia and large stores were established to furnish sup- plies for the long overland journey. It became one of the chief outfitting frontier towns and was for several years infested with lawless desperadoes who were strong enough to defy the civil authorities. The citizens finally organized and resorted to lynch law before these outlaws could be driven out.
In 1848, Orson Hyde, one of the Mormon leaders, es- tablished a weekly newspaper at Kanesville, named the Frontier Guardian, which was conducted in the interest of the Mormon church. In 1850 L. W. Babbitt established a weekly Democratic paper called the Bugle. In 1853 a United States Land Office was established at Council Bluffs.
Most of the Mormon settlers who founded Kanesville and were among the pioneers in that part of the State eventually joined their brethren in Utah and were among the founders of Salt Lake City.
The Methodists of Kanesville organized a society in 1850 of which Rev. William Simpson was the first pastor.
404 HISTOEY
In 1853 they built the first church in Council Bluffs. The Rock Island Railroad was completed to Council Bluffs in May, 1869.
POWESHIEK COUNTY was created on the 17th of February, 1843, and named for a chief of the Sac In- dians. The name signified ' ' Roused Bear. ' ' This county is in the fifth tier west of the Mississippi River, in the fourth north of the Missouri State line, is twenty-four miles square and contains five hundred eighty-two square miles.
Richard B. Ogden was the first white settler, taking a claim in Union township in the spring of 1843. Daniel and Joseph W. Satchell and Richard Cheeseman settled near him the same year. In 1844 Mahlon Woodward, Thomas Rigdon and others arrived. William English settled on Mill Creek in 1845 where he built the first saw- mill in the county. Martin Snyder, in 1846, took a claim adjoining the land upon which Montezuma stands. Henry Zook settled in a grove on Bear Creek in 1845 and in 1846 John J. Talbott with his wife, seven sons and six daugh- ters came from Ohio, locating in a grove which took the name of the family and which was near where Brooklyn stands. Talbott entered the first tract of land in the county in 1851 and became the first postmaster. The sur- vey of public lands was completed in 1847. The first school was taught in the winter of 1847-8 by Stephen Moore in a log cabin in Union township. In 1847 the first mail route was established from Iowa City to Fort Des Moines, running through Poweshiek County, over which the mail was carried on horseback.
The county was organized in April, 1848, by the elec- tion of the following officers : Richard B. Ogden, Martin Snyder and Jacob Yeager, commissioners; Stephen Moore, clerk; Isaac G. Wilson, treasurer, and William English, sheriff. The county-seat was located at Monte- zuma where land was entered by the county and platted
OF IOWA 405
for the town. Lots were sold to raise money to build a court-house. William H. Barnes erected the first build- ing at the new county-seat in 1848. Isaac G. Wilson built a log hotel the same year and in June, 1850, the first store was opened by Gideon Wilson. In 1856 John Casady es- tablished the first newspaper, the Montezuma Republican.
In March, 1854, J. B. Grinnell, Dr. Thomas Holyoke, Kev. Homer Hamlin and Henry M. Hamilton from the States of New York and Massachusetts laid out a town for the purpose of planting a colony and founding a col- lege. The town was named Grinnell for the projector of the enterprise. During the year several buildings were erected; a store was opened by Anor Scott, a hotel was started by George Chambers and a small building erected for school and church purposes. Grinnell college was founded in 1855.
Brooklyn was platted by Robert Manatt in April, 1855, and the first house built the same year by Robert Shimer. Malcom was laid out in 1866 by Abel Kimball and Z. P. Wigton. The Rock Island Railroad was built through the towns of Grinnell and Brooklyn in 1863.
RINGGOLD COUNTY was created in 1851 and named for Major Samuel Ringgold who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Palo Alto in the Mexican War. It lies on the Missouri State line in the fourth tier east of the Missouri River and contains five hundred forty-two square miles. The Platte and several branches of the Grand River flow through the county in a southerly direction. Belts of native woods are found along the water courses but a large part of the county is rolling prairie through which the larger streams cut the drift to a depth of from one to two hundred feet.
The first settler was Charles H. Schooler who, in 1844, located with his family in the southeast comer of the county, they were for two years the only white people. In 1846 James M. Tithrow and family settled near them. In
406 HISTORY
the spring of 1848 several families took claims in various portions of the county. In 1851 commissioners chosen by the Legislature located the county-seat four miles south of the center of the county where a town was laid out and named Urbana.
In October, 1852, while Einggold was attached to Tay- lor County, Judge Taylor ordered an election district to be made of Ringgold to be called Schooler township and a voting place to be at the house of Lot Hobbs where the citizens might vote at the presidential election in Novem- ber. In January, 1855, commissioners were again chosen to relocate the county-seat. The place selected was on a farm belonging to Edward A. Temple, who sold it to the county. Here a town was laid out and named Mount Ayr. Soon after an election was held at which the following officers were chosen: J. C. Hagans, judge; M. R. Brown, clerk; J. W. Gofer, recorder and treasurer, and Hiram Imus, sheriff. A log court-house was erected in the spring of 1856 where the first court was held by Judge J. S. Townsend in May, 1857. The first settlers in Mount Ayr were David Edwards, Oran Gove, Chester Stancliff, B. B. Dunning and A. G. Beal who located there in 1855. Dr. E. Keith was the first physician and Henry Crabb the first merchant.
In 1852 L. P. Allen came to Ringgold County from North Carolina, bringing with him two slaves, a boy fourteen and a girl sixteen years of age. Finding that he could not legally hold slaves in Iowa, he sold them to a man in St. Josephs, Missouri, for a thousand dollars.
The Mount Ayr Republican was the first newspaper in the county and was established in the spring of 1861 by P. 0. James with George Burton as editor. The Burling- ton was the first railroad in the county.
RISLEY COUNTY was created in 1851 and embraced the territory now constituing the county of Hamilton. It was attached to Polk and afterwards to Boone for elec-
OF IOWA 407
tion, revenue and judicial purposes. In the same month, by an act of the Legislature, the county of Webster was created embracing the territory of both Eisley and Yell counties by which act these two ceased to exist. An act of the same session which took effect before the union of these two counties, changed the name of Risley to Web- ster, so that for a period of five months and nine days the former county of Risley (now Hamilton) was Webster County. This came from the fact that the act changing the name of Risley to Webster took effect upon publication January 22, 1853, while the act consolidating Yell and Risley did not become a law until the first of July follow- ing.
SAC COUNTY was created in 1851 and named for the Sac Indians. It lies in the fourth tier south of Minne- sota and in the third tier east of the Missouri River, is twenty-four miles square and embraces five hundred seventy-six square miles. The county is watered by branches of the Boyer and Raccoon rivers flowing in a southerly direction through the county which is on the divide between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers; the waters of the Raccoon flow into the former and the Boyer into the Missouri.
The first settler in the county was Otho Williams who, in 1854, located at Big Grove in the southeast corner on the North Raccoon River, where he cleared a farm in the woods while thousands of acres of fertile prairie ready for the breaking plow surrounded the grove on all sides. Soon after F. M. Corey, Leonard Austin, Joseph Austin, W. F. Lagourge and Seymour Wagoner settled in various parts of the county. Mr. Wagoner became major of a cavalry regiment during the War of the Rebellion and was killed while gallantly leading his command in battle. On the 4th of July, 1855, a town was laid out on the banks of the Raccoon River for the county-seat and named Sac City.
408 HISTORY
Previous to 1856 Sac had been attached to Greene County for judicial, election and revenue purposes.
The first election was held April 7, 1856, at the house of Eugene Criss, at which the following officials were chosen: Samuel Watts, judge; Francis Ayers, clerk; F. M. Corey, recorder and treasurer; W. F. Lagourge, sheriff, and H. C. Crawford, prosecuting attorney. The first term of the District Court was held at Sac City by Judge C. J. McFarland in June, 1857.
For many years the settlers were obliged to go to Fort Dodge, a distance of fifty miles, for goods, groceries and mail. The first house at Sac City was built by Eugene Criss for a hotel, which was for many years the station for the semi-weekly stage line running between Cedar Falls and Sioux City. In 1863 Grant City was laid out in the southern part of the county on the Raccoon River. The first newspaper was the Sac Sun, established in July, 1871, by J. N. Miller of Sac City. Odebolt, in the western part of the county, was laid out by the Blair Land Com- pany in 1877 on a branch of the Northwestern Railroad. The town of Wall Lake was platted by the Blair Com- pany in 1877, three miles south of the famous lake of that name in the Maple valley.
SCOTT COUNTY was created in 1837 from territory belonging to the original counties of Dubuque, Cook and Muscatine. It lies on the Mississippi River in the fifth tier north of Missouri and contains four hundred fifty-five square miles. The county was named for General Winfield Scott who was in command of the department of which this county was a part in 1832. An account of the earliest settlements and the contests for the county-seat have been given elsewhere.
The survey of the public lands of Iowa began in the fall of 1836 and was completed in Scott County, by A. Bent, in March, 1837. The first county officials were appointed by Governor Lucas in 1838 and consisted of Ebenezer
OF IOWA 409
Cook, probate judge ; A. H. Davenport, sheriff ; and Isaac A. Hedges and John Porter, justices of the peace. D. C. Eldridge was the first postmaster of Davenport. In Oc- tober, 1838, Judge Thomas S. Wilson held the first term of court in the county. Alexander McGregor opened the first law office in 1836. The first steam mill was built by A. C. Fulton in 1844. The first church was organized in the spring of 1838 by Father Samuel Muzzuchelli, an Italian Catholic priest. A Presbyterian church was or- ganized the same year with ten members. The first ser- mon was preached by the noted pioneer Congregational minister. Rev. Asa Turner, in Pleasant Valley in the summer of 1836.
The Wapsipinicon Eiver forms a large part of the northern boundary of the county, while the Mississippi flows along the eastern and southern limits. These rivers are bordered with fine bodies of native timber while sev- eral groves are found in the interior of the county.
SHELBY COUNTY was embraced in the original county of Keokuk when it extended west to the Missouri River. In 1850 the county was organized with present boundaries and named for General Isaac Shelby, an of- ficer of the Revolutionary War. It lies in the second tier east of the Missouri River and in the fourth north of the Missouri State line, is twenty-four miles square, embrac- ing in its area five hundred ninety square miles. The en- tire surface is rolling and was originally largely prairie with numerous small groves of native woods scattered over it. The West Nishnabotna and numerous branches of the Missouri and Boyer rivers furnish a water supply.
The first white men known to have made homes in the county were two hunters and trappers, Nicholas Beery and Mr. Bowman, who built a cabin near the Nishnabotna in the fall of 1847 and spent several years at their occu- pation along the numerous water courses. In 1851 Mr. Beery was attacked by a wandering band of Indians, rob-
410 HISTORY
bed and beaten so brutally that he died of his injuries. The next settlers were largely Mormons who separated from the main body who, in 1848-9, made settlements in several of the Missouri Eiver counties. Abraham Gal- land and his son-in-law, William Jordan, made claims at a large grove in the northwest portion of the county in the fall of 1848, built a log cabin and became the first per- manent residents of the county. Galland's Grove con- tained about a thousand acres of timber land and at- tracted about it many families. Among the earliest set- tlers were William Felshaw, Solomon and Joseph Han- cock, Joseph Roberts, James M. Butler, Andrew Foutz, Franklin Rudd, Mansel Wicks and John A. Mcintosh. The latter was a noted Mormon pioneer preacher.
The county was organized in 1853 by the election of the following officers: William Vanausdall, judge; Andrew Foutz, sheriff; Vinsan G. Perkins, clerk; Alexander Mc- Cord, recorder and treasurer, and James Ward, prose- cuting attorney. There were but thirteen votes polled at this election. The first court was held in 1853 by Judge Samuel H. Riddle in a building used for a grocery and saloon at Galland's Grove. A location was chosen for the county-seat in what is now Grove township, where a town was laid out and named Shelbyville. Several build- ings were erected and for five years the new town grew into a thriving village. But, on losing the county-seat, the town soon became deserted and finally disappeared by the removal of the buildings to other places. In 1857 the town of Simoda was platted near the center of the county with the expectation that it would become the county-seat. A newspaper was established by Samuel Dewell named the New Idea; the first number was issued early in 1858. This town attained a size of twenty build- ings and made a vigorous fight to secure the county-seat but failing, fell into decay, the buildings were for the most part removed to Harlan and the town entirely disap- peared. In 1858 the town of Harlan was laid out near the
OF IOWA 411
geographical center of the county and named for the first Republican United States Senator in Iowa. The first building was erected by Isaac Plum and in the fall of 1858 William W. Newton built a hotel. In January, 1859, the Shelby County Courier was established at Harlan by J. B. Besack and a determined campaign opened to se- cure the county-seat which was successful before the end of the year. In 1878 a railroad was built from Avoca, on the line of the Rock Island, to Harlan; in 1881 a branch of the Northwestern was built through the northeastern part of the county ; and the next year the Milwaukee road was built through the northwestern portion of the county. Shelby is a flourishing town in the south side of the county on the Rock Island road.
SIOUX COUNTY was at one time included in the or- iginal county of Fayette and was created in 1851. Its western boundary is the Big Sioux River and it lies in the second tier south of Minnesota. The county has an area of seven hundred sixty-nine square miles and was named for the Sioux Indians who, at one time, occupied north- western Iowa. The Rock and Floyd rivers flow through it in a southwesterly direction and the surface is rolling prairie with but little native timber. There are bluffs along the Big Sioux River rising to a height of from one to two hundred feet.
Among the first settlers in the county were E. L. Stone, F. M. Hubbell, W. H. and Francis Frame and Joseph Bell. They located in the valley of the Big Sioux River in 1859.
In 1860 the county was organized by the election of the following officers: W. H. Frame, judge; F. M. Hubbell, clerk; E. L. Stone, recorder and treasurer. There were but fifteen persons in the county at this time and for many years the danger from attacks of the Sioux Indians was so great that but few settlers ventured so far on the fron- tier. In 1860 a town was laid out on the Big Sioux named
412 HISTORY
Calliope. It was in the southern part of the county and became the first county-seat, remaining such until 1872. There the first school was taught in 1867. A newspaper was established at Calliope by John R. Curry named the Siovx County Herald. In 1869 Henry Hospers and others from Pella visited the county and made arrangements to establish a colony of Hollanders. Five hundred sixty- two preemptions were filed on Government lands in the vicinity of the Floyd River in the southeastern part of the county and in the spring of 1870 forty families from Pella settled upon them. During the summer Henry Hos- pers laid out the town of Orange City, which, in 1872, be- came the county-seat and the Sioux Counts/ Herald was moved to that place.
SLAUGHTER COUNTY was created in January, 1838, and embraced a portion of the territory now included in the counties of Louisa, Muscatine and Henry. It was named for William B. Slaughter, Secretary of the Terri- tory of Wisconsin. The county-seat was located at As- toria where the first courts were held in 1837 by Judges Irwin and Williams. The citizens of the countv were dis- satisfied with the name which had been secured through the manipulations of the obscure official whose name it bore and, upon petition, the Legislature relieved them by changing the boundaries of the county and naming it Washington.
STORY COUNTY was created in Januarv, 1846. and named for Chief Justice Joseph Story of the United States Supreme Court. It lies near the geographical center of the State, being in the fifth tier both from the north and south and in the sixth from both the east and west bounda- ries. It contains an area of five hundred seventy-six square miles. The Skunk River and several tributaries flow through it in a southeasterly direction, the shores of which are bordered with native woods.
n <
K CO o B
O 2
r
OF IOWA 413
On the 4th of April, 1848, William Parker settled in a grove near the southeast corner of the county and was the first white man to make a home within its limits. In 1850 James C. Smith of Indiana, with a family of five sons, opened a farm. In the spring of 1851 D. W. and Mormon Ballard, AVilliam Brezley and Isaac Atkinson settled in a body of timber which was given the name of Ballard's Grove. The same year J. K. Keighley and S. M. Gary made claims on the Skunk River and G. N. Kirkman set- tled on Indian Creek.
In 1853 commissioners selected for that purpose located the county-seat and gave it the name of Nevada. In June the land thus chosen was deeded to the county by J. W. Morris and a town laid out in which he was the owner of every alternate lot. The first election was held in April, 1853, at which the following officers were chosen: E. C. Evans, judge; Franklin Thompson, clerk; John Zenor, recorder and treasurer ; Eli Deal, sheriff, and John Keag- ley, school fund commissioner. The first term of court was held in a little log cabin at the new county- seat in Au- gust, 1854, at which Judge J. C. McFarland presided. The first house in Nevada was built in October, 1853, by T. E. Alderman who was the first store-keeper and postmaster. The first court-house built in 1856 was burned on the night of December 31, 1863. The State Agricultural College was located in Story County in 1859 on a farm of six hun- dred forty-eight acres lying on Squaw Creek. Story County secured the college by a donation to the institution of $10,000 and several tracts of land from citizens. In 1857 the Nevada Republican, a weekly newspaper, was established by R. H. Shrall. The Northwestern Railroad was extended to Nevada in the summer of 1864 and the town of Ames laid out on its line near the Agricultural College in February, 1865. This town was named for Oakes Ames one of the largest stockholders in the con- struction company.
414 HISTORY
TAMA COUNTY was created by act of the Legisla- ture on the 17th of February, 1843, and attached to Linn for judicial, election and revenue purposes. It lies in the fifth tier west of the Mississippi River and in the middle of the State north and south. The county contains twenty congressional townships, embracing an area of seven hun- dred twenty square miles and was named for the Fox In- dian chief Taimah. The Iowa River and numerous tribu- taries flow through it in a southeasterly direction, most of which are bordered by native groves.
The first white settler in the county was H. N. Atkin- son who, on the 18th of May, 1848, entered a tract of land near the Iowa River about three miles west of where Tama City stands. Isaac Asher and family settled on Indian Creek in the fall of 1849. William, Anthony and Robert "Wilkinson, brothers, from Ohio, with their mother and three sisters settled in Richland township in October, 1849. Before the close of 1851 many families had located in other parts of the county. Among the early settlers in the vicinity of Toledo and Tama City were J. C. Ver- milya, George Carter, R. A. Redman, Dr. Wealey Daniel and Judge Graham.
An election was held at the house of R. A. Redman near the Iowa River, on the first Monday of August, 1852, for the purpose of organizing a county government. The first officers chosen were John Vermilya, judge; John Ross, treasurer and recorder ; D. D. Applegate, clerk ; and Myron Blodgett, sheriff. In 1853 J. M. Ferguson and R. B. Ogden were chosen commissioners to locate the county- seat. They met at the house of Judge Vermilya and after examining various places proposed, selected the spot where Toledo stands and gave it that name. The first newspaper in the county was issued at Toledo in the spring of 1856 by M. V. B. Kenton and named the Toledo Tribune.
Tama City was laid out in the summer of 1862 on the north side of the Iowa River and on the line of the North-
OF IOWA 415
western Eailroad. It was first named luka but a few years later the name was changed to Tama City. In 1874 a com- pany built a dam across the Iowa Eiver and brought water by an aqueduct to the city making a valuable water power. The Musquakie Indians have a reservation in the county where several hundred of them live. Traer is a town in the northeast part of the county on the line of the Burling- ton and Cedar Rapids Railroad.
TAYLOR COUNTY was created in 1847 and first at- tached to Pottawattamie. It lies on the Missouri State line in the third tier east of the Missouri River and con- tains five hundred forty-eight square miles. The surface is rolling and the principal streams are bordered by woods. The Platte, East Nodaway and West One Hundred and Two rivers and many smaller streams flow through the county in a southwesterly direction. The name '' One Hundred and Two ' ' was given to the river in early days by a party of surveyors who were running a line for a military road from some point in Missouri. The place where their line struck this branch of the Platte was one hundred and two miles from the starting point.
The first white family known to have settled in the county was that of Jonah Reed who took a claim near the Page County line in 1844. Stephen H. Parker took a claim in the county in 1846. In 1851 the population had reached three hundred ninety-three and Elisha Parker was appointed to take steps to organize a county govern- ment. At an election held in February the following offi- cers were chosen : Jacob Ross, Levi L. Hayden and Daniel Smith, commissioners ; John Hayden, clerk ; H. Benning- ton, probate judge ; John Hayden, treasurer and recorder ; and J. B. Campbell, sheriff.
Most of the early settlers lived in the southern part of the county in the disputed territory, supposing they were in Missouri. Although they owned no slaves, on account of their poverty, they were strong advocates of the system.
416 HISTORY
They lived in the rudest log cabins and subsisted on pork, corn dodgers, whisky and coffee- and such small game as the country afforded.
The first term of court was held at the cabin of Jacob Ross by Judge Sloan in September, 1851. The first at- torney in the county was Benjamin Rector who became a prominent lawyer. He raised a company for the Fourth Iowa Cavalry in the War of the Rebellion, was promoted to major, taken prisoner and died at Helena in January, 1863.
Commissioners were appointed to locate the county-seat in 1852 and selected a site on the west bank of East One Hundred and Two River where, by order of the county judge, a town was laid out and named Bedford. 0. W. Tenno erected a double log cabin, the first in the town plot, which was used for a store and dwelling for many years. The first newspaper in the county was established in Feb- ruary, 1858, by Joseph H. Turner at Bedford and named the Iowa South West. The Burlington Railroad has a branch running from Creston through Bedford and Tay- lor County. The county was named for General Zachary Taylor, the twelfth President of the United States.
UNION COUNTY lies in the second tier north of Mis- souri, in the fourth east of the Missouri River and con- tains four hundred thirty-two square miles. It was cre- ated in 1851 and in the original bill providing for its establishment the county was named Mason, for Judge Charles Mason. Just before the passage of the bill in the Senate, upon motion of Mr. Morton, the name Mason was stricken out and " Union " inserted. At that time, after years of bitter conflict over the institution of slavery which threatened a dissolution of the Union, a compromise had been effected which was believed by many would per- manently settle the dangerous controversy and insure the perpetuity of the Union. Hence the name given to this new county. Grand River, Twelve Mile and the Platte are the
OF IOWA 417
principal streams traversing the county and their banks are covered with timber.
The county was entirely unsettled in 1846 when the Mor- mon emigration began from Nauvoo westward through Iowa. At this time many of the Musquaka Indians, under their chief, "Johnny Green," occupied hunting grounds along Grand River. A large body of Mormon refugees moving westward were overtaken by severe winter storms in Decatur and Union counties. Several hundred men, women and children, unable to endure the hardships of winter travel through an unsettled country, stopped in a grove on the Grand River bluff in Union County and dug caves for shelter from the storms. Here thev also built log cabins and cared for the sick and feeble until spring. They built a mill run by horse power and many remained several years cultivating land and raising crops. This furnished a refuge for others who could here recruit from the hardships of the journey and replenish their exhausted provisions. The place was named Mount Pisgah by the Mormons.
In 1850 many settlers came into the county and pur- chased the improvements made by the Mormons. Among them were William L. Lock, J. H. Stark, Joseph and Nor- man Nun and Benjamin Lamb. Henry Peters bought the Mormon mill and laid out a town which he named Peters- ville. A store, hotel and several small houses were built and for a few years it was the business center for the people of the county. In 1851 Amos C. Cooper and Isaac P. Lamb settled in the southern part of the county in Pleas- ant township and the following year William Grosbeck and Lewis Bragg located in the northeast corner.
The county was organized in 1853 by the election of Norman Nun, judge; John Edgecomb, sheriff, and I. P. Lamb, school fund commissioner. The first term of court was held at Petersville in the fall of 1853 at which Judge A. A. Bradford presided. The commissioners located the county-seat near a beautiful grove on Twelve Mile
[Vol. 3]
418 HISTORY
Creek, in February, 1855, and gave it the name of Afton at the suggestion of Mrs. James Baker. The town of Highland, laid out near the center of the county was a com- petitor for the county-seat and losing it also lost its build- ings which were moved to Afton.
In 1869 the town of Creston was laid out on the line of the Burlington Railroad. The principal division of this road in Iowa and the machine shops were established at Creston and it eventually became the county-seat. The first newspaper in the county was established in the sum- mer of 1859 by Morris and Ryan, named the Afton Eagle. It was Democratic in politics but after the election of Lin- coln in 1860 it was purchased by L. Raguet and became neutral.
VAN BUREN COUNTY was created in December, 1836, and named for Martin Van Buren who had been elected President of the United States. It then included a portion of the present county of Davis. In 1838 enough territory was taken from Henry and the original county of Demoine to make the boundaries of Van Buren as they now are, after detaching a part of its territory which was added to Davis. The present county contains four hun- dred eighty-four square miles and lies in the second tier west of the Mississippi River with the southern boundary the Missouri State line. The Des Moines River flows through it in a southeasterly direction for a distance of forty-five miles, having numerous tributaries and borders of excellent timber, dividing the county about equally be- tween woodland and prairie. Coal and building stone are abundant as well as water power. The first settler in the county was Abel Galland who took a claim near where Farmington stands, in 1832.
The first white man who built a cabin where Keo- sauqua now stands was John Silvers who took a claim in 1835. During the same j^ear Isaac W. McCarthy, John Tolman, E. Pardom and others settled in the same vicin-
OF IOWA 419
ity. In the fall Silvers sold his claim to Mr. Seigler whose wife was the first woman in the county. In 1837 a com- pany composed of James and Edwin Manning, James Hall, John J. Fairman and others purchased the Seigler land and laid out a town which was named Keosauqua, the Indian name for the Des Moines Eiver.
Farmington had been previously laid out and was the first county-seat where Judge David Irwin held the first court in April, 1837. Many towns were platted in the early days and the rivalry for the county-seat was very sharp. An act of the Legislature of 1839 located it at Rochester but the Governor vetoed the act. Commission- ers chosen the same year by the Legislature located the county-seat at Keosauqua.
Another town was laid out in 1839 by R. King just be- low Keosauqua which was named Des Moines City. A dam was built across the river at this place and a flour- ing-mill erected. In the fall of that year a small steamer, the S. B. Science, ascended the Des Moines River to this dam. It was loaded with Indian goods, provisions and whisky and was under the command of Captain Clark. In the summer of 1843 a weekly newspaper was estab- lished at Keosauqua named the Iowa Democrat; its pro- prietors were Jesse M. Shepherd and John T. Mitchell. One of the first railroads built in the State was the old Des Moines Valley which was projected by citizens of Keo- kuk to follow up the valley of the Des Moines River from that city to the Minnesota line. This was the first rail- road in Van Buren County.
WAEKAW COUNTY was created in 1851 by act of the Legislature from territory originally embraced in Ben- ton when that county extended to the Missouri River. The bill which created this county when reported to the Sen- ate gave the name of '' Floyd " in memory of Sergeant Floyd of the Lewis and Clark expedition who died in camp in 1804 and was buried on the east side of the Missouri
420 HISTORY
River south of Sioux City. The Senate passed the bill as introduced but it was amended in the House by striking out ^' Floyd " and inserting ^' Wahkaw," an Indian name.
An act of the Legislature approved January 12, 1853, provided for the organization of the county and selected commissioners to locate the county-seat, the name of which should be Sergeant's Bluff. A later act of the same Legis- lature changed the name of the county to Woodbury, and on the 22d of January, 1853, Wahkaw County ceased to exist.
WAPELLO COUNTY was created in February, 1843, from territory embraced in the original county of Demoine. It lies in the fourth tier west of the Mississippi River and in the second north of the Missouri State line and contains four hundred thirty-two square miles. The Des Moines River flows through it from the northwest to southeast, dividing it into nearly equal parts. The banks were originally covered with a heavy growth of timber and more than half of the county is underlaid with coal of good quality. The county was named for the Fox chief Wapello, his name signifying ^' the prince."
On the 1st of May, 1843, the lands of this county were opened to settlement and several hundred persons who had camped along the western border of Jefferson has- tened in to take claims. Many conflicts arose over the has- tily made boundary lines which were usually settled peace- ably by the claim committees chosen by the settlers for the purpose of deciding such contests.
The first election was held in April, 1844, at which the following county officers were chosen : J. M. Montgomery, L. E. Temple and C. T. Harrow, commissioners; P. C. Jeffries, probate judge; Joseph Haynes, sheriff; Thomas Foster, treasurer; M. J. Spurlock, recorder; Charles Overman, clerk; and Hugh George, surveyor. The com- missioners chosen to locate the county-seat selected the
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site where Ottumwa stands. Here a town had been laid out by the Appanoose Rapids Company in May, 1843, and named Ottumwa, an Indian word signifying '' rap- ids " or ' * tumbling water. ' ' The commissioners gave the place the name of Lewisville but the town proprietors re- fused to accept that name and adhered to the beautiful and appropriate Indian name " Ottumwa " and thus pre- served for the future city the name which had never be- fore been given to a town.
Among the pioneers who made the first improvements at the new county-seat were Dr. C. S. Warden, William Dewey, S. S. Norris, P. C. Jeffries, David Glass, W. H. Galbraith, John Myers, David Hale and Herman P. Graves. In 1844 the town consisted of nine log cabins and one small frame house. David Hale kept the first hotel in a log cabin and S. Richards opened a store in a similar building. The mail was carried once a week on horse- back from Keosauqua, Rev. T. M. Kirkpatrick was the first minister in the county, holding services in a wig- wam on Keokuk Prairie in 1843. Dr. Charles S. Warden was the first physician, coming from Kentucky in 1843. He for many years practiced medicine over all that re- gion. Ezekiel Rust taught the first school in a log cabin.
In August, 1848, a weekly newspaper named the Des Moines Courier was established in Ottumwa by J. H. D. Street and R. H. Warden and was at that time the most western paper in the United States.
In early days J. P. Eddy kept an Indian trading post in the northwest corner of the county on the bank of the Des Moines River. He continued to keep a store there after the removal of the Indians and in 1843 laid out a town which he named Eddyville. Agency City, seven miles east of Ottumwa, takes its name from an old Indian agency which was established in an early day at that place. It was the first town laid out in Wapello County. In Au- gust, 1859, the Burlington Railroad was completed to Ot-
422 HISTORY
tumwa and the following year the Des Moines Valley- Railroad came in from Keoknk.
WARREN COUNTY lies in the third tier north of Mis- souri, in the fifth east of the Missouri River and contains five hundred sixty-nine square miles. It was created in January, 1846, and named for General Joseph Warren who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. In 1848 the northern tier of townships was attached to Polk County. In 1853 these townships, with the exception of a fraction lying north of the Des Moines River were restored to War- ren. Three rivers, North, Middle and South River flow in an easterly direction through the county and are bordered by fine timber.
The first settler in the county was John D. Parmelee who built a log cabin and erected a sawmill on Middle River in 1853, where lumber was manufactured for build- ing the fort at Raccoon Forks. William Mason took a claim near Palmyra in the spring of 1845 before the In- dians removed from the region. Among the earliest pio- neers were Henry James, Robert Rees, P. P. Henderson, Samuel Hayworth, D. Booker, Alexander Grindler and Alfred D. Jones. Early in 1849 P. P. Henderson was appointed sheriff to organize the county and the first com- missioners were Samuel Hayworth, Alexander Grindler and D. Booker. During this year the commissioners chosen to select a site for the county-seat met at the house of Alexander Grindler and decided upon a place near the geographical center of the county a mile north of South River where a town was laid out and named Indianola. Among the first to build houses and settle at the new county-seat was Zebulon Hackett, P. P. Henderson and Amos Booker,
The first election was held on the 1st of January, 1849, at which the following officers were chosen : judge of pro- bate, Thomas Feagans; sheriff, P. P. Henderson; clerk, Jonathan Dillon; recorder, William Ginder; surveyor,
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Henry Hays ; commissioners, Samuel Haworth, Alexander Grindler and Daniel Barker. In September of the same year the first court was held in a log school-house by Judge McKay at which Barlow Granger was district attorney. A log court-house was built at Indianola in 1851 which for several years was used also for church services, pub- lic meetings, political conventions and schools. A news- paper was established at Indianola by John W. Murphy who issued the first number of the Republican on the 24th of August, 1855. It survived less than a year and was succeeded by the Indianola Visitor, published by J. H. Knox. The Methodists organized the first church in In- dianola in 1850. At the annual conference of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church held at Indianola, in August, 1860, steps were taken to establish a seminary under the auspices of that denomination, which in 1867 became " Simpson Centenary College."
Carlisle was laid out in the northern part of the county by Jerry Church and Daniel Moore in 1851. Norwalk was laid out by George M. Swan the same year near the northwest corner of the county. The first railroad built was a branch of the Rock Island running from Des Moines to Indianola which was completed to that place in Octo- ber, 1871. The first movement of the citizens of Warren County to secure a railroad was made as early as 1853. Efforts continued for nearly eighteen years before the county-seat became connected with the railroad lines of the country.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, when first created, was given the name of '^ Slaughter " in January, 1838. On the 25th of January, 1839, the name was fortunately changed to Washington and the boundaries arranged as they now exist. This is the second county west of the Mis- sissippi River in the third tier north of Missouri and em- braces five hundred sixty-six square miles.
The first white settler was an Indian trader, Joseph
424 HISTORY
Smart who, in 1834, established a trading post near the mouth of Crooked Creek. In February, 1836, John Black and Adam Ritchey with two brothers and several neigh- bors took claims in the southern part of the county near the Henry County line. Here they built cabins and opened farms and during the following year Isaac Pence and. family, Milo Holcomb and John B. Bullock took claims near them. In the fall of 1836 Richard Moore and others settled in Washington township about three miles from where the county-seat was established. Immigration in- creased rapidly from this time and in 1838 the county had a large number of permanent settlers. In 1837, when the county was called Slaughter, a town had been laid out in the present township of Oregon named Astoria, which be- came the county-seat and here a log court-house was built.
In 1839 commissioners appointed to select a site for the permanent county-seat located it at Washington. In De- cember of the same year Joseph Adams built the first house, a double log cabin one part for a residence and the other for a blacksmith shop. The second house was built by Daniel Powers for a hotel with two rooms on the ground and a loft above. The first store was opened in May, 1840, by John Daugherty. Rev. J. L. Kirkpatrick, a Methodist minister, organized a religious society in Octo- ber, 1839. Thomas Baker was the first postmaster and Dr. George H. Stone the first physician at the county- seat.
A mill had been built on Crooked Creek as early as 1837 by Milo Holcomb and John B. Bullock. The first post-office in the county was Pottsville, of which David Goble was postmaster; it was supplied with mail semimonthly by M. Higbee who carried it on foot from Wapello in Louisa County. On the 17th of June, 1839, Judge Williams held the first court at the new county-seat.
About the year 1844 a newspaper was established at Washington by Lewis F. Walden and J. F. Rice called the Washington Argus and was Democratic in politics.
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In August, 1858, a branch of the Mississippi and Mis- souri Railroad was completed to Washington. Brighton is a thriving town in the southeast part of the county on the line of the Southwestern Railroad. The principal streams flowing through the county are the Skunk and English rivers and Crooked Creek, the banks of which are bordered by native timber.
WAYNE COUNTY was created on the 13th of January, 1846, and lies on the Missouri line about midway between the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers, containing five hundred twenty-three square miles. It was named for General Anthony Wayne of the Revolutionary War. Branches of the Chariton and Grand rivers flow through the county in a southerly direction cutting channels to a depth of from one hundred to one hundred fifty feet. These streams are usually bordered by timber and numerous groves are scattered over the county.
In 1840 D. S. Duncan, H. P. Sullivan and H. B. Dun- can of Kentucky took claims on Grand River close to the State line near the present town of Lineville. Other set- tlers soon came, locating in the timber lands along the streams. Among them were Henderson Walker, Ben- jamin Barker, Hiram Mason, I. W. McCarthy, Joseph Rains, George Garman, Seth Anderson and Isaac Wilson. In November, 1850, Dr. I. W. McCarthy was appointed sheriff to organize the county. The following officers were elected in August, 1851: Seth Anderson, judge; Thomas McPherson, clerk; D. Payton, recorder and treasurer, and I. W. McCarth}^, sheriff. Thirty votes were cast at this election and the amount of revenue the first year was $64.30.
The commissioners chosen to locate the county-seat in the spring of 1851 selected the site where Cory don stands and gave it the name of Springfield but as there was al- ready a town of that name in the State, upon the sug- gestion of Judge Anderson, it was changed to Corydon
426 HISTORY
for a town of that name in Indiana. The ground was purchased by the county, a town platted by Benjamin Barker and J. F. Stratton, the lots appraised and offered for sale. George Garman purchased the first lot for thirty-eight dollars upon which he built a house in which he opened a store. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Morgan Parr, a Christian minister. In the spring of 1852 a term of court was held by Judge McKay in an unfin- ished log house. The first newspaper in the county was the South Tier Democrat established in 1858 by Cutler and Binkley at Coiydon. Lineville, which lies near the State line, in the southwest corner of the county was the first town laid out, in 1848. Allerton is a thriving town four miles southwest of Corydon. The Chicago and South- western Railroad was the first built into the county. The Chariton River was named for a French trader who was the first to establish a post near its mouth in Missouri. His name was also given to a county in Missouri where his old trading post stood and later to the county-seat of Lucas County in Iowa.
WEBSTER COUNTY, as first established in January, 1853, is now Hamilton, but by an act of the same General Assembly, which took place six months later, the counties of Yell and Risley were united under the name of Webster and the original county of Webster was named Hamilton. In July, 1855, the south half of Humboldt was added to Webster. The latter county was named for the famous Massachusetts lawyer, Daniel Webster, and these numer- ous changes in boundaries were made through the influ- ence of the proprietors of the towns of Webster City and Fort Dodge in order to secure to them the county-seat.
Henry Lott and others went into the Des Moines valley near the mouth of the Boone River in 1847 and soon after Isaac Bell, Jacob Mericle, Tolman Woolsey, D. B. Spauld- ing, Orsborn Brannon, John Tolman, Thomas Holliday, and William Pierce settled in the southern part of Web-
OF IOWA 427
ster County along the Des Moines River and tributaries. Rev. John Johns was a famous hunter and pioneer preacher in that vicinity. Up to 1853 about one hundred fifty settlers had made homes along the river south of Fort Dodge.
In August, 1853, an election was held and the following county ofl&cers were chosen : William Pierce, judge ; Tol- man Woolsey, recorder and treasurer; Jesse Goodrich, clerk; J. Doty, sheriff, and John Tolman, school fund commissioner. A town was laid out on a beautiful prairie between the Des Moines and Boone rivers in the fall of 1853 named Homer which was made the first county-seat. There the first court was held in the fall of 1854 by Judge McFarland. Granville Berkley was the first postmaster at Homer, which made a rapid growth.
The old fort had been vacated by the soldiers in Octo- ber, 1853, and Major William Williams had charge of the abandoned Government property. Soon after the land, which had been reserved for the post, was offered for sale and purchased by a syndicate at the head of which was Major Williams. In March, 1854, the survey and plat of the original town of Fort Dodge was completed, the sur- vey having been made by S. C. Wood of Boone County. The syndicate consisted of Colonel Jesse Williams, John Lemp,Bemhart Henn and George Gillaspyand was known as the '' Fort Dodge Land Company." Major William Williams was the resident manager who made the pur- chase of the lands and caused the town of Fort Dodge to be laid out. A post-office was established and Major Wil- liams was appointed postmaster. In 1855 a United States Land OflSce was established at Fort Dodge and the town became a competitor to Homer for the county-seat.
Among the earliest settlers at Fort Dodge were John F. Duncombe, John L. Cheyney, H. Beecher, H. A. Cra- mer, C. H. Vincent, W. 0. Ruggles, E. G. Morgan, John Garrahty, Albert Morrison and Ezekiel Hinton. A plan was devised by citizens of Fort Dodge and Newcastle, on
428 HISTORY
the Boone River, to divide the county and make each of these towns the county-seat of the new counties thus cre- ated. The first step was calling an election in April, 1856, for the removal of the county-seat from Homer to Fort Dodge. By cooperation of the citizens of Fort Dodge and Newcastle and the entire northern part of the county Fort Dodge was successful. The Legislature of 1857 divided the large county of Webster, creating the county of Hamil- ton out of the eastern part and the county-seat was estab- lished at Webster City, the new name for the town of New- castle. The division line between the new counties left Homer close to the west side of Hamilton and was a death blow to a town which had made a remarkable growth, and was at one time the most important in northwestern Iowa. Business and citizens deserted it, houses and stores were left without tenants and for years it was a deserted vil- lage.
The boundaries of Hamilton were made identical with the original county of Webster the present county con- taining none of the territory of the original county of that name. On the 26th of February, 1857, the north tier of townships of Webster County was annexed to the new county of Humboldt, leaving Webster with an area of seven hundred twenty square miles.
The first sermon preached in Fort Dodge was by the Rev. J. H. Burleigh in the fall of 1851 in a hospital tent. Williams and Lemp operated the first store in 1855 and C. C. Carpenter, afterwards Governor, taught the first school in the winter of 1855-6. Hoyt Sherman and E. W. Lucas of Des Moines bought the first lots sold in Fort Dodge in March, 1855. John F. Duncombe opened the first law office in April and Dr. S. B. Olney was the first physician. The first hotel was opened in 1854 by W. R. Miller in one of the barracks. In July, 1856, A. S. White established the first newspaper in northwestern Iowa, at Fort Dodge. It was a weekly Democratic journal named the Fort Dodge Sentinel. The first railroad built into the
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county was the Iowa Falls and Sioux City which reached Fort Dodge in May, 1869. In Webster County are found extensive deposits of gypsum and its manufacture into stucco is one of the most important industries in the State. A history of the establishment of a military post at Fort Dodge is given elsewhere.
WINNEBAGO COUNTY lies on the Minnesota line about midway between the east and west boundaries of the State. It was at one time a part of the old county of Fay- ette but in 1851 was created by act of the General As- sembly with present boundaries and named for the Indian tribe that at one time occupied a portion of northern Iowa. The county contains nearly twelve congressional townships, making an area of four hundred three square miles and was at different times attached to the counties of Polk, Boone and Webster.
The first white settler within the limits of Winnebago was George W. Thomas who, early in 1855, took a claim and opened a farm at Eice Lake. On the 27th of Septem- ber of the same year John Mabin made a claim on the east side of Lime Creek where Forest City stands. P. Ten- nis, J. Gilchrist and J. C. Bonar arrived during the sum- mer of 1856 and Robert Clark, John S. Blowers, A. T. Cole, Henry Allen, J. L. Hitt and others settled in the southern part of the county, with their families. In the fall of the same year Samuel Tennis, Archibald Murray and William Gilbert made homes in the northern part of the county. In 1857 several Norwegian families arrived and from year to year many of their countrymen joined them, making a large settlement of that nationality. Most of the early settlers made their homes in the groves along Lime Creek which were numerous and abounded in game. This stream is a tributary of Shellrock River and affords good water power. Twin Lakes and Rice Lake in the eastern part of the county are clear and beautiful sheets
430 HISTORY
of water. The greater part of the land of Wiimebago west of Lime Creek is rolling prairie of great fertility.
In the fall of 1856 Judge Robert Clark laid out a town on the west bank of Lime Creek, half a mile from the south line of the county, which was named Forest City. A post-oflfice was established of which Mr. Clark was post- master. He built a mill on the creek and opened a store.
The county was organized in the fall of 1857 by the election of the following officers : Robert Clark, judge ; C. H. Day, recorder and treasurer; B. F. Dinslow, clerk; John S. Blowers, sheriff, and C. W. Scott, superintendent of schools. In 1858 the commissioners chosen to locate the county-seat gave it to Forest City. On the 14th of June, 1867, J. W. Kelley issued the first number of a weekly newspaper named the Winnebago Press. It was printed on an old hand press which was first used at Bel- mont when that town was the Capital of Wisconsin and Iowa. It was moved to Burlington in 1837 and used to print the second paper established within the limits of the Territory which became Iowa in 1838 and is reported to have done good service on papers at Osage, Mason City and Ellington before it was taken to Forest City. In the fall of 1869 the village of Lake Mills was laid out by Charles D. Smith where a large mill was built.
WINNESHIEK COUNTY was established in 1847 from territory embraced in the original county of Fayette. It lies in the second tier west of the Mississippi River and extends north to the Minnesota line. It is one of the large counties containing twenty townships, embracing an area of six hundred ninety-four square miles. The county was named for a noted chief of the Winnebago Indians whose name appears on the records '' Kinnoskik " which signi- fies ' * coming thunder. ' ' The surface of the county is di- vided between prairie and woodland, with high bluffs along the streams. The Upper Iowa and Turkey rivers with numerous tributaries flow through it.
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Fort Atkinson was erected in 1840 when the country was occupied by the Winnebago Indians who remained until 1848. A mission school was also established for the edu- cation of the Indian children, in connection with a large farm, where efforts were made to teach them agriculture. After the removal of the Indians the mission was aban- doned and the farm sold to white settlers.
Among the first settlers were Francis Rogers, George Bachel, David Reed, F. J. Huber, William Day, George Ream, William Painter and Philip Morse who took claims in 1848. In 1849 Painter and Aldridge built the first mill in the county on the Upper Iowa River near where De- corah now stands. William Day built one of the first log cabins, in 1849, where Decorah was located. It was oc- cupied by his family of nine persons and also sheltered travelers until Winter when he built the Winneshiek House. Several families built cabins near him in 1850- 51 and a village grew up which was given the name of De- corah, for an Indian chief of the Winnebagos, whose vil- lage and burial ground was at that place.
In 1851 the first steps were taken to organize a county government and a vote was taken upon the location of the county-seat which resulted in the choice of Decorah. The officers chosen were David Reed, judge; Joseph Brown, clerk; George Bachel, sheriff, and David Kuykendall, re- corder and treasurer. The first term of court was held at the house of William Day in Decorah in September, 1851. J. B. Onstine was the first lawyer and Aaron Newell opened a store the same year in a " slab shanty. ' ' Elder Bishop of the Methodist Church was the pioneer preacher who came in 1851. A school-house was built in 1853 in which T. W. Burdick gave instruction. For several years efforts were made to remove the county-seat from Decorah which delayed the building of a court-house until 1856. In 1855 a United States Land office was established which brought manv there to enter land.
In 1856 the Decorah Chronicle, a weekly newspaper.
432 HISTORY
was established. A college was founded in 1865 at De- corah by the Norwegian Lutheran Synod. A branch of the Milwaukee Eailroad was built to the town in 1869.
WOODBURY COUNTY is one of the largest in the State, embracing an area of eight hundred seventy-three square miles. It was first named Wahkaw but changed to "Woodbury, January 22, 1851, in honor of Judge Levi Woodbury of the United States Supreme Court. The county lies on the Missouri River in the fourth tier south of Minnesota. Along the river in this vicinity is a broad expanse of level bottom land of great fertility, varying in width from five to ten miles. The bluffs beyond are high, steep and in places broken into deep ravines and lofty ridges, gradually spreading out into gently rolling prairie. The principal interior streams are the Floyd River, branches of the Little Sioux and Maple rivers and Perry Creek. The Big Sioux forms a part of the western boundary.
The Indian title to this part of Iowa was extinguished in 1847. Early in 1848, forty-four years after this region was visited by the Lewis and Clark exploring expedition, a single adventurous pioneer, William Thompson, made his way up the Missouri valley and settled at Floyd's Bluff, within the limits of what is now Woodbury County. Here he built a log cabin, opened trade with the Indians and laid out a town which he named Thompsonville. After Wahkaw Countj^ was created this became the county-seat, but having no steamboat landing, made but little progress and in a few years was abandoned. In May, 1849, The- ophile Brugnier a Frenchman who had married an In- dian wife, built a cabin on the bluff near the mouth of the Big Sioux about two miles above where Sioux City stands. In the fall of the same year Robert Perry, an eccentric but well educated man from Washington, D. C, settled near a creek where Sioux City stands ; he lived there sev- eral years and his name was given to the creek. In 1850
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OF IOWA 433
Paul Paquette built a cabin about two miles from the mouth of the Big Sioux Eiver.
In 1853, soon after the change of name, the county was organized and the county-seat located at Floyd's Bluff. The first county officials were Marshal Townsley. judge; Hiram Nelson, recorder and treasurer; and Joseph P. Babbitt, clerk. At this time Woodbury County embraced a large territory north and east which has since been di- vided into several counties. In 1854 J. K. Cook, a gov- ernment contractor, came with a party and bought claims in the vicinity of Sioux City. Among those who owned claims in this locality was the gallant General Lyon who was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, the first year of the Civil War. In the winter of 1854 Sioux City was platted and among the pioneers in and about the new town were Joseph Lionels, Hiram Nelson, Francis Chap- pel, G. W. Chamberlin and Marshal Townsley. In July 1855, a stage line was established supplying the town with weekly mail. The first term of court was held at Floyd's Bluff by Judge Riddle in September, 1855. Numerous settlers arrived in Sioux City early in 1856 and the popu- lation of the new town was one hundred fifty. By a vote of the people the county-seat was moved from Floyd's Bluff to Sioux City where a United States Land office was established in 1855.
The Omaha, a steamboat from St. Louis, arrived at Sioux City in June, 1856, loaded with provisions and lum- ber framed ready to be converted into houses. In July a steam sawmill was built. The first white women in the new town were Mrs. S. H. Casady and Mrs. J. R. Myers who arrived with their husbands in the summer of 1855. By the close of the year 1856 the population had increased to more than four hundred, and ninety buildings had been erected. On the Fourth of July, 1857, S. W. Swiggett issued the first number of a weekly newspaper named the Iowa Eagle.
In 1853 Mr. Shook settled on the Little Sioux River at a
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434 HISTORY
place wliich took the name of Correctionville. R. Can- dreau, C. Bacon and M. Kellogg arrived the next year. For many years Correctionville was a station on the old stage line from Fort Dodge to Sioux City. Another one of the early settlements was made on the Little Sioux River near the south line of the county at Smithland. In 1857, when Inkpaduta's band of Sioux Indians came through this settlement on the way to Spirit Lake, hostile demonstrations were made and the settlers gathered and disarmed a number of the Indians. The savages stole other arms, however, and continued their journey up the valley.
Sergeant's Bluff was laid out in 1856 by Crockwell and Dr. Wright of Independence. It was a rival of Sioux City, lying six miles south. In 1857 a newspaper was estab- lished by Cummings and Ziebach, named the Western In- dependent which was later removed to Sioux City where it became the Sioux City Register. The Sioux City and Pacific Railroad was completed to Sioux Citv in March, 1868.
WORTH COUNTY was created in 1851 and named for General William J. Worth who was a prominent officer in the Mexican War. It lies on the Minnesota line in the fifth tier west of the Mississippi and contains an area of four hundred two square miles. Tributaries of the Shellrock River and Lime Creek flow through the county in a southerly direction and in the northwest portion are Silver Lake, Rice Lake and Bright 's Lake, all small sheets of water. There were originally about 10,000 acres of native woodland along the Shellrock and in groves scat- tered over the county.
The first settlements were made by Gulbrand Olsen and Norwegian companions in June, 1853. They made claims on the Shellrock near where Northwood stands where water power was found. In the spring of 1854 Simon Rustad, Chris. Amandsen, Ole Lee and three brothers
OF IOWA 435
named Hart settled in a grove on the Shellrock near the State line. In 1855 D. H. Phelps, Tilly McWithy and Hi- ram Bilton with two sons made claims in the same vicin- ity. In May, 1855, Charles Johnson took a claim at Rice Lake in the vicinity of Bristol. During that season many families settled in that part of the county and at Silver Lake, on Elk Creek, at Wright's Grove and Glen Mary.
The town of Northwood was laid out in November, 1857, by Charles Wardell and the next year Lemuel Dwelle and Joel Dayton platted additions to it. The first store was opened in September by B. H. Beckett in the first frame building which was erected by S. H. Franklin, Goods were transported from McGregor by wagon, a distance of one hundred thirty miles. A post-office was estab- lished in 1857, of which Dr. S. H. Franklin was post- master. In the summer of 1858 Charles Wardell built a dam across the Shellrock River and erected a sawmill. The town of Bristol was platted in the spring of 1857 by Chancy S. Lane and J. S. Loveland, in the western part of the county. Dr. James Keeler had settled on the site of the town in 1856 and the largest settlement in the county had grown up in that vicinity. A store was opened in Bristol in 1857 and a post-office was established the same year with Dr. James Keeler postmaster.
The county was organized in October, 1857, and the following officers were chosen : Dr. James Keeler, judge ; C. S. Lane, treasurer and recorder ; B. K. Walker, clerk ; Lorin Turnure, sheriff; and Amos Bentley, prosecuting attorney. Bristol and Northwood were from the first rivals for the county-seat and the commissioners appointed to select a location gave it to Bristol. The citizens of that town realized the dangers of ultimate removal, as their town was near the west line of the county. To re- move this peril they petitioned the Legislature for the pur- pose of securing a change in the county boundaries by adding a portion of the territory of the east side of Worth to Mitchell and annexing a part of Winnebago on the west.
436 HISTORY
In this they were not successful and in 1863 the county- seat was removed to Northwood by a vote of one hundred fifteen to forty. No court-house had been built at Bristol and the first term of court was held in a log cabin by Judge John Porter in September, 1859. On the 24th of October, 1869, the first newspaper, called the Northwood Pioneer, was issued by P. D. Swick. The Burlington, Cedar Rap- ids and Northern Railroad runs through the county from south to north and the Milwaukee runs through the south- east corner.
WRIGHT COUNTY was established by act of the Gen- eral Assembly in 1851 and named for Silas Wright, a New York statesman and Governor Joseph A. Wright of In- diana. The county lies in the third tier south of the Min- nesota line and in the sixth west of the Mississippi River. It is twenty-four miles square and contains five hundred seventy-six square miles. The Iowa River runs through the eastern portion of the county from north to south and the Boone River flows through the western tier of town- ships in the same direction. Excellent borders of timber are found along the banks of these rivers while the land between was, in early days, a vast rolling prairie of great fertility.
The first pioneer who made a home in the county was Major Anson Brassfield who, in 1854, made a claim on the banks of the Boone River in what is now Liberty township. The following year he constructed a dam across the river and built the first mill in the county. S. B. Hewett, his son, S. B. Hewett, Jr., and N. B. Paine of Massachusetts, in 1854 settled at Eagle Grove near the Boone River where they opened farms. H. B. Martin settled the same year near the mouth of Otter Creek where he laid out the town of Liberty. The same year three families located near the Iowa River, not far from where Belmont stands and William Stryker made a claim at Bach Grove. In 1855 Dr. L. H. Cutler, A. Dumont and T. Oliver took
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OF IOWA 437
claims near the Iowa River in the vicinity of Behnont. In July of the same year William Gray, H. Luic and A. Overacker settled near the Iowa River in the northeast corner of the county. C. H. Martin located on the Boone River in the northwest corner in 1855.
The first meeting to organize the county was held at the cabin of S. B. Hewett in Eagle Grove in the spring of 1854. At an election held in August the following offi- cers were chosen: David Dean, judge; C. H. Martin, clerk ; Anson Brassfield, recorder and treasurer ; S. Crap- per, sheriff ; S. B. Hewett, Jr., surveyor, and N. B. Paine, prosecuting attorney. In 1856 John Melrose built and opened the first store in the county at Liberty which was the first county-seat. A town was laid out on the Iowa River in the summer of 1856 by A. Dumont, J. Elder and E. Rogers and was first named Crown Point, afterwards changed to Belmont. A dam was constructed across the Iowa River where a saw and grist-mill was built by Dr. L. H. Cutler, who also built the first house in the new town.
Several small lakes are found in the county the largest of which is Wall Lake, in the township of that name. In early days a wall of boulders was found along its shores, crowded there by the floating ice driven by the winds for thousands of years and from this wall the lake derived its name. ^Tien the first settlers arrived a large elm tree stood upon the southeast shore of a beautiful little lake lying near the geographical center of the county. It was given the name of Elm Lake. Cornelia Lake was named for the daughter of E. K. Eastman, one of the early set- tlers. Twin Lakes lie about four miles north of Cornelia. The first settler at Wall Lake was E. P. Purcell who built a cabin on its northern shore in 1856. Here he lived with his family for five years before the arrival of other settlers.
The first newspaper in the county was established by George D. Ingersoll at Liberty in 1861. It was named
438 HISTORY OF IOWA
the Wright County Free Press and was published weekly. In 1865, one hundred twenty acres of land were pur- chased by the county near its geographical center where a town was platted and named Clarion, which became the county-seat. The largest town in the county has grown up at Eagle Grove where the Northwestern Railroad crosses the Mason City and Fort Dodge line.
YELL COUNTY was created by act. of the General As- sembly in 1851 and embraced all of the present territory of Webster except the north tier of congressional town- ships. It was named for the second Governor of Arkan- sas, Colonel Archibald Yell, who was killed at the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican War. The county had never been organized up to 1853, when by act of the Legis- lature it was incorporated with the new county of Web- ster. This county was formed by uniting the former county of Webster, which had first been named Risley, with Yell County, making thirty-two congressional town- ships, to which the name of Webster was given. By this act the county of Yell ceased to exist.
-■>r:'ii
LEAD MINING NEAR DUBUQUE IN 1839
DIRECTORY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
DIRECTORY OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
TEREITORIAL OFFICERS.
GOVERNORS OF IOWA TERBITORT:
Robert Lucas, 1838 to 1841. John Chambers, 1841 to 1845
James Clarke. 1845 to 1846.
SECRETARIES: William B. Conway, 1838 to 1839. Samuel J. Burr, 1843 to 1845
'o""h^ ^^'^^u^rts^ tri843. ^"^« Wllllams.'l845\?&*'-
TERRITORIAL AUDITORS: Jesse Williams, 1840 to 1843. William L. Gilbert. 1843 to 1845
Robert M. Secrest, 1845 to 1846.
TERRITORIAL. TREASURERS: Thornton Bayless. 1839 to 1840. Morgan Reno, 1840 to 1846.
TERRITORIAL AGENTS: Chauncey Swan, 1839 to 1840. John N. Colman, 1842 to 1844
Jesse Williams, 1841 to 1842. Anson Hart, IsS to 1846.
SUPERINTENDENT OP PUBLIC INSTRUCTION: William Reynolds. 1841 to 1842.
SUPREME JUDGES:
Michigan Territory (including Iowa). Judge David Irwin, 1832.
Charles Mason. Chief Justice, 1838 to 1846.
Thomas S. Wilson. Associate Justice, 1S38 to 1846.
Joseph Williams. Associate Justice, 1838 to 1846.
Thornton Bayless, Clerk, 1838 to 1843.
George S. Hampton, Clerk. 1843 to 1846.
Eastln Morris. Reporter, 184S to 1846.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS:
Jf^f^*^ ^' w "^P"' }^^ }° }l}2- Jo*^" <^- Deshler. 1843 to 1845.
Charles Weston. 1840 to 1843. Edward Johnston. 1845 to 1846!
UNITED STATES MARSHALS: Francis Gehon. 1838 to 1841. Isaac Leffler. 1842 to 1845
Thomas B. Johnson, 1841 to 1842. Gideon S. Bailey, 1845 to 1846.
DELEGATES IN GONGRESS. William W. Chapman, 1839 to 184L Augustus C. Dodge, 1841 to 1846.
SURVEYORS-GENERAL FOR IOWA AND WISCONSIN:
^^^'■"f ^^^^'^' '^^^^ ^^ 1^^- George W. Jones, 1840 to 1841
Albert G. Ellis, 1838 to 1840. James Wilson. 1841 to 1845
George W. Jones. 1845 to 1846.
UNITED STATES LAND OFFICES. Register. Dubuque Office. Receiver.
Hen^'ry Hirrfson.M'i. '^'°'""^ McKnight. 1838.
Marner Lewis, 1845. Stephen Langworthy, 1845.
442
HISTORY
Reoister. Burlington Office. Receiver.
A r^ T^r^Aira IR'IS Verplank Van Antwerp, 1838.
WiUiam Rols. mi. Joseph C. Plawkins. 1841.
Fairfield Office. Bernhart Henn, 1845. Verplank Van Antwerp. 1845.
COMMISSIONERS TO LOCATE. THE CAPITAL AT IOWA CITY: Chauncey Swan, 1839 to 1841. John Rolands, 1839 to 1841. Robert Ralston, 1839 to 1841.
LIBRARIANS:
Theodore S. Parvin, April. 1838. ^^^J^L^'^iiT''' ^^^^ ^° ^^^'
Morgan Reno, 1841 to 1846.
Legislative Assemblies, first assembly.
Convened at Burlington, November 12, 1838.
The Council.
President of the Council, Jesse B. Browne, Whig.
Secretary, B. F. Wallace, Whig.
COUNTIES BHPBESENTKD. NAMES OP MEMBERS.
, ^^ Jesse B. Browne.
^ot '-RVi^Wn J- Keith, B. A. M. Swazy.
T.^^ ^^i^^^ Arthur Ingraham, Robert Ralston, George
Des Moines Hepner.
„ „_^ Jesse D. Payne, L. B. Hughes.
MuscatiAe, ■ Louisa, " Slaughter. ... James M Clark.
DubUueStso"„; Clay ton Warner Lewis. Stephen Hemp.teafl.
Democrats, 7; Whigs 6.
House of Representatives. William H. Wallace, Speaker. Whig. Joseph T. Fales, Chief Clerk, Democrat.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
..William Patterson, Hawkms Taylor, Calvin
■L"®® J. Price, James Brierly.
Tro„ vt^.r-^r, James Hall, Gideon S. Bailey, Samuel
Van iJuren Parker
T^^c TVAmnP^ James W. Grimes. George Temple, Van B.
Des Momes Delashmutt, Thomas Blair, George H.
„ .William G. Coop, William H. Wallace, As-
ti^^^y bury B. Porter. ^ ^ , t ,
Muscatine, Louisa, Slaughter.... Jo^hn^^Friers^on^^wm^^^^^ Levi
^nr-.^d^'^^firton^""'' ^*""::::KII gam''r^e^',''jabez A. Burchard Jr. ffu^b^Uu-e' ^^^^r^^^^on'-^^^^^S'^JS'^^ ^^""^^"' ^'°"^^
Democrats, 17; Whigs, 8. The Assembly Adjourned January 25, 1839.
OF IOWA
SECOND LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Convened at Burlingrton. November 4, 1839.
The Council.
COUNTIES BEPBESENTED Lee _ NAMES OF MEMBBES
Van Buren.. Jesse B. Browne.
I>es Moines...";;;;;;; aUI5®^^^' ^- ^- M. Swazy.
Henry ^Hepner."^"^^^°^' ^^^'^ Ralston, George
-Hbt^se o/ Representatives
Se? cie?k '^r''' J°h"^ton. Democrat. Chief Clerk, J-Qseph T. Fales. Democrat
COUNTIES BEPRESBNTED Lee NAMES OF MEMBBBS
Van Buren.' '^S"jS^lff8"we?<^--'^ ^°^"«*-- Alfred
i>e3 Moines.;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;::;;;::;^^es^Ha^.. g^^%f-S;^^^^iiv,^vn.^ m^^s.
Henry and Je^erson ^'^n&\'^lll^^^^^l^^^^
Muscatine and Johnson... « ^,!^Vo ^ T ' °^" ^•
Louisa and Washington ...:;! ;" ' banie iRr.Sf ^*'?^^' J- T- Clark.
Cedar, Jones and Linn Georl; w w'l' '^^''2^ Mintun.
Scott and Clinton Ta?,l?f ?■ Walworth.
a?u^\-ciayonVeic---------t^^^^^^^^ '"^^' ^- ^^^^^^^^
"^Sr^s Ch^u^rS-^^- ^^^'^ Wheeler.
A. Extra Session wa.c^'h'eM S^Burn; J'^'^'' ''■
The Assembi?.^ld^^S^"l-,,^^^-ning^July 13. 1S40.
THIRD LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Convened at Burlington, November 2, ■l840.
y^e Council.
5'rrif "*■ ^- Sainbridge, Whig. Secretary, B. F. Wallace, Whl|.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED Lee NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Van Buren..;;; Jesse B. Browne, Edward Johncfor,
Des Moines .;;;;;;; James Han, Gideon S BaHey °"-
Henry .. J- <- • Hawkins.
Jefferson .■.■.'.■.■. Sr?,','?^™ H. Wallace.
Louisa and Wa-ihineVnn Wilham G. Coop.
Muscatine and Johnfon .'. f'^'jf^! Springer.
Cedar. Jones and Linn n^ Clinton Hastings.
Scott and Clinton. ?„^°T^e Greene.
Pl«w!i' ^"t,uque, Deiawarer '^^" ^- ^^^^^'•-
'-'layton. etc ix/r t, • . .,
••••••M. Bainbridge, Joseph S. Kirkpatrick
Democrats, 7; Whigs, 6. P-J-incK.
Home of Representatives.
cltf^n\ '^J'T^^ ^°^' Democrat.
Chief Clerk, Joseph T. Fales, Democrat.
444 HISTORY
COUNTIES REFBBSBNTKD. NAMES OF UBMBEB3.
Lee James Brierly, Daniel F. Miller, John Box.
Van Buren Isaac N. Lewis, John Whitaker, William
Steele.
Des Moines Shepherd Leffler, Milton; D. Browning, Alfred
Hebard, Robert Avery, David Hendershott.
Henrj- John B. Lash, Asbury B. Porter, Paton Wil- son.
Jefferson Alexander A. Wilson.
Louisa William L. Toole.
Washington Simon P. Teeple.
Muscatine Thomas M. Isett.
Johnson Henry Felkner.
Cedar, Jones and Linn George H. Walworth, Harmon Van Antwerp.
Scott and Clinton Laurel Summers, Joseph M. Robertson.
Jackson Thomas Cox.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton,
etc Edward Langworthy, Timothy Mason.
Democrats, 15; Whigs, 11. The Assembly Adjourned January 15, 1841.
FOURTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, December 6, 1841.
The Council.
Jonathan W. Parker, President, Democrat. J. W. Woods, Secretary. Democrat.
COUNTIES KBPKESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee Jesse B. Browne, Edward Johnaton.
Van Buren James Hall, Gideon S. Bailey.
Des Moines Shepherd Leffler.
Henry William H. Wallace.
Jefferson William G. Coop.
Louisa and Washington Francis Springer.
Muscatine and Johnson S. Clinton Hastings.
Cedar, Jones and Linn George Greene.
Scott and Clinton Jonathan W. Parker.
Jackson, Dubuque, Delaware,
Clayton, etc M. Balnbridge, Joseph S. Kirkpatrick.
Democrats, 8; Whigs, 5.
House of Representatives. Warner Lewis, Speaker, Democrat. Joseph T. Fales, Chief Clerk, Democrat.
COUNTIES BEPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
Lee William Patterson, E. S. McCulloch, Henry
S. Campbell.
Van Buren John M. Whitaker, Uriah Biggs, Oliver Weld.
Des Moines Alfred Hebard, Isaac Leffler, David E. Blair,
Gforge Hepner, James M. Morgan. Henry Asbury B. Porter, Patoni Wilson, Simeon
Sme»ad.
Jefferson Richard Quinton.
Louisa T^MIliam L. Toole.
Washington Thomas Baker
Muscatine Pamuel Holliday.
Johnson Henrv Felkner.
Cedar, Jones and Linn Pamuel P. Higglnson. Thomas Denson.
Scott and Clinton Jo.seph M. Robertson, James Grant
Jackson James K. Morse.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, etc Warner Lewis, C. H. Booth.
Democrats, 16; Whigs, 10. The Assembly Adjourned February 18, 1842.
OF IOWA 445
FIFTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, December 6, 1842.
The Council.
John D. Elbert, President, Whig. Joseph T. Fales, Secretary, Democrat.
COUNTIES KBPRESENTBD. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
T^ee William Patterson, Robert M. G. Patterson.
Van Buren John D. Elbert, James H. Jenkins.
Des Moines Shepherd Leffler.
Henry William H. Wallace.
Jefferson Joseph B. Teas.
Louisa and Washington Francis Springer.
Muscatine and Johnson Pleasant Harris.
Cedar, Jones and Linn John P. Cook.
Scott and Clinton Robert Christie.
Jackson, Dubuque, Delaware,
Clayton, etc Thomas Cox, Francis Gehon.
Democrats 7; Whigs, 6.
House of Representatives.
John M. Morgan, Speaker, Democrat. B. F. Wallace, Chief Clerk, Whig.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee James Brierly, E. S. McCulloch, William
Steele. Van Buren Isaac N. Lewis, Rickey D. Barton, Samuel
Swearingen. Des Moines David E. Blair, George Hepner, James M.
Morgan, Abner Hackleman, David J. Sales.
Henry Paton Wilson, Evan Jay, Thomas McMillan.
Jefferson John W. Culbertson.
Louisa Joseph Newell.
Washington David Bunker.
Muscatine Err Thornton.
Johnson Henry Felkner.
Cedar and Jones George H. Walworth, John C. Berry.
Scott Joseph M. Robertson.
Clinton Eli Goddard.
Jackson Ansel Briggs.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, etc Thomas Rogers, Frederick Andros.
Democrats, 15; Whigs, 11. The Assembly Adjourned February 17, 1843.
SIXTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, December 4, 1843.
The Council.
Thomas Cox, President, Democrat. B. F. Wallace, Secretary, Whig.
COUNTIES BBPHESBNTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee William Patterson, Robert M. G. Patterson.
Van Buren John D. Elbert, James H. Jenkins.
Des Moines Shepherd LefHer.
Henry William H. Wallace.
Jefferson Joseph B. Teas.
Louisa and Washington Francis Springer.
Muscatine and Johnson Pleasant Harris.
Cedar, Jones and Linn John P. Cook.
Scott and Clinton Robert Christie.
Jackson, Dubuque, Delaware,
Clayton, etc Thomas Cox, Francis Gehon.
Democrats, 6; Whigs, 7.
446 HISTORY
House of Representatives.
James P. Carlton, Speaker, Democrat. Joseph T. Fales, Chief Clerk. Democrat.
COUNTIES KBPRHSENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee James Brierly, William Steele, Joseph Rob- erts.
Van Buren Josiah H. Bonney, Samuel Borland, James
M. Wray.
Des Moines Alfred Hebard, Abner Hackleman. James
W. Grimes, John Johnson, John D. Wright.
Henry Paton Wilson, Hamilton Robb, William
Thompson.
Jefferson John W. Culbertson.
Louisa George W. McCleary.
Washington Thomas Baker.
Muscatine Edward E. Fay.
Johnson James P. Carlton.
Cedar, Jones and Linn George H. Walworth, Robert Smythe.
Scott Gilbert C. R. Mitchell.
Clinton John Brophy.
Jackson John Foley.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, etc Thomas Rogers, Hardin Nowlin.
Democrats, 19; Whigs, 7.
The Assembly Adjourned February 16, 1844.
An Extra Session was held at Iowa City, beginning June IG. 1844.
SEVENTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, May 5, 1845.
The Council.
S. C. Hastings, President, Democrat. John P. Kinney, Secretary, Democrat.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee James Brierly, John Thompson.
Van Buren, Davis, Appanoose.. Paul Brattain, Henry M. Shelby.
Des Moines Shepherd LefRer.
Henry John Stephenson.
Jefferson, Wapello, *Kishke-
kosh William G. Coop.
Louisa, Washington, Keokuk,
Mahaska, etc Enoch Ross.
Muscatine and Johnson S. Clinton Hastings.
Cedar, Jones and Linn William Abbe.
Scott and Clinton Lauiel Summers.
Jackson, Dubuque, Delaware,
Clayton, etc Stephen Hempstead, Philip B. Bradley.
Democrats, 11; Whigs, 2.
Eoufte of Representatives.
James M. Morgan, Speaker, Democrat. William Thompson, Chief Clerk, Democrat.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee Jacob Huner, Charles Stewart, James An- derson.
Van Buren Frederick Hancock. George Montague,
George W. Lester.
Des Moines James M. Morgan, John Johnson, Ebenezer
W Davis, George Chandler, Richard Noble.
Henry Norton Munger, Samuel D. Woodworth,
Charles Clifton.
Jefferson, Wapello, *Kishke- kosh Reuben R. Harper.
OF IOWA 447
COUNTIBS RBPRESBNTBD. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Louisa George W. McCleary.
Washington, Keokuk, Mahas- ka, etc Stephen B. Shelledy.
Muscatine Abraham T. Banks.
Johnson Hugh D. Downey.
Cedar, Jones and Linn Joseph K. Snyder. John Taylor.
Scott Joseph M. Robertson.
Clinton Shubael Coy.
Jackson James Leonard.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, etc David S. Wilson, Samuel Murdock.
Democrats, 16; Whigs, 10. The Assembly Adjourned June 11, 1845.
EIGHTH LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, December 1, 1845.
The Council.
Stephen Hempstead, President, Democrat. John F. Kinney, Secretary, Democrat.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. . NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee James Brierly, John Thompson.
Van Buren, Davis, Appanoose. Paul Brattain, Henry M. Shelby.
Des Moines Shepherd Leffler.
Henry John Stephenson.
Jefferson, Wapello, *Kishke-
kosh William G. Coop.
Louisa, Washington, Keokuk,
Mahaska, etc Enoch Ross.
Muscatine and Johnson S. Clinton Hastings.
Cedar, Jones and Linn William Abbe.
Scott and Clinton Laurel Summers.
Jackson, Dubuque, Delaware.
Clayton, etc Stephen Hempstead, Philip B. Bradley.
Democrats. 11; Whigs. 2.
House of Representatives.
George W. McCleary, Speaker, Democrat. William Thompson, Chief Clerk, Democrat.
COUNTIBS RBPRESBNTBD. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee Jacob Huner, William Patterson, Jesse B.
Browne.
Van Buren Frederick Hancock, George W. Lester, David
Ferguson.
Des Moines James M. Morgan, John D. Wright, John
Ripley, Archibald McMichael, Joshua Hol- land.
Henry Norton Munger, Samuel D. Woodworth,
Charles Clifton. Jefferson, Wapello, *Kishke-
kosh Joseph Flink.
Louisa George W. McCleary.
Washington, Keokuk, Mahas- ka, etc Stephen B. Shelledy.
Muscatine Abraham T. Banks.
Johnson Hugh D. Downey.
Cedar, Jones and Linn Joseph K. Synder, John Taylor.
Scott Joseph M. Robertson.
Clinton Shubael Coy.
Jackson Thomas Graham.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton,
etc David S. Wilson, Samuel Murdock.
Democrats, 22; Whigs, 10. The Assembly Adjourned January 19, 1846.
448 HISTORY
Constitutional, Conventions.
FIRST CONSTITUTIONAL, CONVENTION.
Convened at Iowa City, October 7, 1844. Adjourned November 1, 1844.
President, Shepherd Leffler, Democrat. Secretary, George S. Hampton, Democrat.
COUNTIES HEPRESBNTBD. NAMES OF MBMBBKS.
Lee Charles Staley. Alexander Kerr, David Gal- land, Calvin J. Price, James Marsh, John Thompson, Henry M. Salmon, O. S. X. Peck.
Des Moines James Clarke, Henry Robinson, John D.
Wright, Shepherd Leffler, Andre'v^ Hooten, Enos Lowe, John Ripley, George Hepner.
Van Buren Ellsha Cutler, Jr., John Davidson, Paul
Brattain, David Ferguson, Gideon S. Bai- ley, John Hale, Jr., Thomas Charlton.
Jefferson Robert Brown, Hardin Butler, Sulifand S.
Ross, James I. Murray, Samuel Whitmore.
Henry Joseph C. Hawkins, George Hobson, John H.
Randolph, Jonathan C. Hall, Joseph D. Hoag.
"Washington Wm. R. Harrison, Enoch Ross, Caleb B.
Campbell.
Louisa John Brookbank, Wm. L. Toole, Wright
Williams.
Muscatine Jonathan E. Fletcher, Ralph P. Lowe, Eli- jah Sells.
Johnson Robert Lucas, Samuel H. McCrory, Henry
Felkner.
Linn Thomas J. McKean, Samuel W. Durham,
Luman M. Strong.
Cedar Samuel A. Bissell, James H. Gower.
Scott James Grant, Andrew W. Campbell, Ebene-
zer Cook.
Clinton Lyman Lyons, Ralph R. Benedict.
Jones John Taylor.
Jackson Joseph S. Kirkpatrick, William Morden,
Richard B. Wyckoff.
Wapello William H. Galbraith, William W. Chapman.
Davis J. C. Blankinship, Samuel W. McAtee.
Keokuk Richard Quinton.
Mahaska Van B. Delashmutt, Stephen B. Shelledy.
Dubuque, Delaware, Black
Hawk and Fayette Francis Gehon, Edward Langworthy, Theo-
philus Crawford. Stephen Hempstead, Samuel B. Olmstead, Michael O'Brien.
Democrats, 53; Whigs, 17. The constitution adopted by this convention was rejected by the people at an election held on the 4th dav of August, 1845, there being 7,235 votes cast " tor the constitution," and 7,656 votes cast " against the constitution."
SECOND CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Convened at Iowa City, May 4, 1846. Adjourned May, 19, 1846.
President, Enos Lowe, Democrat. Secretary, William Thompson, Democrat.
COUNTIES KHPRESBNTBD. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee David Galland, Josiah Kent, George Berry.
Des Moines Enos Lowe, Shepherd Leffler, George W.
Bowie. Van Buren Thomas Dibble, Erastus Hosklns, William
Steele.
Jefferson SuUlfand S. Ross, William G. Coop.
Henry George Hobson, Alvin Saunders.
OF IOWA
449
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Davis John J. Selman.
Appanoose and Monroe Wareham G. Clark.
Wapello Joseph H. Hedrlck.
Iowa, Marion, Polk and Jasper. John Conroy.
Mahaska Stephen B. Shelledy.
Keokuk Sanf ord Harned.
Washington Stewart Goodroll.
Louisa John Ronalds.
Muscatine J. Scott Richman.
Johnson Curtis Bates.
Linn and Benton Socrates H. Tryon.
Cedar Samuel A. Bissell.
Scott James Grant.
Clinton Henry P. Haun.
Jackson William Hubbell.
Jones Sylvester G. Matson.
Clayton David Olmstead.
Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Fayette, Black Hawk Thomas McCraney, Francis K. O Ferrall.
Democrats, 22; Whigs, 10. The constitution framed by this convention was adopted by the people at an election held on the 3d dav of August, 1846. This constitution was pre- sented to Congress in December, 1S46, and on the 28th of the same month an act was passed for the admission of Iowa into the Union.
STATE OFFICERS.
GOVERNORS.
Ansel Briggs, 1846 to 1850. Stephen Hempstead, 1850 to 1854. James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858. Ralph P. Lowe, 1858 to 1860. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864. William M. Stone. 1864 to 1868. Samuel Merrill, 1868 to 1872. Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1872 to 1876. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1876 to 1877.
Joshua G. Newbold, 1877 to 1878. John H. Gear, 1878 to 1882. Buren R. Sherman, 1882 to 1886. William Larrabee, 1886 to 1890. Horace Boies, 1890 to 1894. Frank D. Jackson, 1894 to 1896. Francis M. Drake, 1896 to 1898. Leslie M. Shaw, 1898 to 1902. Albert B. Cummins, 1902.
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNORS Office created by the Constitution of
1857.
Oran Faville, 1858 to 1860. Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860 to 1862. John R. Needham, 1862 to 1864. Enoch W. Eastman, 1864 to 1866. Benjamin F. Gue, 1866 to 1868. John Scott, 1868 to 1870. Madison M. Walden, 1870 to 1872. Henry C. Bulls. 1872 to 1874. Joseph Dysart, 1874 to 1876.
John Herriott,
Joshua G. Newbold, 1876 to 1877. Frank T. Campbell, 1878 to 1882. Orlando H. Manning, 1882 to 1885. John A. T. Hull, 1886 to 1890. Alfred N. Poyneer, 1890 to 1892. Samuel L. Bestow, 1892 to 1894. Warren S. Dungan, 1894 to 1896. Matt Parrott, 1896 to 1898. J. C. Milliman. 1898 to 1902. 1902 to 1904.
SECRETARIES OF STATE.
Elisha Cutler, 1846 to 1848. i^'t'^K'^-rJ'^'^^f }l^i }° Iss?'
Josiah H. Bonney, 1848 to 1850. John AT Hull, 18/9 to 1885
George W. McCleary, 1850 to 1856. Frank D Jackson 1885, to 1891.
Elijah Sells, 1856 to 1863. ^'"'^"^T^V^^vf^^^'Wvi^^om^
James Wright, 1863 to 1867. ^f°^.^^ \^-S^^1^' ^f^/^^Tgnk
Ed Wright, 1867 to 1873. William B. Martm, 1901 to 1905.
AUDITORS OF STATE.
Joseph T. Fales, 1846 to 1850. Jonathan W. Cattell. 1859 to 1865.
William Pattee, 1850 to 1854. John A. Elliott, 1865 to 1871.
Andrew J. Stevens, 1854 to 1855. John Russell, 1871 to 1875
John Pattee, 1855 to 1859. Buren R. Sherman, 1875 to 1881.
[Vol. 3]
450 HISTORY
William V. Lucas, 1881 to 1883. John L. Brown, July 1886 to 1887. Re- John L. Brown, 1883 to 1885. Sus- instated July 14.
pended by the Governor. James A. Lyons, 1887 to 1893.
Jonathan W. Cattell, 1885 to 1886. G. C. McCarthy, 1893 to 1899.
Appointed by the Governor. Frank F. Merriam, 1899 to 1903.
John L. Brown, 1886. Reinstated. Beryl F. Carroll, 1903. Charles Beardsley, April to July,
1886. Appointed by Governor.
TREASURERS OF STATE. Morgan Reno, 1846 to 1850. William Christy, 1873 to 1877.
Israel Kister, 1850 to 1852. George W. Bemis, 1877 to 1881.
Martin L. Morris, 1852 to 1859. Edwin H. Conger, 1881 to 1885.
John W. Jones, 1859 to 1863. Voltaire P. Twombly, 1885 to 1891.
William H. Holmes, 1863 to 1867. Byron A. Beeson, 1891 to 1895.
Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to 1873. John Herriott, 1895 to 1901.
Gilbert S. Gilbertson, 1901 to 1905.
REGISTERS OF THE STATE LAND OFFICE. Office created February, 1855.
Anson Hart, 1855 to 1857. Josiah A. Harvey, 1863 to 1867.
Theodore S. Parvin, 1857 to 1859. Cyrus C. Carpentfir, 1867 to 1871.
Amos B. Miller, 1859 to 1862. Aaron Brown, 1871 to 1875.
Edwin Mitchell, 1862 to 1863. David Secor, 1875 to 1879.
James K. Powers, 1879 to 1883.
Office abolished January 1, 1883.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. James Harlan, 1847 to 1848. Joseph C. Stone, March to June, 1857.
Thomas H. Benton, 1848 to 1854. Maturin L. Fisher, 1857 to 1858.
James D. Eads, 1854 to March 3. 1857. Suspended.
Office abolished December, 1858.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. Office reestablished March, 1864. Oran Faville, 1864 to 1867. John W. Akers, 1882 to 1888.
D. Franklin Wells, 1867 to 1868. Henry Sahin, 1888 to 1892.
Abraham S. Kissell, 1868 to 1872. J. B. Knoepfler, 1892 to 1894.
Alonzo Abernethy, 1872 to 1876. Henry Sabin, 1894 to 1898.
Carl W. von Coelin, 1876 to 1882. Richard C. Barrett, 1898 to 1904.
SECRETARIES OF BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Josiah T. Tubby, 1858 to 1859. Thomas H. Benton, 1859 to 1863.
Oran Faville, 1863 to 1864.
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS. Office created in 1878.
Cyrus C. Carpenter, 1878. Resigned in Spencer Smith, 1887 to 1893.
August. Frank T. Campbell, 1888 to 1892.
Peter A. Dey, 1878 to 1895. John W. Luke, 1891 to 1895.
James W. McDill, 1878 to 1881. George W. Perkins, 1893 to 1899.
Marcus C. Woodruff, 1879 to 1882. C. L. Davidson, 1894 to 1898.
Albert R. Anderson, 1881 to 1884. Edward A. Dawson, 1896 to 1903.
James Wilson, 1882 to 1883. David J. Palmer, 1898 to 1904.
Lorenzo S. Coffin, 1883 to 1888. Welcome Mowry, 1899 to 1902.
James W. McDill, 1884 to 1887. Ed. C. Brown, 1902 to 1905.
Supreme Court,
chief justices.
Charles Mason, 1847 to June. John F. Dillon, 1868.
Joseph Williams, 1847 and 1849. Chester C. Cole, 1870 and 1876.
S. Clinton Hastings, 1848. James G. Day, 1871. 1877, 1883.
George G. Wright, 1855 and 1864. Joseph M. Beck, 1872, 1879, 1885, 1891.
Ralph P. Lowe, 1860 and 1866. Willian E. Miller, 1874.
Caleb Baldwin, 1862. William H. Seevers, 1876, 1882, 1888.
OF IOWA
451
James H. Rothrock, 1878, 1884, 1890, 1896. Charles T. Granger, 1894, 1900. Austin Adams, 1880, 1886. La Vega G. Kinne, 1897.
Joseph R. Reed, 1889. Horace E. Deemer, 1898.
Josiah Given, 1889, 1895, 1901. Scott M. Ladd, 1902.
Gifford S. Robinson, 1892, 1899.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICES.
Joseph Williams, 1847 to 1855. Thomas S. Wilson, 1847. Resigned
October. John F. Kinney, 1847 to 1854. George Green, 1847 to 1855. Jonathan C. Hall, 1854 to 1855. William G. Woodward, 1855 to 1861, Norman W. Isbell, 1855 to 1856. Lacon D. Stockton, 1856 to 1860. Caleb Baldwin, 1860 to 1866. George G. Wright, 1860 to 1872. Ralph P. Lowe, 1861 to 1867. John P. Dillon, 1864 to 1869. Chester C. Cole, 1864 to 1876. Joseph M. Beck, 1867 to 1892. Ellas H. Williams, January, 1870, to
September 14. James G. Day, 1870 to 1884.
William E. Miller, 1870 to 1877. Austin Adams, 1876 to 1888. James H. Rothrock, 1876 to 1897. William H. Seevers, 1876 to 1889. Joseph R. Reed, 1884 to 1889. Gifford S. Robinson, 1888 to 1900. Charles T. Granger, 1889 to 1901. Josiah Given, 1889 to 1902. LaVega G. Kinne, 1892 to 1898. Horace E. Deemer, 1894 to 1905. Scott M. Ladd, 1897 to 1903. Charles M. Waterman, 1898. Resigned
1902. John C. Sherwin, 1900 to 1905. Emil McClain, 1901 to 1906. Silas M. Weaver, 1902 to 1907. Charles A. Bishop, 1902 to fill vacancy.
District.
Judges of the District Court.
UNDER CONSTITUTION OF 1846. Name of Judge.
When Elected.
First George H. Williams 1847
First Ralph P. Lowe 1852
First John W. Rankin appointed 1857
First Thomas W. Claggett 1857
Second James Grant 1847
Second Thomas S. Wilscn 1852
Third Cyrus Olney 1847
Third Joseph C. Knapp appointed 1851
Third William H. Seevers 1852
Third Caleb Baldwin appointed 1856
Third Henry B. Hendershott 1856
Fourth James P. Carlton 1847
Fourth William Smyth appointed 1853
Fourth Isaac Cook appointed 1857
Fifth William McKay 1849
Fifth Phineas M. Casady 1854
Fifth Cave J. McFarland appointed 1854
Fifth William W. Williamson 1855
Election contested and McFarland continued in office.
Sixth James Sloan 1851
Sixth Allen A. Bradford appointed 1852
Sixth E. H. Sears appointed 1855
Seventh Samuel H. Riddle appointed 1853
Eighth William E. Leffingwell 1853
Eighth John B. Booth appointed 1854
Eighth William H. Tuthill 1855
Ninth Johns. Townsend 1853
Tenth Samuel Murdock 1855
Eleventh William M. Stone 1857
Twelfth Marshall F. Moore 1857
Thirteenth .....John D Thompson 1857
Fourteenth Gilbert C. R. Mitchell 1857
Fourteenth Asahel H. Bennett appointed 1857
UNDER CONSTITUTION OF 1857. District. Name of Judge. When Elected.
First Francis Springer 1858
First Joshua Tracy appointed 1869
First P. Henry Smith appointed 1874
452 HISTORY
District. Name of Judge. When Elected.
First Thomas W. Newman appointed 1874
First A. H. Stutsman 1878
Second John S. Townsend 1858
Second Henry H. Trimble 1862
Second Harvey Tannehill 1866
Second M. J. Williams 1870
Second Joseph C. Knapp 1874
Second E. L. Burton 1878
Third E. H. Sears 1858
Third James G. Day 1862
Third James W. McDill appointed 1870
Third Joseph R. Reed appointed 1872
Third Samuel Forrey 1872
Third R. C. Henry 1878
Third John W. Harvey 1882
Fourth Asahel W. Hubbard 1858
Fourth Isaac Pendleton 1862
Fourth Henry Ford 1866
Fourth Charles H. Lewis 1874
Fifth John H. Gray 1858
Fifth Charles C. Nourse appointed 1865
Fifth Hugh W. Maxwell appointed 1866
Fifth John Leonard 1884
Fifth William H. McHenry 1878
Sixth William M. Stone 1858
Sixth William Loughridge appointed 1851
Sixth Ezekiel S. Sampson 1866
Sixth H. S. Winslow 1874
Sixth J. C. Cook 1878
Sixth J. K. Johnson 1882
Seventh John F. Dillon 1858
Seventh j. Scott Richman appointed 1863
Seventh William F, Brannan appointed 1871
Seventh Walter I. Hayes 1878
Eighth William E. Miller 1858
Eighth Norman W. Isbell appointed 1862
Eighth Charles H. Conklin appointed 1864
Eighth Nathaniel M. Hubbard appointed 1865
Eighth James H. Rothrock 1866
Eighth John Shane 1876
Eighth James D. Giffen 1882
Ninth Thomas S. Wilson 1858
Ninth James Burt 1862
Ninth John M. Bray ton 1870
Ninth David S. Wilson appointed 1872
Ninth Sylvester Bagg 1878
Ninth Charles F. Couch 1882
Tenth Ellas H. Williams 1858
Tenth Milo McGlathery • 1866
Tenth Reuben Noble 1874
Tenth E. B. Cooley 1880
Tenth L. O. Hatch 1882
Eleventh John Porter 1858
Eleventh Daniel D. Chase appointed 1866
Eleventh Isaac J. Mitchell 1874
Eleventh James W. McKenzle 1874
Eleventh Henrv C. Henderson 1881
Twelfth William B. Fairfield 1864
Twelfth George W. Ruddick 1870
Thirteenth Joseph R. Reed.. ... 1872
Thirteenth C. F. Loofborough appointed 1883
Thirteenth E. E. Aylesworth 1884
Fourteenth E. R. Duffle 1876
Fourteenth Lot Thomas 1S84
UNDER ACT OF APRIL, 1886. District. Name of Judge. When Elected.
First Joseph M. Casey 1886
p|„t C. H. Phelps 1886
First '" ' James D. Smyth appointed 1891
First Alvln J. McCrary appointed 1895
OF IOWA 453
District. Name of Judge. When Elected.
First Henry Banks 1895
Second H. C. Traverse 1886
Second Dell Stuart 1886
Second Charles D. Liggett 1886
Second E. L. Burton appointed 1890
Second W. I. Babb 1890
Second Joseph C. Mitchell appointed 1892
Second W. D. Tisdale 1892
Second M. A. Roberts 1894
Second T. M. Fee 1894
Second F. W. Eichelberger 1894
Second Robert S. Sloan 1894
Second C. W. Vermillion appointed 1901
Third John W Harvey 1886
Third R. C. Henry 1886
Third W. H. Tedford 1890
Third H. M. Towner 1890
Third Robert L. Parrish 1901
Fourth Charles H. Lewis 1886
Fourth George W. Wakefield 1886
Fourth Scott M. Ladd 1886
Fourth Frank R. Gaynor 1890
Fourth Anthony Van Wagenen appointed 1892
Fourth John F. Oliver 1894
Fourth William Hutchinson 1897
Fifth J. H. Henderson 1886
Fifth O. B. Ayers 1886
Fifth A. W. Wilkinson 1886
Fifth J. H. Applegate 1890
Fifth John A. Storey appointed 1895
Fifth James D. Gamble 1896
Sixth J. K. Johnson 1886
Sixth David Ryan 1886
Sixth W. R. Lewis 1886
Sixth A. R. Dewey 1890
Sixth Ben McCoy 1894
Sixth John T. Scott 1898
Sixth W. G. Clements 1898
Seventh A. J. Lefflngwell 1886
Seventh W. F. Brannen 1886
Seventh John N. Rogers 1886
Seventh C. M. Waterman appointed 1887
Seventh Andrew Howat appointed 1888
Seventh Patrick B. Wolfe appointed 1891
Seventh Allen J. House appointed 1892
Seventh J. W. Bolinger 1897
Eighth Samuel H. Fairall 1886
Eighth Martin J. Wade appointed 1893
Ninth Josiah Given 1886
Ninth W. P. Conrad 1886
Ninth Marcus Kavanaugh 1886
Ninth Charles A. Bishop appointed 1889
Ninth Calvin P. Holmes 1890
Ninth S. F. Balliett 1890
Ninth W. A. Spurrier appointed 1894
Ninth T. F. Stevenson 1894
Ninth S. F. Prouty 1898
Ninth A. H. McVey appointed 1901
Ninth W. H. McHenry appointed 1902
Tenth C. F. Couch 1886
Tenth John J. Ney 1886
Tenth D. J. Lenehan 1886
Tenth J. L. Husted 1890
Tenth Frederick O'Donnell appointed 1892
Tenth Amos S. Blair appointed 1894
Tenth J. J. Tolerton 1894
Tenth Frank C. Piatt 1898
Eleventh David D. Miracle 1886
Eleventh John L. Stevens 1886
Eleventh Silas M. Weaver 1886
454 HISTORY
District. Name of Judge. When Elected.
Eleventh D. R. Hindman appointed 1888
Eleventh N. B. Hyatt 1893
Eleventh B. P. Birdsall 1893
Eleventh J. R. Whitaker 1898
Eleventh W. S. Kinyon 1899
Eleventh J. H. Richard 1901
Twelfth G. W. Ruddlck 1888
Twelfth J. C. Sherwin appointed 1888
Twelfth John B. Cleland 1886
Twelfth Porter W. Burr 1892
Twelfth J. P. Clyde 1897
Twelfth C. H. Kelley 1899
Twelfth Chfford P. Smith 1899
Thirteenth L. O. Hatch 1886
Thirteenth C. T. Granger 1886
Thirteenth L. B. Fellows 1889
Thirteenth W. A. Hoyt 1894
Thirteenth E. E. Cooley 1894
Thirteenth A. N. Hobson 1894
Fourteenth Lot Thomas 1888
Fourteenth George H. Carr 1886
Fourteenth William B. Quarton appointed 1894
Fourteenth F. H. Helsell 1898
Fourteenth A. D. Bailie , 1900
Fifteenth A. B. Thornell 1886
Fifteenth George Carson 1886
Fifteenth H. E. Deemer 1886
Fifteenth N. W. Macy 1888
Fifteenth Walter I. Smith 1890
Fifteenth W. S. Lewis appointed 1894
Fifteenth W. R. Green 1894
Fifteenth O. D. Wheeler 1900
Sixteenth J. H. Macomber 1886
Sixteenth J. P. Connor 1886
Sixteenth C. D. Goldsmith 1890
Sixteenth George W. Paine 1890
Sixteenth S M. Elwood 1894
Sixteenth Z. A. Church 1894
Seventeenth L. G. Kinne 1886
Seventeenth George M. Gilchrist 1889
Seventeenth J. R. Caldwell 1891
Seventeenth George W. Burnam 1894
Seventeenth Obed Casv/ell 1896
Eighteenth J. D. Giffen 1886
Eighteenth J. H. Preston 1886
Eighteenth W. G. Thompson 1894
Eighteenth W. P. Wolfe 1894
Eighteenth H. M. Remley 1896
Eighteenth W. N. Treichler 1898
Nineteenth J. L. Husted 1894
Nineteenth Fred O'Donnell 1894
Twentieth James D. Smyth 1896
Twentieth W. S. Withrow 1897
ATTORNEYS-GENERAL. Office created February 9, 1853. David C. Cloud, 1853 to 1856. Marsena E. Cutts, 1872 to 1877.
Samuel A. Rice, 1856 to 1861. John F. McJunkin, 1877 to 1881.
Charles C. Nourse, 1861 to 1865. Smith McPherson, 1881 to 1885.
Isaac L. Allen, 1865. Resigned Janu- Andrew J. Baker, 1885 to 1889.
uary, 1866. John Y. Stone, 1889 to 1895.
Frederick E. Bissell, 1866 to 1867. Milton Remley, 1895 to 1901.
Henry O'Connor, 1867 to 1872. Charles W. Mullan, 1901 to 1905.
CLERKS OF THE SUPREME COURT. George S. Hampton, 1847 to 1848. Alexander D. Anderson, for 21st Dis-
George S. Hampton, for 4th District, trict, 1S4S.
1848 to 1853. Lewis J. Whitten, for 5th District,
James W. Woods, for 1st District, 1S4S.
1848. Thomas J. Given, for 3d District, 1848.
OF IOWA 455
George S. Hampton, 1853 to 1855. Edward J. Holmes, 1875 to 1883.
William Vandever, 1855 to 1S56. Gilbert B. Pray, 1883 to 1895.
Lewis Kinsey, 1856 to 1867. Christopher T. Jones, 1895 to 1903.
Charles Linderman, 1867 to 1875. J. C. Crockett, 1903 to 1905.
REPORTERS OF THE SUPREME COURT.
George Greene, 1847 to 1855. Bradbury W. Hight, 1882 to 1883.
William P. Clarke, 1855 to 1860. Ezra C. Ebersole, 1883 to 1891.
Thomas F. Withrow, 1860 to 1867. Nathaniel B. Raymond. 1891 to 1895.
Edward H. Stiles, 1867 to 1875. Benjamin I. Salinger, 1895 to 1903.
John S. Runnells, 1875 to 1882. Wendall W. Cornwall, 1903 to 1905.
Military Officers.
ADJUTANTS-GENERAL.
Daniel S. Lee, 1851 to 1855. William L. Alexander, 1878 to 1889.
George W. McCleary, 1855 to 1857. Byron A. Beeson, 1889 to 1890.
Elijah Sells, 1857 to 1858. George Greene, 1890 to 1894.
Tesse Bowen, 1858 to 1861. John R. Prime, 1894 to 1896.
Nathaniel B. Baker, 1861 to 1876. Henrv H. Wright, 1896 to 1898.
John H. Looby, 1876 to 1878. Melvin H. Byers. 1898 to 1904. Noble Warwick, 1878. Resigned Au- gust.
SURGEONS-GENERAL. John Kell, 1851. Smith G. Blythe, 1882 to 1884.
Nathan Udell, 1860 to 1861. George P. Hanawalt, 1884 to 1890.
J. C. Hughes, 1861 to 1864. Frederick H. Little, 1890 to 1894.
Edward J. McGorrisk, 1878 to 1882. James T. Priestly, 1894 to 1902.
Wilton McCarthy, 1902 to 1904.
PAT MASTERS-GENERAL. Constantino Holtenbeck, 1851. Hiram Price, 1861 to 1862.
INSPECTORS-GENERAL. H. R. Dewey, 1878 to 1880. H. H. Rood, 1889 to 1890.
W. H. Thrift, 1880 to 1881. E- E. Hasner, 1890 to 1892.
H. G. Wolf, 1881 to 1883. J. R. Lincoln, 1892 to 1900.
A. W. Tallman, 1883 to 1886. J. A. Olmsted, 1900 to 1902.
R. S. Benson, 1886 to 1889. J. R. Prime, 1902 to 1904.
JUDGE-ADVOCATES GENERAL.
H. M. Shelley, 1851 to 1861. A. D. Collier, 1894 to 1896.
E. S. Bailey, 1886 to 1890. W. H. C. Jaques, 1896 to 1898. '
W. H. C. Jaques, 1890 to 1892. W. G. Saunders, 1898 to 1904.
jVULITART SECRETARIES OF THE GOVERNOR. James Burt, appointed in 1851. Patrick H. Conger, 1877.
N. H. Brainard, 1861. H. H. Perkins, 1878.
George J. North, 1864. William C. Wyman, 1888.
John S. Runnells, 1868. Clifford D. Ham, 1890.
William H. Fleming, 1869. William C. Wyman, 1894.
Joseph Beeson, 1902.
COMMISSARIES-GENERAL.
Thomas S. Epsy, appointed in 1851. Wm. W. Ellis, 1886.
Charles B. Richards, 1858. M. M. Marshall, 1890.
H. R. Hefflfinger, 1878. H. S. Sheldon, 1894.
H. H. Clark, 1880. Parker McManus, 1896.
M. L. Sherman, 1882. H. B. Hedge, 1902.
QUARTERMASTERS-GENERAL.
Ezra Brown, 1851. John C. Loper, 1902.
Henry H. Rood, appointed 1896. Duties devolved on Adjutant-General in 1861.
STATE PRINTERS.
George Paul, 1849 to 1851. Peter Moriarty, 1855 to 1857.
William H. Merrltt, 1851 to 1853. John Teesdale, 1857 to 1861.
William A. Hornish, May, 1853. Francis W. Palmer, 1861 to 1869.
D. A. Mahoney, 1853 to 1855. Frank M. Mills, 1869 to 1871.
456
HISTORY
George W. Edwards, 1871 to 1873. George E. Roberts, 1883 to 1889.
Richard P. Clarkson, 1873 to 1879. George H. Ragsdale, 1889 to 1895.
Prank M. Mills, 1879 to 1883. Freeman R. Conaway, 1895 to 190L
Bernard Murphy, 1901 to 1903.
STATE BINDERS.
"William M. Coles, 1855 to 1859. Frank M. Mills, 1859 to 1867. James S. Carter, 1867 to 1871. James J. Smart, 1871 to 1875. Henry A. Perkins, 1875 to 1879.
Matt Parrott, 1879 to 1885. L. S. Merchant, 1885 to 1889. Otto Nelson, 1889 to 1895. Lafayette Young, 1895 to 1901. Howard Tedford, 1901 to 1903.
PRESIDENTS OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY.
Amos Dean, LL.D., 1855 to 1858. Silas Totten, LL.D., 1860 to 1862. Oliver M. Spencer, D.D., 1862 to 1867. Nathan R. Leonard, A.M. (acting),
1867 to 1868. James Black, D.D., 1868 to 1870. George Thatcher, D.D., 1871 to 1877.
Christian W. Slagle, A.M., 1877 to 1878. Josiah L. Pickard, LL.D., 1878 to 1887. Charles A. Schaeffer, A.M., Ph.D.,
1887 to 1898. George E. MacLean, A.M., Ph.D.,
LL.D., 1899.
PRESIDENTS OF THE IOWA STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
AND MECHANIC ARTS.
A. S. Welch, A.M., 1868 to 1883. S. A. Knapp, LL.D., 1884. Leigh Hunt, A.M., 1885 and first half of 1886.
W. I. Chamberlain, 1886 to 1890.
W. M. Beardshear, A.M., LL.D., 1891 to
August 5, 1902. Edgar W. Stanton, M.Sc. (acting) 1902.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
J. C. Gilchrist, 1876 to 1886.
Homer H. Seerley, A.M., 1886.
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
President.
Thomas W. Clagett, 1854-57. Dr. J. Bowen, 1858. Z. T. Fisher, 1859. George G. Wright, 1860-64.
Peter Melendy, 1866-7-8-9.
E. R. Shankland, 1870-71. John Scott, 1872-3. Oliver Mills, 1874-5-6.
S. F. SpofEord, 1877-8.
F. L. Downing, 1879-80. J. W. Porter, 1881-2. W. T. Smith, 1883-4-5. H. C. Wheeler, 1886-7-8. John Hays, 1889-90. Albert Head, 1891.
J. W. McMuIlin, 1892-3.
John A. Evans, 1894-5-6.
W. H. Field, 1897.
John Cownie, 1898.
W. F. Harriman, April, 1898-9.
Secretary.
J. M. Shaffer, 1854-5. J. H. Wallace, 1856-62. J. H. Wallace, 1856-62. J. M. Shaffer, 1863-74.
J. M. Shaffer, 1863-74.
" " ' Shaffer, 1863-74. Shaffer, 1863-74. Shaffer, 1874-93. Shaffer, 1874-93. Shaffer, 1874-93. Shaffer, 1874-93.
J. R. Shaffer, 1874-93. J. R. Shaffer, 1874-93. J. R. Shaffer, 1874-93.
J. R. Shaffer, 1874-93. P. L. Fowler, 1894-98. P. L. Fowler, 1894-98.
Geo. Van Houten, 1899- 1900.
Fair Held.
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Fairfield. 1854-5. Muscatine, 1856-7. Oskaloosa, 1858-9. Iowa City, 1860-61. Dubuque, 1862-63. Burlington, 1864-5-6. Clinton, 1867-8. Keokuk, 1869-70. Cedar Rapids, 1871-2-3. Keokuk, 1874-5. Cedar Rapids, 1876-7-8. Des Moines, 1879-1902.
Des Moines, 1879-1902. Des Moines, 1879-1902. Des Moines, 1879-1902.
Des Moines, 1879-1902. Des Moines, 1879-1902. Des Moines, 1879-1902.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. R. J. Johnston, President, 1900. J. C. Simpson, Secretary, 1901-3.
J. C. Frasier, President, 1901. J. C. Simpson, Secretary, 1901-3.
W. W. Morrow, President, 1902. J. C. Simpson, Secretary, 1901-3.
STA
President.
James Weed, 1866. D. W. Kauffman, 1867. J. B. Grinnell, 1868. Suel Foster, 1869-72. G. B. Brackett, 1873-6. H. W. Lathrop, 1877-8. C. L. Watrous, 1879-82.
TE HORTICULTURAL Secretary.
Mark Miller, 1866-7. Mark Miller, 1866-7. W. W. Beebe, 1868. D. W. Adams, 1868-72. J. L. Budd, 1873-85. J. L. Budd, 1873-85. J. L. Budd, 1873-85.
SOCIETY.
Meeting Held.
Iowa City, 1866. Des Moines, 1867. Des Moines, 1868. Des Moines, 1869. Des Moines, 1870-1-2. Davenport, 1873. Iowa City, 1874.
OF IOWA
457
President.
Speer, 1883-4. Wilson, 1885-6. Patten, 1887-8. Wilson, 1889. Eugene Secor, 1890-91. A. F. Collman, 1892-4. B. Hinkley, 1895. M. Powell, 1896-7. P. Gardner, 1898-1900. J. Wragg, 1901-3.
R. P, Silas C. G. Silas
M F. C.
M.
Secretary.
J. L. Budd, 1873-85.
J. L. Budd, 1873-85.
G. B. Brackett, 1886.
Geo. H. Van Houten, 1887-90.
G. B. Brackett, 1891.
J. L. Budd, 1892-5.
J. L. Budd.
Geo. Van Houten, 1896-8.
Wesley Greene, 1899-1903.
Wesley Greene, 1899-1903.
After 1887 all meetings were held in Des Moines.
Meeting Held.
Burlington, 1875. Des Moines, 1876. Oskaloosa, 1877. Des Moines, 1878. Marshalltown, 1S79. Des Moines, 1880. Cedar Palls, 1881. Des Moines, 1882. Dubuque, 1883. Des Moines, 1884. Atlantic, 1885. Des Moines, 1886. Ciiarles City, 1887.
GRAND ARMY OP THE REPUBLIC, State Department Commanders.
First, 1866. Add. H. Sanders, Daven- port.
1866. J. B. Deake, Davenport.
1867. W. T. Shaw, Anamosa.
1868. J. A. Williamson, Des Moines.
1869. E. W. Rice, Oskaloosa. 1874-5. J. C. Parrott, Keokuk. 1876-8, A. A. Perkins, Burlington.
1879. H. E. Griswold, Atlantic.
1880. W. F. Conrad, Des Moines.
1881. P. V. Carey, Des Moines.
1882. G. B. Hogin, Newton.
1883. John B. Cook, Carroll.
1884. E. G. Miller, Waterloo.
1885. W. R. Manning, Newton.
1886. W. A. McHenry, Denison.
PRESIDENTS OP PIONEER Reuben Noble, Clayton County, 1886. John F. Duncombe, Webster County,
1888. Edward Johnston, Lee County, 1890. George G. Wright, Polk County, 1892. John Scott, Story County, 1896. Hoyt Sherman, Polk County, 1898. Theodore S. Parvin, Linn County,
1900.
1887. J. M. Tuttle, Des Moines.
1888. E. A. Consigny, Avoca.
1889. C. H. Smith, Mt. Pleasant.
1890. M. P. Mills, Cedar Rapids.
1891. C. L. Davidson, Hull.
1892. J. J. Steadman, Council Bluffs.
1893. Phil. Schaller, Sac City.
1894. G. A. Newman, Cedar Falls.
1895. J. K. P. Thompson, Rock Rapids.
1896. Josiah Given, Des Moines.
1897. A. H. Evans, Keokuk.
1898. R. W. Terrill, Manchester.
1899. C. F. Bailey, Ireton.
1900. M. B. Davis, Sioux City.
1901. Geo. Metzgar, Davenport.
1902. John Lindt, Council Bluffs.
LAWMAKERS ASSOCIATION.
(Acting) A. B. F. Hildreth, Floyd
County, 1900. (Acting) Warren S. Dungan, Lucas
County, 1900. (Acting) Samuel McNutt, Muscatine
County, 1902. (Acting) B. F. Gue, Polk County,
1902. J. R. Reed, Pottawattamie County,
1903.
State Officials. (Appointed.) board of public works for the des moines river
IMPROVEMENT. • Hugh W. Sample, 1847 to 1849. ^William Patterson, 1849 to 1851.
Charles Corkerv, 1847 to 1849. Jesse Williams, 1849 to 1851.
Paul Brattain, 1847 to 1849. George Gillaspy, 1849 to 1853.
COMMISSIONERS OF RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Verplank Van. Antwerp, 1851 to 1855. William McKay, 1855 to 1856. Josiah H. Bonney, 1853 to 1855. Edwin Manning, 1856 to 1859.
William C. Drake, 1858 to 1860.
REGISTERS OF RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
George Gillaspy, 1851 to 1855. Paul C. Jeffries, 1853 to 1855.
John C. Lockwood,, 1855 to 1857.
LIBRARIANS.
Lemuel B. Patterson, 1846 to 1851. John Pattee, 1855 to 1858.
Israel Kister, 1851 to 1852. J. P. Coulter. 1858 to 1868.
Martin L. Morris, 1852 to 1855. John C. Merrill, 1868 to 1872.
458 HISTORY
Ada E. North, 1872 to 1878. Laura C. Creighton, 1894 to 1896.
Sara B. Maxwell, 1878 to 1888. Lana H. Cope, 1896 to 1S98.
Mary H. Miller, 1888 to 1894. Johnson Brigham, 1898 to 1906.
GEOLOGICAL, SURVEYS.
Authorized in January, 1855.
State Geologists. Assistants.
James Hall, 1855 to 1857. J. D. Whitney, 1855 to 1857.
Charles A. White, 1866 to 1870. Chandler Childs, 1866 to 1867.
Samuel Calvin, 1892. O. H. St. John, 1867 to 1870.
Charles R. Keyes, 1892 to 1894.
H. Foster Bain, 1895 to 1900.
Arthur G. Leonard, 1900.
CURATOR OF HISTORICAL DEPARTMENT.
Charles Aldrich, 1892.
BOARD OF CONTROL.
William Larrabee, 1899 to 1900. John Cownie, 1899 to 1904.
L. G. Kinne, 1899 to 1908. G. S. Robinson, 1900 to 1906.
COMMISSIONERS OF LEGAL INQUIRY.
Charles Ben Darwin, 1860 to 1866. F. E. Bissell, 1866.
William Smyth, 1860 to 1866. W. H. Seevers, 1866.
Wlnslow T. Barker, 1860 to 1866. Jacob Butler, 1866.
COMMISSIONERS OF IMMIGRATION. Nicholas J. Rusch, 1860 to 1862. George D. Perkins, 1881.
BOARD OF IMMIGRATION.
1870.
Edward Mumm, Lee County. Sumner F. Spofford, Polk County.
Mathias J. Rohlfs, Scott County. Marcus Tuttle, Cerro Gordo County.
Claus L. Clausen, Mitchell County. The Governor, Chairman. Cornelius Rhynsberger, Marion Coun- Alexander R. Fulton, Secretary, ty.
1872.
The number reduced to five members including the Governor. M. J. Rohlfs. Charles, V. Gardner.
S. F. Spofford. Governor C. C. Carpenter, Chairman.
A. R. Fulton, Secretary. The Board was abolished in 1873, and the Secretary made Commissioner of Immigration.
MINE INSPECTORS.
Park C. Wilson, 1882 to 1886. John W. Canty. 1892 to 1894.
Joshua A. Smith, 1886 to 1888. John Verner, 1892 to 1894.
Thomas Binks, 1886 to 1892. James A. Campbell, 1894 to 1902.
James E. Stout, 1886 to 1889. James W. Miller. 1894 to 1904.
James Gilroy, 1888 to 1892. John Verner, 1900 to 1904.
Morgan G. Thomas, 1889 to 1900. Ed. Sweeney, 1902 to 1904.
DAIRY COMMISSIONERS. Henry D. Sherman, 1886 to 1890. W. K. Boardman, 1894 to 1898.
Augustus C. Tupper, 1890 to 1894. Byron P. Norton, 1898 to 1902.
H. R. Wright, 1902 to 1904.
COMMISSIONERS OF LABOR STATISTICS. E. R. Hutchins, 1884 to 1890. W. E. O'Bleness, 1894 to 1900.
J. R. Sovereign, 1890 to 1894. C. F. Wennerstrum, 1900 to 1902.
Edward D. Brigham, 1902 to 1904.
CUSTODIANS OF PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Ed. Wright, 1886 to 1890. George Metzger, 1894 to 1898.
William li. Carpenter, 1890 to 1894. Joseph D. McGarraugh, 1898 to 1902.
Timothy E. McCUrdy, 1902 to 1904.
PHARMACY COMMISSIONERS. O. M. Olson, 1880 to 1881. Robert Wilson, 1881 to 1884.
G. H. Shaffer, 1880 to 1888. R. W. Crawford, 1884 to 1887.
C. A. Weaver, 1880 to 1890. J. H. Pickett, 1886 to 1898.
OF IOWA
459
H. K. Snyder, 1888 to 1891. J. H. Harrison, 1890 to 1893. J. H. Mitchell, 1891 to 1894.
Fletcher Howard, 1893 to 1902. W. L. Leland, 1894 to 1903. N. T. Hendrix, 1899 to 1901.
FISH COMMISSIONERS.
Samuel B. Evans, 1874 to 1876. A. W. Aldrich, 1882 to 1886.
B. F. Shaw, 1874 to 1882. E. D. Carlton, 1886 to 1890.
C. A. Haines, 1874 to 1876. R. K. Soper, 1890 to 1892.
J. Griggs, 1892 to 1894.
Geo. E.
T.
FISH AND GAME WARDENS. Delevan, 1894 to 1901. George A. Lincoln, 1901 to 1904.
OIL INSPECTORS.
B. W. Blanchard, 1884 to 1886. John Blanchard, 1886 to 1888. Charles Beardsley, 1888 to 1890. James J. Dunn, 1890 to 1894. L. S. Merchant, 1894. Luther A. Brewer, 1894 to 1898. H. M. Pickell, 1898 to 1902. Louis Weinstein, 1898 to 1902. J. B. M. Bishop, 1898 to 1902. W. D. Hartraan, 1898 to 1902.
F. J. Young, 1898 to 1902. J. O'Keefe, 1898 to 1902. S. H. Bauman, 1898 to 1902. F. O. Udall, 1898 to 1902. C. F. Gullixson, 1898 to 1902. Theo. Guittar, 1898 to 1902. C. K. Mevers, 1898 to 1902. W. A. Welch, 1898 to 1902. C. H. Hare, 1898 to 1902. A. Crawshaw, 1898 to 1902.
BOARDS OF HEALTH.
W. S. Robertson, 1880 to 1888.
W. H. Dickinson, 1880 to 1889.
Geo. F. Roberts. 1880 to 1883.
Justin M. Hull, 1880 to 1891.
P. W. Lewellen, 1880 to 1892.
H. H. Clark 1880 to 1893.
E. M. Reynolds, 1880 to 1894.
J. L. Loring, 1880 to 1889.
J. F. McJunkin, 1880 to 1881.
L. F. Andrews, Secretary, 1880 to 1885.
Smith McPherson, 1881 to 1885.
S. B. Olney 1883 to 1890.
A. J. Baker, 1885 to 1889.
M. Stalker, 1885 to 1896.
J. F. Kennedy, Secretary, 1885 to 1902.
J. C. Shrader, 1887 to 1902.
J. H. Sams, 1902 to 1909.
J. Y. Stone, 1885 to 1895. Fred. Becker, 1889 to 1896. E. A. Guilbert, 1890 to 1900. Edwin H. Carter, 1891 to 1898. J. M. Emmert, 1892 to 1899. R. E. ConnlfC, 1893 to 1900. J. A. Scroggs, 1894 to 190L Warren Dickinson, 1894 to 1901. Milton Remley, 1895 to 1900. Walton Bancroft, 1897 to 1903. James I. Gibson, 1898 to 1902. John A. McKlween, 1898 to 1905. Henry Matthey, 1899 to 1906. A. M. Linn, 1901 to 1903. Charles B. Adams. 1901 to 1904. Fred W. Powers, 1901 to 1908.
State Legislatures of Iowa, first general assembly.
Convened at Iowa City, November 30, 1846.
The Senate.
Thomas Barker, President, Democrat. John B. Russell, Secretary, Democrat.
COUNTIES KEPEESENTBD. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee Jacob Huner, James Sprott.
Van Buren John M. Whitaker, John F. Sanford.
Davis and Appanoose John J. Selman.
Wapello and Monroe James Davis.
Marion, Polk, Dallas and Jasper. Thomas Baker.
Des Moines Milton D. Browning, Samuel Fullinwlder.
Henry Evan Jay.
Jefferson Robert Brown.
Louisa and Washington Francis Springer.
Keokuk and Mahaska R. R. Harbour.
Muscatine, Johnson and Iowa. . . Thomas Hughes.
Scott and Clinton Loring Wheeler.
Cedar, Linn and Benton Samuel A. Bissell.
Jackson and Jones Philip B. Bradley.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, Fayette, Buchanan and Black ^^ „ ^
Hawk Theophilus Crawford, Thomas H. Benton, Jr.
Democrats, 12; Whigs, 6.
I
460 HISTORY
House of Representatives.
Jesse B. Browne, Speaker, Whig. Silas A. Hudson, Chief Clerk, Whig.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee Jesse B. Browne, William Steele, William J.
Cochran, Jcsiah Clifton, Reuben Conlee, Daniel S. Baker.
Van Buren George Montague, Anderson McPherrln,
Dudley Hardy, R. B. Willoughby.
Davis and Appanoose Andrew Leach.
Wapello A. B. Comstock.
Monroe Charles Anderson.
Marion, Polk, Dallas and Jasper. John N. Kinsman, Simeon Reynolds.
Des Moines Alfred Hebard, David E. Blair, G. W. Bowie,
Joshua Holland.
Henry John T. Morton, Abraham Updegraff,
Thomas Wright.
Jefferson Samuel Whitmore, James R. Bailey, Williajn
H. Lyons.
Louisa Wright Williams.
Washington Stewart Goodrell.
Keokuk Nelson King.
Mahaska John W. Smith.
Muscatine Elijah Sells. *
Muscatine, Johnson and Iowa...Irad C. Day.
Johnson and Iowa Smiley H. Bonham.
Scott James McManus.
Clinton William E. Lefflngwell.
Cedar Nelson Rathbun.
Linn and Benton Robert Smyth.
Jackson and Jones Sylvester G. Matson, George P. Green.
Dubuque, Clayton, Delaware, Fayette, Buchanan and Black , ,,. , , ^,t> i
Hawk Samuel B. Olmstead, Michael O Brien.
Democrats, 17; Whigs, 23. The regular session adjourned February 25, 1847.
An extra session convened January 3, 184S. Thomas Hughes was Presi- dent of the extra session, and J. S. Richman was Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.
John Howell was Senator from Jefferson County at the extra session; and Josiah Kent took the place of Baker from Lee; T. L. Sargent that of Bowie of Des Moines; George Wayland that of Whitmore from Jefferson, and William Edmundson that of Smith of Mahaska. The extra session adjourned January 25, 1848.
SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Convened at Iowa City, December 4, 1848.
The Semite.
John J. Selman, President, Democrat. C. C. Rockwell, Secretary, Democrat.
COUNTIES BBPRESBNTHD. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee James Sprott, Thomas S. Espy.
Van Buren John F. Sanford, George G. Wright.
Davis and Appanoose John J. Selman.
Wapello and Monroe Barney Royston.
Marlon, Polk, Dallas and Jasper. Phlneas M. Casady.
Des Moines Stilton D. Browning, Alfred S. Fear.
Henry Evan Jay.
Jefferson John Howell.
Louisa and Washington Francis Springer.
Keokuk and Mahaska R. R. Harbour.
Muscatine, Johnson and Iowa. . . Freeman Alger.
Scott and Clinton Loring Wheeler.
Cedar, Linn and Benton John P. Cook.
Jackson and Jones Philip B. Bradley.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, Fayette, Buchanan and Black , ^ ^ ^ c,^., ,j
Hawk Theophilus Crawford, John G. Shields.
Democrats, 11; Whigs, 8.
OF IOWA 461
House of Representatives.
Smiley H. Bonham, Speaker, Democrat. William E. Lefflngwell, Chief Clerk, Democrat.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OP MEMBERS.
Lee AVilliam C. Read, Cave J. McParland, Mich- ael H. Walker, Samuel Norton, Isaac W. Griffith.
Van Buren John Alexander, Josiah W. McManaman,
Abner H. McCrary, Willard Elmer.
Davis and Appanoose Reuben Riggs.
Wapello Joseph H. Flint.
Monroe William M. Allison.
Marion, Polk, Dallas and Jasper. Lysander W. Babbitt, Manly GifEord.
Des Moines Thomas L. Sargeant, George Davidson, John
Penny, John L. Corse.
Henry Samuel D. Woodworth, Mark Burroughs, H.
R. Thompson.
Jefferson George Weyand, William Baker, Andrew
Collins.
Louisa Wright Williams.
Washington Stewart Goodrell.
Keokuk William Jacobs.
Mahaska
Muscatine George D. Stephenson.
Muscatine, Johnson and Iowa. . . Joseph E. Harrison.
Johnson and Iowa Smiley H. Bonham.
Scott John D. Evans.
Clinton James D. Bourne.
Cedar Jeremiah C. Betts.
Linn and Benton Abraham Timmons.
Jackson and Jones Dennis A. Mahoney, Nathan G. Sales.
Dubuque, Delaware, Clayton, Fayette, Buchanan and Black
Hawk Sidney Wood, James A. Langton.
Democrats, 28; Whigs, 11. The Assembly Adjourned January 15, 1849.
THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, December 2, 1850.
The Senate.
Bnos Lowe, President, Democrat. Philip B. Bradley, Secretary, Democrat.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee Thomas S. Espy, Nathan Baker.
Van Buren George G. Wright, John B. Spees.
Davis, Appanoose and Wayne.. John J. Selman.
Wapello, Monroe and Lucas Henry B. Hendershott
Marion, Polk, Dallas, Jasper, Marshall, Story, Boone, War- ren and Madison Phnieas M. Casady.
Des Moines George Hepner, Enos Lowe.
Henry John T. Morton.
Jefferson ". John Howell.
Louisa and Washington Norman Bverson.
Mahaska, Keokuk and Powe- shiek Joseph Lowe.
Muscatine,' Johnson and Iowa. . . Freeman Alger
Scott and Clinton William E. Lefflngwell.
Cedar, Linn, Benton and Tama. John P. Cook
Jackson and Jones Nathan G. Sales.
Dubuque, Clayton, Delaware, Buchanan, Black Hawk, Win- ^ t ^„,~
neshiek and Allamakee John G. Shields, Warner Lewis.
Democrats, 13; Whigs, 5.
462 HIST'ORY
Uotise of Representatives.
George Temple, Speaker, Democrat. C. C. Rockwell, Chief Clerk, Democrat.
COUNTIES HEPEESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee E. S. McCulloch, John Thompson, R. P. Wil- son, Smith Hamill, Adolphus Salmon.
Van Buren Abner H. McCrary, George C. Allender,
Chauncey G. Dibble. Davis, Appanoose and Wayne. . Reuben Riggs, Samuel Riggs
Wapello Joseph H. Flint, Andrew Major.
Monroe and Lucas N. B. Preston.
Marion, Polk, Dallas, Jasper, Marshall, Story, Boone, War- ren and Madison Lysander W. Babbitt, Edwin R. Guiberson.
Des Moines William Harper, George Temple, Moses W.
Robinson.
Henry Peyton Wilson, Abraham Updegraff.
Jefferson Charles Negus, Thomas McCulloch, Hiram
D. Gibson.
Louisa Andrew Gamble.
Washington David Bunker.
Mahaska, Keokuk and Powe- shiek William Jacobs, R. R. Habour.
Muscatine John A. Parvin.
Johnson and Iowa Oilman Polsom.
Scott Laurel Summers.
Clinton William G. Haun.
Cedar Goodwin Taylor.
Linn, Benton and Tama Isaac M. Preston.
Jackson and Jones Richard B. Wyckoff, John B. Qoodenow,
Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan
and Black Hawk Theophilus Crawford, Hugh V. Glldea, A. K.
Eaton. Clayton, Fayette, Winneshiek
and Allamakee Eliphalet Price.
Democrats, .34; Whigs, 5. The Assembly Adjourned February 5, 1851.
FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, December 6, 1852.
The Senate.
William B. Lefflngwell, President, Democrat. T. B. Cuming, Secretary, Democrat.
COUNTIES KEPKESBNTED. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
Lee Calvin J. Price, James M. Love, Salmon
Cowles.
Des Moines Milton D. Browning, George Hepner.
Van Buren John B. Spees, George Schramm.
Jefferson William G. Coop, John Park.
Henry Archibald McKlnney.
Wapello John W. Hedrick.
Wapello, Monroe, Lucas, Clarke. Henry B. Hendershott.
Davis Samuel G. McAchran.
Davis, Appanoose, Wayne and
Decatur Amos Harris.
Pottawattamie Hadley D. Johnson.
Mills, Montgomery, Adams,
Union, Ringgold, Taylor, Page
and Fremont George W. Lucas.
Louisa and Washington Norman Everson.
Keokuk Joseph Lowe.
Mahaska John R. Needham.
Marion, Warren and Madison... Jefferson D. HUlIs.
Scott Ell S. Wing.
Muscatine Jonathan B. Fletcher.
Cedar and Clinton William E. Lefflngwell.
OF IOWA 463
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Johnson, Iowa and Poweshiek.. George D. Crosthwait.
Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Boone, Story, Mar- shall, Hardin, Risley, Yell, Fox, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Cerro Gor- do, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Emmet, Bancroft, "Win- nebago, Worth Andrew Y. Hull.
Jackson Elisha F. Clark.
Jackson and Jones Nathan G. Sales.
Lipn, Benton and Tama Isaac M. Preston.
Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Black Hawk, Grundy, Butler, Bremer, Clayton, Fayette, Al- lamakee, Winneshiek, How- ard, Mitchell, Floyd, Chicka- i ' \ "^i
saw John G. Shields, Warner Lewis, Maturln L.
Fisher. Democrats, 20; Whigs, 11.
House of Representatives.
James Grant, Speaker, Democrat. J. S. Hooton, Chief Clerk, Democrat.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee S. G. Wright, H. Washburn, J. S. Gilmore,
J. M. Anderson, F. Hesser, S. W. Seaxs.
Des Moines James W. Grimes, Justus Clark, W. Sey- mour, J. Wilson Williams.
Van Buren Anderson McPherrin, Lewis Fordyce, Jacob
Ream, Robert Russell.
Jefferson Samuel Whitmore, W. T. Rogers, H. B. Mit- chell.
Henry Robert Caulk, James C. Green, Levi Jessup.
Wapello Robert Cock, James C. Ramsey.
Wapello, Monroe, Lucas, Clarke. Henry Allen.
Monroe, Lucas and Clark John S. Townsend.
Davis Albert Duckworth, John A. Drake.
Davis, Appanoose, Wayne and Decatur Abraham Putman.
Appanoose, Wayne and Deca- tur Harvey B. Duncan.
Pottawattamie A. S. Bryant.
Mills, Montgomery, Adams, Union, Ringgold, Taylor, Page and Fremont William C. Means.
Pottawattamie, Mills, Fremont, Page, Taylor, Ringgold, Union, Adams, Montgomery, Cass, Adair, Audubon, Shelby, Har- rison, Monona, Crawford, Car- roll, Sac, Ida, Wahkaw, Ply- mouth, Cherokee, Buena Vis- ta, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Dick- inson, Osceola and Buncombe. Joseph L. Sharp.
Louisa Micajah Reeden, John Cleaves.
Washington David Bunker, Horace H. Wilson.
Keokuk Harvey Stevens.
Mahaska William R. Ross.
Keokuk and Mahaska Samuel Coffin.
Marion, Warren and Madison... P. Gad Bryan, James M. Walters, Napoleon
B. Allison.
Scott James Grant, LeRoy Dodge.
Muscatine Elijah Sells. Freeman Alger.
Cedar Amos Witter.
Clinton William G. Haun.
Johnson Oilman Folsom.
464 HISTORY
COUNTIES REPKESBNTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Johnson, Iowa and Poweshiek.. Robert M. Hutchison. Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Boone, Story, Mar- shall, Hardin, Risley, Yell, Fox, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Cerro Gor- do, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Emmet, Bancroft, Win- nebago, Worth J. P. Rice, Joseph C. Qoodson, Benjamin
Green.
Jackson George F. Green, L. Wasson.
Jones John Taylor.
Linn, Benton and Tama A. F. Stedman, John McArthur.
Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan. A. K. Eaton, A. D. Anderson, Richard Bon- son. Democrats, 40; Whigs, 23. The Assembly Adjourned January 24, 1853.
FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, December 4, 1854.
The Senate.
Maturin L. Fisher, President, Democrat. P. B. Bradley, Secretary, Democrat.
COUNTIES REPRESENTED. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
Lee James M. Love, Exum S. McCulloch, W. A.
Thurston.
Des Moines Milton D. Browning, William F. Coolbaugh.
Van Buren George Schramm, Abner H. McCrary.
Jefferson William G. Coop, John Park.
Henry Alvin Saunders.
Wapello James C. Ramsey.
Wapello, Monroe, Lucas, Clarke. Dan Anderson.
Davis Samuel G. McAchran.
Davis, Appanoose, Wayne and Decatur Nathan Udell.
Pottawattamie James D. Test.
Mills, Montgomery, Adams, Union, Ringgold, Taylor, Page and Fremont George W. Lucas.
Louisa and Washington H. T. Cleaver.
Keokuk James L. Hogln.
Mahaska John R. Needham.
Marion, Warren and Madison... Jefferson D. Hillis.
Scott Ambrose C. Fulton.
Muscatine George W. Wilkinson.
Cedar and Clinton Julius J. Matthews.
Johnson, Iowa and Poweshiek.. Samuel Workmen.
Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Greene, Boone, Story, Mar- shall, Hardin, Risley, Yell, Fox, Pocahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Franklin, Cerro Gor- do, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Emmet, Bancroft, Win- nebago, Worth Theophilus Bryan, James C. Jordan.
Jackson Ellsha F. Clark.
Jackson and Jones Joseph Birge.
Linn, Benton and Tama Isaac M. Preston.
Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Black Hawk, Grundy, Butler, Bremer, Clayton, Fayette, Al- lamakee, Winneshiek, How- ard, Mitchell, Floyd, Chicka- saw William W. Hamilton, Maturin L. Fisher,
John G. Shields.
Democrats, 17; Whigs, 14.
OF IOWA 465
House of Representatives.
Reuben Noble, Speaker, Whig. Charles C. Nourse, Chief Clerk, Whig.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Allamakee and Winneshiek.. James D. McKay.
2 Clayton Reuben Noble, Lafayette Bigelow.
3 Fayette, Chickasaw, Butler,
Bremer, BlackHawk, Grundy, Franklin, Cerro Gordo, Floyd, Howard, Mitchell and Worth Jacob W. Rogers.
4 Delaware and Buchanan Thomas E. Turner.
5 Dubuque Richard Bonson, John M. Moore, Ben M.
Samuels. William S. Hall.
6 Jackson James P. Eddie, Thomas S. Smith.
7 Jones William H. Holmes.
8 Jackson and Jones David Kinert.
9 Cedar Allen D. Graham.
10 Clinton Joseph A. Brown.
11 Scott Amos Witter, Andrew J. Hyde.
12 Cedar, Clinton and Scott George Smith.
13 Washington Samuel A. Russell.
14 Louisa John C. Lockwood.
15 Washington and Louisa James N. Young.
16 Muscatine Reasin Pritchard, John H. Pignan.
17 Des Moines Thomas L. Sargeant, John L. Corse, Joshua
Tracy. George S. Albright.
18 Henry Willet Dorland, Francis White, Samuel Mc-
Farland.
19 Lee George Newsam, William Damon, Josiah
Hinkle, Horace Dewey, Samuel Boyles, Robert P. Creel.
20 Linn John P. Conkey. Robert Holmes.
21 Johnson Samuel H. McCrory.
22 Johnson and Iowa Rolla Johnson.
23 Poweshiek, Jasper, Benton
and Tama John Connell. „ ^ ^
24 Van Buren George N. Rosser, Joseph Barker, Robert
Meek, Henry Weatherington.
25 Jefferson James Wamsley, Edmund Meachem, Robert
Stephenson.
26 Davis O. D. Tisdale, D. C. Greenleaf.
27 Wapello Samuel K. Creamer, Nimrod Poston.
2S Wapello and Keokuk Cyrus Franklin.
29 Keokuk W. P. Morgan.
30 Appanoose William Monroe.
31 Monroe Matthew A. Goodf ellow.
32 Wayne, Decatur, Lucas,
Clarke S. P. Yeomans.
33 Mahaska Samuel Coffin. Micajah Williams.
34 Marion James M. Walters, Green T. Clark.
35 Marion, Warren and Madi-P. Gad Bryan, Jarius E. Neal.
son
36 Polk Alfred M. Lyon.
37 Polk, Dallas and Guthrie.... Ezra Vanfossen.
38 Greene, Boone, Story, Hard-
in, Webster, Yell, Fox, Po- cahontas, Humboldt, Wright, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo Alto, Emmet, Ban- croft, Winnebago and Mar- shall Samuel B. McCall.
39 Fremont, Page, Taylor and
Ringgold William Dewey.
40 Mills, Montgomery, Adams,
Union, Adair, Audubon and
Cass Richard Tutt.
41 Pottawattamie Daniel S. Jackson, John T. Baldwin.
[Vol. 3]
466 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEES.
42 Harrison, Shelby, Carroll, Crawford, Monona, Wood- bury, Ida, Sac, Buena Vis- ta, Cherokee, Plymouth, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Dick- inson, Osceola and Bun- combe Thomas B. Neely.
Democrats, 31; Whigs, 40. The regular session adjourned January 26, 1855. An extra session con- vened July 2, 185fi; which adjourned on the 16th of July.
At the extra session David T. Brigham took the place of James M. Love of Lee County; and James C. Jordan was awarded the seat held by Theo- philus Bryan, in the Senate.
In the House, at the extra session Lewis Kinsey took the place of Lock- wood of Louisa; J. S. Richman that of Pritchard of Muscatine; J. S. Ham- ilton that of Damon of Lee; J. M. Anderson that of Boyles of Lee; William Beckford that of Wamsley of Jefferson; C. E. Noble that of Meacham of Jefferson; and J. W. Russell that of Tutt of the Fortieth District.
SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Iowa City, December 1, 1856.
The Senate.
William W. Hamilton, President, Republican. Charles C. Nourse, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OP MEMBERS.
1 Lee E. S. McCulloch, William A. Thurston.
2 Lee and Van Buren David T. Brigham.
3 Van Buren Abner H. McCrary.
4 Des Moines William F. Coolbaugh, Lyman Cook.
5 Davis Henry H. Trimble.
6 Jefferson William M. Reed.
7 Henry Alvin Saunders.
8 Wapello James C. Ramsey.
9 Monroe, Lucas and Clarke. . . Dan Anderson.
10 Appanoose, Wayne and De-
catur John W. Warner.
11 Fremont, Mills, Page, Tay-
lor, Montgomery, Ringgold,
Adams and Union Samuel Dale.
12 Pottawattamie, Harrison,
Shelby, Woodbury, Mono- na, Audubon, Crawford, Calhoun, Sac, Ida, Chero- kee, Buena Vista, Poca- hontas, Palo Alto, Emmet, Clay, Dickinson, Osceola, O'Brien, Plymouth, Sioux and Buncombe James D. Test.
13 Louisa H. T. Cleaver.
14 Washington Charles Foster.
15 Keokuk James L. Hogin.
16 Mahaska William Loughridge.
17 Marion Jairus E. Neal.
18 Warren, Madison, Adair and
Cass M. L McPherson.
19 Muscatine George W. Wilkinson.
20 Johnson and Iowa Samuel J. Kirkwood.
21 Scott Nicholas J. Rusch.
22 Cedar Jonathan W. Cattell.
23 Clinton Julius J. Matthews.
24 Linn William G. Thompson.
25 Linn, Benton, Black Hawk,
and Buchanan George McCoy.
26 Poweshiek Jasper, Marshall
and Tama Josiah B. Grinnell.
27 Polk, Dallas and Guthrie.... James C. Jordan.
OF IOWA 467
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBBHS.
28 Jackson Jeremiah W. Jenkins.
29 Jackson and Jones Joseph Birge.
30 Dubuque William G. Stewart.
31 Dubuque and Delaware William W. Hamilton.
32 Clayton Henry B. Carter.
33 Fayette, Bremer, Butler,
Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Wright, Webster, Boone, Story, Greene and Hum- boldt Aaron Brown.
34 Allamakee, Winneshiek,
Howard, Chickasaw, Mit- chell, Floyd, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winneba- go, Bancroft and Kossuth.. Jeremiah T. Atkins. Democrats, 12; Republicans, 23.
House of Representatives.
Samuel McParland, Speaker, Republican. James W. Logan, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Joseph Van Velkenburgh, Thomas Sawyer,
J. B. Pease, J. H. Sullivan, W. H. Gris- wold.
2 Des Moines Thomas J. R. Perry, J. Wilson Williams, E.
D. Rand.
3 Van Buren David Doud, Jr., R. H. McDow, D. Hardy.
4 Davis Barnett Milllser, David Mendenhall.
5 Jefferson Charles O. Stanton, W. H. Copeland, Lewis
Reeder.
6 Henry Willett Dorland, Samuel McFarland.
7 Wapello Cyrus Franklin, S. G. Finney.
8 Wapello and Keokuk Morrison F. Bottorf.
9 Monroe Samuel Gossage.
10 Lucas, Clarke and Union D. W. Scoville.
11 Appanoose James Galbraith.
12 Wayne and Decatur Thomas M. Bo wen.
13 Fremont William Kelsey.
14 Mills, Taylor, Page, Mont-
gomery, Ringgold and Ad- ams Samuel H. Moer.
15 Pottawattamie A. V. Larimer.
16 Harrison, Shelby, Woodbury,
Monona, Audubon, Craw- ford, Carroll, Calhoun, Sac, Ida, Cherokee, Buena Vis- ta, Pocahontas, Palo Alto, Emmet, Clay, Dickinson, Osceola, O'Brien, Ply- mouth, Sioux and Bun- combe N. G. Wyatt.
17 Louisa N. W. Burris.
18 Washington William B. Lewis.
19 Louisa and Washington Andrew J. Kirkpatrick.
20 Keokuk Abraham C. Price.
21 Mahaska R. M. Wilson, John H. Fry.
22 Marion Green T. Clark, Miles Jordan.
23 Warren C. B. Jones.
24 Madison, Adair and Cass Benjamin F. Roberts.
25 Muscatine David C. Cloud, J. A. Mills.
26 Johnson George D. Wooden.
27 Johnson and Iowa Phineas Inskeep.
28 Scott Eli S. Wing, Horatio G. Earner, Robert H.
Rogers.
29 Cedar Ed. Wright.
30 Clinton Charles H. Toll.
31 Clinton and Cedar E. M. Wright.
32 Linn John E. Kurtz, Daniel Lothian.
468 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
33 Poweshiek and Jasper David Edmundson.
34 Benton, Tama and Marshall. Delos Arnold
35 Polk William P. Davis.
36 Polk, Dallas and Guthrie Benjamin Green.
37 Jackson William Mordan, Jacob K. Hershberger.
38 Jones William H. Holmes.
39 Jackson and Jones ^niliam Thomas.
40 Delaware James M. Noble.
41 Black Hawk and Buchanan. Morrison Bailey.
42 Dubuque John M. Moore, Winslow T. Barker, Thomas
Hardie, Daniel Cort.
43 Clayton La Fayette Bigelow, Francis Rodman.
44 Boone, Webster, Story,
Hardin, Greene, Franklin,
Wright and Humboldt Walter C. Wilson.
45 Allamakeei James Bryson.
46 Winneshiek, Howard, Mit-
chell, Worth, Winnebago
and Bancroft Glaus L. Clausen.
47 Fayette Robert A. Richardson.
48 Bremer, Chickasaw, Butler,
Floyd, Cerro Gordo, Han- cock, Kossuth and Grundy. E. R. Gillett.
Democrats, 26; Republicans, 44.
E. M. Wright of Clinton died at the beginning of the session, and his seat remained vacant.
The Assembly Adjourned January 29, 1857.
The Third Constitutional Convention.
(IJonvened at Iowa City, January 19, 1857.
Francis Springer, President. Republican. Thomas J. Saunders, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Edward Johnstone, William Patterson.
2 Lee and Van Buren Squire Ayers.
3 Van Buren Timothy Day.
4 Des Moines Jonathan C. Hall, Moses W. Robinson.
5 Davis David P. Palmer.
6 Jefferson James F. Wilson.
7 Henry Rufus L. B. Clarke
8 Wapello George Gillaspy.
9 Monroe, Lucas and Clarke.. . John Edwards.
10 Appanoose, Wayne, Decatur. Amos Harris.
11 Fremont, Mills, Page, Tay-
lor, Montgomery, Ringgold,
Adams and Union Daniel H. Solomon.
12 Pottawattamie, Harrison,
Shelby, Woodbury, Monona, Audubon, Crawford, Car- roll, Calhoun, Sac, Ida, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Po- cahontas, Palo Alto, Em- met, Clay, Dickinson, Osce- ola, O'Brien, Plymouth, Sioux and Buncombe Daniel W. Price.
13 Louisa Francis Springer.
14 Washington David Bunker.
15 Keokuk Jeremiah Hollingsworth.
16 Mahaska .Tames A . Young.
17 Marion Hiram D. Gibson.
18 Warren, Madison, Adair,
Cass Lewis Todhunter.
19 Muscatine John A. Parvin.
OF IOWA 469
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OP MEMBERS.
20 Johnson and Jones William Penn Clarke.
21 Scott George W. Ells.
22 Cedar Robert Gower.
23 Clinton Aylett R. Cotton.
24 Linn Hosea W. Gray.
25 Linn, Benton, Black Hawk
and Buchanan James C. Traer.
26 Poweshiek, Jasper, Marshall
and Tama Harvey J. Skiff.
27 Polk, Dallas and Guthrie Thomas Seelv.
28 Jackson William A. Warren.
29 Jackson and Jones Albert H. Marvin.
30 Dubuque John H. Emerson.
31 Dubuque and Delaware John H. Peters.
32 Clayton Alpheus Scott.
33 Fayette, Bremer, Butler,
Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Wright, Webster, Boone, Story, Greene, Allamakee, Winneshiek and Humboldt. Sheldon G. Winchester.
34 Howard, Chickasaw, Mit-
chell, Floyd, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winneba- go, Bancroft and Kossuth.. John T. Clark.
Democrats, 15; Republicans, 21. The constitution framed by this convention was adopted by a vote of the electors on the 3d of August, 1857, and took effect September 3, 1857. The Convention adjourned March 5, 1857.
SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
(First under the Constitution of 1857.)
Convened at Des Moines, January 11, 1858.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Oran Faville, President, Republican. George B. Spencer, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBBHS.
1 Lee John R. Allen, John W. Rankin.
2 Lee and Van Buren David T. Brigham.
3 Van Buren Gideon S. Bailey.
4 Des Moines William F. Coolbaugh, Lyman Cook.
5 Davis Henry H. Trimble.
6 Jefferson William M. Reed.
7 Henry Alvin Saunders.
8 Wapello John A. Johnson.
9 Monroe, Lucas and Clarke... Dan. Anderson. 10. Appanoose, Wayne, Decatur. John W. Warner.
11 Fremont, Mills, Page, Tay-
lor, Montgomery, Ring- gold, Union and Adams — Samuel Dale.
12 Pottawattamie, Harrison,
Shelby, Woodbury, Mono- na, Audubon, Crawford, Calhoun, Sac, Ida, Chero- kee, Buena Vista, Poca- hontas, Palo Alto, Emmet, Clay, Dickinson, Osceola, O'Brien, Plymouth, Sioux, and Buncombe W. H. M. Pusey.
13 Louisa Samuel Reiner.
14 Washington Charles Foster.
15 Keokuk O. P. Sharradan.
16 Mahaska William Loughridge.
17 Marion Jairus E. Neal.
18 Warren, Madison, Adair,
Cass M. L. McPherson.
19. Muscatine A. O. Patterson.
470 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEE8.
20 Johnson and Iowa Samuel J. Kirkwood.
21 Scott Nicholas J. Rusch.
22 Cedar Jonathan W. Cattell.
23 Clinton George M. Davis.
24 Linn William G. Thompson.
25 Linn, Benton, Black Hawk
and Buchanan George McCoy.
26 Poweshiek, Jasper, Marshall,
and Tama Josiah B. Grinnell.
27. Polk, Dallas and Guthrie William P. Davis.
28 Jackson Jeremiah W. Jenkins.
29 Jackson and Jones Joseph Mann.
30 Dubuque William G. Stewart.
31 Dubuque and Delaware David S. Wilson.
32 Clayton Henry B. Carter.
33 Fayette, Bremer, Butler,
Franklin, Grundy, Hardin, Wright, Webster, Boone, Story, Greene and Hum- boldt Aaron Brown.
34 Allamakee, Winneshiek,
Howard, Chickasaw, Mit- chell, Floyd, Worth, Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winneba- go, Bancroft and Kossuth.. Jeremiah T. Atkins. Democrats, 14; Republicans, 22.
House of Representatives.
Stephen B. Shelledy, Speaker, Republican. William P. Hepburn, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBBBS.
1 Allamakee George W. Gray.
2 W'inneshiek B. B. Cooley.
3 Fayette Robert A. Richardson.
4 Clayton L. G. Collins, W. H. Stems.
5 Buchanan and Fayette J". S. Woodward.
6 Black Hawk Zimri Streeter.
7 Dubuqu«» Theophilus Crawford, Lincoln Clark, Dennis
A. Mahoney.
8 Delaware Joseph Grimes.
9 Dubuque, Jones and Clayton. W. S. Johnson.
10 Benton Thomas Drummond.
11 Howard, Chickasaw, Brem-
er W. P. Harmon.
12 Mitchell, Floyd and Butler.. Matthew M. Trumbull.
18 Worth, Cerro Gordo, Frank- lin, Wright. Hancock, Win- nebago, Kossuth, Webster,
Hamilton, Calhoun, Poca- hontas, Palo Alto, Sac, Buena "Vista, Clay, Dickin- son and Bmmet Cyrus C. Carpenter.
14 Pottawattamie, Harrison,
Shelby, Monona, Crawford, Woodbury, Ida, Plymouth, Cherokee, O'Brien, Osceola and Buncombe Samuel H. Casady.
15 Guthrie, Dallas, Cass, Adair. Leroy Lambert.
16 Boone, Greene, Carroll, Au-
dubon Cornelius Beal.
17 Hardin, Grundy and Story... John L. Dana.
18 Tama and Marshall T. Walter Jackson.
19 Polk Thomas Mitchell.
20 Jasper Stephen B Shelledy.
21 Iowa. Poweshiek, Mahaska.. William H. Seevers.
22 Johnson John Clark, J. Cavanaugh.
23 Linn E. D. Wain, Ellsworth N. Bates.
24 Jones H. Steward
OF IOWA 471
DIST. COUNTIES. XAMES OF MEilBEBS.
25 Cedar Ed. Wright.
26 Jackson Philip B. Bradley, T. Millsap.
27 Clinton Horace Anthony, Thomas Watts.
28 Scott John W. Thompson, Benjamin F. Gue, Rob-
ert Scott.
29 Muscatine Freeman Alger.
30 Muscatine and Cedar William Lundy.
31 Louisa Royal Prentiss.
32 Des Moines Justus Clarke, William H. Clune.
33 Des Moines and Lousia D. N. Sprague.
34 Washington Samuel E. Rankin.
35 Keokuk Theron A. Morgan.
36 Washington and Keokuk W. McGrew.
37 Iowa and Poweshiek C. J. L. Foster.
38 Mahaska A. M Cassiday.
39 Marion Israel C. Curtis, Martin B. Bennett.
40 Warren Charles E. Millard.
41 Madison Edwin R. Guiberson.
42 Lucas and Clarke John Edwards.
43 Fremont, Mills, Montgom-
ery James M. Dews.
44 Adams, Union, Page, Taylor
and Ringgold W. B. Davis.
45 Decatur W. J. Laney.
46 Davis Barnett Milliser.
47 Wayne, Appanoose and Da-
vis Alonzo W. Sharp.
48 Appanoose J. A. Pierson.
49 Van Buren Squire Ayers, J. J. Cassady.
50 Monroe John Reitzel.
51 Wapello William Campbell, William McCormick.
52 Jefferson James F. Wilson, T. Moorman.
53 Henry Lauren Dewey, J. F. Randolph.
54 Lee C. C. Bauder, J. A. Casey, WilUam W. Belk-
nap.
55 Lee, Henrj- and "Van Buren.. George W. McCrary.
Democrats, 30; Republicans, 42. The Assembly Adjourned March 23, 1858.
EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1860.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Nicholas J. Rusch, President, Republican. James H. Saunders, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee John W. Rankin, Valentine Buechel.
2 Van Buren Gideon S. Bailey.
3 Davis Cyrus Bussey.
4 Appanoose Nathan Udell.
5 Wayne and Decatur William E. Taylor.
6 Ringgold, Taylor, Adams,
Union and Clark J. C. Hagans.
7 Page, Fremont, Mills and
and Montgomery Harvey "W. English.
8 Des Moines William F. Coolbaugh.
9 Henry Alvin Saunders.
10 Jefferson James F. Wilson.
11 Wapello John A. Johnson.
12 Monroe and Lucas Dan Anderson.
13 Louisa Samuel Reiner.
14 Muscatine A. O. Patterson.
15 "Washington William B. Lewis.
16 Keokuk O. P. Sharradan.
17 Mahaska H. H. Williams.
IS Marion Jairus E. Neal.
19 Scott John W. Thompson.
472 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBBBS.
20 Clinton George M. Davis.
21 Cedar James M. Kent.
22 Johnson Jesse Bowen.
23 Polk William P. Davis.
24 Jackson George F. Green.
25 Jones Joseph Mann.
26 Linn H. G. Anglo.
27 Dubuque David S. Wilson, George W. Trumbull.
28 Clayton D. Hammer.
29 Warren Paris P. Henderson.
30 Madison, Dallas and Adair. . M. L. McPherson.
31 Pottawattamie, Cass, Harri-
son, Shelby, Audubon and
Guthrie W. H. M. Pusey.
32 Monona, Crawford, Carroll,
Greene, Woodbury, Sac, Ida, Calhoun, Webster, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Plymouth, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Palo Alto, Kossuth, Emmet, Dickinson, Osceola and Buncombe John F. Duncombe.
33 Iowa and Poweshiek J. J. Watson
34 Jasper and Marshall A. M. Pattison.
35 Benton and Tama Thomas Drummond.
36 Grundy, Black Hawk, Butler
and Franklin A. F. Brown.
37 Delaware and Buchanan David C. Hastings.
38 Fayette and Bremer Lucian L. Ainsworth.
39 Allamakee and Winneshiek.. George W. Gray.
40 Howard, Chickasaw, Mit-
chell, Floyd, Cerro Gordo, Worth, Hancock, Winneba- go and Wright Julius H. Powers.
41 Story, Boone, Hardin and
Hamilton John Scott.
Republicans, 23; Democrats, 20.
House of Representatives.
John Edwards. Speaker, Republican. Charles Aldrich, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OP MEMBERS.
1 Lee E. S. McCulloch, Calvin J. Price, Nathaniel
G. Hedges, Thomas W. Clagett.
2 Van Buren John M. Whitaker, Henry Clay Caldwell.
3 Davis Harvey Dunlavy. Marvin Hotchklss.
4 Appanoose Frederick A. Stephens.
5 W^ayne Hartley Bracewell.
6 Decatur Racine D. Kellogg.
7 Ringgold and Taylor Reuben A. Moser.
8 Page and Fremont Reuben F. Conner.
9 Des Moines Justus Clark, Moses W. Robinson, Jonathan
C. Hall.
10 Henry Alvah H. Bereman, A. J. Wlthrow.
11 Jefferson Matthew Clark, W. W. Cottle.
12 Wapello Jonathan C Mitchell, James Doggett.
13 Monroe L. O. Haskell.
14 Lucas John Edwards.
15 Clarke John L. Millard.
16 Union, Adams, Adair, Cass..K. W. Macomber.
17 Montgomery and Mills Washington Darling.
18 Louisa John H. Williamson.
19 Muscatine Michael Price, George C. Shipman.
20 Washington Matthew Morehead, Robert Glasgow.
21 Keokuk H. Campbell, George P. Ellis.
22 Mahaska Mahlon Stanton, Thomas N. Barnes.
23 Marlon Martin B. Bennett, Israel C. Curtis.
OF IOWA 473
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OP MEMBERS.
24 Warren James E. Williamson.
25 Madison Thomas D. Jones.
26 Pottawattamie Samuel H. Riddle.
27 Scott Benjamin F. Gue, James Quinn, William H.
F. Gurley.
28 Clinton Nathaniel B. Baker, George W. Parker.
29 Cedar Ed. Wright.
30 Johnson Rush Clark, George T. Davis.
31 Iowa Hugh B. Lynch.
32 Poweshiek A. M. Cowing.
33 Jasper C. M. Davis.
34 Polk Stewart Goodrell.
35 Dallas Leroy Lambert.
36 Guthrie, Audubon, Shelby ,
and Harrison Daniel M. Harris.
37 Jackson Benjamin McCullough, William H. Reed.
38 Jones John Tayl<ir.
39 Linn Amos Witter, Jennings Crawford.
40 Benton James McQuinn.
41 Tama Abraham Tompkins.
42 Marshall William Bremner.
43 Story and Hamilton S. B. Rosenkrans.
44 Boone Cornelius Beal.
45 Crawford, Monona, Carroll,
and Greene J. W. Denison.
46 Dubuque Francis A. Gniffke, James H. Williams, F.
Mangold, John D. Jennings.
47 Delaware John W. LeLacheur.
48 Buchanan George W. Bemis.
49 Black Hawk iiimri Streeter.
50 Hardin David Hunt.
51 Humboldt, Webster, Poca-
hontas and Calhoun Samuel Rees.
52 Clayton S. R. Peet, Samuel Merrill.
53 Fayette Leander C. Noble.
54 Bremer and Chickasaw George W. Ruddick.
55 Franklin, Wright, Butler
and Grundy Chauncey Gillett.
56 Allamakee Charles Paulk.
57 Winneshiek Amos Hoag.
58 Cerro Gordo, Worth, Winne-
bago and Floyd, also Han- cock Elbridge G. Bowdoin.
59 Mitchell and Howard O. D. Sabin.
60 Woodbury, Ida, Plymouth,
Cherokee, also Sioux, O'Brien, Buncombe and Os- ceola Patrick Robb.
61 Dickinson, Sac, Buena Vista,
Kossuth, also Emmet, Clay,
and Palo Alto John E. Blackford.
Republicans, 49; Democrats, 37.
The regular session adjourned on the 3d of April, 1860.
An extra session convened on the 15th of May, 1861, and adjourned on the 29th of May.
NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1862.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor John R. Needham, President, Republican. William F. Davis, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Frederick Hesser, George W. McCrary.
2 Van Buren .\bner H. McCrary.
3 Davis James Pollard; qualified February 8th.
4 Appanoose Nathan Udell.
474 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
5 Wayne and Decatur E. F. Esteb; qualified February 19th.
6 R i n g- g o I d Taylor, Page,
Union, Adams and Mont- ■
goraery J. C. Hagans.
7 Fremont, Mills and Potta-
wattamie Harvey W. English.
8 Des Moines John G. Foote.
9 Henry Theron W. Woolson.
10 Jefferson J. Monroe Shaffer.
11 Wapello J. W. Dixon.
12 Monroe and Lucas Warren S. Dungan.
13 Louisa James S. Hurley.
14 Muscatine William G. Woodward.
15 Washington William B. Lewis.
16 Keokuk I. P. Teter.
17 Mahaska H. H. Williams.
18 Marlon Jairus E. Neal.
19 Scott Benjamin F. Gue, Joseph B. Leake.
20 Clinton Norman Boardman.
21 Cedar James M. Kent.
22 Johnson Jesse Bowen.
23 Polk Josiah H. Hatch.
24 Jackson George F. Green.
25 Jones William H. Holmes.
26 Linn H. G. Angle.
27 Dubuque George W. Trumbull, John D. Jennings.
28 Clayton D. Hammer.
29 Warren John Kern; qualified February 15th.
30 Madison and Clarke M. L. McPherson.
31 Adair, Cass, Dallas, Guthrie,
Audubon and Shelby James Redfield.
32 Harrison, Monona, Craw-
ford, Carroll, Woodbury, Sac, Ida, Calhoun, Webster, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Plymouth, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Palo Alto, Kossuth, Emmet, Dickinson, Osceola and Buncombe John F. Duncombe.
33 Iowa and Poweshiek J. J. Watson.
34 Marshall, Hardin, Grundy... A. M. Pattison. .35 Benton and Tama Joseph Dj'sart.
36 Black Hawk, Butler, Frank-
lin A. F. Brown.
37 Delaware D. C. Hastings.
38 Fayette and Bremer Luclen L. Ainsworth.
39 Allamakee George W. Gray.
40 Chickasaw, Howard, Mit-
chell, Winnebago, Han- cock, Floyd, Worth, Cerro Gordo and Wright George W. Howard; qualified March 21st.
41 Story, Boone, Hamilton and
Greene Edwin B. Potter; qualified February 19th.
42 Wmneshiek Martin V. Burdick.
43 Jasper Sherman G. Smith.
Republicans, 32; Democrats, 14.
House of Representatives.
Rush Clark, Speaker, Republican. Charles Aldrich, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBBKS.
1 Lee Charles W. Lowrle, T. G. Stevenson, Martin
Thompson. Godfrey Elchorn.
2 "Van Buren George Schramm, Joshua Glanvllle.
3 Davis Hervey Dunlavy, David Ferguson.
OF IOWA 475
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBBRS.
4 Appanoose George B. Stewart, Edward J. Gault.
5 Wayne Hartley Bracewell.
6 Decatur Racine D. Kellogg.
7 Des Moines J. Wilson Williams, Franklin Wilcox, Calvin
J. Jackson.
8 Henry W. C. Woodworth. John P. West.
9 Jefferson Peter Walker, Abial R. Pierce.
10 Wapello ....Joseph H. Flint, Thomas D. McGlothlen.
11 Monroe Oliver P. Rowles.
12 Lucas John D. Sarver.
13 Clarke William M. Calfee.
14 Fremont James L. Mitchell.
15 Mills Appier R. Wright.
16 Louisa John Cleves.
17 Washington Thaddeus H. Stanton, John W. Qulnn.
18 Keokuk John Wasson, Louis Hollingsworth.
19 Mahaska Micajah T. Williams, Samuel G. Castor.
20 Marion Hiram D. Gibson, W. B. Wetherall.
21 Warren Newton Guthrie.
22 Madison Alfred Hood.
23 Pottawattamie W. W. Wilson.
24 Muscatine George C. Shipman, Michael Price.
25 Johnson Rush Clark, Samuel H. Fairall.
26 Iowa Henry M. Martin.
27 Poweshiek Thomas Holyoke.
28 Jasper John Meyer.
29 Polk John Mitchell.
30 Dallas Peter T. Russell.
31 Scott James T. Lane, Joseph R. Porter, Joseph H.
VV hite.
32 Clinton George W. Parker, John S. Maxwell.
33 Cedar H. C. Loomis, James H. Rothrock.
34 Jackson Ebenezer Dorr, Joseph P. Eaton.
35 Jones Otis Whittemore, John Russell.
36 Linn Joseph B. Young, Isaac Minburn.
37 Benton James McQulnn.
38 Tama Leander Clark.
39 Marshall Thomas Mercer.
40 Story Thomas C. McCall.
41 Boone Alfred I^. Speer.
42 Dubuque Thomas Hardie, William McLennan, P. M.
Knoll, Christian Denlinger.
43 Delaware Salue G. Van Anda.
44 Buchanan Jed Lake.
45 Black Hawk W^arner H. Curtis.
46 Hardin W. J. Moir.
47 Clayton George L. Bass, D. W. Chase.
48 Fayette W. B. Lakin, Levi Fuller.
49 Bremer Joseph O. Hudnutt.
50 Chickasaw J. F. Wilson.
51 Allamakee Joseph Burton.
52 Winneshiek William H. Baker, Ole Nelson.
53 Howard and Mitchell D. G. Frisbie.
54 Floyd, Cerro Gordo, Worth
and Winnebago Elbridge G. Bowdoin.
55 Butler, Grundy and Frank-
lin Alonzo Converse.
56 Hancock, Kossuth, Emmet
and Palo Alto J. E. Blackford.
57 Humboldt, Wright, Hamil-
ton and Webster Lewis H. Cutler.
58 Dickinson, Clay, Buena Vis-
ta and Pocahontas Charles C. Smeltzer.
59 Plymouth, Cherokee, Ida
and Woodbury Isaac Pendleton.
60 Sac, Calhoun, Carroll,
Greene George S. Walton.
61 Audubon, Guthrie, Cass,
Adair Samuel L. Lorah.
62 Taylor, Ringgold and Union. Reuben A. Mosher.
476 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
63 Adams, Montgomery and
Page George A. Gordon.
64 Shelby, Harrison, Monona
and Crawford William W. Fuller.
Republicans, 60; Democrats, 34. The regular session adjourned April 8, 1862. An extra session convened September 3, 1862, and adjourned on the 11th of September.
TENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 11, 1864.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Enoch Eastman, President, Republican. William F. Davis, Secretary, Republican.
DIgT. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Frederick Hesser, George W. McCrar-y.
2 Van Buren Abner H. McCrary.
3 Davis Samuel A. Moore.
4 Appanoose Nathan Udell.
5 Wayne, Lucas and Clark — Ziba Brown.
6 Decatur C. G. Bridges.
7 Ringgold, Taylor, Page,
Union, Adams and Mont- gomery L. W. Hillyer.
8 Fremont, Mills, Cass, and
Pottawattamie Lewis W. Ross.
9 Des Moines John G. Foote.
10 Henry Theron W. Woolson.
11 Jefferson D. P. Stubbs.
12 Wapello J. W. Dixon.
13 Monroe WMlliam C. Shippen.
14 Louisa James S. Hurley.
15 Muscatine John A. Parvin.
16 Washington J. F. McJunkin.
17 Keokuk John C. Hogln.
18 Mahaska J. A. L. Crookham.
19 Marion Thomas McMillan.
20 Warren Philo G. C. Merrill.
21 Madison, Dallas, Guthrie,
and Adair Benjamin F. Roberts.
22 Scott Benjamin F. Gue, Thomas J. Saundera.
23 Clinton Norman Boardman.
24 Cedar Henry Wharton.
25 Johnson Ezekiel Clark.
26 Iowa and Poweshiek M. E. Cutts.
27 Jasper Elisha Flaugh.
28 Polk Josiah H. Hatch.
29 Jackson John Hilsinger.
30 Jones Ezekiel Cutler; qualified February 6th.
31 Linn Joseph B. Young.
32 Benton and Tama William B. King.
33 Marshall, S t o r y, B o o ne ,
Hamilton and Greene Henry C. Henderson.
34 Dubuque John D. Jennings, F. M. KnolL
35 Delaware John M. Brayton.
36 Buchanan and Bremer L. W. Hart.
37 Clayton Benjamin T. Hunt.
38 Fayette Harvey S. Brunson,
39 Hardin, Grundy, Black
Hawk, Butler and Frank- lin Coker F. Clarkson.
40 Allamakee George W. Gray.
41 Winneshiek Martin V. Burdick.
42 Howard. Mitchell, Worth,
Cerro Gordo, Floyd and
Chickasaw John G Patterson.
OF IOWA 477
DIST. COCNTIES. NAMES OF MBUBBBS.
43 Harrison, Shelby, Audubon, Monona, Crawford, Carroll, Woodbury, Ida, Sac, Cal- houn, Webster, Plymouth, Cherokee, Buena Vista, Winnebago, Hancock, Wright, Pocahontas, Hum- boldt, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Palo Alto, Kossuth, Em- met, Dickinson, Osceola
and Buncombe George W. Bassett.
Republicans, 42; Democrats, 4.
Bouse of Representatives.
Jacob Butler, Speaker, Republican. Jacob Rich, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Ferdinand Meissner, B. S. Merriam, Wash-
ington Galland.
2 Van Buren William C. Garrett, James W. Latham.
3 Davis P. H. Cary, Dennis A. Hurst.
4 Appanoose Edward F. Morton.
5 Wayne Elijah Glendenning.
6 Decatur John R. Andrews.
7 Des Moines Joseph J. McMakin, James Bruce.
8 Henry H. R. Lyons, Alvah H. Bereman.
9 Jefferson George C. Fry, Owen Bromley.
10 Wapello Peter Knox, Edward H. Stiles.
11 Monroe John Clark.
12 Lucas H. H. Day.
13 Clarke Calvin R. Johnson.
14 Page N. L. Van Sandt.
15 Fremont T. L. Buckham.
IG Mills William Hale.
17 Louisa Enoch Potter.
18 Washington Samuel A. Russell, Nathan Littler.
19 Keokuk Joseph Andrews, R. S. Mills.
20 Mahaska J- N. H. Campbell, Ephriam Munsell.
21 Marion John L. McCormack, Stephen T. Gose.
22 Warren Samuel B. Lindsay.
23 Madison John E. Barby.
24 Pottawattamie Andrew J. Bell.
25 Muscatine Jacob Butler, Samuel McNutt.
26 Johnson Robert S. Pinkbine, Warner Spurrier.
27 Iowa Silas G. Sweet.
28 Poweshiek Reuben Sears.
29 Jasper Salem Jeffries.
30 Polk Nicholas Baylies.
31 Dallas Elwood Lindley.
32 Scott Hugh M. Thompson, Hugh M. G. Skiles,
Williamson Sanderson.
33 Clinton George W. Parker, Samuel G. Magill.
34 Cedar John W. Stanton, William P. Wolf.
35 Jackson Henry Green, Ebenezer Dorr.
36 Jones John Russell, J. H. Fuller.
37 Linn John P. Carbee, Charles Weare.
38 Benton Alexander Runyon.
39 Tama Phineas Helm.
40 Marshall Oliver F. Hixson.
41 Dubuque Daniel Cort, Benjamin B. Richards, John
Christoph, D. O'Brien.
42 Delaware Joseph W. Simpson.
43 Buchanan Dilazon D. Holdridge.
44 Black Hawk Cicero Close.
45 Hardin William J. Moir.
46 Clayton William J. Gilchrist, Henry White.
47 Fayette P- F. Sturgis.
48 Bremer John E. Burke.
478 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEES.
49 Chickasaw Henry C. Vinton.
50 Allamakee Charles Paulk.
51 Winneshiek Ole Nelson, James H. Brown.
52 Howard and Mitchell Thomas R. Perry.
53 Butler, Franklin and Grun-
dy Willis A. Lathrop.
54 Cerro Gordo and Floyd A. B. F. Hildreth.
55 Hamilton and Story George M. Maxwell.
56 Boone and Greene Samuel B. McCall.
57 Wright, Hancock, Winneba-
go and Worth Charles D. Pritchard.
58 Emmet, Humboldt, Kossuth,
and Palo Alto Edward McKnight.
59 Clay, Dickinson, O'Brien,
Sioux John Smith.
60 Buena Vista, Calhoun, Poca-
hontas and Webster James W. Logan.
61 Cherokee, Ida, Plymouth,
and Woodbury William L. Joy.
62 Carroll, Crawford, Monona,
Sac Addison Oliver.
63 Harrison and Shelby Stephen King.
64 Adair, Audubon, Cass, Guth-
rie Elbridge B. Fenn.
65 Adams, Montgomery, Union. W. B. Davis.
66 Ringgold and Taylor William Elliot.
Republicans, 87; Democrats, 5. The General Assembly Adjourned March 29, 1864.
ELEVEXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1866.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Benjamin F. Gue, President, Republican. J. W. Dixon, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Nathaniel G. Hedges, Joseph Holman.
2 Van Buren Eliab Doud.
3 Davis Samuel A. Moore.
4 Appanoose Nathan Udell.
5 Lucas, Clarke and Wayne... Edward E. Edwards.
6 Ringgold and Decatur C. G. Bridges.
7 Taylor, Page, Union, Adams
and Montgomery L. W. Hillyer.
8 Fremont, Mills, Cass and
Pottawattamie Lewis W. Ross.
9 Des Moines Fitz Henry Warren.
10 Henry Theron W. Woolson.
11 Jefferson D P. Stubbs.
12 Wapello Edward H. Stiles.
13 Monroe William C. Shippen.
14 Louisa James M. Robertson.
15 Muscatine John A. Parvln.
16 Washington J. F. McJimkin.
17 Keokuk Ezeklel S. Sampson.
18 Mahaska J. A. L. Crookham.
19 Marion Thomas McMillan.
20 Warren William M. Marshman.
21 Madison, Dallas, Adair and
Guthrie Joseph R. Reed.
22 Scott Joseph B. Leake, Andrew M. Larimer.
23 Clinton John Henry Smith.
24 Cedar Henry Wharton.
25 Johnson Ezekiel Clark.
26 Iowa and Poweshiek M. E. Cutts.
27 Jasper John Meyer.
28 Polk Jonathan W. Cattell.
OF IOWA 479
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
29 Jackson John Hilsinger.
30 Jones Sewell S. Farwell.
31 Linn Joseph B. Young, admitted February 22.
32 Benton and Tama Wiliam B. King.
33 Marshall, Story and Boone.. Henry C. Henderson.
34 Dubuque F. M. Knoll, Benjamin B. Richards.
35 Delaware John M. Bray ton.
36 Buchanan and Bremer L. W. Hart.
37 Clayton Benjamin T. Hunt.
38 Fayette William B. Lakin.
39 Hardin, Grundy and Hamil-
ton Coker F. Clarkson.
40 Black Hawk and Butler Joseph B. Powers.
41 Allamakee Charles P.aulk.
42 Winneshiek IT. C. Bulls.
43 Howard, Mitchell, Floyd
and Chickasaw John G. Patterson.
44 Worth, Winnebago, Kossuth,
Emmet, Dickinson, Clay, Palo Alto, Hancock, Cerro Gordo, Wright, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Buena Vista, Sac, Calhoun, Webster and Franklin George W. Bassett.
45 Harrison, Shelby, Audubon,
Carroll, Greene, Crawford, Monona, Woodbury, Ida, Cherokee, Plymouth, Sioux, Osceola, O'Brien and Lyon. Addison Oliver.
Republicans, 43; Democrats, 5.
House of Representatives.
Ed Wright, Speaker, Republican.
Charles Aldrich, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MHMBBES.
1 Lee Webster Ballinger, William G. Buck, Peter
M. Lowden.
2 Van Buren Joel Brown, Jonathan Thatcher.
3 Davis J. M. Garrett, Henry C. Traverse.
4 Appanoose Madison M. Walden.
5 Wayne Samuel L. Glasgow.
6 Decatur Thomas H. Brown.
7 Des Moines J. Wilson Williams, Charles Ben Darwin,
Samuel A. Flanders.
8 Henry John P. West, Thomas A. Bereman.
9 Jefferson George C. Fry, John T. McCuUough.
10 Wapello Peter Knox, Charles Dudley.
11 Monroe Henry L. Dashiell.
12 Lucas A. B. Conaway.
13 Clarke John F. Landes.
14 Page Charles Linderman.
15 Fremont William C. Sipple.
16 Mills William Hale.
17 Louisa N. T. Brown.
18 Washington Granville G. Bennett, Howard M. Holden.
19 Keokuk Theron A. Morgan, David A. Stockman.
20 Mahaska Thomas N. Barnes, Simon G. Gary.
21 Marion B. F. Van Leuven, James D. Gamble.
22 Warren George E. Griffith.
23 Madison Joseph M. Browne.
24 Pottawattamie William F. Sapp.
25 Muscatine Samuel McNutt, R. M. Burnett.
26 Johnson G. E. DeForest, Robert S. Finkbine.
27 Iowa John R. Serrln.
28 Poweshiek David H. Emery.
29 Jasper David Ryan.
30 Polk Hoyt Sherman, George Lute Godfrey,
480 HISTORY
UIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
31 Dallas W. S. M. Abbott.
32 Scott Hugh M. Thomson, M. J. Rohlfs, John N.
Rogers.
33 Clinton B. R. Palmer, G. W. Thome.
34 Cedar Ed. Wright, John G. Safely.
35 Jackson John Wilson, Alva McLaughlin.
36 Jones John Russell, John McKean.
37 Lmn John B. Carbee, A. Sydney Belt.
38 Benton Alexander Runyan.
19 Tama Leander Clark.
40 Marshall Thomas J. Wilson.
41 Dubuque D. O'Brien, Winslow T. Barker, Thomas S.
Wilson, Andrew Bahl.
42 Delaware Albert Boomer.
43 Buchanan Phineas C. Wilcox.
44 Black Hawk Cicero Close.
45 Hardin Thomas B. Knapp.
46 Clayton John Garber, P. P. Olmsted, Douglas Lef-
fingwell.
47 Fayette Alonzo Abemethy, D. G. Goodrich.
48 Bremer Allen E. Holmes.
49 Chickasaw Gilbert J. Tisdale.
50 Allamakee P. G. Wright, L. E. Fellows.
51 Winneshiek James H. Brown, Horace B. Williams,
52 Boone W. C. Martin.
53 Story George M. Maxwell.
54 Howard and Mitchell D. W. Poindexter.
55 Butler and Grundy Lorenzo D. Tracy.
56 Floyd and Cerro Gordo Wilberforce P. Gaylord.
57 Webster, Pocahontas, Buena
Vista and Clay Robert Alcorn.
58 Worth, Winnebago, Kos-
suth and Hancock L. Dwelle
59 Humboldt, Wright, Frank-
lin and Hamilton G. W. Hand.
60 Dickinson, Palo Alto, Em-
met and O'Brien; also Os- ceola and Lyon Howard Graves.
61 Woodbury, Plymouth, Cher-
okee and Sioux William L. Joy.
62 Monona, Crawford, Ida, Sac. S. J. Comfort.
63 Harrison and Shelby L. R. Bolter.
64 Calhoun, Greene, Carroll and
Audubon Azor R. Mills.
65 Guthrie, Adair and Cass Abrahp,m L. McPherson.
66 Montgomery, Adams, Union. A. K. Crawford.
67 Taylor and Ringgold Alexander Z. Huggins.
Republicans, S3; Democrats, 15. The General Assembly Adjourned April 3, 1866.
TWELFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1868.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor John Scott, President, Republican.
James M. Weart, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Joseph Hollman, N. G. Hedges.
2 Van Buren Eliab Doud.
3 Davis Henry C. Traverse.
4 Appanoose Madisnn M. Walden.
5 Lucas, Clarke, Wayne J. D. Wright.
6 Monroe Edward M. Bill.
7 Decatur, Ringgold Isaac W. Keller.
8 Taylor, Page, Adams, Union,
Montgomery N. B. Moore.
9 Cass, Mills and Pottawatta-
mie J. P. Cassady.
OF IOWA 481
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBSBS.
10 Des Moines Charles L. Matthies.
11 Henry Theron W. Woolson.
12 Jefferson A. R. Pierce.
13 Wapello A. H. Hamilton.
14 Louisa James M. Robertson.
15 Washington Granville G. Bennett.
16 Muscatine John A. Parvin.
17 Keokuk John C. Johnson.
18 Mahaska John R. Needham.
19 Marion Thomas McMillan.
20 Warren George E. Grifflth.
21 Madison, Adair, Guthrie and
Dallas Joseph R. Reed.
22 Scott Andrew M. Lauimer, W. W. Cones.
23 Clinton John Henry Smith.
24 Cedar William P. Wolf.
25 Johnson Samuel H. Fairall.
26 Iowa, Poweshiek Matthew Long.
27 Jasper John Meyer.
28 Polk Jonathan W. Cattell.
29 Jackson Lewis B. Dunham. '
30 Jones Sewell S. Farwell.
31 Linn Robert Smyth.
32 Benton, Tama James Chapin.
33 Marshall, Hardin Wells S. Rice.
34 Dubuuqe P. M. Knoll, B. B. Richards.
35 Delaware Joseph Grimes.
36 Buchanan, Bremer William G. Donnan.
37 Clayton Homer E. Newell.
38 Fayette William Larrabee.
39 Franklin, Butler, Grundy
and Cerro Gordo Marcus Tuttle.
40 Black Hawk Joseph B. Powers.
41 Allamakee L. E. Fellows.
42 Winneshiek H. C. Bulls.
43 Floyd, Mitchell, Howard and
Chickasaw James G. Patterson.
44 Boone, Hamilton, Story and
Greene Isaac J. Mitchell.
45 Worth, Winnebago, Kossuth,
Emmet, Clay, Dickinson, Palo Alto, Hancock, Wright, Humboldt, Poca- hontas, Sac, Calhoun, Buena Vista, Webster Theodore Hawley.
46 Harrison, Shelby, Audubon,
Carroll, Crawford, Monona, Woodbury, Ida, Cherokee, Plymouth, Sioux, O'Brien.. Addison Oliver.
Republicans, 42; Democrats, 7.
House of Representatives.
John Russell, Speaker, Republican.
Marcus C. Woodruff, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBHKS.
1 Lee Gibson Browne, C. C. Bauder, William Wer-
ner.
2 Van Buren Joel Brown, Seth Craig.
3 Davis J. M. Garrett, William G. Wilson.
4 Appanoose Bannock Phillips.
5 Wayne William Glasgow.
6 Decatur Henry W. Peck
7 Des Moines Robert Allen, A. G. Adams.
8 Henry J. P. Grantham, Jacob Hart.
9 Jefferson .John Hayden, A. R. Fulton.
10 Wapello Charles Dudley, S. T. Caldwell.
[Vol. 3]
482 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEES.
11 Monroe A. A. Ramsay.
12 Lucas Samuel D. Wheeler,
13 Clarke Barclay Burrows.
14 Page Joseph Cramer.
15 Fremont Frederick Rector.
16 Mills John Y. Stone.
17 Louisa Albert Ellis.
18 Washington Joseph D. Miles, M. Groodspeed.
19 Keokuk John Morrison, William Hartsock.
20 Mahaska Charles Stanley, Thomas Ballinger.
21 Marion Edmund Mechem, Banner G. Bowen.
22 Warren Mark A. Dashiell.
23 Madison Benjamin F. Murray.
24 Pottawattamie Lysander W. Babbitt.
25 Muscatine Samuel McNutt, R. M. Burnett.
26 Johnson John P. Irish, Jacob Y. Blackwell.
27 Iowa Abraham Bolton.
28 Poweshiek Leonard F. Pa rker.
29 Jasper Merritt P. Attwood.
30 Polk John A. Kasson, Joshua H. Hatch.
31 Dallas LeRoy Lambert.
32 Scott Matthias J. Rohlfs, Charles Kelley, Mathus-
elah C. Davis.
33 Clinton A. R. Cotton, Charles G. Trusdell, Charles E.
Lefflngwell.
34 Jones John Russell, John McKean.
35 Cedar "William S. Chase, Charles P. Sheldon.
36 Jackson Lewis W. Stuart, John A. Fritz.
37 Linn Adam Perry, William B. Leach.
38 Benton John W. Traer.
39 Tama James Wilson.
40 Marshall Ben W. Johnson.
41 Dubuque Thomas S. Wilson, R. Barrett Lockwood,
John B. Longueville, Dennis Donovan.
42 Delaware Cummings Sanborn.
43 Buchanan Phineas C. W^ilcox.
44 Black Hawk George Ordway.
45 Hardin Thomas B. Knapp.
46 Clayton Horace Hamilton, James Newberry, Presley
G. Bailey.
47 Fayette Aaron Brown, Curtis R. Bent.
4S Bremer Darius P. Walling.
49 Chickasaw William Tucker.
50 Allamakee Pierce G. Wright, George R. Miller.
51 Winneshiek H. B. Williams, Jeremiah T. Atkins.
52 Boone Jackson Orr.
53 Story James Hawthorne.
54 Floyd Wilberforce C. Gaylord.
55 Harrison and Shelby Joseph H. Smith.
56 Mitchell and Howard James H. Brown.
57 Sioux, O'Brien, Buena Vista,
and Cherokee eh Johnson.
58 Dickinson, Emmet, Clay and
Palo Alto Roderick A. Smith.
59 Cerro Gordo, Winnebago,
Worth and Kossuth Charles W. Yenncy.
60 Woodbury, Ida, Sac, Ply-
mouth Eugene Criss.
61 Wright, Hamilton, Franklin
and Hancock John D. Hunter.
62 Webster, Pocahontas, Cal-
houn and Humboldt Samuel Rees.
e?. Monona, Crawford, Carroll.. Stephen Tillson.
64 Greene, Guthrie, Audubon... Henry C. Rippey.
65 Ringgold and Taylor Leonard T. McCoun.
66 Adair, Cass, Montgomery Galen F. Klllburn.
67 Butler and Grundy James A. Guthrie.
68 Adams and Union Neal W. Rowell.
Republicans, 86; Democrats, 14. The General Assembly Adjourned April 8, 1868.
OF IOWA 483
THIRTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 10, 1870.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Madison M. Walden, President, Republican. James M. Weart, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OP MBMBBBS.
1 Lee E. S. McCulloch.
2 Van Buren Jacob G. Vale.
3 Davis Henr^' C. Traverse.
4 Appanoose W. F. Vermillion.
5 Monroe and "Wayne Edward M. Bill.
6 Clarke, Lucas and Union James D. Wright.
7 Decatur, Ringgold and Tay-
lor Isaac W. Keller.
8 Adams, Fremont and Page.. Napoleon B. Moore.
9 Montgomery, Cass, Mills and
Pottawattamie Jefferson P. Cassady.
10 Des Moines Charles Beardsley.
11 Henry John P. West.
12 Jefferson Abial R. Pierce.
13 Wapello Augustus H. Hamilton.
14 Louisa James S. Hurley.
15 Washington Granville G. Bennett.
16 Muscatine Samuel McNutt.
17 Keokuk J. W. Havens.
18 Mahaska John N. Dixon.
19 Marion John Cathcart.
20 Warren George E. Griffith.
21 Madison, Adair, Dallas and
Guthrie Benjamin F. Murray.
22 Scott Robert Lowry, H. R. Claussen.
23 Clinton Alexander P. Ireland.
24 Cedar William P. Wolf.
25 Johnson Samuel H. Fairall.
26 Iowa M atthew Long.
27 Poweshiek and Tama Joseph Dysart.
28 Jasper Frank T. Campbell.
29 Polk B. F. Allen.
30 Jackson Lewis P. Dunham.
31 Jones John McKean.
32 Linn Robert Smyth.
33 Benton James Chapin.
34 Marshall and Hardin Wells S. Rice.
35 Dubuque F. M. Knoll, M. B. Mulkem.
36 Delaware Joseph Grimes.
37 Buchanan William G. Donnan.
38 Black Hawk George W. Couch.
39 Clayton Homer B. Newell.
40 Fayette William Larrabee.
41 Allamakee L. E. Fellows.
42 Winneshiek H. C. Bulls.
43 Chickasaw, Floyd and How-
ard John G. Patterson.
44 Bremer, Butler and Grundy. Emmons Johnson.
45 Hamilton, Story and Boone.. Isaac J. Mitchell.
46 Mitchell, Worth, Cerro Gor-
do, Franklin, Wright, Han- cock, Winnebago and Kos- suth Marcus Tuttle.
47 Webster, Greene, Carroll,
Calhoun, Sac, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Buena Vista, Palo Alto, Clay, Emmet, Dickinson Theodore Hawley.
48 Audubon, Shelby, Harrison,
Monona, Crawford, Wood- bury, Ida, Plymouth, Cher- okee, O'Brien, Sioux, Lyon
and Osceola Charles Atkins.
Republicans, 43; Democrats, 7.
484 HISTORY
House of Representatives.
Aylett R. Cotton, Speaker, Republican. Charles Aldrich, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Christian Hirschler, David S. Bell, Patrick
Gibbons.
2 Des Moines William Harper, Thomas J. Sauer.
3 Henry Joshua G. Newbold, Joshua W. Satterthwait.
4 Jefferson Joseph Ball, William Hopkirk.
5 Van Buren Joel Brown, George N. Rosser.
6 Wapello Charles Dudley, John H. Carver.
7 Davis Timothy O. Norris.
8 Monroe Benjamin F. Elbert.
9 Appanoose Claudius B. Miller.
10 Lucas X. H. Stutsman.
11 Wayne Lewis Miles, Jr.
12 Decatur Fred A. Teale.
13 Clarke John L. Millard.
14 Union and Adams Neal W. Rowell.
15 Ringgold, Taylor Leonard T. McCoun.
16 Page William Butler.
17 Mills John T. Stone.
18 Fremont James M. Hood.
19 Pottawattamie ,• John Beresheim.
20 Cass, Adair, Montgomery — Wesley W. Merritt.
21 Madison John H. Hartenbower.
22 Warren Alexander H. Swan.
23 Marion D. T. Durham, B. F. Keables.
24 Mahaska M. E. Cutts, John F. Lacy.
25 Keokuk John Morrison, Jr., B. A. Haycock.
26 Washington Joseph D. Miles, Samuel Bigger.
27 Louisa George D. Harrison.
28 Muscatine John Mahin, William C. Evans.
29 Cedar James W. Beatty, J. Q. Tufts.
30 Scott M. J. Rohlfs, C. C. Applegate, John W.
Green.
31 Clinton A. R. Cotton, Samuel H. Rogers, Benjamin
Spencer.
32 Jackson James Dunne, Emory DeGroat.
33 Johnson John P. Irish, David Stewart.
34 Iowa James P. Ketcham.
35 Poweshiek Erastus Snow.
36 Polk John A. Kasson, George W. Jones.
37 Jasper Caleb Bundy, John H. Tait.
38 Dallas Cole Noel.
39 Greene, Calhoun, Pocahon-
tas and Humboldt Gilluns S. Toliver.
40 Shelby, Audubon, Guthrie.... William H. Campbell.
41 Harrison George H. McGavren.
42 Boone John F. Hopkins.
43 Story William K. Wood.
44 Tama James Wilson.
45 Benton James W. Traer.
46 Marshall Delos Arnold.
47 Linn Oliver O. Stanchfield, E. A. Warner.
48 Jones John Russell, P. G. Bonewitz.
49 Dubuque Theophilus Crawford, John Christoph, Wil-
liam Mills, Fred O'Donnell.
50 Delaware Cummings Sanborn.
51 Clayton Samuel Murdock, H. B. Taylor.
52 Allamakee Pierce G. Wright, D. Dickerson.
53 Buchanan Daniel S. Lee.
54 Fayette Aaron Brown, Joseph Hobson.
55 Winneshiek Horace B Williams, A O. Lemon.
56 Mitchell and Howard Amos S. Favllle.
57 Chickasaw George W. Butterfield.
58 Floyd H. O. Pratt.
59 Bremer O. C. Harrington.
60 Black Hawk T. B. Carpenter, Jesse Wasson.
61 Butler and Grundy S. B. Dumont.
OF IOWA -485
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
62 Hardin Henry L. Huff.
63 Wright, Hamilton, Franklin. John D. Hunter.
64 Webster Galusha Parsons.
65 Hancock, Cerro Gordo B. F. Hartshorn.
66 Winnebago and Worth, Kos-
suth, Palo Alto, Emmet
and Dickinson Hardwood G. Day.
67 Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux,
O'Brien, Lyon, Osceola Constant R. Marks.
68 Sac, Beuna Vista, Cherokee
and Clay George H. Wright.
69 Monona, Crawford, Carroll
and Ida J. D. Miracle.
Republicans, 86; Democrats, 14. The General Assembly Adjourned on the 13th of April, 1870.
FOURTEENTH GENERAL, ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1872.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Henry C. Bulls, President, Republican. John A. T. Hull, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBEKS.
1 Lee B. S. McCulloch.
2 Van Buren Jacob G. Vale.
3 Davis Horatio A. Wonn.
4 Appanoose Edward J. Gault.
5 Monroe and Wayne Martin Read.
6 Clarke, Lucas and Union — Robert A. Dague. .
7 Decatur, Ringgold and Tay-
lor Elisha T. Smith.
8 Fremont, Adams and Page. . J. S. Mclntyre.
9 Mills, Pottawattamie and
Montgomery John T. Stone.
10 Des Moines Charles Beardsley.
11 Henry John P. West.
12 Jefferson Moses A. McCoid.
13 Wapello Joseph H. Merrill.
14 Louisa James S. Hurley.
15 Washington Joseph D. Miles.
16 Muscatine Samuel McNutt.
17 Keokuk Joseph W. Havens.
18 Mahaska James A. Young.
19 Marion John L. McCormack.
20 Warren Mark A. Dashiell.
21 Madison, Adair and Cass Benjamin F. Murray.
22 Scott Robert Lowry, Hans R. Claussen.
23 Clinton Alexander B. Ireland.
24 Cedar John C. Chambers.
25 Johnson Samuel H. Fairall.
26 Iowa James P. Ketcham.
27 Tama and Poweshiek Joseph Dysart.
28 Jasper Frank T. Campbell.
29 Polk B. F. Allen.
30 Jackson Lewis W. Stewart.
31 Jones John McKean.
32 Linn Bzekiel B. Kephart.
33 Benton John Shane.
34 Marshall and Hardin r. Howe Taylor.
35 Dubuque Benjamin B. Richards.
.30 Delaware Albert Boomer.
37 Buchanan George W. Bemis.
38 Black Hawk and Grundy — John H. Leavitt.
39 Clayton Oliver W. Crary.
40 Fayette William Larrabee.
41 Allamakee Samuel H. Kinne.
42 Winneshiek George R. Willett.
486 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
43 Floyd, Butler and Mitchell.. Alonzo Converse.
44 Bremer, Chickasaw and
Howard John E. Burke.
45 Story and Boone George M. Maxwell.
46 Franklin, C e r r o Gordo,
Worth, Winnebago, Han- cock, Wright, Kossuth, Crocker and Emmet Elisha A. Howland.
47 Hamilton, Webster, Sac,
Humboldt, Calhoun, Poca- hontas, Palo Alto, Dickin- son, Clay and Buena Vista. William H. Fitch.
48 Harrison, Monona, Craw-
ford, Shelby, Ida, Wood- bury, Plymouth, Cherokee, O'Brien, Sioux, Lyon and Osceola Charles Atkins.
49 Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon,
Carroll and Greene John J. Russell.
Republicans, 42; Democrats, 8.
House of RepresentoMves.
James Wilson, Speaker, Republican. John J. Safely, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBEBS.
1 Lee Webster Ballinger, E. M. Stewart, Conrad
Schweer.
2 Des Moines John H. Gear, Benton J. Hall.
3 Henry Joshua G. Newbold, John M. Hanson.
4 Jefferson William Hopkirk, Edward Campbell, Jr.
5 Van Buren Samuel Whitten, John R. Wright.
6 Wapello John H. Carver, Samuel T. Caldwell.
7 Davis Isaac Blakely.
8 Monroe James Hlnton.
9 Appanoose Claudius B. Miller.
10 Lucas David J. McCoy.
11 Wayne James H. Crawford,
12 Decatur Fred Teale
13 Clarke James Rice.
14 Union, Adams Franklin M. Davis.
15 Ringgold, Taylor Andrew Johnson.
16 Page William Butler.
17 Mills Appier R. Wright.
18 Fremont Washburn A. Stow.
19 Pottawattamie John Beresheim.
20 Cass, Adair, Montgomery — Oliver Mills.
21 Madison David D. Davidson.
22 Warren John M. Lee.
23 Marlon Benjamin F. Keables, David T. Durham.
24 Mahaska L. F. Ellsworth, W. L. McAllister.
25 Keokuk John Morrison, Jr., John F. Wilson.
26 Washingrton Marshall Goodspeed, Charles H. Wilson.
27 Louisa Francis A. Duncan.
28 Muscatine William C. Evans, Elmus Day.
29 Cedar John Q. Tufts, James W. Beatty.
30 Scott Matthias J. Rohlfs, John W. Green, Joseph
H. Freeman.
31 Clinton James Van Deventer, George Rule, Nathan-
iel A. Merrill.
32 Jackson George C. Heberling, William H. Read.
33 Johnson John P. Irish, George Paul.
34 Iowa John C. Clarke.
35 Poweshiek L. E. Cardell.
36 Polk John A. Kasson, James M. Tuttle.
37 Jasper Ira E. Draper, John P. Beatty.
38 Dallas Hugo G. Van Meter.
39 Guthrie, Greene William Maxwell.
OF IOWA 487
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBBE8.
40 Audubon, Shelby, Crawford,
and Monona Charles G. Perkins.
41 Harrison Phineas Caldwell.
42 Boone Charles J. A. Ericson.
43 Story William K. Wood.
44 Tama James Wilson.
45 Benton E. M. Stedman, Frank G. Clark.
46 Marshall James L. Williams.
47 Linn Joseph S. McClure, W. D. Lietzenberg.
48 Jones Peter G. Bonwitz, John Tasker.
49 Dubuque Fred O'Donnell, Caleb H. Booth, John Chris-
topher.
50 Delaware Cornelius T. Peet.
51 Clayton Robert B. FlenniKen, Lotiis Renther.
52 Allamakee Henry Dayton, Andrew Sandry.
53 Buchanan Joseph M. Hovey.
54 Fayette Lucan Li. Ainsworth.
55 Winneshiek Knut E. Bergh, Warren Danforth.
56 Mitchell, Howard William W. Blackman.
57 Chickasaw Darius B. Hanan.
58 Floyd Henry O. Pratt.
59 Bremer James A. Skillen.
60 Black Hawk Cicero Close, George B. Van Saun,
61 Butler Samuel B. Dumont.
62 Franklin, Grundy Michael A. Leahy.
63 Hardin Lewis O. Bliss.
64 Wright, Hamilton, Hum-
boldt Sumner B. Hewitt, Jr.
65 Webster John F. Duncombe.
66 Oerro Gordo, Worth, Han-
cock, Winnebago David Secor.
67 Kossuth, Crocker, Palo Alto,
Pocahontas, Calhoun Robert Struthers.
68 Carroll, Sac, Buena Vista,
Cherokee Fletcher A. Blake.
69 Woodbury, Ida, Plymouth,
Sioux and Lyon A. R. Appleton.
70 O'Brien, Clay, Dickinson,
Emmet, Osceola Henry B. Wood.
Republicans, 78; Democrats, 22. The General Assembly Adjourned April 23, 1872.
FIFTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 12, 1874.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Joseph Dysart, President, Republican. John A. T. Hull, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBEHS.
1 Lee Henry W. Rothert.
2 Van Buren James B. Pease.
3 Davis Horatio A. Wonn.
4 Appanoose Edward J. Gault.
5 Monroe and Wayne Lloyd Selby.
6 Clarke, Lucas and Union — Robert A. Dague.
7 Decatur, Ringgold and Tay-
lor Elisha T. Smith.
8 Fremont, Adams and Page.. J. S. Mcl)ityre.
9 Mills, Pottawattamie and
Montgomery John Y. Stone.
10 Des Moines J- "Wilson Williams.
11 Henry John P. West.
12 Jefferson Moses A. McCoid.
13 Wapello Joseph H. Merrill.
14 Keokuk H. N. Newton.
15 Washington and Louisa Joseph D. Miles.
16 Madison and Dallas Henry Thornburg.
•488 HISTORY
DI8T. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
17 Adair, Cass, Adams and
Union Lafayette Young.
IS Mahaska James A. Young.
19 Marion John L. McCormack
20 Warren Mark A. Dashiell.
21 Muscatine Gilbert H. Wood.
22 Scott Jeremiah H. Murphy.
23 Clinton Nathaniel A. Merrell.
24 Cedar John C. Chambers.
25 Johnson Samuel H. Fairall.
£G Iowa John N. W. Rumple.
27 Jasper Frank T. Campbell.
2S Polk Thomas Mitchell.
29 Hamilton and Hardin Elias Jessup.
30 Jackson L. w. Stuart.
31 Jones George L. Lovell.
32 Lmn Ezekiel B. Kephart.
33 Benton John Shane.
34 Marshall and Grundy r. Howe Taylor.
35 Dubuque Dennis N. Cooley.
3o Delaware Albert Boomer.
37 Buchanan G- W Bemis
38 Poweshiek and Tama John Conawa'y.
39 Clayton Oliver W. Crary.
40 Fayette William Larrabee.
1i Allamakee Samuel H. Kinne.
42 Winneshiek George R. Willett.
43 Mitchell, Floyd and Butler... Alonzo Converse.
44 Black Hawk Edward G. Miller.
45 Boone and Story George M. Maxwell.
46 Worth, Winnebago, Kos-
suth, Hancock, Cerro Gor- do, Humboldt, Wright and Franklin Elisha A. Howland.
47 Dickinson, Emmet, Clay,
Palo Alto, Buena Vista, Pocahontas, Ida, Sac, Cal- houn, Webster William H. Fitch.
48 Howard, Chickasaw, Brem-
er Hiram Bailey.
49 Greene, Carroll, Crawford,
Shelby, Audubon and Guth- rie John J. Russell.
50 Lyon, Osceola, O'Brien,
Sioux, Plymouth, Cherokee, Woodbury, Monona, Harri- son George D. Perkins.
Republicans, 34; Democrats, 6; Independents, 10.
House of Representatives.
John H. Gear, Speaker, Republican. James M. Weart, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Isaac Hollingsworth, Absalom Anderson,
Conrad Schweer.
2 Des Moines William Lamme, John H. Gear.
3 Henry Joshua G. Newbold, Hugh R. Lyons.
4 Jefferson William Hopkirk.
5 Van Buren Joseph Work.
6 Wapello Jacob Siberell, Jacob W. Dixon.
7 Davis Wesley S. Monroe.
8 Monroe Lorenzo O. Haskell.
9 Appanoose Samuel Jordan.
10 Lucas Edward S. Thompson.
11 Wayne Alva Humeston.
12 Decatur Stanfield P. McNeill.
13 Clarke Smiley H. Bonham.
14 Ringgold and Union Andrew Johnson.
15 Taylor Houston January.
OF IOWA 489
DIST. COUNTIES. -NAMES OP MEMBEBS.
16 Page Allen J. Chantry.
17 Fremont John Cooper.
18 Mills James Mickelwait.
19 Pottawattamie Loverldge S. Axtell.
20 Montgomery and Adams Cornelius C. Platter.
21 Audubon, Shelby, Adair,
Cass William H. Easton.
22 Madison Orin B. Bissell.
23 Warren William Runciman.
24 Marion Samuel Breckinridge, Green T. Clark.
25 Mahaska Nelson Cone, Thomas C. Beach.
26 Keokuk David Archer, Jared T. Harper.
27 Washington Edwin F. Brockway, Benjamin F. Brown.
28 Louisa Benjamin Jennings.
29 Muscatine Charles C. Horton, David G. McCloud.
30 Scott Eugene Birchard, David B. Connelly, Ernst
Mueller.
31 Clinton Ebenezer Dow, Henry Muhs, Edward Svend-
sen.
32 Cedar John Q. Tufts, Henry Wharton, Sr.
33 Johnson George Paul, John Hindman.
34 Iowa John C. Clarke.
35 Poweshiek John Moore.
36 Jasper W. P. Cowman, George M. Wilson.
37 Polk William G. Madden, Isaac Brandt.
38 Dallas John McLucas.
39 Guthrie Wilber F. Cardell.
40 Harrison Lemuel R. Bolter.
41 Monona, Crawford, Ida and
Cherokee Edmund B. Balrd.
42 Greene, Carroll, Calhoun,
Sac James N. Miller.
43 Webster Silas Corev.
44 Boone Willis L. Defore.
45 Story Lucian Q. Hoggatt.
46 Hardin Oliver P. Chapin.
47 Marshall Demas M. Moninger.
48 Grundy Lorenzo D. Tracy.
49 Tama William G. Malin.
50 Black Hawk Charles B. Campbell, Robert P. Speer.
51 Benton Eli M. Stedman, S. G. Burnett.
52 Buchanan Samuel T. Sprangler.
53 Linn William D. Litzenberg, Arthur M. McKeel.
54 Jones T. O. Bishop, John W. Moore.
55 Jackson George C. Heberling, P. Mitchell.
56 Dubuque Thos. W. Johnson, Wendelin Lattner, C. J.
Rogers.
57 Delaware Cornelius T. Peet.
58 Clayton Jabez C. Rounds, Bernard F. Schroeder.
59 Fayette William R. Morley.
60 Allamakee Henry Dayton.
61 Winneshiek Warren Danf orth, John DeCow.
62 Bremer Louis Case.
63 Chickasaw Darius B. Hanan.
64 Ploward Henrv A. Goodrich.
65 Mitchell Henry Kelly.
66 Floyd Beniamin Darland.
67 Butler Charles A. L. Roszelle.
68 Franklin and Cerro Gordo. .Michael A. Leahy.
69 Worth, Winnebago, Kossuth
and Hancock David Secor.
70 Humboldt, Hamilton,
Wright John W. Parmelee.
71 Pocahontas, Buena Vista,
Palo Alto and Emmet E. J. Hartshorn.
72 Clay, Dickinson, Osceola and
O'Brien Henry B. Wood.
73 Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux
and Lyon Samuel E. Gilliland.
Republicans, 50; Independents, 44; Democrats, 6. The General Assembly Adjourned March 19, 1874.
490 HISTORY
SIXTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 10, 1876.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Joshua G. Newbold, President, Republican. John A. T. Hull, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
1 Lee Henry. W. Rothert.
2 "Van Buren James B. Pease.
3 Davis Horatio B. Wonn.
4 Appanoose Joshua Miller.
5 Monroe and Wayne Henry L. Dashiell.
6 Clarke and Lucas Samuel L. Bestow.
7 Taylor, Ringgold, and De-
catur Fred Teale.
8 Fremont, Page, Montgom-
ery Alfred Hebard.
9 Pottawattamie and Mills George F. Wright.
10 Des Moines J. Wilson Williams.
11 Henry John S. Woolson.
12 Jefferson Moses A. McCoid.
13 Wapello Joseph H. Merrill.
14 Keokuk Hosea N. Newton.
15 Washington and Louisa William Wilson.
16 Madison and Dallas Henry Thornburg.
17 Adair, Cass, Adams and
Union Lafayette Young.
18 Mahaska Thomas R. Gilmore.
19 Marion John L. McCormack.
20 Warren William Graham.
21 Muscatine Gilbert H. Wood.
22 Scott Jeremiah H. Murphy.
23 Clinton N. A. Merrell.
24 Cedar Henry C. Carr.
25 Johnson Bzekiel Clark.
26 Iowa John N. W. Rumble.
27 Jasper Frank T. Campbell.
2S Polk Thomas Mitchell.
29 Hamilton and Hardin Klias Jessup.
30 Jackson William A. Maginnis.
31 Jones George W. Lovell.
32 Linn Stephen L. Dows.
33 Benton John Shane.
34 Marshall and Grundy Delos Arnold.
35 Dubuque Dennis N. Cooley.
36 Delaware Lewis G. Hersey.
37 Buchanan Merritt W. Harmon.
38 Poweshiek and Tama John Conaway.
39 Clayton John T. Stoneman.
40 Fayette William Larrabee.
41 Allamakee Samuel H. Klnne.
42 Winneshiek George R. Willett.
43 Mitchell. Floyd and Butler.. Arad Hitchcock.
44 Black Hawk Kdward G. Miller.
45 Boone and Story William H. Gallup.
46 Worth, Winnebago, Kos-
suth, Hancock, Cerro Gor- do, Humboldt, Wright and Franklin Lemuel Dwelle.
47 Dickinson, Emmet, Clay,
Palo Alto. Buena Vista, Ida. Pocahontas. Sac, Cal- houn, Webster Eldin J. Hartshorn.
48 Howard. Chickasaw. Brem-
er Hiram Bailey.
49 Greene, Carroll, Crawford,
Shelby. Audubon and Guth-
rte Samuel D. Nichols.
OF IOWA 491
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
50 Lyon, Osceola, O'Brien, Sioux, Plymouth, Cherokee, Woodbury, Monona and Harrison George D. Perkins.
Republicans, 35; Democrats, 9.
House of Representatives.
John H. Gear, Speaker, Republican. James W. Logan, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
1 Lee Wesley C. Hobbs, John Gibbons, John N. Ir-
win.
2 Des Moines John H. Gear, William Lynch.
3 Henry William Allen, Jacob KaufCman.
4 Jefferson W. L. S. Simmons.
5 Van Buren Thomas Christy.
6 Wapello G. A. Madson, Jacob W. Dixon.
7 Davis L. D. Hotchkiss.
8 Monroe A. M. Giltner.
9 Appanoose James B. Stuckey.
10 Lucas Dan M. Baker.
n Wayne Elijah Glendenning.
12 Decatur Stanfleld P. McNeill.
13 Clarke Jacob Proudfoot.
14 Ringgold and Union S. W. McElderry.
15 Taylor John Madden.
16 Page Edwin P. Hoag.
17 Fremont William M. Brooks.
18 Mills John Y. Stone.
19 Pottawattamie Daniel Hunt.
20 Montgomery and Adams George A. Morse.
21 Audubon, Shelby, Adair,
Cass Milton K. Campbell.
22 Madison J. j. Smith.
23 Warren Samuel Irwin.
24 Marion Green T. Clark, John B. Elliott.
25 Mahaska W. H. Seevers, Hardin Tice.
26 Keokuk B. A. Cleveland, Sanford Harned.
27 Washington William Said, G. T. Auld.
28 Louisa Robert E. Benton.
29 Muscatine Charles C. Horton, Frank A. J. Gray.
30 Scott Ernest Mueller, Eugene Blrchard, Joseph A-
Crawford.
31 Clinton Edward H. Thayer, John A. Young, Henry
Horstman.
32 Cedar Robert G. Scott, Alexander Mofflt.
33 Johnson Rush Clark. Charles W. McCune.
34 Iowa John L. Williams.
35 Poweshiek Charles F. Carver.
36 Jasper George M. Wilson, Joel W. Deweese.
37 Polk William G. Madden, Josiah Given.
38 Dallas T. C. Norris.
39 Guthrie George J. Maris.
40 Harrison Lemuel R. Bolter.
41 Monona, Crawford, Ida and
Cherokee George Rae.
42 Greene, Carroll, Calhoun,
Sac Orlando H. Manning.
43 Webster Samuel Rees.
44 Boone Levi Colvin.
45 Story Milton Evans.
46 Hardin John Hall.
47 Marshall William D. Mills.
48 Grundy James Underwood.
49 Tama Gamaliel Jaqua.
50 Black Hawk H. C. Hemenway, Harlan P. Homer.
51 Benton - E. Smyth Johnson, John McCartney. .
52 Buchanan John Calvin.
492 HISTORY
mST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
53 Linn Moses C. Jordan, William Ure.
54 Jones William T. Shaw, George W. Lathrope.
55 Jackson Lewis W. Stuart, William H. Reed.
56 Dubuque Thomas W. Johnson, Theophilus Crawford,
J. K. Graves.
57 Delaware Joseph Chapman.
58 Clayton Charles Menlzel, Thomas D. White.
59 Fayette William E. Puller.
60 Allamakee Luther Brown.
61 Winneshiek Warren Danforth, Martin N. Johnson.
62 Bremer Louis Case.
63 Chickasaw John McHugh.
64 Howard Henry T. Reed.
65 Mitchell Jesse P. Brush.
66 Floyd Jared B. Shepardson.
67 Butler John Palmer.
68 Franklin and Cerro Gordo. ..Lorenzo D. Lane.
69 Worth, Winnebago, Kos-
suth and Hancock Henry H. Bush.
70 Humboldt, Hamilton,
Wright John L. Morse.
71 Pocahontas, Buena Vista,
Palo Alto, Emmet Gifford S. Robinson.
72 Clay, Dickinson, Osceola and
O'Brien John F. Glover.
73 Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux
and Lyon Samuel B. Gilliland.
Republicans, 70; Democrats, 30. The General Assembly Adjourned March 16, 1876.
SEVENTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 14, 1878.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Frank T. Campoell, President, Republican. John A. T. Hull, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee James M. Shelley.
2 Van Buren and Davis Horatio A. Wonn.
3 Appanoose Joshua Miller.
4 Monroe and Wayne Henry 1-. Dashiel.
5 Union, Clark and Lucas Samuel L. Bestow.
6 Decatur, Ringgold, Taylor.. Fred Teale.
7 Fremont and Page P. W. Lewellen.
8 Mills, Montgomery, Adams.. Alfred Hebard.
9 Des Moines John Patterson.
10 Henry John S. Woolson.
11 Jefferson Moses A. McCoid.
12 Keokuk Sanford Harned.
13 Wapello Gregg' A. Madson.
14 Washington and Louisa William Wilson.
15 Mahaska Thomas R. Gilmore.
16 Marion John L. McCormack.
17 Warren William Graham.
18 Madison, Cass and Adair Lafayette Young.
19 Pottawattamie George F. Wright.
20 Muscatine Thomas Hanna.
21 Scott William A. Foster.
22 Clinton Nathaniel A. Merrill.
23 Cedar and Jones Henry C. Carr.
24 Jackson William A. Maginnis.
25 Johnson Ezekiel Clark.
26 Iowa J. N. W. Rumple.
27 Linn Stephen L. Dows.
28 Benton John D. Nichols.
29 Jasper John Meyer.
30 Polk Robert C. Webb.
OF IOWA 493
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
31 Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon
and Shelby Samuel D. Nichols.
32 Marshall and Grundy Delos Arnold.
33 Story and Boone William H. Gallup.
34 Harrison, Monona, Craw-
ford, Ida and Sac Augustin W. Ford.
35 Dubuque Moses M. Ham.
36 Delaware Charles E. Bronson.
37 Hardin and Hamilton Daniel D. Chase.
38 Black Hawk fl. C. Hemenway.
39 Buchanan M. W. Harmon.
40 Clayton J. T. Stoneman.
41 Allamakee Samuel H. Kinne.
42 Winneshiek Martin N. Johnson.
43 Fayette William Larrabee.
44 Bremer, Chickasaw, How-
ard Aaron Kimball.
45 Poweshiek and Tama Robert M. Haines.
46 Butler, Floyd, Mitchell W. W. Blackman.
47 Winnebago, Worth, Cerro
Gordo, Wright, Franklin
and Hancock I^emuel Dwelle.
48 Webster, Greene, Calhoun,
and Carroll j. j. Russell.
49 Kossuth, Humboldt, Emmet,
Dickinson, Clay, Palo Alto, O'Brien, Pocahontas and Osceola Eldin J. Hartshorn.
50 Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux,
Lyon, Cherokee and Buena
Vista Albert H. Lawrence.
Republicans, .SS; Democrats, 12.
House of Representatives.
John T. Stone, Speaker, Republican. AVilliam V. Lucas. Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBBES.
1 Lee J. D. M. Hamilton, Jacob S. Lessenger.
2 Des Moines John M. Kopp, Walcott Seymour.
3 Henry Jacob Kanffman, William Allen.
4 Jefferson John Heron.
5 Van Buren Oliver O. H. P. Scott.
6 Wapello Joseph A. Israel, Wilson A. Fast.
7 Davis Loyal D. Hotchkiss.
8 Monroe R. Wallace Duncan.
9 Appanoose Samuel T. Sherrod.
10 Lucas Smith H. Mallory.
11 Wayne Greenwood Wright.
12 Clarke John Stephenson.
13 Decatur William S. Warnock.
14 Union James Doty.
15 Ringgold Allen Higgins.
16 Adams George A. Moore.
17 Taylor James P. Flick.
18 Montgomery George T. Ashby.
19 Page Edwin B. Hoag.
20 Mills John T. Stone.
21 Fremont Joseph Rhodes.
22 Pottawattamie George Carson, Benjamin F. Clayton.
23 Cass Oil Coomes.
24 Madison William F. Hadley.
25 Warren George Wright.
26 Marion "William M. Stone, John B. Elliott.
27 Mahaska John R. Nichols, Horace W. Gleason.
28 Keokuk Matthias Williams.
29 Washington Benoni Parkinson.
30 Louisa George Jamison.
31 Muscatine F. A. J. Gray, Isaac R. Terry.
494 HISTORY
pjST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
32 Scott Charles M. Waterman, Bruce T. Seaman,
Ernest Mueller.
33 Cedar Elwood Macy.
34 Johnson Moses Bloom, George Paul.
35 Iowa Norman B. Holbrook.
36 Poweshiek Andrew J. Wood.
07 Tasoer John C. Hiatt, Joel W. Deweese.
38 Polk ...'.'.'.'..'. Jerry B. Tiffin, Clarence S. Wilson.
39 Dallas William S. Russell.
40 Guthrie Thomas Seeley.
41 Harrison Henry B Lyman.
42 Boone George W. Crooks.
43 Story Prank Curtis.
44 Marshall John M. Parker.
45 Tama Gamaliel Jaqua. _ „ ^ ^
46 Benton John McCartney, B. S. Johnson.
47 Linn Irving P. Bowdish, William Ure.
48 Jones ' ' " ".*.*.'.". Silas M. Yoran.
4q Clinton John A. Young, Artemus A. Gardner.
50 Jackson Justin W. Miles, Philip P. Bradley.
51 Dubuaue Frederick M. Knoll. Dennis O'Brien, Fred
O'Donnell.
52 Delaware Joseph Chapman.
53 Buchanan John Calvin. . ,^ .
54 Black Hawk Jeremiah L. Gay, Lore Alford.
55 Grundy George Wells.
56 Hardin Edward Taylor.
57 Hamilton Ira H. Tremain.
58 Webster Oliver Tyson.
59 Woodbury James H. Bolton.
60 Butler Alvin M. Whaley.
61 Bremer John K. L. Maynard.
62 Fayette Henry Rickel.
63 Clayton Alexander Bliedung, Thomas UpdegrafE.
64 Allamakee Benjamin RatclifC.
65 Winneshiek Henry A. Baker, Hiram C. Manning.
66 Howard Charles E. Brown.
67 Chickasaw William E. Perrin.
68 Mitchell John Gammons.
69 Floyd Orlo H. Lyon.
70 Plymouth, Sioux and Lyon.. William Barrett.
71 Monona, Crawford and Ida. .Elijah Peake.
72 Cherokee, Buena Vista, Po-
cahontas and Sac L. H. Gordon.
73 Greene, Carroll and Cal-
houn Orlando H. Manning.
74 Adair, Audubon and Shelby. John A. Hallock.
75 Clay, Osceola, O'Brien and ,,»„..
Dickinson Charles McAllister.
76 Emmet, Palo Alto, Kossuth
and Humboldt John J. Wilson.
77 Wright, Winnebago, Han-
cock and Worth A. C. Walker.
78 Cerro Gordo and Franklin.. .John H. Kmg.
Republicans, 73; Democrats, 25; Greenbackers, 2. The General Assembly Adourned March, 26, 1878.
EIGHTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 12, 1880.
The Senate.
I-leutenant-Governor Frank T. Campbell. President, Republican.
A. T. McCarger, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee James M. Shelley.
2 Van Bu'ren and Davis Henry C. -rraverse.
3 Appanoose i^^^.1, ^;;r^ 1
4 Monroe and Wayne David M. Clark.
OF IOWA 495
DIST. CODNTIBS. NAMES OP MEMEEKS.
5 Union, Clarke and Lucas William M. Wilson.
6 Decatur, Ringgold and Tay-
lor Isaac W. Keller.
7 Fremont and Page Philip W. Lewellen.
8 Mills, Montgomery and
Adams Alfred Hebard.
9 Des Moines John Patterson.
10 Henry John S. Woolson.
11 Jefferson Sanford M. Bollng.
12 Keokuk Sanford Harned.
13 Wapello Gregg A. Madson.
14 Washington and Louisa John W. Prizer.
15 Mahaska J. Kelley Johnson.
16 Marion James F. Greenlee.
17 Warren Mark A. Dashiell.
18 Madison, Adair and Cass Lafayette Young.
19 Pottawattamie George F. Wright.
20 Muscatine Thomas Hanna.
21 Scott William A. Foster.
22 Clinton Nathaniel A. Merrell.
23 Cedar and Jones John Russell.
24 Jackson Pierce Mitchell.
25 Johnson John C. Shrader.
26 Iowa Christian Hedges.
27 Linn John W. Henderson.
28 Benton John D. Nichols.
29 Jasper John Mever.
30 Polk Robert C. Webb.
31 Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon
and Shelby Samuel D. Nichols.
32 Marshall and Grundy Delos Arnold.
33 Boone and Story John D. Gillett.
34 Harrison, Monona, Craw-
ford, Ida and Sac Augustin W. Ford.
35 Dubuque Moses M. Ham.
36 Delaware Rodney W. Tirrill.
37 Hardin and Hamilton Daniel D. Chase.
38 Black Hawk H. C. Hemenway.
39 Buchanan Merritt W. Harmon.
40 Clayton Martin Garber.
41 Allamakee Henrv Nielander.
42 Winneshiek Martin N. Johnson.
43 Fayette William Larrabee.
44 Bremer, Chickasaw, How-
ard Aaron Kimball.
45 Poweshiek and Tama Robert M. Haines.
46 Butler, Floyd and Mitchell.. W. P. Gaylord.
47 Winnebago, Worth, Cerro
Gordo, Wright, Franklin,
Hancock F. M. Goodykoontz.
48 Calhoun, Carroll, Greene
and Webster John J. Russell.
49 Kossuth, Humboldt, Emmet,
Dickinson, Clay, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, O'Brien, Osce- ola Eldin J. Hartshorn.
BO Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux, Lyon, Cherokee, Buena
Vista Albert H. Lawrence.
Republicans, 41; Democrats, 7; Nationals, 2.
House of Representatives. Lore Alford, Speaker, Republican. William V. T^ucas, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBBHS.
1 Lee Andrew B. Caldwell, Joseph M. Casey.
2 Des Moines Samuel L. Glasgow, J. Wilson Williams.
3 Henry Joshua G. Newbold. Charles W. Payne.
4 Jefferson John W. Hayden.
496 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF SIEMBEBS.
5 Van Buren Daniel W. Stutsman.
6 Wapello F. M. Epperson, J. G. Hutchinson.
7 Davis Samuel B. Downing.
8 Monroe James M. Robb.
9 Appanoose Samuel Hixson.
10 Lucas Warren S. Dungan.
11 Wayne A. C. Reck.
12 Clarke John H. Martindale.
13 Decatur J. C. Porter.
14 Union Francis M. Richey.
15 Ringgold Charles C. Bosworth.
16 Adams Edmund Homan.
17 Taylor Nathan S. Hornaday.
18 Montgomery Zelotes T. Fisher.
19 Page Watson E. Webster.
20 Mills Winfield S. Lewis.
21 Fremont Thomas R. Stockston.
22 Pottawattamie George Carson, Benjamin F. Clayton.
23 Cass OH Coomes.
24 Madison Daniel Francis.
25 Warren William J. Cochran.
26 Marion Lorin N. Hays, Solomon F. Prouty.
27 Mahaska James Bridges, Joseph H. Evans.
28 Keokuk Cyrus H. Mackey.
29 Washington Abram Pearson.
30 Louisa William A. Colton.
31 Muscatine Pliny Nichols, Isaac R. Terry.
32 Scott Henry Egbert, Ernest Mueller, Bruce T.
Seaman.
33 Cedar Robert G. Scott.
34 Johnson Moses Bloom, Lewis R. Wolfe.
35 Iowa Elvin Tilton.
36 Poweshiek Andrew J. Wood.
37 Jasper Eli E. Dotson, John M. Tool.
38 Polk Josiah A. Harvey, James C. Jordan.
39 Dallas William S. Russell.
40 Guthrie Joel L. Palmer.
41 Harrison George Richardson.
42 Boone John H. Jennings.
43 Story William D. Lucas.
44 Marshall John M. Parker.
45 Tama George R. Struble.
46 Benton Joseph E. Cobbey, Jacob K. Wagner.
47 Linn William R. Brown, R. D. Stephens.
48 Jones Silas M. Yoran.
49 Clinton William Lake, LeRoi B. Wadleigh.
50 Jackson A. W. Richardson, Samuel S. Simpson.
51 Dubuque Michael Ehl, William J. Knight, Dennis
O'Brien.
52 Delaware William H. Merten.
53 Buchanan Isaac Muncey.
54 Black Hawk Lore Alford, Jeremiah L. Gay.
55 Grundy Abram V. Stout.
56 Hardin Corydon M. Nagle.
57 Hamilton Gilbert M. Blair.
58 Webster John F. Duncombe.
59 Woodbury John B. Belfrage.
60 Butler Alvin M Whaley.
61 Bremer Ephraim J. Dean.
62 Fayette Abner Lewis.
63 Clayton Gregor McGregor, John Van Staden.
64 Allamakee Thomas H. Barnes.
65 Winneshiek Henry A. Bakers, Levi M. Hubbell.
66 Howard Samuel S. Lambert.
67 Chickasaw William B. Perrin.
68 Mitchell Isaac Patterson.
69 Floyd Orlo H. Lyon.
70 Plymouth, Sioux, Lyon Alexander L. Beach.
71 Monona, Crawford, Ida Henry C. Laub.
72 Cherokee, Buena Vista, Po-
cahontas, Sac D. J. McDaid.
OF IOWA 497
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
73 Calhoun, Carroll, Greene S. T. Hutchinson.
74 Adair, Audubon, Shelby Piatt Wicks.
75 Clay, Dickinson, O'Brien and
Osceola Walter B. Brown.
76 Emmet, Humboldt, Kossuth
and Palo Alto Anson D. Bicknell.
77 Hancock, Winnebago,
Worth and Wright Justin M. Hull.
78 Cerro Gordo, Franklin John H. King.
Republicans, 82; Democrats, 14; Nationals, 4.
The General Assembly Adjourned March, 27, 1880.
NINETEENTH GENERAL, ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 9, 1882.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Orlando H. Manning, President, Republican. Frank D. Jackson, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
1 Lee Henry W. Rothert.
2 Van Buren and Davis Alexander Brown.
3 Appanoose Jesse J. Wall.
4 Monroe and Wayne David M. Clark.
5 Union, Clarke and Lucas William M. Wilson.
6 Decatur, Ringgold and Tay-
lor Isaac W. Keller.
7 Fremont and Page Talton E. Clark.
8 Mills, Montgomery and
Adams Alfred Hebard.
9 Des Moines Benton J. Hall.
10 Henry Lot Abraham.
11 Jefferson Sanford M. Boling.
12 Keokuk Cassius M. Brown.
13 Wapello Joseph G. Hutchison.
14 Washington and Louisa John W. Prizer.
15 Mahaska J. Kelley Johnson.
16 Marion James P. Greenlee.
17 Warren Mark A. Dashiell.
18 Madison, Adair and Cass Cephas B. Hunt.
19 Pottawattamie George F. Wright.
20 Muscatine Pliny Nichols.
21 Scott John C. Bills.
22 Clinton Wickliffe A. Cotton.
23 Cedar and Jones John Russell.
24 Jackson Pierce Mitchell.
25 Johnson John C. Shrader.
26 Iowa William A. Patrick.
27 Linn John W. Henderson.
28 Benton John D. Nichols.
29 Jasper Egbert C. Sudlow.
30 Polk Hiram T. Smith.
31 Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon
and Shelby Samuel D. Nichols.
32 Marshall and Grundy Delos Arnold.
33 Boone and Story John D. Gillett.
34 Harrison, Monona, Craw-
ford, Ida and Sac T. M. C. Logan.
35 Dubuque Julius K. Graves.
36 Delaware Rodney. "W. Tirrill.
37 Hardin and Hamilton John L. Kamrar.
38 Black Hawk H. C. Hemenway.
39 Buchanan Merritt W. Harmon.
40 Clayton Martin Garber.
41 Allamakee Henry Neilander.
42 Winneshiek Henry A. Baker.
43 Fayette William Larrabee.
44 Bremer, Chickasaw, How-
ard C. A Marshall.
[Vol. 3]
498 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
45 Poweshiek and Tama Alfred N. Poyneer.
46 Butler, Floyd and Mitchell... Alvin M. Whaley.
47 Winnebago, Worth, Cerro
Gordo, Wright, Franklin,
Hancock Horace G. Parker.
48 Calhoun, Carroll, Greene and
Webster John J. Russell.
49 Kossuth, Humboldt, Emmet,
Dickinson, Clay, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, O'Brien, Osce- ola Eldin J. Hartshorn.
50 Woodbury, Plymouth, Sioux,
Lyon, Cherokee, Buena
Vista Gifford S. Robinson.
Repulicans, 45; Democrats, 2; Greenbacks, 3.
House of Representatives.
George R. Struble, Speaker, Republican. Eugene C. Haynes, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee John N. Irwin, James H. Snook.
2 Des Moines William Lynch, A. H. Kuhlemeier.
3 Henry Charles W. Payne, Micajah L. Crew.
4 Jefferson John Williamson.
5 Van Buren James Elerlck
6 Wapello P. M. Epperson, George W. Dickens.
7 Davis Samuel B. Downing.
8 Monroe James M. Robb.
9 Appanoose Eph. M. Reynolds.
10 Lucas Warren S. Dungan.
11 Wayne George McCulloch.
12 Clarke William H Hall.
13 Decatur Vv'illiani F. Kelley.
14 Union Anson P. Stephens.
15 Ringgold Charles C. Bosworth.
IC Adams Thomas L. Maxwell.
17 Taylor Lyman Evans.
18 Montgomery Cornelius C. Platter.
19 Page John X. GrifTith.
20 Mills Winfield S. Lewis.
21 Fremont Loren R. Henderson.
22 Pottawattamie Henry O. Seifert, Jacob C. Morgan.
23 Cass William Baughman.
24 Madison Butler Bi'-d.
25 Warren William F. Powell.
26 Marion William Blain, Henry M. McCuUy.
27 Mahaska James Bridges, Robert B. Warren.
28 Keokuk Thomas E. Johns.
29 Washington Abram Pearson.
30 Louisa Francis A. Duncan.
31 Muscatine John C Donahey, John A. Pickler.
32 Scott Ernst Mueller, P. W. McManus, William O.
Schmidt.
33 Cedar William P. Wolf.
34 Johnson Lewis R. Wolfe, Edward W. Lucas.
35 Iowa Elvin Tilton.
36 Poweshiek Charles H. Spencer.
37 Jasper Ell E. Dotson, John M. Tool.
38 Polk Thomas W. Havens, Thomas E. Haines.
39 Dallas Timothy J. Caldwell.
40 Guthrie Michael McDonald.
41 Harrison Tjcmuel R. Bolter.
42 Boone Adonfram J. Holmes.
43 Story Thomas C. McCall.
44 Marshall Edward L. Lemert.
45 Tama George R. Struble.
46 Bf>r.ton John Rvder. John M. St. Clair.
47 Linn Irving iP. Bowdish, Frank W. Hart
OF IOWA 499
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEES.
48 Jones Martin H. Calkins.
49 Clinton Dallas D. Rorick, Larkin Upton.
50 Jackson Samuel S. Simpson, Gilman L. Johnson.
51 Dubuque Dennis O'Brien, Michael Ehl, A. W. Daugh-
erty.
52 Delaware William H. Merten.
53 Buchanan Isaac Muncey.
54 Black Hawk Charles A. Bishop, Thomas Welstead.
55 Grundy Abram V. Stout.
56 Hardin Cyrus J. Cook.
57 Hamilton Charles Aldrich.
58 Webster Robert M. Right.
59 Woodbury Elbert H. Hubbard.
60 Butler Henry C. Brown.
61 Bremer Lewis S. Hanchett.
62 Payette William Taylor.
63 Clayton Gregor McGregor, John Van Staden.
64 Allamakee Willard C. Earle.
65 Winneshiek Levi Hubbell, D. O. Aaker.
66 Howard Samuel S. Lambert.
67 Chickasaw James F. Babcock.
68 Mitchell Henry F. Tucker.
69 Floyd Waldo S. Flint.
70 Plymouth, Sioux and Lyon.. Charles L. Davidson.
71 Monona, Crawford and Ida.. Robert T. Shearer.
72 Cherokee, Buena Vista, Po-
cahontas and Sac Horatio Pitcher.
73 Calhoun, Carroll, Greene.... L. F. Danforth.
74 Adair, Audubon and Shelby.. Piatt Wicks.
75 Clay, Dickinson, O'Brien
and Osceola Osmond M. Barrett.
76 Emmet, Humboldt, Kossuth
and Palo Alto John J. Wilson.
77 Hancock, Winnebago,
Worth and Wright John E. Anderson.
78 Cerro Gordo and Franklin... Rufus S. Benson.
Republicans, 70; Democrats, 24; Greenbacks, 6. The General Assembly Adjourned March 17, 1882.
TWENTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 14, 1884.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Orlando H. Manning, President, Republican. Frank D. Jackson, Secretarj', Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Henry W. Rothert.
2 Van Buren and Davis John W. Carr.
3 Appanoose and Monroe Edward J. Gault.
4 Wayne and Lucas Lewis Miles.
5 Clarke and Decatur John McDonough.
6 Ringgold, Taylor and Union. A. P. Stephens.
7 Fremont and Page Talton E. Clark.
8 Mills and Montgomery James S. Hendrie.
9 Des Moines Benton J. Hall.
10 Jefferson and Henry Lot Abraham.
11 Louisa and Washington Francis A. Duncan.
12 Keokuk and Iowa Cassius M. Brown.
13 Wapello Joseph G. Hutchison.
14 Mahaska Ben McCoy.
15 Marion Edward R. Cassatt.
16 Madison and Warren Eli Wilkin.
17 Audubon, Guthrie and' Dal-
las Timothy J. Caldwell.
18 Adams, Adair and Cass Cephas B. Hunt.
19 Pottawattamie George Carson.
20 Muscatine Pliny Nichols.
21 Scott John C. Bills.
500 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
22 Clinton Wickliffe A. Cotton.
23 Jackson Oilman L. Johnson.
24 Cedar and Jones John C. Chambers.
25 Johnson ..Moses Bloom.
26 Linn John W. Henderson.
27 Benton John Ryder.
28 Marshall Preston M. Sutton.
29 Jasper Egbert O. Sudlow.
30 Polk Hiram Y. Smith.
31 Boone and Story John D. Gillett.
32 Hardin and Grundy Enoch W. Eastman.
33 Buchanan and Delaware William G. Donnan.
34 Harrison and Shelby T. M. C. L.ogan.
35 Dubuque Julius K. Graves.
36 Clayton Frank D. Bayless.
37 Hamilton, Webster and
Wright John L. Kamrar.
38 Black Hawk Herman C. Hemenway.
39 Butler and Bremer Alvin M. Whaley.
40 Allamakee and Fayette William Larrabee.
41 Howard, Mitchell and
Worth J. H. Sweney.
42 Winneshiek Henry A. Baker.
43 Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Han-
cock and Winnebago John D. Glass.
44 Chickasaw and Floyd Chapman A. Marshall.
45 Poweshiek and Tama Alfred N. Poyneer.
46 Woodbury, Monona, Craw-
ford Charles E. Whiting.
47 Humboldt, Pocahontas, Palo
Alto, Emmet, Kossuth,
Clay Charles C. Chubb.
48 Greene, Carroll and Cal-
houn John J. Russell.
49 Plymouth, Sioux, Lyon, Os-
ceola, O'Brien and Dickin- son Osmond M. Barrett.
50 Buena Vista, Cherokee, Sac,
Ida Gifford S. Robinson.
Republicans, 39; Democrats, 11.
Hou^e of Representatives.
William P. Wolf, Speaker, Republican. Sidney A. Foster, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee Henry C. Miller, Charles Doerr.
2 Des Moines William Lynch, William B. Culbertson.
3 Henry Washington I. Babb.
4 Jefferson Lewis Fordyce.
5 Van Buren William R. Wherry.
6 Wapello P. G. Ballingall, Henry Canfield.
7 Davis Baptist Hardy.
8 Monroe James S Hogeland.
9 Appanoose Samuel Jordan.
10 Lucas George C. Boggs.
11 Wayne Samuel Wright.
12 Clarke W. H. Hall.
13 Decatur Elijah Banta.
14 Union George Derr.
15 Ringgold John Cole.
16 Adams Benjamin MMdner.
17 Taylor Dennis Hamhiin.
18 Montgomery John V. Johnson.
19 Page William Butler.
20 Mills Samuel T. Brothers.
21 Fremont Loran R. Henderson.
22 Pottawattamie B. F. Clayton, Edwin W. Davis.
OF IOWA 501
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBBBS.
23 Cass Jacob Kuhn.
24 Adair John A. Storey.
25 Madison Albert R. Dabney.
26 Warren James H. Millen.
27 Marion Hardin B. Cloud.
28 Mahaska Mathew Picken.
29 Keokuk Timothy F. McCarty.
30 Washington John P. Huskins.
31 Louisa O. H. P. Linn.
32 Muscatine James J. Russell. "
33 Scott William O. Schmidt, Whitaker M. Grant,
34 Cedar William P. Wolf.
35 Johnson Cyrus S. Ranck, Edward W. Lucas.
36 Iowa Norman B. Holbrook.
37 Poweshiek Joel Stewart.
38 Jasper Byron C. Ward, William H. McCulloch.
39 Polk James M. Tuttle, Charles L. Watrous.
4u Dallas David J. Pattee
41 Guthrie James A. Lyons.
42 Harrison Lemuel R. Bolter.
43 Boone Philip Livinston.
44 Story Thomas C. McCall.
45 Marshall John G. Brown.
46 Tama Welcome Mowry.
47 Benton George C. Scrimgeour.
48 Linn Robert Smyth, Jonathan J. Nugent.
49 Jones Martin H. Calkins.
50 Clinton Larkin Upton, Nathaniel A. Merrell.
51 Jackson John Manderschied.
52 Dubuque Tohn J. Linehan. Isaac W. Baldwin.
53 Delaware Joseph M. Holbrook.
54 Buchanan William H. Chamberlin.
55 Black Hawk George W. Hayzlett.
56 Grundy Daniel Kerr.
57 Hardin Silas M. Weaver.
58 Hamilton .Julius M. Jones.
59 Webster Cyrus C. Carpenter.
60 Woodbury Squire W. Haviland.
61 Butler Henry C. Brown.
62 Bremer Harry H. Green.
63 Fayette JEdward Rice.
64 Clayton .Tohn Killen, Charles Mentzel.
65 Allamakee Theo. Natchtway.
66 Winneshiek Drengman O. Aaker.
67 Howard Samuel A. Converse.
68 Chickasaw John M. Gilliland.
69 Mitchell Clarence C Vanderpoel.
70 Floyd Ethelbert W. Wilbur.
71 Plymouth Henry C. Curtis.
72 Sioux, Lyon and Osceola iiOrenzo D. Sherman.
73 Monona Daniel Campbell.
74 Crawford Charles Bullock.
75 Ida and Buena Vista Jesse Kennedy.
76 Cherokee and Clay Charles W. Filmore.
77 Sac D. J. McDaid.
78 Calhoun and Pocahontas Josiah D. McVay.
79 Greene Albert Head.
80 Carroll Michael Miller.
81 Shelby Christian J. Wayland.
82 Audubon Jacob A. Overholtzer.
83 O'Brien and Dickinson George W. Schee.
84 Palo Alto, Emmet and Kos-
suth Thomas W. Harrison.
85 Humboldt and Wright William T. R. Humphrey.
8G Winnebago, Hancock,
Worth George F. Wattson.
87 Cerro Gordo Norman Densmore.
88 Franklin Rufus S. Benson.
Republicans, 52; Democrats, 42; Greenbacks, 6. The General Assembly Adjourned April 2, 1884.
502 HISTORY
TWENTY-FIRST GENERAL. ASSEMBLY, Convened at Des Moines, January 11, 1886.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor John A. T. Hull, President, Republican. Don D. Donnan, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee J. M. Casey.
2 Van Buren and Davis John W. Carr.
3 Appanoose and Monroe Edward J. Gault.
4 Wayne and Lucas Lewis Miles.
5 Clarke and Decatur John McDonough.
6 Ringgold, Taylor and Union. A. P. Stephens.
7 Page and Fremont T. E. Clarke.
8 Mills and Montgomery James S. Hendrie.
9 Des Moines W. W. Dodge.
10 Henry and Jefferson John S. Woolson.
11 Louisa and Washington Francis A. Duncan.
12 Wapello J. G. Hutchison.
13 Keokuk and Iowa James Dooley.
14 Mahaska Benjamin McCoy.
15 Marion Ed. R. Cassatt.
16 Madison and Warren Eli Wilkin.
17 Audubon, Guthrie and Dal-
las Timothy J. Caldwell.
18 Adair, Adams and Cass Lafayette Young.
19 Pottawattamie George Carson.
20 Muscatine S. T. Chesebro.
21 Scott W. O. Schmidt.
22 Clinton P. B. Wolfe.
23 Jackson G. L. Johnson.
24 Cedar and Jones John C. Chambers.
25 Johnson Moses Bloom.
26 I;inn J. W. Henderson.
27 Benton John Ryder.
28 Marshall Preston M. Sutton.
29 Jasper M. P. Doud.
30 Polk C. H. Gatch.
31 Boone and Story John Scott.
32 Hardin and Grundy M. Underwood.
33 Buchanan and Delaware William G. Donnan.
34 Harrison and Shelby L. R. Bolter.
35 Dubuque W. J. Knight.
36 Clayton F. D. Bayless.
37 Hamilton, Webster and
Wright N. F. Weber.
38 Black Hawk Matt Parrott.
39 Butler and Bremer Alvin M. Whaley.
40 Allamakee and Fayette W. C. Earle.
41 Howard, Mitchell and
Worth J. H. Sweney.
42 Winneshiek T. W. Burdick.
43 Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Han-
cock and Winnebago John D. Glass.
44 Chickasaw and Floyd R. W. Riniger.
45 Poweshiek and Tama A. N. Poyneer.
46 Woodbury, Monona, Craw-
ford C. E. Whiting.
47 Humboldt, Pocahontas, Palo
Alto, Emmet, Kossuth,
Clay Charles C. Chubb.
48 Greene, Carroll and Cal-
houn J. K. Deal.
49 Plymouth, Sioux, Lyon,
O'Brien, Oseola and Dick- inson O. M. Barrett.
50 Buena Vista, Cherokee, Sac,
Ida G. S. Robinson.
Republicans, 31; Democrats and Fusion, 19.
OF IOWA 503
House of Representatives.
Albert Head, Speaker, Republican.
J. K. Powers, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEKS.
1 Lee J. E. Craig, W. G. Kent.
2 Des Moines W. B. Culbertson, John S. Penny.
3 Henry VV. S. Withrow.
.4 Jefferson H. B. Mitchell.
5 Van Buren W. M. Walker.
6 Wapello D. A. LaForce, J. R. Burgess.
7 Davis L. D. Hotchkiss.
8 Monroe A. A. Ramsey.
9 Appanoose E. M. Reynolds.
10 Lucas George C. Boggs.
11 Wayne J. R. Bradley.
12 Clarke W. G. Agnew.
13 Decatur Thomas Teale.
14 Union W. H. Robb.
15 Ringgold John Cole.
16 Adams Ed. C. Russell.
17 Taylor G. L. Finn.
18 Montgomery F. P. Greenlee.
19 Page William Butler.
20 Mills John Barnum.
21 Fremont J. M. Hammond.
22 Pottawattamie J. H. Keatley, R. S. Hart.
23 Cass Silas Wilson.
24 Adair John A. Storey.
25 Madison A. R. Dabney.
26 Warren C. L. Anderson.
27 Marion E. Shaw.
28 Mahaska D. Jj. Lyons.
29 Keokuk W. W. Kline.
30 Washington B. F. Tipton.
31 Ijouisa L. A. Riley.
32 Muscatine B. H. Garrett.
33 Scott Philip Dietz, George H. Clark.
34 Cedar R. G. Cousins.
35 Johnson C. S. Ranck, George W. Ball.
36 Iowa N. B. Holbrook.
37 Poweshiek W. H. Redman.
38 Jasper Aaron Custer, J. H. Smith.
39 Polk Wesley Redhead, J. G. Berryhill.
40 Dallas D. J. Pattee.
41 Guthrie J. A. Lyons.
42 Harrison D. M. Harris.
43 Boone S. L. Moore.
44 Story Oley Nelson.
45 Marshall J. G. Brown.
46 Tama H. J. Stiger.
47 Benton S. S. Sweet.
48 Linn William G. Thompson, John T. Hamilton.
49 Jones George W. Lathrop.
50 Clinton John Coleman, Edward Hart.
51 Jackson .John Manderscheid.
52 Dubuque J. J. Linehan, I. W. Baldwin,
53 Delaware L. S Gates.
54 Buchanan W. H. Chamberlin.
55 Black Hawk G. W. Hayzlett.
56 Grundy Hans Peterson.
57 Hardin S. M. Weaver.
58 Hamilton Augustus Anderson.
59 Webster S. T. Meservey.
60 Woodbury R. C. Rice.
61 Butler Elwood Wilson.
62 Bremer M. S. Wright.
63 Fayette J. K. Montgomery.
64 Clayton J. Killen. J. F. Thompson.
65 Allamakee Theo. Natchwey.
66 Winneshiek Nels Larson.
504 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
67 Howard S. A. Converse.
68 Chickasaw H. H. Bailev.
69 Mitchell D. F. McCarthy.
70 Floyd E. W. Wilbur.
71 Plymouth W. H. Dent.
72 Lyon, Sioux and Osceola E. C. Roach.
73 Monona W. F. Wiley.
74 Crawford I. T. Roberts.
75 Buena Vista and Ida G. L. Dobson.
76 Cherokee and Clay M. S. Butler.
77 Sac Phil Schaller.
78 Pocahontas and Calhoun.... J. J. Bruce.
79 Greene Albert Head.
80 Carroll W. L. Culbertson.
81 Shelby C. .T. Wvland.
82 Audubon J. A Overholtzer.
83 O'Brien and Dickinson George W. Shee.
84 Palo Alto, Emmet, Kossuth. R. H. Spencer.
85 Humboldt and Wright I. L. Welch.
86 Winnebago, Hancock,
Worth Simon Rustard.
87 Cerro Gordo N. Densmore.
88 Franklin R. S. Benson.
Republicans, 60; Fusion, 40. The General Assembly Adjourned April 13, 1886.
TWENTT-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 9, 18S8.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor John A. T. Hull, President. Republican Cloud H. Brock, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee William G. Kent.
2 Jefferson and Van Buren B. R. Vale.
3 Appanoose and Davis W. H. Taylor.
4 Lucas and Wayne Warren S. Dungan.
5 Union, Ringgold and Deca-
tur J. B. Harsh.
6 Adams and Taylor George L. Finn.
7 Page and Fremont Talton E. Clark.
8 Mills and Montgomery Thomas Weidman.
9 Des Moines W. W. Dodge.
10 Henry and Washington John S. Woolson.
11 Warren and Clarke James H. Barnett.
12 Keokuk and Poweshiek James Dooley.
13 Wapello J. G. Hutchison.
14 Mahaska Ben McCoy.
15 Marion and Monroe Ed. R. Cassatt.
16 Adair and Madison Richard Price.
17 Audubon, Dallas and Guth-
rie T. J. Caldwell.
18 Cass and Shelby Lafayette Young.
19 Pottawattamie William Groneweg.
20 Muscatine and Louisa S. T. Chesebro.
21 Scott William O. Schmidt.
22 Clinton P. B. Wolfe.
23 Jackson A. G. Keglcr.
24 Cedar and Jones B. B. Bills.
25 Iowa and Johnson M. J. Kelly.
26 Linn J. H. Smith.
27 Calhoun and Webster J. D. McVay.
28 Marshall W. D. Mills.
29 Jasoer M. P. Doud.
30 Polk C. H. Gatch.
31 Boone and Story D. B. Davidson.
32 Woodbury J. S. Lawrence.
OF IOWA 505
UIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OP MEMBERS.
33 Buchanan and Delaware Ed. P. Seeds.
34 Harrison, Monona, Craw-
ford L. R. Bolter.
35 Dubuque W. J. Knight.
36 Clayton P. T). Bayless.
37 Hamilton, Hardin and
Wright N. F. Weber.
38 Black Hawk and Grundy... Matt Parrott.
39 Butler and Bremer L. S. Hanchett.
40 Allamakee and Fayette L. B. Mattoon.
41 Mitchell, Worth and Winne-
bago J. H. Sweney.
42 Howard and Winnesheik S. A. Converse.
43 Hancock, Franklin, Cerro
Gordo N. V. Brower.
44 Chickasaw and Floyd R. G. Reiniger.
45 Benton and Tama A. N. Poyneer.
46 Cherokee, Ida and Ply-
mouth A. F. Meservey.
47 Clay, Dickinson, Emmet,
Palo Alto and Kossuth A. B. Funk.
48 Sac, Carroll and Greene John K. Deal.
49 Lyon, Osceola, Sioux,
O'Brien O. M. Barrett.
50 Buena Vista, Pocahontas
and Humboldt A. O. Garlock.
Republicans, 32; Democrats, 15; Independents, 3.
House of Representatives.
W. H. Redman, Speaker, Republican. D. C. Kolp, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee John E. Craig.
2 Van Buren W. M. Thorniley.
3 Davis L. D. Hotchkiss.
4 Appanoose G. W. WyckofC.
5 Wayne L. W. Lewis.
6 Decatur Thomas Teale.
7 Ringgold Wiliam Brown.
8 Taylor : C. M. Paschal.
9 Page S. E. Field.
10 Fremont F. M. Estes.
11 Mills A. J. Chantry.
12 Montgomery John W. Yergey.
13 Adams Edward C. Russell.
14 Union ^V. H. Robb.
15 Clarke W. G. Agnew.
16 Lucas H. L, Byers.
17 Monroe J. C. Robeson.
18 Wapello J. R. Burgess.
19 Jefferson George W. Ball.
20 Henry S. L. Steele.
21 Des Moines Fred W. Kline.
22 Louisa L. A. Riley.
23 Washington B. F. Tipton.
24 Keokuk J. C. Beem.
25 Mahaska Samuel W. Jones.
26 Marion Lafayette Jolly.
27 Warren C. L. Anderson.
28 Madison J. H. Mack .
29 Adair A. D. Crooks.
30 Cass " Silas Wilson.
31 Pottawattamie R. S. Hart, A. W. Wyman.
32 Harrison B. F. Roberts.
33 Shelby W. Roundy.
34 Audubon William Walker.
35 Guthrie I. R. Shipley.
36 Dallas T. A. Thornburg.
506 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
37 Polk James G. Berryhill, A. B. Cummins.
3S Jasper A. Custer.
39 Poweshiek W. H. Redman.
40 Iowa Abraham Owen.
41 Johnson George W. Wagner.
42 Muscatine John A. Evans.
43 Scott Philip Dietz, Chas. G. Hipwell.
44 Cedar H. C. Piatt.
45 Clinton W. W. Buell, G. M. Curtis.
46 Jackson George L,. Mitchell.
47 Jones G. Eilers.
48 Linn joshua Doron, John T. Hamilton.
49 Benton John C. Kennan.
50 Tama R. H. Moore.
51 Marshall Charles Ezkles.
52 Story Oley Nelson.
53 Boone John C. Hall.
54 Greene Albert Head.
55 Carroll Oliver Horton.
56 Crawford W. A. Davie.
57 Monona F. F. Roe.
58 Woodbury R. C. Rice.
59 Ida D. NicoU.
60 Sac I. S. Hunter.
61 Calhoun Edgar L. Hobbs.
62 Webster Isaac 'L. Woods.
63 Hamilton Augustus Anderson.
64 Hardin Thomas N. Hauser.
65 Grundy H. S. Draper.
66 Black Hawk Edward Townsend.
67 Buchanan John Calvin.
68 Delaware W. C. Oakman.
69 Dubuque A. Limbock, James Rowan.
70 Clayton J. F. Thompson.
71 Fayette G. D. Darnall.
72 Bremer John Homrighaus.
73 Butler Elwood Wilson.
74 Franklin J. W. Luke.
75 Wright A. S. Chapman.
76 Humboldt J M. Schleicher.
77 Clay, Pocahontas Charles W. Fillmore.
78 Buena Vlsta G. L. Dobson.
79 Cherokee J. C. Lockin.
80 Plymouth A. M. Duus.
81 Sioux Henry Hospers.
82 O'Brien E. F. Parkhurst.
83 Dickinson, Emmet, Palo
Alto W. M. McFarland.
84 Kossuth Andrew D. Clarke.
85 Winnebago, Hancock John W. Mahoney.
86 Cerro Gordo James G. Blythe.
87 Floyd E. W. Wilbur.
88 Chickasaw John Foley.
89 Allamakee John F. Dayton.
90 Winneshiek Nels Larson.
91 Howard William Theophilus.
92 Mitchell James A. Smith.
93 Worth J. N. Slosson.
94 Lyon, Osceola B. C. Roach.
Republicans, 64; Democrats, 33; Independents, 3. The General Assembly Adjourned on the 10th of April, 1888.
TWENTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1890.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor A. N. Poyneer, President, Republican. W. R. Cochrane, Secretary, Republican.
OF IOWA 507
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBBES.
1 Lee William G. Kent.
2 Jefferson, Van Buren B. R. Vale.
3 Appanoose, Davis William H. Taylor.
4 Lucas, Wayne Warren S. Dungan.
5 Union, Ringgold, Decatur. ...J. B. Harsh.
6 Adams, Taylor George L. Finn.
7 Fremont, Page G. W. Perkins.
8 Montgomery, Mills Thomas Weidman.
9 Des Moines VV. W. Dodge.
10 Washington, Henry John S. Woolson.
11 Warren, Clarke James H. Barnett.
12 Poweshiek, Keokuk Joel Stewart.
13 Wapello P. G. Ballingall.
14 Mahaska Ben McCoy.
15 Marion, Monroe Ed. R. Cassatt.
16 Adair, Madison Richard Price.
17 Audubon, Dallas, Guthrie — T. J. Caldwell.
18 Cass, Shelby W. F. Cleveland.
19 Pottawattamie William Groneweg.
20 Muscatine, Louisa John M. Gobble.
21 Scott V/illiam O. Schmidt.
22 Clinton P. B. Wolfe.
23 Jackson A. G. Kegler.
24 Cedar, Jones B. B. Bills.
25 Iowa, Johnson M. J. Kelly.
26 Linn J. H. Smith.
27 Calhoun, Webster j. D. McVey.
28 Marshall William D. Mills.
29 Jasper Perry Engle.
30 Polk C. H. Gatch.
31 Boone, Story D. B. Davidson.
32 Woodbury J. S. Lawrence.
S3 Delaware, Buchanan Ed. P. Seeds.
34 Harrison, Monona, Craw-
ford L. R. Bolter.
35 Dubuque James A. Shields.
36 Clayton F. D. Bayless.
37 Wright, Hardin, Hamilton... William C. Smith.
38 Grundy, Black Hawk Matt Parrott.
39 Butler, Bremer L. S Hanchett.
40 Allamakee, Fayette L. B. Mattoon.
41 Mitchell, Worth, Winneba-
go J. F. Clyde.
42 Winneshiek, Howard A. K. Bailey.
43 Hancock, Franklin, Cerro
Gordo N. V. Brower.
44 Floyd, Chickasaw Robert G. Reiniger.
45 Tama, Benton J. J. Mosnat.
46 Cherokee, Ida, Plymouth.... A. F. Meservey.
47 Dickinson, Emmet, Clay,
Palo Alto, Kossuth A. B. Funk.
48 Greene, Carroll, Sac Thomas Rich.
49 L y o n, Osceola, Sioux,
O'Brien O. M. Barrett.
50 Buena Vista, Humboldt, Po-
cahontas E. Edgar Mack.
Rei'Ublicans, 28; Democrats, 20; Independents, 2.
House of Representatives.
J. T. Hamilton, Speaker, Democrat. H. S. Wilcox, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBHBS.
1 Lee J. P. Hornish.
2 Van Buren W. A. Tade.
3 Davis L. D. Hotchkiss.
4 Appanoose M. M. Walden.
5 Wayne L .W. Lewis.
6 Decatur G. P. Arnold.
508 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEHB.
7 Ringgold !^"Ji^?J Brown.
8 Taylor ^- ^- Z^f^^"^^'
9 Page S. E. Field.
10 Fremont F. M. Estes.
11 Mills A. J. Chantry.
12 Montgomery John W, Yergey.
13 Adams S?- .9; ^?^^®"-
14 Union ^•,}^V.^.°^^°^-
15 Clarke F. M. Kyte.
16 Lucas Harvey L.Byers,
17 Monroe Josiah T. Young.
18 Wapello James J. Smith.
19 Jefferson George W. Ball
20 Henry Samuel L. Steele.
21 Des Moines Ellison Smith.
22 Louisa J- F. Holiday.
23 Washington Samuel C. Gardner.
24 Keokuk J. C. Beem.
25 Mahaska Andrew J. Jewell.
26 Marion I- B. Hendershot.
27 Warren S- J- VanGilder.
28 Madison J- H. Mack.
29 Adair Peter McDermid.
30 Cass Silas Wilson.
31 Pottawattamie Riley W. Briggs, William H. Ware.
32 Harrison -T- K. McGavren.
33 Shelby 5^:„^°"^*i)'-„
34 Audubon William Walker.
35 Guthrie Ira R. Shipley.
36 Dallas T. A. Thornburg.
37 Polk B. B. Lane, W^illiam J. Stewart.
38 Jasper".'!!'. Samuel B. Powers.
39 Poweshiek Mat. Ewart.
40 Iowa N. B. Holbrook.
41 Johnson J. M. Barta Letovsky.
42 Muscatine Irving B. Richman. ^^ . ^ ^ ,t ^t
43 Scott Charles G. Hipwell, Christopher Marti.
44 Cedar WiUiam J. Felkner.
45 Clinton George S. Gardiner, Ed Hart.
46 Jackson N. B. Nemmers.
47 Jones Gerhard Eilers.
48 Linn Charles G. Gitchell, John T. Hamilton.
49 Benton Lewis A. Mitchell.
50 Tama James Morison.
51 Marshall Charles Eckels.
52 Story C. G. McCarthy.
53 Boone Allen Smith.
54 Greene Albert Head.
55 Carroll Oliver Horton.
56 Crawford William A. Davie.
57 Monona P. P. Roe.
58 Woodbury Willis G. Clarke.
59 Ida Bernard Graeser.
60 Sac Asa B. Smith.
61 Calhoun Edgar L. Hobbs.
62 Webster Isaac L. Woods.
63 Hamilton Daniel C. Chase.
64 Hardin lohn Dolph.
65 Grundy P. B. Ellis.
66 Black Hawk Edward Townsend.
67 Buchanan W. H. Chamberlin.
68 Delaware William C. Oakman.
69 Dubuque Thomas W. Johnston, F. M. Knoll.
70 Clayton George L. Gilbert.
71 Fayette Andrew Addie.
72 Bremer •!• M. Johnston.
73 Butler S. W. Soesbe.
74 Franklin John W. Luke.
75 Wright J- F. Austin.
76 Humboldt R- F. Coylc.
77 Pocahontas and Clay James Mercer.
OF IOWA 509
DIST. COUNTIKS. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
78 Buena Vista G. L. Dobson.
79 Cherokee John F. Potter.
80 Plymouth William H. Dent.
81 Sioux Henry Hospers.
82 O'Brien Herbert B. Wyman.
83 Palo Alto, Emmet, Dickin-
son William M. McFarland.
84 Kossuth C. L. Lund.
85 Hancock and Winnebago John Law.
86 Cerro Gordo James E. Blythe.
87 Floyd John Gates.
88 Chickasaw William Glattly.
89 Allamakee John F. Dayton.
90 Winneshiek Jacob Jewell.
91 Howard Charles D. Cutting.
92 Mitchell James A. Smith.
93 Worth Charles F. Jewett.
94 Osceola and Lyon J. W. Monk.
Republicans, 50; Democrats, 45; Independents, 5. The General Assembly Adjourned April 15, 1890.
TWENTY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 11, 1892.
The iSenate.
Lieutenant-Governor Samuel Bestow, President, Democrat. Samuel L. Parsons, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBBKS.
1 Lee William G. Kent.
2 Van Buren and Jefferson B. R. Vale.
3 Appanoose and Davis E. M. Reynolds.
4 Wayne and Lucas L. W. Lewis.
5 Union, Decatur and Ring-
gold J. B. Harsh.
6 Taylor and Adams George L. Finn.
7 Fremont and Page George W. Perkins.
8 Mills and Montgomery A. J. Chantry.
9 Des Moines W. W. Dodge.
10 Washington and Henry D. J. Palmer.
11 Clarke and Warren .;. H. Jamison.
12 Poweshiek and Keokuk Joel Stewart.
13 Wapello J. J. Smith.
14 Mahaska V. B. Conaway.
15 Monroe and Marion T. B. Perry.
16 Adair and Madison A. L. Hager.
17 Audubon, Dallas and Guth-
rie H. B\ Andrews.
18 Cass and Shelby W. F. Cleveland.
19 Pottawattamie William Groneweg.
20 Muscatine and Louisa J. M. Gobble.
21 Scott William O. Schmidt.
22 Clinton S. W. Gardiner.
23 Jackson Alfred Hurst.
24 Jones and Cedar J. A. Green.
25 Iowa and Johnson M. J. Kelly.
26 Linn John M. Terry. /
27 Webster and Calhoun O. M. Oleson.
28 Marshall George A. Turner.
29 Jasper Perry Engle.
30 Polk C. H. Gatch.
81 Story and Boone T. C. McCall.
32 Woodbury J. D. Yoemans.
33 Buchanan and Delaware M. W. Harmon.
34 Harrison, Monona, Craw-
ford L. R. Bolter.
35 Dubuque James H. Shields.
S6 Clayton John Everall.
510 HISTORY
pigrp. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBBRS.
87 Wright, Hardin and Hamil-
ton W. C. Smith.
88 Black Hawk and Grundy.... Matt Parrott.
39 Butler and Bremer R. S. Smith.
40 Fayette and Allamakee L. B. Mattoon.
41 Worth. Mitchell, Winneba-
go C. F. Jewett.
42 Winneshiek and Howard A. K. Bailey.
43 Cerro Gordo, Hancock,
Franklin N. V. Brewer.
44 Floyd and Chickasaw R. G. Reiniger.
45 Benton and Tama J. J. Mosnat.
46 Plymouth, Cherokee and
Ida W. H. Dent.
47 Dickinson, Clay, Kosauth,
Emmet and Palo Alto A. B. Funk.
48 Carroll, Sac and Greene Thomas Rich.
49 Lyon, Sioux, Osceola,
O'Brien L. H. Bishop.
BO Buena Vista, Humboldt and
Pocahontas Edgar E. Mack.
Republicans, 24; Democrats, 25: Populist, 1.
JJouae of Representatives.
W. O. Mitchell, Speaker, Republican. Charles Beverly, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEES.
1 Lee John P. Hornish, F. H. Wilken.
2 Van Buren E. O. Holland.
3 Davis John M. Yost.
4 Appanoose George W. Wyckoff.
5 Wayne S. H. Moore.
6 Decatur Bryson Bruce.
7 Ringgold William S. Shrivers.
8 Taylor A. J. Sowers
9 Page Charles Linderman.
10 Fremont Frank Gillman.
11 Mills T. M. Britt.
12 Montgomery Joseph S. Boise, Sr.
13 Adams William O. Mitchell.
14 Union W. W. Morrow.
15 Clarke A. H. Sells.
16 Lucas George McNeeley.
17 Monroe Austin Jay.
18 Wapello W. W. Cunningham.
19 Jefferson S. H. Watkins.
20 Henry C. F. Spearman.
21 Des Moines P. H. Smyth, J. P. Welch.
22 Louisa J. F. Holiday.
23 Washington S. C. Gardner.
24 Keokuk J. C. Beem.
25 Mahaska T. C. Beach,
26 Marion Charles H. Robinson.
27 Warren S. J. Van Gilder.
28 Madison I- K. Wilson.
29 Adair George F. Clark.
30 Cass J. S. Crawford.
31 Pottawattamie R. W. Briggs, W. H. Ware.
32 Harrison W. M. Sharpnack
33 Shelby J. H. Louis.
34 Audubon A. L. Brooks.
35 Guthrie F. D. Steen.
36 Dallas J. H. Carter.
37 Polk N. E Coffin, B. B. Lane.
38 Jasper C. N. Doane.
39 Poweshiek Alvan Jones.
40 Iowa James Patterson.
41 Johnson John Springer.
OF IOWA 511
DIST. COUNTIES. XAIIES OF MEMBEBS.
42 Muscatine I. B. Richman.
43 Scott C. G. Hipwell, Chris MartL
44 Cedar W. J. Felkner.
45 Clinton Edward Hart, Henry Horstman.
46 Jackson N. B. Nemmers.
47 Jones Nathan Potter.
48 Linn A. J. Fuhrmeister, C. G. Gitchell.
49 Benton William J. Guinn.
50 Tama James Morison.
51 Marshall Henry Stone.
52 Story A. L,. Stuntz.
53 Boone M. Brooks.
54 Greene Joshua Jester.
55 Carroll H. B. Haselton.
56 Crawford August Schultz.
57 Monona and Ida Dan Campbell.
58 Woodbury G. N. Castle, James S. Horton.
59 Cherokee W. Miller.
60 Sac Wiiiiam P. Drewry.
61 Calhoun Henry Young.
62 Webster J. D. Flanagan.
63 Hamilton D. C. Chase.
64 Hardin John Dolph.
65 Grundy P. B. Ellis.
66 Black Hawk U. F. Hoover.
67 Buchanan W. H. Chamberlin.
68 Delaware William H. Morris.
69 Dubuque James McCann, P. Stillmunkes.
70 Clayton George L. Gilbert.
71 Fayette Andrew Addle.
72 Bremer J. M. Johnson.
73 Butler C. T. Coonley.
74 Franklin W. F. Harriman.
75 Wright J. F. Austin.
76 Humboldt and Pocahontas.. F. E. Carpenter.
77 Buena Vista H. T. Saberson.
78 Plymouth Henry Schrooten.
79 Sioux A. J. Warren.
80 O'Brien and Lyon John F. Hinman.
81 Clay and Osceola James Goodwin.
82 Emmet, Palo Alto, Dickin-
son J. O. Kasa.
63 Kossuth and Hancock John G. Smith.
84 Cerro Gordo M. E. Bitterman.
85 Floyd E. C. Spaulding.
86 Chickasaw Vv^illiam Glattly.
87 Allamakee J. F. Dayton.
88 Winneshiek Jacob Jewell.
89 Howard W. W. Williams.
90 Mitchell Alfred Penny.
91 Worth and Winnebago James EUickson.
Republicans, 54; Democrats, 45; Independent, 1. The General Assembly Adjourned March 30, 1892.
TWENTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1894.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Warren S. Dungan, President, Republican. E. R. Hutchins, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee John Downey.
2 Jefferson and Van Buren....B. R. Vale.
3 Appanoose and Davis B. M. Reynolds.
4 Lucas and Wayne L. W. Lewis.
5 Decatur, Ringgold, Union.... J. B. Harsh.
6 Adams and Taylor George L. Finn.
7 Fremont and Page William Eaton.
512 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. >.'AMES OF UEMBBB3.
8 Mills and Montgomery A. J, Chantry.
9 Des Moines T. G. Harper.
10 Henry and Washington D. J. Palmer.
11 Clarke and Warren J. H. Jamison.
12 Keokuk and Poweshiek J. A. Riggen.
13 Wapello H. L. Waterman.
14 Mahaska A. B. Conaway.
15 Marion and Monroe T. B. Perry.
16 Adair and Madison L.. M. Kilburn.
17 Audubon, Dallas and Guth-
rie H. F. Andrews.
18 Cass and Shelby Julian Phelps.
19 Pottawattamie William Groneweg.
20 Louisa and Muscatine C. A. Carpenter.
21 Scott C. G. Hipwell.
22 Clinton L,. A. Ellis.
23 Jackson Alfred Hurst.
24 Cedar and Jones J. A. Green.
25 Iowa and Johnson M. J. Kelly.
26 Linn J. M. Terry.
27 Calhoun and Webster O. M. Oleson.
28 Marshall G. A. Turner.
29 Jasper J. R. Gorrell.
30 Polk T. A. Cheshire.
31 Boone and Story H. C. Boardman.
32 Woodbury J. D. Yeomans.
33 Buchanan and Delaware M. W. Harmon.
34 Crawford, Harrison, Mono-
na Rudolph Lehfeldt.
35 Dubuque I. W. Baldwin.
36 Clayton John Everall.
37 Hamilton, Hardin, Wright... John B. Rowen.
38 Black Hawk and Grundy.... J. M. Rea.
39 Butler and Bremer George M. Craig.
40 Allamakee and Fayette L. B. Mattoon.
41 Mitchell, Winnebago,
Worth C. F. Jewett.
42 Howard and Winneshiek C. C. Upton.
43 Cerro Gordo, Hancock,
Franklin N. V. Brower.
44 Chickasaw and Floya William B. Perrin.
45 Benton and Tama E. G. Penrose
46 Cherokee, Ida and Ply-
mouth W. H. Dent.
47 Clay, Dickinson, Emmet,
Kossuth and Palo Alto A. B. Funk.
48 Carroll, Greene and Sac Warren Garst.
49 Lyon, Sioux, O'Brien, Osce-
ola L. H. Bishop.
50 Buena Vista, Humboldt and
Pocahontas G. W. Henderson.
Republicans, 34; Democrats, 16.
House of Representatives.
Henry Stone, Speaker, Republican. I. K. Wilson, Chief Clerk, Republican.
pigT. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBEES.
1 Lee T>. Y. Miller, Sr., F. H. Wilken.
2 Van Buren W. S. Allen.
3 Davis W. H. Taylor
4 Appanoose O. W. Wyckoff.
5 Wayne S. H. Moore.
6 Decatur Z. H. Gurley.
7 Ringgold W. S. Shrlver.
8 Taylor A.. J. Sowers.
9 Page C. Linderman.
lb Fremont S. Williams.
11 Mills T. M. Britt.
12 Montgomery Filson Cooper.
OF IOWA 513
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEUBEBB.
13 Adams W.O.Mitchell.
14 Union J. W. Lauder.
15 Clarke Joseph Morris.
16 Lucas George McNeeley.
17 Monroe Austin Jay.
18 Wapello William G. Crow.
19 JefEerson S. H. Watkins.
20 Henry C. F. Spearman.
21 Des Moines C. I. Baker, Hector Ross.
22 Louisa H. O. Weaver.
23 Washington William B. Bell.
24 Keokuk Tyrus Hortou.
25 Mahaska L. C. Blanchard.
26 Marion C. H. Robinson.
27 Warren S. J. Van Gilder.
28 Madison A. L. Wood.
29 Adair W. B. Martin.
30 Cass M. J. Davis.
31 Pottawattamie G. Diederich, J. K. Cooper.
32 Harrison J. C. Milliman.
33 Shelby H. W. Byers.
34 Audubon M. D. Reed.
35 Guthrie F. D. Steen.
36 Dallas J. H. Carter.
37 Polk O. E. Doubleday, C. C. Dowell.
38 Jasper C. N. Doane.
39 Poweshiek Alvin Jones.
40 Iowa James Patterson.
41 Johnson C. S. Ranck.
42 Muscatine H. B. Watters.
43 Scott W. B. Murray, Lorenz Rogge.
44 Cedar D. H. Snoke.
45 Clinton C. L Root. J. L. Wilson.
46 Jackson William Stephens.
47 Jones F. O. Ellison.
48 Linn H. J. Neitert, A. St. Clair Smith.
49 Benton B. M. McQuinn.
50 Tama S. M. Endicott.
51 Marshall Henry Stone.
52 Story A. L. Stuntz.
53 Boone Marion Brooks.
54 Greene Joshua Jester.
65 Carroll H. B. Haselton.
56 Crawford August Schultz.
57 Ida, Monona David Nicoll.
58 Woodbury Wm. B. Chapman, P. A. Sawyer.
59 Cherokee Wireman Miller.
60 Sac Charles L. Early.
61 Calhoun Henry Young.
62 Webster S. Burnquist.
63 Hamilton M. H. Brinton.
64 Hardin J. H. Punk.
65 Grundy j. D. Morrison.
66 Black Hawk D. F. Hoover.
67 Buchanan H. J. Griswold.
68 Delaware D. H. Young.
69 Dubuque P. Stillmunkes, James McCann.
70 Clayton C. L. McGonigle.
71 Fayette I Pattison.
72 Bremer J. Homrighaus.
73 Butler G. T. Coonley.
74 Franklin W. F. Harriman.
75 Hancock, Wright S. N. Hinman.
76 Humboldt, Pocahontas Parley Finch.
77 Beuna Vista H. T Saberson.
78 Plymouth E. D. Chassell.
79 Sioux John Morris.
80 Lyon, O'Brien A. H. Davison.
81 Emmet, Dickinson, Osceola.. J. G. Myerly.
82 Clay, Palo Alto W. W. Cornwall.
83 Kossuth S. S. Sessions.
[Vol. 3]
5U HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
84 Cerro Gordo M. E. Bitterman.
85 Floyd E. C. Spaulding.
86 Chickasaw John Frazee.
87 Allamakee J. H. Trewin.
88 "Winneshiek W. H. Klemme.
89 Howard W. W. Williams.
90 Mitchell R. T. St. John.
91 Worth, Winnebago G. N. Haugen.
Republicans, 78; Democrats, 22. The General Assembly Adjourned April 6, 1894.
TWENTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 13, 1896.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor Matt Parrott, President, Republican.
W. E. BuUard, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee John Downey.
2 Jefferson, Van Buren Thomas Bell.
3 Davis, Appanoose B. F. Carroll.
4 Lucas, Wayne H. L Byers.
5 Decatur, Union, Ringgold... G. S. Allyn.
6 Adams, Taylor W. O. Mitchell.
7 Page, Fremont William Eaton.
8 Mills, Montgomery J. M. Junkin.
9 Des Moines T. G. Harper.
10 Henry, Washington D. J. Palmer.
11 Clarke, Warren W. H. Berry.
12 Keokuk, Poweshiek J. A. Riggen.
13 Wapello H. L. Waterman.
14 Mahaska L. C. Blanchard.
15 Marion, Monroe Samuel Druet.
16 Adair, Madison L. M. Kilburn.
17 Audubon, Dallas, Guthrie A. C. Hotchkiss.
18 Cass, Shelby Julian Phelps.
19 Pottawattamie N. M. Pusey.
20 Louisa, Muscatine C. A. Carpenter.
21 Scott C. G. Hipwell.
22 Clinton L. A. Ellis.
23 Jackson A. Hurst.
24 Cedar, Jones F. O. Ellison.
25 Iowa, Johnson C. S. Ranck.
26 Linn J. S. Alexander,
27 Calhoun, Webster Thos. D. Healy.
28 Marshall J. L. Carney.
29 Jasper .T. R. Gorrell.
30 Polk Thos. A. Cheshire.
31 Boone, Story C. J. A. Ericson.
32 Woodbury J. S. Lothrop.
33 Buchanan, Delaware D. H. Young.
34 Crawford, Harrison, Mono-
na R. Lehfeldt.
35 Dubuque Robert Benson.
36 Clayton John Everall.
37 Hamilton, Hardin, Wright.. John E. Rowen.
38 Black Hawk, Grundy E. M. Sargent.
39 Butler, Bremer George M. Craig.
40 Allamakee, Fayette J. H. Trewin.
41 Mitchell, Winnebago,
Worth G. S. Gilbertson.
42 Howard, Winneshiek C. C. Upton.
43 Cerro Gordo, Hancock,
Franklin W. F. Harriman.
44 Chickasaw, Floyd W. B. Perrin.
45 Benton, Tama E. G. Penrose.
46 Cherokee, Ida, Plymouth A. C. Hobart.
OF IOWA 515
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
47 Clay, Dickinson, Emmet,
Kossuth, Palo Alto A. B. Funk.
48 Carroll, Greene, Sac Warran Garst.
49 Lyon, Osceola, Sioux,
O'Brien Henry Hospers.
50 Beuna Vista, Humboldt, Po-
cahontas G. W. Henderson.
Republicans, 43; Democrats, 7.
House of Representatives.
H. W. Byers, Speaker, Republican. J. D. Rowen, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee .T. T. P. Power.
1 Lee J. B. Hazen.
2 Van Buren W. S. Allen
3 Davis W. H. McAchran.
4 Appanoose C. R. Porter.
5 Wayne H. K. Evans.
6 Decatur Z. H. Gurley.
7 Ringgold P. L. Prentis.
8 Taylor G. H. Van Houten.
9 Page O. H. Prink.
10 Fremont S. Williams.
11 Mills John Parker.
12 Montgomery R. E. Cook.
13 Adams J. M. Clark.
14 Union J. W. Lauder.
15 Clarke M. L. Temple.
16 Lucas L. S. Huntley.
17 Monroe D. H. Scott.
18 Wapello W. G. Crow.
19 Jefferson H. H. Brighton.
20 Henry W. Mullin.
21 Des Moines W. C. McArthur.
21 Des Moines William B. Hunt.
22 Louisa H. O. Weaver.
23 Washington W. B. Bell.
24 Keokuk John Morrison.
25 Mahaska J. A. Garner.
26 Marion I. B. Hendershot.
27 Warren j. H. Miller.
28 Madison A. L. Wood.
29 Adair W. B. Martin.
30 Cass M. J Davis.
31 Pottawattamie L. E'. Potter.
31 Pottawattamie G. M Putman.
32 Harrison J. R Wheeler.
33 Shelby H. W. Byers.
34 Audubon A. H. Edwards.
35 Guthrie M. McDonald.
36 Dallas, E. G. Perrott.
37 Polk O. E. Doubleday.
37 Polk C. C. Dowell.
38 Jasper N, A. Wells
39 Poweshiek W. G. Ray.
40 Iowa J. P. McDowell.
41 Johnson O. A. Byington.
42 Muscatine H. B. Watters.
43 Scott Geo. T. Baker.
43 Scott Chris. Marti.
44 Cedar R. W. Hinkhouse.
45 Clinton J. L. Wilson.
45 Clinton N. A. Merrell.
46 Jackson Thomas Lambert.
47 Jones A. M. Loomis.
48 Linn F. McClelland.
48 Linn H. J. Neitort.
516 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAHBS OF MBKBIRS.
49 Benton B. M. McQuin.
50 Tama A. E. Jackson.
51 Marshall J. B. Classen.
62 Story J. F. Reed.
53 Boone J. L. Good.
54 Greene P. A. Smith.
55 Carroll John T. Jay.
56 Crawford J. P. Grote.
57 Monona, Ida Lyman Whittier.
58 Woodbury Francis McNulty.
58 "Woodbury W. B. Chapman.
59 Cherokee Wireman Miller.
60 Sac C. L. Early.
61 Calhoun J. F. Lavender.
62 Webster Jonas P. Johnson.
63 Hamilton M. H. Brlnton.
64 Hardin J. H. Funk.
65 Grundy J. D. Morrison.
66 Black Hawk W. E. Hauger.
67 Buchanan H. J. Griswold.
68 Delaware Frank F. Merriam.
69 Dubuque Thomas F. Nolan.
69 Dubuque C. A. Voelker.
70 Clayton T. J. Sullivan.
71 Fayette J. A. Thompson,
72 Bremer O. O. Tibbetts.
73 Butler W. G. Ladd.
74 Franklin C. F. Johnston.
75 Hancock, Wright S. N. Hinman.
76 Humboldt, Pocahontas Parley Finch.
77 Buena Vista D. C. Miller.
78 Plymouth F. B. Manahan.
79 Sioux C. F. Bailey.
80 Lyon, O'Brien E. M. Brady.
81 Dickinson, Emmet, Osceola. .M. K. Whelan.
82 Clay, Palo Alto W. W. Cornwall.
83 Kossuth S. Mayne
84 Cerro Gordo J. W. Bird.
85 Floyd B. C. Spaulding.
86 Chickasaw John Frazee.
87 Allamakee D. H. Bowen.
88 Winneshiek W. H. Klemme.
89 Howard J. J. Lowry.
90 Mitchell R. T. St. John.
91 Worth, Winnebago G N. Haugen.
Republicans, 79; Democrats, 21. The General Assembly adourned April 11, 1896. An extra session convened January 19, 1897, to revise the laws; took a recess May 11, to July 1, when it Anally adjourned having completed the Code of 1897.
TWENTY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 10, 1898.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor J. C. Milliman President, Republican. George A. Newman, Secretary, Republican.
DIBT. COUNTIES. NAMES OP MB1CBBB8.
1 Lee D. A. Young.
2 Jefferson, Van Buren Thomas Bell.
3 Appanoose, Davis B. P. Carroll.
4 Lucas, Wayne H. L. Byers.
6 Decatur, Ringgold, Union... G. S. Allyn.
6 Adams, Taylor W. O. Mitchell.
7 Fremont, Page William Eaton.
8 Mills, Montgomery J. M. Junkin.
9 Dea Moines Wm. C. McArthur.
10 Henry, Washington D. J. Palmer.
OF IOWA 517
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MSMBSBS.
11 Clarke, Warren W. H. Berry.
12 Poweshiek, Keokuk W. R. Lewis.
13 Wapello W. A. Mclntire.
14 Mahaska L. C. Blanchard.
15 Marion, Monroe Samuel Druet.
16 Adair, Madison L. M. Kilbum.
17 Audubon, Dallas, Guthrie — A. C. Hotchkiss.
18 Cass, Shelby J. M. Emmert.
19 Pottawattamie N. M. Pusey.
20 Louisa, Muscatine G. M. Titus.
21 Scott W. C. Hay ward.
22 Clinton J. L. Wilson.
23 Jackson A. Hurst.
24 Cedar, Jones F. O. Ellison.
25 Iowa, Johnson C. S. Ranck.
26 Linn J. S. Alexander.
27 Calhoun, Webster Thos. D. Healy.
28 Marshall J. L. Carney.
29 Jasper J. R. Gorrell.
30 Polk Thos. A. Cheshire.
31 Boone, Story C. J. A. Ericson.
32 Woodbury J. S. Lothrop.
33 Buchanan, Delaware D. H. Young.
34 Crawford, Harrison, Mono-
nona L. R. Bolter.
35 Dubuque Francis E. Malley.
36 Clayton John Everall.
37 Hamilton, Hardin, Wright.. J. Wallace.
38 Black Hawk, Grundy Chas. W. Mullan.
39 Bremer, Butler George M. Craig.
40 Allamakee, Payette J. H. Trewin.
41 Mitchell, Winnebago,
Worth G. S. Gilbertson.
42 Howard, Winneshiek D. A. Lyons.
43 Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Han-
cock W. F. Harriman.
44 Chickasaw, Floyd W. B. Perrin.
45 Benton, Tama E. G. Penrose.
46 Cherokee, Ida, Plymouth. ... A. C. Hobart.
47 Clay, Dickinson, Emmet,
Kossuth, Palo Alto A. B. Funk.
48 Carroll, Greene, Sac Warren Garst.
49 Lyon, Osceola, Sioux,
O'Brien Henry Hospcrs.
50 Buena Vista, Humboldt, Po-
cahontas Parley Finch.
Republicans, 39; Democrats, 11.
House of Representatives.
J. H. Punk, Speaker, Republican.
J. D. Rowen. Chief Clerk. Republican. '
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF VmCBBIUt.
1 I-ee I. T. p. Powers.
1 Lee J. B. Hazen.
2 "Van Buren C. E. Bull.
3 Davis S. B. Downing.
4 Appanoose Claude R. Porter.
5 Wayne George W. Hlnkle.
fi Decatur M. Wemple.
7 Ringgold P. L. Prentis.
8 Taylor G H. Van Houten.
9 Page O. H. Prink.
10 Fremont W T. Davis.
11 Mills John Parker.
12 Montgomery R. E. Cook.
13 Adams James M. Clark.
14 Union John Gibson.
15 Clarke A. A. Nowers.
518 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
16 Lucas J. A. Penick.
17 Monroe Robert B. Arnold.
18 Wapello Geo. W. Dickins.
19 Jefferson Henry H. Brighton.
20 Henry W. F. Jones.
21 Des Moines Louis M. Jaeger.
21 Des Moines W. B. Hunt.
22 Louisa Hilton M. Letts. ^
23 Washington A. N. Alberson.
24 Keokuk James Wilson.
25 Mahaska J. W. Reynolds.
26 Marion Herman Rietveld.
27 Warren John H. Miller.
28 Madison John Shambaugh.
29 Adair K. R. Madden.
30 Cass M. N. Baker.
81 Pottawattamie G. M. Putnam.
31 Pottawattamie L. P. Potter
32 Harrison G. H. Smith.
33 Shelby J. R. Boyd.
34 Audobon T. L. Kelly.
35 Guthrie P. O. Hinkson.
36 Dallas ..B. G. Perrott.
37 Polk Chas. W. Stewart.
37 Polk George H. Carr.
38 Jasper S. B. Powers.
39 Poweshiek W. G. Ray.
40 Iowa John Hughes, Jr.
41 Johnson J. A. Edwards.
42 Muscatine J. L. Giesler.
43 Scott John E. Dempster.
43 Scott Jacob Nabstedt.
44 Cedar Thos. B. Miller.
45 Clinton Anton Hansmann.
45 Clinton F. P. McGinn.
46 Jackson Thomas Lambert.
47 Jones William D. Sheean.
48 Linn Henry J. Nietert.
48 Linn W. G. Dows.
49 Benton D. K. Harbert.
50 Tama Albert E. Jackson.
51 Mai'shall J. B. Classen.
52 Story W. J. Veneman.
53 Boone John L. Good.
54 Greene P- A. Smith.
5R Carrol John T. Jay.
5G Crawford Theodore Blume.
57 Ida, Monona J- M. Hathaway.
58 Woodbury J. B. Santee.
58 Woodbury James Barrett.
59 Cherokee L. W. Beal.
60 Sac C. E. Stallcop.
61 Calhoun J. P. Lavender.
62 Webster P. J. Blake.
63 Hamilton R. G. Clark.
64 Hardin J. H. Funk.
65 Grundy Thomas Emmett.
66 Black Hawk W. E. Haugcr.
67 Buchanan T. E. McCurdy.
68 Delaware T?ion A. Baker.
69 Dubuque Thos. F. Nolan.
G9 Dubuque Wdmund J. Sauer.
70 Clayton P. W. Conlcy.
71 Fayette Christian Miller.
72 Bremer A. M. Potter.
73 Butler W. G. Ladd.
74 Franklin C. F. Johnston.
75 Hancock and Wright -Tohn Christie.
76 Pocahontas M. E. De Wolfe.
77 Buena Vista D. C. Miller.
78 Plymouth P. S. Gibson.
OF IOWA 519
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
79 Sioux C. F. Bailey.
80 Lyon and O'Brien G. M. Anderson.
81 Diclsinson, Emmet and Osce-
ola W. H. H. Myers.
82 Clay and Palo Alto Edwin Anderson.
83 Kossuth J.M.Farley.
85 Cerro Gordo John W. Bird.
85 Floyd Wm. B. Towner.
86 Chickasaw J. W. Krieger.
87 Allamakee D. H. Bowen.
88 Winneshiek Wm. H. Klemme.
89 Howard E. E. Overheld.
90 Mitchell Willard L. Baton.
91 Winnebago, Worth W. O. Hanson.
Republicans, 62: Democrats, 31; Silver Republicans, 4; Populists, 3. The General Assembly Adjourned April 1, 1898.
TWENTY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines, January 8, 1900.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor J. C. Milliman, President, Republican, Geo. A. Newman, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee David A. Young.
2 Jefferson, Van Buren Henry H. Brighton.
3 Appanoose, Davis Claude R. Porter.
4 Lucas, Wayne Alexander Mardis.
5 Decatur, Ringgold, Union Geo. S. Allyn.
6 Adams, Taylor F. L. Arthaud.
7 Fremont, Page William Eaton.
8 Mills, Montgomery Joseph M. Junkin.
9 Des Moines Wm. C. McArthur.
10 Henry, Washington A. N. Alberson.
11 Clarke, Warren W. B. Tallman.
12 Keokuk, Poweshiek W. R. Lewis.
13 Wapello W. A. Mclntire.
14 Mahaska L. C. Blanchard.
15 Marion, Monroe Fred Townsend.
16 Adair, Madison jas. J. Crossley.
17 Audubon, Dallas, Guthrie F'. M. Hopkins.
18 Cass, Shelby Joseph M. Emmert.
19 Pottawattamie Arthur S. Hazelton.
20 Louisa, Muscatine G. M. Titus.
21 Scott W. C. Hayward.
22 Clinton J. L. Wilson.
23 Jackson Thomas Lambert.
24 Cedar, Jones John T. Mofflt.
25 Iowa, Johnson Geo. W. Ball.
26 Linn J. S. Alexander.
27 Calhoun, Webster Thomas D. Healy.
28 Marshall J. B. Classen.
29 Jasper J. R. Gorrell.
50 Polk Thos. A. Cheshire.
51 Boone, Story J. A. Fitzpatrick.
32 Woodbury E. H. Hubbard.
33 Buchanan, Delaware H. J. Griswold.
34 Crawford, Harrison, Mono-
na L. R. Bolter.
35 Dubuque Thos. F. Nolan.
36 Clayton H. C. Bishop.
37 Hamilton, Hardin, Wright. . Joseph Wallace.
38 Black Hawk, Grundy Chas. W. Mullan.
39 Bremer, Butler George M. Craig.
40 Allamakee, Fayette Jas. H. Trewin.
41 Mitchell, Winnebago,
Worth Jas. A. Smith.
520 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF HBMBEB8.
42 Howard, Winneshiek D. A, Lyons.
43 Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Han-
cock W. F. Harriman.
44 Chickasaw, Floyd Wm. B. Perrin.
45 Benton, Tama B. G. Penrose.
46 Cherokee. Ida, Plymouth Alva C. Hobart.
47 Clay, Dickinson, Emmet,
Kossuth, Palo Alto E. W. Bachman.
48 Carroll, Greene, Sac Warren Garst.
49 Lyons, O'Brien, Osceola,
Sioux George W. I-ister.
BO Buena Vista, Humboldt, Po- cahontas Parley Finch.
Republicans, 35; Democrats. 15.
House of Representatives.
D. H. Bowen, Speaker, Republican. S. M. Cart, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MBMBEKS.
1 Lee S. T. Marshall.
1 Lee J. P. Cruikshank.
2 Van Buren Joseph A. Keck.
3 Davis S. B. Downing.
4 Appanoose F. S. Payne.
5 Wayne Geo. W. Hinkle.
6 Decatur D. L. Eiker.
7 Ringgold P. L. Prentis.
8 Taylor W. D. Blakemore.
9 Page Val Graff.
10 Fremont W. T. Davis.
11 Mills Charles W. Black.
12 Montgomery Cyrus L. Stratton.
13 Adams Clinton S. Crouse.
14 Union John Gibson.
15 Clarke M. L. Temple.
16 Lucas R. A. Hasselquist.
17 Monroe N. E. Kendall.
18 Wapello A. W. Buchanan.
19 Jefferson C. J. Bengston.
20 Henry Thos. F. Campbell.
21 Des Moines Wm. D. Dodds.
21 Des Moines Louis M. Jaeger.
22 Louisa Hilton M. Letts.
23 Washington Charles J. Wilson.
24 Keokuk James Wilson.
25 Mahaska W. G. Jones.
26 Marion J. L. Warren.
27 Warren J. M. Anderson.
28 Madison John Shambaugh.
29 Adair J. M. Wilson.
30 Cass M. N. Baker.
31 Pottawattamie G. M. Putnam.
31 Pottawattamie John H. Jenks.
32 Harrison J. E. Kirkwood.
33 Shelby H. W. Byers.
34 Audubon Asmus Boysen.
35 Guthrie Nate Wright.
36 Dallas George W. Clarke.
37 Polk Charles W Stewart.
37 Polk George H. Carr.
38 Jasper Wm. W. Hawk.
39 Poweshiek J- P- Lyman.
40 Iowa John Hughes, Jr.
41 Johnson Geo. W. Koontz.
42 Muscatine Henry B. Nicolaus.
43 Scott Wm. Theophllus.
43 Scott Henry Thuenen, Jr.
44 Cedar Thomas B. Miller.
OF IOWA 521
niST. COUKTIBS NAMES OF MEMBERS.
45 Clinton P. P. McGinn.
45 Clinton Anton Hansmann.
46 Jackson Geo. E. Hilslnger.
47 Jones P. J. Sokol.
48 Linn W. C. Stuckslager.
48 Linn William G. Dows.
49 Benton D. K. Harbert.
50 Tama j. p. G. Cold.
51 Marshall Thomas Kimball.
52 Story Wm. J. Veneman.
53 Boone A. J. Barkley.
54 Greene Mahlon Head.
56 Carroll A. T. Bennett.
56 Crawford Theodor C. Blume.
57 Ida, Monona W. J. Scott
55 Woodbury [. B. Santee.
58 Woodbury James Barrett.
59 Cherokee George P. Coburn.
60 Sac Charles B. Stallcop.
81 Calhoun D. J. Townsend.
62 Webster P. J. Blake.
63 Hamilton R. G. Clark.
64 Hardin Mark J. Furry.
65 Grundy William G. Kerr.
66 Black Hawk Charles A. Wise.
67 Buchanan T. E. McCurdy.
68 Delaware George W. Dunham.
69 Dubuque James A. McAleer.
69 Dubuque Edmund J. Sauer.
70 Clayton P. W. Conley.
71 Payette Christian Miller.
72 Bremer Burton E. Sweet.
73 Butler M. P. Edwards.
74 Pranklln D. J. Patton.
75 Hancock, Wright Thomas A. Way.
76 Humboldt, Pocahontas John B. Kent.
77 Buena Vista A. J. Wilson.
78 Plymouth J. C. Cottrell.
79 Sioux Charles W. Carter.
80 Lyon and O'Brien G. M. Anderson.
81 Dickinson, Emmet, Osceola. . M'". H. H. Myers.
82 Clay and Palo Alto E. P. Barringer.
83 Kossuth Gardner Cowles.
84 Cerro Gordo D. W. Hum.
85 Ployd W. B. Towner.
86 Chickasaw F. E. Ayers.
87 Allamakee D. H. Bowen.
88 Winneshiek John S. Roome.
89 Howard Elmer E. Overfield.
90 Mitchell Willard L. Eaton.
91 Winnebago, Worth Paul O. Koto.
Republicans, SI ; Democrats. 19. The General Assembly Adjourned on the 6th of April, 1900.
TWENTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Convened at Des Moines. January 13, 1902.
The Senate.
Lieutenant-Governor John Herriott, President, Republican. George A. Newman, Secretary, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
1 Lee David A. Young.
2 Jefferson, Van Buren H. H. Brighton.
3 Appanoose, Davis Claude R. Porter.
4 Lucas, Wayne Alex Mardis.
B Decatur, Ringgold, Union... Geo. S. Allyn.
6 Adams, Taylor P. L. Arthaud.
7 Premont, Page Lester W. Lewis.
522 HISTORY
DIST. COtfNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
8 Mills, Montgomery Joseph M. Junkin.
9 Des Moines Fred N. Smith.
10 Henry, Washington John A. Young.
11 Clarke, Warren W. B. Tallman.
12 Keokuk, Poweshiek John T. Brooks.
13 Wapello S. H. Harper.
14 Mahaska I^. C. Blanchard.
15 Marion, Monroe Fred Townsend.
16 Adair, Madison James J. Crosslev.
17 Audubon, Dallas, Guthrie F. M. Hopkins.
18 Cass, Shelby Joseph M. Bmmert.
19 Pottawattamie A. S. Hazelton.
20 Louisa, Muscatine F. M. Molsberry.
21 Scott W. C. Hayward.
22 Clinton John L. Wilson.
23 Jackson Thomas Lambert.
24 Cedar, Jones John T. Moffit.
25 Iowa, Johnson Geo. W. Ball.
26 Linn J. S. Alexander.
27 Calhoun, Webster Thos. D. Healy.
28 Marshall j. B. Classen.
29 Jasper Fred L. Maytag.
30 Polk Cassius C. Dowell.
31 Boone, Story j. A. Fitzpatrick.
32 Woodbury E. H. Hubbard.
33 Buchanan, Delaware H. J. Griswold.
34 Crawford, Harrison, Mono-
na E. L. Hogue.
35 Dubuque P. W. Crawford.
36 Clayton H. C. Bishop.
37 Hamilton, Hardin, Wright... F. C. Hartshorn.
38 Black Hawk, Grundy O. B. Courtright.
39 Bremer, Butler Geo. M. Craig,
40 Allamakee, Fayette James H. Trewin.
41 Mitchell, Wlnnnebago,
Worth James A. Smith.
42 Howard, Winneshiek D. A. Lyons.
43 Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Han-
cock W. F. Harriman.
44 Chickasaw, Floyd E. C. Spaulding.
45 Benton Tama Wm. P. Whipple.
46 Cherokee, Ida, Plymouth.... Alva C. Hobart.
47 Clay, Dickinson, Emmet,
Kossuth, Palo Alto E. W. Bachman,
48 Carroll, Greene, Sac Warren Garst.
49 Lyons, O'Brien, Osceola,
Sioux George W. Lister.
60 Buena "Vista, Humboldt, Po- cahontas E. K. Winne.
Republicans, 39; Democrats, 11.
House of Representatives.
Willard L. Eaton, Speaker, Republican. C. R. Benedict, Chief Clerk, Republican.
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBEBS.
1 Lee J- P. Cruikshank.
1 Lee Sabret T. Marshall.
2 Van Buren Lee Nagle.
3 Davis Samuel A. Moore.
4 Appanoose Frank S. Payne.
5 Wayne T. P. Walden.
6 Decatur B. L. Eiker.
7 Ringgold M. Z. Bailey.
8 Taylor W. D. Blakemore.
9 Page Valentine Graff.
10 Fremont R. C. Campbell.
11 Mills Charles W. Black.
12 Montgomery Cyrus L. Stratton.
OF IOWA 523
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
13 Adams Clinton S. Grouse.
14 Union D. Davenport.
15 Clarke M. L. Temple.
16 Lucas R. A. Hasselquist.
17 Monroe N. E. Kendall.
18 Wapello A. W. Buchanan.
19 Jefferson Andrew F. Cassel.
20 Henry William Carden.
21 Des Moines Louis M. Jaeger.
21 Des Moines William D. Dodds.
22 Louisa E. L. McClurkin.
23 Washington Charles J. Wilson.
24 Keokuk A. M. Utterback.
25 Mahaska Wm. G. Jones.
26 Marion J. L. Warren.
27 Warren J. M. Anderson.
28 Woodbury John T. Willett.
28 Madison Robert A. Greene.
29 Adair W. H. McClure.
30 Cass John Pipher,
31 Pottawattamie John H. Jenks.
31 Pottawattamie W. H. Freeman.
32 Harrison H. B. Kling.
33 Shelby E. M. Hertert.
34 Audubon Asmus Boysen.
35 Guthrie Nate Wright.
36 Dallas Geo. W. Clarke.
37 Polk Emory H. English.
37 Polk H. E. Teachout.
88 Jasper Wm. W. Hawk.
39 Poweshiek j. p. Lyman.
40 Iowa John Hughes, Jr.
41 Johnson Geo. W. Koontz.
42 Muscatine j. I. Nichols.
43 Scott Albert W. Hamann.
43 Scott M. H. Calderwood.
44 Cedar Louis J. Leech.
45 Clinton Chas. Mordhorst.
45 Clinton Raymond C. Langan.
46 Jackson Geo. B. Hilsinger.
47 Jones P. J. Sokol.
48 Linn W. C. Stuckslager.
48 Linn E. J. C. Bealer.
49 Benton Malcolm McNie.
50 Tama Chas. E. Walters.
51 Marshall B. F. Cummings.
52 Story W. M. Greeley.
53 Boone Alonzo J. Barkley.
54 Greene Mahlon Head.
55 Carroll C. C. Colclo.
56 Crawford Hugh Langan.
57 Ida, Monona Will C. Whiting.
58 Woodbury Marlin J. Sweeley.
59 Cherokee Geo. P. Coburn.
60 Sac Joseph Mattes.
61 Calhoun D. J. Townsend.
62 Webster S. T. Meservey.
63 Hamilton Geo. P. Christiansen.
64 Hardin Mark J. Furry.
65 Grundy Wm. G. Kerr.
66 Black Hawk Charles A. Wise.
67 Buchanan L. P. Springer.
68 Delaware Geo. W. Dunham.
69 Dubuque A. P. Prudden.
69 Dubuque ..H. R. Keagy.
70 Clayton J. C. Flenniken.
71 Payette Wm. Larrabee, Jr.
72 Bremer Burton E. Sweet.
73 Butler M. F. Edwards.
74 Franklin D. J. Patton.
75 Hancock, Wright J. S. Pritchard.
524 HISTORY
DIST. COUNTIES. NAMES OF MEMBERS.
76 Humboldt, Pocahontas P. C. Gilchrist.
77 Buena Vista A. J. Wilson.
78 Plymouth E. A. Fields.
79 Sioux Charles W. Carter.
80 Lyon, O'Brien Timothy Donohue.
81 Osceola, Emmet, Dickinson.. B. F. Robinson.
82 Clay, Palo Alto A. H. Cheney.
83 Kossuth Gardner Cowles.
84 Cerro Gordo David W. Hum.
85 Floyd P. H. Powers.
86 Chickasaw John H. Kolthoff.
87 Allamakee Robt. Hufschmldt.
88 Winneshiek John S. Roome.
89 Howard W. K. Barker.
90 Mitchell Willard Lee Eaton.
91 Worth, Winnebago Eugene Secor.
Republicans, 84; Democrats, 16. The General Assembly Adjourned on the 11th of April, 1902.
UNITED STATES OFFICIALS FROM IOWA.
Members of Cabinets,
Secretary of the Interior James Harlan, 1865.
Secretary of War William W. Belknap, 1870.
Secretary of War George W. McCrary, 1877.
Secretary of the Interior Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1881.
Postmaster-General Frank Hatton, 1885.
Secretary of Agriculture James Wilson, 1897.
Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw, 1902.
Heads of Depaktments.
First Assistant Postmaster-General... Fitz Henry Warren, 1851 First Assistant Postmaster-General... John A. Kasson, 1861. First Assistant Postmaster-General... Frank Hatton. 1883. First Assistant Postmaster-General... James S. Clarkson, 1889.
Commissioner of Claims James B. Howell. 1871.
Commissioner of U. S. Land Office Willis Drummond, 1871.
Commissioner of U. S. Land Office S. S. Burdette, 1875.
Commissioner of U. S. Land Office J. A. Williamson. 1877.
Commissioner of U. S. Land Office Wm. M. Stone, 1892.
Commissioner of Indian Affairs Hiram Price, 1881.
Commissioner of Patents B. J. Hall, 1886.
Fourth Auditor of the Treasury S. J. W. Tabor, 1865.
Fourth Auditor of the Treasury Chas. Beardsley. 1883.
Second Comptroller of the Treasury... C. C. Carpenter, 1876.
Director of United States Mint Geo. E. Roberts. 1897.
Solicitor of State Department Henry O'Connor, 1872.
Solicitor of Treasury Department Maurice D. O'Connell, 1897.
Commissioner of Registration in Utah. George L. Godfrey. 1882. Surveyor-General of Wyoming E. C. David. 1875.
GOVERNORS OP TERRITORIES. Alvin Saunders, Nebraska, 1865. William Hale, Wvoming, 188S.
J. N. Irwin, Idaho, 1888.
United States Judges,
SUPREME COURT. Samuel P. Miller, appointed in 1861.
CIRCUIT COURT. John P. Dillon, 1873. Henry C. Caldwell, 1892.
George W. McCrary, 1880. Edward R. Mason. Clerk.
OF IOWA 525
DISTRICT COURT. John J. Dyer, 1846. J. S. Woolson (Southern District).
James M. Love, 1857. 1891.
H. C. Caldwell, 1875. Smith McPherson (Southern District),
O. P. Shiras (Northern District), 1883. 1900. Alonzo J. Vanduzee, Clerk. W. C. McArthur, Clerk.
JUDGE OP THE COURT OF ALABAMA CLAIMS. Caleb Bald-win, 1875. James Harlan, 1883.
JUDGE OF THE COURT OF PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS. Joseph R. Reed, 1893.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS. Isaac M. Preston, 1847. Caleb Baldwin, 1865.
Stephen Whicher, 1851. M. D. Browning, 1867.
J. C. Knapp, 1853. Wm. F. Sapp, 1869.
W. H. F. Gurley, 1861. Jas. T. I^ane, 1873.
Northern District.
M. D. O'Connell, 1883. M. D. O'Connell, 1890.
T. P. Murphy, 1886. Cato Sells, 1895.
H. G. McMillan, 1899.
Southern District.
John S. Runnells, 1883. Lewis Miles. 1889.
D. O. Finch, 1885. C. D. Fullen, 1895.
Lewis Miles, 1899.
MARSHALS. Gideon S. Bailev, 1846 to 1849. Peter Melendy, 1865.
Stephen B. Shelledy, 1849 to 1852. George W. Clark, 1867.
Laurel Summers, 1853 to 1861. Peter Melendy, 1872.
Herbert M. Hoxie, 1861. J. W. Chapman, 1875.
Northern District.
George D. Perkins, 1883. Edward Knott, 1891.
W. M. Desmond, 1887. W. M. Desmond, 1895.
Edward Knott, 1899.
Southern District.
Richard Root, 1883. D. B. Miller, 1889.
Edward Campbell, 1885. Prank P. Bradley, 1894.
George M. Christian, 1898.
American Ministers to Foreign Countries.
Augustus C. Dodge Minister to Spain, 1855.
George W. Jones New Grenada, 1859.
Fitz Henry Warren Guatemala, 1865.
Silas A. Hudson Guatemala, 1869.
Christian WuUweber Ecuador, 1875.
John A. Kasson Austria-Hungary, 1877.
John A. Kasson Germany, 1884.
Alexander Clark Liberia, 1890.
W. I. Buchanan Argentine Republic, 1895.
John A Kasson -oojdpea joj iCi-Bnuajodjuaid ja jsiutp^
ity Treaties.
Edwin H. Conger Brazil, 1897.
John N. Irwin Portugal, 1898,
Edwin H. Conger China. 1898.
CONSUI.S AND CONSULAR AGENTS.
D. S. Lee Basle, Switzerland, 1853.
Robert Dowllng Cork, Ireland, 1859.
A. J. Stevens Leghorn, Italy, 1861.
A. L. Wolfe Basle, Switzerland, 1861.
526 HISTORY
J. E. Lovejoy tiallao, Peru, 1861.
Geo. W. Van Home Marseilles, France, 1861.
R. E. Morse Curacoa, West Indies, 1861.
D. H Wheeler Genoa, Italy, 1861.
A. J. de Zeyk Taranto, Hungary, 1863.
C. A. Page Ziirich, Switzerland, 1865.
A. J. Stevens Smyrna, Turkey, 1865.
W. H. F. Gurley Quebec, Canada, 1865.
O. M. Spencer Genoa, Italy, 1867.
George Pomutz St. Petersburg-, Russia, 1867.
A. J. Stevens Windsor, Canada, 1867.
John S. Runnells Tunstall, England, 1867.
A. D. Greene Naples, Italy, 1867.
S. L. Glasgow Havre, France, 1867.
S. H. M. Byers Ziirich, Switzerland, 1869.
M. M. Price .Marseilles, France, 1871.
A." G. Studer Singapore, India, 1871.
James Thorington Aspinwall, Colombia, 1872.
S. L. Glasgow Glasgow, Scotland, 1872.
Joseph Knotts Chihuahua, Mexico, 1875.
A. M. Post Cape Verde Islands, 1875.
J. G. Wilson Jerusalem, Palestine, 1877.
s' F Cooper Glasgow, Scotland, 1877.
Robert Laird Collier Leipsic, Germany, 1881.
O M Spencer Melbourne, Australia, 1881.
JohnDavies Gloucester, England^ 1881.
Paul Lange St. Stephens, New Brunswick, 1883.
F. W. Hosfield Trieste, Brazil, 1885.
S R. Miller Leipsic, Germany, 1887.
James Fletcher Genoa, Italy, 1887- „^„
S G Ruby Belfast, Ireland, 1889.
S' B Zeigler Aix la Chapelle, Prussia, 1891.
O H Baker Copenhagen, Denmark, 1892.
Johnson Brigham Aix la Chapelle, 1892
N. B. Ashby Dublin, Ireland, 1893
L W Myers Victoria, British Columbia, 1893.
J.' S. McCaughan...'. Durango, Mexico, 1893.
P. C. Hanna La Guayra, Venezuela, 1893.
N. W. Mclvor Kanagawa, Japan, 1895.
A C Brice Matanzas, Cuba, 1895.
L S Reque Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1893.
I.' B.' Richraan St. Gall, Switzerland, 1893.
T. C. Dawson, Secretary of Legation.. Rio Janeiro, 1897.
F. M. Crocker Guaymas, Mexico, 1897.
A W Swalm Montevideo, Uraguay, 1897.
S G Hill .■.■.■■. Tien-Tsin, China, 1897.
t' Van Her Ghent, Belgium, 1897.
J ERowen'.'. ■.■.■.■.■.■. ■.■.'.'. Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, KSOS.
W. E. Bainbridge, Sec'y of Legation.. Peking, China, 1898. H. J. Lenderink, Sec'y of Legation... Santiago, 1S98.
Julian Phelps, U. S. Consul Crefeld, Germany, 1898
Frank M. Crocker. U. S. Consul Guaymas, Mexico, 1898.
Frank W. Mahin, U. S. Consul Reichenberg, Austria, 1900.
r. H. Tiederman. Vice Consul Para, Brazil, 1900.
S. C. McFarland, Vice Consul Nottingham, England, 1900.
Benjamin Johnston, Vice Consul ITtilla, Guatemala, 1900.
SURVEYORS GENERAL FOR IOWA AND WISCONSIN.
George B. Sargent, 1851. Thomas J. Townsend, 1861.
Warner Lewis, 1853. H. A. Wiltse, 1863.
PENSION AGENTS. District. Iowa.
Ottumwa Paul C. Jeffries, 1852.
Ottumwa A. H. Hamilton, 1861.
Fairfield David B. Wilson, 1871.
Dubuque George L. Mathews, 1865.
Dubuque Mordecai Mobley, 1867.
Dubuque J- B. Young, 1869.
Dubuque Jacob Rich, 1875.
OF IOWA
527
District. Iowa.
Des Moines Peter Myers, 1862.
Des Moines J. D Thompson, 1867.
Des Moines Stewart Goodrell, 1869.
Des Moines B. F. Gue, 1872.
Iowa and Nebraska.
Dubuque, Fairfield, Omaha, Nebraska districts consolidated with the of- fice at Des Moines in 1877.
B. F. Gue, 1877. Jacob Rich, 1881.
C. S. Lake, 1886.
Register.
Thomas McKnight, 1851. George McHenry, 1853. A. D. Anderson, 1857.
J. D. Jenkins, 1855.
S. B. Chase, 1857.
Francis Springer, 1851. James Thompson, 1853.
Robert Coles, 1853. James Baker, 1867.
Charles Neally, 1846. Hugh D. Downey, 1851. John Clark, 1853.
Robert L. Tidrick, 1853. Thos. A. Walker, 1855. Robert Brown, 1857. I. W. Griffith, 1859. Stewart Goodrell, 1861. Thos. Seeley, 1865. Felix G. Clark, 1869. William Porter, 1886.
D. M. Fox, 1889. N. R. Kuntz, 1892.
E. B. Evans, 1895.
F. S. Howard, 1897.
L. W. Babbitt, 1855. James Pollard, 1857. Lewis S. Hills, 1859. Frank Street, 1861. Sylvanus Dodge, 1869.
S. P. Yeoman, 1855.
W. H. Bigelow, 1861. S. T. Davis 1865. John Cleghorn, 1867. Geo. H. Wright, 1871.
S. A. Marine, 1890.
C. H. Robinson, 1894. S. P. Sperry, 1898.
Richard P. Clarkson, 1903.
LAND OFFICES. Duhuque Office. Receiver.
Mordecai Mobley, 1851. Patrick Quigley, 1853.
Decorah Office.
A. K. Eaton, 1855.
Osage Office.
A. K. Eaton, 1857.
Fairfield Office.
W. H. Wallace, 1851. J. W. Culbertson, 1853.
Chariton Office.
Nathan G. Sales, 1853. Lorenzo H. Sales, 1857.
Iowa City Office.
Enos Lowe, 1846. Easton Morris, 1851. Oilman Folsom, 1853.
Des Moines Office.
Thos. A. Walker,, 1853. P. M. Casady, 1855. Isaac Cooper, 1857. J. G. Weeks, 1861. Stewart Goodrell, 1867. G. L. Godfrey, 1869. H. H. Griffith, 1877. M. D. McHenry, 1886. Fred. Babcock, 1892. W. H. Turbett, 1895. S. J. Loughran, 1897.
Council Bluffs Office.
Enos Lowe, 1855. A. H. Palmer, 1857.
D. C. Bloomer, 1861.
Sioux City Office.
A. S. Bryant, 1855. Andrew Leach, 1857. J. P. Edie, 1861. W. R. Smith, 1865.
528 HISTORY
Fort Dodge Office.
W. H. Merritt, 1855. Varplank Van Antwerp, 1S5S.
John M. Stockdale, 1857. Thomas Sargent, 1857.
C. B. Richards, 1861. Charles Pomeroy, 1861.
A. M Dawley, 1869. Webb Vincent, 1869. E. C. Byam, 1871.
COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS.
Duiuque.
J. W. Harrison.
Surveyor of Customs George Fengler, 1892.
Surveyor of Customs J. M. Lenihan, 1897.
Keokuk. S. M. Clark, 1871.
Des Moines.
Surveyor of Customs J. C. Hotchkiss, 1892.
Surveyor of Customs Bert. Kennedy, 1897.
Surveyor of Customs L. Redman, 1898.
Burlington.
Surveyor of Customs Charles Wilner, 1892.
Surveyor of Customs M. A. Prawley, 1897.
Surveyor of Customs C. H. Ross. 189S.
Sioux City.
Surveyor of Customs J. M. Cleland, 1892.
Surveyor of Customs W. B. Humphrey, 1897.
Surveyor of Customs J. H. Bolton, 1898.
Council Bluffs.
Surveyor of Customs R. N. Whittlesey, 1897.
L. M. Shubert, 1898.
EXAMINERS OF CLAIMS. Henry O'Connor, 1875.
SECRETARY OP DAKOTA TERRITORY.
T. M. Wilkins, 1869.
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. C. F. Saylor, Special Agent of Beet Sugar Investigation.
Inimal Industry.
T. A. Greddes, Chief of Miscellaneous Division. F. W. Bicknell, Special Agent, South America.
SITPERVISOPS OP INTERNAL REVENUE.
First District.
J. M. Hedrlck, 1871.
A ssessor. Collector.
R. M. Pickle, 1863. J. C. Walker, 1863.
J. B. Weever, 1867. W. W. Belknap, 1867.
Francis Springer, 1871.
Second District.
Pliny Fay, 1863. Geo. W. Ellis, 1863.
Geo. Meason, 1867. James Armstrong, 1867.
S. S. Farwell, lb69. Norman Boardman, 1889.
S. S. Farwell, 1877.
J. W. Green, 1881.
OF IOWA 529
Third District.
J. T. Jarrett, 1863. Levi Fuller, 1863.
L. L. Huntley, 1867. D. B. Henderson, 1867.
Joseph Hobson, 1871. M. M. Trumbull, 1869.
J. E. Simpson, 1879.
J. S. Lathrop. 1893.
John C. Kellcy, 1895.
J. W. Patterson, 1898.
Fourth District.
G. H. Jerome, 1863. W. P. Cowles, 1863.
John Connell, 1867. A. J. Pope, 1867.
John Connell, 1877.
Louis Weinstcin, 1893.
W. H. Stackhouse, 1895.
J. M. Kemble, 1898.
Fifth District.
Cole Noel, 1863. Horace Everett, 1863.
A. R. Anderson, 1869. Sanford Haines, 1865.
L. P. Sherman, 1867.
Sixth District.
Delos Arnold, 1863. S. B. Hewett. 1863.
Thos. H. Benton, 1867. Albert Head, 1867.
John Scott, 1869. T. E. McCracken. 1869.
TV. W. Nixon, 1875.
INSPECTOR OF INDIAN AGENCIES. William Vandever, 1875.
INDIAN AGENTS.
Blackfoot Agency L. L. Pease, 1861.
Special Agent H. W. Reed, 1865.
Superintendent of Agencies in Kansas. Elijah Sells, 1865
Commissioner of Indian Affairs D. N. Cooley, 1865.
Ottoe Indians J. L. Smith, 1867.
Yankton Sioux P. H. Conger, 1867.
Superintendent "Washington Indians.. T. J. McKenny, 1867.
Superintendent Montana Indians J. A. Viall, 1871.
Superintendent Kansas Indians Enoch Hoag, 1871.
Neosho Indians I. T. Gibson, 1871.
Upper Arkansas Agency B. Darlington, 1871.
Kiowa Agency Laurie Tatum, 1871.
Sac and Fox in Iowa Leander Clark, 1873.
Sac and Fox J. H. Pickering, 1875.
Blackfeet Indians J. S. Wood, 1875.
New Mexico Indians S. A. Russell, 1875.
Red Cloud Agency J. J. Saville, 1875.
Fort Berthold Agency Jacob Kauffman, 1881.
Osage Indians L. J. Miles, 1881.
Sac and Fox Indians G. L. Davenport, 1881.
Union Agency J. Q. Tufts, 1881.
Sac and Fox Indians W. R. Lesser, 1893.
Sac and Fox H. M. Rebok.
Narvaja Indians G. W. Hayzlett, 1898.
Sac and Fox W. G. Malin.
Members of Congress from Iowa, united states senators.
Augustus C. Dodge, 1848 to 1855. James W. Grimes, 1859, resigned In George W. Jones, 1848 to 1859. 1870.
James Harlan, 1855, resigned May, Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1866 to 1S67.
1865. James Harlan, 1867 to 1873.
530 HISTORY
James B. Howell, 1870 to 1871. Samuel J. Kirkwood, 1877 to 1881.
George G. Wright, 1871 to 1877. James M. McDill, 1881 to 1883.
William B. Allison, 1873 to 1909. James F. Wilson, 1883 to 1895.
John H. Gear, 1895 to 1901.
John H. Gear was reelected for six years from March 4, 1901, and died on the 14th of July, 1900.
Jonathan P. Dolliver, appointed by the Governer to fill the vacancy, 1900 to 1907.
REPRKSENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
District. Years.
S. Clinton Hastings ..1846 to 1847.
2 Shepherd Leffler 1846 to 1851.
1 William Thompson 1847 to 1850.
1 Daniel F. Miller 1850 to 1851.
1 Bernhart Henn 1851 to 1855.
2 Lincoln Clark 1851 to 1853.
2 John P. Cook 1853 to 1855.
1 Augustus Hall 1855 to 1857.
2 James Thorington 1855 to 1857.
1 Samuel R. Curtis 1857, resigned May, 1861.
2 Timothy Davis 1857 to 1859.
2 William Vandever 1859, resigned September, 1861.
1 James F. Wilson 1863 to 1869.
2 Hiram Price 1863 to 1869.
3 William B. Allison 1863 to 1871.
4 Josiah B. Grinnell 1863 to 1S67.
5 John A. Kasson 1863 to 1867.
6 Asahel W. Hubbard 1863 to 1869.
4 William Loughridge 1867 to 1871.
5 Grenville M. Dodge 1867 to 1869.
1 George W. McCrary 1869 to 1877.
2 William Smyth 1869 to 1871.
5 Frank W. Palmer 1869 to 1873.
6 Charles Pomeroy 1869 to 1871.
2 Aylett R. Cotton 1871 to 1875.
3 W. G. Donnan 1871 to 1875.
4 M. M. Walden 1871 to 1873.
6 Jackson Orr 1871 to 1875.
4 Henry O. Pratt 1873 to 1877.
5 James Wilson 1873 to 1877.
6 William Loughridge 1873 to 1875.
7 John A. Kasson 1873 to 1877.
8 James W. McDIll 1873 to 1877.
2 J. Q. Tufts 1875 to 1877.
3 L. L. Ainsworth 1875 to 1877.
6 E. S. Sampson 1875 to 1879.
9 Addison Oliver 1875 to 1879.
1 J. C. Stone 1877 to 1879.
2 Hiram Price 1S77 to 1881.
3 T. W. Burdick 1877 to 1879.
4 N. C. Deering 1877 to 1883.
5 Rush Clark 1877 to 1881.
7 H. J. B. Cummings 1877 to 1879.
8 W. F. Sapp 1877 to 1881.
1 M. A. AfcCoid 1879 to 1885.
3 Thomas Updegraff 1879 to 1883.
6 James B. Weaver 1879 to 1881.
7 E. H. Gillette 1879 to 1881.
9 C. C. Carpenter 1879 to 1883.
OF IOWA 531
District. Years.
2 S. S. Farwell 1881 to 1883.
5 W. G. Thompson 1881 to 1883.
6 J. C. Cook 1881 to 1883.
7 John A. Kasson 1881 to 1885.
8 Wm. P. Hepburn 1881 to 1887.
2 .T. H. Murphy 1883 to 1887.
3 D B. Henderson 1883 to 1901.
4 L. H. Weller 1883 to 1885.
5 B. F. Frederick 1883 to 1887.
6 M. E. Cutts 1883 to 1885.
9 W. H. M. Pusey 1883 to 1885.
10 A. J. Holmes 1883 to 1889.
11 I. S. Struble 1883 to 1891.
1 Benton J. Hall 1885 to 1887.
4 Wm. E. Fuller 1885 to 1889.
6 J. B. Weaver 1885 to 1889.
7 H. Y. Smith to fill vacancy.
9 J. H. Lyman 1885 to 1889.
1 John H. Gear 1887 to 1891.
2 Walter I. Hayes 1887 to 1895.
5 Daniel Kerr 1887 to 1891.
7 Edwin H. Conger 1887 to 1890.
7 E. R. Hays 1890, to fill vacancy.
8 A. R. Anderson 1887 to 1889.
4 J. H. Sweeney 1889 to 1891.
6 John F. Lacey 1889 to 1891.
8 Jas. P. Flick 1889 to 1893.
9 Joseph R. Reed 1889 to 1891.
10 J. P. DoUiver 1889 to 1900.
1 J. J. Seerley 1891 to 1893.
4 Walter H. Butler 1891 to 1893.
5 J. T. Hamilton 1891 to 1893.
6 F. E. White 1891 to 1893.
7 J. A. T. Hull 1891 to 1905.
9 Thomas Bowman 1891 to 1893.
11 Geo. D. Perkins 1891 to 1899.
1 John H. Gear 1893 to 1895.
4 Thomas Updegraff 1893 to 1899.
5 Robt. G. Cousins 1893 to 1905.
6 John F. Lacey 1893 to 1905.
8 Wm. P. Hepburn 1893 to 1905.
9 A. L,. Hager 1893 to 1899.
1 Samuel M. Clark 1895 to 1899.
2 Geo. M. Curtis 1895 to 1899.
1 Thomas Hedge 1899 to 1905.
2 J. R. Lane 1899 to 1901.
2 J. N. W. Rumple 1901 to 1903.
4 Gilbert N. Haugen 1899 to 1905.
9 Smith McPherson 1899 to 1901.
11 Lot Thomas 1899 to 1905.
2 Martin J. Wade 1903 to 1905.
3 Benjamin T. Birdsall 1903 to 1905.
9 Walter I. Smith 1901 to 1905.
10 J. P. Connor 1901 to 1905.
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JAN 1 0 1938
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1- '.%<.'S*o'HK3f vi*»KS