 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
CONTENTS
GEOLOGY
COUNTY ORGANIZATION
ELECTION PRECINCTS
TOWNSHIP
ORGANIZATION
FIRST COURT
COMMISSIONERS' ACTS
COUNTY SEAT
QUESTIONS
THE COUNTY JAIL
COUNTY AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS
LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION
RAILROADS
COUNTY FINANCES
STATISTICSSOCIAL
AND AGRICULTURAL
BRIDGES
TIMBER, HEDGES, ETC.
CENSUS OF 1840 AND
DEAF MUTES
POLITICAL
LYNCH LAW
A TORNADO
AN EXPENSIVE FUNERAL
WAR HISTORY
UNION MEETING
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS' RESOLUTIONS OF LOYALTY, JUNE 6, 1861
PATRIOTIC MEETING
IN ROME
THE COUNTY FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION
INCIDENTS OF
ENLISTMENT
FIRST COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS
GRAND TURN-OUT OF MILITARY AND CITIZENS
FLAGS PRESENTATION AND DEPARTURE
FAREWELL SUPPER
SANITARY COMMISSION
FLAG PRESENTATIONS TO THE IOWA NINTH BY THE BOSTON LADIES
COPY OF THE ADDRESS OF BOSTON LADIES ON PRESENTATION OF FLAGS
ANOTHER OFFERING FROM JONES COUNTY
THE DRAFT
THE FLAG OF THE NINTH IOWA
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY AT ANAMOSA
THE FOURTEENTH IOWA INFANTRY
RE-UNION AT MONTICELLO,
AUGUST 14, 1865
COL. WILIAM T. SHAW,
OF ANAMOSA
SOLDIER'S MEMENTOLEFT-HAND WRITING
HORRIBLE MURDER IN JONES COUNTY
OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION
THE ADDITIONAL PENITENTARY AT ANAMOSA
PENITENTIARY
STATISTICS
STATE FISH-HATCHING ESTABLISHMENT
METEOROLOGICAL
ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
TORNADO AT MONTICELLO
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP
EARLY SETTLEMENT
OF ANAMOSA AND
FAIRVIEW TOWNSHIP
THE VILLAGE
OF FAIRVIEW
A CHAPTER OF
EARLY HISTORY
FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE
THE FIRST POST OFFICE
ANAMOSA
CITY OFFICERS
ORIGIN OF THE
NAME ANAMOSA
INCORPORATION
THE PRESS
EDUCATIONAL
CHURCHES
FIRST BURIAL IN THE ANAMOSA CEMETERY
ANAMOSA CEMETERY ASSOCIATION
ST. PATRICK'S LITERARY AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETY
WESTERN SICK BENEFIT ASSOCIATION
ANAMOSA SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION
ANAMOSA ART ASSOCIATION
SECRET SOCIETIES
ANAMOSA DRIVING-PARK ASSOCIATION
WATER-WORKS
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRES
STONE QUARRIES NEAR ANAMOSA
THE PIONEER TOBACCO RAISERS OF IOWA
LIQUOR CONFISCATION
MARRIAGE INCIDENT
EDMUND BOOTH
MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP
EARLY HISTORY
OFFICIAL ROSTER
MONTICELLO IN 1879
EDUCATIONAL
THE PRESS
CHURCHES
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION
WATER-WORKS
FIRE DEPARTMENT
SECRET SOCIETIES
ASSOCIATIONS
JONES COUNTY MILITIA COMPANY
JONES COUNTY AGRICULTURL SOCIETY
THE PRINCIPAL FIRES
WYOMING TOWNSHIP
EARLY REMINISCENCES OF WYOMING AND VICINITY
FIRST SCHOOLHOUSE
FIRST STORE
ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP
THE METHODISTS
PRESBYTERIANS
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN
BAPTIST CHURCH
WYOMING IN 1879
OFFICIAL ROSTER
MADISON TOWNSHIP
THE VILLAGE
OF ONSLOW
CENTER JUNCTION
OXFORD TOWNSHIP
OXFORD JUNCTION
OXFORD MILLS
HALE TOWNSHIP
GREENFIELD TOWNSHIP
ROME TOWNSHIP
REMINISCENCES OF ROME18401841
OLIN IN 1879
SOCIETIES
CASTLE GROVE TOWNSHIP
CHURCHES
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF BOWEN'S PRAIRIE
SCOTCH GROVE TOWNSHIP
CHURCHES AND RED RIVER EMIGRANTS
CLAY TOWNSHIP
BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
WASHINGTON
TOWNSHIP
JACKSON TOWNSHIP
CASS TOWNSHIP
WAYNE TOWNSHIP
EARLY SETTLEMENT
ORGANIZATION
COUNTY FARM
VILLAGES
CREAMERIES
CHURCHES
|
|
Jones County is situated in the eastern part of the State, bounded on the north by Delaware and Dubuque Counties, on the east by Jackson and Clinton Counties, on the south by Cedar and on the west by Linn County, and comprises an area of sixteen Congressional Townships.
The surface is undulating, with numerous slight elevations or low, conical hills, the valleys extending in every direction. There is considerable timber along the streams, and at sundry places are found groves of oak, maple, walnut, ash and cottonwood on the prairies. The soil is fertile, and produces wheat, corn, oats and potatoes abundantly; the climate is decidedly healthful, and the whole county is well watered by the Maquoketa and Wapsipinicon Rivers, which traverse it in a southeasterly direction, and are fed by numerous tributaries. Good orchards of apples, cherries and wild plums are abundant, and other fruits are liberally produced in all parts of the county. Grapes, especially, are abundantly produced at small expense, and are destined to become an important product. The people are chiefly engaged in agriculture and stock-raising, and considerable attention is given to the dairy business, the products of the latter having largely increased during the last four or five years. A goodly number of cheese-factories and creameries are in a flourishing condition, and considerable attention is paid to the raising of fine horses and blooded stock.
Coal is not to be found, but the quarries of building-stone are the best in the State, fully equal in quality to the celebrated building-stone at Joliet, Ill., and much more easily obtained. Lead has been discovered in small quantities in the eastern part of the county, but not in sufficient quantities to pay for working.
The general productiveness of the county is equal to any portion of the State. The inhabitants are mostly Americans, and are an industrious and frugal people.
The first settlers located at Bowen's Prairie and at Monticello in 1836, in Fairview and Clay Townships in 1837 and at Anamosa in 1838. Wyoming, Rome, Jackson, Wayne, etc., were settled at about the same time, and some of them before 1838.
The facts herein recorded have been obtained from the old settlers themselves, from papers published in the county and from the county records. |
|
GEOLOGY
We are indebted to His Honor, Mayor Amos V. Eaton, of Anamosa, for the following in reference to the geology of the county. Mayor Eaton is quite an
industrious student of the natural history of the county and State, and has succeeded, through his own efforts, in collecting and arranging a valuable cabinet, comprising all the important specimens of this portion of the State, and many valuable specimens from other portions of the United States and the Canadas:
The geological formation of Jones County is almost wholly within the Upper Silurian age and the Niagara period. The Devonian laps over upon a small portion of Greenfield Township. The Upper Silurian exposure in the State is something in the shape of a pyramid, with its base of about fifty miles in width on the Mississippi River, and includes the county of Clinton and a large portion of the counties of Jackson and Scott, tapering to a width of not more than four or five miles on the Minnesota line, in Howard County, with a length of 160 miles, extending northwest and southeast. The thickness of the formation is set down at 350 feet.
In the early surveys of the State, the Niagara period was divided into the Niagara and the Le Claire epochs and formations; but subsequent surveys and examinations determined the fact that it properly all belongs to the Niagara epoch. The rock of the formation is a magnesia limestone, and, in an economic view, one of the most important in the State. Prof. White makes the statement that it affords the best nd greatest amount of quarry rock of any formation in the State of Iowa. Wherever this rock is exposed in Jones County, it furnishes a great abundance of material for the common uses of the inhabitants. The exposure of this stone near Anamosa is of such wonderful regularity in the stratification and such uniformity of texture that the stone can be wrought into any desired shape or size with little expense. Some of the stone come from their beds as smooth and even as though they had been run through a planing-machine, not requiring the tough of the chisel. Another very fortunate thing, there are no intervening strata of clay or other material to impede the labors of the quarrymen. This stone weighs about one hundred and fifty pounds per cubic foot, getting a little heavier as you go down the quarry. The strength and durability of the stone has been tested under all manner of conditions for years, and it is all that could be reasonably expected of a limestone. Exposure to the atmosphere improves it, making it harder. The analysis of the stone, as given by Prof. White in his report, is as follows:
| Insoluble in acid | | .72 |
| Ferrous and ferric acid | | .23 |
| Calcium carbonate | | 57.32 |
| Magnesium | | 41.21 |
| Moisture | | .31 |
| | 99.79 |
One noteworthy fact, geologically, in relation to these special quarries, is that there is hardly any fossil remains to be found in them, while they are quite abundant in other places not far away. A few traces of coral are found, and a formation that has not been determined as yet, although examined by some eminent geologists. They are about one-half inch long and as large as a knitting-needle; and, as far as can be seen, they are exactly alike and often occur in innumerable numbers, in a single slab of stone. The impression is more often, seen, however, and indeed it is not certain whether they are fossils at all or not. A flint nodule of very beautiful structure is found, being many times found in layers of strata, and furnishing very unique cabinet specimens. Pockets containing quartz and lime crystals frequently occur that are elegant in appearance.
The surface soil of Jones County is composed of what is termed drift and alluvial soils, the former largely predominating, as the flood-plane or bottomland of the rivers is not great. Prof. White estimates that 95 per cent of the land in Iowa is tillable, and Jones County is quite equal to the average. If Prof. White's estimate of the State is not exaggerated, there is probably no other area of territory of the extent (55,000 square miles) in the world, that can furnish as good and as large a per cent of tillable land as the State of Iowa.
The soil of the county possesses the ingredients and depth to make it inexhaustible with fair dealing, and insuring its inhabitants an agricultural wealth forever.
There is enough of good brick clay in the county to furnish its inhabitants with brick for all time to come. Any there is sand enough along the streams, that has been sifted from the soil by the action of water, to furnish the requisite quantity for building purposes, and an endless amount of stone that makes good (quick) lime.
The county is almost destitute of minerals as far as known; a few isolated specimens of iron ore have been found, and traces of iron in the rock material are sometimes seen. As the Silurian age is below the coal formations, it would be useless to look for coal in the county.
The paleontology, or fossil remains, of Jones County has been almost wholly neglected or overlooked by the State geologists, in their surveys and reports, and very little has been written upon the subject; and while we cannot claim as much of interest in this direction as many counties of the State, still there is abundance of material to interest the geologist. The Silurian formation is one of extreme age. Some geologists of authority have put it down as having taken millions of years in its formation. And as it was the first in which life began to show itself on the globe-life in the simplest form-it is called the age of mollusks, because they are so predominate. The word mollusk means soft, and the animals are composed of a soft, fleshy bag, containing a very simple digestive apparatus. Many of them are without eyes, and are generally covered with a shell as a means of protection. The clam, snail and oyster are familiar examples of this class, now living; but many of the fossils now found are the remains of species now extinct.
However, the fossil remains of this county are composed quite as largely of the class called radiates, which are quite as simple in structure, and might be called the stepping-stone from the vegetable to the animal kingdom. The corals and crinoids are examples of this class.
Much of the rock exposure in the county is nearly destitute of fossils, while in others they are very numerous. The following are the more common ones found in Jones County:
Several species of the favosites corals (honeycomb corals) are very numerous; two or three species of halysites (chain corals); a number of syringoropora (pine coral); cyathophylloid; stromatapora; chonophyllum (cup coral) and heliolites.
All of the above are found in one locality along the Maquoketa River, a few miles east of Monticello, in such quantities that wagon-loads may be gathered of those that lie loose on the surface of the bluffs.
Other species of corals are found in various parts of the county, that are more rare, and many that seem to be peculiar to this formation. Two species, at least, of pentamerons are occasionally found, but are much more numerous over the line in Linn County. Crinoid remains are very common in many places.
One locality near Anamosa, on the Wapsipinicon River, at Doan's Mill, the stone is entirely made up of them, but it is so rotten and fragmentary in character that complete specimens are obtained with difficulty. Enough of comparatively perfect crinoid heads have been found to identify several species. The stone is sufficiently made up of them to justly entitle it to the name of crinoid limestone.
Fossil shells are not numerous, but several species, both of the bivalve and univalve, have been found.
Trilobites are very rare in this county, although in some of the Silurian formations they are numerous; 500 species of this crustacean once existed, all of which are now extinct. (Dana.)
During this season, a point of rocks has been opened near the iron bridge across the Buffalo at Fisherville, where the trilobite s are quite numerous. The quarrymen inform me they found at least 100 in number, and that they only occur in one or two strata, as far as yet developed. Only three other ones have been found in the county, to my knowledge.
Several ammonites have been found, but they are also rare; 900 species of these animals once existed and are now extinct. (Dana.)
Several species of the orthoceras and also of the ormoceras are met with, although they are not often found complete.
Specimens of so-called iron-stone and agatized flint are often found, and, indeed, the flint formations of the county often take on a wonderful variety of forms and fantastic shapes. The variety called the jasper is frequently found. Specimens of what is termed forest rock are sometimes found in the quarries, and are thought by some to be fossil ferns. It is simply a precipitate of oxide of manganese. Fossils of the vegetable kingdom are not found to any extent whatever. A few pieces of petrified wood have been found along the streams, but they are evidently foreign, and brought here by the drift.
Much of that which is interesting to the student of natural history might be written in reference to the geology of Jones County, but the subject has not attracted sufficiently the attention of the inhabitants to warrant anything further in a county history. The geology of Jones County affords abundant opportunity to those of her citizens who may desire to gain a practical knowledge of a subject that has entirely revolutionized the thinking world during the past half-century. |
|
COUNTY ORGANIZATION
 Thecounty of Jones was named and its boundaries designated at the session of the Wisconsin Legislature held at Burlington in the winter of 1837-38. At that time, the country now included in the State of Iowa belonged to, or was a part of, the Territory of Wisconsin. There were but two counties west of the Mississippi River in 1836-Des Moines and Dubuque. During the meeting of the first Territorial Legislature, in 1836-37, Des Moines County was subdivided, and, at the meeting of 1837-38, Dubuque County was lessened by the creation of Clayton, Fayette, Delaware, Buchanan, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Clinton and Cedar Counties. Gen. George W. Jones, of Dubuque, at that time represented the Territory of Wisconsin in Congress. In his honor was the county, whose history we write, named.
Only a part of these counties were organized at that time. Jackson County was equipped with an Organizing Sheriff in the person of William A. Warren, of Bellevue. He was also, in a limited sense, made the Sheriff of Jones and Linn Counties; and, for matters of court jurisdiction, Bellevue was, during 1838 and a part of 1839, the capital of Jones and Linn Counties. As election precinct was designated in each of these, and the report of votes sent to Bellevue.
The first Territorial Legislature, after the separation of Iowa from Wisconsin, met in Burlington November 12, 1838. During the session, the county of Jones was organized.
The act passed by the Legislature to organize the county of Jones was as follows:
|
SECTION 1.Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Iowa, That the county of Jones be, and the same is hereby, organized from and after the 1st day of June next, and the inhabitants of said county be entitled to all the rights and privileges
to which, by law, the inhabitants of other organized counties of this Territory are entitled; and the said county shall be a part of the Third Judicial District, and the District Court shall be held at the seat of justice in said county, or such other place as may be provided until the seat of justice is established.
SEC. 2That Simeon Gardner, of Clinton County;
Israel Mitchell, of Linn County, and William H. Whitesides, of Dubuque County, be, and they are hereby, appointed Commissioners to locate the seat of justice in said county, and shall meet at the house of Thomas Denson on the second Monday of March next, in said county, and shall proceed forthwith to examine and locate a suitable place for the seat of justice of said county, having particular reference to the convenience of the county and healthfulness of the location.
SEC. 3.The Commissioners, or a majority of them, shall, within ten days after their meeting at the aforesaid place, make out and certify to the Governor of this Territory, under their hands and seals, a certificate containing a particular description of the location selected for the aforesaid county seat; and, on receipt of such certificate, the Governor shall issue his proclamation affirming and declaring the said location to be the seat of justice of the said county of Jones.
************
SEC. 6.The Commissioners aforesaid shall receive, upon making out their certificate of the location of the seat of justice of said county, each, $3 per day, and also $3 for every twenty miles going to and returning from their respective homes.
SEC. 7.Upon the presentation of the certificate aforesaid to the Treasurer of Jones County, the Treasurer is hereby authorized and required to pay the respective sums allowed by this act out of any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
APPROVED January 24, 1839. |
It seems that these men failed to carry out the provisions of this act, and we find the county seat not to have been located until the following year, or 1840. In the Legislature of 1839-40, three other Commissioners were appointed as follows: Thomas M. Isett, of Muscatine County; John G. McDonald, of Jackson County, and Franklin Moffat, of Delaware County. The probability is that only two of these men served the appointment. We find by the County Commissioners' books that at the July meeting, 1840, Isett and McDonald received $51 and $36, respectively, for their services in locating the county seat. Col. Thomas Cox, of Bellevue, was the surveyor.
The first election of county officers took place in the fall of 1839.
Of the County Commissioners elected on this occasion, only two appeared at the recorded meetings of the BoardThomas Denson and Charles P. Hutton. We have been informed that the third Commissioner was H. G. Seeley.
William Hutton was the first Clerk of the Commissioners' Court. Hugh Bowen was the first Sheriff of Jones County. Clark Joslin was the first Recorder.
There were three polling places at the election of 1839, and were said to have been three precincts-Bowen Prairie, Walnut Fork and Farm Creek. The Judges of the election of 1839 were Orvill Cronkhite, Eli Brown, I. H. Simpson, William Clark, James Hutton and J. C. Raffety. The Clerks were Thomas S. Denson, George H. Brown and D. G. Morgan.
It will be borne in mind that an election had been held in September, 1838, or one year previous, for the purpose of electing Representatives to the Iowa Legislature. This was in the cabin of Barrett Whittemore. Only eleven votes were cast, and a Representative, R. G. Roberts, was elected from Cedar, Jones, Johnson and Linn.
The first recorded meeting of the Commissioners' Court was held February 3, 1840. Their first act was to appoint Hugh Bowen, Assessor in the place of Daniel Chaplin, who refused to serve.
George Mefford presented a petition for a certain county road.
It was ordered that the regular meeting of the Board should be held thereafter at the house of Donald Sutherland and until further ordered.
The Commissioners mentioned above as locating the county seat made their report in favor of the northeast quarter of Section 36, Township 85, Range 3 west, where they laid out a town and named it Edinburg.
An act of Congress provided that, as each new county was organized, the United States Government would grant to the County Commissioners a quarter-section on which the county seat should be located. Accordingly, we find from the book of original entries, that on June 20, 1840, Thomas S. Denson and Charles P. Hutton, as Commissioners of Jones County, claimed the quarter-section above mentioned, being the northeast quarter of Section 36 in what is now Wayne Township. This was within half a mile of the geographical center of Jones County, and its central location was the argument which secured for it the honor of being the first seat of justice.
The day after Edinburg was laid out, Col. Thomas Cox, at the solicitation of J. D. Walworth, came to the present location of Anamosa and laid out a town which was called Dartmouth. This was never recorded, and of course came to naught.
The first tax levy was made July 6, 1840, being 5 mills on each dollar of taxable property in the county of Jones, and a poll tax of 50 cents upon each voter.
We find that Nov. 5, 1840, Clement Russell paid into the county treasury $25, for the privilege of keeping a grocery.
To those who have not been upon the border, it may be a question why grocerymen in a new country should be so heavily taxed. The initiated will understand that a frontier grocery was simply a saloon of the lowest character, where whiskey was the only article on sale, and which could be obtained at a reasonable price, in any quantity from a glassful to a barrel.
The census of 1838 revealed a population of 241. In 1840, this number had increased to 475. |
|
| | ELECTION PRECINCTS
At a meeting of the County Commissioners, July 6, 1840, Jones County was divided into four precincts for electorial purposes as follows:
Walnut Precinct, comprising Townships 83 and 84, in Ranges 1, 2 and 3 west of the Fifth Principal Meridian.
Buffalo Fork Precinct, comprising Townships 83 and 84, Range 4 west.
Bowen Prairie Precinct, comprising Congressional Township 86, Range 2, 3 and 4, and Township 85, Ranges 3 and 4.
Farm Creek Precinct, comprising Township 85 and 86, Range 1, and Township 85, Range 2.
The civil partition of Jones County in 1840, might, therefore, be represented as follows:
The Judges of Elections appointed at the time of organizing the precincts were:
For Bowen PrairieWilliam Dalton, William Clark and Charles Johnson. Election to be held at the house of Joseph E. Green.For WalnutMoses Garrison, Isaac H. Simpson and O. Cronkhite. Election to be held at the house of Norman Seeley.
For Buffalo ForkJohn G. Joslin, Clement Russel(sic) and G. H. Ford. Election to be held at the house of Clement Russell.
For Farm CreekJoseph Peet, Hezekiah Winchell and John E. Lovejoy. Election to be held at the house of Abraham Hostetter.
Bowen Prairie Precinct was made Road District No. 1, with Franklin Dalbey, Supervisor; Buffalo, No. 2, with Clark Joslin, Supervisor; Walnut, No. 3, with John Merritt, Supervisor, and Farm Creek, No. 4, with George Mefford as Supervisor. |
|
| | TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION
At the meeting of the County Commissioners' Court, July 5, 1842, it was resolved to organize the county into townships, which should have their regular township officers and town government. The precincts were accordingly changed into townships, without altering the boundaries.
Rome was organized as a township July 5, 1842 with the same boundaries as Walnut Precinct, given above, the first township election to be held at the residence of N. B. Seeley.
Fairview was organized as a township July 5, 1842, with the same boundaries as Buffalo Fork Precinct, given above.
Washington was organized as a township July 5, 1842, with the same boundaries as Farm Creek Precinct, given above.
Richland was organized as a township July 5, 1842, with the same boundaries as Bowen Prairie Precinct, given above.
Clay was organized as a township April 3, 1844, including what is now known as Wyoming, that part of the present township of Clay which is south of the Maquoketa River, all of Scotch Grove Township south of the river, and a strip about one mile in width upon the eastern border of Wayne Township, extending north, through Monticello, until it touched the river. The first election was held at the house of John Southerland.
Monticello was organized as a township June 10, 1847, from Richland Township, and included all of that town south of the Maquoketa River, being most of the territory now occupied by Monticello, Wayne, Cass and Castle Grove. (Note: Lovell township was organized as a separate township about January, 1898 with the same boundaries as Monticello township, the latter being included within Lovell township, the corporation of Monticello being declared a separate township and called Monticello township.)
Greenfield was organized as a township with its present boundaries, being separated from Fairview, and corresponding to Congressional Township 83, Range 4. The townships now known as Cass and Wayne were separated from Monticello and attached to Fairview April 21, 1848.
Hale was organized as a township in July, 1851, and included the present towns of Hale and Oxford, which were on that date separated from Rome. The first township election was held at the house of Joseph Bumgarner.
Jackson was organized as a township in July, 1851, and included the present towns of Madison and Jackson, which were on that date separated from Rome. The first township election was held at the house of Chas. Beam.
Cass was separated from Fairfield(sic) and organized as a township, with its present boundaries, March 1, 1852. The first election was at the house of W. J. Beaks.
Wyoming was separated from Clay Township February 8, 1854, and organized, with its present boundaries, under the name of Pierce Township, which was, a couple of years later, changed to Wyoming. The first election was at the house of William Stuart. (Note: Pierce was changed to Wyoming in 1857.)
Castle Grove was separated from Monticello and organized, with its present boundaries, January 1, 1855. At the same date, Monticello Township was expanded across the river to the northern boundary of the county, corresponding to its present boundary, and including what had formerly belonged to Richland Township.
Madison Township was organized, with its present boundaries, Jan. 1, 1855.
Scotch Grove was separated from Clay and organized, with its present boundaries, in February, 1855. The first election was held at a schoolhouse.
Oxford was separated from Hale Township and organized, with its present boundaries, in March, 1855. The first election was at the house of John Bryan.
Wayne was set off from Fairview Township and organized, with its present boundaries, March 5, 1856. The first election was at the house of O. G. Serivens.
It will be observed that the last township was not formed until some sixteen years after the organization of the county, and that certain districts belonged at different periods, to quite a number of different towns. Wayne Township, for instance, had belonged to Richland, Monticello and Fairview previous to its organization as an independent town. Each township now corresponds to the Congressional numbering, rendering the political geography of the county as simple as a chessboard.
|
|
| | FIRST COURT
The first court held in Jones County was presided over by Judge Thomas S. Wilson, and was in session at Edinburg, the first county seat, March 22, 1841.
The grand jurors on that occasion were as follows: Moses Collins, Thomas Dickson, Charles Johnson, B. Beardsley, William Clark, Jackson Peak, Isaac H. Simpson, T. Crook, L. A. Simpson, Orvill Cronkhite, Joseph H. Merritt, S. I. Dunhan, H Winchell, I. Tate, M. Lupton, J. C. Raffety, David Killham, A. Hostetter, John G. Joslin, G. H. Ford, Henry Booth, C. C. Reed, Ambrose Parsons.
The petit jurors were F. Dalbey, Joshua Johnson, G. B. Laughlin, Barrett Whittemore, J. E. Greene, Daniel Vance, Richard Cleveland, I. Merritt, Moses Garrison, Alexander Staney, Jacob Cornwall, Benjamin Chaplin, J. E. Lovejoy, P. H. Turner, W. H. Jones, Alvin Winchell, Harry Hargodem, O Delong, C. Russell, James Spencer, George H. Brown, Clark Joslin, Eli Brown, George H. Walworth.
The only indictment found by the grand jury is recorded as follows:
|
UNITED STATES
VS
ROBERT SNOWDEN | |
| Indictment for assault to commit great bodily
injury. A true bill. |
Two cases came up for hearing, both being by appeal from Justices' Courts. One was dismissed, and the other continued until the next session of court. The first court continued two days. The petit jury was not called.
The next court was held September, 1841.
We find no record of a term of court from September, 1845, till May, 1847. During this time, the county seat was at Newport. In May, 1847, Judge Wilson presided at Edinburg, and in September, 1847, at Lexington. |
|
| | COMMISSIONERS' ACTS
In April, 1841, we find $6 appropriated to Donald Sutherland for rent of rooms in which the County Board had held its meetings.
Henry Hopkins was the first Prosecuting Attorney, and was allowed $34 for his services, at the meeting of the Board in March, 1842.
October 3, 1842, was approved the Territorial road from Dubuque to Marion, on that portion of it which was included in Jones County. James Butler and P. Scott were the Commissioners appointed by the Legislature to view the same.
The first licensed ferry of which we have record was granted Adam Overacker, across the Wapsipinicon at Newport. The license was for the consideration of $2, continued for one year from April 13 1847. A two-horse vehicle was charged 25 cents; one-horse, 12 ½ cents; footman, 6 ½ cents, etc.
In order to fund the increasing floating indebtedness, and to maintain the county warrants as near par as possible, it was ordered, October 7, 1850, that the Clerk of Commissioners' Court issue bonds of the county, bearing 10 per cent interest, due in five years, the bonds to be for $50 each, and not to exceed forty in number. These bonds were to be issued to any one who would present the Treasurer's receipt for the amount of their face.
In 1851-1852, various State roads were surveyed and platted, among which were highways from Anamosa to Bellevue; Anamosa to Garnavillo; Clayton County; Cascade, by way of Canton, to Maquoketa; Cascade to Garry Owen; Denson's Ferry to the house of Thomas McNally; Anamosa to the Davenport and Marion road; Anamosa to Camanche; Fairview to Tipton. |
|
 From A. T. Andreas' Illustrated Historical Atlas of Iowa, by Alfred Theodore Andreas, Chicago, Andreas Atlas Co., 1875, page 92. Printed by Lakeside Press, Chicago. | | COUNTY SEAT QUESTIONS
Almost every Western county has found the location of a permanent seat of justice a vexatious problem. In this respect, Jones County has not been an exception.
The Commissioners appointed by the Legislature for the purpose of choosing a site for the county seat fixed upon a spot one-half mile north of the geographical center of the county, as has been elsewhere related. The town here laid out received the name of Edinburg. As yet, we cannot say with Burns:
"Edina! Scotia's darling seat!
All hail thy palaces and towers!" |
The palaces and towers did not grow. The soil was obstinate. A quagmire was its only park; the wild prairie its only scenery. A visitor thus describes it:
"Edinburg was a city of grass. Its streets run in all directions. In fact, it was all street. You could wander over its entire extent without getting sight of a single wall, brick, stone or wood. The earth below and the blue vault above were the only signs that the place was intended for human habitation; and, as all cities require ornament of some kind, a bounteous nature had planted there and reared a few scattering trees. Such was Edinburg in the summer of 1840."
A log cabin was erected as a Court House, commodious in size for the sparse population of Jones County in that day, in which Judge Wilson dispensed the justice meted out to Territorial settlers by the Federal Court. In April, 1841, we find, by the Commissioners' record, that E. Sutherland was allowed $140 for building this primitive capitol building, and, a few months later James Spencer appears as claimant for $50 on account of work done in rendering comfortable this same building.
Another log cabin was erected by William Hutton, who was, at that time, Commissioners' Clerk, as well as Clerk of the District Court. This cabin was occupied as a dry-goods store and grocery, especially the latter, which was stocked mostly with "corn juice." The store, not proving a profitable investment, was soon abandoned, and the same enterprising Clerk erected a two-story frame hotel, where he might entertain the Judge, jury and witnesses by night after recording their doings by day. This hotel is said to have been furnished with nothing save a few chairs; a sheet-iron parlor stove; the public table made of two rough boards laid lengthwise; and by way of night's lodging, a load or two of nice prairie hay, cut a few hours previously, and pitched into the upper windows.
Edinburg appears to have had no advantages over a dozen other places, save its central position. It manifested no signs of growth, and the people became rapidly dissatisfied. Other towns were growing up in the county, and it was but natural that the pioneers should prefer going to some settlement when they visited the county seat, instead of journeying out into the wilderness. No county officers made it his residence throughout the year. William Hutton, the Clerk, lived at Farm Creek. The Recorder was to be found at Fairview, and probate business received attention at Cascade. This state of affairs bred discontent. Nobody was satisfied, not even the county officers themselves. Finally, a petition was sent to the Legislature for relief, and a bill was passed in that body, providing that the Commissioners of Jones County should assemble and name two places to be voted upon by the citizens, deciding in that way their choice for county seat.
February 28, 1846, the Commissioners held a special meeting at the house of George G. Banghart for that purpose. By a species of playing into one another's hands, now commonly known as log-rolling, the Commissioners arranged matters to suit the individual preferences, and named the point now known as Newport, and a place adjoining Cascade, on the south side of the river. The latter was on the corner of the county, on the line, and between the two places. Newport received the majority of the votes. The result was viewed rather in the light of a joke. There was a solitary dwelling where Newport was to be laid out, the cabin of Adam Overacker.
May 11, 1846, the County Commissioners held their first meeting at the new seat of justice. The ground on which Newport was located was given to the county by Adam Overacker, being a ten-acre tract described as Lot 2, Section 33, Township 84, Range 3 west. Here the town was duly platted, and in July, at Sheriff's sale, twenty-eight lots were sold in behalf of the county. The proceeds of this sale aggregated $30.12, or an average of less than $11 per lot. The highest prize paid was $26 by Levi Cronkhite.
Preparations were made here for the erection of a log court house, and some of the timbers were placed on the ground, but nothing was ever done toward its completion. The Commissioners rented a room from Adam Overacker for their meeting, and made arrangements with him to supply rooms to accommodate the court at the proper season.
When Judge Wilson reached the spot, he found there was no place prepared for holding court, save in a room of the log shanty; saw no other houses in the vicinity, and nought in view save trees and waving prairie-grass, he got into his buggy and drove to his home in Dubuque. No term of court was held during the time the county seat was at Newport. The result of the election which fixed upon Newport was generally looked upon as a joke. It satisfied no one except Adam Overacker, and was much less suited to the needs of the county than Edinburg. As soon as possible, the assistance of the Legislature was again called in, and privilege was granted by that body to vote for a county seat, according to their own inclinations. If this election should not show a majority for any one point, a second election should be held, in which the two places having the greatest number of votes in the first election should be the only ones in the field.
On the first election, in the spring of 1847, five points were returned, viz: Lexington, Newport, Rome, Monticello and Scotch Grove. No votes were given to Edinburg. Newport and Lexington stood highest, and in the second contest, about two weeks later, a victory resulted in favor of Lexington, whose name was afterward changed by authority of Judge Wilson, of the District Court, to Anamosa.
After the election, the Commissioners met June 10, 1847, at Edinburg. They adjoined till 7 o'clock, June 11, when they immediately took a recess to meet at 1 o'clock in the afternoon at Lexington. We might, therefore, say that this town became the county seat between 7 A.M. and 1 P.M., June 11, 1847. The house of G. H. Ford was temporarily secured for court purposes and the transaction of county business.
Lexington had been surveyed by R. J. Cleveland, June 18, 1846, with Mahan & Crockwell as proprietors. It was replatted, with provision for a public square, in June, 1847, by H. Mahan, John D. Crockwell and G. H. Ford, who, in accordance with a previous pledge, donated to the county of Jones fifty lots of the new town and a public square. Of these lots, forty-eight were sold at the July term of the Commissioners' Board, realizing to the county $725.
The contract for building a two-story frame court house was let to G. H. Ford at $800. This building was 30x40 feet, and could not have been built at so low a price had it not been that most of the necessary material was already donated to the county. This court house was first occupied January 3, 1848.
Various attempts have been made in later years to remove the county seat from Anamosa to a more central locality.
In the vote of April 6, 1857, a contest was waged between Anamosa and Madison, with a result of 1,024 to 717 in favor of the former.
In the following year, an attempt to remove the seat of justice to the northeast quarter of Section 1, Jackson Township, failed of a majority by 33 votes. The ballot stood 1,278 to 1,245.
In October, 1874, the people were called upon to decide between Anamosa and Center Junction. The contest was a bitter one, and not without some fear on the part of the friends of Anamosa. The latter, however, were successful by a vote of 1,993 to 1,592.
The court house above mentioned, as built by G. H. Ford in 1847, was used by the county until 1864. Some brick offices had also been erected, which stood, with the court house, down in the part known as the "old town" of Anamosa. Though the old building did good service for the county for some eighteen years, yet it was not free from the gnawings of the "tooth of time," and we find, in the midwinter meeting of the Board of Supervisors, the following resolutions offered:
|
WHEREAS, H. C. Metcalf has generously offered to Jones County suitable rooms for county offices and a commodious hall in which to hold the District Court, for the term of two years free of rent, with the privilege of using the same three years longer for such rent as the Board of Supervisors may see fit to allow, and |
| WHEREAS, The ruinous and dilapidated condition of the building known as the Jones County Court House, now only renders it a fit habitation for bats and owls, and as we, the representatives of Jones County, do not desire longer to dispute possession with a class of tenants whose claims are vastly superior to ours, therefore |
| Reso'ved, That this Board accept said proposition and order a removal of the public records as soon as said Metcalf shall make to the county a lease of the aforesaid rooms, in accordance with the conditions above stated. |
This resolution was finally adopted on the sixth day of the term, January, 1864. The old Court House was sold at auction November 15, 1864, to E. B. Alderman for $250, and was moved up town.
The rooms rented of Mr. Metcalf were occupied free of rent for two years, when they were leased at the rate of $250 per year. The county offices remained here until the fall of 1871, when they were removed to their present location in Shaw's new block. The court room was removed to Lehmkuhl's Block in January, 1871, the hall in Metcalf's building being inadequate to needs of the county. For three years, the county rented the rooms occupied by the county. During the time of the contest for the county seat between Center Junction and Anamosa, the latter city in its corporate capacity appropriated $3,000 and private citizens subscribed $2,000 more, with which amount an $1,000 additional pledged, the entire second floor of Shaw's Block and the Auditor's office on the first floor were purchased and conveyed to the county of Jones, to belong to said county so long as they were occupied for county and court purposed. In the event that the county seat is removed from Anamosa, these rooms are to revert to their former owners, the city and citizens of Anamosa. |
|
 CountyJail & Sheriff's Residence (from Souvenir Album of Anamosa, IowaSummer of 1891, published by C. E. Littlefield and F. A. Roehl. Photographed at the Anamosa Public Library by Jim Christianson) | | THE COUNTY JAIL
Previous to the summer of 1864, Jones County was without a jail. Few of her people seemed to have a desire to occupy such a structure, and there was little need for one. In October, 1863, was submitted to the people the question of building a Court House and Jail, and was defeated by a vote of 1,348 to 656. In the following June, a petition was presented to the Board of Supervisors, asking an appropriation for the purpose of building a jail alone. The matter being referred to a committee, they presented a report recommending "that the county appropriate the sum of $2,000 for said purpose, provided the grounds on which to build the same are donated and deeded in fee simple to the county. Said $2,000 to be expended as set forth in said petition, under the charge of a competent committee to be appointed by the Chairman of this Board, and that no part of the aforesaid $2,000 shall be drawn from the county, nor shall the contract for building said jail be let, until the said committee certify to the Clerk of this Board that the citizens have subscribed and paid unto said committee the sum of $1,000, and that said committee proceed to select the grounds and erect said jail as soon as possible." The report was adopted, and Supervisor E. B. Alderman, T. O. Bishop and C. T. Lamson were appointed a committee to carry out the purpose of the report.
The present site was immediately selected, and at a meeting held in Anamosa June 13, 1864, $620 was raised by subscription in about fifteen minutes. Several days later, the full amount necessary was contributed and the jail erected forthwith.
Jones County Jail is a two-story stone structure, about thirty feet square, and containing three strong and secure stone cells. The remainder of the building is occupied the jailer's apartment. A frame addition has likewise been added to enlarge the dwelling portion.
The prison accommodations of the present building are not commensurate with the needs of the county, and before many years the jail will from necessity be enlarged or its place supplied by a more commodious structure. |
|
 This photo of unidentified county officers was was taken about 1900, many years after most of the people mentioned in the text. From Picturesque Anamosa, compiled and published by W. Leon Hall, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, ca. 1900. Submitted by Lois O'Donnell. | | COUNTY AND LEGISLATIVE OFFICERS
We present, as a matter of reference, a roster of the officials whom Jones County has been delighted to honor since its organization. This list was compiled with no small labor, and, in the absence of election records prior to 1852, is not quite complete; but it can be relied upon, we believe, so far as we have ventured to give it.
The pioneers will remember that county affairs were first under the administration of a board of three County Commissioners, viz.:
1839, Thomas S. Denson, Charles P. Hutton and .
1840, Thomas S. Denson, Charles P. Hutton and H. G. Seely.
1841, Charles P. Hutton, H. G. Seely and Thomas S. Denson.
1842, H. G. Seely, George H. Brown and Charles P. Hutton.
1843, Ambrose Parsons, Charles P. Hutton and William Dalton.
1844, William Dalton, Adam Kramar and Ambrose Parsons.
1845, William Dalton, George G. Banghart and Adam Kramar.
1846, Adam Kramar, M. H. Hutton and George G. Banghart.
1847, Washington Lamb, M. H. Hutton and George G. Banghart.
1848, Charles L. D. Crockwell, Washington Lamb and M. H. Hutton.
1849, C. L. D. Crockwell, Thomas McNally and Washington Lamb.
1850, Thomas McNally, Thomas Green and C. L. D. Crockwell.
Clerks of Commissioners' Court184144, William Hutton; 184447, Barrett Whittemore; 1847-51, C. C. Rockwell.
In 1851, the management of county affairs passed into the hands of the County Judge, an office created at that time by the State Legislature, in which was vested, substantially, all the powers previously held by the Board of Commissioners.
County Judges185155, Joseph Mann; 185557, G. C. Mudgett; 185759, J. J. Huber; 185961, William H. Holmes.
In January, 1861, the office of County Judge was so modified as to have jurisdiction only of probate and similar business. The administration of county affairs passed into the hands of a Board of Supervisors, composed of one Supervisor from each township. The Board had four regular meetings annually.
Supervisors1861, John Russell, W. H. Hickman, Thomas J. Peak, M. C. Thompson, M. H. Nickisson, Philo Norton, D. N. Monroe, Daniel Leery, H. T. Cunningham, William Leech, Thomas Green, John Decions, Benjamin Freeman, A. A. Reilly, William Hogg, Lawrence Schoonover.
1862, S. Hopkins, William H. Hickman, D. Graham, T. O. Bishop, D. N. Monroe, L. D. Brainard, Benjamin Freeman, A. A. Reilly, William Leech, Thomas McNally, H. T. Cunningham, M. C. Thompson, P. G. Bonewitz, M. C. Walters, John McLees, Philo Norton.
1863, P. G. Bonewitz, Philo Norton, Samuel H. Clark, M. C. Walters, J. Tallman, Joseph Apt, S. Hopkins, David Graham, Franklin Dalby, B. K. Bronson, A. S. Hale, John Waite, Thomas McNally, John McLees, S. P. Southwick, T. O. Bishop.
1864, S. H. Clark, F. M. Hicks, P. G. Bonewitz, Franklin Dalby, John Tallman, Joseph Apt, E. B. Alderman, B. K. Bronson, Philo Norton, A. S. Hale, T. O. Bishop, S. P. Southwick, James McDaniel, Leman Palmer, Thomas McNally, John Waite.
1865, S. P. Southwick, A. S. Hale, Leman Palmer, L. C. Niles, E. B. Alderman, John Waite, W. H. Walworth, Franklin Dalby, John Thompson, S. H. Clark, P. G. Bonewitz, Blakeslee, Thomas McNally, Joseph Apt, James McDaniel, T. O. Bishop.
1866, A. S. Hale, H. P. Southwick, J. W. Jenkins, E. B. Alderman, T. O. Bishop, S. M. Johnson, L. C. Niles, John Waite, J. Thompson, S. H Clark, P. G. Bonewitz, W. T. Fordham, A. H. Marvin, Leman Palmer, Michael Kenny, F. Dawson.
1867, J. W. Jenkins, T. O. Bishop, E. B. Alderman, S. M. Johnson, A. H. Marvin, P. G. Bonewitz, H. Steward, W. T. Fordham, A. J. Dalby, A. G. Pangburn, G. W. Lathrop, M. C. Thompson, William M. Starr, J. Sutherland, Francis Dawson, Michael Kenny.
1868, M. C. Thompson, William M. Starr, E. E. Brown, Joseph Cool, T. O. Bishop, A. J. Dalby, Anson Hayden, A. G. Pangburn, A. A. Reilly, Francis Dawson, H. Steward, John Sutherland, Michael Kenny, R. G. Bonewitz, W. T. Fordham, S. M. Yoran.
1869, Hiram Steward, J. A. Crawford, John Wilson, E. E. Browne, H. C. Metcalf, T. O. Bishop, P. V. Farley, A. Hayden, A. G. Pangburn, S. M. Yoran, A. A. Reilly, B. Connell, John Sutherland, Michael Kenny, P. G. Bonewitz, John Tasker.
1870, George W. Lovell, J. A. Crawford, John Tasker, A. G. Pangburn, David Grafft, J. S. Lathrop, Ezekeil Oliphant, Hiram Steward, M. C. Walters, Peter V. Farley, D. Gardner, A. A. Reilly, John Sutherland, T. O. Bishop, Thomas McNally, H. C. Metcalf.
In 1870, the Supervisor system was changed so as to place the business in the hands of three men, who should be chosen for a term of three years, from the county at large, one new member entering each year, after the manner of the former Commissioners.
1871, Hiram Steward, John Tasker, S. Y. Yoran.
1872, A. G. Pangburn, S. M. Yoran, Hiram Steward.
1873, Hiram Steward, John Waite, S. M. Yoran.
By vote of the electors of the county, it was carried, October, 1872, to increase the number of Supervisors to five.
1874, J. A. Crawford, Hiram Steward, G. G. Banghart, John Sutherland, W. J. Brainard.
1875, W. J. Brainard, J. A. Crawford, Joseph Cool, Hiram Steward, G. G. Banghart.
1876, M. C. Thompson, F. Griswold, W. J. Brainard, S. H. Clark, G. G. Banghart.
1877, S. H. Clark, M. C. Walters, M. C. Thompson, H. C. Freeman, F. Griswold.
1878, F. Griswold, H. C. Freeman, M. C. Thompson, S. H. Clark, M. C. Walters.
1879, M. C. Walters, S. H. Clark, H. C. Freeman, L. Schoonover, John Bates.
Sheriffs183944, Hugh Brown; September, 184446, M. Q. Simpson; September, 184650, G. B. Laughlin; September, 185052, S. J. Dunham; April, 1852, to September, 1853, F. M. Hicks; September, 185357, Samuel Lawrence; September, 1857, to January, 1860, N. S. Noble; January, 1860-62, H. H. Metcalf; January 186268, David Kinert; January, 186874, O. B. Crane; January, 187476, A. J. Byerly; January, 1876, P. O. Babcock, the present incumbent.
Clerks of District Court184148, William Hutton; September, 184850, John D. Walworth; September, 185052, J. A. Secrist; September 1852, to April, 1856, W. W. Wilson; April, 1856, to September 1856, David Kinert; September, 1856, to January, 1861, E. T. Mullett; January, 186167, G. P. Dietz, January, 186775, J. C. Dietz; January, 1875, B. H. White, present incumbent.
Recorders184142, Clark Joslin; September 184247, Edmond Booth; September, 184749, William Sterling; September 184951, Ira. B. Ryan; September 185153, Samuel T. Buxton; September, 185357, Jonas J. Huber, September, 1857, to January, 1860, F. S. McKean; January, 186065, John D. Walworth, January, 186569, J. S. Perfect; January, 186975, Richard McDaniels; January, 1875, R. L. Duer, present incumbent.
TreasurersPrior to 1865, the Recorder performed the duties of Treasurer. January 186668, W. Cronkhite; January, 186874, L. Schoonover; January, 187476, J. H. Dickey; January, 1876, Thomas E. Patterson, present incumbent.
AuditorsA portion of the Auditor's present duties were performed by the County Judge from 1861 to 1870. The first Auditor was elected October, 1869; January, 187074, Charles Kline; January, 1874, Robert Doll, present incumbent.
County SuperintendentsThis office was established in 1859. January, 186062, B. F. Shaw; January, 186264, H. D. Sherman; January, 186466, D. Harper; January, 186668, L. Carpenter; January, 186870, J. R. Stillman; January 187072, Alexander Hughes; January, 187274, E. B. Champlin; January, 187476, G. O. Johnson; January, 1876, O. E. Aldrich, the present incumbent.
CoronersNo record exists prior to 1851. September, 185153, G. H. Ford; September, 185354, Alexander Rooney; September, 185455, William Haddock; September, 185557, Alexander Delong; September, 185759, M. H. Byerly; September, 1859, to January, 1864, E. Dalby; January, 186476, V. C. Williston; January, 187678, George W. Birdsall; January, 1878, V. C. Williston, present incumbent.
County SurveyorsL. A. Simpson was, probably, the first to fill this office. From his time until 1851, there is no reliable record. September, 1851-53, Moses A. Clark; September, 185355, E. K. Johnson; September, 185557, Lewis W. Stewart; September, 1857, to January, 1860, George Welch; January, 186062, John Leery; January, 186264, Henry D. Smith; January, 1864-66, F. Merriman; January, 186672, D. L. Blakeslee; January, 187274, R. O. Peters; January, 187476, T. J. Townsend; January, 1876, O. Burlingame, present incumbent.
County Judges1851, Joseph Mann; September, 185557, G. C. Mudgett; September, 1857, to January, 1860, J. J. Huber; January, 186062, William H. Holmes; January, 1862-64, John S. Stacey; January, 186470, D. McCarn.
Judges of District CourtsThomas S. Wilson was Judge of the District which included Jones County while Iowa continued a Territory, 184146. The county under State government became a part of the Second District, over which James Grant, of Scott County, presided five years, beginning April 5, 1847. T. S. Wilson, of Dubuque County, became Judge in April, 1852. Jones became a part of the Eighth Judicial District February 9, 1853. Of this district, the Judges have been as follows: William E. Leffingwell, of Clinton County, elected April 4, 1853; John B. Booth, of Jackson County, appointed 1854; William H. Tuthill, of Cedar County, elected April 2, 1855; William E. Miller, elected October 12, 1858; Norman W. Isbell, elected October 14, 1862; Charles H. Conklin, appointed August 19, 1964, and elected Nov. 8, following; N. M. Hubbard, appointed November 15, 1865; James H. Rothrock, elected October 9, 1866; John Shane, came into office, January, 1876, and is now the presiding Judge of the Eighth District.
In 1869, the business of this Court was so great that a new Court was created called the Circuit Court. The Judges have been, 1869, to January, 1873, Sylvanus Yates; January, 1873, John McKean, now presiding. |
|
| | LEGISLATIVE REPRESENTATION
In October, 1844, the first Constitutional Convention met in Iowa City. Jones County was represented by John Taylor. The second Constitutional Convention met May 4, 1846, in which Jones County was represented by S. G. Matson. Jones County sent A. H. Marvin, of Monticello, to the third Constitutional Convention, which met at Iowa City January 19, 1857.
In the Territorial Council183840, Cedar, Johnson, Jones and Linn Counties sent Charles Whittlesey; 184042, Jones and Linn Counties sent George Green; 184244, Jones and Linn Counties sent John P. Cook; 184446, Jones and Linn Counties sent William Abbe.
To the State Senate184650, Jones and Jackson Counties sent Philip P. Bradley; 185054, Jones and Jackson Counties sent Nathan G. Sales; 185458, Jones County sent William H. Holmes; 185862, Jones and Jackson Counties sent Joseph Mann; 186264, Jones County sent W. H. Holmes; 186466, Jones County sent Ezekiel Cutler; 186670, Jones County sent S. S. Farwell; 187074, Jones County sent John McKean; 187478, Jones County sent George W. Lovell.
During the past session of the Legislature, Jones County had no Senator. In the new apportionment, Cedar and Jones elect as senator together. The Cedar County Senator holding over two years longer than the Jones County official, the Senator from Cedar occupies the place at present. John Russell was elected Oct. 14, 1879, to serve 188084, Jones and Cedar Counties.
Representatives183839, Robert G. Roberts; from Cedar, Johnson, Jones and Linn Counties; 183940, George H. Walworth, from Jones and Linn Counties; 184041, Harman Van Antwerp and George H. Walworth, from Jones and Linn Counties; 184142, Samuel P. Higginson and Thomas Denson, from Jones and Linn Counties; 184243, George H. Walworth and John C. Berry, from Jones and Cedar Counties; 184344, George H. Walworth and Robert Smythe, from Jones and Cedar Counties; 184446, Joseph K. Snyder and John Taylor, from Jones, Linn and Cedar Counties; 184648, S. G. Matson and George F. Green, from Jones and Jackson Counties; 184850, D. A. Mahoney and N. G. Sales, from Jones and Jackson Counties; 185052, R. B. Wykoff and John E. Goodenow, from Jones and Jackson Counties; 185254, John Taylor, from Jones County; 185456, W. H. Holmes, from Jones County; 185658, W. H. Holmes, from Jones County, and William Thomas, from Jackson and Jones Counties; 185860, H. Steward, from Jones County, and W. S. Johnson, Jones and Jackson Counties; 186062, John Taylor, from Jones County; 186264, O. Whittemore and John Russell; 186466, John Russell and J. H. Fuller; 186670, John McKean and John Russell; 187072, John Russell and P. G. Bonewitz; 187274, P. G. Bonewitz and John Tasker; 187476, John W. Moore and G. O. Bishop; 187678, William T. Shaw and George W. Lathrop; 187880, S. M. Yoran; 188082, S. M. Yoran. |
|
| | RAILROADS
The first railroad in Iowa was commenced in 1854. Previous to this time, the struggle for a railroad had begun in Jones County. May 2, 1852, had been incorporated the Iowa Central Air Line Company, an organization which for a number of years figured quite conspicuously in Central Iowa, and which Jones County people have abundant cause to remember for years to come, and with no grateful remembrance.
This Company was incorporated at the date named, by the following persons, most of whom are Iowa men:
Jonas Clark, John E. Goodenow, J. W. Jenkins, Russel Perham, Alonzo Spaulding, Elisha F. Clark, Daniel Rhodes, David Sears, Ira Minard, Charles Butler, Elisha C. Litchfield, G. S. Hubbard, S. S. Jones, S. M. Hitt, George W. Waite, William Ferdman, L. H. Bowen, O. Emerson, George Greene, A. F. Steadman, D. M. McIntosh, Isaac Whittam, N. B. Brown, S. D. Carpenter, D. W. King, N. W. Isbell, Charles Nye, Thomas J. McKean, L. D. Jordan, E. Vanmeter, Dan Lothian, M. E. McKenny, S. C. Bever, William Haddock, J. H. Fisher, H. C. Metcalf, W. H. Eldridge, Porter Sargeant, E. A. Wood.
The purpose of the corporation, as set forth in the articles, were "the construction, operation and use of a railroad with double or single track, and with all necessary appendages, branches and extensions. The main trunk or continuous line of said road was to commence on the Mississippi River, at or near Sabula, and run thence westerly on or near the Forty-second Parallel of latitude to the Missouri River, and ultimately thence westerly through the South Pass to California.
The stock of the Air Line Company was to be $10,000,000, with the privilege of increasing it. A survey was made through to the Missouri River, passing through Maquoketa, Anamosa, Marion, Cedar Rapids, Marshalltown, and crossing the Missouri River just west of Onawa. Negotiations were opened up for a land grant and not much else was done for several years An act of Congress, of May 15, 1856, granted to the State of Iowa upward of three million acres of Government lands, to be expended in building railroads. The act provided to give a company building a road from Lyons to a point at or near Maquoketa, and thence west on the line of the Air Line road to the Missouri River, every alternate section designated by odd numbers within six miles on either side of the line of road, and where the land within this distance was already sold or pre-empted, the State was to select an equivalent amount of land within fifteen miles on either side of the road.
The grant from the Legislature to the Iowa Central Air Line Company provided that the line should be definitely fixed and located before April 1, 1857, and that if the road did not have seventy-five miles completed prior to December 1, 1859, or did not have the road completed before December 1, 1865, that all unsold lands should revert to the State.
The land grant to this and other roads gave a tremendous impetus to railroad building in Iowa for several years. The land grant to the Air Line Company alone was estimated by its President at 906,480 acres. The report of June 2, 1858, represents $1,210,000 as already expended upon the road, most of which was disbursed in securing the lands of the Company.
The projected line was to cross Jones County, passing through both Wyoming and Anamosa. The county in its corporate capacity was called upon for help, and before the land grant had been secured, in June, 1853, almost immediately after the formation of the Company, a petition was presented to the County Judge, asking for a vote subscribing $80,000 stock in the new Company, to be paid in county bonds drawing 8 per cent interest. These bonds were to be liquidated by an annual tax of 1 per cent. The proposition was carried by a vote of 459 to 240.
The stock, however, was not subscribed nor the bonds issued until June 15, 1856, following the Congressional land grant, nor were the bonds delivered even at that time. December 25, 1856, an agreement was entered into between G. C. Mudgett, County Judge, and S. S. Jones, President of the Air Line Company, providing that the bonds should be issued only so rapidly as the work was carried on in the limits of the county of Jones.
At that time, the stock of the Railroad Company was above par, and it was agreed on the part of the corporation, that if the county would relinquish all right to the divided upon the stock of the Company, that the latter would agree to pay the interest upon the county's bonds. This would simply amount to the county of Jones lending her name as security to the railroad, which, in the roseate hue hanging over railroad prospects, was a very small favor. Stock of the Company, to be held in trust for the county, was immediately delivered to three Trustees-N.G. Sales, of Anamosa; Robert Smythe, of Marion, and Jas. Hazlett, Sr., of Lyons.
Under this agreement, the work of grading was immediately commenced in Jones County, and, in a short time, $54,000 of county bonds had been issued.
It is a well-known fact that the Air Line Company failed on account of reckless management and open rascality on the part of the President and other officers. The magnificent land grant of the company was of itself sufficient to have completed the enterprise to the Missouri River, and the Company would also have received cordial help from cities and citizens all along the line. Nothing was done. The affair was a suicide. December 1, 1859, the time when the road should have seventy-five miles of road completed or forfeit the grant, came around, and not a mile of iron had been laid, and the magnificent gift of the Government passed into the hands of the Cedar Rapids & Missouri River Railroad.
Of course, the Air Line Company never paid a cent of interest upon the bonds of the county. Suits were entered in the United States Court by bondholders against the county of Jones in default of the payment of interest. The plaintiff secured judgment.
Forty-six of the fifty-four thousand dollars bonds were held by David J. Lake, of Chicago. In May, 1865, a compromise was effected by the county's paying Lake seventy cents on the dollar due, principal and interest. Six thousand more were redeemed about the same time from other parties at nearly the same rate. One bond, held by G. W. Bettesworth, was settled by the payment of $1,920.70, principal and interest, on the part of the county, while Bettesworth surrendered the bond and conveyed 4,590 acres of land to Jones County, which afterwards sold at such a figure as to prove a good investment. The fifty-fourth bond was canceled some years later.
About 1852, there was projected a road from Dubuque to Keokuk, by way of Anamosa, Marion and Iowa City. This departure from a direct line gave to the enterprise the vulgar name of the "Rams-Horn." An incorporation was formed, with the Langworthys of Dubuque, Lincoln Clark and William T. Shaw among the leaders. This road, as originally laid out, proved a failure, but along part of its line was built the Dubuque Western.
On the occasion of the completion of this road to Anamosa, the following notice of it appeared in the Anamosa Eureka:
"Friday evening, 9th of March, year of grace 1860, was a joyous time in Anamosa.
| "'Punctual as lovers to the moment sworn,' |
and punctual to the hour of 8 o'clock, came in the first train of cars from Dubuque. A crowd was at the depot, and the welcome was deep and cordial.
"The road was commenced in July, 1857. In October following, came the revulsion throughout the country; but the work continued through the winter, and subsequently struggled on, now and then, amid the trying stringency of the money market until last autumn, when, by a money arrangement with C. W. Theo. Krausch, the late Chief Engineer of the New York & Erie Railroad, the entire superintendency was transferred to him, and most nobly has he performed his task, proving his high competency as a railroad builder and manager.
"Prominent among the men to whom we are indebted for this great and glorious work, we are bound to accord all honor to L. H. Langworthy, F. S. Winslow, H. A. Wiltse, E. Stimpson, H. Gelpcke and C. W. Theo. Krausch, of Dubuque, with W. T. Shaw, of Anamosa. Others, too, have aided us most effectively in the trying hours of the past two years. To Mr. Shaw we at this end of the line are largely indebted. His cool and ready clear-sightedness, as a liberal stockholder and Director from the beginning, has contributed, in a great measure, to the success of the project."
At the time of the breaking-out of the war, the road was being pushed westward toward Marion, and W. T. Shaw was superintending the construction. On the day that Mr. Shaw received his commission as Colonel of an Iowa regiment, he dismissed the men he had employed, and, abruptly as Putnam left the plow, proceeded to the field in service of his country. The building of the road was at a standstill for several years, and was not completed to Marion until about 1865. The present terminus of the road is Cedar Rapids.
Ten thousand dollars in bonds of the city of Anamosa were voted to aid the Dubuque Western road in building, but only a fraction of these were ever issued. Farmers and citizens along the line aided liberally by subscriptions.
The road has several times changed hands and names, passing into possession of bondholders, and, in 1878, to the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. It has been known by the names of Dubuque Western, Dubuque, Marion & Western, the Dubuque & South-Western, and, finally, as a part of the Western Union Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul.
It should have been stated, in connection with the early history of this road, that on May 9, 1857, the question of taking $100,000 stock, by issuing county bonds to that amount, was submitted to the people and lost by a vote of 567 to 828. A similar proposition was defeated in August of the same year, by a vote of 716 to 368.
Quite a number of railroads projected in Jones County existed only on paper, and, except as companies or paper corporations, had no existence at all. Among the first of these, one was formed to build a road from Cascade to Anamosa, to connect at the former place with the great North-Western Railway projected through that point. A meeting was held December 9, 1856, at which Articles of Incorporation were adopted and the following persons elected a Board of Directors: S. W. McMasters, John Lorain, L. C. McKinney, A. S. Chew, S. S. Merrill, G. W. Trumbull, T. J. Chew, James Hill, William P. Wightman, W. S. Hall, N. G. Sales, Joseph Mann, C. L. D. Crockwell. The road was never begun, and the corporation soon collapsed.
With greater pretensions was organized, March 19, 1857, the Wapsipinicon & St. Peters Valley Railroad Company, whose purpose was to build a continuous line of road, to commence at Anamosa and run thence northwest through Quasqueton, Independence and Fairbanks, and thence northwesterly to the north line of the State. The capital stock was fixed at $5,000,000.
This was intended as a feeder to the Air Line route, and was looked upon as a very probable enterprise in the palmy days of the Air Line bubble. The people of Jones County were given an opportunity, in May, 1857, to decide whether the county, in its corporate capacity, should take $100,000 stock in the Wapsipinicon & St. Peters Valley Railroad. The voters said nay, the scheme being defeated by a vote of 1,067 to 375.
The first officers of this Company were: D. S. Davis, President; Wm H. Gibbs, Vice President; E. C Bidwell, Secretary; H. P. Henshaw, Treasurer; D. S. Lee, Attorney; Directors-F. C. Patterson, Rufus Connable, P. A. Brooks, L. W. Hart, S. V. Thompson, N. G. Sales, G. H. Ford, J. S. Dimmett.
January 12, 1859, were adopted Articles of Association of what was called the "Anamosa Branch of the Tipton Railway," for the purpose of building a branch to Tipton. The five Directors elected were Wm T. Shaw, David Graham and H. C. Metcalf, of Anamosa, O. Cronkhite and D. A. Carpenter, of Rome.
The partly graded road-bed, between Lyons and Maquoketa, of the exploded Air Line road, found its way into the Mississippi, Maquoketa & Western Company. In March, 1870, the Midland Company was organized at Des Moines, to build a road from Clinton to Maquoketa, with the probability that it would go farther west. The Mississippi, Maquoketa & Western sold the road-bed and franchise to the Midland for $18,000. The cars were running into Maquoketa in December, 1870. A fortunate rivalry springing up between the Chicago & North-Western, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, entitled the cordial support of the first-named road to the Midland. William T. Shaw was President until March, 1871, at which time the road passed under complete control of the Chicago & North-Western Company, though a separate organization is still maintained. The road was immediately pushed on from Maquoketa to Anamosa, being completed to the latter place in October, 1871. The citizens of the latter place subscribed about $35,000 in stock, though little was paid, and Fairview Township voted to its aid a 3 per cent tax, amounting to nearly $15,000.
At present writing, the Midland is building further west, through with what objective point it is not known. It ceases to be a Jones County enterprise.
The Sabula, Ackley & Dakota Railroad was projected especially by the citizens of Ackley and Sabula, and was designed as a western branch to connect with the Western Union road at Savanna, Ill. The building of the road commenced in 1870. The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, jealous of the progress of the Midland road, lent its aid to the building of the Sabula, Ackley & Dakota. A bitter rivalry sprang up between the two enterprises, and each did what they could to injure the progress of the other. The North-Western came out first in the race, at least so far as the building of the road was concerned. When the cars were running into Anamosa over the Midland, the western terminus of the Sabula road was at Preston, only about twenty miles from its starting-point. In the summer of 1872, the road was completed to Rome, in Jones County. The western terminus of the road, which now belongs to the Western Union Division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company, is Cedar Rapids. The road traverses the southern tier of townships of Jones County, passing through a most excellent piece of country.
The Davenport & St. Paul Railroad was a Davenport enterprise, whose chief spirit was its President, Hon. Hiram Price. This road passes through Wyoming and Monticello. Cascade made a determined effort to secure the road from Wyoming to that point, but in vain. The cars over this line were running into Wyoming December 22, 1871. The road is gradually nearing the northern line of the State, and will, doubtless, in time, bring Jones County in direct connection with its proposed northern terminus, St. Paul. The line has been recently purchased by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Company. The corporation, therefore, own and operate three lines of road traversing Jones County, viz., the Sabula, Ackley & Dakota, Davenport & North-Western, and the Dubuque & South-Western, or, in all, a total of seventy miles of road.
In April, 1868, a company was organized under the name of the Anamosa & North-Western Railroad Company, whose object was to build a road from Anamosa northwest, along the Wapsipinicon Valley, to the northern boundary of the State. The incorporators were James Jamison, James Ironside, R. N. Soper, F. Braun, William T. Shaw, J. S. Stacy, D. S. Lee, C. R. Scott, Charles E. Kent, J. H. Fairchild, E. C. Downs, A. Hunsicker, C. W. Hastings, H. J. White, M. McGlathery.
The interest which might otherwise have been enlisted in this enterprise was directed into other channels by new and unexpected developments in railroad building, about this time. The project was, therefore, unsuccessful.
The assessment returns of Jones County show the number of miles of railroad within its limits to be as follows:
|
Iowa Midland | 20.80 | miles |
| Dubuque & Southwestern | 19.71 | " |
| Davenport & St. Paul | 30.80 | " |
| Sabula, Ackley & Dakota | 25.55 | " |
| Total | 96.86 | miles |
|
|
![[to home]](../shared/homepage.gif)
© Copyright 2008, The Art Department and last updated on
|