Tracy, but very soon Judge M. V. Burdick became the editorial writer. It had its ups and downs, and the Decorah Republic of to-day may be considered as its successor, Wesley Bailey and son buying out the establishment, and issuing it as the Decorah Republic, in 1860, and afterwards changing the name to Decorah Republican, published by A. K. Bailey & Brother.

1857.

The Court House was commenced this year and finished the following year. It is fully described in a preceding chapter.

This year witnessed the burning of the Tremont House, Decorah, then a well-known hotel.

This year, also, Decorah became an organized town. A meeting for incorporation was held on the first Monday in April, and at the election of officers on the 30th of June, E. E. Cooley was chosen President.

The Legislative act of incorporation was not passed till 1871.

1858.

The plat of the village of Hesper-the township having been first settled in 1851-was recorded on the 25th of February, 1858, the plat having been drawn Dec. 27th of the preceding year. The township of Hesper was also organized in 1858.

The county had grown so that the number of votes cast in October of this year was 1,288.

On the 18th of April, 1858, the first County Superintendent was elected, Dr. H. C. Bulis was chosen.

1859.

A prominent historical event of this year was the resurrection of the alleged bones of the famous Indian Chief Decorah, after whom the county seat was named. The grave was at the intersection of Main and Winnebago streets, and must give place to travel necessitated by the growth of the thriving little city. The story of the removal is told in a preceding chapter. It was considered an important event, and observed with due solemnity. The bones were again resurrected in 1876, in order to improve the Court House grounds, and before their final interment some of the Indian relics found with them were stolen.

The close of this year brings us up to the commencement of a decade which opened with some changes in the manner of county government, made necessary, or at least desirable, by the increase of population and the prospective growth and importance of the county. By the census of 1850, the population was 540, while it was now by the census taken in 1860 the following year13,942. We will not, however, anticipate, but briefly note the important events as they occur.

1860.

During this year a change was made in the management of county affairs, up to this time administered by the County Judge. A Board of Supervisors, consisting of one from each township, was elected, the change taking effect on the 1st of January, 1861.

In April, 1860, the firm of Bailey & Son. consisting of Wesley Bailey and his son, Ansel K. Bailey, purchased the Decorah Republic, succeeding B. F. Jones, as publishers of that paper. The first number under their management appeared April 13th.

In the first issue are notices of Decorah's institutions as follows: "Population of Decorah, estimated, from 1,600 to 2,000. It has a brass band, 17 stores, 3 harness shops, 6 blacksmiths, 5 cabinet makers, 3 wagon makers, 2 plow and horticultural implement manufactories, 2 jewelers, 2 milliners, 2 tanneries, 1 lumber yard, 2 bakeries, 1 daguerreotype artist, 2 meat markets, 1 distillery, 1 brewery, 1 gunsmith, a dozen lawyers, 3 doctors, 1 dentist, 2 barbers, a Methodist church in their own building, and a Congregational church, holding services in the Court House, their church not yet being completed."

Hesper has a literary society that meets one a week.

May 3, five prisoners escape from the County Jail, one in for horse stealing, one for counterfeiting, and the others for minor offenses.

April 29, the house of Postmaster Stanberg, of Calmar, was burned.

May 18, Mr. McKinney left Fort Atkinson for Pikes Peak, with N. Otis, of Decorah.

May 17, a Norwegian celebration of their national anniversary occurred at Peterson's trading post, B. O. Dahly delivering the address.

Postmaster Kimball, of Decorah, improves his post office and

store.

In June, the Landers residence on Broadway was commenced, also the Francis residence on Broadway, now owned by A. Bradish.

Fourth of July was celebrated in Decorah, the orator being Douglas Leffingwell.

By the census then being taken the population of Decorah township and city was given as follows:

August 7th, Wm. Day died at the Winneshiek House, in the 69th year of his age. He came here in 1850, was a liberal, honest, public-spirited man. He built the first house, for some years the only hotel, and afterwards built the Winneshiek House.

August 30th, Fitz Henry Warren (Republican), spoke at Decorah, Judge Clark, of Dubuque, opposing him.

The Congregational church of Decorah was in process of erection this season.

September 21st, County Fair was held in Decorah.

October 5th, a daily mail was established between McGregor and Decorah.

1861.

At the opening of the year, the Board of Supervisors, one from each township, in order that the terms of office might not expire at the same time, they cast lots to see which should hold office for one year, and which for two years. The result was as follows:

For one year-Levi Bullis in place of Dan Lawrence, who was elected and resigned, for Decorah; J. Pagin, Frankville; J. T. Galby, Summer; I. West, Canoe; G. N. Holloway, Hesper; J. G. Ackerson, Burr Oak; S. Christen, Madison; Lars T. Land, Calmar; Levan Wanless, Bluffton.

For two years-W. H. Baker, Bloomfield; F. S. Northup, Glenwood; Ole Nelson, Pleasant; W. B. Chamberlin, Orleans; Ammon Ammundsor, Highland; D. E. Shelmadine, Fremont; M. J. Woolsey, Military; A. O. Lommen, Springfield; Orville Jennison, Washington.

G. N. Holloway was elected President of the Board.

March 3d, the remains of a Norwegian, named Iver Knudsen Jouen, were found near the foot of the bluff at the head of Trout Run. He started home from Decorah, drunk, on Christmas evening. Going over the road past the cemetery, it is thought that he lost his way, rolled down the bluff and froze to death.

The Decorah cemetery grounds were laid out this year.

April 8th, a public meeting was held and the Decorah Guards organized, being the first company to enter the service in the war of the rebellion. The record of this and other companies from the county, will be found in a preceding chapter.

June 14th, E. E. Cooley received the appointment as postmaster of Decorah, and took possession July 1st.

June 11th, the County Supervisors voted $3.00 per week to each of the families of the Decorah Guards.

June 17, L. Standring turned the first scraper full of dirt into the Decorah branch of the Northern Iowa Railroad. Gangs of men were set at work at Decorah, Calmar, Ossian and Monona, but the work was discontinued.

July 4th, celebration at Decorah. with oration by Geo. A. Stephens.

In July the plastering and mason work of the Congregational Church was completed.

The Norwegian Lutheran Synod decided to build a college on the site selected in West Decorah.

August 22, Winneshiek Normal Institute incorporated; S. Page, Principal.

September 27th and 28th, County Fair.

November 17th, Congregational Church, Decorah, dedicated, E. Adams pastor.

The Livengood-Telyea murder trial commenced near the close of this year and continued into 1862. Particulars elsewhere in this volume.

1862.

Fourth of July celebration in Decorah, Hon M. V. Burdick delivering the oration.

August 30th, saloon of Wm. Oleson, Decorah, burned, and George Gulbranson burned to death, and others badly injured. September 6th, Aaron Newell, an old resident, died.

In September the Norwegian High School opened in Decorah being the nucleus of the future college.

1863.

June 4th, work on the Norwegian Lutheran College commenced. The building to be 150x20 feet on the ground, and three stories high above the basement.

Population of county by assessors returns in 1863, 15,035. Population of Decorah, 2,165.

Fourth of July celebrated in Decorah; addresses by home talent. November 3d, Elisha Hurlbut, postmaster of Decorah, died. Joseph Hutchinson, assistant, continued in office until a successor was appointed.

1864.

February 9th, J. R. Slack was appointed postmaster of Decorah, and took possession February 28th. Geo. W. Adams was appointed his assistant.

June 20th, the $40,000 necessary, secured, and engineers commenced locating a railroad to Decorah.

A grist mill was built by D. Addicken, and commenced running that year.

June 30, corner-stone of the Norwegian College laid.

Oct. 3, Capt J. R. Moore, Decorah, died suddenly in his bed. Oct. 12, celebration of the arrival of the railroad at Castalia.

Oct. 22, the Catholics of Decorah occupied their new church. Dec. 22, Decorah gets a through mail from Chicago.

1865.

March 20, flood in Dry Run did considerable damage. High waters in the river carried away the West Decorah bridge, and also the Freeport bridge.

April 8, a rousing celebration in Decorah of the taking of Richmond, in which enthusiasm extravagantly boiled over in wild and peculiar freaks.

April 27, funeral services in Decorah, Castalia, and other places on the death of Lincoln.

June 15, railroad completed to near Calmar.

July 4, Fourth of July celebration at Decorah, Col. Henderson

orator.

July 20, railroad completed to Conover.

September, Methodist parsonage at Decorah completed.

Oct. 15, dedication of the Norwegian Lutheran College, one wing four stories high, with basement, being completed. Prominent Norwegians from all parts of the country were present.

1866.

The Decorah public school building was built this year.

April 1, Decorah post office removed to first floor of new brick building on Winnebago street, now occupied by Journal office April 5, greatest flood since 1859, carrying off numerous bridges and doing considerable damage in the county.

July 4, celebrated in Decorah, M. V. Burdick and R. Swearingen orators.

Nov. 1, great fire in Decorah; loss from $30,000 to $40,000, burning out Dennis & Hulverson, P. S. Smout, Green & Morss, and others, also the office of the Winneshiek Register, established in 1866, Haislet Bros. proprietors.

Nov. 11, County Supervisors bought the present Poor Farm of C. E. Dickerman.

This year the railroad reached the site of Ridgeway, and gave it its first start.

1867.

The new Masonic Hall, Decorah, dedicated. It was pronounced the best in Iowa.

Jan. 30, Fremont House and barn burned.

February 12, meeting to organize a fire company in Decorah. May 17, Norwegian celebration. Addresses by B. O. Dahly, K. E. Burgh, O. M. Lucken, and John Steen.

May 27, Decorah graded school established.

Oct. 3 and 4, County Fair held at Decorah.

During this year the residences of E. E. Cooley, D. B. Ellsworth, Mrs. Hughes, and J. Hunter, and the Dickerman building, were erected or commenced.

The telegraph line to Decorah was completed this year.

Nov. 28, Rev. E. Adams preached his Thanksgiving sermon, entitled "The First things of Decorah."

Dec. 6, Col. T. W. Higginson lectured in Decorah.