Resume
WILLIAM A. WARREN.
Sworn to and subscribed this 18th day of March, 1841, before me,
ROBERT SMITH, .Justice of the Peace.
We, the Commissioners appointed by an act of the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Iowa, having met at the house of Abraham Folk, in Clear Creek Precinct, in Clinton County, and having taken and subscribed the oath prescribed by said net (as above) proceeded to the performance of our duties, and located the seat of justice of said county by setting the stake in or near the center of the north half of Section Eighteen, Township Eighty-one (81) north, Range four east of the Fifth Principal Meridian; and by naming the said seat of justice, as the law pre-scribes, being in accordance with the will of the people, as near as we could ascertain the same, Vanderburg.
Witness our hands and seals this eighteenth day of March, A. D. eighteen hundred and forty-one. WILLIAM MILLER, [Seal.]
ANDREW F. RUSSELL, [Seal.]
WILLIAM A. WARREN, [Seal.]
It is said that the name "VANDENBURG" was the family name of the "sweetheart" of Commissioner Warren, in whose honor it was given.
We have digressed from the record of the County Commissioners' proceedings to give this history of the removal of the county seat, and now resume the proceedings at their April session in 1841.
The boundaries of the several precincts or townships had been somewhat vaguely defined, and, at this session, the Board ordered that their boundaries be spread upon the records.
At this time there were but six precincts or townships in the county— Camanche, Lyons. Elk River, Deep Creek, Clear Creek and Liberty.
They were described as having boundaries as follows
The Township of Camanche—Commencing at the Mississippi River, on the south line of the second tier of sections in fractional township eighty-one north, range seven east; thence in a direct west course until it arrives at the southeast corner of section nine, in range four east; thence south to the Waubesepinicon River; thence to the Mississippi River, being the south line, and the Mississippi River being the east line." This township began at the head of Beaver Island, and extended due west to near where the city of DeWitt now ts, and south to the Wapsie, which also formed the county line. It included the present township of Camanche, part of Clinton and Lincoln, nearly all of Eden and a part of DeWitt Townships, as they now exist.
"Township of Lyons—Commencing at the Mississippi River, on the south line of the second tier of sections in fractional township eighty-two north, range seven east; thence in a direct line west to the east line of range four east; thence south to the line dividing Camanche from Lyons ; thence on said line to the Mississippi.' This township was bounded on the south by the Camanche line and extended west to the present line between Washington and Center, and north to the south line of the second tier of sections in Center Township and east to the Mississippi River. It included in its boundaries all but the two north tiers of sections of Lyons, Hampshire and Center, and nearly all of Clinton and Lincoln Townships as they now exist
"Elk River Township—Includes all north of Lyons in Clinton County, as far west as the east line of range five east." The boundaries of Elk River included its present territory and two tiers of sections on the south across the present townships of Lyons and Hampshire.
"Deep Creek Township—Includes township eighty-three north, range five east." The boundaries of Deep Creek Township were a Congressional Township and have not been changed.
"Clear Creek Township—Commencing at the southeast corner of section nine, township eighty-two north, range four east; thence west and north, including the west half of township eighty-one north, and range four east; and township eighty-one north, range two and three east, and township eighty-two north, range two and three east, together with the fractional townships eighty north, range two and three east." This township included in its boundaries the major part of the present township of DeWitt and all of Orange, Olive, Welton and Berlin, as now mapped.
"Liberty Township—Includes townships eighty-one and eighty-two north range one east." This township included the present townships of Liberty and Spring Rock.
The territory which now comprises the townships of Washington, Waterford, Bloomfield, Brookfield and Sharon were as yet unorganized.
The next business of the Board was to lay out Road Districts and appoint-Supervisors for the same.
The record of surveyed roads shows that the following Territorial Roads had been established and were all the lawful roads then in existence in the county.
By act of Legislature, James Ross, A. C. Sutleff and Stephen Tripp, were appointed, in July, 1840, Comissioners to locate a Territorial road from Lyons to Iowa City, which was duly established, January 21, 1841.
This road commenced at the center of Main street (Sixth street), in Lyons, running through the middle of' Sixth street to its termination. It then ran in a southwesterly direction a distance of thirty-eight miles, in Clinton County, and eighty miles to Iowa City.
Road No. 2 was a Territorial road from Davenport to Bellevue. The Commissioners to lay out this road, appointed by the Legislature November 27, 1840, were W. Barrows, Simeon Gardner and Charles Swan. The two latter resigned, and Otis Bennett and Daniel H. Pearce were appointed by the County Commissioners to fill the vacancy. They made their final report October 4, 1841.
No. 3 was a Territorial road from Lyons to Tipton, but no plat or proceedings are of record concerning it. It was established by legislative act January 10, 1842.
Road No. 4 was a Territorial road from Denson's Ferry to Dubuque, established by act of the Legislature July 7, 1842. No record exists of its having ever been laid out or used.
No. 5 was a county road. The petitioners were R. R. Bedford and others of Clear Creek Township, praying for a road from the Wapsipinicon, in Range 4 east, thence through the township of De Witt; thence north, to terminate and intersect the Territorial road from Davenport to Dubuque, at or near Negro. Grove. Ashbel F. Bedford, Thomas W. Clark and Absalom Dennis were appointed Commissioners to establish this road. The location of this road is uncertain.
No. 6 was a county road. The petitioners were Jonas M. Oaks and others, who asked for a road from De Witt via Wright's Grove to the north line of Clinton County, at or near Levi Decker's house. The petition was dated July 3, 1843, and the same day the following persons were appointed Commissioners to locate it: James M. Kirtley, Absalom Dennis and S. A. Bedford. The location of this road is uncertain.
No. 7 was a Territorial road from Camanche to Iowa City. This appears to be the same road as No. 1, from Camanche to Iowa City, while the Davenport and Dubuque road (No. 2) was the continuation of No. 1, from Camanche northward. This road terminated in this county at the Wapsipinicon, in Township 80, Range 2 east, its what is now Olive Township, at Alger's Ferry, running through Camanche, Eden, De Witt, Orange and Olive.
Shubel Coy was appointed Supervisor of Road District No. 1, but the boundaries of his empire do not seem to have been stated in the record.
Benjamin Baker was appointed Supervisor of the highway in Lyons Township, commencing at Congressional Township 82 and 83 north, Range 7 east, thence south to the northeast corner of Section 30, which was from the present town tine between Elk River and Hampshire, south to Lyons City.
Oliver P. Ackerman was appointed Supervisor of the district from the termination of Baker's district south to Riverside, at the town line of Camanche.
Daniel Pearce was given the highway in Lyon's Township, commencing at north line of fractional Township 81 north, Range 7 east, thence southwesterly to the west line of Township 81 north, Range. 7 east.
Franklin K. Peck had the district in the township of Camanche from the west line of fractional Township 81 north, Range 7 east, southerly to the south side of Mill Creek.
Richard Crawshaw superintended the district in Camanche from the south side of Mill Creek southwesterly to the southwest side of Spring Creek.
Heman B. Shaff's district was from the southwest side of Spring Creek southwesterly to the Wapsipinicon River.
John Brophy's district was from his own house, in the township of Camanche, west to the west line of said township.
Trails across the prairie must have been the principal thoroughfares of travel in those days, when eight road districts represented the whole of the public highway upon which the revenues of the county were expended. How much the aggregate of the road fund was we have had no means of ascertaining, but as we give immediately following a statement of the total revenue of the county for the previous year, the reader can make the estimates to suit his own ideas of the needs of this branch of county expenditures.
The next business which engrossed the attention of the Commissioners was a settlement with James D. Bourne, who, in addition to his duties as Sheriff, Postmaster, etc., was also the Collector of the county revenue.
We here insert in full the Collector's first report of tax collections, being the revenue for the year 1840:
JAMES D. BOURNE, in account with Clinton County.
DR.
To Tax-list for 1840--------------------------------$377.55
Order to balance ------------------------------------ 58
Total------------------------------------$78.13-
CR.
By delinquent tax------------------------------------$ 31.l61/2
Excessive tax------------------------------------ 24.60
Treasurer's receipt-------------------------------299.931/2
Per cent for collecting------------------------------22.53
Total----------------------------------------------------$378.13
The amount of the tax-list for the year 1878, for Clinton County, levied and returned to the Treasurer and receipted for by him to the Auditor, is $319,402.58.
No more striking statement could be made to show, by comparison, the wonderful increase in population and wealth that has been made during the thirty-eight years past.
We here insert the names of the Judges of Election as selected by the Commissioners, among which will be many which are to-day familiar names, as men of prominence in their respective communities, and whose early struggles have met with the recompense of pecuniary comfort in their declining years and who have maintained the confidence and respect of their fellow-citizens. Many, however, have removed, or "passed beyond". Samuel Doolittle, F. K. Peck, H. B. Shaff, for Camanche; Robert Smith, Jr., George W. Parker, Charles Burgoon, for Liberty; John R. Boyd, Oliver P.Aikman, Daniel H. Pearce, for Lyons; Arthur Smith, Otis Bennett, Daniel Smith, for Elk Creek; John D. Simmons, Isaac Ramsay, Thomas Watts, for Deep Creek.
A special session of the Board convened April 29, 1841.
Eliza Winans is allowed $10 for the use of the court rooms.
James Crawford is allowed $20 as compensation for his services as Prosecuting Attorney at the April Term of the District Court.
Liberty Township is divided by Yankee Run into two road districts. The part south is designated Number One, and George W. Parker appointed Supervisor, and the part north is called Number Two, and James Hall is named as its Supervisor.
The second day of the term, the boundaries of Camanche Township were changed so as to extend west until it includes the seventeenth section only, in Townships 80 and 81 north, Range 5 east, and Clear Creek Township is extended east to this line.
The Clerk is instructed by the Board to send out with the election notices for the August election a description of the boundaries of the several townships. Without doubt this was a most thoughtful instruction, for the memories of the inhabitants must have been remarkably retentive to keep pace with the frequent changes of the township lines, and adults as well as children might be readily excused "without prejudice" for being unable to correctly answer the standard question, " What town do you live in?"
When the Commissioners appointed to re-locate the seat of justice had performed that duty and made their report, as is previously herein given, the Board of Commissioners found that their capital was on Government land, and they at once borrowed the necessary funds, $200, and sent the Sheriff to Dubuque, where lie purchased the 160 acres. This was surveyed and platted into city lots, reserving one block for a public park, and the two northwest lots of the block next east for the county buildings. They then placed the lots in market, and in order that every one might have an opportunity to avail themselves of the future prosperity of this new "city on the prairie," the Clerk was ordered to make public notice by advertisement of a public sale of lots, which was to take place on the 2d and 3d of July, 1841. The record says that he shall procure the publication of a sale of lots in Vandenburg for three consecutive weeks, previous to the 2d and 3d of July, in the Standard at Bloomington (now Muscatine) and the Iowa Sun at Davenport. That Lyman Buck be notified to be and appear at the county seat, Branderburg, on Monday, the 3d of May, prepared to survey said town. It will be observed by the above that the name of the new county seat was not yet familiar, even to the officials of the county, as the Clerk writes it, upon the same page of the record Vandenhurg and Branderburg.
The Board held their next session beginning July 5, 1841, at the usual place, the house of Samuel Doolittle, in Camanche. E. P. Monroe was appointed Clerk of the Board, and he was directed to amend the record of the previous session so that the order for the publication of notice of sale of lots in Vandenburg should include terms of sale, as follows: One-third of the purchase money in three months; one-third in nine months, and. one-third in twelve months.
The tax levy for the ensuing year was fixed at five mills on the dollar.
Oliver Alger is licensed to run a ferry across the " Wapsipinicon," opposite his house, and Elijah Buell to run one across the Mississippi at Lyons. David and Samuel Mitchell are licensed to run the ferry from Camanche to Albany.
The rates of ferriage are also fixed by the Board, whose powers seem almost as unlimited as their duties are diversified.
A tax of two and one-half mills is levied for Territorial purposes, and the County Assessor is allowed $35 in compensation for his labors for the year in assessing the property throughout the county.
The system of "investigations" which has made such a vigorous growth, and has become so much of a "governmental" institution in these modern times, had its germs in the early days, and this Board of Commissioners planted a small one when they passed a resolution that the Clerk is "required to request of Mr. George Griswold an explanation in regard to the sale, by him, of two copies of the Laws of the Territory." Diligent search of the records for further action on this important mutter sheds no light. Whether the Clerk was authorized to send for "persons and papers," or whether this was a " whitewashed" case which ended with the appointment of the "Committee," or whether the discomfiture of the Board at the result of their inquiry was entire, we do not know, but we have no hesitation, in the absence of information, to make our history—as all historians are said to do—by stating that we have no doubt that "Uncle George" gave a satisfactory explanation to the Argus-eyed conservators of the people's interests, which relieved him of any suspicion of 'irregularity" or "salary grabbing."
On the 6th of July, Samuel H. Murray was appointed Clerk in place of Mr. Monroe, who resigned, and the Board adjourned to meet on the 13th of the current month.
At the session convened July 13, 1841, the Board directed the issuing of bonds to the purchasers of lots in "Vandenburg," for the issuance of deeds, these bonds to be certified by the Clerk upon receipt of the notes of the purchasers.
The Clerk was ordered to notify John R. Sloan, of Camanche, that a prosecution will be commenced against him "for retailing spirituous liquors" unless he applies for a permit.
James D. Bourne, Collector for Clinton County, makes his second settlement with the county as follows:
James D. BOIURNE, Collector of Clinton County, in account wit/i said County:
DR.
To amount of Tax List for the year 1841 -- $472 .333/4
Territorial Tax -- 12.751/2
Assessed on Town Lots in Lyons -- 45.41
Assessed by Collector and collected -- 8.16
Territorial Tax on Lyons Lots -- 2.27
Total $560 92
CR.
Amount of Delinquent Tax List -- $ 36 67
Excessive Tax -- 22.31
Commissions on Amount Collected -- 30.60
Treasurer's Receipts -- 37.16
Receipts -- 30.80
Delinquent Tax -- 1.72
$559 26
1 .66
Total $560 92
The increase over the previous year shows that the tide of immigration is beginning to move, and the error of $20 in debit side, that man was liable to mistakes then as now, although more frequently, nowadays, the error is on the other side of the account with public officers.
The next session of the Board was held in October, 1841, at the usual place of meeting, the house of Samuel Doolittle, in Camanche, the culinary department of which was presided over by Miss Aubrey, whose memory is embalmed in the "stomachs " of her countrymen.
The first business which received the attention of the Board was the "county seat, and the following resolution was passed:
That the Hon. Thomas S. Wilson be notified that there are suitable buildings now erected at the town of Vandenburg, to accommodate the Court and suitors of the District Court for the County of Clinton, at the October Term, 1841.
These "suitable buildings" deserve a passing notice. They, or more properly, it, was built by Loring Wheeler, Lyman Evans—who used to say that be organized the Democratic party of Clinton County on the head of a whisky-barrel at Camanche—Alvin G. Harrison and a few others, and the use of it was given to the county if they would hold the Court that fall in it. and as long as they chose to occupy it.
The building was built of basswood timbers, about thirty-two feet long and about twenty feet wide. It was divided into a court-room and a jury-room. it also had an attic story, and, in the language of an old settler, "here the jurors and witnesses, many of them, slept, bringing their blankets with them, doing their cooking outside and using the court-room for their common dining hall." Uncle John Buhler, a German, officiated usually as cook for the crowd. He lived and died at Camanche, as also did his wife. His only child was a daughter, Sarah, wise married John Dillon, and still resides there. He was an excellent cook, a jolly companion, and was a great favorite with everybody.
An incident connected with the moving of the county seat is thus related by Col. Lyman Evans: On going to Camanche preparatory to moving the county records and furniture, consisting then of a long table and a few books, the Colonel was met by John Buhler, a former landlord at Camanche, and asked by him, "Be you going to move him, the county seat?" The Colonel said, "Yes, I thought I would." "Well take him along."
The attic was afterward completed and used for the court-room, and, as the business of the county was beginning to increase so as to make it inconvenient for the county officers to keep their offices in "their hats," a portion was devoted to their use.
Several bills are allowed to different individuals for services in surveying the "town of Vandenburg," and it is also Ordered, That John R. Sloan be requested to deliver to James D. Bourne, Sheriff of Clinton County, the property belonging to the county, to wit: One long table, one platform and nine wooden benches, and that a copy of this order be served upon him forthwith.
Elijah BueIl having been re-elected to the office of Commissioner, presented his certificate, and is sworn in for three years from August, A. D. 1841.
The bond of Charles Bovard, Justice of the Peace in Camanche, is approved.
We conclude that Mr. Sloan did not obey the order of the Board to deliver the property of the county, as on the 5th day of October it is ordered that an action be commenced against him for its recovery.
The following morning, the Clerk is directed by resolution to certify to the Postmaster General of the United States that the town of Vandenburg for which there has been a petition
that a post office be established at that place is the seat of justice for Clinton County, and the same day, the Clerk is directed to transfer all books, papers and documents to the town of Vandenburg within thirty days.
The next meeting of the Board was convened in regular session in January, 1842, at the new county seat, at the house of R. H. Bedford. The principal business of the session was that of allowing bills, among which was one to Martin Dunning for a desk and table for the use of the District Court, of $12.
The Clerk is instructed to give the proper election notices for the spring election, which is to be held on the first Monday of April. 1842, and at which township officers are to be elected, and to inform the voters of each township the extent of their boundaries.
Their next session is held in April, 1842, and bills are audited to William B. Watts, for transporting prisoners from Davenport to Camanche, and from thence to Bloomington (now Muscatine), from which it is inferred that the place of temporary confinement is at Davenport, and the State Prison at Bloomington.
Shubel Coy is appointed Treasurer of the county until the August election, or until a successor is elected and qualified. A petition is presented by Peter H. Groat for a road from Camanche in a direct line to Vandenburg, and the prayer of the petitioners was granted, and Joseph P. Brown appointed Surveyor.
The next meeting of the Board was convened as the record is, at DeWitt, the county seat of Clinton County, in the Court House, July, 1842.
As will be observed, the name of the town had been changed. This was done by act of the Legislature at their session of 1841—42, in response to a petition of citizens who felt that it would be more in harmony with the original idea of doing honor to New York's honored citizen, De Witt Clinton, by giving his christened name to the capital as they had done his surname to the county. F Loring Wheeler was appointed Clerk of the Board, Samuel H. Murray havingfailed to appear and qualify. Mr. Wheeler was also made the fiscal agent of the county to borrow of the Miner's Bank, at Dubuque, $200, to make a partial payment upon a note held by StephenWeicks against the county, and "it is ordered that the faith of the county of Clinton be pledged for the payment of the same." It is understood that this indebtedness to Weick's was for the original capital with which the county went into business; that is, the purchase of land and incidental expenses connected with their real estate business.
Some "omnibus bills" were passed, there being no veto power exercised, as will be seen by the following:
Ordered, That the sum of thirty dollars be allowed to Robert C. Booms for one tin-plait stove and five days services as Commissioner at the present term.
Ordered, That the sum of eight dollars and sixty-two and a half cents be allowed Loring Wheeler for two days service as Clerk of this Board, and paper and quills furnished District Court.
Robert C. Bradford is appointed agent "to sell the lots in the town of De Witt, the county seat of said county, in accordance with an act of the Legislature, approved February 17, 1842," and he is to receive five per cent for his services.
Elijah Buell is directed to procure a set of weights and measures for the county. Mr. Bourne settles with the county for the taxes of the year, which amount to $563.50 1/2.
The Board hold their next session in October, 1842. George W. Parker having been elected at the August election, took his seat, the Board now being R. C. Bourne, Elijah Buel and George W. Parker. William L. Potts appears and files his bond as Clerk.
Shubel Coy is allowed $10.50, percentage on his collections, which were $517.22.
Lyman Buck is allowed $21 for surveying twenty blocks in De Witt.
The citizens of Clear Creek petition that a township may be established with the following boundaries:
"Beginning at the mouth of Silver Creek, thence up said creek to the mouth of Clear Creek; from thence up said creek to Abraham Folk's Mill; thence westerly to the Wapsipinicon, so as to include fractional Township 81 north, Range 1 east, being that part of said township which is on the east side of said river, and from thence down said river to the place of beginning, and that said township shall be called Olive Township, and that the place of holding elections may be established at the house of Charles Dutton."
The petition was granted, to take effect April 1, 1843. It was further ordered that the township of Clear Creek from this time shall be called Dc Witt, and the elections shall be held at the Court House.
On January 1, 1843, the Board again assembled.
Samuel Weicks is allowed $300 for the amount due him for money lent to the county, and the interest thereon, and it is resolved that he be paid from the treasury of Clinton County, "with interest at the rate of 15 per cent per annum until paid."
The appointment of H. R. Bedford to sell lots in De Witt is rescinded, and Robert C. Bourne and Elijah Buell are authorized to do the county real estate business.
At the April term, 1843, Benjamin Lake and Eli Goddard were appointed to meet with the Assessor at De Witt, to assist him in placing a valuation upon all property assessed by him.
The Clerk is directed to advertise in the Davenport Gazette for proposals to build a Court House.
At the July term, 1843, Benjamin Lake is allowed $5 for drawing plans for the proposed Court House.
The contracts were let for the building. William Lawton was the contractor "for the brick walls and gable ends of a Court House," for $900. He also contracted to do the plastering for $292.50, but, at a special term, August 25th, the order for building the Court House was rescinded.
Zebulon Metcalf was appointed Recorder to fill a vacancy.
Loring Wheeler was appointed to sell the lots in Dc Witt, but he is instructed "that no lot must be sold for less than $10."
The amount of the tax list for this year was $579.32.
Samuel Dooittle, having been elected to the office of Commissioner, took his seat at the January session, 1844. During this and subsequent sessions the usual routine business was done, but of no especial interest for a work of this character.
At the October session, 1844, the township of Bloomfield was organized. "Commencing at the line of Clinton County and running south nine miles, and commencing at the west line of range two east, and extending to the east, line of range three east."
The election was ordered to be held at the house of H. Bagley.
A petition was also received from citizens of Liberty Township, asking that the south part of said township be erected into a new township, under the name of Rock Spring. It was ordered that Township 81 north, Range 1 east, be erected into a township to be called Spring Rock, and that the election be held at the house of Peter Goddard.864
At the January session, 1845, orders were drawn to the amount of $58, to different parties, for fifty-eight wolf scalps, and for a number of years the records of the Board are quite largely devoted to "wolf-scalp reward" entries.
At this session the llicense question " came up again, like "Banquo's ghost." The license for selling spirituous liquors was raised to $100, but, after a night's reflection, the Board rescinded this action and placed the license fee at the original figure, $25.
Samuel H. Murray had been appointed Probate Judge, but having died on October 6, 1845, J. S. Stowrs was appointed to fill the vacancy.
Lorenzo D. Dutton was appointed Assessor, George Churchill having failed to qualify.
The tax list of 1845 was $932.73.
At the January session, 1846, Mathew A. Harrington took his seat as one of the Commissioners.
In answer to a petition, all the inhabitants "west of Brophy's Creek, including Center Grove, be attached to the township of De Witt." At the April term, 1846, the township of Olive was divided. The new boundaries were as follows: " Beginning on the Wapsipinicon River one hundred and sixty rods west of range line dividing ranges two and three, and that the east part thereof be known as the township of Union."
The restriction upon the fiscal agent against his disposing of lots in De Witt at less than $10 per lot was rescinded.
At the July session, 1846, Lorenzo D. Dutton was allowed $42 for assessing the county. William E. Leffingwell was allowed $70 for his services as Prosecuting Attorney from December, 1845. to July 1, 1846, which would indicate that this office paid the munificent salary of $140 per annum.
Samuel Wick was allowed $16.82 for receiving and disbursing the county revenue.
At the August session, 1846, it was ordered that a tax of three mills on the dollar be levied for a school tax on all the real and personal property in the county. This is the first record of a school tax that appears, such schools as had been established having been supported by the private contributions or tuition fees of their patrons.
A petition was presented by citizens of Camanche praying that the county pay for 2,000 feet of plank, to build a bridge across Welch's Creek, but the Board declined to incur the expense.
At the January session, 1847, John Cotton took his seat as one of the Board, that body now consisting of George XV. Harlan, M. A. Harrington and John Cotton, and John P. Soliss, Clerk.
James D. Bourne is allowed $80 as his Sheriff's fees from January 1, 1816, to January 1, 1847, and for posting notices for three elections and summoning grand and petit jurors for the October term of the District Court, which, as compared with the present allowances, would indicate that the criminal business was not large, or that the officials of that time were satisfied with quite reasonable, if not, indeed, meager fees for their services.
At this term, " wolf-scalp " business was flourishing.
A public sale of lots in De Witt is ordered to be held on the first Monday in February, 1847, "for cash, one-half payable in six months and one-half in twelve months from the day of sale."
A session of routine business was held in April, 1847, and Thomas F. Butterfield was the Clerk.
At the July session the rate of taxation was fixed as follows: "Four mills for county purposes, two mills for State purposes, one mill for school purposes and twelve cents on a hundred dollars for road purposes."
At the October session, 1847, Daniel Smith took his seat as one of the Board, and Mr. Butterfield was continued as Clerk. L. D. Dutton was appointed agent for the sale of lots in De Witt at the public sale in February, and that the moneys arising from the sale be applied on an order which he, the said Dutton, holds against the county in favor of Samuel Wicks, deceased."
The usual sessions were held during the year, and at the September term, 1848, R. H.
Benedict became a member of the Board.
The regular sessions were held during the year, and the usual routine business transacted.
At the October session, 1849, Amasa Nims took his seat, the Board now being Daniel Smith, Amasa Nims and R. H. Benedict.
At the January session, 1850, a deed of Lots 1 and 2, in Block 31, in De Witt, was made to the Trustees of the Congregational Society, in consideration of $1, and that they should build a church edifice thereon. The deed was executed to E. B. Humiston and Mr. Goff, April 23, 1853.
At the same session, a deed was also ordered made to the Baptist and Christian Churches upon the same conditions, of Lots 4 and 5 in Block14, and a frame building was erected thereon, and occupied as a UnionChurch, court-room and concert hall. It was thus occupied for many years.
At the July term, 1850, the matter of a new Court House is again agitated, and John Cotton,
James D. Bourne and Thomas F. Butterfield were appointed a committee to build a Court House, and an appropriation of $2,000 is made, to be paid out of the county funds whenever the citizens of said county shall subscribe $1,500 to assist in building it. The building was to be 36 feet wide and 45 feet long; to be of brick with stone foundations. The$2,000 is to be paid in county orders of $20 each, one-fourth to be issued when the $1,500 is subscribed, one-fourth when the foundation is commenced, and the balance to be drawn as the committee shall see fit.
At the October session, 1850, the members of the Board are Amasa Nims, Boughton Roscoe and H. I. Jencks; Mr. Butterfield still acting as Clerk.
By an act of the Legislature of January 15, 1849, John M. Whitaker, of Van Buren County, William H. Morrison, of Dubuque County, and Robert Brown, of. Jefferson County, were appointed agents to select the remaining school lands granted to the State of Iowa by the General Government, after which the Trustees of the several townships, in accordance with Section 1044 of the Code of Iowa, had proceeded to an examination and appraisement of these school lands. At the January session of the Board in 1851, numerous orders were issued to these Trustees for their services in viewing and allotting the school sections in the various townships.
At the April term, 1851, it was ordered that Township 83 north, Range 1 east, be cut off from all or any townships to which it may have been attached, and that it be called Sharon, and that the election be held at Abram Frank's.
That Township 82 north, Range S east, and the east ha;f of Township 82 north, Range 4 east, and the northeast quarter of Township 81 north, Range 4 east, and all of Township 81 north, Range 5 east, which is north of Sections 19 and 20 and west of Brophy's Creek, and all north of Sections 16, 15, 14 and 13 in said township, are set off as a township, to be called Center, and an election is to be held in June, at the house of Jacob Leppers.
The price of town lots does not seem to advance rapidly at the "seat of justice," notwithstanding the prospect of the erection of new county buildings and the permanent abiding of the county seat, as lots are selling at from $6 to $12 per lot.
At the July session, 1851, the rate of taxation is fixed as follows: For State purposes, 3 mills; for county purposes, 6 mills; poll tax, 50 cents; school tax, 1 mill ; for road purposes, every person liable to pay a county poll tax shall pay $2, and 1 mill shall be levied for roads and bridges.
The final meeting of the Board of Commissioners was convened August 9, 1851, the commissioner system having been legislated out of existence, and their powers and duties vested in a County Judge.
Aylett R. Cotton had been elected as the first incumbent in this newly. created position, and organized his court on the 12th day of August, 1851.
The Court opened for business on the morning of the 13th, and the first proceeding was the issuance of a marriage license to Dr. A. L. Ankeny and Miss Valeria MI. Perrin. Two days after a license was issued for the marriage of Joseph D. Fegan and Anna Potts.
James D. Bourne filed two bonds, one as Recorder and the other as Treasurer and Collector for Clinton County.
The bond of D. P. McDonald, as Sheriff, was also approved.
The Court ordered five lots in Block 9 to be deeded to S. D. Golder for $40. These lots, it is said, have, at a subsequent period, had a market value of from $300 to $500 per lot.
From the following transaction, which is recorded as of January 26, 1852, a just idea may be gathered of the financial condition of the county at that date. A contract was made with E. Berold "for the construction of Maps and Plats for the county as required by the Code." The compensation was to be $90. Judge Cotton ordered that county warrants be issued to the amount of $100, and that they "be sold as opportunity may permit, at ninety cents on the dollar, to raise money to pay said E. Berold." As compared with the record of too many of the counties in this State, this is a most satisfactory showing, and indicates a degree of economy and honesty in the management of county affairs alike creditable to the heads and hearts of those to whose care the people had intrusted the public interests.
On February 27,. 1852, a warrant was issued to Luther Teeple, a citizen of Sharon Township, authorizing the legal voters of that township to hold an election at the house of Luther Teeple, in said township, on Monday April 5, 1852, for the purpose of organizing that township, electing township officers, and voting for a School Fund Commissioner and a Judge for the Second Judicial District.
On the first day of March, 1852, action was had in relation to Center Township, on petition of W. E. Leffingwell, and the election ordered at the house of Jacob Leppers. The description of the township was as follows:
"Center Township consists of township 82 north, and the north two tiers of sections in township 81 north, range 5 east, and the east half and the northwest quarter of township 82 north, range 4 east."