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CHAPTER IV.

First Entries of. Government Lands; First Importation of Lumber; First Grist Mill; First Postoffice; Interesting Reminiscences; First Official Seal; First Terms of Court and List of Grand Jurors; First Party Organization; Systems of County Management; List of County Officers; State Senatorship and Representatives from Date of Organization to Present Time; the Circuit Court.

Although the Indian title was extinguished, and the county was open to settlement in 1848, the lands were not put upon the market until about the first of October, 1850. The earliest entry of Government land we have found upon the records is that of the southeast quarter southeast quarter section 19, and three forties in section 30, all in Paint Creek Township, to Geo. Watkins, October, 7, 1850.

In 1851 or '52, Porter Bellows located in the valley of the Upper Iowa, and a few years later erected a grist mill near the mouth of French Creek, known as the McMillan Mill.

In June, 1851, G. W. Carver came to Lansing with a stock of lumber, the first in the County. He furnished the lumber for the first buildings erected on Makee Ridge. We believe he became the pioneer settler on Portland Prairie, north of the Iowa, in May, 1852. He made large claims of school lands under the State laws, and held the same until it reverted to the Government, as the Commissioner had selected too much land for school purposes. His claims were in litigation from 1858 until 1872, when by special act of the Legislature he was awarded $3,000 damages.

Wm. Werhan came into the county in 1851, and in company with P. M. Gilson erected a grist mill on the Yellow River, in Franklin township, in 1854.

The first postoffice is thought to have been the one established at Postville in January, '49. A postoffice was established at Lansing in the summer of 1849.

A postoffice was early established at the Eells place, but the date of establishment is unknown. This was on the road from Lansing to Decorah, and a popular stopping place for travelers between these points.

The first physician in the central portion of the county was J. W. Flint, who located on Makee Ridge in '52 or '53.

From some interesting reminiscences contributed to the Waukon Standard, in 1877, by D. B. Raymond, we make some quotations that here find their appropriate place.

"Standing on the Lansing Ridge about six or eight miles out from the river and looking over the valley of Village Creek and

to the north where the ridges and ravines with their rippling streams are lost in the view, toward the Upper Iowa River, I think it is as romantic as any view ever beheld by the writer; the more so, as my first view was when not a living white man had a house in this region save what I call to mind in these papers. I believe that I am correct when I say that Mr. John A. Wakefield was the first who put up a dwelling on the ridge out from Lansing; at least we found him ensconsed in a good house with some improvements at our first advent there (1852). He was a man of considerable avoirdupois and went by the title of Colonel or Major. He had a great desire for prominence and office, and was subject to many hard hits from competitors. As he often gloried in his valorous deeds in the war with Blackhawk; the keen, cutting sarcasm of J. W. Remine, the Lansing lawyer, and some others, drove the old Colonel almost to frenzy on some occasions. As he was indeed a pioneer, he sold out and moved to Nebraska in the summer of 1854. He was quite enterprising in improvements, and had a water-ram in operation several rods below his house to force the water from a nice spring to his dwelling, which was considered a great luxury on the ridge; as every one reading these lines that knows Lansing Ridge will bear me witness that it is a dry expanse, the elevation carrying the traveler many feet above some good springs on either side. Thus my memory reverts to the many draughts of cool water from the pipe at the Colonel's place and can only think of him as a true benefactor.

"The next dwelling out from Col. Wakefield's was, I think, Mr. Judson Hersey's, where we found this true Yankee behind a counter selling goods to the passing emigrants. The first impression of this man was lasting, and can only think of him as a genial gentleman with genuine enterprise. I regard him as the pioneer merchant of Makee and all the country west from Lansing at that time.

"The settlement formed in 1852 by the Herseys and Pratts at the western termination of Lansing Ridge was at that time a prominent place, as it was characterized by great enterprise, but when the commissioners drove the stake for the future county seat, the enterprising residents of Makee, like a flock of sheep, followed the bell weather to Waukon and became pioneers in building up this beautiful village within plain view of the first scenes of their labors.

"As we approached the level country eighteen or twenty miles west from the river-I say level because near the river the bluffs and ravines were so unlike what I was used to in Ohio that the country at the head of the streams running back from the river was to my mind level, although it was all rolling and interspersed with miniature ridges and ravines-when we reached Union Prairie after traveling through two or more miles of "openings" from Hersey's store, what a beautiful scene was presented to view! The

open prairie gently rolling like waves of the sea, all covered with grass, apparently as even as a floor; the frequent flutter of prairie chickens as they rose from the wagon path; and the bright crimson waves of the sun towards evening glittering over the waving grass; such a sight can never be seen again in the same place and under the same circumstances. In my mind I can see

it now; but years have wrought many changes."

Mr. Raymond was of the opinion that the name of Village Creek was taken from the great number of Indian villages at one time located along its beautiful valley.

In the year 1853 Jesse M. Rose built, probably, the first grist mill, with bolt, in Allamakee and Winneshiek counties. It was located on Village Creek, where the village of that name now is, in the western edge of Lafayette township. Farmers brought their grists to this mill from Winneshiek County and from over the line in Minnesota; and it is said even from Clayton County. It did a large business, running day and night, only being delayed in order to make repairs. Azee Pratt and other Makee carpenters assisted in its construction. Mr. Rose went west about 1875.

The first newspaper published in the county was the Intelligencer, at Lansing, by Wm. H. Sumner. The first number was issued Nov. 23, 1852.

The first seal used by the county court is now in the possession of J. A. Townsend. Mr. Dean describes it as follows: Instead of the convenient and handsome seal of the present day, it was a piece of brass with the proper inscription cut thereon, and was used by making a rail fast at one end to something solid, then placing the seal upon the paper on a desk at the proper distance; then the rail was laid across the seal and the County Judge got his leg over the other end of the rail and soused it down a few times and the impression was made on the paper."

The first term of District Court for the county was opened at Columbus, then the county seat, on Monday, July 12, 1852. Hon. Thos. S. Wilson, of Dubuque, Judge; Leonard B. Hodges, Clerk, and Wm. C. Thompson, Sheriff. The following named persons were empaneled as the First Grand Jury: Wm. H. Morrison, Foreman; Edward Eells, John Clark, H. R. Ellis, R. Woodward, Jesse M. Rose, W. W. Willson, Darius Bennett, G. A. Warner, Hedry Botsford, Tremain Stoddard, Wm. Smith, A. J. Ellis, Jeremiah Clark, T. A. Winsted. The Petit Jury consisted of Reuben Smith, A. W. Hoag, B. D. Clark, David Miller, John Stull, Charles R. Hoag, A. L. Barron, Thos. Cosgrove, and H. M. Willson.

The first term held in Waukon was set for Monday, June 6, 1853; but we find from the record that "The presiding Judge in order to give time for the preparation of a suitable place at Waukon, the newly selected county seat, by written order, directed the court to be adjourned till to-morrow." June 7th, there was

no business, and the court was again adjourned one day. W. C. Thompson was Sheriff, and R. Öttman, Deputy Clerk, acted in the absence of his superior, L. B. Hodges. Much delay in the business of the court was occasioned by the fact of jurors and witnesses having been summoned to appear at Columbus.

On the 8th, "the Sheriff returned into court with the Grand Jury," and the court was opened, Judge Thos. S. Wilson, of Dubuque, presiding. From old files of the Lansing Intelligencer, we find that he arrived at Lansing on the 7th, on the steamer, West Point, and on the following morning (Wednesday) formally opened the term at the Court House, in Waukon (then spelled Wawkon invariably). That building is described as being a "new log cabin, small and rather inconvenient, but, considering that the official whose duty it was to provide suitable accommodations (evidently referring to Judge Topliff) for the transaction of public business had refused to do so, and that the structure was erected by private enterprise, as good as could be expected." This difficulty arose from the unwillingness of Judge Topliff and Hodges, who were interested in the town site of Columbus, to surrendər the county seat from that place, and the matter was brought into court at that term, as will be narrated in the chapter of county

seat matters.

L. B. Hodges, Clerk of the County Court and acting Clerk of the District Court, not appearing at his post, the Sheriff was dispatched in pursuit of him, and he was brought into court. He immediately resigned his office, and no action was had in reference to him, as the resignation was considered satisfactory. L. W. Hersey was appointed County Clerk in his stead. The court was adjourned, after disposing of some forty-five cases, to the 8th of October.

The county lots at Waukon were offered for sale by County Judge Topliff, on the 6th of September. Each had been appraised and the price fixed. One-fourth of the purchase money was required in hand, the balance in twelve months. The county gave a bond for deed, the property being "school lands."

At an election held on the first day of August, 1853, the several townships cast the following ballots:

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It will be seen that but two-thirds of the eventual number of townships then possessed an organization, and the dates of organizing some of these it is now impossible to ascertain.

The first record we find of a formal organization in this county of the followers of a designated political faith bears date, December 10, 1853, when the following notice was circulated.

To the Democratic Voters of Allamakee County.-Fellow Citizens:

You are hereby notified that a meeting will be held at Waukon on Saturday, Dec 24, 1853, for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of an immediate organization of the Democratic party in our county. Also for the further purpose of appointing delegates to the State Convention, etc.

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At this meeting Edward Eells was chosen Chairman and C. J. White, Secretary, and it was

"Resolved, That the Democrats of the county of Allamakee ought to and hereby do organize themselves into a regular political party, according to the time-honored usages of the same, both in the State and nation, and as auxiliary thereto."

The central committee consisted of Archa Whaley, Reuben Sencebaugh, Wm. H. Morrison, Edward Eells and A. J. Hersey. The township committees were

Union City-Geo. Spence, Wm. Dennison, G. W. Carver.
Lansing-Richard Luckins, A. J. Tillotson, Jas. P. Hughes.
Lafayette W. C. Thompson, R. Ottman, O. S. Conkey.
Makee-C. Paulk, T. Minard, Aug. Hersey.

Union Prairie-J. E. S. Morgan, Lorin Eells, George Merrill.
Ludlow-E. Reed, Luther Howes, Henry Beaver.
Jefferson-W. S. Ross, Henry Coffman, H. Burgess.

Paint Creek-Andrew Mitchell, Thos. Anderson, Geo. Watkins.
Taylor-David Harper, Michael Dignan, Otto Langfield.
Linton-Allen Scott, L. W. Hays, Henry Johnson.
Franklin-John Brisco, Austin Smith, John S. Clark.
Post-James Arnold, Reuben Smith.

Wm. H. Morrison, S. A. Tupper and J. W. Flint were appointed delegates to the State Convention.

The convention thereupon "resolved" to authorize the central committee to fix the ratio of representation; "that we have undiminished confidence in the administration of the general government, and will continue to give our undivided support;" the state government "merits our approbation and continued confidence;" our senators, "for their uniform attachment to Democratic principles, are entitled to the cordial support of every true Democrat,' and the "gratitude, influence and support of every true friend of western interest," etc.

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