IAGenWeb Project

Audubon County
IAGenWeb


 Home

History Main

1915 History

CHAPTER II.

ORGANIZATION OF AUDUBON COUNTY. (CONT'D)

From History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915)
by H. F. Andrews

COUNTY SEAT ASPIRATIONS.

The town of Exira, being the county seat, was supposed to hold advantages over other portions of the county, and jealousies arose which continued as long as it was the county seat. Traces of heart burnings on that account have not ceased at the present time. The causes were too numerous to mention them all; some were politic, some social, and others from business competition, etc. Nathaniel Hamlin, who lived on Troublesome creek in the new Audubon township, was one of the wealthiest men in the county. He lived on the route from Des Moines to Council Bluffs and was the most widely known business man in the county for many years. Hamlin and Hamlin's Grove were known state wide, and in other states where Audubon county land was then owned. He had founded the town of Audubon City, near his home, which had proved a failure from the start.

Daniel M. Harris (who at first had lived near Hamlin), in the year 1857, with David Edgerton, founded the town of Exira, which became the county seat in 1861. Harris at once became popular, and was by far the ablest business man in the county. He held the office of county judge from 1856 to 1861 inclusive, while Hamlin was treasurer and recorder, the financial officer of the county, from 1856 to 1863 inclusive. They became rivals in business and in local politics, although both were Democrats. Mr. Hamlin became prejudiced against Exira, which continued as long as he lived. In 1866 he founded the town of Louisville, and attempted to move the county seat there from Exira, but failed. In 1872 he became interested in the town of Old Hamlin, and attempted to move the county seat there. He was also a prominent factor in enjoining the building of a court house at Exira in 1872-3.

Oakfield was founded in 1858, and started the first store in the county. It was a rival to Exira from its start until the advent of the railroad in 1871, when it was eclipsed by the town of Brayton. It was the custom of Oakfield people to assume superiority over the people of Exira in social functions. They had a decided weakness in making themselves disagreeable in that way. If Exira people got up a festivity or started some local improvement, a new road, bridge, building, etc., the people of Oakfield were prone to discount it and go one better. Their picnics, dances, etc., were foolishly "cracked up" to be in advance of anything Exira could produce; and so it went on, straining the cordiality and friendship that should have existed between the little towns. It is justice to say that their people did lay themselves out in their best style to entertain. But for political meetings, Fourth of July celebrations and religious meetings Exira usually came out "ahead of the hounds."

ORGANIZATION OF NEW TOWNSHIPS.

After the close of the Civil War, immigration flowed towards this county; people came here in goodly numbers, and by 1870 the population of the county had more than doubled in the previous five years. The north end of the county settled up as never before, and was demanding more rights for schools, roads, bridges, voting precincts, etc., to which they were fairly entitled. The question of the organization of new townships naturally arose. Mr. Hamlin and his followers, with the Oakfield contingent, were ever ready to knife Exira in any public way. The growing interests in the north part of the county presented an opportunity to strike the fatal blow. The troubles that hovered around the fated county seat opened in 1871. Several parties, about this time, set the ball to rolling and agitated the reconstruction of the township organization in the county, suggesting various plans, but without uniform action or support. There were general demands for more voting places in the northern portion of the county.

On June 7, 1871, that enterprising, progressive, genial, energetic citizen, Ethelbert J. Freeman, the gentleman from Leroy, presented a petition to the board of supervisors praying for the erection of new townships. And the board of supervisors, consisting of William H. H. Bowen, John W. Dodge and John T. Jenkins, entered an order subdividing the county into four civil townships, as follows: Audubon township, commencing at the southwest corner of section 34 and southeast corner of section 33, township 78, range 35, thence north to southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 10, same township; thence east to the southeast corner of said northwest quarter; thence north to the section line; thence east to the southeast corner of section 1, township 78, range 35; thence north to the connection line; thence west to the southeast corner of section 32, township 79, range 34; thence north to the northeast corner of section 20, township 80, range 34; thence east to the northeast corner of section 21, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 28, township 81, range 34; thence east to the northeast corner of section 27, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 22, same township; thence west to the northeast corner of section 21, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 9, same township; thence east to the county line; thence south to the southeast corner of township 79, range 34; thence east to the northeast corner of township 78, range 34; thence south to the southeast corner of said township; thence west to place of beginning. Exira township, commencing at the northeast corner of section 1, township 78, range 35; thence west to the southeast corner of section 32, township 79, range 34; thence north to the northeast corner of section 20, township 80, range 34; thence west to the northeast corner of section 24, township 80, range 35; thence south to the northeast corner of section 36, township 80, range 35; thence west to the northeast corner of section 34, township 80, range 35; thence north to the northeast corner of section 27, same township; thence west to the northeast corner of section 29, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 5, same township; thence west to northeast corner of section 3, township 80, range 36; thence south to the correction line; thence east to the northeast corner of section 1, township 78, range 36; thence south to the southeast corner of said section 1; thence east to the northeast corner of section 9, township 78, range 35; thence south to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section 10, same township; thence east to the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of said section 10; thence north to the section line of said section 10; thence east to the southeast comer of section 1, township 78, range 35; thence north to the place of beginning. Oakfield township, commencing at the southeast corner of section 33, township 78, range 35; thence north to the northeast corner of section 9, same township; thence west to the southwest corner of section 6, same township; thence north to the correction line; thence west to the southwest corner of section 35, township 79, range 36; thence north to the northeast corner of section 3, township 80, range 36; thence west to the northwest corner of said section; thence north to the county line; thence west to the northwest corner of the county; thence south to the correction line; thence east to the northwest corner of township 78, range 36; thence south to the southwest corner of the county; thence east to place of beginning. Leroy township, commencing at the northeast corner of Audubon county; thence south to the northeast corner of section 12, township 81, range 34; thence west to the northeast corner of section 9, same township; thence south to the northeast corner of section 21, same township; thence east to the northeast corner of section 22, same township; thence south to the northeast corner of section 27, same township; thence west to the northeast corner of section 28, same township; thence south to the northeast corner of section 21, township 80, range 34; thence west to the northeast corner of section 24, township 80, range 35; thence south to the northeast corner of section 36, same township; thence west to the southeast corner of section 27, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of said section 27; thence west to the northeast corner of section 29, same township; thence north to the northeast corner of section 5, same township; thence west to the northwest corner of section 3, same township; thence north to the county line; thence east to place of beginning.

The result of this action could not have been foreseen by the supervisors, two of whom were favorable to the best interests of Exira. They acted hastily, without proper consideration of the subject, and were overreached and misled by the plotters against Exira. Their order was a consummate blunder. The boundaries as established were unsystematic, the government township lines were ignored and without any valid reason, which was calculated to throw the records into confusion for all public use and utility. It would have required a corps of engineers to locate the limits of the several townships as thus organized. It was utterly unpractical, unsatisfactory and pleased no one, except those misguided people who rejoiced that Exira had received a "black eye." It was a ridiculous, contemptible performance, in light of subsequent events.

Two years later, when the system had been tried out, its defects seen and the wants of the people better understood, the subject came on for further consideration. The people had then been fightmg fiercely over the county seat, and the building or non-building of a court house. Party political lines, locally, were entirely wiped out. The people of Exira were hostile and indignant against all its opponents, and vice versa. The supervisors, as then constituted, were two to one against Exira. The matter came on for hearing upon the suggestion of Arthur L. Sanborn, Esq., of Viola, member of the board. O. C. Keith, of Oakfield, spoke in favor of the proposition. At that meeting the present writer appeared before the supervisors and advocated the organization of new townships according to the wishes of the people of the county, upon the system of making each government or congressional township a civil township.

April 9, 1873, the supervisors, composed of John W. Dodge, John Noon and Arthur L. Sanborn, entered the following orders in the matter: Township 78, range 36, and that part of township 78, range 35, as now lays in the civil township of Oakfield, be made the civil township of Oakfield; and all that portion of said civil township as it now exists north of the territory named be stricken from said Oakfield civil township. Township 81, range 34, and township 81, range 35, organized as the civil township of Viola. Township 81, range 36, and township 80, range 36, organized as the civil township of Douglas. Township 80, range 34, and township 80, range 35, organized as Leroy township.

As far as practical, Mr. Keith, who was a bitter partisan against Exira, but a personal friend of the writer, adopted the same view, except that he would not yield the favor to Exira township at that time; although he afterwards did so. We readily agreed together and the supervisors, being favorable to the general proposition, in a short time made their orders as appear below, with better feeling all around. All previous efforts to accommodate the business along the proposed line had failed. It was considered impractical. The Exira people hesitated about adopting the plan, but tacitly acquiesced, never to regret it so far as known. This was the inside fact of the business, and it took place in the little old county office on the east side of the public square, Exira, to the permanent benefit of the people of Audubon county. It was a move in the right direction--a big day's work.

Township 79, range 34, was organized as Greeley township. Township 79, range 35, and township 79, range 36, organized as Hamlin township. Township 78, range 34, organized as Audubon township. Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36, in township 78, range 35, organized as Exira township. This was manifestly unfair towards Exira township and was so intended. It was gracefully accepted in this form by Exira people, believing that the injustice would be subsequently remedied.

The following year, Isaac Thomas, one of the supervisors, caught the right idea, and emphatically declared at a meeting of the supervisors that he was in favor of making each "congregational" township a civil township. His meaning was understood, adopted and followed until the entire system was carried out.

September 8, 1874, township 80, range 34, was organized as Melville township.

October 20, 1874, township 78, range 35, organized as Exira township; township 78, range 36, organized as Oakfield township; township 81, range 35, organzed as Cameron township.

September 6, 1875, township 79, range 36, organized as Sharon township.

June 5, 1876, township 81, range 36, was organized as Lincoln township.

As now organized, the civil townships of Audubon county are as follow, with dates of organization:

Audubon, township 78, range 34, April 9, 1873.

Exira, township 78, range 35, October 20, 1874.

Oakfield, township 78, range 36, October 20, 1874.

Greeley, township 79, range 34. April 9, 1873.

*Hamlin, township 79, range 35, April 9, 1873.

*Sharon, township 79, range 36, September 6, 1875.

**Melville, township 80, range 34, September 8, 1874.

**Leroy, township 80, range 35, April 9, 1873.

+Douglas. township 80, range 36, April 9, 1873.

+Lincoln, township 81, range 36, June 5, 1876.

++Viola, township 81, range 34. April 9, 1873.

++Cameron, township 81, range 35, October 20, 1874.

*Sharon township was severed from Hamlin. September 6, 1875; **Melville township was severed from Leroy, September 8, 1874; +Lincoln township was severed from Douglas, June 5. 1876; ++Cameron township was severed from Viola, October 20, 1874.

Previous <=== Continue Reading ===> Next

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, July 2022, from History of Audubon Co., Iowa (1915), by H. F. Andrews, page 53-58.