UJ- 
 

IOWA AS IT IS 
 
 IN 1855; 
 A GAZETTEER FOR CITIZENS, 
 
 AND A 
 
 fur 
 
 EMBRACING A FULL DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 THE STATE OF IOWA: 
 
 HER AGRICULTURAL, MINERALOGICAL, AND GEOLOGICAL CHARAC 
 
 TER; HER WATER COURSES, TIMBER LANDS, SOIL AND CLIMATE; 
 
 THE VARIOUS RAILROAD LINES BEING BUILT AND THOSE 
 
 PROJECTED, WITH THE DISTANCES ON EACH; THE NUM 
 
 BER AND CONDITION OF CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS IN 
 
 EACH COUNTY ; POPULATION AND BUSINESS STA 
 
 TISTICS OF THE MOST IMPORTANT 
 
 CITIES AND TOWNS. 
 
 INFORMATION FOR THE IMMIGRANT 
 
 RESPECTING THE 
 
 SELECTION, ENTRY, AND CULTIVATION OF PRAIRIE SOIL ; A LIST OP 
 UNENTERED LANDS IN THE STATE, &c. 
 
 WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS, 
 
 BY N. HOWE PARKER. 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL.: 
 
 KEEN AND LEE. 
 
 1855. 
 
REES 
 
 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, by 
 
 KEEN & LEE, 
 
 in the Clerk s Office of the District Court for the Northern District 
 of Illinois. 
 
 STEREOTYPED BY J. FAOAN, PHILADELPHIA. 
 
 PRINTED BY SMITH & PETEKS, 
 Franklin Buildings, Sixth Street below Arch, Philadelphia. 
 
TO 
 
 THE YOUNG MEN OF IOWA, 
 
 INTO WHOSE HANDS WILL, ERE LONG, RE ENTRUSTED THE DESTINY 
 
 OF OUR YOUNG STATE, AND BY WHOM HER FREE SOIL, HER 
 
 BOUNDLESS RESOURCES, AND HER REPUBLICAN 
 
 INSTITUTIONS, ARE SOON TO BE DEVE 
 
 LOPED, CONTROLLED, IMPROVED, 
 
 AND PERPETUATED, 
 
 THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY 
 
 THAT THEY PROYE WORTHY OF THE SACRED TRUST, NEVER 
 
 SWERVING FROM THE PATH OF DUTY, AND THAT THEY 
 
 EXERT THEIR PREROGATIVES AS FREEMEN, TO AD 
 
 VANCE INTO AN EVER-EXPANDING PROSPE 
 
 RITY THE NOBLE STATE WHOSE HELM 
 
 THEY HOLD, IS THE DESIRE 
 
 AND HOPE OF 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 208990 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Early history and accession of territory organization 
 boundaries, area, etc 17 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 The climate 20 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 The soil 22 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 General appearance of the prairies 25 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Iowa scenery the bluffs, etc 28 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Rivers and their tributaries 82 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Timber-lands 33 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Geology of Iowa 37 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Population immense immigration of 1854 52 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 General remarks 62 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Instructions to the new-comer respecting the selection, entry, 
 or purchase and cultivation of prairie lands 71 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Sketches by travelling contributors a stranger s impres 
 sions, etc 74 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Railroads 89 
 
 1* 00 
 
Vi CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Railroad distances on the various lines, connecting Chicago 
 with the State of Iowa 97 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Statistics 104 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 Description of counties 107 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 Description of counties continued 1^5 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 Description of counties continued 150 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Description of counties continued 1G3 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Description of counties concluded 174 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Western Iowa and Nebraska 186 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 New counties 199 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Unentered lands in the State 202 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Constitution of the State of Iowa 206 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 State officers and Congressmen, from the admission into the 
 
 Union to the present time 234 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Policy of government 238 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 Education 241 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Religious worship 253 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Benevolent societies 259 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 Banking-houses 2G2 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 AFTER a careful arrangement of information compiled by 
 piecemeal, during a twelvemonth passed in the editorial chair, 
 and during that period subjected to constant revision and 
 pruning after the receipt from the several counties in our 
 State, of the latest statistical intelligence relating to each 
 and as the general result of a year s attention and study it 
 is that the Author has been enabled to prepare his work for 
 the public eye. He is aware that an occasional error may 
 have crept into it, or that here and there a piece of informa 
 tion may have been omitted, but he trusts and believes that 
 the pains he has taken to avoid these have not been in vain, 
 and that if any are found, they will be as few as possible, 
 and in no case, of great importance. 
 
 It is the design and aim of the Author in presenting his 
 book to the public, to supply a want that has long been felt, 
 and which is being daily expressed, as well by the present 
 resident in Iowa, as by the countless throng still pouring 
 westward, and the thousands in the crowded East, whose 
 thoughts and aspirations turn towards us. 
 
 Iowa holds out to the emigrant inducements such as no 
 other State in our Union can boast, nor is any other at this 
 day being so largely flooded by the onward tide of immigra 
 tion. Her resources are inexhaustible, her advantages are 
 beyond the scope of calculation, and her claims upon the 
 attention of every class and sex of the energetic, the in 
 dustrious and the ambitious, are as peremptory as they are 
 vast. Yet is there a deplorable scarcity of such published 
 information as shall set forth these latent sources of wealth. 
 
 (vii) 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 The eastern traveller and emigrant ; the western resident 
 whether he be but a new-comer, or whether he has risen to 
 fortune in our midst and the State itself, require such an 
 exposition as the Author has attempted in the following 
 pages. If he has succeeded in representing, according to its 
 deserts, "Iowa, as it is in 1855" if his task shall tend to 
 throw a light over the immigrant s path, or to erect a guide* 
 board upon his way if his work will serve to eradicate or 
 lessen whatever of misconception or of prejudice may have 
 existed in the minds of strangers if, as the fruit of his labors, 
 he shall be able to induce others to join the mighty host that 
 even now is swarming to Iowa s fertile fields if, in fine, he 
 has been able to place Iowa before the world, in its true light, 
 and to assign to it that lofty rank among the States which 
 it must attain and forever hold he will feel that he has not 
 fallen short of the elevated goal of his ambition, and, in the 
 consciousness of a duty fulfilled will reap a golden reward. 
 
 And here the Author feels called upon to express the 
 gratitude he foels towards those to whom he has applied for 
 information. With scarcely an exception, he has met with 
 prompt and kindly answers, and an earnest co-operation. 
 And while thus returning his thanks, he would ask of those 
 who have aided him heretofore, as well as of any who may 
 bestow their attention upon his book, to further assist him, 
 and whenever they may detect aught that is erratic, or 
 discover any omission, to inform him in the matter, that 
 he may be able, in his next edition, to rectify the one and fill 
 up the other. 
 
 N. IL P. 
 
 DAVENPORT, IOWA, May, 1855. 
 
INTKODUCT10N. 
 
 STILL fresh in the memories of a few of her citizens, is the 
 time when Iowa was one vast wilderness. Her land untilled, 
 her groves unpeopled, and her mighty rivers flowing unim 
 peded unadmired, by art or eye of man, she donned her 
 verdant robes, and decked her fields with flowers on each re 
 turning spring, as if to woo the distant husbandman, and 
 when chill autumn came, she shrank again into the sere and 
 withered, waiting, patient still, and still with hope. She 
 heard the Indian hunter s shot resound amid her solitude ; 
 she held the imprint of his step upon the yielding surface 
 of her soil ; she watched him crawl to his wigwam home, and 
 lay him down to slothful rest, to dream of the ravage or the 
 hunt. She saw him wake from sleep, and gird about his 
 loins the savage tomahawk and scalping knife, while piercing 
 war-w 7 hoops rang from dell to dell, and whistling balls and 
 rolling thunders shook the air above, and bathed the blazing 
 fields in gore. She heard the red man s cry of death the 
 white man s shout of victory. And then her streams and 
 fields her hills and waving woodlands joined in one vast 
 choral hymn, when banners were furled, and arms were lain 
 to rest, and Peace snatched the sceptre from the wearied God 
 of War. 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Then, soon, throughout the land, a lamentation rose. The 
 red man stretched his form upon the earth, and bathed the 
 sod with tears. He bade a long farewell to hunting-ground 
 and river-bank to bluff and valley, where transcendent 
 beauty held her court, or uttered a parting wail beside the 
 graves of his fathers the mounds of his nation s slumbering 
 chiefs. Here, from year to year, had successive generations 
 learned to kneel here had their voices risen annually, in 
 strains of mourning and of homage, for the loved or the il 
 lustrious dead here had been their refuge in times of sorrow 
 or of trouble and here had they found a retreat, sequestered 
 from the world, and hedged round with a sacred an unpro- 
 faned reverence. But although he lingered still although 
 to leave these solemn scenes occasioned him most poignant 
 grief called forth the wildest throes of anguish yet, inexor 
 able fate impelled the red man onward. Civilization required 
 his departure ; the destiny of his outcast race bade him fly 
 from before the coming white man s face, and take another 
 step towards that extinction which yawns before the savage 
 tribe. He raised his voice, once more, in cries of anguish, 
 then joined the mighty Ishmaelitish host, and, taking up the 
 line of march, he pressed his farewell foot-print on his native 
 soil, and left behind him on the spreading plains, the last 
 Indian trail of Iowa. 
 
 E en yet the heavy tramp of the banished nation sounds 
 along the western horizon e en yet that horizon is blackened 
 by the forms of the retreating multitude whenlo! upon the east 
 a long white line comes gleaming up, seemingly rising out 
 of the distant ground. One by one, like sails at sea, the 
 white-tented wagons of the immigrant well up into sight, 
 and soon we shall see their occupants encamped near yonder 
 grove, their tents gleaming in the moonlight, and the smoke 
 of their camp-fires spreading like a protecting shelter, above 
 their deep, untroubled slumbers. These hardy men, with 
 
INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 their aged parents and adolescent families, moving onward in 
 the wake of the expatriated Indian, are the pioneers of lowan 
 civilization the vanguard of the mighty phalanx that is 
 yet to come. 
 
 The immigration to Iowa reminds one of the legendary 
 days of the Crusaders. As did the venturous knights of old, 
 the emigrants resign the endearments and luxuries of home, 
 to build up for themselves a glorious destiny, amid the wilds 
 of a strange land. They go to rescue from the desolation 
 entailed upon it by savage hordes, a region stored with 
 Nature s lavish gifts ; and, as those misled champions of the 
 cross, they sally forth in banded numbers, from every point 
 of a civilized world, to meet in the brotherhood of a great 
 cause, on the fertile plains where tower their mutual hopes. 
 But here the resemblance ends. The valiant knight of old 
 went forth arrayed in all the paraphernalia of war, to 
 conquer to subdue to win, by fire and sword, a land rich 
 in historic lore a land whose interest mainly lay in the 
 hereditary annals of the past. But the modern emigrant 
 wends his way to territories, whose history is yet unknown, 
 whose annals are yet unwritten, whose value and grandeur lie 
 in the promises of the future. The plough-share and the pru- 
 ning-hook are his weapons, his companions are the loved ones 
 of either sex. The Crusader went to tear down to demolish 
 a dynasty ; the emigrant, to build up a State. The former 
 had history for his guide the latter had a history to frame 
 and write. 
 
 And nobly has he written it. In the unexcelled prosperity 
 of the land of his adoption in the magic growth of her 
 cities upon her boundless prairies, as on a vast sheet has 
 he traced the records of Iowa s liberation from the darkness 
 of the Indian ages. And these are records that posterity will 
 read with pride, when the crumbling monument and 
 
Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 mouldering legend of battle and of victory will be as " a talo 
 of days forgotten." 
 
 IOWA once the freehold of the tawny savage is now a 
 civilized and settled State. Where once the wolf went 
 bounding, now waves the yellow corn ; and where the owlet 
 hooted to the solitude, the cabin-smoke is floating on the air. 
 Wherever the highway winds, the ever-recurring marks of 
 cheerful industry of progress of prosperity greet the 
 traveller s eye, till one is disposed to rank this State as 
 cotemporary with many of her elder sisters. The immigrant 
 is no longer called on to endure the vicissitudes, the hard 
 ships, and the dangers of a frontier life. At every step he 
 meets civilization in many places, finds improvements 
 in the art of farming, such as he dreamed not of in his 
 Eastern home ; and often an old familiar face a friend who 
 had been a neigbor in years gone by greets his arrival. 
 Yet, be it not supposed that Iowa is full. Far from it ; still 
 within her vast domain lie millions of untilled acres un 
 entered untouched unreclaimed from primeval wildness. 
 They await the immigrant they call to him and bid him 
 come. Shall it be asked what inducements they hold forth 
 to tempt him, or what resources they possess to repay his 
 labor? We ask, on the other hand, what do they not hold 
 forth? The fertility of the soil in Iowa is unsurpassed not 
 merely by that of her kindred States not merely in our 
 Union but throughout the world ! The black loam that over 
 lies her prairies, and which varies in depth from eighteen to 
 forty-eight inches, forms an inexhaustible storehouse of 
 fecundity and agricultural wealth. It rests upon a deep 
 subsoil of clay, well fitted to retain moisture ; and, during the 
 driest portions of the year, this moisture reascends through 
 the surface-muck thus, by a constant reaction, weakening, if 
 not annulling the effects of the severest drought. This was 
 fully proved during the excessive aridity of 1854, Iowa having 
 
INTRODUCTION. Xlll 
 
 suffered less from its effects than any other State in the 
 Union, and having, since then, been the granary of that 
 Union, and supplied from her own stores the exhausted 
 markets of the East and South. This may sound in 
 credible fabulous; and yet, Iowa, the youngest of the 
 States, has actually accomplished it ! 
 
 Such are the inducements Iowa holds out to the farmer, 1 
 coupled with a promise to return him, for immeasurably less 
 labor than would be required in the East, an unsurpassable 
 abundance of any and every article which the zone we live 
 in is capable of producing. 
 
 But again : to the manufacturer she also cries come I She 
 invites him to behold for himself her immense coal regions, 
 and examine the qualities of the coal; to roam, hand in 
 hand with the farmer, over the vast mineral tracts : and while 
 he admires the richness of the mines, to let the farmer wonder 
 at the phenomenon of an exceedingly fertile soil, spread out 
 upon the immense beds of lead. Nor is this all. The 
 abundance of first-rate water-power, and the amount of 
 building-stone everywhere to be found, offer such advantages 
 to the energetic manufacturer as he may elsewhere seek in 
 vain. 
 
 These facts have but recently reached the East and see 
 with what avidity men of capital are hastening to test these 
 boasted resources. And still the field is open still the coffers 
 of the earth are full, and he may help himself who will. 
 
 The poor and the lowly came a few years since, but now 
 the rich and the lofty flock to Iowa, as well as they. 
 And, thanks to the enterprise of these, the colossal wheel of w 
 manufacture has already been set in motion in Iowa. It re 
 volves as yet but slowly, and its reverberating strokes do but 
 send forth, as yet, prophetic echoes throughout the State, that 
 tell what may what can and will be done. When the Giant 
 Spirit of Human Art shall have chained the flow of Iowa s 
 2 
 
XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 great central artery, and assumed the directing of its course 
 when the Mississippi s waves shall foam and lash in their 
 impeded progress when the Missouri s waters shall be 
 darkened by the shadows and the smoke of mammoth factories 
 and when the tributary streams of this great trio shall be 
 made to join in this work of grandeur and of usefulness 
 then will that Giant Spirit, as he listens to the ponderous 
 humming of that colossal wheel, whose accelerated revolu 
 tions will then keep time with the pulsations of Iowa s ambi 
 tious heart, find a genial home in the young, and promising^ 
 and vigorous State. There is in this picture no fiction no 
 visionary anticipation : all that we have hinted at, and more, 
 will be realized. It requires no gift of prophecy to trace out 
 the future path of Iowa. An observing eye aided by a 
 spirit of discrimination need but take the past for a prece 
 dent the present for an earnest to draw a vast panorama 
 of prosperity, such as our Union has perhaps never witnessed, 
 heretofore, and yet, which Iowa will not fail to excel. 
 
 To the law-loving and the temperate to the enterprising, 
 the vigorous, the ambitious she offers a home and a field 
 worthy of their noblest efforts. Already has she placed the 
 early adventurer on a throne of fortune, thus amply rewarding 
 his courage. At this day she points to still loftier thrones 
 and richer diadems, held in reserve as the prizes of fearless 
 energy or better still, throws open to the world her ex- 
 haustless stores of wealth, and seems to say, " Behold your 
 reward !" And as the multitudinous throngs hasten toward 
 these goals of promise as they crowd with eager steps, and 
 work with untiring hands they find that far from becoming 
 drained, her resources deepen and increase in proportion as 
 they take from them not merely keeping pace with their 
 accumulating wants, but ever exceeding them ; it is even as 
 the province of mind the realms of intellect whose 
 
INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 boundaries still widen, and whose sphere continues to expand, 
 the further they are explored. 
 
 There is an emigration that thins the old and crowded 
 States on the Atlantic seaboard ; there is an immigration that 
 peoples a new world, and darkens the mountain-slope of 
 fortune; there is a journeying from the old into the new, of 
 the Pilgrims of Industry and of Hope. But there is a 
 mightier emigration a vaster pilgrimage than these. It is 
 the march, onward and upward into the Future, of Iowa her 
 self. As the immigrant mother leads her sons and daughters 
 into the undeveloped paths of wealth as civilization elevates 
 a race out of the sloughs of semi-barbarism as national pros 
 perity exalts a land or as science raises the human intellect 
 from darkness into dazzling light thus Iowa, with rapid 
 strides, ascends the precipitous sides of prosperity s mountain- 
 range, bearing her sons and daughters to loftier, and still 
 loftier peaks, and revealing to their gaze still wider and richer 
 vistas. And the summit of this range she will never reach ; 
 for her onward progress cannot be stayed, until her arterial 
 streams are dry until the agricultural life-blood in her veins 
 has ceased to flow, until her great metallic heart has been 
 emptied. Upon the topmost summit, then, Iowa will never 
 stand, for through countless ages yet to come, her progress 
 that must be forever onward must be upward also. 
 
AR? 
 
 or THE 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF 
 
 IOWA AS IT IS. 
 
 CHAPTEK I. 
 
 EARLY HISTORY AND ACCESSION OP TERRITORY ORGAN 
 IZATION BOUNDARIES, AREA, ETC. 
 
 FOR centuries past, until the year 1830, the North 
 western Territory, embracing all lands west of the Missis 
 sippi, of which Iowa is now a part, was in the undisputed 
 possession of various tribes of Indians ; and the cultivated 
 fields of the open prairie, the bluff-site of the magnificent 
 residence, the ground upon which are now erected our halls 
 of justice and houses of worship, was, but a few short years 
 since, the battle-fields of numerous Indian tribes, contend 
 ing for the possession of this beautiful and fertile soil, upon 
 which each so freely shed the blood of their contending 
 foes. The hills, valleys, rivers, and prairies of Iowa, have 
 witnessed the most bloody conflicts ever fought by the 
 savages of this continent, as the numerous bone-strewn 
 battle-fields well testify. 
 
 The territory embraced within the bounds of Iowa has 
 been purchased by four different treaties. The first was 
 2* (17) 
 
18 ORGANIZATION. 
 
 made in 1882 commonly called " the Black-Hawk Pur 
 chase;" the second in 1836 ; the third in 1837, and the 
 fourth and last in 1842. 
 
 The oldest settlement in the State is Dubuque; which, 
 ! as a trading-post, is identified with the Frenchman whose 
 name it perpetuates. At about the same period, in 1832, 
 Galena was a village, and Fort Madison and Bellevue 
 military posts. Early in the spring of 1833, several com 
 panies of whites crossed from Illinois into Iowa in the 
 vicinity of Burlington. From this period the progress and 
 extension of settlements have been rapid, and the popu 
 lation has increased with greater rapidity than in the history 
 of previous territories. 
 
 In- 1834, Congress attached this Territory to that of 
 Michigan for temporary jurisdiction, and two large counties 
 Dubuque and Des Moines were organized. Their 
 aggregate population in 1836 was 1053 ; and during the 
 same year Wisconsin was organized as a separate Territory, 
 and exercised jurisdiction over " the District of Iowa." 
 
 The "Territory of Iowa" was organized on the 4th of 
 July, 1838. Robert Lucas, a former Governor of Ohio, 
 was Governor and Superintendent of Indian Affairs of the 
 new Territory. During that year, the State was subdivided 
 into sixteen counties, and contained a population of 22,860. 
 
 The first Legislature held in Iowa met at Burlington, in 
 the fall of 1837, while our State was attached to Wiscon 
 sin, yet subject to Michigan in judicial matters. 
 
 On the 4th of July, 1838, Iowa was separated from 
 Wisconsin by Act of Congress, passed June 12th, 1838. 
 
BOUNDARIES, AREA, ETC, 19 
 
 In 1839, the General Assembly located the Seat of 
 Government on the Iowa River, and called the place the 
 "City of Iowa." 
 
 In 1843, the Territorial Legislature petitioned Congress 
 for authority to adopt a State Constitution; which was 
 granted at the next session; and on the 7th of October, 
 1841, the Convention assembled and adopted a Constitution, 
 which was not approved by Congress. A second Conven 
 tion was held in 1846, the limits restricted, an amended 
 Constitution adopted; this was submitted to Congress and 
 approved; and in December, 1846, the "State of Iowa" 
 was admitted and christened as one of the glorious Con 
 federacy. 
 
 The State of Iowa is situated between 40 30 and 43 30 
 north latitude, and between 90 20 and 97 40 west longi 
 tude; is bounded on the north by Minnesota Territory, 
 east by the Mississippi River (which separates it from Wis 
 consin and Illinois), south by Missouri, and west by the 
 Missouri River (which separates it from Nebraska Terri 
 tory). The State contains an area of 56,000 square miles ; 
 being upwards of 200 miles wide from north to south, and 
 upwards of 300 long from east to west. The State i:s 
 divided into one hundred counties; eighty-five of which 
 have been surveyed, and seventy regularly organized. 
 
20 THE CLIMATE. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE CLIMATE. 
 
 WE have, generally, an unbroken winter from the middle 
 of November till January, when we are almost invariably 
 visited with a " January thaw;" after which the weather 
 is generally mild, and gradually merges into spring. We 
 are free from the sudden changes of New-England, and 
 from the long drizzling rains and foggy weather of portions 
 of the Middle States. Our storms are from the east; our 
 showers from the west. 
 
 This State is located in the healthiest latitude of our 
 continent; reaching only to latitude 43 30 on its northern 
 boundary. Its winters are comparatively mild and plea 
 sant, and its summers free from the long scorching rays of 
 a southern sun and the epidemics so common in such cli 
 mates.* By the medical journals, Iowa is ranked as 
 
 * Dr. Updegraff, a correspondent of the Ohio Farmer, thus 
 alludes to our climate, &c. : 
 
 " Of all other considerations respecting a new country, the 
 most important is as to its healthiness. 
 
 " In this respect, Iowa has the advantage of most new coun 
 tries. An open prairie country, almost universally rolling, or 
 even hilly, it is more favorable to health than flat prairie or level 
 woodland. The streams are mostly fresh running water, with 
 sandy or gravel beds. The scarcity of timber-land, and the 
 annual fires that pass over the prairies, prevent, to a great degree, 
 
THE CLIMATE. 21 
 
 second only in point of health ; and no doubt it will be 
 first, when she has a settled and acclimated population, as 
 free from toil, privations, and exposure as other states. 
 
 One of the peculiarities of this climate is the dryness 
 of its summers and autumns. A drought often commences 
 in August, which, with the exception of a few showers 
 towards the close of that month, continues, with little inter 
 ruption, throughout the fall season. The autumnal months 
 are almost invariably clear, warm, and dry. The immense 
 mass of vegetation with which this fertile soil loads itself 
 during the summer is suddenly withered, and the whole 
 earth is covered with combustible materials. This is espe 
 cially true of those portions where grass grows from two 
 to ten feet high, and is exposed to sun and wind, becoming 
 thoroughly dried. A single spark of fire, falling upon the 
 prairie at such a time, instantly kindles a blaze that spreads 
 on every side, and continues its destructive course as long 
 as it finds fuel. These fires sweep along with great power 
 and rapidity, and frequently extend across a wide prairio 
 and advance in a long line. No sight can be more sublime 
 than a stream of fire, beheld at night, several miles in 
 
 the decomposition of vegetable matter; which is, in most new 
 countries, the great source of disease. With some local excep 
 tions, there does not seem to be any natural reason why this State, 
 even in its early settlement, should not enjoy as high an average 
 of healthiness as Ohio now does. Such I believe to be the fact, 
 after making proper deductions for change of climate, mode of 
 life, exposure, and unusual exertion. To observe the exertion 
 and exposure, often reckless and unnecessary, to which most new 
 settlers subject themselves, it becomes a matter of surprise that 
 disease and mortality are not much more usual than they are." 
 
22 THESOIL. 
 
 breadth, advancing across the plains, leaving behind it a 
 background of dense black smoke, throwing before it a 
 vivid glare, which lights up the whole landscape for miles 
 with the brilliancy of noonday. The progress of the fire 
 is so slow, and the heat so intense, that every combustible 
 in its course is consumed. The roots of the prairie-grass, 
 and several species of flowers, however, by some peculiar 
 adaptation of nature, are spared. 
 
 A narrow strip of bare ground, or a beaten road, the 
 width of a common wagon-track, will prevent the fire from 
 extending beyond it; yet careless, thoughtless farmers, 
 sometimes suffer tall grass to connect their fields of corn 
 and fences with the wild prairie, and forfeit their year s 
 toil as a penalty for their slothfulness ! 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE SOIL. 
 
 IT is well known to the scientific farmer, that the land 
 best suited to wheat and most small grains, and in which 
 the earthy, saline, and organic matters are distributed in the 
 proportion best adapted to impart fertility and durability, is 
 generally a soil based on the calcareous and magnesio-calca- 
 reous rocks. This condition particularly characterizes the 
 country bordering on the Mississippi and its tributaries, 
 between the 41st and 45th degrees of latitude, which has an 
 
THESOIL. 23 
 
 average width of 20 to 30 miles west of the line of that 
 river. In this State, it includes the Dubuque District, the 
 country watered by the Des Moines, and the two lowas. In 
 Owen s Geological Report, we find the following : 
 
 " The prairie country, based on rocks belonging to the 
 Devonian and carboniferous systems, extending up the val 
 ley of the Bed Cedar, Iowa, and Des Moines, as high as lati 
 tude 42 31 , presents a body of arable land which, taken 
 as a whole, for richness and organic elements, for amount 
 of saline matter, and due admixture of earthy silicates, 
 affords a combination that belongs only to the most fertile 
 upland plains. Throughout this district the general level- 
 ness of the surface, interrupted only by gentle swells and 
 moderate undulations, offers facilities for the introduction 
 of all those aids which machinery is daily adding to dimi 
 nish the labor of cultivation, and render easy and expedi 
 tious the collection of an abundant harvest." 
 
 Again, in speaking of the physical and agricultural 
 character of the State, bordering on the Mississippi, near 
 the foot of the lower rapids, Owen says : 
 
 " The carboniferous rocks of Iowa occupy a region of 
 country which, taken as a whole, is one of the most fertile 
 in the United States. No country can present to the farmer 
 greater facilities for subduing, in a short time, wild land. 
 Its native prairies are fields, almost ready made to his 
 hands. Its rich, black- soil, scarcely less productive than 
 that of the Cedar Valley, returns him reward for his labor 
 a hundredfold. The only drawback to its productiveness 
 is that, on some of the higher grounds, the soil, partaking 
 
24 THE SOIL. 
 
 of the mixed character common to drift-soils, is occasionally 
 gravelly, and that, here and there, when the upper mem 
 bers of the coal-measures prevail, it becomes somewhat too 
 siliceous. 
 
 " The future farms of Iowa, large, level, and unbroken 
 by stump or other obstruction, will afford an excellent field 
 for the introduction of mowing-machines, and other im 
 proved implements calculated to save the labor of the hus 
 bandman, and which, in new countries, reclaimed from the 
 forest, can scarcely be employed until the first generation 
 shall have passed away. 
 
 " After passing latitude 42 30 , and approaching the 
 southern confines of the Couteau des Prairies, a desolate, 
 barren, knobby country commences, where the higher 
 grounds are covered with gravel and erratic masses, sup 
 porting a scanty vegetation, while the valleys are either 
 wet and marshy, or filled with numerous pools, ponds, and 
 lakes, the borders of which are inhabited by flocks of sand 
 hill cranes, which fill the air with their doleful cries, and 
 where the eye may often wander in every direction towards 
 the horizon without discovering even a faint outline of 
 distant timber. 
 
 " This description of country prevails for about three- 
 quarters of a degree of latitude, and between three and 
 four degrees of longitude ; embracing the watershed, where 
 the northern branches of the Red Cedar and Iowa, and the 
 eastern branches of the Des Moines, take their rise." 
 
 " The drift-soils west of the Mississippi, except near the 
 northern boundary of Iowa, are much superior to the drift- 
 
APPEARANCE OF THE PRAIRIES. 25 
 
 soils of the interior of the Chippewa Land District, in Wis 
 consin; the materials that compose them being not only 
 more comminuted, but more generally mixed with argilla 
 ceous, saline, and calcareous ingredients, and less encum 
 bered by erratic blocks." 
 
 More full and minute descriptions of the soil in various 
 localities in the State may be found in the series of articles 
 upoii " the Counties and Towns of Iowa." 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE PRAIRIES. 
 
 THE novelty of the prairie country is striking, and never 
 fails to cause an exclamation of surprise from those who 
 have lived amid the forests of Ohio and Kentucky, or along 
 the wooded shores of the Atlantic, or in sight of the rocky 
 barriers of the Allegheny ridge. The extent of the pros 
 pect is exhilarating. The outline of the landscape is un 
 dulating and graceful. The verdure and the flowers are 
 beautiful; and the absence of shade, and consequent 
 appearance of a profusion of light, produces a gaiety which 
 animates every beholder. 
 
 These plains, although preserving a general level in 
 
 respect to the whole country, are yet, in themselves, noi 
 
 flat, but exhibit a gracefully waving surface, swelling and 
 
 sinking with easy, graceful slopes, and full, rounded outlines, 
 
 3 
 
26 APPEARANCE OF THE PRAIRIES. 
 
 equally avoiding the unmeaning horizontal surface, and the 
 interruption of abrupt or angular elevations. 
 
 The attraction of the prairie consists in its extent, its 
 carpet of verdure and flowers, its undulating surface, its 
 groves, and the fringe of timber by which it is surrouuded. 
 Of all of these, the latter is the most expressive feature. 
 It is that which gives character to the landscape, which 
 imparts the shape, and marks the boundary of the plain. 
 If the prairie be small, its greatest beauty consists in the 
 vicinity of the surrounding margin of woodland, which 
 resembles the shore of a lake indented with deep vistas, 
 like bays and inlets, and throwing out long points, like 
 capes and headlands. 
 
 In the spring of the year, when the young grass has 
 just covered the ground with a carpet of delicate green, 
 and especially if the sun is rising from behind a distant 
 swell of the plain and glittering upon tho dewdrops, no 
 scene can be more lovely to the eye. The groves, or clus 
 ters of timber, are particularly attractive at this season of 
 the year. The rich undergrowth is in full bloom. The 
 rosewood, dogwood, crab-apple, wild plum, the cherry, and 
 the wild rose are all abundant, and in many portions of the 
 State the grape-vine abounds. The variety of wild fruit 
 and flowering shrubs is so great, and such the profusion 
 of the blossoms with which they are bowed down, that the 
 eye is regaled almost to satiety. 
 
 The gaiety of the prairie, its embellishments, and the 
 absence of the gloom and savage wildness of the forest, 
 all contribute to dispel the feeling of loneliness which usu- 
 
APPEARANCE OF THE PRAIRIES. 27 
 
 ally creeps over the mind of the solitary traveller in the 
 wilderness. Though he may not see a house or a human 
 being, and is conscious that he is far from the habitations 
 of men, the traveller upon the prairie can scarcely divesfc 
 himself of the idea that he is travelling through scenes em 
 bellished by the hand of art. The flowers, so fragile, so 
 delicate, and so ornamental, seem to have been tastefully 
 disposed to adorn the scene. 
 
 In the summer, the prairie is covered with long, coarse 
 grass, which soon assumes a golden hue, and waves in the 
 wind like a fully ripe harvest. The prairie-grass never 
 attains its highest growth in the richest soil ; but in low, 
 wet, or marshy land, where the substratum of clay lies 
 near the surface, the centre or main stem of the grass 
 that which bears the seed shoots up to the height of eight 
 and ten feet, throwing out long, coarse leaves or blades. 
 But on the rich, undulating prairies, the grass is finer, with 
 less of stalk and a greater profusion of leaves. The roots 
 spread and interweave, forming a compact, even sod, and 
 the blades expand into a close, thick grass, which is seldom 
 more than eighteen inches high, until late in the season, 
 when the seed-bearing stem shoots up. The first coat is 
 mingled with small flowers the violet, the bloom of the 
 wild strawberry, and various others, of the most minute 
 and delicate texture. As the grass increases in height, 
 these smaller flowers disappear, and others, taller and more 
 gaudy, display their brilliant colors upon the green surface ; 
 and still later, a larger and coarser succession arises with 
 the rising tide of verdure. It is impossible to conceive a 
 
28 IOWASCENERY. 
 
 more infinite diversity, or a richer profusion of hues, " from 
 grave to gay/ than graces the beautiful carpet of green 
 throughout the entire season of summer. 
 
 When the prairie is bare, it is easy to distinguish the 
 rich from the poorer lands, by the small hillocks which are 
 scattered over them, and which are most abundant where 
 the soil is least productive. They are from a few inches to 
 two or three feet in height, and only exist where the clay 
 lies near the surface; as such mounds composed of rich 
 mould would soon crumble and become level. These, by 
 some, are said to be the work of the goplior a small 
 quadruped; by others, are thought to be thrown up by 
 craw-fish ; which is doubtless true of wet situations ; while 
 those in drier portions are attributed to colonies of ants : 
 each class belonging, however, to the clay party, and working 
 only in poor soil. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 IOWA SCENERY THE BLUFFS, ETC. 
 
 RESPECTING the scenery of Iowa, Owen, in his Geolo 
 gical Report to Congress, pp. 64, 65, and 66, says : 
 
 " The scenery on the Rhine, with its castellated heights, 
 has furnished many of the most favorite subjects for the 
 artist s pencil, and been the admiration of European travel 
 lers for centuries. Yet it is doubtful whether, in actual 
 beauty of landscape, it is not equalled by that of some of 
 
IOWA SCENERY. 29 
 
 the streams that water this region of the Far West. It is 
 certain that, though the rock formations essentially differ, 
 Nature has here fashioned, on an extensive scale, and in 
 advance of all civilization, remarkable and curious counter 
 parts to the artificial landscape which has given celebrity 
 to that part of the European Continent. 
 
 "The features of the scenery are not, indeed, of the 
 loftiest and most impressive character such as one might 
 expect to witness on approaching the source of one of the 
 two largest rivers on the globe. There are no elevated 
 peaks, rising in majestic grandeur; no mountain torrents, 
 shrouded in foam, and chafing in their rocky channels ; no 
 deep and narrow valleys, hemmed in on every side, and 
 forming, as it were, a little world of their own ; no narrow 
 and precipitous passes, winding through circuitous defiles ; 
 no cavernous gorges, giving exit to pent-up waters ; no con 
 torted and twisted strata, affording evidence of gigantic 
 and violent throes. But the features of the scene, though 
 less grave and bold than those of mountainous regions, are 
 jet impressive and strongly marked. We find the luxuriant 
 sward, clothing the hill-slope even down to the water s edge. 
 We have the steep cliff, shooting up through its mural es 
 carpments. We have the stream, clear as crystal, now 
 quiet, and smooth, and glassy, then rufiled by a temporary 
 rapid ; or, when a terrace of rock abruptly crosses it, broken 
 up into a small, romantic cascade. We have clumps of 
 trees, disposed with an effect that might baffle the landscape 
 gardener ; now crowning the grassy height, now dotting 
 the green slope with partial and isolated shade. From the 
 3* 
 
30 IOW A SCENERY. 
 
 hill-tops, the intervening valleys wear the aspect of culti 
 vated meadows and rich pasture-grounds, irrigated by fre 
 quent rivulets, that wend their way through fields of wild 
 hay fringed with flourishing willows. Here and there, 
 occupying its nook on the bank of the stream, at some 
 favorable spot, occurs the solitary wigwam, with its scanty 
 appurtenances. On the summit-level spreads the wide 
 prairie, decked with flowers of the gayest hue; its long, 
 undulating waves, stretching away till sky and meadow 
 mingle in the distant horizon. The whole combination 
 suggests the idea, not of an aboriginal wilderness (so re 
 cently), inhabited by savage tribes, but of a country lately 
 under a high state of cultivation, and suddenly deserted by 
 its inhabitants their dwellings, indeed, gone, but the 
 castle-homes of their chieftains only partially destroyed, 
 and showing, in ruins, on the rocky summits around. This 
 latter feature, especially, aids the delusion ; for the peculiar 
 aspect of the exposed limestone, and its manner of wea 
 thering, cause it to assume a semblance somewhat fantastic, 
 indeed, but yet wonderfully close and faithful to the dila 
 pidated wall, with its crowning parapet, and its projecting 
 buttresses, and its flanking towers, and even the lesser 
 details that mark the fortress of the olden time." 
 
 a The rural beauty of this portion of Iowa can hardly 
 be surpassed. Undulating prairies, interspersed with open 
 groves of timber, and watered with pebbly or rocky-bedded 
 streams, pure and transparent; hills of moderate height 
 and gentle slope; here and there, especially towards the 
 heads of streams, small lakes, as clear as the rivers, some 
 
OFTHt 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF 
 
THE BLUFFS. 31 
 
 skirted with timber, some with banks formed by the green 
 sward of the open prairie. These are the ordinary features 
 of the pastoral landscape/ 
 
 In a few instances, the hills or bluffs along the Missis- 
 ippi rise boldly from the water s edge, or push out their 
 steep promontories, so as to change the direction of the 
 river ; but more generally, on either bank of the river, we 
 see a series of graceful slopes, swelling and sinking as far 
 as the eye can reach. The prairie, for the most part ex 
 tending to the water s edge, renders the scenery truly beau 
 tiful. Imagine a stream a mile in width, whose waters are 
 as transparent as those of the mountain spring, flowing 
 over beds of rock and gravel ; fancy the prairie commencing 
 at the water s edge a natural meadow of deep-green grass 
 and beautiful and fragrant flowers, rising with a gentle 
 slope for miles, so that, in the vast panorama, thousands 
 of acres are exposed to the eye. The prospect is bounded 
 by a range of low hills, which sometimes approach the 
 river, and again recede, and whose summits, which are 
 seen gently waving along the horizon, form the level of the 
 adjacent country. Sometimes the woodland extends along 
 this river for miles continuously; again, it stretches in a 
 wide belt far off into the country, marking the course of 
 some tributary streams ; and sometimes, in vast groves, 
 several miles in extent, standing alone, like islands in this 
 wilderness of grass and flowers. 
 
32 RIVERS AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 RIVERS AND THEIR TRIBUTARIES. 
 
 No State in the Union is more bountifully supplied with 
 water than Iowa; being bounded on the east by one of the 
 finest rivers in the world the Mississippi, and on the 
 west by the Missouri ; the interior of the State being tra 
 versed in every direction by noble, and in many cases navi 
 gable, streams; many of them running parallel to each 
 other, from twelve to twenty miles apart, skirted with 
 timber of from one to five miles in width. Our rivers have 
 not the rapidity of the New-England streams, nor the depth 
 and sluggishness of those of the South ; but are clear, fresh, 
 and healthy, of gentle current, and capable of furnishing 
 water-power for all purposes. 
 
 The rivers that are directly tributary to the Mississippi 
 are the Upper Iowa, Turkey, Maquoketa, Wapsipinnicon, 
 Cedar, Iowa, Fox, Checaque (commonly called Skunk), 
 and the Des Moines. Those running into the Missouri are 
 Floyd s, Little Sioux, Inyan Yankee, Soldier, Boyer, Nish- 
 nabotna, Big Tarkeo, and Nodaway. 
 
 Some of these streams are navigable for a great distance, 
 and the day is drawing nigh when the quiet of their banks 
 shall be broken, and the shrill whistle of the heavily-laden 
 steamer reverberate from shore to shore when many of 
 these streams shall have become thoroughfares for the 
 
TIMBER-LANDS. 33 
 
 transportation of the rich productions of this most fertile 
 and most prosperous State. " The untold powers of some 
 of these waters will soon be utilized for mechanical pur- 
 poses ; and but a short time will elapse ere the thunder and 
 clatter of the ten thousand wheels of machinery will break 
 upon that solitude which now echoes only to the harvest- 
 song or the notes of the sweet warblers of the forest. Ex 
 tensive works are already commenced upon more than 
 one of these rivers which will stamp our greatness and con 
 vince the world that l progress is our watchword." 
 
 Besides those mentioned, are their tributaries the 
 creeks, branches, or rivulets, penetrating every portion of 
 the interior of the State ; springs of clear, cold water, also 
 abound in all parts of the State. [Particular reference is 
 made to the sites for water-power in different locations, 
 in the letters from county-seats, in another portion of this 
 work.] 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 TIMBER-LANDS. 
 
 To the farmer from the forests of any of the Middle or 
 Eastern States, who has spent years of most laborious and 
 painful drudgery in " clearing up " his land, and with whom 
 the most desirable object has been the destruction of timber, 
 the scarcity of it here seems an evil without a remedy. 
 But we contend that that which appears to the superficial 
 
34 TIMBER-LANDS. 
 
 observer as a defect, is, in truth, one of the greatest sources 
 of prosperity in our country. 
 
 Let us contrast life in "the wooden country" with 
 a life here upon the wide prairie. The labor of clearing 
 woodland is the most arduous task to which the farmer is 
 subjected; and frequently the new-comer from the East, 
 who settles in the forests of Ohio and Kentucky, consumes 
 years of painful toil, and wastes the prime of life, before 
 he sees the fruits of his labor. Besides, the industry and 
 trade of the country are not enhanced, because those who 
 are clearing new land cannot for years produce anything 
 for market. Again, the clearing of new lands suddenly 
 exposes the vegetable deposits of ages to the glaring beams 
 of the sun ; which, with the thousands of fallen and rotting 
 trees, fill the air with noxious exhalations, producing dis 
 eases of the most malignant character. 
 
 Quite different is the case in our open prairie country. 
 The settler may always select upon the prairie, land as fer 
 tile as the richest river-bottoms; and, by settling on the 
 edge of the timber, combine every advantage afforded by 
 the latter. The land being already cleared, he has only to 
 enclose and break it. The sod (described in another sec 
 tion) is turned over with a heavy plow and strong team. 
 The corn is dropped in the furrows, covered with a hoe, 
 and thus left to be gathered. Several other modes of corn- 
 planting may be worthy of mention ; one of which is per 
 formed by striking an axe into the sod and dropping the 
 corn into the crevice ; another, by dropping the corn in 
 every fourth row in plowing, which is covered by the 
 
TIMBER-LANDS. 85 
 
 plowing of the fifth. Thus, while the overturned sod is 
 undergoing decomposition, and becoming mellow by expos 
 ing the fibrous roots to the sun, it is also affording nourish 
 ment to the growing corn. Neither the yield nor the grain 
 is very good the first season ; but sufficient to reward amply 
 the labor of planting and gathering. By the ensuing 
 spring, the roots of the wild grass are completely rotted, 
 and the rich, light mould, unencumbered with rocks and 
 stumps, is fit for all the purposes of husbandry. The plow, 
 running easily through the rich, loamy soil, can be as well 
 managed by a half-grown boy as the strongest plowman. 
 
 Thus, it is seen, the difference in the greater facility of 
 working prairie-lands, the saving in the wear of farming 
 utensils, the economy of time, and greater degree of cer 
 tainty in the farmer s calculations, and the enjoyment of 
 health, more than outweigh any inconvenience which can 
 possibly be experienced in this country from the want of 
 timber, even under the most unfavorable circumstances. 
 
 " According to the most reliable estimates, about one- 
 tenth of Iowa is timber-land. Of this a considerable por 
 tion is of inferior quality; and the supply of the finest 
 growth of timber, such as we find in Ohio, is comparatively 
 small. Yet along the streams there are thousands of acres 
 covered with an excellent growth of oak, walnut, ash, linn 
 maple, hickory, elm, and cotton-wood. These varieties 
 differ in different localities. Along the Iowa and Cedar 
 Rivers, there is a large amount of oak of all varieties ; and 
 the valleys of the Des Moines are abundantly supplied with 
 walnut. Hickory and walnut are abundant on the Iowa, 
 
36 TIMBER-LANDS. 
 
 Skunk, Cedar, and other rivers. Besides the full-grown 
 timber, there are thousands of acres of a vigorous young- 
 growth, that has at last conquered the prairie fires, and is 
 now rapidly coming to maturity. In addition to these, 
 there is a vast amount of locust being cultivated. This 
 grows here with a rapidity that is seldom equalled else 
 where. I have seen trees at the age of ten years that 
 would make eight posts of sufficient size for fencing. Thus 
 there is an abundance of timber for present purposes, and 
 it is believed by those best informed, that, notwithstanding 
 the constant demand, the supply is every day increasing, 
 both from natural and cultivated sources. 
 
 "The unequal distribution of the wooded land is a 
 greater objection than its actual quantity. Sometimes the 
 prairies are from twenty to forty miles in width, thus 
 making timber inconvenient. These, however, are rare 
 cases, and, at the worst, are bearable, compared to the life 
 long drudgery of woodland pioneering. 
 
 " The large amount of coal that is now discovered in the 
 various sections of the State obviate, to a great extent, the 
 limited supply of timber-land. The rapidly-increasing fa 
 cilities for inter-communication are also fast equalizing the 
 advantages of different localities. It is not the economy 
 of nature that any one spot should monopolize all natural 
 advantages; but some portions of this appear to combine 
 as many as are often found harmonizing." 
 
 The portion of Iowa most deficient in timber is north of 
 latitude 42 especially on dividing ridges. North of this 
 latitude, between the head-waters of Three and Grand 
 
GEOLOGY OP IOWA. 37 
 
 Rivers, there are distances of ten and fifteen miles without, 
 any timber ; while between the waters of Grand River, the 
 Nodaway, and the Nishnabotna, the open prairie is often 
 twenty miles wide, without a bush to be seen higher than 
 the wild indigo and the compass plant. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 
 
 IN preparing the following, we depend principally upon 
 " Owen s Geological Report" of a survey made under his 
 direction, of the Northwest Territory, by authority of 
 Congress. 
 
 Minerals. 
 
 The principal minerals of Iowa are lead, iron, and cop 
 per. The shipment of lead from Dubuque, from the 21st 
 of March to the 1st of December, 1854, inclusive, amounted 
 to 43,543 pigs, weighing 3,069,640 Ibs. ; valued, at the 
 mines, $178,830,20. Lead has been found at various 
 other places near the base of a bluff on the west side of 
 the Mississippi, some ten or fifteen miles above Turkey 
 River, near the French village. From seven to ten thou 
 sand pounds of lead ore were taken from openings in the 
 rocks by Dr. Andrus. More or less " Galena " is found 
 here in all the principal openings for the distance of a mile. 
 Between the Yellow and Upper Iowa Rivers, excavations 
 4 
 
88 GEOLOGY OF IOW A. 
 
 are visible where the Indians have dug for lead ore. On 
 the Upper Iowa, also, ore has been discovered in several 
 places in considerable quantities. In the Winnebago Re 
 serve, not far from the Iowa River, and a few miles north 
 west of the town of Lansing, lead ore has been found in 
 small quantities, chiefly in pockets and cavities. 
 
 Copper ore has been discovered within the boundaries 
 of the State, but not sufficiently productive to justify the 
 sinking of shafts. Iron ore is found in various places in 
 the Des Monies Valley; Owen thought, in some locations, 
 of sufficient productiveness to justify smelting. There are ; 
 as yet, no works for working raw iron ore in the State. 
 
 Coal-fields of Iowa. 
 
 Last summer, the following article appeared in the Des 
 Moines Valley Whig. Having compared it with other 
 authority, we find it quite correct, and insert it entire, with 
 additional data, gathered elsewhere, as a condensed view 
 of Iowa coal measures, &c. : 
 
 " The Des Moines River runs centrally and diagonally 
 through what is geologically called the Carboniferous Sys 
 tem of Iowa. This system is called carboniferous, because 
 it is that particular division of rocks in which the coal 
 measures are found, and because it contains that series of 
 rocks, of a comparatively modern date, which, in their 
 composition, are so largely carbon. 
 
 " The physical and pastoral features of the Des Moines 
 Valley are thus given in Owen s Geological Survey : 
 
 " { The carboniferous rocks of Iowa occupy a region of 
 
GEOLO-GY OF IOWA. 39 
 
 country which, taken as a whole, is one of the most fer 
 tile in the United States. No country can present to the 
 farmer greater facilities for subduing, in a short time, wild 
 land. 
 
 " For centuries the succession of natural crops of grass, 
 untouched by the scythe, and but very partially kept down 
 by the pasturage of buffalo and other herbivorous animals, 
 have accumulated organic matter on the surface-soil to such 
 an extent that a large succession, even of exhausting crops, 
 will not materially impoverish the land. 
 
 " The rural beauty of this portion of Iowa can hardly 
 be surpassed. Undulating prairies, interspersed with open 
 groves of timber, and watered by pebbly or rocky-bedded 
 streams, pure and transparent; hills of moderate height 
 and gentle slope ; here and there, especially towards the 
 heads of the streams, small lakes, as clear as the rivers, 
 some skirted with timber, some with banks formed by the 
 greensward of the open prairie; these are the ordinary 
 features of the pastoral landscape/ (Report, p. 100.) 
 
 " The principal minerals to be noticed in this paper are 
 coal, hydraulic limestone, quartzite, clays, common or 
 mountain limestone, marble, iron ore, and gypsum. 
 
 "Coal 
 
 " The Iowa Coal-field embraces an area of about 25,000 
 square miles. A very good idea of its locality may be 
 obtained by taking a map and drawing a line, commencing 
 near the southwest corner of the State, proceeding up the 
 Nishnabotna ; thence to Lake Boyer ; thence, by the heads 
 
40 
 
 GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 
 
 of the Three Rivers, northeast, to the Des Moincs, cross 
 ing it six miles above Fort Dodge; thence southeast, 
 through Tama and Iowa Counties, to the east part of 
 Washington County; thence nearly south, through the 
 west part of Henry and Lee Counties, to the Des Homes 
 River, near St. Francisville. It is nearly in the shape of 
 a half ellipse, cut by the shortest diameter. The width of 
 it east and west is nearly 200 miles ; while in a north and 
 south direction, the distance is 140 miles. The Des 
 Moines River traverses, in a southeast direction, about 250 
 miles. 
 
 " The accompanying table has, with much care and some 
 labor, been compiled from Owen s Report, for the purpose 
 of giving a view of the thickness of the coal veins as they 
 show themselves in the Valley proper, and in the banks of 
 creeks near by : 
 
 K Tabular View of the Coal Beds in the Des Moines Valley. 
 
 Counties. 
 
 Range. 
 
 Section. 
 
 Veins. 
 
 General Remarks. 
 
 Lee 
 
 N. 
 
 ~66~ 
 67 
 68 
 68 
 68 
 69 
 69 
 70 
 70 
 72 
 73 
 74 
 74 
 74 
 
 W. 
 
 ~9~ 
 8 
 8 
 8 
 8 
 8&9 
 9 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 15 
 15 
 17 
 17 
 
 23 
 
 36 
 24 
 34 
 25-26 
 32 
 25 
 3 
 22 
 
 20 
 19-30 
 6 
 32 
 
 Ft. 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 4 
 
 4 
 2 
 2 
 
 1 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 in. 
 6 
 6 
 
 6 
 
 Quality poor. 
 Quality good. 
 Night s Bank, good. 
 Regular 4 to 5 feet. 
 Slaughter s Bank. 
 On Bear Creek. 
 Gillis s Bank. 
 Near Portland. 
 2 seams, 2 feet each. 
 5 feet higher, 18 in. 
 Not given. 
 Quality tolerable. 
 
 Clark, Mo 
 Van Buren...... 
 
 Wapello 
 
 it 
 Mahaska 
 
 M 
 II 
 
GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 
 
 41 
 
 Counties. 
 
 RANGE. 
 
 Section 
 
 Veins. 
 
 General Remarks. 
 
 Marion 
 
 N. 
 
 ^74~ 
 74 
 74 
 74 
 74 
 75 
 76 
 76 
 78 
 78 
 81 
 83 
 
 W. 
 
 "is" 
 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 18 
 20 
 19 
 19 
 23 
 24 
 25 
 26 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 16 
 30 
 14 
 3 
 14-23 
 11 
 23 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 Ft. 
 
 2 
 
 8 
 5 
 
 2 
 8 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 In. 
 
 Right bank Cedar. 
 
 Regular 4 to 6 feet. 
 2J feet poor. 
 White br st ex. 
 < 
 
 Not given. 
 
 n 
 
 Regular 2 to 3 feet. 
 2 to 3 feet inferior. 
 Not given. 
 
 Polk 
 
 ii 
 Boone 
 
 
 
 NOTE. Last bed mentioned in latitude 42 30 r north. 
 " The foregoing table does not include the thinnest veins, 
 nor half the localities where the thick ones crop out; but 
 one can get a very correct view of the thickness of the 
 best seams up along the Valley. There are undoubtedly 
 outcrops where the thickness is much greater than in any 
 of the places mentioned. But these will be found to be 
 the centre or side of a basin which, on being worked, will 
 not extend far. A basin of 15 feet of thickness has been 
 found in a bank opposite Farmington. Where the outcrops 
 are more than four or five feet, they must be suspected as 
 being basins, unless in the cut of a stream at some distance 
 the vein is ascertained to have the same thickness. Owen 
 says there is no vein of more than from four to five feet 
 in Iowa. (Report, p. 20.) 
 
 * The table shows outcrops are far more numerous in 
 some localities than in others. In the immediate vicinity 
 of the river, where the limestones, which lie below the 
 
 coal, make their appearance, the coal strata are usually 
 4* 
 
42 GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 
 
 wanting. This is the case at Bonaparte, Bentonsport, Ke- 
 osauqua and Ottumwa. But in these the coal strata may 
 be, and actually are, found in creeks at no great distance 
 from the river; sometimes, even upon the bluffs. 
 
 " The southeast and northwest parts of Van Buren County, 
 the northeast part of Davis, the central part of Wapello, 
 the southern part of Mahaska, and the southeastern and 
 central parts of Marion, are rich in coal. But other por 
 tions of the same counties are not wanting. So far as can 
 be learned from the table, and so far as the observation and 
 knowledge of the writer extends, the heaviest beds are usu 
 ally on the west side of the river. The best beds are also 
 there. Some of these are also on the White Breast, 
 Cedar, and Soap Creeks. The principal exception to this 
 rule is in the southeast part of Van Buren County. Here 
 it exists in great abundance on both sides of the river. It 
 is equal in quality to any found below Marion County. 
 Two veins are worked to considerable extent in connection; 
 the two afford from 4 J to 5 feet. On the west side of the 
 river, it is said the two are separated by a vein of fire-clay, 
 which thins out, and the coal veins converge as they recede 
 from the river. These veins are shown in the cuts made 
 by the creeks for miles in distance to the west. During 
 the year ending with the current June, more than 100,000 
 bushels have been taken from three banks near Farming- 
 ton, two of which are east of the river. Some of this has 
 been conveyed by blacksmiths the distance of 75 miles into 
 the State of Missouri. The greater part of it has been 
 transported to different places by wagons. 
 
GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 43 
 
 "The average value of it at the bank is 61 cents per 
 bushel. The value at the Mississippi, a distance of 30 
 miles, is 18 to 20 cents per bushel. Whenever the banks 
 shall be well opened, and there are ready and convenient 
 means of carriage, so that colliers can find regular employment, 
 coal can be delivered on the banks of the Mississippi at a 
 cost of 6 or 7 cents per bushel, and afford a better profit than 
 at present. This is upon the supposition that it can be con 
 veyed upon a railroad car here as cheap as in Kentucky, where 
 the cost of transportation is one cent per bushel per 100 miles. 
 And as to the amount of coal the Valley can supply, it is easy 
 to ascertain it. Allowing a bushel to the cubic foot, one 
 acre, with a two-feet vein, will give 87,120 bushels. With 
 a four-feet vein, one acre will give 174,240 bushels. One 
 hundred acres, with a four-feet vein, will yield 17,424,000 
 bushels. One square mile, with a four-feet vein, will yield 
 111,513,600 bushels. The transportation of this 100 
 miles, at one cent per bushel, would yield the snug purse 
 of $1,115,136. And as the demand for coal would at 
 once be increased to millions of bushels a year, if a rail 
 road was constructed in the Valley, this mineral alone 
 would afford quite an item of business and profit. 
 
 " Hydraulic Limestone. 
 
 " Of this kind of stone is formed a mortar which will set 
 under water. It is essential for all masonry exposed to 
 the water and to dampness. There are several varieties of 
 it : one is called Septaria. This is found in the form of 
 round or flattened balls, of various sizes. This is the kind 
 
GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 
 
 horn which the English prepare the celebrated Roman Ce 
 ment. (Hitchcock s Geology, p. 20.) Comstock speaks 
 of it also as Argillo-Ferruginous Limestone/ This, how 
 ever, is another variety of cement-rock, and is, perhaps, the 
 most common. It is called black calcareous rock, cement 
 rock, and hydraulic limestone. In reference to the geolo 
 gical formations in the Valley, Owen says, The middle 
 division of the Iowa Coal-field affords, at many localities, 
 iron-stones of various qualities, associated frequently with 
 hydraulic calcareous cement, which occurs either in the 
 form of disconnected septaria, or regular beds/ (Report, 
 
 P- 21.) 
 
 " Cement rock is found both above and below the coal, but 
 in the largest quantities above. The reader will find mention 
 of it by consulting Owen s Report, pp. 112, 127; and 
 more frequently still in that part of it which gives the 
 geological structure between Fort Des Moines and Fort 
 Dodge. It is a very common rock in the Valley; probably 
 in every county on the River below Fort Dodge, In many 
 places contiguous to the river in Davis County, there are 
 strata of it several feet in thickness. The geological struc 
 ture of the southeast and central parts of Marion County 
 are just the same as in Davis. But as the series of rocks 
 above the coal show, themselves more extensively above 
 Racoon Fork, we accordingly find more frequent mention 
 of it in that region. In some places large quantities of it 
 are wrought into cement, which is quite extensively used 
 in the river improvement. The initials of it by analysis 
 are : 
 
GEOLOGY OP IOWA. 45 
 
 "Carbonate of lime 63-6 
 
 Silica 15-5 
 
 Alumina 8-3 
 
 Protoxide of iron 7-4 
 
 Magnesia 1-2 
 
 With a small portion of manganese, soda, and potash. 
 
 " It will readily be seen that the demand for this is 
 great, when it is said that $6000 worth, at the ordinary 
 prices, will be wanted for every lock on the river, and when 
 it is also said that in nearly every dwelling in the western 
 country, cistern coated with this cement will be indis 
 pensable as the means of obtaining a supply of pure, soft 
 water. The walls and floors of damp cellars must also be laid 
 in cement. And the cement of this Valley will be wanted 
 because it is more accessible ; the present demand being sup 
 plied, in a great measure, from La Salle, Illinois, and from 
 Louisville, Kentucky; and also because the Valley cement is 
 probably fully equal to that from other places. That the 
 reader may see how its constituents compare with other 
 cement, we will give the analysis of that which is exten 
 sively used in the State of New York. Its composition, 
 according to Professor Beck, is : 
 
 "Carbonate of lime 50-70 
 
 Silica 15-37 
 
 Alumina 9-13 
 
 Peroxide of iron 2-25 
 
 Magnesia 12-35 
 
 " Comparing this analysis with that of the Valley cement, 
 it will be seen that they are substantially the same. We 
 
46 GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 
 
 will here add a practical remark, which may be of much 
 value to those who undertake to manufacture this cement, 
 and to those who undertake to test specimens. Very much 
 depends upon burning it. If care be not taken, the best 
 " ement may be easily spoiled. In St. John s Geology, p. 
 274, will be found the following : 
 
 " < Greater caution is requisite in burning hydraulic lime, 
 since it is fusible, and the heat applied to the common lime 
 will vitrify this substance and render the process quite im 
 perfect. Common lime will bear a white heat; but the 
 calcination of hydraulic lime is not well effected above a 
 red heat/ 
 
 " When proper arrangements shall be made for working 
 this limestone, it is said the cement can be afforded at the 
 kiln for $1-25 per barrel. The carriage of it to the Mis 
 sissippi by land is at most $1-00 per barrel per 100 miles ; 
 while cement from other places costs from $3-00 to $3-50 
 per barrel. 
 
 " Common Limestone. 
 
 (( Though this is regarded as prevailing rock in the West, 
 there are large sections in Iowa where the limestone is so 
 largely magnesian as to be unfit for quick-lime and mortar 
 The proper position of the common or mountain limestona 
 in the carboniferous system is below the coal. Accordingly, 
 it is found all along the Valley in the greatest abundance 
 and of the best quality. Much of it contains 90 per cent, 
 of carbonate of lime. This is among the most valuable of 
 Atones for quick-lime. 
 
 " Closely allied to this stone, and still lower in the sys- 
 
GEOLOGY OP IOWA. 47 
 
 tern, is the blue lime-stone. Some of this is deep blue, 
 and some, of a bluish gray. It is harder than common 
 limestone, often highly crystalline, and fossiliferous. It 
 usually lies in strata in the Valley, varying from a few 
 inches to some feet in thickness. The stone is good for 
 quick-lime, but is of superior quality for building material. 
 It is as beautiful and durable as Quincy granite, while the 
 cost of putting it into the wall is comparatively trifling. 
 The principal places where it is accessible are Keokuk, in 
 the bed of the river below Farmington, Keosauqua, and 
 Outumwa. It will undoubtedly become an article of export 
 as soon as it shall become known, when a demand for the 
 best building material arises, and the proper means of 
 transportation are provided. 
 
 "Marble. 
 
 "The writer claims that there is marble in the Des 
 Moines Valley, of a good quality and in great quantity. 
 Any limestone which is sufficiently hard to take a fine 
 polish is called marble. Many of these are fossiliferous/ 
 (Lyell s Elements of Geology, p. 12.) In the limestones 
 beneath the coal there are several varieties which come 
 under this definition. Among them may be classed some 
 of those named under the previous head. The best quarry 
 now known in the Valley is at Keokuk. Some of the^ 
 strata there are highly crystalline almost saccharine and 
 take a fine polish. St. Louis has already resorted to this 
 place for building material ; a fact which shows that this 
 marble is superior to any other equally accessible to that 
 
48 GEOLOGY OF IOW A. 
 
 city. At the same locality are other varieties which polish 
 well. They are crystalline, solid, but full of fossils, and 
 either blue, or of a bluish-gray color. Of the latter varie 
 ties, enough can be had at Bonaparte, Bentonsport, and 
 Keosauqua. And very probably, when these quarries shall 
 be extensively worked, the white marble will be found. 
 
 " Not far from Keosauqua there is a good variety of light- 
 gray, compact, granular marble, of which tomb-stones are 
 wrought by Deacon M. B. Root. It effervesces slightly 
 with acids, and takes a polish. Iowa sent a block from this 
 quarry to the Washington Monument. Ottumwa may 
 expect to find as good varieties of marble as any place, 
 because the lower limestones have the greatest uplift there. 
 
 "Quartette. 
 
 " On Reed s Creek, some distance from its mouth, not far 
 from the line between the counties of Lee and Van Buren, 
 are heavy beds of quartzite. The color of it is nearly 
 white sometimes, a light blue ; and it is so slightly adhe 
 sive that it can easily be shaved off with a spade. Plas 
 terers, when working in the neighborhood, are accustomed 
 to obtain it for their finishing-coat/ Those of them who 
 have used this, and also that obtained at the Falls of St. 
 Anthony, say that the two kinds are just alike. Examined 
 with a magnifier, the sandstone on Reed s Creek is sharply 
 angular, and appears to be very pure quartz. The slight 
 coloring it has received has probably been obtained from 
 the superincumbent earth. For plastering purposes, it 
 cements as well with lime as that of the Falls ; and if it 
 
GEOLOGY OP IOWA. 49 
 
 really be like it, these beds are a source whence can be 
 obtained the best materials fur the manufacture of crystal 
 glass. 
 
 "Clays. 
 
 "Passing by the kinds from which common brick are 
 made, and those used for earthen and stone-ware, the coal 
 measures abound in fire-clay/ Fire-proof bricks are wrought 
 of this for the use of foundries, furnaces, and in all cases 
 and places where there is an exposure to intense heat. In 
 the Eastern States, it has sometimes been necessary to 
 import these bricks from England. The cost of them has 
 been as high as $50 per thousand. It is desirable that fire 
 places and ovens should be constructed of them ; and where 
 fire-clay is plenty, as in the Valley, there is no reason why 
 they should not be. But bricks are heavy articles of trans 
 port ; and until there are railroad facilities of carriage, that 
 one item of cost will prevent extensive business in this 
 kind of manufacture. With such facilities, there appears 
 no good reason why this clay should not be worked. And 
 as to quantity, the Valley can supply the United States, 
 with Cuba and Mexico annexed ! 
 
 "Iron Ore. 
 
 " Iron has been found in several places, though no beds 
 are known in the Valley of so rich a character as those of 
 the Iron Mountain/ in Missouri. Owen found this ore 
 in Marion County, in beds which he considered would here 
 after be worked. Specimens taken from them and exam 
 ined had a specific gravity of 345; that of pure iron being 
 5 
 
50 GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 
 
 7 7. By analysis, they contained 85 per cent, of iron. This 
 iron, as to richness and quality, is almost exactly like tho 
 Cairnbill Black Band/ of Scotland, which is extensively 
 worked. Other and heavier beds have been discovered 
 since Owen s Survey ; but whether rich or not, is not cer 
 tainly known ; the ore not having been tested by compe 
 tent men. In such circumstances, it is not possible to 
 speak of this ore with great definiteness. 
 
 " Gypsum, or Plaster of Paris. 
 
 " This is chemically known as the sulphate of lime. The 
 heaviest beds of it in the United States are to be found a 
 few miles below Lizard Fork, in Yell County. They are 
 from 20 to 30 feet thick, and show themselves on both 
 sides of the river for miles ; and they extend back each way 
 an unknown distance. By analysis, this gypsum contains 
 70-8 per cent, of sulphate of lime. 
 
 " On one acre, with an average thickness of 20 feet, 
 there will be 871-200 cubic feet; on one square mile, 
 557,568,000 cubic feet; and on three miles square, 
 5,018,112,000 cubic feet and 308,031,428 tons. 
 
 " Before closing this paper on the minerals of the Valley, 
 it is proper to say that the survey of Dr. Owen was made 
 by order of the United States, and had for its more special 
 object the discovery of mineral lands, such as the Govern 
 ment might wish to reserve. The principal minerals sought 
 were lead and copper. The coal-field was surveyed and 
 mapped down, while the other minerals noticed in this 
 paper received only incidental attention and secondary con 
 sideration some of them, no mention at all. Could there 
 
GEOLOGY OF IOWA. 51 
 
 be a thorough geological survey by the authority of our 
 own State, it is probable that valuable discoveries would be 
 made in the Des Moines Yalley, as well as in other parts 
 of the State.* The multitude of streams which debouch 
 into the Des Moines have not been explored to any consi 
 derable extent. 
 
 " Collectively, the minerals of this Yalley, as now known, 
 are extensive and valuable They constitute one of the 
 many items which render their locality so attractive. It is 
 traversed by one of the most beautiful rivers on earth; 400 
 miles in length, a large portion of it 250 yards in breadth : 
 capable of floating steamers a part of the year, and afford 
 ing water-power to any desirable extent : with a landscape 
 of great and charming variety, groves, and forests, and 
 prairies, in constant alternation, and possessing a soil 
 scarcely excelled for fertility, perhaps, in the world/ why 
 ehould it not.be thronged with inhabitants? It is the 
 centre of the Mesopotamia of the West/ in a more im 
 portant sense than that of its position. Let but the iron 
 horse traverse the whole length of the Yalley, and its silver 
 stream will be skirted with cities and villages in as great 
 continuity as is the Bosphorus ; meanwhile, its agricultural, 
 and mineral, and manufactured exports, will amount to 
 many millions of dollars annually." 
 
 * By reference to the chapters on particular counties, in this 
 work, it will be seen that discoveries of iron, copper, lead, and 
 coal have been made in localities not specified in the foregoing 
 paper. At its last session, the Legislature passed an act appro 
 priating $2,500 per year, until the work is completed, for a tho 
 rough geological survey of the State ; the work to be performed 
 by a geologist and a chemist, to be appointed by the Governor. 
 
52 POPULATION. 
 
 CHAPTEK IX. 
 
 POPULATION IMMENSE IMMIGRATION OF 1854. 
 
 THE population of the Territory in 1836, was 10,531; 
 in 1840, it was 43,017; in 1850, 192,214. The census, 
 as returned by the Secretary of State, taken in the spring 
 of 1854, is as follows: Males, 170,302; females, 154,900; 
 total population, 325,202. Voters, 59,984; militia, 50,284; 
 aliens, 10,373; colored males, 258; colored females, 222; 
 blind, 27 ; deaf and dumb, 28 ; insane, 47 ; idots, 7. 
 There is one vote to every five and a half and a fraction of 
 the population. 
 
 According to this last census, the number of males ex 
 ceeds that of the females some 16,000. Let the Yankee 
 girls take the hint when they see these figures. 
 
 The number of inhabitants in the State in January, 
 1855, has been estimated at upwards of 500,000. Those 
 who have seen and can realize that Iowa is the mouth of 
 the great Stream of Humanity, whose tributaries extend 
 far and wide, into every State and many nations that 
 stream which is daily and hourly pouring into this great, 
 and fertile, and beautiful State, its hundreds and thousands, 
 cannot but predict that in 1860 Iowa will be peopled by 
 more than a million of hardy, energetic, and intelligent 
 inhabitants. 
 
IMMIGRATION OF 1854. 53 
 
 By some, this may be deemed a wild speculation ; but 
 we think we have good and sufficient reasons for placing 
 our estimate thus. That the reader may have some idea 
 of the immense influx into Iowa ; we will annex a few 
 extracts which appeared in the newspapers at different 
 points in the State last summer and fall. 
 
 OF THE IMMENSE IMMIGRATION or 1854. 
 The Iowa City Reporter says : 
 
 " Mr. Watts, of this city, has recently returned from a 
 trip East. On his way home, he represents the immigra 
 tion bound for Iowa as astonishing and unprecedented. For 
 miles and miles, day after day, the prairies of Illinois are 
 lined with cattle and wagons, pushing on towards our pros 
 perous State. 
 
 "A point beyond Peoria, Mr. Watts remained over 
 night; where he was informed that, during a single month, 
 seventeen hundred and forty-three wagons had passed, and 
 all for Iowa. Allowing five persons to a wagon, which is 
 a fair average, we have 8715 souls to add to our population. 
 This being but the immigration of the month, and upon 
 one route only out of many, it would not be an unreasonable 
 assertion to say that 50,000 men, women, and children will 
 ( have come into this State by the first of December, reckon 
 ing from the first of September." 
 
 Remembering that those spoken of by Mr. Watts all 
 came by wagons, please add this item, from the Chicago 
 Press : 
 
 " Most of the passenger trains came in last week with 
 5* 
 
54 IMMIGRATION OF 1854. 
 
 two locomotives ; and the reason of this great increase of 
 power will be understood when it is known that twelve thou 
 sand passengers arrived from the East, by the Michigan 
 Southern road, during the last week a city in the short 
 space of six days !" 
 
 To the above, add the crowds who ascend the Mississippi 
 and Missouri upon every boat, of whom as many as 600 
 have passed St. Louis in one day ! 
 
 The OsJcaloosa Times says : 
 
 " From early morning till night-fall, the covered wagons 
 are passing through the place." 
 
 "We learn from old citizens that the tide of immigra 
 tion is this year greater than they have ever known before." 
 
 "We should think at least a thousand persons pass 
 through Oskaloosa every week, about these times, on their 
 way westward." 
 
 " Not an hour in the day but we see teams l hauling up 
 on the Square." 
 
 The Davenport Com mercial adds: 
 
 " That s our case, precisely. Our ferry is busy all hours 
 in passing over the large canvas-backed wagons, densely 
 populated with becoming lowaians. An army of mechan 
 ics have added 300 buildings to this city during the past 
 season, yet every nook and corner of them are engaged 
 before they are finished ; but our hospitable citizens will 
 not allow any to suffer for want of a shelter. In several 
 instances the citizens have, like true aborigines, withdrawn 
 to close quarters, and given their parlors to those who have 
 come to make their homes among us and were unable to 
 
IMMIGRATION OF 1854. 55 
 
 find dwellings. There is not a vacant dwelling or business 
 room in the city." 
 
 The Burlington Telegraph says : 
 
 " 20,000 immigrants have passed through the city within 
 the last thirty days, and they are still crossing at the rate 
 of 600 and 700 a day. We have these facts from the ferry 
 folks, who keep a sort of running register. About one 
 team in a hundred is labelled ( Nebraska/ all the rest are 
 marked * Iowa/ ;; 
 
 The Dubuque Tribune says : 
 
 "Daily yes, hourly immigrants are arriving in this 
 and neighboring counties from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, 
 and Illinois. All are in raptures at the lovely sights 
 which here greet their gaze ; and they with one accord 
 yield the palm to Western Iowa for lovely prairies, beauti 
 ful groves of timber, and meandering streams of water." 
 
 The editor of the Dubuque Reporter thus speaks of the 
 "Prospects of Iowa" : 
 
 " Never before, in the history of this northwestern region 
 of the United States, has there been a more gratifying 
 spectacle than that now presented to those who take an 
 interest in its progress and welfare. Viewing the almost 
 countless throng of immigrants that crowd our streets, and 
 learning that a similar scene is visible at every other point 
 along the Mississippi border of Iowa, the spectator is 
 naturally led to infer that a general exodus is taking place 
 in the Eastern States of the Union, as well as in those 
 that, but a few years ago, were denominated the West. 
 
 4< Day by day the endless procession moves on a mighty 
 
56 IMMIGRATION OF 1354. 
 
 army of invasion, which, were its objects other than 
 and a holy, fraternal, cordial league with its predecessors, 
 their joint aim to conquer this fair and alluring domain from 
 the wild dominion of nature would strike terror into the 
 boldest hearts. They come by hundreds and thousands 
 from the hills and valleys of New England, bringing with 
 them that same untiring, indomitable energy and perse 
 verance, that have made their native States the admiration 
 of the world, and whose influence is felt wherever enter 
 prise has a votary or commerce spreads a sail ; with intel 
 lects sharpened to the keenest edge, and brawny arms to 
 execute the firm resolves of their iron will, and gathering 
 fresh accessions, as they sweep across the intermediate 
 country, from the no less thrifty and hardy population of 
 New York, Ohio, and Indiana. Tarrying no longer 
 amongst us than is necessary for them to select their future 
 home, away they hie to the capacious and inviting plains, 
 that spread themselves interminably, ready to yield, almost 
 without preparation, their rich latent treasures. 
 
 " Soon will be seen innumerable the farmer s comfort 
 able abode, and the frequent thriving village, with its peo 
 ple s college/ as its highest worldly pride, and close at 
 hand the house of God, with spire pointing to heaven, as 
 if to remind the worshippers of the source to which they 
 are indebted for all the store of blessings they enjoy. And 
 soon, too, in the wake of such a mighty rush and all its 
 soul-swelling consequences, will follow the laying out and 
 construction of those great works that will link us to the 
 wide-spread members of our confederacy, over which the 
 
IMMIGRATION OP 1854. 57 
 
 iron horse, more terrible in the fierceness of his strength 
 than the war-steed of Job, will snort his triumphant ha, 
 ha ! as he bounds along in his tireless race. Science, in 
 turn, will rear her loftiest fanes, and plant deep in the 
 hearts of her disciples the seeds of a deathless devotion to 
 the institutions of our common country. 
 
 " And to what, let us ask, is the high tide setting into 
 Iowa fairly to be ascribed ? 
 
 " We take it on ourselves to answer that the unanimous 
 consent of those who have investigated her claims accords 
 her a climate of unequalled salubrity, a soil of the most 
 generous fertility, and a geographical position unsurpassed 
 by that of any other Western State ; in a word, that natu 
 rally she contains within her limits all the elements which, 
 properly availed of by man, will secure his highest tem 
 poral prosperity and happiness. During the past year, she 
 has been peculiarly favored. Whilst the contiguous States, 
 and many of those more remote, have yielded harvests 
 diminished by drought in the ratio of from a fourth to a 
 Lalf, hers has been at least equal to an average one. She 
 is thus able to supply not only her producers, but likewise 
 all who have since come, and are yet to arrive this year. 
 This has been of incalculable advantage to her. Inasmuch 
 as every immigrant comes provided with the means for 
 entering land and defraying expenses till he can make a 
 crop, money has been in freer circulation here than in any 
 other part of the country. A fact equally gratifying is, 
 that the immigration hither numbers in its ranks many 
 men of wealth, who consequently bring to us an accession 
 
58 IMMIGRATION OF 1854. 
 
 of capital that must of course produce results which are 
 usually unseen in new states for years after their settle 
 ment. 
 
 " We conclude our remarks on the prospects of Iowa by 
 tendering our congratulations to her citizens on the proud 
 and enviable position she occupies a position obtained 
 without effort, and which is but a foretaste of that she will 
 attain as her strength is increased and her concentrated 
 energies directed to the securing of a yet loftier elevation/ 7 
 
 The editor of the Keokuk Whig thus speaks, under the 
 announcement of 
 
 " l STILL THEY COME ! By railways and steamers, the 
 flood of immigration continues pouring into the great West. 
 The lake-shore roads are crowded to their utmost capacity; 
 single trains of fourteen or fifteen cars, all full of men, 
 women, and a large sprinkling of children, are almost 
 daily arriving at Chicago. The Ohio River steamers are 
 crowded in the same way. On Friday last, two steamers 
 brought into St. Louis some 600 passengers; most of whom, 
 being destined for the northwest, have already passed 
 through this place. And i still they come/ from Pennsyl 
 vania, from Ohio, Indiana, and other States, until, by the 
 side of this exodus, that of the Israelites becomes an insig 
 nificant item, and the greater migrations of later times are 
 scarcely to be mentioned. Whether the older States are 
 suffering by this rapid depletion, or how long they can en 
 dure it, is their own look-out. Certain it is that Iowa in 
 particular, and the other Western and Northwestern States 
 generally are rapidly filling up with a hardy, industrious 
 
IMMIGRATION OF 1854. 59 
 
 and wealth-producing population. Let them come ! Here 
 is room, and to spare ! Here is a theatre for human ope 
 rations on the grandest scale ! Here is the place for the 
 young man, just starting out in life, for the old man, seek 
 ing to provide for his children, for all sorts of men/ in 
 search of fortune, fame, or wealth ; for any one, also, who 
 has an eye and a soul for Nature in her grandest forms of 
 lavish profusion and splendid magnificence. 
 
 " There is something in the l growing, glowing West/ 
 with her limitless prairies, her mighty rivers, her moun 
 tains of iron, the lavish richness of her all-bountiful soil, 
 that expands the soul of man, and elevates him above the 
 narrow, cramped, and confined ideas of those who are ac 
 customed only to the well-worn channels and small conven 
 tionalities of older hum-drum communities. There the 
 new man is apt to find himself an unwelcome jostler, 
 his intrusion viewed askance, his elbow-room begrudged 
 him, and his presence tolerated only upon condition of his 
 accepting the procrustean standard of hoary and respectable 
 use and wont/ unless, indeed, a position can be asserted 
 and maintained by force of very superior talent, or unusual 
 accidental advantages. But here all is new, and plastic, 
 and vigorous. Men are wanted here, and are welcomed. 
 And here at once is found a boundless and untrammelled 
 field of enterprise, adequate to the elastic energies of in 
 genious youth or mature manhood. It is curious to watch 
 the development of a comer from the old-fogy settlements : 
 to see his mind expand, his eye light up with the fire of a 
 
60 IMMIGRATION OF 1854, 
 
 renewed energy, and his whole nature grow to the liberal 
 standard of Nature s doings in the West. 
 
 " Therefore, we repeat again, let them come old and 
 young, men and women, boys and girls, with or without 
 * plunder/ Let them flee from their tax-ridden and mise 
 rably governed Egypts in Ohio and Pennsylvania, to the 
 Land of Promise, flowing with something better than milk 
 and honey, and possessing capabilities such as they have 
 hardly dreamed of. Here they shall find welcome homes ; 
 and, while they speedily help themselves to attain better 
 fortunes, they shall also have a hand in the proud labor of 
 building up the mighty Empire of the Mississippi Valley." 
 
 The editor of the Keolcuk Dispatch, after returning from 
 a two-weeks furlough, says : 
 
 " No one can travel up and down the Mississippi without 
 being astonished at the immigration constantly pouring into 
 Iowa from all parts of the country ; but especially from 
 Indiana and Ohio. 
 
 " Two gentlemen from Richmond County, Ohio, told us 
 that from that County alone 1000 persons were coming to 
 Iowa this fall ; at every ferry on the river crowds are wait 
 ing to cross; and the land-offices all over the State are 
 unable to meet the demands upon them by those who are 
 eager to enter lands. 
 
 " Our journey led us into Jackson and Jones Counties, 
 where we met, in all directions, indications of rapid settle 
 ment, thrift, and energy. We spent some days in Jones 
 County^on the prairie watered by Mineral Creek, and learned 
 that but a year ago there were forty thousand acres of un- 
 
IMMIGRATION OP 1854. 61 
 
 entered land, while there is not now as much as amounts 
 to a section to be had. Although the prairie is but a few 
 miles in extent, there are already forty habitations upon it. 
 
 " We left the river at Bellevue the seat of Jackson 
 County. It is beautifully situated, and ought to be a con 
 siderable town. Jackson County numbers about 11,000 
 in population. Maquoketa is a thriving place, and Sabula 
 means to do a large business when the Air Line Railroad 
 crosses at that point. 
 
 "When we take into account the central position of 
 Iowa in our confederacy, and the fact of the rapid develop 
 ment of her resources, we can easily believe that she is des 
 tined to become, at no distant day, all that the most san 
 guine hope for. Her salubrious climate, the abundance of 
 water, and the favorable distribution of timber, all contri 
 bute to give Iowa pre-eminence among the Western States 
 in the minds of those who are exchanging a residence in 
 the East for one in the West." 
 
 We could occupy pages more in giving like extracts from 
 the press in various parts of the State ; but the foregoing 
 will suffice. 
 
62 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 [THE following extracts from "Letters on the West" 
 (contributed to the columns of the Davenport Commer 
 cial published by the author last year,) are herein in 
 serted as containing much information respecting the coun 
 try, and many practical hints to the new settler, not in 
 print elsewhere. These letters are from the pen of Wil- 
 lard Barrows, Esq. ; than whom, probably, no individual 
 in the State possesses more thorough information on the 
 topics he speaks of; he having spent some eighteen years 
 as Government and General Surveyor.] 
 
 li Introduction The Rivers and Lalces of Iowa Her Mi 
 neral Resources Onward March of Civilization. 
 "Aware of the difficulty the immigrant from the Eastern 
 States labors under in obtaining a correct knowledge of the 
 West of its vast resources, its immense fields for cultiva 
 tion, spread out in untold beauty, inviting the husbandman 
 to partake of the bounty which a beneficent Being has 
 spread out before him, I hope to furnish your readers with 
 some facts that will prove interesting and profitable to those 
 intending to make their homes in Iowa. I would speak of 
 our beautiful rivers, productive soil, and healthful climate ; 
 
GENERAL RE MARKS. 63 
 
 of the glassy lakes, whose pebbled shores have for ages 
 been the haunts of the elk, the buffalo, and the deer, and 
 whose waters abound in the finest specimens of the finny 
 tribe. These solitary places, that have slept in beauty so 
 long, have been awakened into life. The woodman s axe 
 now begins to echo on the banks of our streams, and the 
 hum of voices resounds upon our lakes. Civilization, in 
 her westward march, has aroused the deer from his lair ; and 
 where, but yesterday, the wolf held undisputed sway, the 
 familiar bark of the farmer s faithful dog is heard. 
 
 " Probably no State in the Union has ever been settled 
 with greater rapidity, or in so short a period of time 
 gained greater renown, than Iowa. 
 
 "Bounded on the east by that noblest of rivers, the 
 Mississippi, and on the west by the Missouri, cut up and 
 intersected at the most important points by railroads, pro 
 jected and under contract, possessing almost inexhaustible 
 supplies of lead in the north, and of coal in the south, of 
 lime, sand, and other building-stone in almost every portion 
 of the State, she combines within her borders, resources that 
 must render her, in point of position and wealth, one of 
 the most important States in the Republic. 
 
 " The Climate of Iowa may be compared with that of 
 New Jersey and the vicinity of New York City ; except 
 that we have not here as much rain and foggy weather as they 
 have. Here it is, in general, an unbroken winter from the 
 middle of November till January ; when we are invariably 
 visited with the January thaw ; after which, the weather 
 is generally mild, and gradually merges into spring. We 
 
64 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 have but little snow not enough to prepare for sleighing, 
 and but few sleds or sleighs are manufactured. We are 
 free from the sudden changes so common to New England; 
 the weather is less variable. Our storms are from the east ; 
 our showers from the west. 
 
 a Cultivation and yield of Wheat, Corn, Oats, Potatoes and 
 
 Onions. 
 
 " Our wheat is sown in March, and our corn planted the 
 last of April and first of May. But little winter wheat is 
 grown here ; the light snows are insufficient to protect it 
 from winter-killing. Spring wheat is raised in great abund 
 ance, and of a good quality. Corn is raised in large quan 
 tities ; and all the products of the earth, congenial to this 
 climate grow, with but little labor. Seldom is the hoe used 
 in the corn or potatoe-field the horse and plough do the 
 work in general. Of the wheat crop, 40 bushels to the 
 acre is considered a good crop ; and of corn, 50, 60, and 
 75 bushels are raised to the acre; 400 and 500 bushels of 
 potatoes and onions are common to the acre. I know of 
 large crops being taken from the ground such as 100 
 bushels of oats to the acre, and the same of corn ; but they 
 are not common, and such tales only serve to heighten the 
 fancy of those who intend immigrating, and mislead them. 
 
 "The Soil and Prospects of the Farmer East and West 
 
 compared. 
 
 "A man cannot come here and grow rich in idleness : he 
 must work. Our soil is prplific, but must have care and 
 
GENERAL RE MARKS. 65 
 
 culture. It is true that man can live with less labor than 
 in the older States j the soil is easier tilled. He can make 
 himself a home much sooner, and far more easily, than 
 those who purchase land in northern New York, Ohio, and 
 Indiana. How many are there in those States who have 
 toiled for years to cut away the timber and burn it ; ex 
 pending, on an average, $10 or $12 an acre before the plow 
 can enter the land, and then be used with great difficulty 
 among the stumps, roots, and rocks ; and how many farm 
 ers are there now, in those States, going down to the grave 
 in the meridian of life with a worn-out and broken consti 
 tution ! Compare the new settlement of those States with 
 a settlement in Iowa. Here, the immigrant enters upon 
 his land, perhaps, at government price $1*25 per acre ; 
 or, if he pays $5, or even $10, per acre, he finds it free 
 from all obstacles in making a farm. For the sum of $2-50, 
 the prairie is broken up, and often corn is planted the first 
 year, by striking the axe into the turf and dropping the 
 corn, which yields 15 to 25 bushels per acre. This is 
 called sod-corn. The second year, the turf is rotten, the 
 ground easily tilled, and the husbandman s labors are 
 crowned with success. 
 
 u Enclosing Farms Osage Orange as a Substitute for 
 
 Board, Wire, or Sod Fences. 
 
 " To enclose the land, various kinds of fencing have been 
 tried. Among the early settlers, the sod fence was made 
 by those who had a scarcity of timber, but proved a per 
 fect failure. The soil being too alluvial and loamy to sus- 
 6* 
 
66 GENERAL RE MARKS. 
 
 tain itself, the common board fence was resorted to, till, 
 more recently, the wire fence has been introduced, and suc 
 ceeds well where it is properly made. In most parts of the 
 State, hogs are not allowed to run at large, and of course 
 less fencing is required. It is now sufficiently demonstrated, 
 by trial of a few, that the Osage-orange hedge is to be the 
 great remedy for lack of timber upon our prairies : it has 
 been tested, and found that a hedge of this shrub will turn 
 any kind of animal, from a horse to a sucking pig, in three or 
 four years. This fence can be made for forty cents per rod, 
 and warranted, or no pay. Upon the prairie, where there is 
 not much range of cattle, the hedge can be planted and grown 
 without fence to protect it ; nothing will eat the plant, and 
 the few that might be destroyed by being trod upon, can 
 easily be replaced. In fencing, then, 100 acres square, the 
 expense would be $250, for a fence that would last for ever. 
 It will need training only, as it does not sprout from the 
 roots. But, half of this fence will be for the accommoda 
 tion of your neighbor ; consequently, your cost will be but 
 half this sum. In order to make this fence, the ground 
 must be broken some eight or ten feet wide, upon the line 
 of fence, one year before the planting of the hedge. I 
 understand that a contract has been made recently, by the 
 Illinois Central Railroad, to fence the entire road, some 
 300 miles, with the Osage orange. 
 
 " For immediate use, those who have no timber must 
 fence with lumber; which is $15 per thousand feet; and 
 the white-cedar post can be had for $10 per hundred. It 
 will take 1280 posts, eight feet apart, to fence 100 acres 
 
GENERAL RE MARKS. 67 
 
 with wire or boards; the amount of either of the latter 
 will be regulated according to the number of strands ; which 
 may be three or five. There is but one great deficiency in our 
 State the scarcity of timber. But we hope for a substi 
 tute in the Osage orange, as far as fencing is concerned. 
 
 "Renting, building. Brick-making No Vacant Lands 
 near the Mississippi River. 
 
 "Tillable land is now rented at $1-75 to 82-00 per acre. 
 The first tenement of the settler is generally of small di 
 mensions; reared in haste, and ultimately to form the 
 kitchen part of his future dwelling. Brick is made in all 
 parts of the State ; and in most parts, the limestone rock 
 is abundant, and often used for entire dwellings for man 
 and beast. The vacant land or lands, still owned by the 
 Government, have now become very scarce in the settled 
 portions of the State. No selections of good land can now 
 be made within fifty or seventy-five miles of the Mississippi 
 River. The immense immigration of the last two years 
 has secured all choice lands in the vicinity of settlements 
 arid railroads ; and the only chance of the immigrant for 
 land at $1-25 per acre, is to go back into the interior of 
 the State. Many prefer purchasing nearer market nearer 
 the Mississippi River ; where unimproved land can be had 
 at from $4 to $10 per acre, and improved farms at from 
 $10 to $40, and even $50 per acre according to the value 
 of improvements. 
 
68 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 11 Iowa as it is, and as tlie Immigrant may expect to find it 
 
 Earnest Labor the Price of Success. 
 <( The immigrant must not come here as many do ex 
 pecting to find first rate land, with timber and water, all 
 spread out before him, very near some city or town, for $1-25 
 per acre ; it is not to be had. He must not come expect 
 ing to find Iowa a desolate, dreary, uncultivated waste, with 
 here and there a green spot, inhabited by pioneers living 
 in log cabins and just merging into civilization; neither 
 must he come expecting to live at ease, enjoying the luxu 
 ries of life and health, rolling in upon him without any 
 exertion. A home can be had by the poorest, with prudence 
 and economy. Noplace in the wide world can offer greater 
 inducements to the immigrant than Iowa ; lut he must look 
 at it as it is. No fancied sketch must weave around his 
 imagination sudden wealth or unreal beauties, seen only in 
 the dreary picture before him. He may fancy Iowa a garden, 
 and, roaming over its prairies, gather flowers from its rich 
 soil, and exclaim with the Indian, in ecstasies of delight, 
 I-o-wah ! I have found the beautiful land ! but it will 
 never make him rich, nor create for him a happy home, 
 without toil and labor. 
 
 <f Unentered Lands Immense Immigration of 1854 Cen 
 tral Iowa Best Portions of the State yet Unsettled 
 The Destiny of Iowa. 
 " There are yet large bodies of land subject to entry at 
 
 the government price $1-25 per acre. Early in the sea- 
 
GENERAL REMARKS. 69 
 
 son, there was much upon the line of the Mississippi and 
 Missouri Railroad subject to sale ; but I found none at this 
 time within less than four miles of the railroad. The 
 timber-lands of this section of country are all secured ; no 
 thing remains but prairie. The wood-lands must be pur 
 chased at second rates, from $5 to $10 per acre. These 
 back counties, even to Council Bluffs, are better timbered 
 than those within fifty miles of the Mississippi River, ex 
 cept in the northern part of the Iowa. There is yet most 
 excellent prairie land in the tier of counties west of John 
 son and Washington, as far back as Polk and Dallas Coun 
 ties. But how long any portion of this beautiful country 
 will remain subject to sale by the Government, is uncertain. 
 The immense immigration to the interior of Iowa this sea 
 son exceeds, by far, all former years. The roads are full 
 of immigrant teams; the groves, creeks, and woodlands 
 seem alive with men, women, and children, encamped in 
 wagons, tents, and cabins, until houses can be erected. 
 
 " There are upwards of one hundred counties of land in 
 this State surveyed and in market; two-thirds of that 
 number are organized, and contain a population of from 
 100 to 25,000 each ; the river tier of counties being the 
 first settled and most densely populated. Central Iowa is 
 the best body of land in the State ; and, in all probability, 
 the State of Iowa is the best in the United States. The 
 better portions of Iowa are not settled yet. The immigrant 
 must not think that Iowa is all sold, or in the hands of 
 speculators. Go where you may, westward or northward, and 
 the boundless prairie is spread out before you, dotted here and 
 
70 GENERAL REMARKS. 
 
 there with its groves and its gentle rivers, skirted with timber; 
 and you find no diminution in beauty or richness of soil : 
 the same deep, black loam is found northward to the St. 
 Peter s River, and westward to the Missouri. The immi 
 grant who is willing to penetrate unsettled portions, and 
 endure the privations incident to a frontier life, can lay, 
 for himself and his children, the foundations of a fortune 
 and a home that will make glad the hearts of his chil 
 dren s children ; for Iowa is destined to be the most densely 
 populated State in the Union. 
 
 " How often has the thought passed through my mind, 
 while rambling over these fertile plains, of the thousands 
 of human beings whose lot has been cast in more sterile 
 lands, bound down by oppression and servitude ! What 
 happiness could be offered to the starving millions of the 
 Old World, could the ill-gotten treasures of tyrants be con 
 verted to their use, and the uncultivated wastes, that now 
 are only kept for the use of a few wandering tribes of 
 Indians, were made the abodes of civilized men ! The 
 onward progress of the Anglo-Saxon race will soon open 
 these vast resources for the benefit of man; and I be 
 lieve that many of us now upon the stage of action, will 
 see these fertile vales teeming with their ten thousand flocks, 
 and hear from the happy cottages the general anthem of 
 thanksgiving and praise, amid these beautiful glens and 
 dales, until the prolonged note shall sigh upon the Rocky 
 Mountain s top, and the echo be heard along the Shores of 
 the Pacific Ocean." 
 
INSTRUCTIONS TO NEW-COMERS 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEW-COMER RESPECTING THE SE 
 LECTION, ENTRY, OR PURCHASE AND CULTIVATION OP 
 PRAIRIE LANDS. 
 
 THE purchaser from Government, if he be a stranger in 
 the country, must first go to the Land-office of the District 
 in which lie the lands that he intends to enter. There are 
 in Iowa nine Land-offices, each of which represents several 
 counties. At either of these the immigrant will be fur 
 nished with small township maps, showing all the vacant 
 or unentered lands, up to the date of application. With 
 these he repairs to the spot ; but, without the aid of a sur 
 veyor, or some person who understands the mode of govern 
 ment surveys, he will be totally unprepared to make selections, 
 as the " metes and bounds" upon the prairie, or marked trees 
 of the forest, will be all Greek to him. He may gaze upon 
 the goodly land, but for him to know what township, range, or 
 section, or any parts thereof, he is on, will be found impos 
 sible. He cannot transcribe the hieroglyphics before him. 
 The numbers must be carefully noted by one who knows, 
 and who will accompany the immigrant to the Land-office ; 
 there he makes hir application to the Registrar, receives a 
 certificate of application, and then presents the same to 
 the Receiver ; pays in specie, or with his warrant, or Vir- 
 
72 INSTRUCTIONS TO NEW-COMERS. 
 
 ginia land-script, and receives a duplicate receipt as having 
 paid for such a tract of land, and, in the course of one or 
 two years, he presents his receipt to the same office, and 
 receives a patent from government; his duplicate receipt, 
 however, is a sufficient warrantee for him to sell and convey 
 the land, and is valid in law. 
 
 To enter upon and settle these lands, is the next thing 
 for the immigrant. He first erects a small cabin of boards, 
 or perhaps of logs, sufficient to shield himself and family 
 from " the pitiless peltings of the storm," and, with eyes 
 often beaming with gladness, enters with great alacrity 
 upon the thousand and one little works of necessity and 
 mercy for the comfort and security of man and beast; 
 while the enormous prairie plow is set in motion by one 
 whose business it is to "brcafc prairie" at $2-25 per acre. 
 This large machine is, to the new-comer, a curiosity : it is, 
 in all respects, like other plows, but much larger in size ; 
 being 10 feet long, and cutting a furrow of some 22 to 24 
 inches in width. The fore-end of the beam rests upon an 
 axle, with wheels, one of which runs in the furrow and 
 guages the width, acting like the wheel of the locomotive 
 upon the rail. A lever is attached to the fore-end of the 
 beam, running back to the handles, which regulates the 
 depth of furrow, and throws the plow out when desired. 
 When the plow is once set in, it needs no further attention 
 in good prairie, as it runs alone, and the driver has only to 
 attend to his team, which consists of some five yoke of 
 oxen. The roots of the wild grass are much longer and 
 harder to break than the tame. It is considered best to 
 
INSTRUCTIONS TO NEW-COMERS. 73 
 
 break the ground as shallow as possible, or only to cut a 
 sufficient depth to turn over the roots of grass ; the soil 
 under it being very loose, and the thinner the sod, the 
 sooner it will rot. Often the farmer sends his boys to drop 
 corn along every third or fourth furrow ; and corn is thus 
 produced, with no further care, yielding 30 bushels to the 
 acre. The next season the sod is well rotted, and the ground 
 in prime order for wheat. In the meantime, the immigrant 
 encloses his fields, either with sawed lumber or rails, as cir 
 cumstances will permit, erects his dwelling, and begins his 
 
 " Life on the prairie green, 
 A home on the boundless waste !" 
 
 The soil is ready to till, and but few weeds grow for the 
 first two or three years. As I have before said, corn is 
 planted and grown without using the hoe : the horse and 
 plow do the cultivating. 
 
 The Realities of a Pioneer Lift Obstacles to be Sur 
 mounted The Reward in Store. 
 
 These are but faint outlines of opening a farm in the 
 West. The immigrant will find trials and hardships 
 spring up around, unlooked for in the old settlement. He 
 will find that his ability to labor is not as great in his new, 
 unacclimated home, as where he came from : the scarcity 
 of labor, the distance from towns, villages, and market, will 
 throw obstacles in the way of his progress, and he may 
 very naturally expect, in a change of climate, sickness in 
 his family; and " the ills that life is heir to," will, perhap?, 
 7 
 
74 SKETCHES ON IOW A. 
 
 tread closely upon his heels, and often make him sigh for 
 " the leelas and the garlics" he left behind him. There 
 is no fancy work in a frontier life, except to him who is 
 weaned from the world at an early age, and assumes the 
 life of a savage. It may do for the intelligent and enter 
 prising of our eastern cities to build for themselves fancied 
 cottages upon our western lands while they are gorged with 
 the pleasures of a city life ; but the stern reality of a fron 
 tier life will not be all sunshine and happiness ; there is 
 labor to be done to enjoy it; there is care and toil, priva 
 tions and sufferings, universally attendant upon any one s 
 settlement in the new portions of the West ; and he who 
 leaves the luxuries of the East and moves to the West, 
 expecting to realize the fancied sketches of rural felicity, 
 will be most sadly disappointed. But let him surmount 
 these obstacles, and he can make himself a home that will 
 yield him a rich and lasting harvest. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 SKETCHES BY TRAVELLING CONTRIBUTORS A 
 STRANGER S IMPRESSIONS, ETC. 
 
 THE following graphic description of the interior of the 
 State is from "Sketches on Iowa," contributed by Mrs. 
 Frances D. Gage to the New York Tribune, in the summer 
 of 1854 : 
 
SKETCHES ON IOWA. 75 
 
 "Trip from Burlington to Oskaloosa Impressions upon, 
 and Expressions by, Explorers of Iowa. 
 
 "I have just risen from the perusal of a long and inte 
 resting letter from Our Own Reporter/ to The Tribune, 
 dated St. Paul, June 8th ; 1854, and have responded True 
 to all the glowing descriptions of the beauty, fertility, and 
 magnitude of the country bordering upon the Upper Mis 
 sissippi ; and feeling that the beauty, fertility, and excel 
 lence of the interior, are fully equal, if not superior, 
 to the borders, I am impelled to give you a few jottings by 
 the way of a journey just ended, from Burlington to Oska- 
 loosa, and thence back to Keokuk. We had no great 
 party to give eclat to our goings or comings ; no music nor 
 dancing, no celebrations, no festivals nor feasting, to gild 
 with rainbow hues the surrounding landscape ; but of speech- 
 making we had plenty, and an endless variety ; as good and 
 sensible, too, perhaps, as if spoken by lips quivering with 
 the excitement of pride, ambition, or sparkling Catawba, 
 and falling upon ears as capable of appreciation, as those 
 dulled by hurry, sensuality, bustle, and fatigue. My busi 
 ness was to lecture on Temperance and Woman s Rights 
 to the people, and of course I had time, in my few days of 
 leisure at the towns by the way, to learn somewhat of the 
 country; and changing my travelling companions every 
 few miles of my journey brought me in contact with all 
 classes and kinds of people, from the immovable Dutchman 
 to the cute Yankee speculator; and from stage-coach 
 speeches we will draw our ideas of the impression made 
 
76 SKETCHES ON IOWA. 
 
 upon the explorers by this interesting country. Well, 
 this is e en-a-jest the garden of Eden, anyhow ! broke out 
 an old man from Maine, who had been studying the land 
 scape for some hours in silence. He was hunting homes 
 for his boys/ 
 
 " Bless my stars, mother, look at that! exclaimed a 
 loquacious New-Yorker to his better-half, who seemed look 
 ing back, like Lot s wife, to the worn-out lands of Oswego. 
 t Do n t that make your mouth water? These corn-fields 
 look as if fifty years old ; not a stump nor a stone. Look 
 at that fellow plowing. His horse walks as if he had no 
 thing behind him. What a furrow he rolls up ! soft as a 
 garden-plat, rich as a stable-yard/ 
 
 " I ll give it up/ says a stately Canadian. I have 
 been looking all the way from Paris, in Canada, through 
 Ohio, Illinois, and Wisconsin for something better, and it, 
 has grown better all the way; but better than this is no 
 use: I ll give it up. Come, wife, let s get out and go 
 back. You wanted clear streams, and here they are. I 
 wanted timber, stone, and prairie, and I ve found them all. 
 Let s go back, gather up the chicks, and come to Iowa. 
 
 " They tell d us this wus little the puttyest place this 
 side o sundown, but I thought it half gas ; but by shucks 
 they didn t tell half on t. Uncle Nate told us we d 
 never want to go back to Monroe/ 
 
 " I reckon we won t neither, says a stout young man to 
 his cherry-cheeked wife ; putting his hand, at the same 
 time, near a side-pocket, where, probably, the treasure was 
 secreted that was to purchase a new home. 
 
SKETCHES ON IOWA. 77 
 
 " Magnificent grand beautiful! ejaculated the gen 
 tleman in gloves, with the linen coat over his broadcloth ; 
 these lands will be worth ten dollars an acre in five years, 
 every rood of them. Ten years will make this country 
 equal to the most favored sections of New York, Pennsyl 
 vania, or Ohio. Look ; is not that splendid ? rolling prairie, 
 just enough to drain it; vale, hill, woodland, park, lawn, 
 grove, meadow, field, shrubbery, and garden, and all in 
 luxuriant bloom and beauty from Nature s own hand; 
 brooks, running over pebbly beds, gushing springs, or wells 
 easily made, of clear and sparkling water. Is it not beau 
 tiful? 
 
 " Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful ! echo the ladies. 
 
 " ( Beau-ti-ful ! answers the quail from the topmost rail 
 of that stake-and-rider fence around that magnificent field 
 of rye. 
 
 " * Beau-t-iful, beautiful ! whistles the whippoorwill at 
 mid-day, in the dark grove of elms and oaks by the way 
 side. He had only changed his dolorous note to suit the 
 sunshine. 
 
 " Iowa for me ! says the young wife. 
 
 " Bright and beautiful as a fairy dream ! says the 
 merry maiden. 
 
 " ( Now, ladies and gentlemen/ says an old stranger 
 old he had been ten years in Iowa <if you are so taken 
 with this, just hold on. Don t cry out till you get up 
 about Oskaloosa, and round about there ; up into Mehaska, 
 Marion, Warren, Lucas, Monroe, Madison, and so on, clear 
 out to Council Bluffs; such land for farming is not any- 
 7* 
 
78 SKETCHES ON IOWA. 
 
 where else on this Continent not even in California I 
 have seen it all. 
 
 1(1 Can t beat Clark, Union, Adams, Montgomery, and 
 Mills, replies another voice. 
 
 " l Well, gentlemen, it is all good ; and it is pretty hard 
 to tell which is best. 
 
 " Such is the tone of conversation among the explorers 
 of this new country on the steamers, which at this season 
 navigate the Des Moines River, and in the coaches. On 
 roads where, three years ago, a coach twice a week was 
 ample, now, two lines a day are required, and six or seven 
 coaches, frequently, to carry the passengers. 
 
 "Mount Pleasant) Fairfield, Ottumwa, Oskaloosa, Knox- 
 ville, and Pella Groves and Parks Fruit and Vege 
 tables Timber Geology. 
 
 * Mount Pleasant is a flourishing town, twenty-five miles 
 from Burlington (reached by a plank road), contains 1200 
 inhabitants, and will have a railroad through it in less than 
 a year good churches and good people. 
 
 " Fairfield, the seat of justice of Jeflerson County, is 
 twenty-five miles from Mount Pleasant. Here are 1500 
 people, and everything active, vigorous, and progressive. 
 Twenty-five miles further on is Ottumwa, built upon a fine 
 slope on the Des Moines. It has been a little stagnant for 
 a year or two, on account of the suspension of the Des 
 Moines improvement, which is now about to be renewed by 
 an eastern company, and will be speedily completed ; for 
 when any country demands a work that will pay as well 
 
SKETCHES ON IOWA. 79 
 
 as this will, there will always be found men and capital to 
 do it. Oskaloosa, the county-seat of Mahaska, is on the 
 prairie ; the Des Moines is four miles distant, upon one side, 
 and the south fork of Skunk River two miles, on the other. 
 it is thus bordered on either side by living streams and heavy 
 timber. Ten years since, it was made the seat of justice; 
 then a place where a few settlers had reared their cabins, 
 seeing, with prophetic eye, what must follow. Now, it has 
 from 2000 to 2500 inhabitants, and 100 buildings, it is 
 said, will be erected this season. Every house and room 
 is full, and every day brings new accessions to their num 
 bers. The railroad will pass through this beautiful town 
 in less than two years. Knoxville, the county-seat of 
 Marion, is a village of 1500 inhabitants. Pella, where a 
 colony of Hollanders located six or eight years ago, near 
 the border of Marion, has now its 600 people. A conven 
 tion was there held the last week in May, and arrangements 
 made for erecting a College under the patronage of the 
 Baptist denomination. At Oskaloosa, they have now a 
 Normal School. At Fairfield and Mount Pleasant, Female 
 Seminaries and Colleges are in process of erection. The 
 dwellers in the East have, as yet, no conception of this 
 beautiful State, its present improvements, its progress, or 
 its resources. 
 
 " The prairies are high and rolling, and bordered with 
 timber. In many places Nature seems to have laid out the 
 farm expressly for man s use, and cleared the meadow, 
 corn-field, and orchard, leaving no stump, tree, or bush to 
 interfere with the plow, covering it with deep and matted 
 
80 SKETCHES ON IOW A.. 
 
 roots of grass to preserve the soil and enrich it for future 
 use. Groves and parks surround it ; running streams and 
 brooks, rippling merrily over pebbles and sand, refresh it ; 
 shrubbery and underbrush supply the new beginners with 
 rich fruits plums of fine quality, resembling the apricot, 
 wild cherries, gooseberries, smooth and large, blackberries, 
 raspberries, strawberries, grapes; all of superior quality to 
 those growing wild in the middle States, and in quantities 
 inexhaustible. Potatoes, both sweet and Irish, are very 
 fine; corn, magnificent; and all agree in one thing that 
 one-half of the labor will produce a better crop than in the 
 farming lands of Ohio. 
 
 " Here, then, by the side or under the cover of one of 
 those rare old groves, the farmer may make his home, 
 break up his prairie land, and in three years have his farm 
 under better cultivation than in hilly woodland countries in 
 fifteen. Apple and peach trees come to maturity very soon, 
 and good nurseries are now to be found in many places. 
 At Pella there is a very fine one, as well as a garden, 
 owned by the learned and gentlemanly Mr. Scottel, who 
 takes great pleasure in giving information to travellers. 
 Timber, such as oak, walnut, hickory, maple, elm, and ash, 
 is abundant. There are few large prairies five or six 
 .miles is the widest, oftener one or two, and still oftener less. 
 Limestone, freestone, and stone-coal, without stint, and hero 
 and there quarries of a species of beautiful marble, made 
 of marine deposits and shells, are found. Every necessary 
 or comfort of life is here produced, or may be produced 
 without difficulty or expense. 
 
SKETCHES ON IOWA. 81 
 
 "The Des Moines River Improvement Napoleon, Farm- 
 ington, Keosauqua The People of Iowa Her Laics 
 The most Progressive and best Improved State in the 
 Union Advice to Eastern People Iowa the Eden of 
 America. 
 
 "The Des Moines River improvement offers great facili 
 ties for mills and manufactories, and the towns already 
 started, where dams have been erected, give evidence of a 
 prosperous future. At Napoleon may be found a woolen 
 factory, with men and women busily engaged in doing good 
 work. Their machinery is very good, but they have but 
 just begun. A flour-mill, too, gives out its cheerful hum. 
 Farmington is a pleasant town, twenty-five miles from 
 Keokuk. Here a fine bridge spans the Des Moines, lead 
 ing the way to Keosauqua, the seat of justice of Van Buren 
 County, also a flourishing village. But I might fill columns, 
 and yet not get to the end of these flourishing new towns, 
 springing up, as it were, by magic, between night and 
 morning. 
 
 "But the people what of the people? exclaim your 
 readers; what are they? Shall I say what I think? The 
 people are the strong, earnest, energetic, right-thinking and 
 right-feeling people of the land. Its founders must have 
 been wiser than most men, or they would not in the begin 
 ning have recognised all grog-shops as nuisances, and have 
 made the vender of ardent spirits liable for his own transgres 
 sions. They must have been more just than common men, 
 or they would not at first have secured the property rights 
 
82 SKETCHES ON IOWA. 
 
 of the wife, and made her the joint guardian, with her 
 husband, of her children. They must have been men 
 more humane than common, or they would not have secured 
 the homestead to the family. These good laws have led 
 those of other States who wish to be wise, just, and humane, 
 to become the dwellers of this fair land. Hence I hesitate 
 not to say that it is the most moral and progressive, as well 
 as the best-improved State, of its age, in all our country. 
 The people of the East must cease to think of Iowa as 
 1 way out Vfest. It is but half past one out here not 
 yet fashionable dinner-time; and the people who last year, 
 or last week, or even day before yesterday, left New Eng 
 land, New York, Pennsylvania, or Ohio, with the last 
 Harper or Putnam in their pocket, the last Tribune in 
 their hand, the last fashion on their heads and shoulders, 
 and the last reform in their hearts, are very much the same 
 people in Iowa that their neighbors found them at home, 
 only that a new country, log cabins, and little deprivations 
 call out all their latent powers, cultivate the fallow grounds 
 of heart and feelings, make them more free, more earnest, 
 more charitable ; in fact, expand, enlarge, and fit them all 
 the better for life and its duties. Why will people live 
 pent up in cities, amid the dust, and smoke, and din, while 
 there is here so much of beauty, freshness, and utility un 
 appropriated. There are millions of hands wanting acres, 
 and millions of acres wanting hands/ True, Iowa may be 
 said to be yet in its log-cabinage, but what of that ? Ten 
 years ago, the farmer of Marion went sixty miles to mill. 
 What now ? Steam mills are at their very doors. Then, 
 
SKETCHES ON IOWA. 83 
 
 as my sister said, for weeks I saw not a woman s face. Now, 
 from my door, I count the friendly, cheerful smoke of 
 twenty home-fires. We ate and slept in these cabins. 
 There was peace, plenty, and cheerfulness. 
 
 " Not one not one desponding wife or mother did we 
 find ; not one willing to go back and live in the old States. 
 1 Look/ they would exclaim, at our corn, our young or 
 chard; our cows are so fine, our chickens are almost Shang 
 hais, our gardens astonish us ; we can afford to live cramped 
 ourselves for houseroom when everything else expands so 
 fast. We shall build in a year or two, when we get our 
 plans laid." Fourth-rate lawyers, doctors, and ministers 
 will do well to remember that the people of Iowa have not 
 yet forgotten the sound of the voices of the good and great 
 they have left behind. Merchants need not take old goods 
 to Iowa, nor faded belles flatter themselves that last year s 
 fashions will answer. Anything won t do out West 
 any more. I went, with other ladies, to a political meeting 
 at Oskaloosa to hear the free-soil Whig nominee for Governor 
 talk to the dear people. The men looked just like men 
 elsewhere, only they were a little more civil and genteel, 
 and did not make quite so general a spittoon of the Court- 
 Ilouse ; and I did not see one that leaned towards drunk 
 enness, though the house was full. I went to church ; fine 
 astrals, polished walnut, and crimson velvet made the pulpit 
 look like home ; ladies rustled rich brocades, or flitted in 
 lawns as natural as life. The only point of difference that 
 struck me was, that their bonnets, with a few exceptions, 
 did not hang so exactly upon nothing as at the East; pro- 
 
84 SKETCHES ON IOW A. 
 
 bably because there was less of nothing to hang on. Then 
 rosy cheeks, sparkling eyes, and free, vigorous steps, were 
 every-day affairs. Altogether, the women were very 
 healthy ; and the children, poor little vulgar things taking 
 after their mothers, as children always will looked a& 
 though they had all the air and sunshine they needed, ana 
 would positively be so unfashionable as to live (nine-tenths 
 of them) through the second summer, and be men and 
 women, despite teething, chin-coughs, mumps, and measles. 
 
 " Burlington and Keokuk are important towns, but too 
 well known and understood in their infant prosperity to 
 need comment. It would require a chapter to give them 
 their due. I hope your reporter, who was at Keokuk 
 while we were there, will do them justice. 
 
 " To sum up all, this is the most beautiful country that 
 I have ever seen ; and when the hand of active industry 
 and energy has overcome the difficulties necessarily attend 
 ant upon a new country, and art and wealth have embel 
 lished what nature has made so grand, it will be, as the old 
 man said, almost the garden of America. 
 
 A STRANGER S IMPRESSIONS OF IOWA. 
 
 The following was communicated to the Progressive Era 
 by a former citizen of Illinois : 
 
 " It is only within a few weeks that I became an unwill 
 ing resident of this State. I say unwilling, because the 
 attachment I felt for my native State and its institutions 
 was so strong, that the idea of severing the connection 
 predisposed me to disparage the advantages of that State 
 
SKETCHES ON IOWA. 85 
 
 which was to cause the separation. I had heard glowing 
 accounts of Iowa, and, though interested in her success, 
 was more solicitous for the welfare of Illinois, and some 
 what inclined to exaggerate her natural advantages, when 
 compared with those of other States. I knew that in many 
 parts, as a farming country, Illinois was unexceptionable, 
 and that the natural scenery was good; indeed, I often 
 thought it impossible that her beautiful rolling prairies 
 could be surpassed ; but, to confess the truth, so far as I 
 can judge of the natural advantages of a State from out 
 ward appearances, I must give Iowa the preference. Every 
 step of my trip through the State has contributed some 
 thing to the formation of this conclusion in spite of my 
 resolve to be displeased. Even now a glance from my 
 window discloses a scene I have rarely beheld equalled : 
 just before me the high, rolling prairie, is stretching away 
 for miles, and rising higher and higher in the distance, 
 until the green of its bosom afar up grows dim, and seems 
 almost lost in the blue of the sky. Flanking the prairie on 
 either side, and cutting across in various directions, are large 
 strips of timber, which, ten years ago, were the homes of wild 
 deer and the hunting-grounds of the Indian. Still nearer, 
 and passing through our beautiful and populous village, the 
 Cedar River takes its way ; as lovely and romantic a stream 
 as any to which Burns, or Campbell, or Moore has ever 
 given celebrity in verse, nor wanting in many of those 
 thrilling legends which have heretofore furnished the foun 
 dations of some of our best poetical effusions." 
 
 The following is from a series of letters descriptive of a 
 8 
 
86 SKETCHES ON IOWA. 
 
 journey from Council Bluffs to Keokuk, by Mr. Barcom, 
 former editor of the Ohio State Journal: 
 
 "Fort Des Moines The Davenport Railroad The Des 
 Moines River Improvement. 
 
 " Before beginning my trip westward, I took the map of 
 that region, and studied the geography of the country, and 
 the locations of certain towns, with reference to their pro 
 bable future. The result of this examination was, that 
 from their natural positions, Fort Des Moines was destined 
 to be the greaty city in central, and Council Bluffs the great 
 city in western Iowa. The only remaining question in my 
 mind was, whether they had a rich fertile country about 
 them, that would back up and support a city. This is 
 indispensable, and to this question I paid particular atten 
 tion. In other letters I have expressed my opinion of the 
 future of Council Bluffs. I am now ready to say what I 
 think of Fort Des Moines. 
 
 " The River Des Moines is the great river of Iowa. It 
 is fully as large as the Muskingum, the largest river in 
 Ohio, and in many striking particulars reminds me of that 
 stream. Rising in the northwest part of the State, it tra 
 verses its territory to the extreme southeast corner. About 
 half way up it, and where the Raccoon River intersects it 
 from the west, the city of Fort Des Moines has its locality. 
 Like Pittsburg, the town plat is on a beautiful tract of 
 land, being the point or tongue between these two rivers. 
 Several hundred acres of level, dry, bottom-land, afford a 
 fine location for a town. The hills back are very beautiful, 
 
SKETCHES ON IOWA. 87 
 
 and afford many most charming sites for residences. On 
 one of them, a fine tract, commanding a most splendid 
 view, has been set apart by the proprietor as a donation for 
 the site of the State House when the people move the 
 capital of the State there, as they will undoubtedly do in 
 due time. The town is finely laid off. The lots are 66 
 feet by 132. The streets are generally 80 feet in width. 
 There are not many prominent buildings yet, as the town 
 is quite new. It has been but two or three years since it 
 began to feel its importance, and to start in its career to a 
 higher position. No part of the town is yet compactly 
 built ; and the question which are to be the business streets, 
 appears to be quite as much an open one as it is at Council 
 Bluffs. The Davenport Railroad passes through this place. 
 It is to cross the Des Moines on a substantial bridge, and 
 continue a west course, through the north of the centre of 
 the town, to its depot grounds, which have been procured, 
 and which are ample for the purpose. Owners of property 
 near the railroad and depot think that it is to be the seat 
 of future business, while others, holding property elsewhere, 
 are equally certain that it will be nearer the point. Time 
 alone will settle the dispute. 
 
 " Fort Des Moines was for many years a military post in 
 the midst of the Indian country, and it is only within a 
 short time that it has begun to improve. It has about the 
 same population as Council Bluffs from 1500 to 2000 
 but the land-speculation fever rages there much more 
 severely than at the Bluffs. City lots sell high, and there 
 is quite a traffic going on in town property, out lots, &c. 
 
88 SKETCHES ON IOWA. 
 
 Many persons go there to invest, but leave, thinking that 
 real estate is entirely beyond its value. It is no doubt 
 true, that persons who would otherwise settle and build 
 there are sometimes driven off by the high price of lots. 
 When I presented this view of this subject to some of the 
 citizens, the answer was, l How can we help it ? People 
 from abroad come here and offer us these high prices for 
 our property. It is their fault; not ours/ I confess there 
 was plausibility in the response, but it did not in the least 
 remove the difficulty. 
 
 " Fort Des Moines has an abundance of timber about it ; 
 also good building stone, of lime and sand formation. It 
 has also an abundance of coal ; and the soil of the entire 
 country is exceedingly rich and productive. It has about 
 it one of the richest farming sections of the State ; and, 
 with all these advantages, it must make a city of some im 
 portance. The railroads of the Des Moines Valley and the 
 Davenport Road make it a point. It is at the head of 
 navigation on the Des Moines. Steamboats ply between 
 here and Keokuk during several months; and the great 
 work of improving it by slack-water navigation is again 
 about to be resumed. It requires twenty-nine dams and 
 locks ; but the General Government has appropriated about 
 a million acres of land, and a company of energy and high 
 character have undertaken the work. I think Fort Des 
 Moines is destined to be the most important inland town of 
 the State/ 
 
RAILROADS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 RAILROADS. 
 
 THERE are several very important railroad lines projected, 
 some of which are partly under contract, and others of 
 which may not be built for years. Three different lines 
 have been explored and surveyed, commencing at Davenport, 
 as follows : 
 
 One from Davenport, through Muscatine, thence through 
 the northern part of Louisa County, and through "Wash 
 ington, Keokuk, Mahaska, Marion, Warren, Madison, 
 Adair, Adams, and Montgomery Counties, to the Missouri 
 River, near the mouth of the Platte. 
 
 Another from Davenport, through Scott, Johnson, Iowa, 
 Powesheik, Jasper, Polk, Dallas, Guthrie, Audubon, and 
 Shelby Counties, to the Missouri River, in Pottawattamie 
 County. 
 
 A third line, from Muscatine, through Cedar and Lime 
 Counties, to Cedar Rapids, with a view to the further con 
 tinuation of the line northwestwardly, into the Territory 
 of Minnesota. 
 
 These explorations were made under the direction of 
 Henry Farnam, Chief Engineer; and in December, 1852, 
 an association was formed, under the general laws of Iowa. 
 8* 
 
90 RAILROADS. 
 
 The routes embraced in the Articles of Association are, 
 a line from Davenport, by way of Muscatine, to the south 
 ern or western boundary of Iowa; and northwardly, by 
 way of Cedar Rapids, up the Cedar Valley to the north 
 line of the State of Iowa; thus combining, in one organ 
 ization, a system of railroads for central Iowa, whose eastern 
 terminus shall be the bridge over the Mississippi River at 
 Davenport. Those portions of these roads between Daven 
 port and Iowa City, and between Muscatine and Oskaloosa, 
 are under contract, and will be ready for the cars sometime 
 during the coming summer. The line from Muscatine to 
 Cedar Rapids has been permanently located, and that por 
 tion of it which forms a junction with the Davenport Road 
 is nearly ready for the cars; so that Muscatine will be in 
 connection with the main line to New York City as soon 
 as the track is laid from Davenport to the junction. 
 
 The Chief Engineer says of the country, " In November 
 last, in company with John B. Jervis, Esq., Consulting 
 Engineer, James Archibald, Esq., a distinguished engineer, 
 General George B. Sargeant, of Davenport, and the Hon. 
 N. B. Judd, of Chicago, I passed over the line from Iowa 
 City to Fort Des Moines, and thence down the divide 
 between the Des Moines and Skunk, to Oskaloosa, and from 
 Oskaloosa, through Keokuk, Washington, and Louisa 
 Counties, to Muscatine. The whole country on both routes 
 is one of unsurpassed beauty and fertility. Since then, I 
 have passed over the line from Muscatine to Cedar Rapids. 
 No more beautiful or productive region of country can be 
 
RAILROADS. 91 
 
 found in the Union. There is literally no waste land to be 
 found, and the settlements are such that a railroad would 
 be immediately productive. The entire land on each of 
 the routes from Davenport to Fort Des Moines, from Mus- 
 catine to Oskaloosa, and from Muscatine to Cedar Rapids, 
 has been all purchased of the Government, and the State 
 of Iowa is settling with a rapidity unparalleled in the history 
 of any State." 
 
 The Mississippi Bridge, now being built at Davenport, 
 connects the Chicago and Rock Island, and the Mississippi 
 railroads ; making one continuous line, without interruption 
 or break of guage, from Chicago to the Missouri River. 
 The people of Iowa, Western Minnesota, and those who 
 are to cultivate the fertile soil of Nebraska, will never con 
 sent to be shut out from the Atlantic and the great "Western 
 lakes by any pretended obstruction which a bridge built on 
 the plan proposed may offer. The bridge will span the 
 Mississippi on the Rapids, where the current is compressed 
 to a narrow space, so that boats, to strike the piers on 
 either side, would first have to surmount rocks which Na 
 ture has had fixed as impediments to navigation for centu 
 ries, and of which the proposed improvement of the Rapids 
 does not contemplate the removal. Simply a skeleton 
 railroad bridge, the draw will always be up, save when the 
 cars are actually crossing ; which never can occur when a 
 steamboat is passing, except by the grossest negligence. 
 For the reasons thus concisely given, we argue that this 
 bridge will prove no obstruction to the navigation of the 
 river. 
 
92 RAILROADS. 
 
 The estimated cost of the before-mentioned lines, for 
 grading and bridging, track superstructure, equipments, 
 station buildings, engineering and contingencies, are as fol 
 lows: 
 
 Division. Dist. Miles. Cost. per Mite. 
 
 Davenport to Iowa City 54-92 $1,516,790-00 $27,618-00 
 
 Iowa City to Fort Des Moines 119-00 3,554,870-00 29,873.00 
 
 Muscatine to Oskaloosa 95-27 2,557,500-00 26,845.00 
 
 Muscatine to Cedar Rapids.. 62-64 1,493,250-00 23,839.00 
 
 Making, in the aggregate, $9,122,410-00 
 
 Several other railroad lines are proposed, and in part 
 under contract, which we will mention : 
 
 The Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, being a 
 continuation of the Chicago and Burlington Railroad, 
 passes west, through the centres of Henry, Jefferson, Wa- 
 pello, Monroe, Lucas, Clarke, Union, Adams, Montgomery, 
 and Mills Counties, striking the Missouri opposite the 
 mouth of the Big Platte, or Nebraska River, some twenty- 
 five miles below Council Bluffs. This road is under con 
 tract to Wapello County, and the prospects of an early 
 completion are good. Burlington has recently had railroad 
 connection with Chicago, " through by daylight." 
 
 The Lyons Central Railroad, a continuation of the Chi 
 cago Air Line Railroad, passes west from Lyons, through 
 Clinton and Cedar Counties, to Iowa City, in Johnson 
 County, where it connects with the Mississippi and Mis 
 souri Railroad. This road was all under contract, and con 
 siderable work done at different points; but its progress 
 has been suspended for some months. We understand that 
 
RAILROADS. 93 
 
 a new company has resumed the enterprise, and are hasten 
 ing it to an early completion. 
 
 The Northern Iowa Railroad, a continuation of the Il 
 linois Central, is projected from Dubuque west, through the 
 Counties of Dubuque, Delaware, Buchanan, Blackhawk, 
 Grundy, Hardin, Webster, Calhoun, Sac, Ida, and Wood- 
 bury, striking the Missouri at Floyd s Bluffs, at the mouth 
 of the Big Sioux River. A branch of this road is also 
 projected to run from Delhi, in Delaware County, north, 
 through Clayton, Fayette, and Winnesheik, to St. Paul, 
 Minnesota. 
 
 A line connecting with the Chicago and Mississippi Rail 
 road (which reaches the Missouri in Carroll County, Illi 
 nois), is projected to pass through Jackson, Jones, Linn, 
 Benton, Tama, Marshall, Story, Boone, Greene, Carroll, and 
 Crawford, striking the Missouri in Mahona County. 
 
 A line running as a continuation of the North Missouri 
 Railroad enters the State in Davis County, passing through 
 Appanoose, Lucas, and Warren, to Fort Des Moines, cross 
 ing the Burlington and Missouri Railroad at Chariton, the 
 Muscatine and Platte Valley Railroad at Indianolo, and 
 connecting with the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad at 
 Fort Des Moines. A portion of this road is under contract, 
 and we are informed will be pushed through as rapidly as 
 circumstances will admit A branch of this line leaves 
 Fort Madison, passing through Lee, Van Buren, and Davis, 
 connecting with the Northern Missouri and Des Moines 
 Railroad in Appanoose County. 
 
 The Des Moines Valley Railroad is to leave the Missis- 
 
94 RAILROADS. 
 
 sippi at Keokuk, passing through Lee, Van Buren, Jeffer 
 son, "Wapello, Mahaska, Marion, and Jasper, to Fort Des 
 Moines, there connecting with two east and west lines. 
 This is considered by many as being one of the most im 
 portant routes, as the Des Moines Yalley, in mineral and 
 agricultural productions, is the richest valley in the 
 State. 
 
 Another line, as a continuation of the Philadelphia and 
 Fort Wayne Air Line Kailroad, to leave the Mississippi 
 at the mouth of the Iowa River, passing through Louisa 
 and Washington Counties, connecting at Washington with 
 the Muscatine and Oskaloosa Railroad, has been proposed. 
 
 A preliminary survey has been made of a railroad from 
 Keokuk to Davenport, via Montrose, West Point, Mount 
 Pleasant, Columbus City, and Muscatine; the entire dis 
 tance being 70 f miles. The estimated cost of this road, 
 including furniture, depots, fencing, &c., is $1,911,934. 
 This is one of the many roads which will seek the bridge 
 at Davenport as the Mississippi crossing. 
 
 We doubt not that those railroad lines penetrating into 
 the State, which are continuations of roads from the East 
 and South, will be pushed forward to an early completion. 
 
 The construction of the several roads reaching from Chi 
 cago towards the Mississippi River demonstrates that rail 
 roads may be constructed through a country of prairie on 
 the line of emigration, and yield a profit as soon and as far 
 as opened. The receipts of the Chicago and Rock Island 
 Road from the 10th of July to the 10th of January 
 were $710,688-86. Running expenses for the same time, 
 
or 
 
 RAILROADS. 95 
 
 $440,764-86; leaving a balance of $270,894. The whole 
 number of passengers passing over the road for the five 
 months ending December 1st, amounted to 168,824; total 
 amount of freight transported during the same time, 49,734 
 tons. 
 
 We give the statistics of this road, because it was the 
 first which reached the Mississippi, and reliable facts could 
 be more easily obtained. Nor is this railroad an exception 
 each of the Chicago and Mississippi, and the Galena and 
 Chicago lines, pay well as far as completed. 
 
 The Mississippi Railroad Bridge. 
 
 The great Railroad Bridge crossing the Mississippi at 
 Davenport is steadily progressing, and the greater part of 
 the masonry is completed. Its entire length will be 5832 
 feet, consisting of spans of 250 feet each, exclusive of 
 bearings. The river is divided into two channels at this 
 point by the beautiful isle, Rock Island. The main channel 
 is on the Iowa side, the second channel upon the Illinois 
 side of the river. That portion of the bridge over the 
 main channel is 1583 feet in length. The circular-shaped 
 draw-pier, which stands near the centre of this channel, is 
 40 feet in height, 46 feet in diameter at the foundation, 
 and 37 at the top. 
 
 On each side of the draw-pier is a draw of 120 feet, * 
 working on the rotary principle ; making, in all, a clear 
 space of 240 feet for the passage of river craft. These 
 draws are open at all times, save when a train is due; and 
 
96 RAILROADS. 
 
 even in that case, if a boat is in sight, it will have the 
 preference. 
 
 The average height of the bridge is 30 feet above low 
 water. 
 
 Besides the draw-pier, there are five others. These are 
 oblong in shape, and measure, at their base, 57 feet by 16 
 to 18 ; at their top, 24 feet by 7 to 10. 
 
 There are two abutments, one on the island and one on 
 the Iowa shore, containing together about six thousand 
 yards of masonry. 
 
 This bridge connects with a huge embankment, built 
 over the lower point of the island, which lies very low, 
 containing 125,000 cubic yards of earth, and costing forty 
 thousand dollars. At the west end, this embankment con 
 nects with another bridge, of less dimensions, over the Il 
 linois channel of the Mississippi. This lesser bridge has 
 two piers, and three spans, of 150 feet each, all constructed 
 in the same style, and upon the same principle, as those 
 of the bridge over the main channel. 
 
 The entire length of the two bridges and the intervening 
 embankment is 5,832 feet. The cost of the entire work 
 will be $260,000. The bridges are being built for a single 
 track. Their wooden work will be of pine and oak. Mr. 
 John Warner has the contract for the masonry and grading, 
 and Messrs. Stone and Boomer for the superstructure. The 
 contractors are all energetic men, and are doing the work 
 with the utmost fidelity. The bridges are built according 
 to Howe s improved patent, and when completed will be 
 models of strength and beauty. 
 
DISTANCES BY RAIL ROAD. 97 
 
 This Great Bridge has naturally attracted attention from 
 every part of the Union. The design is indeed a colossal 
 one, and one which can only be accomplished by men of 
 stout hearts and of iron nerve. For many long years the 
 Mississippi has been considered an insuperable obstacle to 
 the continuity of all great thoroughfares, from the Atlantic 
 to the Pacific. Happily for the best interests of the West, 
 and indeed, the whole world of commerce, a rare combina 
 tion of natural facilities at this point, of the resources of 
 modern science, of eastern capital, and of western enter 
 prise, has made the project practicable, and insured its com 
 pletion within the present year. Its opening will mark a 
 new era in the history of Commerce, and in the annals of 
 the Great West. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 RAILROAD DISTANCES ON THE VARIOUS LINES, CONNECT 
 ING CHICAGO WITH THE STATE OP IOWA. 
 
 CHICAGO AND ROCK ISLAND 
 
 RAIL ROAD. 
 From Chicago to Miles. 
 
 Junction 6 
 
 Blue Island 9 
 
 Bremen 8 
 
 Mokena 6 
 
 Joliet 11 
 
 Minooka 10 
 
 Morris 11 
 
 9 
 
 Seneca 10 
 
 Marseilles 5 
 
 Ottawa 8 
 
 Utica.. 9 
 
 La Salle 5 
 
 (111. Central RR. crosses). 
 
 Peru l 
 
 Trenton 10 
 
 Bureau Junction 4 
 
 Tiskilwa 9 
 
98 
 
 DISTANCES BY RAIL ROAD. 
 
 Pond Creek 6 
 
 Sheffield 10 
 
 Anawan 7 
 
 Geneseo 13 
 
 Colona 10 
 
 Moline 10 
 
 Rock Island... 3 
 
 Total 181 
 
 Davenport opposite side 
 of River. 
 
 CHICAGO, BURLINGTON AND 
 
 QUINOY RAIL ROAD. 
 From Chicago to Miles. 
 
 Oak Ridge 8 
 
 Cottage Hill 8 
 
 Babcock s Grove 4 
 
 Danby 2 
 
 Wheaton 3 
 
 Winfield 2 
 
 Junction 3 
 
 Batavia 6 
 
 Aurora 7 
 
 Montgomery , 3 
 
 Oswego 2 
 
 Bristol 3 
 
 Piano 6 
 
 Newark 5 
 
 Somonauk 3 
 
 Waverly 6 
 
 Earl 7 
 
 Mendota 11 
 
 (Crosses Illinois Central). 
 
 Arlington 9 
 
 Dover 7 
 
 Princeton 6 
 
 Wyariet 6 
 
 French Grove , 6 
 
 Nephonset , 7 
 
 Kewanee 7 
 
 Galoy 8 
 
 Walnut 8 
 
 Wataga 8 
 
 Galesburg. ,... 8 
 
 Monmouth 8 
 
 Young America 8 
 
 Miss. River, opposite Bur 
 lington IS 
 
 Total 
 
 203 
 
 DISTANCES ON THE CHICAGO 
 
 AND DIXON RAIL ROAD. 
 From Chicago to Miles. 
 
 Oak Ridge 8 
 
 Cottage Hill 8 16 
 
 Babcock s Grove 4 20 
 
 Danby 2 22 
 
 Wheaton 3 25 
 
 Winfield 2 27 
 
 Junction 3 30 
 
 Geneva 5 35 
 
 Blackberry 9 44 
 
 Lodi 6 50 
 
 Courtland 5 55 
 
 De Kalb 3 58 
 
 Dement 8 66 
 
 Lane 6 72 
 
 Ogle 8 80 
 
 Franklin 7 87 
 
 Taylor 4 91 
 
 Dixon 4 95 
 
 A continuation of this 
 line, called the Missis 
 sippi and Rock River 
 Junction RR. is in pro 
 gress of construction, 
 
DISTANCES BY RAIL ROAD. 
 
 99 
 
 nnd "will probably be 
 completed this season. 
 The stations thereon 
 are: 
 
 Sterling, 
 
 Unionville, 
 
 Fulton 36 
 
 Making a distance of, say, 131 
 miles from Chicago to the Mis 
 sissippi River by this route. 
 
 DISTANCE ON THE GALENA AND 
 
 CHICAGO RAIL ROAD. 
 From CMcago to Miles. 
 
 Junction (See foregoing 
 
 table) 30 
 
 Wayne 5 35 
 
 Clinton 4 39 
 
 Elgin 3 42 
 
 Gilbert s 8 50 
 
 Huntley s 5 55 
 
 Union 7 62 
 
 Marengo 4 66 
 
 Garden Prairie 6 72 
 
 Belvidere 6 78 
 
 Cherry Valley 6 84 
 
 Rockford 8 92 
 
 Winnebago 7 t 99 
 
 Pecatonica 7 106 
 
 Nevada 8 114 
 
 Freeport 7 121 
 
 Eleroy 8 129 
 
 Lena 5 134 
 
 Nora 7 141 
 
 Warren 4 145 
 
 Apple River 6 151 
 
 Scales Mound 8 159 
 
 Council Hill 6 164 
 
 Galena 7 171 
 
 Dunleith 10 181 
 
 This road is intended to 
 connect \vith the Northern 
 Iowa RR. projected from Du- 
 buque west towards the Mis- 
 
 DISTANCES ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND MISSOURI RAIL ROAD. 
 
 First General Division, from Davenport to Council Bluffs. 
 From Davenport to 
 
 fWolcott 12 
 
 Farnam 17 
 
 Durant 20 
 
 Junction of Muscatine and Cedar Rapids 27 
 
 Moscow, on Cedar River 30 
 
 West Liberty 39 
 
 Iowa City 55 
 
 Centre of Iowa County 85 
 
 " Powesheik County Ill 
 
 Newton, Jasper County 141 
 
 iFort Des Moines 174 
 
 Proposed. Council Bluffs 310 
 
 Graded. 
 
 Located. 
 
100 
 
 DISTANCES BY STAGE ROUTES. 
 
 Second General Division, from Muscatine to Mouth of Platte. 
 From Muscatine to Miles. 
 
 Under Contract. Fredonia, or Iowa River .... 20 
 
 c Columbus City 22 
 
 Located. \ Washington 89 
 
 I Oskaloosa 95 
 
 Surveyed. Mouth of Platte (21 miles below Council 
 
 Bluffs) , 280 
 
 Third General Division, from Muscatine to Cedar Rapids. 
 From Muscatine to Miles. 
 
 Graded. Junction with 1st General Division VI 
 
 S Tipton 27 
 
 Locafd ) Cedar Rapids 63 
 
 DISTANCES ON THE VARIOUS STAGE ROUTES THROUGH 
 
 OUT THE STATE. 
 
 DAVENPORT TO Cou 
 BLUFFS. 
 From Davenport to 
 MUSCATINE 
 
 NCLL 
 
 Miles. 
 30 
 33 63 
 26 89 
 46 135 
 20 155 
 19 174 
 14 188 
 24 212 
 5 217 
 22 239 
 11 250 
 15 265 
 9 274 
 4 278 
 5 283 
 15 298 
 13 311 
 
 IOWA CITY 
 
 Marengo 
 
 Su^ar Grove 
 
 
 Keith s 
 
 FT. DBS MOINES 
 Adel 
 
 Panther Creek 
 Bear Grove 
 
 Indian Grove 
 
 Nishnabottanny 
 Pleasant Spring 
 Indiantown.... 
 
 Walnut Creek 
 WestNishnabottany 
 Silver Creek.. 
 
 Keg Creek 6 
 
 COUNCIL BLUFFS..,, 10 
 
 317 
 
 327 
 
 BURLINGTON TO COUNCIL 
 
 BLUFFS. 
 
 From Burlington to Miles. 
 
 London 20 
 
 MT. PLEASANT 10 30 
 
 Rome 8 38 
 
 FAIRFIELD 15 53 
 
 Libertyville 7 60 
 
 Agency City 15 75 
 
 OTTUMWA 4 79 
 
 EDDYTILLE 15 94 
 
 OSKALOOSA 10 104 
 
 PELLA 18 122 
 
 FT. DBS MOINES 46 1G8 
 
 See preceding ta 
 ble for intermediate 
 distance. 
 
 Council Bluffs ... ,. 139 307 
 
DISTANCES BY STAGE ROUTES. 
 
 101 
 
 BURLINGTON TO CENTREVILLE, 
 
 APPANOOSELEO. 
 
 From Burlington to Miles. 
 
 Lowell 19 
 
 Salem 12 31 
 
 Hillsborough 6 37 
 
 Utica 7 44 
 
 Keosauqua 12 56 
 
 Troy 15 71 
 
 Bloomfield 10 81 
 
 Centreville 26 107 
 
 BURLINGTON TO KEOKUK. 
 
 From Burlington to Milos. 
 
 Ft. Madison 20 
 
 Montrose 12 32 
 
 Keokuk 12 44 
 
 DAVENPORT TO CEDAR RAPIDS. 
 
 From Davenport to Miles. 
 
 Tipton, 40 
 
 Mt. Vernon 20 60 
 
 Marion 13 73 
 
 Cedar Rapids 5 78 
 
 DAVENPORT TO DUBUQUE. 
 
 From Davenport to Miles. 
 
 Dewitt 21 
 
 Maquoketa 19 40 
 
 Andrew 8 48 
 
 LaMotte 10 58 
 
 Dubuque 16 74 
 
 DUBUQUE TO CEDAB FALLS. 
 
 From Dubxique to Miles. 
 
 Delhi 36 
 
 Independence 36 72 
 
 Cedar Fall? 25 97 
 
 9* 
 
 DUBUQUE TO IOWA CITY. 
 
 From Dubuque to Miles. 
 
 Cascade 26 
 
 Monticello 12 38 
 
 Anamosa 13 51 
 
 Fairview 4 55 
 
 Marion 15 70 
 
 Cedar Rapids 5 75 
 
 Iowa City 25 100 
 
 CEDAR RAPIDS TO CEDAR 
 FALLS. 
 
 From Cedar Kapids to Miles. 
 
 Vinton 25 
 
 Waterloo 30 65 
 
 Cedar Falls 7 72 
 
 KEOKUK TO IOWA CITY. 
 
 From Keokuk to Miles. 
 
 Charleston 18 
 
 Primrose 12 30 
 
 Birmingham 24 54 
 
 Fairneld 9 63 
 
 Brighton 12 75 
 
 Washington 15 90 
 
 Iowa City 35 125 
 
 KEOKUK TO KEOSAUQUA. 
 
 From Keokuk to Miles. 
 
 Charleston 18 
 
 Warren 6 24 
 
 Bonaparte 12 36 
 
 Keosauqua 12 48 
 
 BONAPARTE TO BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 From Bonaparte to Miles. 
 
 Winchester 12 
 
 Birmingham 3 15 
 
102 DISTANCES BY RIVER. 
 
 OTTFMWA TO CHARITON. 
 
 From Ottumwa to Miles. 
 
 Albin 25 
 
 Chariton..., 25 50 
 
 OSKALOOSA TO COUNCIL 
 
 BLUFFS. 
 
 x- rom Oskaloosa to Miles. 
 
 Knoxville 25 
 
 Indianola 25 50 
 
 Wintersett 25 75 
 
 Lewis 70 145 
 
 Council Bluffs 60 205 
 
 FAIRFIELD TO KEOSAQUA, 20 
 
 MUSCATINE TO BuKLINGTON. 
 From Muscatine to Miles. 
 
 Grandview 14 
 
 Wapello 10 24 
 
 Linton 9 33 
 
 Burlington 19 52 
 
 RIVER DISTANCES. 
 
 MISSISSIPPI RIVER. 
 
 From St. Louis to 
 Alton 
 
 Miles. 
 09 
 
 
 202 
 204 
 214 
 220 
 235 
 
 
 Fort Madison 
 
 
 18 
 24 
 42 
 52 
 57 
 62 
 80 
 82 
 97 
 105 
 115 
 123 
 133 
 143 
 155 
 159 
 161 
 163 
 175 
 185 
 190 
 198 
 
 
 Milan 
 
 
 Wiota 
 
 
 250 
 262 
 269 
 299 
 304 
 309 
 321 
 qoq 
 
 \Vorthin o ton 
 
 
 Westport 
 
 
 
 
 Clarksville. 
 
 
 Louisiana 
 
 
 Scott s Landing 
 
 Buffalo and Andalusia... 
 
 Cincinnati 
 
 
 R. Island and Davenport 
 
 334 
 346 
 
 353 
 358 
 364 
 367 
 377 
 395 
 397 
 
 Hannibal 
 
 
 
 
 
 La Grange 
 
 
 
 
 
 Fulton and city of Lyons 
 
 Tully 
 
 Gregory s Landing 
 Alexandria . 
 
 
 
 412 
 428 
 453 
 
 Keokuk 
 
 Galena 
 
 Nashville ... 
 
 Dubuque 
 
DISTANCES BY RIVER. 
 
 103 
 
 Peru (Iowa) 461 
 
 Cassville 484 
 
 Guttenburg , 498 
 
 Clayton City 508 
 
 Wyoming 513 
 
 .Wisconsin river... 517 
 
 McGregor s Landing 521 
 
 Fort Crawford 523 
 
 Prairie du Chien 524 
 
 Lansing 559 
 
 W r innisnick 579 
 
 Warners Landing 589 
 
 Prairie Lacross 617 
 
 Mouth of Black river.... 629 
 
 Reed s Landing 637 
 
 Wabashaw 705 
 
 Lake Pepin 708 
 
 RedWing 736 
 
 Mouth of Lake St. Croix 786 
 
 Red Rock 803 
 
 Little Crow Village 805 
 
 St. Paul 809 
 
 Mendotah 819 
 
 St. Peter 823 
 
 MISSOURI RIVER. 
 
 From Alton to Miles. 
 
 Mouth of Missouri 7 
 
 St. Charles 34 
 
 Mt. Auburn 64 
 
 Augusta 69 
 
 South Point 76 
 
 Washington 85 
 
 Pinckney 94 
 
 Hermann 109 
 
 Portland 119 
 
 St. Aubert 139 
 
 Bennett s Landing 149 
 
 Mouth of Osage 152 
 
 Jefferson City 162 
 
 Claysville 1G9 
 
 Marion 174 
 
 Nashville 187 
 
 Providence 189 
 
 Rocheport 201 
 
 Boonville 211 
 
 Arrow Rock 226 
 
 Glasgow 241 
 
 Cambridge 249 
 
 Keytesville Landing 256 
 
 Brunswick 275 
 
 Dewitt 287 
 
 Miami 293 
 
 Hill s Landing 313 
 
 W r averly 319 
 
 Dover Landing 331 
 
 Lexington 343 
 
 Wellington 354 
 
 Camden 364 
 
 Napoleon 372 
 
 Sibley 379 
 
 Richfield 394 
 
 Blue Mills Landing 404 
 
 Liberty 414 
 
 Wayne City 420 
 
 Randolph 428 
 
 Kansas 433 
 
 Parkville 448 
 
 Narrows Landing 459 
 
 Fort Leavenwoi th 468 
 
 Weston 475 
 
 Columbus Landing 504 
 
 St. Joseph 537 
 
 Savannah 559 
 
 Iowa Point 585 
 
 Council Bluffs... 789 
 
104 
 
 STATISTIC S . 
 
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ST AT I STICS. 
 
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 cJ--coo-.-cf-.ooVo of -tew-.- --- ef s" oo 
 
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 S"8JS :S:?S!5ES g5y r 22"a =t= 85 -" & "5 S 1 36 
 
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106 FINANCES OF IOWA. 
 
 The following items are omitted in the preceding Table, 
 but included in the " Total Value" column : 
 
 No. of Mules in the State 2,232 
 
 Value " " " 116,955 
 
 No. of Sheep " 109,542 
 
 Value " " " 204,061 
 
 No. of Hogs " " 611,923 
 
 Value " " " 873,103 
 
 The increase in value of property in any county for the 
 past year, can be ascertained by comparing the items of the 
 counties, in the two total columns, for 1853 and 1854. 
 
 Financial. 
 
 State Revenue on hand, Nov. 1, 1852 $8,602 88 
 
 Receipts from above date up to Oct. 31, 1854 114,946 87 
 
 Proceeds from Sale of Saline Lands up to Oct. 31, 
 
 1854 10,515 70 
 
 Total amount of Receipts $134,065 45 
 
 During the same period there has been paid out on 
 
 Auditor s Warrants 118,542 90 
 
 Leaving a balance in Treasury of $15,522 55 
 
 An estimate of the necessary expenditures for tJte two years, 
 
 commencing Nov. 1st, 1854, and ending October 31, 
 1856: 
 
 Agricultural Societies $5,000,00 
 
 Governor, Superintendent, Secretary, Auditor, 
 Attorney-General, Treasurer, and Librarian s 
 
 salaries 9 5 300 00 
 
 Blind Asylum 6,000 00 
 
 Deaf and Dumb 4,000 00 
 
 Carried over $24,300 00 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 107 
 
 Brought over $24,300 00 
 
 Funded debt bonds now due 16,442 00 
 
 General contingent fund 2,000 00 
 
 Interest account 13,000 00 
 
 Judges salary 24,000 00 
 
 Miscellaneous disbursements 6,000 00 
 
 Penitentiary 6,000 00 
 
 Supreme Court expenses 2,000 00 
 
 State printing 7,000 00 
 
 State officers contingent fund 3,000 00 
 
 State House 6,000 00 
 
 Stationery 5,000 00 
 
 Legislative expenses and other special appropria 
 tions 25,000 00 
 
 $139,742 00 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 To describe minutely and separately counties that pos 
 sess so nearly the same qualities as do those situated adja 
 cent to each other, in any portion of this State, would be a 
 useless task ; hence, where a full description is given of the 
 soil, productions, climate, &c., of one county, and those ad 
 joining are very similar, the description is not repeated. 
 For instance, the general description of "Winneshiek 
 County, answers for every adjoining county in the north 
 east, Henry or Jefferson for the south-east, Pottawattamie 
 for the west, Scott and Jackson for the east, and so on. 
 
108 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 ADAMS COUNTY 
 
 Was settled in 1851, by Messrs. Walter, Bowman and 
 Toar, from Nodaway Co., Mo. The first election held, was 
 in April, 1853, at which twelve votes were cast. Quincy, 
 the county-seat of Adams, was located in April, 1853, by 
 Commissioners appointed by the Legislature. The first 
 sale of lots took place in September, 1853. The present 
 population of the County, (Feb. 1855), is about 700; the 
 cumber of votes 150. The last State census showed a po 
 pulation of 342 ; making an increase of over one hundred 
 per cent, during the past eight months, and the gain will 
 far exceed that the coming twelve months. 
 
 But one church the Methodist Episcopal has a sub 
 stantial frame meeting-house, 24 by 30. Other societies 
 will organize during the season. 
 
 The district schools, (under the common school law), are 
 the only educational institutions yet in the County. These 
 are susceptible of improvement. 
 
 Probably no county in Iowa possesses more motive power 
 for machinery than Adams. Two saw-mills already in ope 
 ration, and two others being built, and yet not one-twen 
 tieth of the demand is supplied. 
 
 One or two grist or flouring-mills are very much needed 
 also a carding and fulling-mill. There are plenty of goo( 
 mill-seats on the Nodaway to be had for Congress price. 
 ($1 25 per acre). The very nature of the soil and climate 
 the high rolling prairies, interspersed with streams of 
 pure water, as well as the experience of those already en 
 gaged in the business, points out this as one of the best 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 109 
 
 sheep-growing countries in the world. The day is not far 
 distant when that business will be carried on largely in 
 Western Iowa. 
 
 The richness, fertility, and depth of the soil in Adams 
 County, will compare favourably with any county in West 
 ern Iowa, and as to timber, it is better supplied than those 
 surrounding it. The principal streams are the West, Mid 
 dle, and East Nodaway rivers. The heads of the One-hun- 
 dred-and-two, one branch of the Little Platte, and the East 
 and Main, or Middle Nodaways, extend from north to south 
 across the County. Veins of stone-coal 2J to 3 feet thick 
 have been found along the Middle Nodaway. 
 
 The climate of Western Iowa is peculiar; the winters are 
 very dry, no rain falling usually from October till March 
 and April. There is not generally much snow, and the 
 ground in the winter is frozen to a great depth, owing to 
 the loose nature of the soil. Three winters experience in 
 Iowa, and I have never seen the frost leave the ground 
 after winter sets in, until spring. Our streets and roads 
 are dry and dusty. The months of August and September 
 are usually very dry, most of our rains coming during the 
 earlier part of the season. It has been frequently remarked, 
 that no soil in the world would stand as much dry weather 
 as this, and there is none that is less injured by continued 
 wet weather. Owing to these peculiarities of the climate, 
 no section of country can compare with this for stock raising, 
 the cold but dry winters being just the thing for cattle and 
 
 10 
 
110 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 ALAMAKEE COUNTY 
 
 Is bounded on the east by the Mississippi River. It is 
 the extreme N. E. county of the State. The first settle 
 ments made by whites were in 1850. The present popu 
 lation of the county numbers some 5000. 
 
 One church, erected by the Congregational ists in Waw- 
 kon, and one in Lansing, are the only houses of worship we 
 hear of in the county. The several Christian denomina 
 tions have organized societies, and many of them are pre 
 paring to build this year. 
 
 One newspaper the " Lansing Intelligencer." 
 
 The county boasts some forty well-attended, ably-taught 
 public schools, and several prospering private schools. 
 
 In the county are two flouring and five or six saw-mills. 
 These kinds of mills are badly needed in different parts 
 of the county, although admirably provided for by nature. 
 Manufactories of farming utensils, cooperage, &c., are also 
 needed. The facilities for getting pine lumber are good, 
 and oak, lynn, and black walnut are plenty. "Large farms, 
 and lots of them," are being opened and cultivated, and 
 they will remain without a good market for the grain, 
 until more mills are established. This county is well 
 watered, well timbered, fertile and productive; adapted 
 to all kinds of grain, fruit and grazing. 
 
 APPANOOSE COUNTY 
 
 Is bounded on the east by Davis, on the west by Wayne, 
 on the north by Monroe, and on the south by the Missouri 
 line. Centreville, the county-seat, is the principal town in 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. Ill 
 
 the county, and is situated on the Southern Iowa R. R., 
 projected to run west from Fort Madison. The Chariton 
 river passes in a south-easterly direction through the State, 
 and upon its banks are numerous excellent mill-sites. 
 Beside this, Shoal and Walnut Creeks, and the tributaries 
 of the Chariton furnish water to every portion of the county. 
 The soil is of an excellent quality, and the county tolerably 
 well timbered. The climate is mild and pleasant, less sub 
 ject to high winds than the middle and northern portion of 
 the State. The principal towns in the county are Centre- 
 ville, (the county seat), Sharon, Hibbsville, Unionville, 
 and Iconium ; beside which are post-offices, named Moravia, 
 Mount Gilead, New Plain, Cincinnati, Millard, Johns and 
 Pleasant View. 
 
 BENTON COUNTY 
 
 "Was first settled by S. M. Lockhart, in the spring of 
 1841 ; soon after, other families followed. In August, 1851, 
 C. C. Charles s was the only family that resided in what is 
 now Vinton. The reports of the assessors in regard to this, 
 as well as many other sections, are very incorrect. Last 
 year they gave Vinton 307 now there are 509. The 
 county was censused at 2623, but at that time there were 
 at least 3000, and the population of Benton is now nearly 
 4000. 
 
 The 0. S. and N. S. Presbyterians have established so 
 cieties, and are preparing to erect churches. 
 
 One school, well conducted, with 90 scholars. 
 
112 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 One steam saw-mill, cutting 4000 feet of lumber every 
 24 hours. A flouring-rnill is very much needed. 
 
 This county is well watered, with a due proportion of 
 prairie and timber. 
 
 The settlements of the county are at Burk s P. 0., Ma- 
 rysville, Beutah P. 0., Taylor s Creek P. 0., and Prairie 
 Creek P. 0. 
 
 BLACK HAWK COUNTY. 
 
 This county, bearing the name of the illustrious chief, 
 possesses some of the finest soil and timber land in 
 Northern Iowa. It is in the same range with, and the 
 third county from, Dubuque. The Cedar fork of the Iowa 
 river passes diagonally in a south-easterly direction across 
 the county. Cedar Falls is a town of considerable import 
 ance, and will become a large manufacturing place. At 
 this, as well as several other points in the county, the best 
 of water-power and eligible sites for mills and manufac 
 turing establishments hold out inducements to capitalists, 
 while the immense quantity of unentered land in the county 
 calls loudly to the immigrating farmer. 
 
 BOONE COUNTY 
 
 Was first settled at Pea s Point, (now called Flat-rock,) 
 in May, 1846, by John Pea, a pioneer of the old stock, a 
 Pennsylvanian by birth, who has lived in every State that 
 intervenes between his native State and Iowa, when they 
 were wild and primitive forests. He was also an early 
 settler in Missouri. This old man still resides in Boone 
 
.DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 113 
 
 County, and with the gray hairs of some seventy years 
 upon his head, such are his erect form and comparatively 
 robust constitution, that Time seems to have broken its 
 billows over his manly form only as the ocean rends its 
 fury over the immovable rock of its shores. The old gen 
 tleman is still full of adventure and enterprise, and may ere 
 long be one of the freemen of Nebraska. 
 
 Montgomery McCall settled near where Boonsboro now 
 stands, in the month of February, 1847, and for about a 
 year his family lived nearer the source of the Des Moines 
 river than any other white family. During the winter of 
 1846 and 1847, seven hundred Pottawattamie Indians were 
 encamped in the vicinity of these families. 
 
 The town of Boonsboro was located on the 7th day of 
 July, 1851, as the county-seat, by commissioners appointed 
 for that purpose by the State Legislature, and is likely ever 
 to remain the seat of justice for the county. 
 
 The present population of Boonsboro is about 300. The 
 population of the county over 2000. Immigration is rapidly 
 pouring in. 
 
 The present school system of the State is in admirable 
 effect in all the settled parts of the county. In Boonsboro 
 a public school is continually in session, under the superin 
 tendence of an able teacher. 
 
 A Baptist church is in course of erection, and a Method 
 ist, and a United Brethren church of small dimensions. 
 The respective congregations are in better condition than 
 their church buildings, owing to the difficulty of getting 
 lumber to build with. 
 10* 
 
114 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 No newspaper published in the county; the publication 
 of one will probably commence next May. 
 
 No manufactories of any note in the county. The mill 
 at the Rapids, fifteen miles below Boonsboro, is situated at 
 one of the best mill sites in the county, (it is probably the 
 best mill site in the State). But the present owners are 
 pecuniarily unable to improve it as it should be. They 
 make good flour at said mill, but fall far short of supplying 
 the wants of those who naturally depend upon it. In able 
 hands this mill site would be a fortune to its owner. A 
 steam saw and flouring mill is needed in Boonsboro ; no 
 enterprise would pay better. None of the present citizens 
 are able to erect a suitable one, and the rich field is open to 
 a stranger. It would be the only mill within fifteen miles. 
 Lumber is in high demand. Boonsboro might have been 
 three times its present size, only for the want of lumber. 
 
 Boone County is 24 miles square. The river Des Moines 
 runs through the centre of it from north to south. The 
 bed of the river is deep, and the bluffs on either side of the 
 rich bottoms are high, and in many places abrupt. The 
 wildest scenery on the whole course of this river is in this 
 county. The bottoms are large, and clothed with the best 
 of timber. The average width of the Des Moines timber 
 through the county is six miles. The country, after leaving 
 the timber on each side of the Des Moines, is level, rich, 
 alluvial prairie. Beaver Creek, in the western part of the 
 county is skirted with a plentiful supply of fine timber, and 
 its prairie bottoms cannot be surpassed. Montgomery s 
 Creek, a tributary of the Skunk, runs through the north- 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 115 
 
 east corner of the county, and a fine settlement of Indian- 
 ians is springing up along its banks. 
 
 Stone-coal of a fine quality is plenty everywhere in this 
 county ; but timber is so plenty, that as yet not much use 
 is made of the coal for fuel. 
 
 Everywhere water is plenty. Wells on the prairie are 
 dug from fifteen to thirty feet deep. Stock water is abundant, 
 and this is as fine a grazing region as any in the State. 
 
 BREMEK, COUNTY 
 
 Was settled first in 1848-9. In the spring of 1853, the 
 town of Janesville, six miles below Waverly, was laid out 
 by John T. Barrie. This town is situated on the east bank 
 of the Cedar River, some three miles above the junction of 
 the Cedar and the Shellrock. The place contains some 150 
 inhabitants, with two stores, saw-mill, &c. A flouring-mill 
 is much needed, and the water-power along these streams 
 is sufficient to furnish sites for all the machinery needed. 
 A great abundance of building-stone and the best of timber 
 admirably fit this for a manufacturing place. 
 
 But one school in Janesville a fine stone school-house 
 is now being erected, 24 by 36 feet. 
 
 The M. E. Church are making arrangements to build a 
 house of worship this season. There are one stationary 
 and two local itinerant ministers; the churches are well 
 attended and prosperous. 
 
 In June, 1853, the county-seat was located six miles 
 above Janesville, on the east bank of the Cedar River, and 
 the town of Waverly established, which has now a popula- 
 
116 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 tion of some 200. A good saw and flouring mill near 
 Waverly. The population of Bremer County is about 
 2000. Public schools in every settlement through the 
 county. A body of timber, known as " the lower big 
 woods/ embracing some 40 sections, lies in the vicinity of 
 these towns, which, in a prairie country, is a consideration 
 of no minor importance. This is a healthy and productive 
 region of country, possessing beautiful scenery, and excel 
 lent agricultural and manufacturing advantages. 
 
 BUCHANAN COUNTY 
 
 Was first settled by Ezra G. Allen and Wm. Bennett, 
 in 1842. 
 
 Independence, the county-seat, was located and settled 
 in the winter of 1846, by Kufus Blelark. 
 
 Present population of the town, 500 of the county, 
 3000. 
 
 No church buildings erected. One is being erected at 
 Independence, and one at Quasqueton. 
 
 No newspaper in the county. Two flouring-mills (two 
 burrs each), and two saw-mills, are in operation in the 
 county. 
 
 Woollen manufactories most needed, there being none 
 within 40 miles. 
 
 Oak timber plenty along the streams, and deep-soiled 
 rolling prairies between the water-courses. The streams 
 are rather rapid, with gravelly or rocky beds. Limestone 
 abundant. Soil generally rich sandy loam. 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 117 
 
 CARROLL COUNTY 
 
 Was to have been organized in March of the present 
 year. The present population of the county is but about 
 150. Water-power, timber lands, and the best of prairie 
 soil, with inexhaustible beds of building-stone, coal, and 
 iron, are some of the inducements Carroll County holds out 
 to new-comers. As yet no towns are laid out, not even the 
 county-seat, and the active, intelligent, and ambitious im 
 migrant will find inducements for settling in recently- 
 organized counties which do not exist in older ones. 
 Though water-power is afforded by several streams in 
 various parts of the county, there is not a mill or manu 
 factory yet erected, and the nearest mill is at Panora, 
 Guthrie County, 27 miles distant. What an opening for 
 a saw and grist-mill ! Wheat, corn, and rye in abundance. 
 Of churches and schools in Carroll we could obtain no in 
 formation, and presume that they, like the county, are 
 unorganized. 
 
 CASS COUNTY 
 
 Joins Pottawattamie on the east, and, like those adjoin 
 ing on the west and south, was settled by Mormons in 
 1846-7, who, however, left in the spring of 1852, when 
 W. L. Townsend, P. Hedges, J. Bradshaw, C. E. Wood 
 ward, George Reeves, and J. W. Benedict took their places, 
 and became permanent settlers. 
 
 Lewis, the county-seat, was first settled by R. C. Lam 
 bert. The population of the county is now a little rising 
 
118 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 of 700. A fine court-house is to be built in Lewis this 
 season. 
 
 There is but one church in Lewis occupied by the 
 Congregationalists and Methodists. 
 ^ No newspaper, but one needed. 
 
 Two good common schools in Lewis, in very good con 
 dition. 
 
 Two saw-mills and one grist-mill. A woollen factory 
 would do well, also mechanics of every kind blacksmiths, 
 plough and wagon makers, cabinet-makers, and day la 
 borers. 
 
 Cass County is unsurpassed, in point of fertility and 
 water, in the State, is well supplied with timber and 
 stone. The soil gently undulating and dry. There is yet 
 considerable unentered land in this county. 
 
 CEDAR COUNTY 
 
 Was organized and settled in 1836. The county-seat, 
 Tipton, was laid out in 1839. Present population of the 
 town 583, and of the county 7605. 
 
 The towns and settlements in the county are Tipton, 
 Woodridge, Cedar Bluffs, Pioneer P. 0., Cedar P. 0., 
 Massillon P. 0., Yankee Grove P. O., Red Oak P. 0., 
 Gower s P. 0., Inland P. 0., Springdale P. 0., Padee P. 
 0., Lacton P. 0., and Rochester. 
 
 Three churches in Tipton Presbyterian, Congregational, 
 and Methodist, society very good. Churches of different 
 denominations throughout the county, but the precise num 
 ber of church edifices or members not ascertained. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 119 
 
 Four schools in Tipton 2 public, 2 private. Average 
 number of pupils in each, 30. 
 
 One steam grist-mill doing but little business, owing to 
 lack of water. 
 
 The Lyons R. R. is projected through the centre of this 
 county, and mostly graded as far as Tipton, and we under, 
 stand the suspended work on the line will be resumed ener 
 getically by the new company this season. 
 
 The county is made up of very excellent soil, adapted to 
 all kinds of farming purposes, and well watered generally. 
 Timber is less abundant in Cedar than in many other coun 
 ties. Yet taken as a whole, Cedar holds out strong induce 
 ments to the farmer and mechanic, to locate within her 
 borders. 
 
 CHICKASAW COUNTY. 
 
 Three years ago Chickasaw County had not a single 
 white resident now the population of the county exceeds 
 1000. In 1853, Rufus Clark, a famous trapper and 
 hunter, a native of Ohio, settled in the vicinity of the pre 
 sent Bradford P. 0., which is in the neighbourhood of the 
 junction of the Little and the Big Cedar Rivers. The 
 population of Bradford now is 800. One district school 
 with an average attendance of 70 scholars. Preaching 
 every Sabbath principally Methodist. No churches orga 
 nized yet. 
 
 Two saw-mills in full operation, and a steam saw-mill 
 being erected. 
 
 Capitalists and traders would find this a wide and inviting 
 field for their operations. 
 
120 DESCRIPTION Or COUNTIES. 
 
 Flouring-mill much needed. Flour is now brought 45 
 miles, and grain taken the same distance to mill. With 
 any amount of water-power all over the county, and the 
 best of grain soil, we hope some capitalist will consult his 
 interest by contributing to the wants of the people of 
 Chickasaw. 
 
 CLARKE COUNTY 
 
 Was first settled in 1849. In 1850, according to the 
 census, it contained 79 inhabitants. The population of the 
 county now, (February, 1855), numbers upwards of 2000. 
 The county-seat, Osceola, was settled in 1852 present po 
 pulation, 150. 
 
 There are no church buildings erected in the county as 
 yet ; but the Methodists, Campbellites, and United Breth 
 ren have each an organization. 
 
 No public schools. Two private schools in Osceola, in a 
 flourishing condition. Several schools in the county, exact 
 number unknown. 
 
 Of manufactories there is one steam saw-mill. Steam 
 flouring and saw-mills much needed. Lumber is worth two 
 to two and a half dollars per hundred for all kinds, and 
 scarce at that. Timber of the first quality skirts the nume 
 rous streams which have their sources in this county. Cli 
 mate healthy. Soil rather broken in parts of the county, 
 but fertile and arable. 
 
 CLAYTON COUNTY 
 
 Is the most northern river county in the State, except 
 Alainakee. It is bounded on the east by the Mississippi, 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 121 
 
 on the west by Fayette, on the south by Delaware and Du- 
 buque. The principal water-courses in the county are Yellow 
 and Turkey Rivers, Volga and Buck Creeks, and Bloody 
 Run. Turkey River is among the most beautiful and placid 
 streams in the State, and is celebrated for its numerous 
 geological specimens, and the picturesque scenery of its 
 banks and dells. Turkey River affords most excellent water- 
 power for mills and machinery, and is navigable the greater 
 part of the year, as far up as the forks. The soil is about the 
 same as in those counties adjoining, already described. The 
 principal towns in the county are Garnaville, the county- 
 scat, Brookville, Kilroy, Clayton, Guttenburg, Melville, 
 Buena Vista, Elkport, Elkador, Farmersburg, and Brookville, 
 besides several settlements, at each of which is a Post Office. 
 
 CLINTON COUNTY. 
 
 De Witt, the county seat of Clinton, was settled in 
 1 841 some portions of the county in 1836. The present 
 population of the county is 7500 of De Witt, 500. 
 
 Four churches Methodist, Congregational, Roman Ca 
 tholic, and one union of the Baptists and Disciples. 
 
 Three newspapers printed in the county, at Lyons, Ca- 
 manche, and Fulton City. One needed in De Witt. 
 
 Good public and select schools in every town of the 
 county, and in good condition. 
 
 In De Witt are two saw-mills and one grist-mill. Being 
 the centre of a very excellent grain market, which will soon 
 have an outlet by the Lyons R. R., it becomes capitalists to 
 erect a large flouring-mill at or near De Witt. 
 11 
 
122 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 Clinton consists of beautiful, rich, rolling prairie, inter 
 spersed with groves of timber. " Second-hand lands can be 
 bougbt on better terms in Clinton tban any county in the 
 State, according to their true value." 
 
 DALLAS COUNTY 
 
 Was first settled by Samuel Miller and family, in 1846. 
 The population of the county according to the last census, 
 was 2565. The present population of Adel, the county- 
 seat, is 126. The town is beautifully located on the west 
 side of the North Raccoon River, and is directly on the 
 great route between the East and California, Oregon and 
 Utah. 
 
 Five public schools in the county, all in a prosperous 
 condition. No private schools. 
 
 Dallas has five water, and one steam, saw-mills. Grist 
 mills and manufactories greatly needed. The many fine 
 streams that afford water-power in this county, and the fer 
 tile soil, producing abundant crops, call loudly to the capi 
 talists and farmers to make investments in Dallas. Consi 
 derable of the land of Dallas can be had at government 
 price, if applied for before it is entered. 
 
 The country lies high, rolling, and healthy, but is com 
 paratively sparsely settled, as the number of inhabitants 
 indicates. 
 
 DAVIS COUNTY 
 
 Is the second county from the Mississippi, on the Mis 
 souri State line, and is settled to a great extent by immi 
 grants from Missouri and Illinois. The principal streams 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. -3 
 
 watering the county are the north and south branches of 
 the Waukindau, and the Fox River, which, with several 
 smaller streams, have their rise in the county, passing 
 through Missouri to the Mississippi. The Des Moines 
 River runs diagonally across the north-east corner of the 
 county, several of whose tributaries traverse the county. 
 The principal towns in Davis County are Bloomfield.(the 
 county-seat,) Troy, Drakesville, Nottingham, and Mount 
 Calvary, and small settlements, the post-offices of which are 
 named Oak Spring, Soap Creek, Salt Creek, Pleasant View, 
 Taylor, Troy, Dover, Pulaski, Stringtown, Monterey, Sa 
 vannah, Roscoe, and Del Norte. 
 
 There are 14,320 acres of unentered land in Davis 
 County. For a description of the soil see Monroe the 
 soil in the two counties being similar. 
 
 DES MOINES COUNTY 
 
 Was first settled in 1832, by David Tothers, who set 
 tled three miles south-west of what is now Burlington. 
 The next settlement was made by S. S. White and Amzi 
 Doolittle, who were the proprietors of the original town. 
 Additions were laid out in the order in which they are 
 named : in 1836, by David Rorer, Amos Ladd, Enoch 
 Wade, Isaac Leffler, G. W. Kelley, and others since. 
 Population between 8 and 9000. 
 
 There are eleven houses of worship, viz. : two Roman 
 Catholic, one Episcopal, two Methodist Episcopal, one 
 German Methodist, one German Lutheran, one Congrega- 
 
124 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 tional, one Baptist, and one Presbyterian. There are also 
 three congregations who intend erecting houses of worship 
 soon, viz. : Second Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian, 
 and Christian. 
 
 "Iowa State Gazette," weekly and tri-weekly; " Hawkeye," 
 same; " Telegraph," daily and weekly ; " Iowa Farmer," 
 monthly, are published in this county. 
 
 Two large public school-houses, costing over $4000 each, 
 in which eight schools are taught. There are also quite a 
 number of private schools, all in a flourishing condition ; 
 and the Baptist University, of which an account is published 
 on another page. 
 
 They have two machine and engine manufactories, two 
 foundries, one planing mill, two steam flouring-mills, four 
 sash, door and blind factories, three steam saw-mills, one 
 shingle factory, one steam match factory, two furniture ma 
 nufactories; two coach, five wagon, two plough, one brush, 
 one candle, and one starch factory; two large pork packing 
 establishments, three banking houses, six hotels, thrco 
 plank roads. Railroad connection with Chicago. Burling 
 ton and Missouri River railroad will be finished to Mt. 
 Pleasant this summer almost entirely graded to Ottumwa 
 now. They have several large bakeries. An oil and 
 paper mill no doubt would do well there. 
 
 The opening of the railroad between Chicago and Bur 
 lington has given a new impetus to the latter city, and the 
 population and business of the place will increase more 
 during the present year than it has in any three years 
 heretofore. 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 125 
 
 The people of Burlington are industrious and energetic, 
 and their intelligence and literary taste may be judged of 
 from the fact that the most extensive, if not the only His 
 torical and Geological Society of the State, is located at 
 this place. We are indebted to one of its gentlemanly 
 members for a brief history of this institution, which fol 
 lows : 
 
 " The Iowa Historical and Geological Institute was or 
 ganized December 18th, 1843, and incorporated December 
 31st, 1850. Its effects were destroyed by fire, January 
 16th, 1853. Its object is to collect and preserve, and to 
 open to the public, historical matter of all kinds, more 
 especially that relating to Iowa, a general library, maps, 
 charts, drawings, pictures, statuary, and a cabinet of natural 
 history, also to sustain public lectures. When the ca 
 binet and library were destroyed by fire, the Institute was 
 in a flourishing condition, having about 800 volumes in 
 the library, 2000 pamphlets, files of newspapers since the 
 organization of the Territory and State, and a great many 
 papers pertaining to the early history and settlement of 
 the State, about 4000 specimens illustrative of the geology 
 of this State, an herbarium containing the greater portion 
 of the plants found in the State, also a number of speci 
 mens illustrative of the zoology of the State ; and a large 
 collection of Indian relics, numbering about 400, among 
 which were included nearly all the paraphernalia of Black 
 Hawk. The loss sustained was irreparable, and for some 
 time it was difficult to keep the Institute alive. For the last 
 year, the Institute has been in a very flourishing condition ; 
 11* 
 
126 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 in fact, so much so that a thorough re-organization was 
 necessary. The present officers are 
 
 "President, DAVID IxORER. 
 
 Vice-President, WILLIAM THOMPSON. 
 
 Corresponding Secretary, JOHN H. RAUCH. 
 
 Recording Secretary, A. D. GREEN. 
 
 Treasurer, LUKE PALMER. 
 
 Librarian, C. C. CLOUTMAN." 
 
 DUBUQUE COUNTY. 
 
 Dubuque is one of the oldest counties in the State, being 
 one of the two original Districts, from which the principal 
 eastern counties of the State were formed. It embraces 
 the most noted portions of the mineral region, and, singular 
 as it may appear, though in the very heart of the mineral 
 region, the soil is generally of the most productive charac 
 ter, yielding large crops of grain. Few countries in the 
 world possess the combined advantages of a soil rich in fer 
 tility, and at the same time underlaid with inexhaustible 
 veins of lead ore. Lead is the great staple of export, as 
 will be seen by the annexed statistics. Copper and zinc 
 have also been discovered, but not in sufficient quantities 
 to induce capitalists to enlist in the work of developing 
 them. Several valuable lodes or veins of lead were disco 
 vered during the past winter. 
 
 The country west of Dubuque City is strikingly beauti 
 ful, and well watered. It is a rolling prairie, interspersed 
 with groves of timber, while along the small streams run 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 127 
 
 ning from iwrth to south there are large bodies of good 
 timber, and extensive water-power. Several adjoining 
 counties, as well as Dubuque, are well settled the land all 
 entered by actual settlers. Mineral lots are laid off in almost 
 "bvery conceivable shape, and contain about ten acres each. 
 
 The city of Dubuque, one of the largest and most densely 
 populated in the State, is handsomely situated upon a na 
 tural terrace. The streets run parallel to each other, and 
 owing to the peculiar soil at this location, are never muddy. 
 This city is more compactly built, and contains a greater 
 proportion of fine buildings than any other place in the 
 State. Among these the Catholic Cathedral, court-house, 
 and hotels stand prominent. The city is bounded on the 
 west by a range of high cliffs, from which the prospect of 
 the city and county is entrancingly beautiful. 
 
 Three daily newspapers are published in Dubuque : the 
 " Express and Herald," the "Tribune," and the "Ob 
 server," each issuing, beside, a weekly edition. We have 
 not the name of the weekly German paper. 
 
 The population of Dubuque County, according to the 
 census of 1854, is 16,513 ; and of the city, according to 
 West s Statistics, 10,000. The number of buildings erected 
 in the city last year was 332. 
 
 Of the society in Dubuque we need not remark farther 
 than to state, that this population of 10,000 ably support 
 eleven churches, one female seminary, one college, five se 
 lect and common schools, twenty-four lawyers, and fourteen 
 physicians. 
 
 This city being the present terminus of two important 
 
128 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 railroads, must necessarily become a place of great commer 
 cial importance. 
 
 Good investments can be made in the establishing, at 
 Dubuque, of manufactories of Red and White Lead, Lead 
 Pipe, Shot, and Sheet Lead. Capitalists should investigate 
 this matter. 
 
 From the following statistics, the reader may judge of 
 the commercial importance of the City of Dubuque : 
 
 Total Tonnage. Value. 
 
 Imports to Dubuque in 1853 32,007 $2,497,12330 
 
 1854 97,633 4,933,208 65 
 
 Increase 65,626 $2,436,08535 
 
 Exports from Dubuque, in 1853... 7,482 $1,006,710 
 
 1854... 11,736 1,573,408 30 
 
 Increase 4,254 $566,69805 
 
 Lead exported in 1854 4,385 $526,200 
 
 Iron, Steel, and Nails exp. in 1854 1,200 192,000 
 
 Flour exported in 1854 180 1,200 
 
 Wheat exported in 1854 880 48,000 
 
 Corn exported in 1854 385 5,555 
 
 We invite the reader s particular attention to the fol 
 lowing comparative table of immigration, for the past two 
 years : 
 
 Crossed the Dubuque Ferry in 1853. in 1854. 
 
 Men, women, and children 6,200 38,400 
 
 Wagons 2,404 4,300 
 
 Carriages 3,110 2,100 
 
 Cattle 5,506 9,518 
 
 Sheep 300 2,708 
 
 Hogs 520 6,630 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 129 
 
 The immigration to Iowa, in 1854, at this point, as well 
 as others, was very large. The amount of the public do 
 main sold at the Dubuque Land Office, during the year, is : 
 cash sales, 1,120,000 acres; located with Military War 
 rants, 250,000. The snug sum of $3,961,736 in specie 
 was exported to St. Louis from this Land Office, during 
 the year j this exceeds the like exports of ten previous 
 years. 
 
 DELAWARE COUNTY 
 
 Was first settled in 1843, by people from the north 
 eastern states. 
 
 The present population of the county is 6000 that of 
 Delhi, the county-seat, 400. 
 
 No newspapers in the county. 
 
 The number and condition of public and private schools 
 compare favorably with those of other counties in the state, 
 of the same population. 
 
 No manufactories, yet some in contemplation. The 
 county and its towns are filling up rapidly with an indus 
 trious, enterprising, and wealthy population. Great in 
 ducements are held out to capitalists to erect manufactories 
 of different kinds. There is an abundance of water-power 
 1 rniles from Delhi, and a large body of timber on the 
 Maquoketa, thus affording ample opportunity for the erec 
 tion of machinery, whether propelled by steam or water- 
 power. This county is peculiarly adapted to wool-growing ; 
 and all that is wanted to make the citizens of Clinton a 
 great manufacturing people, is to make their advantages 
 known to Eastern capitalists. 
 
130 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 Chair-making, cabinet-making, wagon, carriage and 
 buggy making, woollen factories, in sbort, everything, ex 
 cept distilling alcoholic liquors, is needed in this vicinity. 
 
 This county is conveniently interspersed with groves of 
 timber, and drained by the Maquoketa, Plumb, Elk, Bear, 
 Buffalo, Buck, Little Turkey, and Honey Creeks, all of 
 which afford some fine mill-sites. 
 
 The prairie is gently undulating, soil good, composed of 
 a happy admixture of vegetable mould and sand, based 
 upon a porous clay subsoil. We have an abundance of 
 fine lime-stone, for building and fencing purposes. 
 
 Near Delhi we have excellent clay for the manufacturing 
 of brick, of the best quality. 
 
 Within a few rods of this village plat, we have a fine 
 sheet of pure " soft water," covering about 160 acres of 
 land, containing small fish in abundance, and affording a 
 fine opportunity for bathing during the hot months. 
 
 Taking Delaware County as a whole, it affords as fine a 
 chance for the wealthy, enterprising immigrant, as any 
 county in Northern Iowa. 
 
 DECATUR COUNTY 
 
 Was first settled by some seven or eight families, who 
 immigrated from Missouri, and located upon the then dis 
 puted territory between Missouri and Iowa, anticipating an 
 extensive trade with the Indians, who at that time were 
 quite numerous here. This was the only settlement in the 
 county until 1846, when a company of Mormons settled 
 near the N.E. corner of the county, calling their village 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 131 
 
 Garden Grove. But few immigrants located in this county, 
 however, before 1850, since when the increase has been 
 rapid, and of the best of citizens. 
 
 The population of Decatur County is 4020. The seve 
 ral denominations, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists and 
 Christians, have each organizations, and have meetings in 
 turn in the Court House in Leon, which is a respectable- 
 sized two-story brick building. No buildings for public 
 worship yet erected. No newspaper in Decatur or any 
 adjoining county. In the county are some twenty-five 
 public schools, well conducted, supported principally by the 
 school fund. In the county are three steam, saw, and 
 grist mills, and two others in process of erection. Those 
 who may wish to locate, will find in Decatur good openings 
 for saw and grist mills, brick-makers, wheelwrights, cabi 
 net-makers, wagon-makers, house-builders, blacksmiths, 
 tinners, and shoemakers. 
 
 The northern part of the county is principally prairies, 
 while the southern is supplied with a large and beautiful 
 growth of timber. Though the county is more broken than 
 many north and east of it, the soil is all susceptible of cul 
 tivation, and more than half the county heavily timbered. 
 Thompson s Fork of Grand Kiver and tributaries spreads 
 over the western part of the county, affording an abund 
 ance of clear, soft water, and plenty of timber, for all pur 
 poses. These streams are backed by extensive beds of lime 
 and sand-stone, suitable for building purposes, and supply 
 water sufficient to run flouring or saw-mills, the year 
 through. 
 
182 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 Wildon s Fork of Grand River, traversing the eastern 
 portion of the county, is better timbered, but not so good a 
 mill stream. 
 
 Along the banks of several of these streams thin veins 
 of coal have been discovered, and it is thought that exten 
 sive beds would be found by proper search, but no labor 
 has yet been expended upon them. 
 
 Leon, the county-seat, is situated two miles due east of 
 the centre of the county, within half a mile of an extensive 
 body of excellent timber. The town was located in 1853, 
 present population 250. The last session of the Legisla 
 ture changed the name of this town to "Leon" ; the Post 
 Office yet bears the original name, " South Independence." 
 
 Decatur is pleasantly situated on a high, rolling prairie, 
 2 \ miles west of the centre of the county, and 3 miles from 
 Thompson s Fork of Grand River. Population between 
 150 and 200. 
 
 Pleasant Plain is on the Missouri line, eleven miles 
 south of Leon. Surrounded by a splendid agricultural 
 country, settled by energetic, industrious people, this will 
 ever be a brisk business place. Population upwards of 100. 
 
 Garden Grove, in the N.E. corner of the county, on one 
 of the main roads from the Mississippi to the Missouri, and 
 surrounded by a rich and fertile county, will become a plac 
 of some importance. 
 
 FAYETTE COUNTY 
 
 Is bounded on the east by Clayton County, which sepa 
 rates it from the Mississippi, on the north by Winnesheik, 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 133 
 
 on the west by Chickasaw and Bremer, and on the south 
 by Buchanan. The county is well watered by Turkey 
 River, and its north and south forks, and various other tri 
 butaries. The soil is admirably adapted for all agricultural 
 purposes. The scenery along Turkey River and its north 
 and south forks is beautiful, and timber abundant. The 
 Minnesota Railroad, projected to run north-west from Du- 
 buque, passes diagonally through this county, and when 
 built will add greatly to its wealth and importance. The 
 principal towns in the county are West Union, the county- 
 seat, Lima, and Taylorsville, besides post offices named 
 Eldorado, Eden, Clermont, Douglas, Windsor, Louisville, 
 Gamble Grove, Illyria, Fayetteville and Mill Grove. 
 
 FREMONT COUNTY 
 
 Is the extreme south-western county of the State. The 
 first settlement was at Sidney, the county-seat, where the 
 first sale of lots was made June 30th, 1851. James H. 
 Cowles was the first resident. The present population of 
 the county-seat is 300 that of the county 3200. 
 
 Of churches it has a Congregational, which will compare 
 with any other in any county of Ijke age. The Methodist 
 Church numbers more members than any other; the Bap 
 tist next; the Christians or Campbellites are also quite nu 
 merous. The 0. S. Presbyterians are preparing to organize 
 a Church, and to erect a seminary not, however, as a re 
 ligious institution peculiar to that body. 
 
 Of public schools there are in the county some twenty, 
 with ample room for improvement in a majority of them. 
 12 
 
134 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 Here are a carding-macbine and two grist-mills, one steam 
 saw-mill, arid four water-power saw-mills, all doing an ex 
 cellent business. Also two portable, six-horse-power saw 
 mills, four stores, one saddler, one shoemaker, two tailors, 
 four blacksmiths, one gunsmith no newspaper, but a read 
 ing, intelligent people. 
 
 We are in great need of more manufactories and mecha 
 nics. A steam flouring-mill would do a first-rate business. 
 
 The surrounding country is well adapted to all kinds of 
 agricultural pursuits, possessing a rich and productive soil, 
 well supplied with water and timber, and rapidly settling 
 up with worthy, industrious and intelligent people. 
 
 GUTHRIE COUNTY 
 
 Is not as large nor as old as many other counties of the 
 State, but possesses advantages which, when developed, will 
 place her in the advance. The soil of Guthrie is second to 
 none in the State, for the farmer, grazier, and fruit-grower. 
 The numerous streams of running water afford eligible and 
 profitable sites for the erection of the much-needed manu 
 factories, while the banks are big with inexhaustible quar 
 ries of lime, free-stone, and stone-coal, and in the north 
 west corner large quantities of iron ore have been discovered. 
 The first settlements in the county were made in 1850, and 
 the present population is 2000. The principal church de 
 nominations are Methodists, United Brethren, 0. S. Bap 
 tists, and Friends, each of whom are making arrangements 
 for the erection of church buildings for their respective de 
 nominations. At present all meetings are held in school- 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 135 
 
 houses, of which the county can boast several very good 
 ones. The district school-house in Panora, is the best in 
 Western Iowa, and a public school is kept up in it all the 
 year. Considerable of the land in this county is yet un 
 entered ; though timber-lands are all taken up. The county- 
 seat, Panora, was settled in 1853 ; it now contains a popu 
 lation of 160. More saw-mills, a planing-mill, lath-ma 
 chine, carding and fulling-mill, brick-makers, carpenters, 
 masons, and plasterers, are all much needed in Gruthrie. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES CONTINUED. 
 
 HARDIN COUNTY 
 
 Was first settled in 1851, and contains a population of 
 some 2000. The largest town in the county is Eldora, 
 which is inhabited by some 15 families. 
 
 No churches erected yet preaching by Cumberland 
 Presbyterians and Methodists. 
 
 Well supplied with public schools in a good condition. 
 
 Coal abundant timber more than an average. Red 
 sandstone, and fine white limestone in abundance. Good 
 prairie land no better. 
 
 Hardin, (in the language of the pioneer from whom we 
 gleaned the statistics), " is a little out o the way, but it s a 
 mighty fine spot when you get to it." 
 
136 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 Flouring and saw-mills much needed. But a compara 
 tively small portion of the land in Hardin is entered. 
 
 HARRISON COUNTY, 
 
 Situated on the Missouri River, is but sparsely settled 
 yet, less than one-fourth of the land in the county being 
 entered. This county is well watered by the Boyer River, 
 the Little Sioux, and various smaller streams, tributary to 
 these and the Missouri. Magnolia is the county-seat, be 
 side which there is no other settlement of importance. 
 For a description of the soil see the chapter on Western 
 Iowa, or Pottawattamie County. 
 
 HENRY COUNTY. 
 
 Mount Pleasant, the county-seat, was laid out in the 
 year 1836, by Presley Saunders ; at that time the lands on 
 which it was located were not in market, nor had it ever 
 been surveyed, but the beauty of the location, taken in con 
 nection with the great abundance of superior building-stone, 
 and the large body of timber that lay contiguous to the 
 site, to say nothing of the never-failing springs of water 
 that gush from the shores of the branch that runs through 
 the suburbs of the town, induced the proprietor to believe 
 that a town might be built up that would be a credit to the 
 State. Nor in this has he been disappointed. This town 
 now contains a population of about 1500 inhabitants, and 
 is at present in a more prosperous condition, and is improv 
 ing faster than at any former period. 
 
 The population of the county in February last, was 
 11,180. Beside the county-seat, there are other towns in 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 137 
 
 the county of considerable size and importance. Salem, in 
 the south-west part of the county, is a thriving young place, 
 containing 650 souls. New London, on the eastern edge 
 of the county has some 400 inhabitants. Trenton, in the 
 northern portion, some 300; beside these are Winfield, 
 Lowell, Hillsborough, Home, East Grove P. 0., Marshall 
 P. 0., Wayne P. 0., &c. 
 
 There are six church edifices in Mount Pleasant; Con 
 gregational, Presbyterian, Methodist, Christian, 0. S. Bap 
 tist, and Missionary Baptist. Other towns and villages are 
 proportionally well supplied with churches, all of which 
 are well attended, and in a healthy condition. In point 
 of morality and sobriety, the community of Mount Plea 
 sant are unsurpassed in the State. 
 
 Henry County supports two newspapers : " The Iowa 
 Observer/ Whig, and the "Iowa True Democrat," Free- 
 Soil both published at the county-seat. 
 
 Mount Pleasant has been named and known heretofore, 
 as the point possessing and offering greater educational 
 advantages than any other place in the State, and she has yet 
 no rival in this respect except Davenport. The "Iowa Wes- 
 leyan University," under the control of the M. E. Church, 
 is a Collegiate Institute of the first grade, has 150 students, 
 and is in full and successful operation under the man 
 agement of Prof. James Harlan, with competant assistants. 
 The " Mt. Pleasant High School and Female Academy," 
 under the management of Prof. S. L. Howe, a teacher of 
 acknowledged ability and experience has an average attend 
 ance of 100 pupils. The well-merited reputation of this 
 12* 
 
138 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 school at home and abroad is attested by the patronage it 
 receives. A Select School for Young Ladies, under the 
 superintendance of Rev. B. Wall, and taught by Mrs. 
 Wall and Miss McHarg, has recently been opened, which 
 bids fair to become a Female Seminary of usefulness and 
 extensive patronage. The town and county is well supplied 
 with well-attended and ably-conducted common schools. 
 
 There are at present no manufactories of importance in 
 Henry County. Steam flouring and saw-mills, a foundry, 
 and a carding and fulling-mill are much needed, and would 
 prove good investments. Coal, in considerable quantities, 
 has been found on both sides of the Skunk river, also in 
 exhaustible quarries of the very best building stone near 
 Mt. Pleasant. The Burlington and Wisconsin River rail 
 road will be finished to Mt. Pleasant during the present 
 year. The Muscatine and Keokuk railroad also touches 
 Mt. Pleasant. 
 
 At the late session of the Legislature, the Iowa Insane 
 Asylum was located at Mt. Pleasant, and fifty thousand 
 dollars appropriated for the erection of the building. 
 
 The soil of Henry is second in quality to that of no 
 other county in the State. The land is well watered, all 
 entered, and rapidly filling up with a highly intellectual 
 and industrious class of citizens. 
 
 IOWA COUNTY, 
 
 North of Keokuk, and west of Johnson, is well sup 
 plied with timber along the Iowa River, which stream, with 
 the north fork of English River, Old Man s Creek, Beaver 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 139 
 
 and Richmond Creeks, affords an abundance of water for all 
 purposes. The soil is admirably adapted for farming and 
 grazing. The county seat, Marengo, is situated upon the 
 Iowa River, in the northern part of the county. There are 
 settlements at Kozta, Homestead, Downard, Millersburg 
 and North English Post Offices. The Mississippi and Mis 
 souri railroad passes through almost the centre of the 
 county. 
 
 JACKSON COUNTY 
 
 Comprises in area fourteen full and six fractional town 
 ships of land. The principal towns in the county are 
 Andrew, Bellevue, Wickliffe, Fulton, Maquoketa, Bridge 
 port, and some seventeen P. O. settlements beside. 
 
 The character of the soil is rich and fertile, and the 
 ranging heights and diversified scenery on the banks of its 
 numerous water-courses present an abundance of beautiful 
 building-sites. 
 
 A railroad is in contemplation, and partly graded from 
 Galena to a point directly opposite Bellevue, but it is un 
 certain when it will be completed. 
 
 Flouring and saw-mills are in active and profitable ope 
 ration in different parts of the county, but it is impossible 
 to obtain from their proprietors even an approximate esti 
 mate of their profits. 
 
 At Bellevue, are excellent openings and good sites for 
 two more steam saw-mills and a planing-mill. Lumber 
 for building finds very ready sale as fast as manufactured, 
 and lumber for sawing is easily obtained. A small iron 
 
140 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 foundry, an extensive wagon-making establishment, and a 
 cooper s establishment, would all do well in Jackson. 
 
 Jackson is one of the best watered counties in the State, 
 and is well supplied with timber, principally white oak, black 
 walnut, ash, hickory, elm, maple, white walnut, and bass- 
 wood. Water-power, unsurpassed for manufacturing pur 
 poses : upon several of the streams are already erected 
 flouring and saw-mills, and others are in progress of erec 
 tion. The county is also one of the best for agricultural 
 purposes,in the State, and second to none for stock raising. 
 
 The soil in the valleys is a first rate black sandy 
 loam (several feet in depth), and yields heavy crops of 
 corn ; the ridges are generally second and third rate soil, 
 with a subsoil of clay, or in some instances ferruginous 
 sand, and produce fine crops of wheat. Potatoes and 
 other root crops, as well as vegetables and vines, all flourish 
 luxuriantly. The rocks of the county are what belong to 
 the u Upper Magnesian Limestone" formation ; are well 
 adapted for building purposes, and make a superior quality 
 of lime. 
 
 Iron ore is found in various parts of the county, lying 
 loosely on the surface, and no doubt, from present indica 
 tions, it exists in large masses. " Galena" (lead ore) is 
 also frequently picked up in different parts of the county, 
 and some mines have been successfully worked in the 
 northwest part of the county there is a rich "lode" of 
 " Galena" only three miles above Bellevue, dipping into the 
 river, which can be seen at any time at a low stage of 
 water in the Mississippi. It is the opinion of old miners, 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 141 
 
 that when the mineral resources of this county are properly 
 developed, it will prove rich in both lead and iron ores, as 
 indications of its existence manifest themselves in almost 
 every hill and ravine. 
 
 Bellevue, the seat of justice of Jackson county, is 
 situated on the Mississippi river, twelve miles due south 
 of the city of Galena ; the town site is upon an elevated 
 plateau of land about fifteen feet above high water mark ; 
 it is surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills, mostly covered 
 with timber, which break off the severe cold winds of 
 winter, and prevent the temperature from falling as low 
 by several degrees, as a few miles distant upon the ridges. 
 
 This town was first settled in 1836, by J. D. Bell. In 
 that year this site was selected (by authorised Commis 
 sioners, one of whom was the late Captain John Atcheson) 
 for the Capitol of the then Territory of Wisconsin ; and 
 but for some difficulty between the proprietors of the land 
 and said Commissioners, this would have then been made 
 the Capitol of Wisconsin Territory, which at that time 
 included both sides of the river. This spot had always 
 been a favorite one with the Indians, and its beautiful 
 location caused said Commissioners to select it as a com 
 manding situation for the Capitol. 
 
 The population of our town is about 1000. The popu 
 lation of the county is fully 15,000, and emigrants daily 
 arriving. 
 
 There are five organized churches in the town, viz., 
 Congregationalist, Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist, and 
 Catholic one of each. 
 
142 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 JEFFERSON COUNTY. 
 
 The first sale of town lots took place in 1839. 
 
 The present population of Jefferson County is about 
 13,000. Population of Fairfield, the county-seat, 1500. 
 
 A large proportion of the population is from Ohio and 
 Pennsylvania. In the eastern portion of the county is a 
 settlement of Swedes, consisting at present of about 100 
 families. Their first settlement in that part of the county 
 was made in 1847. 
 
 There is also in the north-east a settlement of Germans. 
 
 In Fairfield there are three churches: Presbyterian, 
 Congregational, and Methodist. 
 
 Two newspapers in Fairfield, the "Fairfield Ledger," 
 (Whig), and the " Iowa Sentinel," (Democrat). 
 
 Jefferson County contains 88 schools, and 65 school- 
 houses, 59 of which are frame, the remaining 6 brick. 
 Total amount paid teachers during the year, ending Oct. 
 31, 1854, $5,538 12. The average compensation of male 
 teachers for the same time, was $20 35 that of females, 
 $9 97 ! Number of pupils in schools, 3622. 
 
 A branch of the State University is located at Fairfield. 
 A commodious building has been erected for the accommo 
 dation of pupils; and is now leased to a company of 
 citizens, who have established a flourishing school for 
 young men and boys, under the charge of Mr. Anderson, a 
 teacher of experience and ability. 
 
 There is also a Female Seminary in this place, which is 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 143 
 
 in a prosperous condition, conducted by Kev. L. B. Crit- 
 tenden. 
 
 Of manufactories the principal are a steam saw-mill, an 
 iron foundry, a sash and door factory, and numerous minor 
 establishments. We need a steam flouring-mill. 
 
 A United States Land Office is located in this place, 
 which has been, and is still doing an extensive business. 
 
 There are several thriving villages located in the different 
 sections of tlie county, among which are Libertyville, seven 
 miles south-west from Fairfield ; Brookville and Abingdon, 
 the former six, and the latter twelve miles west ; Pleasant 
 Plain, twelve miles north ; and Glasgow in the southern 
 part of the county. 
 
 There are three extensive nurseries in the county. A 
 county agricultural society was organised three years ago. 
 
 The eastern part is well timbered. On the borders 
 of Skunk River and its tributaries, are fine groves of 
 various kinds of timber, suitable for building and fencing 
 purposes. The most common are the white and burr 
 oak, walnut, elm, cottonwood, and linn ; sugar maple 
 is found in some places on Skunk River. The western 
 portion of the county is principally prairie, interspersed 
 with some groves of timber, and is well adapted to cultiva 
 tion, as no portion of that land is too broken, and none too 
 flat, for cultivation. 
 
 There is no land of any consequence in this county that 
 is not already taken up. Much good land is owned by 
 non-residents. 
 
114 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 Farms in the hands of residents are beginning to assume 
 all the appearances of extensive and tasteful cultivation. 
 
 There are extensive beds of coal in different sections of 
 the county. Also lime-stone is found along the borders of 
 some creeks. 
 
 JOHNSON COUNTY. 
 
 Iowa City is the county-seat of Johnson County, and 
 until the last session of the legislature, was the capital of 
 the state. At that session a bill was passed, removing the 
 seat of government to Fort Des Moines, in Polk County, 
 some hundred and twenty miles further west; and pro 
 viding for the erection of temporary public buildings, to be 
 approved by the governor, before a session of the General 
 Assembly will be holden there. 
 
 The present State House is not entirely finished, but is 
 an elegant edifice of stone; capacious, well adapted to 
 legislative and other public purposes, and an ornament to 
 the city. This building, with its extensive grounds, is a 
 grant to the State University, and will be appropriated to 
 its use immediately upon the removal of the State offices 
 and legislative sessions. 
 
 The University has an ample fund, and is now in opera 
 tion in this city ; well provided with competent professors, 
 and temporarily occupying what is known as the Mechanics 
 Academy. The number of students is at present but about 
 forty, as the first session was opened only on the first Mon 
 day of March last. 
 
 Besides this infant institution, strong in resources and 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 145 
 
 promises, there is the Female Collegiate Institute, in suc 
 cessful operation. This institution has been reared to its 
 present prosperity, principally under the auspices of the 
 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in this city and other 
 portions of the State. The building designed for this semi 
 nary, will be completed, probably, during the present year, 
 and no expense will be spared to render it equal in archi 
 tectural beauty and finish to any in Iowa. 
 
 There is, also, the City Union School, with a principal 
 and three assistants, besides numerous private schools, all 
 thriving finely. There is no town in the state better sup 
 plied with educational advantages, considering its population. 
 
 There are two newspapers published in this city, the 
 Republican, a Whig, and the Capital Reporter, a Demo 
 cratic journal; connected with both of which are flourish 
 ing job-printing offices. By an act of the last Legislature, 
 also, the State Printer will hold his office here, until the 
 final removal of the seat of government. 
 
 A steam grist-mill is now operating successfully in this 
 city; amount of business not known, as it has just com 
 menced operations. Another is to be erected on the west 
 side of the Iowa River the present season. About three 
 miles west of town, or north-west, are Clarke s flouring- 
 mills, clearing their owners at least $10,000 per annum. 
 
 The manufactories most needed here are a paper-mill,- 
 plow and wagon factory, wool-carding machines. A good 
 foundry and brick-yard would also pay well. 
 
 The city is well stocked with churches, there being 
 no less than seven church edifices, and eight religious 
 13 
 
146 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 societies. Of these, there are one Baptist, built of brick in 
 superior style ; an Old School Presbyterian, Methodist, 
 Protestant Methodist, Catholic, and Universalist, also of 
 brick, and very creditable structures ; and the New School 
 Presbyterian, a neat stone edifice. The Episcopal Society 
 worships in the basement of the Methodist Church. 
 
 According to the census of 1854, the population of the 
 city was 3083 ; which is probably nearer four than three 
 thousa* \t the present time. It is situated at the con 
 junction of two great contemplated railroad routes : the one 
 from Davenport, of which the present year will doubtless 
 witness the completion to this point and the Lyons road, 
 in which the city is also deeply interested, which will pro 
 bably be finished in at least fifteen months. 
 
 The county is one of the finest agricultural counties in 
 the State well adapted for stock raising ; also wheat, corn, 
 and potatoes. A flourishing Agricultural Society of two 
 years standing is organized, and an immense interest is 
 awakened in its behalf. The population at the last census 
 was 8446, which is increasing at an astonishing rate. 
 
 JASPER COUNTY 
 
 Is bounded on the east by Poweshiek, west by Polk, 
 north by Marshall, and south by Marion and a portion of 
 Mahaska Counties. In no county in the State, perhaps, is 
 there better soil for all purposes than in Jasper. 
 
 The following description of this section of country we 
 insert, from a communication to the " Iowa City Re 
 porter": 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 147 
 
 ft Probably no portion of our State surpasses Central 
 Iowa in point of beauty, fertility, healthfulness of climate, 
 and the thriftiness of its inhabitants. 
 
 " The eye is pleased with the alternation of oak open 
 ings, timber land, and the crystal streams that murmur 
 along their channels, guttered out of the prairies. A few 
 years have elapsed since this portion of our State was 
 marked by the Red man s track and the simple wigwam. 
 Then the rich agricultural resources of Central Iowa were 
 unknown to thousands who have since found homes in the 
 " Prairie Land." Here the spirit of American enterprise 
 has found a wide field for action, and, by its magic power, 
 the hidden wealth that lies in the fat hill-sides is beginning 
 to flow into the lap of Western industry. The wigwam 
 has given place to the pioneer s home, and the sound of the 
 Indian rifle has died away, and nought is heard but the 
 sound of busy industry. Yes, a new people, possessing a 
 new spirit, are now on the prairies of Central Iowa, grap 
 pling with the " strong-holds" of Nature, and building up 
 towns and cities on the ground where a few short years 
 ago was seen a collection of wigwams. The contemplated 
 line of railroad from Davenport to the Missouri River runs 
 through this portion of our State, and truly a great artery 
 of trade will be demanded by the rapid growth of Western 
 Iowa. Nowhere in the West has the hand of Western in 
 dustry effected greater changes than in Jasper County, 
 from which I now write. 
 
 " In 1846, the Senatorial Legislature formed it out of a 
 portion of Mahaska County ; and, in 1847, Newton, the 
 
148 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 county-seat of Jasper, was laid out by Thomas Henderson 
 and Jacob Fisher. At that time but few pioneers had 
 pushed their way to Central Iowa, but the way had been 
 " blazed" by the founders of the newly laid-off town, and in 
 1848 a few log-cabins were erected in Newton. A more 
 favorable location could not be obtained. It is on the 
 boundary between the North and South Skunk Rivers. The 
 country around the town-site is rolling enough to render 
 it entirely free from marshes, or anything that would give 
 rise to deleterious miasmas. Many have been attracted to 
 the place by the healthfulness of its position, and the 
 country around. The log-cabin has been removed, and the 
 stately frame-dwelling erected in its stead; the "old cabin" 
 store-house no longer greets the eye, but on the site it 
 occupied stands a store-house that would dp credit to 
 towns of more pretensions. The prospect of securing a 
 railroad has infused a new zeal into the citizens of tho 
 place, and they have determined to erect a new court-house 
 on the square which will reflect credit upon the enterpris 
 ing spirit of Newton. The Methodists are taking steps to 
 build a new church. Mercantile houses are being erected 
 as fast as possible, while those now operating are driving a 
 heavy business. The mechanic and farmer are also keeping 
 pace with the prosperity of town and county. 
 
 " Large quantities of fine stone-coal are found in the 
 immediate vicinity of the place, and the traveller often finds 
 it upon the surface of the ground. When we consider that 
 this article seems almost inexhaustible, there can scarcely 
 be a question as to the profitableness of almost any branch 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 149 
 
 of mechanical and manufacturing industry which may be 
 established in this portion of our State. Lime-stone, suit 
 able for building purposes, is found on the banks of Elk 
 Creek and Skunk River; this one article greatly facilitates 
 the operations of our citizens in erecting buildings, and in 
 many other ways. One grist-mill and two saw-mills are 
 now in successful operation ; but the demand for mills is 
 constantly increasing. Men of capital, and true Western 
 spirit, are making arrangements to erect forges and work 
 shops, which, when completed, will render Newton quite a 
 point for manufacturing." 
 
 JONES COUNTY 
 
 i 
 
 Was first settled in 1836, organized in 1839, and the 
 county-seat located at Anamosa in May, 1847. The popu 
 lation of the county in October, 1854, was 6300 being 
 about eleven to the square mile. In this county will be 
 found a due proportion of timber land and prairie land; 
 while the mill-sites upon the Wabsipinnicon are numerous, 
 and building-stone abundant. Beside the Wapsie , are the 
 North and South Forks of the Maquoketa, Bear, and 
 Mineral Creeks, and numerous first-rate springs of good 
 water. The towns in the county are Anamosa, Rome, 
 Bowen s Prairie, Fairview, and Monticello. In Anamosa 
 is published one newspaper, " The News." There are also 
 one Congregational and one United Brethren church edi 
 fices, and organizations each, of Methodists, Christians, and 
 Universalists. The Masons and Odd Fellows each have 
 13* 
 
150 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 Lodges there. The Iowa Central Air-Line Railroad passes 
 through the county, touching at Anamosa. This line is 
 located and under contract as far as Marion, Linn County. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES CONTINUED. 
 
 KEOKUK COUNTY 
 
 Is the third county from the Mississippi River and the 
 Missouri State-line; situated west of Washington, and 
 north-west of Jefferson Counties. The land is of an excel 
 lent quality, well watered by the Checauque and its tribu 
 taries, which are skirted with a good supply of timber. 
 Lancaster, the county-seat, has increased very rapidly during 
 the past two years, as has the entire county. 
 
 The Muscatine and Oskaloosa Railroad, which is under 
 contract, passes through the county, touching the county- 
 seat. Sigourney, Waugh s Point, and Richland are each 
 centres of large settlements of intelligent and industrious 
 people ; the latter place is settled principally by Friends, 
 or Quakers. 
 
 LEE COUNTY 
 
 Is situated at the junction of the Mississippi and the 
 Pes Moines Rivers, and is the most southern county in the 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 151 
 
 state; it is bounded on the south-east by the Mississippi, 
 which separates it from Illinois ; on the south-west by the 
 Des Moines, separating it from Missouri ; on the west by 
 Van Buren ; and on the north by Henry and Des Moiues 
 Counties. The county is well watered by the Des Moines 
 and Mississippi and their tributaries. The principal towns 
 are Keokuk, Montrose, Fort Madison, "West Point, Frank 
 lin, Nashville, &c. 
 
 The bottom-lands of Lee are well adapted to the wants of 
 the agriculturist, and its prairies are elevated, dry and roll 
 ing. The business of stock-raising has been entered into 
 in Lee more extensively perhaps than in any other county. 
 
 The city of Keokuk, the largest place in the county, is 
 situated at the foot of the Des Moines or Lower Rapids, at 
 the extreme south-east corner of the state. By the usual 
 routes of travel it is 230 miles from Chicago; 210 from 
 St. Louis ; 400 from the junction of the Ohio and Missis 
 sippi ; 1000 from New York ; and 1400 from New Orleans. 
 Its position as a central commercial point is scarcely 
 equalled by that of any other city west of Chicago, and 
 endows it with business advantages and facilities of the 
 highest importance. These advantages are three-fold, and 
 may be treated of under the three following heads, viz : 
 
 First, those derived from the navigation of the Missis 
 sippi. The Lower Rapids, formed by a rocky stratum in 
 the river, commencing about 200 yards above the city, and 
 running northward a distance of 12 miles, with a fall of 24 
 feet, render Keokuk the head of navigation during a great 
 portion of the year, until the work of improving the Rapids 
 
152 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 is completed. At present, in time of low water, steamers 
 are obliged to unload their cargoes into " lighters/ which 
 are towed up the Rapids, above which the freight is again 
 loaded into the boats ; and thus this city is rendered a 
 wholesale depot, and place of transhipment. 
 
 The second point lies in the trade of the Des Moines 
 Valley which Keokuk must inevitably command, situated 
 but 2 miles above the confluence of the Des Moines and 
 Mississippi Rivers. This valley, for a width of sixty miles 
 on either side of the Des Moines River, is unsurpassed 
 probably in the world for agricultural wealth. It also 
 abounds in timber, coal, gypsum, and many other articles 
 of trade, and these will be transmitted down the Des 
 Moines to its mouth at Keokuk, thence re-shipped to other 
 markets. Of the improvement of the Des Moines we 
 speak at length in another Chapter. 
 
 The third source of business advantages which Keokuk 
 can claim, lies in its railroads. The Keokuk and Fort Des 
 Moines, the Keokuk, Mt. Pleasant and Muscatine, and the 
 Eastern railroads will soon be built, and will afford this 
 city numerous connections of the highest importance. 
 
 Keokuk is situated upon a bluff 150 feet above high- 
 water mark in the Mississippi, is laid out one mile square, 
 and contains a population of nearly 7000. Its streets are , 
 wide and regular, and are being graded and McAdamized 
 with rapidity. Main Street, 100 feet in width, is McAdam 
 ized through the city for a distance of one mile. The city 
 contains six brick-yards, two lumber-yards, one flouring and 
 grist-mill, two foundries, one machine shop, five hotels, &c. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 153 
 
 Its public school is held in the largest and handsomest 
 building, which, throughout the State, is devoted to the 
 cause of education. The edifice, when fully completed, 
 will have cost $13,500. This city also contains the Iowa 
 Medical College, a State institution, and a Female Semi 
 nary, besides two other female institutes, and a number of 
 private schools. Six church edifices, 0. and N. S. Presby 
 terian, Baptist, Methodist, Episcopalian and Catholic. One 
 weekly and two daily newspapers. 
 
 The bluff on which the city stands contains the finest 
 of lime-stone, for building and other purposes, and com 
 mands a landscape view, of wild and picturesque beauty. 
 
 LINN COUNTY 
 
 Is a large and comparatively populous tract. The towns 
 in the county are, Marion, (the county-seat), Mt. Ver- 
 non, Spring Grove P. 0., Boulder P. 0., Central Point, 
 Cedar P. 0., Oak P. 0., Palo P. 0, Lafayette, Cedar 
 Rapids, Newark, St. Julien, Ivanhoe, and Hoosier Grove. 
 
 The present population of the county is 10,075. 
 
 Newspapers are published at Marion and Cedar Rapids. 
 
 The number of churches and schools in the county, or 
 even of towns, other than Mt. Vernon, we are unable to 
 state, but are informed that no county in the State, of the 
 same population, has more of either, in better condition. 
 
 The " Iowa Conference Seminary," is located at Mount 
 Vernon has a brick edifice 40 by 72 feet, 3 stories high. 
 It is in a very prosperous condition, under the superintend 
 ence of Rev. S. M. Fellows, A. M., assisted by three regu- 
 
154 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 lar teachers, besides music teacher, and teacher of painting 
 and embroidery. Number of students now in attendance 
 about 150. Most of them young ladies and gentlemen 
 from abroad. The situation is unsurpassed for beauty. 
 
 There is a good district school in the village, with a good 
 school-house. 
 
 Mills are very much needed, and would do well. There 
 is a large amount of timber in the neighbourhood, for 
 sawing. 
 
 The surrounding country is one of the finest agricultural 
 regions in the State. The farmers have already erected 
 pretty good buildings, and every year improvements are 
 going forward. 
 
 Linn County is considered one of the best, if not the 
 best in the State ; and the country around Mt. Vernon 13 
 acknowledged equal to any portion of the county. 
 
 The location of the Seminary at this place, in connection 
 with the real excellence of the country, makes this one of 
 the most desirable situations for a family residence that can 
 be found in the West. 
 
 We are about 70 miles from Dubuque, 55 from Daven 
 port; 45 from Muscatine; 20 from Iowa City; 12 from 
 Marion (the county-seat); and 14 from Cedar Rapids. 
 
 LOUISA COUNTY. 
 
 This is a rich and fertile county, bordering on the Mis 
 sissippi ; bounded on the west by Washington and Henry 
 Counties, on the north by Muscatine, and on the south by 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 155 
 
 Des Moines Counties. The county is well watered by the 
 Iowa River, which passes diagonally through it. J. B. 
 Newhall, Esq., in his " Glimpses of Iowa," thus describes 
 Louisa County : 
 
 " Wapello Prairie, on the south side of the Iowa River, 
 is unrivalled in picturesque beauty. It commences near 
 the village of Florence, the site of the old Sac village, and, 
 crossing a small rivulet skirted with woods, it breaks forth 
 upon the eye of the traveller in picturesque grandeur, ter 
 minating in the north-west with the town of Wapello, the 
 county-seat of Louisa. 
 
 " This county embraces a principal portion of the Keo- 
 kuk Reserve, purchased by the Government in 1836. It 
 is a remarkable fact, that almost the whole tribe of Sacs 
 and Foxes were congregated here until after the first or 
 Black Hawk purchase of 1832 ; notwithstanding they had 
 almost a boundless region from which to select their vil 
 lages and hunting-grounds. 
 
 " Wapello, the seat of justice, is handsomely located on 
 the old site of ( Wapello s Village. Wapello was a Fox 
 chief, who resided there until the summer of 1836, as chief 
 of his band. There are several small villages in Louisa, 
 among which are Toolsboro , Columbus City, Harrison, 
 Florence, Fredonia, &c. Toolsboro formerly Black Hawk, 
 is situated upon the north side of the Iowa, about three 
 miles from the Mississippi, has an extensive country trade, 
 and is somewhat celebrated for its ancient mounds and 
 fortifications. 
 
 " Florence derives its principal notoriety from its having 
 
156 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 been the residence of Black Hawk until the Indian hos 
 tilities in 1832. Here repose the bones of his ancestors, 
 where they have rested for centuries. It was here that he 
 sounded the war-whoop, and rallied his countrymen to the 
 last deadly conflict, in defence of the homes and the graves 
 
 " Where sleep their warriors ; where rival chieftains lay, 
 And mighty tribes, swept from the face of day." 
 
 " But they were conquered, and this illustrious warrior wag 
 doomed to wander, a stranger in the land of his forefathers. 
 His lodge was still standing at the time the country was 
 surveyed." 
 
 MAHASKA COUNTY, 
 
 Of which Oskaloosa is the county-seat, is a thriving and 
 populous county for its age. The first settlements in the 
 county were made in 1842, on the public land, and in June? 
 1843, the county-seat was organized by commissioners ap 
 pointed by the Legislature. The present population of Os 
 kaloosa is nearly 3000. 
 
 The county is well supplied with churches and schools. 
 Of the former are Methodist, Christian, Seceder, 0. S. 
 Presbyterian, and Cumberland Presbyterian. 
 
 The " Times" and the Herald," are both published in 
 Oskaloosa. 
 
 Two public and two private schools at the county-seat, in 
 good condition. 
 
 Of manufactories, two steam saw-mills, and one steam 
 flowing-mill, a carding and spinning-machine, with smaller 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 157 
 
 establishments, comprise the assortment. Manufactories of 
 any kind will do well here. 
 
 The county is unsurpassed for fertility of soil, abundance 
 and quality of water, &c. The county-seat is reported to 
 be the largest inland town in the State, and with the splen 
 did country that surrounds it, and the railroad connections 
 that are hastening to link that place with the rest of mankind, 
 the prospects are that it will soon be a large and important 
 business point. 
 
 MARION COUNTY 
 
 Was settled in October, 1845, by Wilson Stanley, L. Gr. 
 Terry, L. W. Babbitt, Dr. R. Mathews, E. & T. Jenkins, 
 J. D. Bedell, and E. Gr. Stanfield. The present popula 
 tion of the county is 11,065 of Knoxville, the county- 
 seat, 600. 
 
 In the county-seat are one Methodist, and one Congrega 
 tional, edifices. The different denominations are Methodist, 
 Lutheran, Congregational, Presbyterian, Baptist, Mission 
 ary Baptist, Associate Reformed, and United Brethren. 
 
 The number of public schools is stated to be sixty-six. 
 Two high schools one in Knoxville, another in Pella all 
 in a prosperous condition. A college is being erected in 
 Pella by the Missionary Baptists. 
 
 Several steam saw and fiouring-mills in operation, but 
 threefold more needed. Also manufactories of all kinds 
 wanted. 
 
 Soil good for farming purposes, timber plenty, water 
 abundant and excellent. Prairie unsurpassed by any in the 
 Union. Climate good. Winters admirably adapted for 
 
158 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 stock, owing to their dryness and evenness. Stone-coal, 
 of excellent quality, abounds in veins eight feet thick. 
 Splendid lime and sandstone, for building purposes, abun 
 dant. 
 
 The towns in the county are, Knoxville, Pella, Divide, 
 Bennington, Paran City, Wheeling P. 0., Kousseau, Plea- 
 santville, Red Rock, Amsterdam, Pt. English, English P. 
 O., Bellefontaine, Attica P. 0., Red Cedar P. 0., Newtown, 
 Newburn, Marysville P. 0., and Hamilton P. O. 
 
 A newspaper is now published at Pella, and another is 
 about to be established in Knoxville. 
 
 MONROE COUNTY 
 
 "Was organized in 1843, and the county-seat " laid off" 
 in 1844. Present population of the county 4200 of Al- 
 bia, the county-seat, 400. 
 
 The Methodists have a good frame meeting-house. The 
 Presbyterians are just building a good brick edifice, which 
 will be finished this summer. The society of Christians will 
 build next season. 
 
 Here are one steam mill, one plough manufactory, a 
 carding machine, and a full supply of stores and of pro 
 fessional men. 
 
 The only newspaper in the county is the " Albia Free 
 Press." 
 
 One public and one private school in Albia, each in a 
 flourishing condition. 
 
 Steam flouring-mills, saw-mills, coopering establishments, 
 cabinet-ware manufactories, and any number of industrious 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 159 
 
 mechanics are greatly needed here. At present the cooper 
 age for pork, lard and flour, is obtained from a great dis 
 tance, at decided disadvantage. 
 
 This county is as well watered as any portion of the 
 State. The principal streams which have their rise in, or 
 pass through the county, are Cedar Creek, Whippoorwill 
 Creek, White s Creek, and Coal Creek ; the three latter, with 
 numerous smaller streams, emptying into Cedar Creek, ren 
 der it of proper size and power for mill-sites, and there are 
 now five mills erected on this stream, doing business more 
 than half the year. Bluff s, Gray s, Miller s, Avery s, and 
 Soap Creeks, are each, streams of some size, and skirted 
 with timber averaging nearly a mile in width. 
 
 Throughout the county the soil is very good ; the prairies 
 are small, high, and fertile. An abundance of timber, coal, 
 and limestone may be found in most parts of the county. 
 The best land is entered, but claims to some of the very 
 best can be bought at from five to ten dollars per acre. 
 The county is increasing in numbers very rapidly, and 
 offers great inducements to manufacturers, mechanics, 
 farmers, and citizens of all classes. 
 
 MILLS COUNTY. 
 
 Grlenwood, the county-seat, was first settled by the Mor 
 mons, in 1847, and this was about the first settlement in 
 the county; but that population has long since been 
 almost entirely supplanted by people from Michigan, New 
 York, Ohio, and Missouri. 
 
 The present population of the town is about seven hun 
 dred that of the county about five thousand. 
 
160 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 There are three churches in the place, viz. : Methodist, 
 Congregationalist, and Presbyterian (Old School) : in the 
 county, ten churches, same denominations. 
 
 Two newspapers published in the county : the " Glenwood 
 Times," and the "St. Mary s Gazette/ 
 
 There are a large Union School and two District 
 Schools in the town, and about twenty common schools in 
 the county, all in a flourishing condition, and supplied 
 with good teachers. There is still a great demand for 
 teachers. 
 
 They have one flouring and two saw-mills the two 
 latter driven by steam. There are fifteen mills in the county? 
 one carding-machine, and a shingle mill. All of the 
 above-named are over-stocked with business, and there is 
 abundance of room for others. Cabinet-makers, weavers, 
 cloth-fullers, tanners, house-builders, and every class of me 
 chanics, are much needed. 
 
 Mills County is composed of the most fertile prairie, 
 interspersed with magnificent groves of timber, with here 
 and there an hundred little streams spread out and inter 
 laced over the face of the whole country, like the veins and 
 arteries in a mighty living giant. The river bottom here is 
 about eight miles wide, as level as a floor, yet dry and 
 subject to no dangers from overflows. Cattle live in these 
 bottoms all winter without feeding. No county in the 
 State possesses a more munificent supply of water and tim 
 ber than Mills. Owing to its geographical position, imme 
 diately opposite the mouth of the great Platte River, it may 
 safely be said that the county, in interest and importance, is 
 
*=. 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 161 
 
 inferior to none in the State. It has not its equal in any 
 State for perfect adaptation to agricultural purposes. It 
 possesses a most salubrious climate. There is plenty of 
 lime and sand-stone in all parts of the county, perfectly 
 adapted to building purposes. There has also been some 
 stone-coal discovered recently. 
 
 There are four other towns in the county beside Glen- 
 wood, viz. : St. Mary s, Bethlehem, Platteville, and Lafa 
 yette all flourishing villages. 
 
 There is still considerable good land unentered in the 
 county. 
 
 MUSCATINE COUNTY 
 
 Is situated next below Scott County, on the Mississippi 
 River, and contains an area of 432 square miles. The name 
 of this county was derived from a tribe of Indians known 
 as the Muscoutins. The county-town was originally called 
 Bloomington, which name it still holds on a few old-fogy 
 maps and tables of distances. In 1845 the name was 
 changed to that of the county Muscatine. In 1853 it 
 was incorporated as a city, since which time it has been 
 called the "City of Muscatine." The present population 
 of Muscatine City is about 4600 ; of the county, including 
 the city, 12,100. 
 
 The city contains nine churches, with a total number of 
 nearly one thousand members ; two steam flouring-mills, two 
 steam saw-mills, one stave and three shingle machines (all 
 driven by steam) ; seven hotels, two public school-houses, 
 (one erected in 1850, at a cost of $4000; the other more 
 14* 
 
162 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 recently, costing $5000). Upwards of 300 children are in 
 daily attendance at these schools. 
 
 Situated on a bend or arm of the river, Muscatine is fa- 
 vorahly located to command the trade of a large section of 
 country. From the following statistics for the year 1854, 
 some idea may be gained of the amount of business done 
 in that city: 
 
 Produce received in Muscatine in 1854. 
 Wheat bushels, 393, 5 7<> | Timothy Seed, bushels, 160 
 
 Rye " 3,176 
 
 Corn 121,902 
 
 Oats " 28,242 
 
 Barley " 2 i 
 
 Beans " 3,550 
 
 Flaxseed " 716 
 
 Beeswax pounds, 1,050 
 
 Dry hides " 57,380 
 
 Wool " 2,228 
 
 Hogs, cut 13,000 
 
 Potatoes " 11,317 
 
 The average weight of hogs was 220 pounds. 
 
 Manufactured in Muscatine in 1854. 
 
 Flour, barrels 29,515 
 
 Cooperage Pork barrels 9,800 
 
 Flour barrels 56,300 
 
 Whiskey barrels 550 
 
 Staves ready for setting up, and shipped 1,000,000 
 
 Bedsteads (from the log) 2,900 
 
 Plastering laths 1,433,100 
 
 Broom handles 50,000 
 
 Window sash, No. of lights 100,000 
 
 Pine lumber, feet 2,261,900 
 
 Shingles 1,126,500 
 
 The city of Muscatine is located upon uncommonly 
 broken ground, and a majority of the lots, either for busi 
 ness or residences, require grading ; the citizens, however, 
 are of that clasp, who, appreciating the superiority of their 
 location in other respects, have by art made smooth Nature s 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 163 
 
 rough places, and tasteful and stately residences now grace 
 bluffs, which, but a few months ago, were almost inacces 
 sible. 
 
 Two newspapers are published in Muscatine : a Whig, 
 weekly and tri-weekly ; and a Democratic, weekly. 
 
 The inhabitants have the character of being second to 
 none in the State in point of intelligence and industry. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES CONTINUED. 
 
 POLK COUNTY 
 
 Was opened for settlement in May, 1846. The garrison 
 was removed in July of that year, and in the same month 
 and year, the town of Fort Des Moines was laid out. 
 
 The population of Polk County is upwards of 6000 ; that 
 of Fort Des Moines, 1100. 
 
 In the county are Episcopal, Presbyterian (Old and 
 New School), Baptist, Methodist, and Catholic churches 
 the latter but recently established. 
 
 But one newspaper in the county the " Fort Des Moines 
 Star." 
 
 Two private schools and one public school in Fort Des 
 Moines j the former in good condition, affording a respect 
 able academic course for young ladies and gentlemen. A 
 
164 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 large District school-house, on the " Union" plan, is in 
 course of erection, to be completed this fall, costing some 
 $6000. 
 
 The Des Moines River passes diagonally through Polk 
 County, entering at the north-west and passing out at the 
 south-east corner. Raccoon River empties into this river 
 at Fort Des Moines. Both of these streams afford nume 
 rous sites for manufactories and mills. There are several 
 grist and saw-mills in the county, but not a tithe of the 
 number that are needed. Our correspondent writes : "We 
 need more shops of all descriptions, and, above all, manu 
 factories. We want flouring-mills and saw-mills more of 
 them, and on a larger scale. We want brick-makers, car 
 penters, cabinet-makers, brick and stone masons, plasterers, 
 and, in short, mechanics of all kinds. We want water- 
 wheels and steam-engines, farmers, machinists, and day 
 laborers/ 
 
 Polk County, as well as those adjoining, and those far 
 ther north and west, is high, rolling prairie, with a due pro 
 portion of timber, and is well watered with rivers and 
 creeks, the banks of which abound in coal, lime, sand 
 stone, and gypsum in great quantities. 
 
 The last session of the Legislature located the Capital of 
 the State at Fort Des Moines, since which time that place 
 has been almost besieged by lawyers, doctors, agents, and 
 land speculators. 
 
 Fort Des Moines is destined to be one of, if not the, largest 
 interior city in the State. 
 
 Of other towns and villages in the county, we would 
 
llfiii 
 
 T; " ,fV:Ji; i 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 165 
 
 mention Polk City, Corydon, Taylorsville, West Liberty, 
 Circleville, Union, Adelphi, Harvey, Rising Sun, and 
 Jericho. 
 
 SCOTT COUNTY 
 
 Is situated on the Mississippi (which bounds it on the 
 east and south), and is the lower one of the trio which 
 occupy a front and central rank among the counties bor 
 dering on the river. The first permanent settlement in 
 the county was made by Antoine Le Claire, in the spring 
 of 1833. During the next year several families and com 
 panies of whites crossed over as " squatters," settling upon 
 such " claims" as might suit their fancy. Mr. Le Claire 
 was for many years intimately and responsibly identified 
 with our government in its intercourse with the Indians 
 of the north-west, being in government service, as inter 
 preter and Indian agent, from 1813 to 1843 30 years ; 
 and in some ten or twelve important treaties, he was the 
 principal or only interpreter, and as such attended the 
 government officers on the occasion. His familiarity with 
 some fourteen Indian dialects, as well as with the English 
 and French languages, and his being the great-grand-son 
 of a chief, and his wife the descendant of another, gave 
 him an influence with, and a knowledge of the Indian 
 tribes, such as no other individual of his day possessed. 
 
 The marquee of Gen. Scott, in which was held the 
 treaty with the Sac and Fox Indians, was erected upon the 
 identical spot, which has, since 1833, been occupied by 
 Mr. Le Claire as a residence. On the preceding page is 
 
166 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 presented a view of the Le Claire Homestead, which was 
 occupied as a residence by Mr. Le Claire from 1813 to 
 1854. In the spring of 1854 it was given up to the Mis 
 sissippi and Missouri Railroad Company, as a location for 
 their passenger dep6t. 
 
 At the period of the treaty made by Gen. Scott, the 
 cholera was prevailing among the soldiers in the Fort, and 
 the meeting, instead of being held on the Island, was, from 
 prudential considerations, transferred to the main shore, 
 though not outside of the range of the guns of the Fort. 
 It was in this marquee that the chief of the Sacs made a 
 present of a mile square of land to Mrs. Le Claire, and, 
 striking his foot upon the turf, told Mr. Le Claire that the 
 only condition he asked was that he should build his house 
 upon that spot a condition that was speedily complied with. 
 
 The treaty was held in the fall of 1832, and ratified by 
 Congress the following winter. In the spring of 1833, Mr. 
 Le Claire erected a small building, or " shanty," in the 
 then Fox village, u Morgan," which had occupied this 
 ground for years previous. Of the tribe having this as 
 their head-quarters, Maquopom was the head warrior, and 
 Powesheik head chief. In the fall of 1834, the Sac and 
 Fox Indians left here for the Cedar River. In the spring 
 of 1836 the town of Davenport was laid out. 
 I Of the climate and scenery of Scott County, Mr. New- 
 hall, in his Glimpse of Iowa, thus speaks: "Ever since 
 the earliest settlement of Iowa, this portion has been justly 
 esteemed among the most desirable and fascinating regions 
 of the boundless West. Being entirely free from low 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 167 
 
 bottom-lands, (the usual cause of disease), it was early 
 selected by the sagacious pioneers, as one of the favored 
 spots of the Upper Mississippi Yalley. Perhaps no coun 
 try in the world presents so happy a combination of pic 
 turesque beauties, blended with excellence of soil, and salu 
 brity of climate, as the vicinity of Rock Island. All who 
 have ever visited this charming region, concur in expres 
 sing their admiration of the surpassing beauties of Nature s 
 inimitable works." 
 
 For some ten miles on the river, above and below Daven 
 port, the bluffs are very wide, varying from one to two miles, 
 leaving a large amount of bottom land for cultivation. By 
 the word bluff, we do not mean here an abrupt, perpendi 
 cular precipice of rocks ; the bluffs of the Mississippi at 
 this point, and for twenty miles up and down the river, are 
 generally a gentle slope from the top to the banks of the 
 river, and their elevation is about 100 feet above low- 
 water-mark. From the top of these bluffs, one beholds 
 Davenport spread out upon a gently sloping plain nearly 
 two miles long, and one-half to three-fourths of a mile 
 wide, fronting on the river, which runs, at this point, 
 nearly west; and the streets range parallel to the four 
 cardinal points of the compass. For miles below, the 
 mighty Mississippi rolls on its placid waters, curling amid 
 its many islands in picturesque grandeur, until lost in I 
 the distance ; while to the east, for ten miles, a most beau 
 tiful panoramic view is presented of the river, its islands 
 and bluffs. In the distance are the towns of Hampton 
 and Moline, upon the Illinois shore ; in front of you, and 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
168 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 beyond the town of Rock Island, away in the distance, are 
 seen the windings of llock River, one of the most beautiful 
 streams in the west. The tower of Black Hawk is also in 
 full view, overlooking the great valley at the junction of 
 Rock River with the Mississippi. It was in this valley 
 at the forks of Rock River and the Mississippi that the 
 village of Black Hawk was situated. Here, it was said, he 
 lived in peace and plenty, with his immense fields of corn, 
 and supplied with game and fish, that abounded in the 
 neighbourhood. It is said to have been one of the greatest 
 trials of Black Hawk s life to give up this country, and 
 not only leave the graves of his people to the ruthless 
 encroachments of the white man, but to part with his fa 
 vorite fishing and hunting-grounds. Is it a wonder, then, 
 that, after a treaty had been signed by Keokuk, the civil 
 chief of the tribe, contrary to the wishes and design of 
 Black Hawk, he refused to leave this lovely spot, the 
 scenes of his childhood, the sports of his manhood, and 
 the last resting-place of his ancestors ? 
 
 Rock Island is about three miles in length, with an aver 
 age width of half a mile, and contains therefore nearly one 
 thousand acres. The rapids commence some twelve miles 
 above it and terminate at its foot. Moline and the city of 
 Rock Island, on the Illinois shore, are opposite its extreme 
 endings, and the city of Davenport and East Davenport 
 occupy nearly the same relation to it on the Iowa side. At 
 the foot of the Island stands old Fort Armstrong, built in 
 1816 by Col. Mason, U. S. A. Half a mile distant, on the 
 north side of the Island, is the residence of the late Col. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 169 
 
 Davenport, who was for more than 30 years a partner in 
 the American Fur Company, and an Indian trader. On the 
 4th of July, 1845, a band of robbers entered his beautiful 
 residence in the middle of the day, in the absence of his 
 family, and in robbing him accidentally shot him ; he died 
 the same night. After having lived a frontier life for so many 
 years, and having passed through a long and bloody Indian 
 war, he was doomed to die by the hands of desperadoes. 
 All the murderers were taken ; three were hung at Rock 
 Island, the same year but two escaped, and are yet at 
 large. From 1837 to ; 40, and up to 7 45, Iowa and north 
 ern Illinois were infested by the most daring set of outlaws 
 that have ever visited the western world. But the supre 
 macy of the laws has banished them from our midst, and 
 Iowa is again comparatively free from crime. 
 
 The Island is now covered with a dense growth of young 
 timber, of every variety, that flourishes in this climate. Forty 
 years ago, Mr. Le Claire states, this ground was covered 
 by a very dense forest, but the soldiers stationed in the Fort 
 and the early settlers of the country, destroyed much of it 
 for fuel and other purposes, and finally fire was communi 
 cated to the bed of leaves which had accumulated there for 
 ages, and swept the Island of its crowning glory. The 
 present growth of timber dates its origin subsequent to this, 
 fire. 
 
 " The Island, with the exception of a fractional quarter 
 
 section of about one hundred and fifty-five acres, which was 
 
 given to Col. Davenport, belongs to the government. The 
 
 motives which led to withholding it from sale, so long as 
 
 15 
 
170 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 Fort Armstrong was occupied, and there remained a neces 
 sity of keeping an armed force in this vicinity, are evident 
 enough. But the Fort was really abandoned in 1835, and 
 the policy which has induced the government to retain its 
 hold upon the Island since that period, is not so apparent. 
 Numerous efforts have been made to obtain an order for its 
 sale, and it is to be feared, in too many instances, with the 
 view of securing the possession of it to a few favored indi 
 viduals. Twice have such orders been issued by the proper 
 departments, but on both occasions the sale was not per 
 mitted to proceed. Under the circumstances it was well 
 that it did not. This magnificent body of land, lying here 
 in the midst of so much beauty, and surrounded by towns 
 which bid fair to become the seat of an immense com 
 merce, should not be permitted to fall into the hands of 
 mere speculators. But the Island should unquestionably 
 pass from public to private ownership. As it is, it answers 
 no useful end to the government or to individuals, and its 
 being retained by the former retards in many ways the pros 
 perity of the neighboring towns and country." 
 
 The city of Davenport, since the completion of the Chi 
 cago and Rock Island Railroad, has moved forward with 
 rapid strides. The present population of the city is about 
 8000. The following from the correspondence of the /St. 
 Louis Republican gives a concise and correct statement : - 
 
 " We have two flouring-mills, six saw-mills, two planing- 
 mills, one plow factory, two sash and blind factories, and 
 two foundries, all operated by steam-engines, and doing a 
 thriving business. 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 171 
 
 " The stores, numbering over one hundred, have passed 
 through the transition state, from general country groceries 
 to distinct and well appointed establishments, representing 
 separately each prominent branch of commercial enterprise. 
 The various churches and public edifices have emerged from 
 their temporary chrysalis to large, commodious buildings. 
 Farms of unsurpassed fertility, stretch their broad acres 
 from our suburbs many miles into the interior, over the 
 prairies, are creditable to the enterprise of our agricul 
 turists, and supplying our city with every luxury, and a 
 commerce commensurate with the importance of our lo 
 cality. Our streets swarm with immigrants, our hotels, 
 six in number, are insufficient for the accommodation of 
 strangers. Our banking-houses, of which there are three, 
 are sound and healthy. Our real estate offices, which are 
 too numerous to enumerate, are converting money into 
 property, and property into money, daily, at prices which, 
 although comparatively high, make both buyer and seller 
 rich. All kinds of business, and classes of business men, 
 thrive and prosper. Two abutments, and three piers of 
 the great Mississippi bridge are completed. 
 
 " Preparations for gas light on an extensive scale, form 
 a new feature in the city s privileges. Our suburbs spring 
 up with distinctive appellations, and North, West, and 
 East Davenport, and Hamburg, would pass for respectable 
 villages, apart from the nucleus. 
 
 " Davenport is becoming an important lumber depot. 
 Besides the six saw-mills in operation here, cutting some 
 fifteen or twenty millions of feet per annum, it is supplied 
 
172 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 by rafts from the pineries, which, on account of the spa 
 cious eddy at East Davenport, are induced to touch here 
 before seeking another market. 
 
 li East Davenport contains 300 inhabitants, and has one 
 flour and one saw-mill. It presents inducements for the 
 extension of the lumber business beyond any other point on 
 the Mississippi river above St. Louis. The main avenues 
 penetrating the interior of the State, concentrate at this 
 point, and the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad depot is 
 contiguous to the village between it and Davenport proper, 
 and doubtless a branch railroad will be extended to the 
 eddy next season. Here, also, the supplies of lime and 
 building-stone are derived, and the brick manufacture is 
 extensively carried on." 
 
 Five large new churches, dedicated last fall, rear their 
 turrets towards heaven ; a new collegiate building, an ex 
 tensive building fora female school, two market houses, and 
 several stores, of architectural proportions, are among the 
 edifices of last year s growth. 
 
 Local Manufactures. Five saw-mills have turned out 
 7,000,000 feet of lumber; two planing-mills and sash fac 
 tories have worked 2,000,000 feet of lumber; one plow 
 factory manufactured 1500 plows; two foundries and ma 
 chine shops; two flouring-mills manufactured 50,000 bar 
 rels of flour; four cooper shops manufactured 30,000 flour 
 barrels, and 1000 pork barrels. Population of Davenport 
 8000; increase 2200 over 1853. Scott County, 17,000. 
 
 From the returns of the Assessor, in 1854, we see that 
 the total amount of property assessed the past year was 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 173 
 
 valued at $4,560,459, showing an increase over 1853, of 
 $2,728,546. By comparing the returns of the several coun 
 ties, it will be seen that Scott is the third county in the 
 State, in point of wealth. 
 
 We have devoted more space to the description of Scott 
 County, the Island, &c. ; than to any other county in the 
 State, but probably no more than they deserve. At no point 
 in the whole Mississippi Valley is presented a more beau 
 tiful location for a city than here, and nowhere else in the 
 "West can be found two cities of the size of Rock Island 
 and Davenport, opposite each other, together concentrating 
 a population of nearly 15,000 inhabitants; individually 
 cities of great importance to the West together, forming 
 one of the most attractive points on the Upper Mississippi. 
 
 The purlieus of these two cities have also been the 
 scenes of a number of incidents, which tend to imbue 
 with a deep and thrilling interest, the early history of 
 Iowa. A relation of these would occupy a greater space 
 than it is in our power at present to devote to them ; but 
 we shall endeavor to compile them, together with an ac 
 curate and compendious history of the primitive days of 
 the entire State, for publication at an early period. 
 
 Since our chapter on Geology was completed, and in 
 print, an extensive bed of Cannel coal has been penetrated, 
 in Scott County, which promises to be of great value to 
 its possessors. The area underlaid by this bank, embraces 
 several acres. Specimens of this coal which have been 
 furnished us, burn well, are very light and brittle, and sus 
 ceptible of a polish, though inferior to the Cannel coal of 
 15* 
 
174 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 Pennsylvania. It is thought by colliers that the better 
 qualities are farther in the banks. In our next edition we 
 shall be able to give a chemical analysis of the properties 
 of this coal. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES CONCLUDED. 
 TAMA COUNTY. 
 
 THE county-seat of Tama "was but one year old last No 
 vember. In February, 1855, it contained 150 the county 
 upwards of 300. In 1850, the county contained but 8 
 inhabitants 5 males and 3 females something of an in 
 crease ! 
 
 Two churches a Methodist and a Baptist are in con 
 templation, and will probably be built this season. 
 
 No newspaper good opening for one we read. 
 
 Public Schools in most flourishing condition. 
 
 Hydraulic privileges excellent in the county, on the Iowa 
 River also, an abundance of water-power on Deer, Wolfe, 
 Honey and Otter Creeks. We have 4 saw-mills 2 water, 
 2 steam. One fiouring-mill, with twd runs of stones. 
 
 Excellent opening for Lumber, Flour, or Woollen Manu 
 factories. 
 
 Tama County is of rich, alluvial soil. The prairie and 
 timber lands are exceedingly well proportioned to each 
 other. Both upland and river-bottom timber in abundance 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 175 
 
 for all the wants of the county, for fencing, building, and 
 fuel purposes. It is confidently asserted that there is an 
 abundance of coal in the county, but no banks have as yet 
 been opened. 
 
 1 The face of the county is greatly undulating, with a 
 good proportion of river bottom, two to four miles in 
 width well watered. The soil yields wheat, hemp, oats, 
 corn, rye, barley, beans, peas, potatoes, and tobacco, each 
 in great abundance, and with but little care as to culture. 
 Native fruits grow in great variety, such as the grape, 
 crab-apple, plum, gooseberry, strawberry, and raspberry, 
 each growing in abundance.* 
 
 The Mineral resources, although but partially developed, 
 are known to be valuable and extensive. An abundance 
 of the best lime-stone and stone-coal the latter not so 
 plenty as the former. 
 
 Every acre of Tama County is arable land, and it. is there 
 fore susceptible of as dense a population as any county in 
 the State. To the Farmer, Stock-raiser, Mechanic, and 
 Manufacturer, Tama holds out extra inducements. The 
 locality is one of the most healthy, and the population one 
 of the most thriving and energetic in the State. 
 
 VAN BUREN COUNTY. 
 
 The earliest settlements in this county were begun in 
 1834-5. Keosauqua, the county-seat, was laid out and 
 settled in 1837. The proprietors were Messrs. James 
 
 * All that is said of the productions of the soil of Tama, will 
 apply to most counties of the State. ED, 
 
176 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 Hall, John Fairman, John Cams, M. Sigler, and E. Man 
 ning. 
 
 The population of Keosauqua is about 1000; of the 
 county, by last census, 13,843. 
 
 There are two thriving churches, Congregationalist and 
 Methodist, and several other religious societies. 
 
 There is one newspaper, the " Democratic Union," pub 
 lished in Keosauqua. No other in the county. 
 
 One public school, having from 100 to 120 scholars 
 in attendance. There are also one private school for 
 young ladies, and two high schools, all well patronized and 
 supported ; in addition to which, the citizens of Keosauqua 
 contemplate the building of a seminary during the present 
 year. 
 
 There are three grist-mills in the town and vicinity, (one 
 water-power and two steam,) and also two saw-mills. The 
 water-power that is now about to be furnished, by the com 
 pletion of the lock and dam at this place, will not be sur 
 passed in the State. 
 
 A woollen manufactory, paper mill, and manufactories 
 of shingles, plows, wagons, and agricultural implements, 
 and also a good merchant flouring- mill, are very much 
 needed. The inducements are readily seen and understood 
 by practical men. 
 
 The character of the country may be described as being 
 well divided between prairie and timber. There is a large 
 supply of good timber along the Des Moines River, on both 
 sides. The soil is rich, and produces all the crops con 
 genial to the climate, in the greatest abundance. 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 177 
 
 The Des Moines improvement, when finished, will afford 
 an uninterrupted navigation to St. Louis and New Orleans ; 
 and at present, even without the improvement, we have 
 steamboat navigation from two to four months, during the 
 spring and summer. 
 
 There are several towns on the river about one mile 
 below, viz. : lowaville, where are two mills and one distil 
 lery j Pittsburg, where there is now in progress a steam- 
 mill ; Bentonsport and Vernon, where there are now in suc 
 cessful operation two good flouring-mills, two saw-mills, 
 two carding-machines, one woollen-factory, one lath-mill, 
 and one paper-mill. 
 
 Bonaparte also contains a good flouring-mill, two saw 
 mills, and an extensive brick woollen -factory. 
 
 Farmington, below Bonaparte, is also a considerable 
 town, and contains nearly 1000 inhabitants, two or three 
 grist and saw-mills, one foundry, and one engine establish 
 ment. There are also several smaller towns in the county, 
 off from the river, some of which are prominent, and 
 rapidly improving. 
 
 WAPELLO COUNTY 
 
 Was opened to settlement on the 1st of May, 1843, and 
 organized in April, 1844. It is claimed by residents to be 
 one of the best tracts of land in the State. The Des 
 Moines River passes diagonally through the county. The 
 water-power, as furnished by that river and Cedar Creek, 
 is abundant, the banks of the streams also being rich in 
 limestone of the best quality, and excellent sand, which, 
 
178 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 
 
 together with the extensive tracts of timber, render it one 
 of the most desirable counties in the interior of the State. 
 The population of Wapello was 8,466, since which time the 
 county has settled more rapidly than at any previous period. 
 The number of votes polled at the general election in 1854 
 was 1502. 
 
 Ottumwa, the county-seat, is situated at what are called 
 the Appanoose Rapids, on the Des Moines River, distant 
 twenty-five miles from Fairfield, and seven from Agency 
 City, (the old Sac and Fox Agency). 
 
 Respecting the Rapids at this place, Mr. Newhall writes : 
 t( In August, 1845, a survey of the Appanoose Rapids at 
 this place was made by David Armstrong, Esq., when it 
 was ascertained that there passed at the Rapids, every 
 minute, 42,000 cubic feet of water ; a sufficient quantity to 
 fill a lock 42 feet wide, and 150 feet long j being enough to 
 run 28 pair of burrs, 4 feet in diameter, under a head of 6 
 feet water. There is a fall of 4 feet at these Rapids, in one 
 mile; and a dam, 5 feet high, would give 6 feet 10 inches 
 rise and fall." 
 
 Several mills and other manufactories have already been 
 erected at Ottumwa, which place will become one of the 
 most flourishing cities in the interior of the State, when 
 her water-power and other capabilities are fairly deve 
 loped. 
 
 Agency City is situated some seven miles from the centre 
 of the county, and in beauty of locality, and natural 
 scenery, will compare favorably with any point in the 
 interior. The late Indian Agency was here located by 
 
DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 179 
 
 Gen. Street, who considered it a favorable situation in all 
 respects. 
 
 Eddyville is situated on the Des Moines River, in the 
 extreme north-west corner of the county, upon the site of 
 an old Indian trading-post. The society in Eddysville is 
 as good as in any place of its size in the State. Churches 
 and schools are well supported, and the edifices and build 
 ings are of a size and character that would do honor to places 
 of greater pretensions. 
 
 WAYNE COUNTY 
 
 Was organized in 1851, the first settlements were 
 made in 1848. Corydon, the county-seat, was located in 
 1852. This section is very sparsely settled, there being 
 but about 500 voters in the county, and less than 100 citi 
 zens in Corydon. 
 
 Several churches are scattered over the county : Presby 
 terian, Methodist, Baptist, and Campbellite denominations 
 two of them Methodist making a total of five. 
 
 The county is well supplied with schools. No news 
 papers. 
 
 With an abundance of excellent water-power, Wayne 
 County invites machinists, capitalists, and manufacturers. 
 No machinery in the county. Timber is not so plenty as 
 in some other counties, but the quality of the land is second 
 to none. Considerable land unentered. 
 
 WINNESHEIK COUNTY 
 
 Is bounded on the north by Minnesota, on the east by 
 Alamakee County, on the south by Fayette, and on the 
 
180 DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES, 
 
 west by Chickasaw and Howard Counties. It was occu 
 pied by Winnebago Indians until the year 1848, when they 
 were removed by Government. Previous to that time 
 there were no settlers in the county. Fort Atkinson was 
 built about the year 1843, for the protection of the settle 
 ments against the incursions of the Indians. 
 
 The Old Mission, as it is familiarly called, was formerly 
 a missionary-station, under the patronage of Government. 
 Both the Fort and Mission have been abandoned, and, 
 although in the charge of keepers, are rapidly going to 
 decay. The land about both, comprising 5 square miles, 
 is still reserved from sale, and is exceedingly fertile. 
 
 Among the first settlers may be mentioned Francis 
 Rogers, David Heed, George Ream, William Day, and "Wm. 
 Painter. The first settlement was made soon after the 
 removal of the Indians in 1848. The population of the 
 county is estimated at about 5000. 
 
 The climate of Winnesheik County resembles that of New 
 York City, although the winters are much shorter, and the 
 autumns very long, mild, and beautiful. The spring gene 
 rally opens about the 15th of March. The summer is never 
 excessively warm, except where the wind is shut out by the 
 bluffs or timber. 
 
 In soil, this county is not excelled. It is a rich black 
 loam, and has a depth of from one to six feet. It has a 
 very slight mixture of sand. Of course, the deepest soil is 
 to be found upon the bottoms. The county is well tim 
 bered ; about one-fourth of it is heavily timbered, one-third 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 181 
 
 is prairie, and the balance is burr-oak openings, affording 
 plenty of firewood and rails. 
 
 The county is well watered by the Upper Iowa, Turkey, 
 and Canoe Rivers, and numerous smaller streams. The 
 Upper Iowa is a beautiful stream, with rock and gravel 
 bed, good banks, swift current, and pure water. The 
 Turkey River, which runs through the south-west part of 
 the county, is also a beautiful stream. The Canoe, which 
 is a branch of the Iowa River, is a fine stream, somewhat 
 smaller than the other two, but all of them afford abundance 
 of mill-power. 
 
 Trout Creek is worthy of note. This stream, which is in 
 size about one-third as large as the Upper Iowa, breaks 
 forth in one large spring from the foot of a perpendicular 
 bluff, about two and a half miles from its mouth. It 
 abounds in speckled trout, and is a favorite resort for 
 sportsmen. It rises about two and a half miles south from 
 Decorab, and empties into the Upper Iowa River two miles 
 south-east from that town, at the southernmost bend of the 
 river. 
 
 In general, the surface of the country is gently rolling ; 
 near the large streams it is bluffy, but the high lands are 
 easily accessible by means of the many ravines running in 
 all directions. The. prairies are small, well watered, and 
 agreeably diversified with groves and thickets. Washing 
 ton, Franklin, and Looking-Glass Prairies are noted for 
 their excellent adaptation to farming purposes. 
 
 This county cannot be excelled for stock raising. Sheep 
 16 
 
182 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES. 
 
 do remarkably well ; already there are many flocks of fine 
 blooded ones in the county. 
 
 The prevailing rock is lime-stone, which, near the sur 
 face, is soft and shelly, but below it is hard and solid. It 
 is always found in layers of a good thickness for building 
 purposes. 
 
 Coal is said to have been found in the western part of the 
 county. 
 
 There are a number of religious societies formed in the 
 county, among which are Congregationalists, Presbyterians, 
 Methodists, Quakers, and Lutherans. 
 
 There are a number of saw-mills, and, although on a 
 small scale, they do a good business. The Decorah saw 
 mill has one saw which cuts 3000 feet of lumber in twenty- 
 four hours. 
 
 There are also a number of grist-mills in the county, 
 doing a thriving business. Decorah grist-mill has two run 
 of stones, which grind 680 bushels of wheat in twenty-four 
 hours. 
 
 Dunning s grist-mill, near Decorah, is situated under a 
 large spring, with fifty feet fall of water. 
 
 An extensive plow factory has recently been erected in 
 Decorah. 
 
 The manufactories most needed at present are : woollen 
 factories, chair factories, sash and door factories, grist-mills, 
 lath-mills, iron foundries, and factories for the manufacture 
 of agricultural implements. The inducements for their 
 erection are the abundance of water-power and materials, 
 and the great demand for their products. 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 183 
 
 Farmers are much needed the inducements for them 
 being plenty of vacant land and excellent markets. 
 
 Mechanics are very much needed, especially carpenters, 
 masons, millwrights, coopers, saddlers, watchmakers, tinners, 
 cabinet-makers, and painters. The inducements for them 
 are plenty of work and good pay. 
 
 Decorah, the county-seat of Winneshiek County, is a 
 thriving village, 2J miles east from the geographical centre 
 of the county. It is pleasantly situated on the Upper Iowa 
 River, twenty-nine miles from the Mississippi, and fourteen 
 miles from the southern boundary of Minnesota. The great 
 thoroughfare between Iowa and Minnesota, and the Du- 
 buque and St. Paul mail-route, pass through this place. 
 Stages run regularly to St. Paul, Brownsville, Lansing, 
 Dubuque, and the intermediate points. 
 
 Decorah was first settled in the spring of 1849, by Wm. 
 Day, who was followed in June by Wm. Painter. These 
 men for some time were obliged to grind their flour in a 
 coffee-mill, and bolt it through a sieve. They lived compa 
 ratively alone until the year 1851, when the first saw-mill 
 and store were commenced. The same year a survey was 
 made of a few lots, and the place was called Decorah, after 
 a celebrated Winnebago chief, whose grave is still to be 
 seen at the foot of the beautiful eminence upon which the 
 public buildings of the county are about to be erected. The 
 town was re-surveyed, enlarged, and recorded in 1853, 
 since which it has rapidly improved, and now contains about 
 350 inhabitants. It commands an extensive trade with 
 
184 DESCRIPTION OF COUNTIES, 
 
 Winnesheik, Howard, and Mitchell Counties, and also with 
 a large portion of Minnesota. The business of the place 
 for the past year is estimated at $80,000. 
 
 A substantial bridge across the Upper Iowa River, at 
 this place, affords an excellent crossing at all seasons of 
 the year. 
 
 Decorah is on the direct air-line, and on the contem 
 plated and most feasible route for the St. Paul andDubuque 
 Railroad. 
 
 An excellent school is constantly maintained. Regular 
 services are held every Sabbath by the Methodist and 
 Congregationalist denominations. 
 
 The village is well supplied with water by numerous 
 beautiful springs within its limits. A newspaper is needed, 
 and would be well patronized. Excellent inducements for 
 a woollen factory are held out at this place. 
 
 Frankville, situated on the east line of the county, twelve 
 miles south-east from Decorah, and directly on the Dubuqne 
 and St. Paul stage-road, is a pleasant and thriving village. 
 It commands a good trade with the surrounding country, 
 and is destined to become a place of considerable note. It 
 was settled in 1851 by Francis Teabout, a liberal-minded 
 man, under whose untiring energies it is rapidly improving. 
 The place is regularly and tastefully built, and contains one 
 hotel, two stores, a blacksmith shop, physician s office, a 
 number of dwellings, and a church erected by the proprietor, 
 and donated, with extensive grounds, to the Presbyterian 
 Society. 
 
DESCRIPTION OP COUNTIES. 185 
 
 Moneek is situated three miles south from Frankville, 
 and fifteen miles south-east from Decorah. It is located on 
 the north branch of Yellow River, in the midst of a heavy 
 body of timber. It contains a saw-mill, hotel, several 
 stores, &c. It was laid out in 1852, and was at that time 
 the largest place in the county. The inhabitants are prin 
 cipally Canadians. 
 
 Calmar, eight miles south-west from Decorah, is a Nor 
 wegian village of four or five houses and one store. It 
 was laid out in 1854, and already makes a business ap 
 pearance. It is situated on the old military road to Fort 
 Atkinson. 
 
 Freeport, two miles east from Decorah, on the Upper 
 Iowa River, contains a grist-mill, saw-mill, grocery, and 
 several dwellings of rather primitive architecture. It was 
 settled in 1850 by Daniel K. Kendall, and was recorded in 
 1854. It contains a population of about fifty, principally 
 Pennsylvania Dutch. Owing to several large sloughs, it 
 has rather an unhealthy situation. 
 
 Clifton and Bluffton, in the north-west part of the county, 
 are just commenced. They have excellent water-power, and 
 good grist and saw-mills. 
 
186 WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 
 
 [WE are indebted to the editor of the "Council Bluffs 
 Eagle" for most of the matter under this head. The read 
 er will therefore understand which portions of the articles 
 refer to Pottawattamie County, in particular.] 
 
 Geography. That portion of "Western Iowa lying west 
 of the Des Moines River, is the most rolling, uneven and 
 picturesque, of the choice lands, in the United States. Al 
 though this region is almost entirely composed of hills, 
 swells, ridges, valleys, and bottom lands, thrown together 
 in the most grand -and poetic manner, there is scarcely an 
 acre of waste land in the whole region; even the highest 
 points and peaks abound with luxurious grass and vegeta 
 tion, or timber and copsewood, whilst the slopes, valleys, 
 and bottom lands, together with the upland prairies, are 
 the most rich and fertile ever inhabited. 
 The soil is a rich, black, light, sandy loam, extremely 
 easy of cultivation, and of a depth of from one to ten feet. 
 Although the soil is naturally extremely light and loose, it 
 resists to a wonderful degree the evil effects of drought upon 
 vegetation. The last season, when the countries east and 
 south were parched, and crops destroyed for want of rain. 
 
WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 187 
 
 ours were remarkably heavy, and seemed uninjured, al 
 though we had little or no more rain than our neighbours. 
 
 Timber. There are heavy bodies of hard wood timber 
 on the margin of, and adjacent to, the Des Moines River, 
 and a reasonable quantity interspersed through the counties 
 northwest ; yet upon the route directly west to this place, 
 timber is extremely scarce for an hundred miles, being 
 found only in detached groves upon streams : but as one ap 
 proaches the slope of the Missouri River, the groves and 
 clusters of timber become more frequent, and in this imme 
 diate vicinity there is sufficient for all reasonable demands. 
 In several of the counties north, timber is still more abun 
 dant, and in Shelby County there is one grove alone that 
 contains nearly thirty square miles of good timber. Through 
 this region generally, there are an abundance of young 
 groves of timber, which, if the fires do not destroy it, will 
 increase quite as fast as the older and more mature portions 
 are used up. The most valuable varieties are oak, (three 
 or four varieties), black walnut, hickory, linn, elm, cotton- 
 wood, hackberry, black locust, and coffee bean. 
 
 Upon the bottom lands, the cottonwood, black walnut, 
 and elm are found, and in the higher lands, the other 
 varieties. 
 
 Minerals. There is no doubt but that an abundance of 
 coal exists in this region; few beds have, however, yet 
 been opened, but those prove to be of an excellent quality. 
 There are fine quarries of lime-rock, sand and slate-stone. 
 
 Climate. Our climate is similar to that of Northern 
 Ohio, but we have less snow and probably a little more 
 
188 WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 
 
 wind. It produces about the same varieties of crops, fruits, 
 and vegetables. The roads are extremely hard and smooth 
 during all the year, except the season of Spring. The 
 evening twilights are long, soft and pleasant, in the Sum 
 mer season, usually continuing for nearly two hours after 
 sunset. The evenings, even after the hottest days, are 
 usually cool and pleasant. A refreshing breeze is almost 
 constantly blowing from off the prairies. 
 
 Wild Fruits and Vegetation. The wild prairies are co 
 vered with a rich, luxurious growth of grass, varying in 
 height from twenty inches to five feet, which makes the 
 finest of grazing, or hay, and which only requires cutting and 
 stacking, not being as liable to injury as the tame grasses. 
 For late feed, the pea-vines and rushes in the low lands, 
 make feed that frequently will keep stock in good order all 
 winter. There are various bulbous roots that grow wild, 
 such as in years past the Indians have gathered for food. 
 Among the best is the wild potatoe, the bean, and arti 
 choke. Hogs eat these voraciously. Among the best of our 
 wild fruits may be reckoned plums, gooseberries, straw 
 berries, raspberries. There are crab apples, and haws, 
 which grow in abundance, and the finest we ever saw. 
 Grapes are of spontaneous growth, and are also fine. The 
 plums are almost as fine as the cultivated varieties large, 
 delicious and abundant. Strawberries grow around the 
 edges of timber and brushwood, and in the bottoms, along 
 the streams. 
 
 Productions. Corn produces heavily and naturally, 
 yielding from fifty to one hundred bushels to the acre, with 
 
WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 189 
 
 little trouble. Winter wheat is not a certain crop, on ac 
 count of there being so little snow throughout the winter. 
 Spring wheat produces heavily, and of an excellent quality. 
 Oats yield from fifty to seventy-five bushels per acre. Rye, 
 barley, buckwheat, potatoes, turnips, melons, and other 
 vegetables and grains do well. There are few or no or 
 chards in this region, but there is no doubt that most of the 
 cultivated varieties of fruit will succeed and do well here. 
 
 Game, &c. Elk and deer are abundant in the counties 
 north, and even near here they may be seen every day ; there 
 are also abundance of fowls ; swan, geese, pelicans, tur 
 keys, ducks, prairie chickens, and quails, abound in their 
 peculiar localities, and fish, of the choicest kinds, fill our 
 lakes and streams. Wild bees are common. 
 
 Congress, or Unentered Land. The most choice lands 
 in this region are entered, but there are within a few miles 
 of the city considerable un-entered lands, which, though 
 without timber, have a good, rich soil. In the country east 
 and north, the chances are better, and good claims may often 
 be had for a small price. 
 
 Timber lands may also be purchased to suit those who 
 enter prairie lands. 
 
 Mills. We have within this county about twelve saw 
 and grist-mills, but not half enough to supply the demand 
 for lumber and flour. The county above has some four 
 in operation, and the next below, six, and Cass County, one. 
 
 In Pottawattamie County we are in extreme need of a 
 good flouring-mill such as we have in the country will 
 only make from twenty to thirty pounds of flour to the 
 
190 WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 
 
 bushel. How strange ! wheat $1 25 per bushel, and flour 
 $5 50 to $6 00 per hundred pounds. Who couldn t make 
 money out of a good mill ? 
 
 Mechanics. We are in great want of many and various 
 mechanics, but more especially at this time we have no 
 wagon-makers in the place, and it seems almost impossible 
 to get a wagon or carriage mended. If, however, one is 
 so unlucky as to succeed, he will be charged an enormous 
 price, and that by bungling pretenders. Let the me 
 chanics of the east, who are out of employment, (and will 
 soon be out of funds), come here, where they may be ser 
 viceable to the community, and get rich. Carpenters, 
 millwrights, brickmakers, masons, engineers, architects, and 
 day labourers, are in special demand. 
 
 There are large and small streams at intervals all over 
 the county, the principal of which are the Nishnabotna, 
 Keg Creek, Boyer River, and Musquito and Gopher 
 Creeks. There are a number of lakes in the bottoms, in 
 which, as well as the streams, are stores of excellent fish. 
 Upon these streams are numerous mill sites, only a small 
 proportion of which are occupied. Although there are 
 about one dozen mills already in operation, there is yet a 
 great demand for more, and fortunes might be made by in 
 vesting money in their erection. 
 
 For grazing, stock-growing, or dairy business, there is no 
 region of country better adapted. Stock requires little or 
 sometimes no feed, and upon the prairie grass will fatten in 
 an incredibly short space of time. The poor mechanic and 
 labourer soon become landholders, and the capitalist is not 
 
WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 191 
 
 satisfied with less than forty per cent, well secured, which 
 he readily obtains. 
 
 How to get here. Boats run regularly from St. Louis to 
 this place, all through the season of navigation. Freight 
 up usually averages about seventy-five cents per hundred, 
 and passengers (cabin) $15, deck, $5. The railroad from 
 the east is completed to 300 miles from this place. Teams 
 can be purchased in and about Davenport at fair prices. 
 
 Prices of grain and produce. Flour selling at $5 00 per 
 hundred. Corn 30 cents, wheat $1 25, oats 30 cents, 
 potatoes usually 25 cents, (now 75), pork $4 00 per hun 
 dred. Butter and eggs 25, (in the summer 10 cents,) 
 groceries and dry goods at the usual western prices. 
 Laborers get from $1 00 to $2 50 per day, (including 
 mechanics). 
 
 Stock of all kinds bears a good price, from the fact of this 
 place being the great outfitting emporium for immigrants 
 westward. 
 
 Towns. The largest and most important town west of 
 the Des Moines Valley, is Council Bluffs City, which is 
 located some 3 miles from the Missouri, (directly opposite 
 Omaha City, in Nebraska), is the county-seat of Pottawat- 
 tamie County, and now contains about 2500 inhabitants. It 
 is a sparsely built incorporated city, contains 2 churches, 
 Methodist and Congregational ; 3 schools, 10 stores, 6 doc- 1 
 tors, 12 lawyers and mechanics, and artists to match. Lots 
 in the city rate from $100 to $1000, each, and improved 
 farms in the neighborhood from $5 to $10 per acre, in 
 cluding timber. An ever flowing stream, called Indian 
 
192 WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 
 
 Creek, runs through the town, and upon the high points 
 of the adjacent bluffs the country for miles around may 
 be seen, including a broad scope of the beautiful and varied 
 lands of Nebraska. A part of the city is laid out with 
 little regularity, it having been settled before the survey of 
 the country; consequently, the lots are of various shape, 
 and the streets of such angles as will suit the position of the 
 ground. Many excellent buildings already have been, and 
 are now being reared, and good improvements are rapidly 
 progressing. The Land Office for the "Missouri River 
 District," embracing nearly thirty counties, is located here. 
 Four distinct railroads have been surveyed to this place 
 from the Mississippi River, from different points, some of 
 which are now actually under course of construction : and 
 it is though that here will be the great Missouri crossing 
 for the Pacific Railroad. 
 
 In 1846, the Mormon Pioneer Train, numbering many 
 thousands, first opened a road across the State from Nau- 
 voo, in Illinois, to Council Bluffs, in this county. As the 
 season was too far advanced to admit of a further prosecu 
 tion of their journey that fall, they halted here. Soon 
 after, the largest number crossed the river and built a large 
 village about ten miles above, and called it Winter Quar 
 ters, (now called Florence). Early in the spring, a pioneer 
 company of 100 men started westward, whilst those re 
 maining, opened farms, and built houses on both sides of 
 the river. The next spring, 1848, about two-thirds of the 
 whole company started westward for the Salt Lake Valley, 
 and those remaining removed to the Iowa side of the Mis- 
 
WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 193 
 
 souri, and commenced a small town, called Miller s Hollow, 
 on the present site of Council Bluffs. Messrs. Stutsman, 
 Voorhis, and Henry Williams, each opened a little store 
 here at that time, and were all that there were in the 
 country, in 1849. The county was organized in 1851. 
 
 Pottawattamie County is situated on the Missouri River, 
 and is about 42 miles in length on its north line, 36 on its 
 south, and 24 miles wide north and south. It is bounded 
 by Harrison and Shelby Counties on the north, Cass on 
 the east, Mills and a portion of Montgomery on the south, 
 and the Missouri on the west. It contains about 936 
 square miles, has a population of about 5000, being a 
 trifle less than five and a half to the square mile. 
 
 Future Prospects. Council Bluffs is situated almost in 
 the geographical centre of the United States, upon the 
 longest stream on the globe, and directly in route west 
 from the great metropolis of the east to the South Pass, 
 and at the entrance to the Great and only natural high 
 way to the Pacific, the valley of the Platte. The fact that 
 hundreds of thousands of pioneer immigrants have taken 
 this as the only practicable route to California, where one 
 has taken any other, is evidence sufficient of its import 
 ance. There are now four railroads from the East pointing 
 directly to this place, some of which are fast progressing 
 to completion, and the chain is already perfect from the 
 Atlantic to the capital (entering the State at Davenport), 
 and still they hasten towards us. We shall without doubt, 
 within three years, hear the shrill whistle of the iron horse, 
 making our hills and valleys re-echo with its rattle. 
 17 
 
194 WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 
 
 Glenwood, the county-seat of Mills County, is 24 miles 
 south of Council Bluffs, has a population of about 800, 
 is surrounded by an excellent agricultural district, and in 
 habited by a thrifty, energetic people. 
 
 Sidney, the seat of justice of Fremont, is 24 miles 
 farther south, is beautifully located, has a population of 
 some 500, and has a brisk trade with the country rapidly 
 increasing. 
 
 St. Mary s, opposite Bellevue, 2 miles below Council 
 Bluffs, is a brisk young place, and promises to be a town 
 of importance. 
 
 Iranistan, in Cass County, is 40 miles east of Council 
 Bluffs, on the Ft. Des Moines stage road. It is situated 
 upon one of the Nishnabotnas, has one good water-mill, 
 and several creditable buildings. There is excellent timber 
 in the region, good water, stone mill-sites, and a fine 
 farming district of land. 
 
 Cabinet manufactories are much needed in Western 
 Iowa, as very many there fit out for the borders and Ne 
 braska, and manufactories are scarce, and furniture extra 
 vagantly high. 
 
 NEBRASKA. 
 
 What is said in the foregoing pages of Western Iowa is 
 true, in a great measure, respecting Eastern Nebraska, parti 
 cularly as to the soil, climate, fruit and vegetation. The 
 western portion of Iowa, and the eastern and southern por 
 tions of Nebraska, are not very unlike in these particulars. 
 The interior or western parts are more mountainous and 
 
WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 195 
 
 barren, almost entirely destitute of timber, and really of 
 little or no value except for grazing. A number of im 
 portant towns are springing up on the Missouri River, the 
 most noted of which, Omaha City (the capitol), Bellevue, 
 Plattsmouth, Mount Vernon, Nebraska City, Florence, 
 Fort Calhoun, Desoto, Tekaina, and Fontenelle, all occupy 
 a country on the river, north and south, near a hundred 
 miles in extent, and are surrounded with good, fertile, and 
 choice lands. Lime, stone-coal, and other minerals have 
 been found in many places, and this country, though now 
 but little known, offers great inducements to settlers. The 
 capitol being permanently located at Omaha City (oppo 
 site Council Bluffs), will make it, eventually, the most 
 important city in the Territory or State. The place is 
 beautifully situated on a high bluff, but the strip of low 
 land intervening between the city and river is almost 
 impassable at times, during high water. Bellevue, nine 
 miles below, is the point at which the Indian Agency for 
 the several tribes in Nebraska Territory is located. The 
 Presbyterian Mission for the Omaha Indians is also located 
 here. Farther than this, the place is at present of not much 
 importance, and not improving as rapidly as some others. 
 The first newspaper ever printed in the Territory, was the 
 Nebraska Palladium," at Bellevue, in the fall of 1854. 
 Mt. Vernon, at the mouth of the Weeping Water, is one 
 of the most beautiful sites for a town, in the Territory. 
 With an abundance of good building-stone, timber, and 
 stone-coal, surrounded by an excellent farming country, it 
 must eventually become one of the most important towns. 
 
196 WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 
 
 It is the nearest point on the Missouri to "the great 
 Salt Springs, in the interior of Nebraska. Nebraska 
 City, eight miles below Mt. Yernon, is a place of some 
 importance, affords a fine view from the river, is sur 
 rounded by a fine agricultural country, and from the 
 character of its newspapers, we infer is a place of thrift, 
 energy, and intelligence. This was the site of Old Fort 
 Kearney. 
 
 The following is the conclusion of a good-natured letter 
 from one of a company who immigrated to Nebraska, and, 
 finding it wanting, returned to Iowa. Of Nebraska, he 
 says : 
 
 " Most of this territory has a very fine soil, and water 
 sufficient in places to make it equal to Iowa, but the 
 almost total absence of timber may keep it back for a 
 great while. On the whole, we are all perfectly convinced 
 that Iowa is the place for us, and hence return well satis 
 fied to stay here. We think that the whole territory put 
 together cannot have one-half the timber that Iowa has. 
 We also think that there are thousands of acres of unoccu 
 pied lands in Iowa, better situated and worth double what 
 many persons are claiming and asking, which, by many, are 
 considered exorbitant prices, and in many cases effect 
 sales. We conclude upon the whole, that Nebraska is 
 much better suited for the elk and buffalo, than either 
 for Indian or white man. But the Indians have driven 
 all the former away, and wisely sold it to Uncle Sam, 
 being of no further use to them. We have our fears lest 
 Uncle Sam is bit, but if you believe all the newspaper 
 
WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 197 
 
 stories of that region it is certainly a paradise, but Iowa 
 for me forever. WM. CURLESS." 
 
 Extract from a letter giving a description of the country 
 
 between Council Uluffs and Sargents Bluffs. 
 <c From Council Bluffs I started north, up the bottoms 
 of the Missouri River; about ten miles on my route I came to 
 Pigeon Creek, a good mill stream, and improved by two saw 
 mills, and one grist-mill, near the road. From that, twenty 
 miles, I came to Williams Creek, a fine stream for mills, 
 and improved by two saw-mills. The soil and timber is 
 good on these creeks, and the same may be said of the bor 
 ders of the Soldier, Boyer, Little Sioux, and many other 
 streams I crossed. In passing from Council Bluffs, the first 
 fifty miles, after passing the Little Sioux, I came to a fine 
 dividing ridge bottom, fifty miles long, bordered on the east 
 by the Little Sioux, on the west by the Missouri, and these 
 streams are bordered by almost a continual forest from one 
 end to the other of this prairie. This bottom is dotted over 
 by small and handsome groves. The soil is of the finest 
 quality, and of a great variety. You find the highlands 
 producing the blue-joint grass, almost equal to timothy for 
 hay, and alongside you see the lowland producing the 
 broad- leaf saver grass, elegant for early pasturage and good 
 for cattle-hay, and yielding an abundance of it to the acre. 
 Next you will find large tracts of good land, having all 
 the appearance of old fallow fields, and next, but in small 
 portions, you will see near the lakes tracts of land produ 
 cing a kind of grass, resembling kam, of the blades of which 
 17* 
 
198 WESTERN IOWA AND NEBRASKA. 
 
 the cattle are very fond ; the lowlands are covered over as 
 thick as blue grass with large beds of rushes, on which cattle 
 will keep as fat as seals all winter ; and to increase the beauty 
 of this bottom, the Great Creator has interspersed it with 
 several handsome lakes, filled with fine fish, of almost every 
 variety of fresh water kind. 
 
 " Sargent s Bluff City is a handsomely located place on 
 high lands, on the. bank of the river at the foot of the bluff. 
 The bottom is one mile wide at the north of the town, and 
 on the south it widens out to several miles. 
 
 " The bluffs near the town are filled with good building- 
 stone. The city is laid off into wards or districts, thir 
 teen hundred feet square, by streets running at right 
 angles, one hundred feet wide. In the centre of these large 
 districts are parks, two hundred and eighty feet wide, by 
 four hundred long, and the districts are divided (by streets 
 eighty feet wide, running at right angles) into blocks of 
 twelve lots each, 66 feet wide by 132 long. On the site 
 containing 340 acres, there are eight of those parks, and 
 twelve market squares, with a number of other lots selected 
 and set apart for churches, lodges, and school-houses, as 
 marks of liberality manifested by the proprietors of this 
 handsome place. Let no one think that all the chances 
 are taken in these parts. There is plenty of timber and 
 prairie to be taken up, of the best quality. Improved lauds 
 can be had at a fair price, and the proprietors of those rival 
 cities offer large inducements to purchasers, and the demand 
 for all kinds of mechanics and labor is very great. Wages 
 
NEW COUNTIES. 199 
 
 high, and other inducements flattering. Every thing that 
 is necessary for improving lots can be purchased here at a 
 fair price. Yours, &c., 
 
 "S. E. PECK." 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 NEW C OUNTIES. 
 
 BY the last Congress, three new land districts were 
 formed, which are marked on Henn, Williams & Co/s 
 Map of Iowa for 1855. The Land Offices for these new 
 districts are located at Decorah, in Winnesheik County, 
 Sioux City, (Sargent s Bluffs), in Woodbury County, and 
 at Fort Dodge, in Webster County. The six Land Offices 
 before located were at Dubuque, Iowa City, Fairfield, 
 Chariton, Ft. Des Moines, and Council Bluffs. 
 
 In the north-western part of the State lies a district of 
 territory unsurveyed, and not yet in the market. This dis 
 trict is 190 miles long from east to west along the Minne 
 sota line, and 80 miles in width, divided from Nebraska 
 Territory by the Big Sioux River; including the counties 
 of Worth, Cerro Gordo, Franklin, Winnebago, Hancock, 
 Kossuth, Emmett, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Dickinson, Clay, 
 Buena Yista, Osceola, O Brien, Cherokee, Buncombe, 
 Sioux, and Plymouth. Of the soil in this section, Owen 
 says, in his Geological Report to Congress, made in 1852, 
 
200 NEW COUNTIES. 
 
 p. 25, " North of latitude 42, between the head waters of 
 Three and Grand Rivers, there are distances of ten or fif 
 teen miles without any timber; while between the waters 
 of the Grand River, the Nodaway, and the Nishnabotna, 
 the open prairie is often twenty miles wide, without a bush 
 to be seen higher than the wild indigo or compass plant. 
 The soil, too, in this region, is generally of inferior quality 
 to that south of latitude, 41 SO / 
 
 These counties are very sparsely settled, and some of 
 them, we are informed, do not contain a single dwelling. 
 Hence it is impossible to procure information respecting 
 this portion of the State, without travelling over it in person. 
 
 Several older and more central counties are not mentioned 
 in our list, because we could not visit them in time for this 
 edition, and those whom we addressed failed to return us 
 information, as requested, of their towns and counties. The 
 undescribed counties are, Lucas, Madison, Montgomery, 
 Monona, Marshall, Page, Powesheik, Story, Shelby, Taylor, 
 Union, and "VVoodbury. As will be seen by reference to 
 the map, these counties are comparatively thinly settled. 
 The amount of unentered land in each county will be seen 
 by reference to the proper Chapter. 
 
 "Public Lands, System of Surveys, Land Offices, &c. 
 
 " In all the new States and Territories, the lands which 
 are owned by the General Government are surveyed and sold 
 under one general system. The government price of land 
 is $1 25 per acre. The system of surveys is one of great 
 accuracy and beauty. Meridian lines are established and 
 
NEW COUNTIES. 
 
 201 
 
 surveyed in a line due north from some given point gene 
 rally from some important water-course. These are inter 
 sected at right angles with a base line. On the meridians, 
 the " townships" are numbered north and south from the 
 base lines ; and, on the base lines, " ranges" east or west of 
 the meridian. Township lines are then run, at a distance 
 of six miles, parallel to the meridian and base lines. Each 
 township contains an area of 36 square miles; each square 
 mile is termed a section, and contains 640 acres. The 
 sections are numbered from 1 to 86, beginning at the 
 north-east corner of the township, as the following diagram 
 will illustrate : 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 18 
 
 17 
 
 16* 
 
 15 
 
 14 
 
 13 
 
 19 
 
 20 
 
 21 
 
 22 
 
 23 
 
 24 
 
 30 
 
 29 
 
 28 
 
 27 
 
 26 
 
 25 
 
 31 
 
 32 
 
 33 
 
 34 
 
 35 
 
 36 
 
 ""When surveyed, the lands are offered for sale at public 
 auction, but cannot be disposed of at a less price than one 
 dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. That portion not 
 sold at public auction is subject to private entry at any 
 time, for the above price, payable in cash at the time of 
 entry. 
 
 * The 16th section in each township is appropriated for schools. 
 
202 UNENTERED LANDS. 
 
 " Pre-emption rights give the improver or possessor the 
 privilege of purchasing at the minimum price. 
 
 " I have thus endeavored briefly to elucidate, in the pre 
 ceding diagram, the system of the surveys of public lands ; 
 which, to strangers unacquainted with the sections and sub 
 divisions, appears perplexing and intricate." NewliaWs 
 Glimpse at Iowa. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 UNENTERED LANDS IN THE STATE. 
 
 BY the following reports from Land-Offices, the amount 
 of unentered or vacant land in the several Districts is repre 
 sented. By reference to the map, the Land Districts will 
 be easily recognised, being bounded or marked by pink 
 lines. 
 
 In the Fort Des Moincs District. 
 
 Jasper County, half entered say 230,000 acres vacant. 
 Mahaska, mostly entered. Marion, probably three-fourths 
 entered. Marshall contains 368,000 acres three-fourths 
 vacant. Hardin, the same also three-fourths vacant. 
 Grundy, Butler, and Floyd, each three-fourths vacant. 
 Mitchell is fully nine-tenths vacant. 
 
 Each county, with the exception of Jasper, Webster, 
 
UNENTERED LANDS. 203 
 
 Guthrie, and those directly on the State line, have the same 
 area, containing about 368,000 acres. 
 
 "Worth, Cerro Gordo, Hancock, Winnebago, Bancroft, 
 Kossuth, Emmett, Palo Alto, Pocahontas, Humboldt, 
 Wright, Franklin, and Calhoun are almost entirely vacant. 
 
 Emmett, Bancroft, Winnebago, Hancock, Kossuth, Palo* 1 
 Alto, Pocahontas, and Calhoun are not in the market, but 
 probably will be next fall. 
 
 Webster County is nine-tenths vacant. Greene, Boone, 
 Story, and Guthrie, each three-fourths vacant. Polk has, 
 perhaps, 20,000 acres of prairie vacant. Adair and Dallas 
 half vacant. Madison one-fourth, Warren one-eighth, and 
 Marion one-tenth vacant. 
 
 All the counties iu this District are well watered, and, 
 on the streams, generally possess good timber. In such 
 counties as are in market, but little timber-land remains to 
 be entered, though it can be purchased from present holders 
 at from $2 50 to $20 per acre, according to quality and 
 location. 
 
 The receipts at the Fort Des Moines Land-Office, in 
 seven months previous to the 1st of March, 1855, were 
 $962,373 97. 
 
 In the Council Bluffs (Kanesvillej) District. 
 
 This District contains about 9,584,640 acres. The 
 counties composing the District average about 368,640 
 acres each. 
 
 More than three-fourths of this immense body of land 
 remains vacant, and subject to entry at $1 25 per acre. 
 
 About one-half of the land in Fremont, Mills, and Pot- 
 
204 
 
 UNENTERED LANDS. 
 
 tawattamie Counties is purchased ; less than one-fourth in 
 Harrison, Adams, and Taylor Counties; less than one- 
 eighth in Page, Cass, Monona, Shelby, and Woodbury 
 Counties ; less than one-twentieth in Audubon, Carroll, 
 Crawford, Sac, and Ida Counties. The rest of the counties 
 in the District are entirely vacant. 
 
 This Land-Office was opened for pre-emption entries on 
 the 12th of March, 1853, and the first public land sale was 
 made on the 6th of June following. Since the opening 
 of the office, 488,841 acres have been sold, amounting to 
 $611,051 26. 
 
 In the Fair field District. 
 
 
 Vacant Lands. 
 
 Vacant Lands. 
 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Appanoose Co. 
 
 contains, 14,680 
 
 Washington 
 
 Co. contains, 1,440 
 
 Monroe " 
 
 16,140 
 
 Lee 
 
 200 
 
 Muhaska " 
 
 2,734 
 
 Henry 
 
 332 
 
 Davis " 
 
 14,320 
 
 Louisa 
 
 440 
 
 Wapello 
 
 2,120 
 
 Des Moines 
 
 ii ii 440 
 
 T7* 11 4 i 
 
 n r qqo 
 
 
 
 Van Buren " 
 
 O, Od& 
 
 3,080 
 
 Total, 
 
 61,708 
 
 Jefferson " 
 
 " 450 
 
 
 In the Charifon District, 
 
 The amount of unentered land in the several counties, as 
 near as can be estimated, is as follows : 
 
 
 Vacant Lands. 
 
 Vacant Lands. 
 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Acres. 
 
 Appanoose 
 
 Co. contains, 20,000 
 
 Ringgold Co. 
 
 contains, 300,000 
 
 Monroe 
 
 46,000 
 
 Clark " 
 
 50,000 
 
 Marion 
 
 12,000 
 
 Madison * 
 
 80,000 
 
 Wayne 
 
 136,000 
 
 Union " 
 
 230,000 
 
 Lucas 
 
 70,000 
 
 Adair " 
 
 80,000 
 
 Warren 
 
 70,000 
 
 
 
 
 Decatur 
 
 110,000 
 
 Total, 
 
 1,204,000 
 
UNENTERED LANDS. 205 
 
 The Iowa City Land District 
 
 Consists of the Counties of Clinton, Scott, Muscatine, 
 Johnson, Cedar, Iowa, and Powasheik ; the four southern 
 townships of Jones; eight southern townships of Linn; eight 
 of Benton, and eight of Taina Counties ; four in the north 
 east corner of Mahaska, six in the north of Keokuk, six in the 
 north of Washington, and one township of Louisa County. 
 
 Nearly all the lands in this District are now entered, and 
 I suppose not over 200,000 acres are vacant; much of it 
 lying in small, scattered tracts, so that it would hardly be 
 worth while to enter into statistics. Most of the vacant lands, 
 however, are in Tama County. An enumeration would be 
 fully as much trouble as if there were more, and the busi 
 ness of the office has so diminished, that the undertaking 
 would not be necessary at all to the usefulness of our work. 
 
 [NOTE. The foregoing lists of unentered lands were 
 procured in March. Since then heavy entries have been 
 made, especially in the Fort Des Moines and Kanesville 
 (Council Bluffs) Districts. 
 
 On the 1st of September, 1855, the land-office at Fort 
 Dodge will be opened, and some thirteen counties of land 
 brought into market. The author made a tour through 
 this district in June, inst., and can assure those wishing 
 desirable locations, that the north-western portion of the 
 State is rich in eligible mill-sites, heavy timbered lands, 
 running streams of pure and lasting water, the best of 
 prairie soil, and extensive beds of iron ore, coal, gypsum, 
 red and yellow ochre, &c.] 
 18 
 
206 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IOWA. 
 (Adopted in Convention, May 18, 1846.) 
 
 Preamble and Boundaries. WE, the People of the Terri 
 tory of Iowa, grateful to the Supreme Being for the bless 
 ings hitherto enjoyed, and feeling our dependence on Him 
 for a continuation of those blessings, do ordain and esta 
 blish a free and independent government, by the name 
 of the State of Iowa, the boundaries whereof shall be as 
 follows : 
 
 Beginning in the middle of the main channel of the Mis 
 sissippi River, at a point due east of the middle of the 
 mouth of the main channel of the Des Moines River, thence 
 up the middle of the main channel of the said Des Moines 
 River, to a point on said river where the northern bound 
 ary line of the State of Missouri, as established by the Con 
 stitution of that State, adopted June 12th, 1820, crosses 
 the said middle of the main channel of the said Des Moines 
 River; thence westwardly, along the said northern bound 
 ary line of the State of Missouri, as established at the time 
 aforesaid, until an extension of said line intersect the mid 
 dle of the main channel of the Missouri River ; thence up 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 207 
 
 the middle of the main channel of the said Missouri River, 
 to a point opposite the middle of the main channel of the 
 Big Sioux River, according to Nicollett s map ; thence up 
 the main channel of the said Big Sioux River, according to 
 said map, until it is intersected by the parallel of forty-three 
 degrees and thirty minutes north latitude ; thence east, along 
 said parallel of forty-three degrees and thirty minutes, until 
 said parallel intersect the middle of the main channel of 
 the Mississippi River; thence down the middle of the main 
 channel of said Mississippi River, to the place of beginning. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Bill of Rights. 1 . All men are, by nature, free and in 
 dependent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which 
 are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquir 
 ing, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing and 
 obtaining safety and happiness. 
 
 2. All political power is inherent in the people. Go 
 vernment is instituted for the protection, security, and be 
 nefit of the people ; and they have the right at all times to 
 alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may 
 require it. 
 
 3. The General Assembly shall make no law respecting 
 an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise 
 thereof, nor shall any person be compelled to attend any 
 place of worship, pay tithes, taxes, or other rates, for build 
 ing or repairing places of worship, or for the maintenance 
 of any minister or ministry. 
 
 4. No religious test shall be required as a qualification 
 for any office or public trust, and no person shall be de- 
 
208 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 prived of any of his rights, privileges or capacities, or dis 
 qualified from the performance of any of his public or pri 
 vate duties, or rendered incompetent to give evidence in 
 any court of law or equity, in consequence of his opinions 
 on the subject of religion. 
 
 5. Any citizen of this State, who may hereafter be en 
 gaged, either directly or indirectly, in a duel, either as prin 
 cipal or accessory before the fact, shall forever be disquali 
 fied from holding any office under the Constitution and laws 
 of this State. 
 
 6. All laws of a general nature shall have a uniform 
 operation. 
 
 7. Every person may speak, write, and publish his sen 
 timents on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of 
 that right. No law shall be passed to restrain or abridge 
 the liberty of speech or of the press. In all prosecutions 
 or indictments for libel, the truth may be given in evidence 
 to the jury, and if it appear to the jury that the matter 
 charged as libellous was true, and was published with good 
 motives, and for justifiable ends, the party shall be acquitted. 
 
 8. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, 
 houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable seizures 
 and searches, shall not be violated; and no warrant shall 
 issue, but on probable cause, supported by oath or affirma 
 tion, particularly describing the place to be searched, and 
 the papers and things to be seized. 
 
 9. The right of trial by jury shall remain inviolate ; but 
 the General Assembly may authorize trial by a jury of a 
 less number than twelve men in inferior courts. 
 
CONSTITUTION OP IOWA. 209 
 
 10. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have a 
 right to a speedy trial, by an impartial jury; to be informed 
 of the accusation against him ; to be confronted with the 
 witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for his 
 own witnesses, and to have the assistance of counsel. 
 
 11. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal of 
 fence, unless on presentment or indictment by a grand jury, 
 except in cases cognizable by justices of the peace, or arising 
 in the army and navy, or in the militia when in actual ser 
 vice, in time of war, or public danger. 
 
 12. No person shall, after acquittal, be tried for the same 
 offence. All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable, 
 by sufficient sureties, except for capital offences, where the 
 proof is evident, or the presumption great. 
 
 13. The writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, 
 unless, in case of rebellion or invasion, the public safety re 
 quires it. 
 
 14. The military shall be subordinate to the civil power. 
 No standing army shall be kept up by the State in time of 
 peace, and in time of war no appropriation for a standing 
 army shall be for a longer time than two years. 
 
 15. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in 
 any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time 
 of war, except in the manner prescribed by law. 
 
 16. Treason against the State shall consist only in levy 
 ing war against it, adhering to its enemies, or giving them 
 aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason 
 unless on evidence of two witnesses to the same overt act, 
 or confession in open court. 
 
 18* 
 
210 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 17. Excessive bail shall not be required. Excessive 
 fines shall not be imposed ; and cruel and unusual punish 
 ments shall not be inflicted. 
 
 18. Private property shall not be taken for public use 
 without just compensation. 
 
 19. No person shall be imprisoned for debt in any civil 
 action on rnesne, or final process, unless in cases of fraud ; 
 and no person shall be imprisoned for a militia fine in time 
 of peace. 
 
 20. The people have the right freely to assemble together 
 to consult for the common good, to make known their opi 
 nions to their representatives, and to petition for redress of 
 grievances. 
 
 21. No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law im 
 pairing the obligation of contracts, shall ever be passed. 
 
 22. Foreigners who are, or who may hereafter become 
 residents of this State, shall enjoy the same rights, in res 
 pect to the possession, enjoyment, and descent of property, 
 as native born citizens. 
 
 23. Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, unless for 
 the punishment of crimes, shall ever be tolerated in this 
 State. 
 
 24. This enumeration of rights shall not be construed to 
 impair or deny others, retained by the people. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 Ricjlit of Suffrage. 1. Every white male citizen of the 
 United States, of the age of twenty-one years, who shall 
 have been a resident of the State six months next preceding 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 211 
 
 the election, and the county in which he claims his vote 
 twenty days, shall be entitled to vote at all elections which 
 are now, or hereafter may be authorized by law. 
 
 2. Electors shall, in all cases, except treason, felony, or 
 breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest on the days 
 of election, during their attendance at such election, going 
 to, and returning therefrom. 
 
 3. No elector shall be obliged to perform militia duty on 
 the day of election, except in time of war, or public danger. 
 
 4. No person in the military, naval, or marine service of 
 the United States, shall be considered a resident of this 
 State by being stationed in any garrison, barrack, or mili 
 tary or naval place or station within this State. 
 
 5. No idiot or insane person, or persons convicted of any 
 infamous crime, shall be entitled to the privileges of an 
 elector. 
 
 6. All elections by the people, shall be by ballot. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 Of the Distribution of Power. 1. The powers of the 
 government of Iowa shall be divided into three separate de 
 partments ; the legislative, the executive, and judicial ; and 
 no person charged with the exercise of powers properly be 
 longing to one of these departments, shall exercise any func 
 tion appertaining to either of the others, except in cases 
 hereinafter expressly directed or permitted. 
 
 Legislative Department. 1. The Legislative authority 
 of this State shall be vested in a Senate and House of Re 
 presentatives, which shall be designated the General Assem- 
 
212 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 bly of the State of Iowa, and the style of their laws shall 
 commence in the following manner : " Be it enacted by 
 the General Assembly of the State of Iowa." 
 
 2. The sessions of the General Assembly shall be bien 
 nial, and shall commence on the first Monday of December 
 next ensuing the election of its members; unless the Go 
 vernor of the State shall, in the -interim, convene the Ge 
 neral Assembly by proclamation. 
 
 3. The members of the House of Representatives shall 
 be chosen every second year, by the qualified electors of 
 their respective districts, on the first Monday in August, 
 whose term of office shall continue two years from the day 
 of the general election. 
 
 4. No person shall be a member of the House of Repre 
 sentatives who shall not have attained the age of twenty-one 
 years ; be a free white male citizen of the United States, 
 and have been an inhabitant of this State or Territory one 
 year next preceding his election ; and at the time of his 
 election, have an actual residence of thirty days in the 
 county or district he may be chosen to represent. 
 
 5. Senators shall be chosen for the term of four years, 
 at the same time and place as Representatives ; they shall 
 be twenty-five years of age, and possess the qualifications of 
 
 ^Representatives as to residence and citizenship. 
 
 6. The number of Senators shall not be less than one- 
 third, nor more than one-half of the Representative body; 
 and at the first session of the General Assembly after this 
 Constitution takes effect, the Senators shall be divided by 
 lot, as equally as may be, into two classes ; the seats of the 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 213 
 
 Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration 
 of the second year, so that one half shall be chosen every 
 two years. 
 
 7. When the number of Senators is increased, they shall 
 be annexed by lot to one of the two classes, so as to keep 
 them as nearly equal in number as practicable. 
 
 8. Each House shall choose its own officers, and judge of 
 the qualification, election, and return of its own members. 
 A contested election shall be determined in such manner as 
 shall be directed by law. 
 
 9. A majority of each House shall constitute a quorum 
 to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from 
 day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent mem 
 bers, in such manner and under such penalties as each House 
 may provide. 
 
 10. Each House shall sit upon its own adjournments, keep 
 a journal of its proceedings, and publish the same; deter 
 mine its rules of proceedings, punish members for disorderly 
 behaviour, and, with the consent of two-thirds, expel a mem 
 ber, but not a second time for the same offence ; and shall 
 have all other powers necessary for a branch of the General 
 Assembly of a free and independent State. 
 
 11. Every member of the General Assembly shall have 
 the liberty to dissent from, or protest against, any act or 
 resolution which he may think injurious to the public, or 
 an individual, and have the reasons for his dissent entered 
 on the journals; and the yeas and nays of the members of 
 either fiouse, on any question, shall, at the desire of any two 
 members present, be entered on the journals. 
 
214 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 12. Senators and Representatives, in all cases except 
 treason, felony, or breach of the peace, shall be privileged 
 from arrest during the session of the General Assembly, 
 and in going to, and returning from the same. 
 
 13. When vacancies occur in either House, the Governor, 
 jr the person exercising the functions of Governor, shall 
 issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. 
 
 14. The doors of each House shall be open, except on 
 such occasion as, in the opinion of the House, may require 
 secrecy. 
 
 15. Neither House shall, without the consent of the other, 
 adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place 
 than that in which they may be sitting. 
 
 16. Bills may originate in either House, except bills for 
 revenue, which shall always originate in the House of 
 Representatives, and may be amended, altered, or rejected 
 by the other ; and every bill, having passed both Houses, 
 shall be signed by the Speaker and President of their 
 respective Houses. 
 
 17. Every bill which shall have passed the General 
 Assembly shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the 
 Governor. If he approve, he shall sign it ; but if not, he 
 shall return it, with his objections, to the House in which it 
 originated, which shall enter the same upon the journal, and 
 proceed to reconsider it : if, after such reconsideration, it 
 again pass both Houses, by yeas and nays, by a majority of 
 two-thirds of the members of each House present, it shall 
 become a law, notwithstanding the Governor s objections. 
 If any bill shall not be returned within three days after it 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 215 
 
 sball have been presented to him, Sundays excepted, the 
 same shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it ; 
 unless the General Assembly, by adjournment, prevent 
 such return. 
 
 18. An accurate statement of the receipts and expendi 
 tures of the public money shall be attached to, and pub 
 lished with the laws, at every regular session of the General 
 Assembly. 
 
 19. The House of Kepresentatives shall have the sole 
 power of impeachment, and all impeachments shall be tried 
 by the Senate. When sitting for that purpose, the Senators 
 shall be upon oath or affirmation, and no person shall be 
 convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the 
 members present. 
 
 20. The Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor, Trea 
 surer, and Judges of the Supreme and District Courts shall 
 be liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in office ] but 
 judgment in such cases shall extend only to removal from 
 office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, trust, 
 or profit under this State ; but the party convicted or acquit 
 ted, shall, nevertheless, be liable to indictment, trial, and 
 punishment, according to law. All other civil officers shall 
 be tried for misdemeanors in office in such manner as the 
 General Assembly may provide. 
 
 21. No Senator or Representative shall, during the time^ 
 for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any 
 civil office of profit under this State, which shall have been 
 created, or the emoluments of which shall have been increased, 
 
216 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 during such term, except such offices as may be filled by 
 elections by the people. 
 
 22. No person holding any lucrative office under the 
 United States, or this State, or any other power, shall be 
 eligible to the General Assembly : Provided, That offices in 
 the militia, to which there is attached no annual salary, or 
 the office of justice of the peace, or postmasters whose com 
 pensation does not exceed one hundred dollars per annum, 
 shall not be deemed lucrative. 
 
 23. No person who may hereafter be a collector or holder 
 of public monies, shall have a seat in either house of the 
 General Assembly, or be eligible to any office of trust or 
 profit under this State, until he shall have accounted for, 
 and paid into the treasury, all sums for which he may be 
 liable. 
 
 24. No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in 
 consequence of appropriations made by law. 
 
 25. Each member of the General Assembly shall receive 
 a compensation, to be fixed by law, for his services, to be 
 paid out of the treasury of the State. Such compensation 
 shall not exceed two dollars per day, for the period of fifty 
 days from the commencement of the session, and shall not 
 exceed the sum of one dollar per day for the remainder of 
 the session. When convened in extra session by the 
 Governor, they shall receive such sum as shall be fixed for 
 the first fifty days of the ordinary session. They shall also 
 receive two dollars for every twenty miles they travel, in 
 going to, and returning from their place of meeting, on the 
 most usual route : Provided, however, That the members 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 217 
 
 of the first General Assembly under this Constitution shall 
 receive two dollars per day for their services during the 
 entire session. 
 
 26. Every law shall embrace but one object, which shall 
 be expressed in the title. 
 
 27. No law of the General Assembly, of a public nature, 
 shall take effect until the same shall be published and cir 
 culated in the several counties of this State, by authority. 
 If the General Assembly shall deem any law of immediate 
 importance, they may provide that the same shall take effect 
 by publication in newspapers in the State. 
 
 28. No divorce shall be granted by the General Assem 
 bly. 
 
 29. No lottery shall be authorized by this State, nor 
 shall the sale of lottery tickets be allowed. 
 
 30. Members of the General Assembly shall, before they 
 enter upon the duties of their respective offices, take and 
 subscribe the following oath or affirmation : "I do solemnly 
 swear, or affirm, (as the case may be,) that I will support 
 the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution 
 of the State of Iowa, and that I will faithfully discharge 
 the duties of Senator, (or Representative, as the case may 
 be,) according to the best of my ability." And members of 
 the General Assembly are hereby empowered to administer 
 to each other the said oath or affirmation. 
 
 31. Within one year after the ratification of this Consti 
 tution, and within every subsequent term of two years, for 
 the term of eight years, an enumeration of all the white 
 inhabitants of this State shall be made in such manner as 
 
 19 
 
218 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 shall be directed by law. The number of Senators and 
 Representatives shall, at the first regular session of the 
 General Assembly, after such enumeration, be fixed by law, 
 and apportioned among the several counties, according to 
 the number of white inhabitants in each, and shall also, at 
 every subsequent regular session, apportion the House of 
 Representatives, and every other regular session the Senate, 
 for eight years; and the House of Representatives shall 
 never be less than twenty-six, nor greater than thirty-nine, 
 until the number of white inhabitants shall be one hundred 
 and seventy-five thousand ; and after that event, at such 
 ratio that the whole number of Representatives shall never 
 be less than thirty-nine, nor exceeding seventy-two. 
 
 32. When a Congressional, Senatorial, or Representative 
 district shall be composed of two or more counties, it shall 
 not bo entirely separated by any county belonging to 
 another district; and no county shall be divided in forming 
 a Congressional, Senatorial, or Representative district. 
 
 33. In all elections by the General Assembly, the mem 
 bers thereof shall vote viva voce } - and the votes shall be en 
 tered on the journal. 
 
 34. For the first ten years after the organization of the 
 government, the annual salary of the Governor shall not 
 exceed one thousand dollars; Secretary of State, five hun 
 dred dollars; Treasurer, four hundred dollars; Auditor, 
 six hundred dollars ; Judges of the Supreme and District 
 Courts, each one thousand dollars. 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 219 
 
 ARTICLE. IV. 
 
 Executive Department. 1. The Supreme Executive 
 power of this State shall be vested in a Chief Magistrate, 
 who shall be styled the Governor of the State of Iowa. 
 
 2. The Governor shall be elected by the qualified eleo 
 tors, at the time and place of voting for members of the 
 General Assembly, and shall hold his office four years from 
 the time of his installation, and until his successor shall be 
 qualified. 
 
 3. No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor, 
 who has not been a citizen of the United States, and a resi 
 dent of the State next preceding the election, and attained 
 the age of thirty years at the time of said election. 
 
 4. The returns of every election for Governor shall be 
 sealed up and transmitted to the seat of Government, 
 directed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
 who shall, during the first week of the session, open and 
 publish them in presence of both Houses of the General 
 Assembly. The person having the highest number of 
 votes, shall be Governor ; but in case any two or more have 
 an equal and the highest number of votes, the General 
 Assembly shall, by joint ballot, choose one of said per 
 sons so having an equal and highest number of votes, for 
 Governor. 
 
 5. The Governor shall be Commander-in- Chief of the 
 militia, the army and navy of this State. 
 
 6. He shall transact all executive business, with the 
 officers of Government, civil and military, and may require 
 information in writing from the officers of the executive 
 
220 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 department upon any subject relating to the duties of their 
 respective offices. 
 
 7. He shall see that the laws are faithfully executed. 
 
 8. When any office shall from any cause become vacant, 
 and no mode is provided by the Constitution and laws for 
 filling such vacancy, the Governor shall have power to fill 
 such vacancy, by granting a commission, which shall expire 
 at the end of the next session of the General Assembly, or 
 at the next election by the people. 
 
 9. He may, on extraordinary occasions, convene the 
 General Assembly by proclamation, and shall state to both 
 Houses, when assembled, the purposes for which they shall 
 have been convened. 
 
 10. He shall communicate by message to the General 
 Assembly, at every session, the condition of the State, and 
 recommend such matters as he shall deem expedient. 
 
 11. In case of disagreement between the two Houses, 
 with respect to the time of adjournment, the Governor shall 
 have power to adjourn the General Assembly to such time 
 as he may think proper, provided it be not beyond the 
 time fixed for the meeting of the next General Assembly. 
 
 12. No person shall, while holding any other office 
 under the United States, or this State, execute the office of 
 Governor, except as hereinafter expressly provided. 
 
 13. The Governor shall have power to grant reprieves 
 and pardons, and commute punishments after conviction, 
 except in case of impeachment. 
 
 14. The Governor shall, at stated times, receive for his 
 services a compensation which shall neither be increased 
 
CONSTITUTION OP IOWA. 221 
 
 nor diminished during the time for which he shall have been 
 elected. 
 
 15. There shall be a seal of this State, which shall be 
 kept by the Governor, and used by him officially, and shall 
 be called the Great Seal of the State of Iowa. 
 
 16. All grants and commissions shall be in the name 
 and by the authority of the people of the State of Iowa, 
 sealed with the great seal of this State, signed by the Gover 
 nor, and countersigned by the Secretary of State. 
 
 17. A Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Accounts, 
 and Treasurer, shall be elected by the qualified electors, 
 who shall continue in office two years. The Secretary of 
 State shall keep a fair register of all the official acts of the 
 Governor, and shall, when required, lay the same, together 
 with all papers, minutes, and vouchers, relative thereto, 
 before either branch of the General Assembly, and shall 
 perform such other duties as shall be assigned him by law. 
 
 18. In case of impeachment of the Governor, his removal 
 from office, death, resignation, or absence from the State, 
 the powers and duties of the office shall devolve upon the 
 Secretary of State, until such disability shall cease, or the 
 vacancy be filled. 
 
 19. If, during the vacancy of the office of Governor, the 
 Secretary of State shall be impeached, displaced, resign, die, 
 or be absent from the State, the powers and duties of the office 
 of Governor shall devolve upon the President of the Senate ; 
 and should a vacancy occur by impeachment, death, resig 
 nation, or absence from the State, of the President of the 
 
 19* 
 
222 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall 
 act as Governor till the vacancy be filled. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 Judicial Department. 1. The Judicial power shall be 
 rested in the Supreme Court, District Courts, and such in- 
 -erior Courts, as the General Assembly may from time to 
 Jme establish. 
 
 2. The Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice, 
 and two Associates, two of whom shall be a quorum to hold 
 a Court. 
 
 3. The Judges of the Supreme Court shall be elected by 
 joint vote of both branches of the General Assembly, and 
 shall hold their Courts at such time and place as the Gene 
 ral Assembly may direct, and hold their offices for six 
 years, and until their successors are elected and qualified, 
 and shall be ineligible to any other office during the term 
 for which they may be elected. The Supreme Court shall 
 have appellate jurisdiction only in all cases in chancery, and 
 shall constitute a Court for the correction of errors at law, 
 under such restrictions as the General Assembly may by 
 law prescribe. The Supreme Court shall have power to 
 issue all writs and process necessary to do justice to parties^ 
 and exercise a supervisory control over all inferior judicial 
 tribunals, and the Judges of the Supreme Court shall be 
 conservators of the peace throughout the State. 
 
 4. The District Court shall consist of a Judge, who shall 
 be elected by the qualified voters of the district in which he 
 resides, at the township election, and hold his office for tho 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 223 
 
 term of five years, and until his successor is duly elected 
 and qualified, and shall be ineligible to any other office 
 during the term for which he may be elected. The Dis 
 trict Court shall be a court of law and equity, and have 
 "jurisdiction in all civil and criminal matters arising in their 
 respective districts, in such manner as shall be prescribed 
 by law. The Judges of the District Court shall be conser 
 vators of the peace in their respective districts. The first 
 session of the General Assembly shall divide the State into 
 four districts, which may be increased as the exigencies 
 require. 
 
 5. The qualified voters of each county shall, at the gene 
 ral election, elect one Prosecuting Attorney, and one Clerk 
 of the District Court, who shall be residents therein, and 
 who shall hold their several ofiices for the term of two 
 years, and until their successors are elected and qualified. 
 
 6. The style of all process shall be "The State of 
 Iowa," and all prosecutions shall be conducted in the name, 
 and by authority of the same. 
 
 ARTICLE VI, 
 
 Militia. 1. The militia of this State shall be composed 
 of all able-bodied white male citizens, between the ages of 
 eighteen and forty-five years, except such as are, or may 
 hereafter be exempt by the laws of the United States, or 
 of this State, and shall be armed, equipped, and trained as 
 the G-eneral Assembly may provide by law. 
 
 2. No person or persons, conscientiously scrupulous of 
 bearing arms ? shall be compelled to do militia duty, in time 
 
224 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 of peace ; provided, that such person or persons shall pay 
 an equivalent for such exemption in the same manner as 
 other citizens. 
 
 3. All commissioned officers of the militia, (staff officers 
 excepted,) shall be elected by the persons liable to perform 
 military duty, and shall be commissioned by the Governor. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 
 State Debts. 1. The General Assembly shall not, in any 
 manner create any debt or debts, liability or liabilities, 
 which shall, singly, or in the aggregate, with any previous 
 debts or liabilities, exceed the sum of one hundred thousand 
 dollars, except in case of war, to repel invasion, or suppress 
 insurrection, unless the same shall be authorized by some 
 law for some single object, or work, to be distinctly speci 
 fied therein, which law shall provide ways and means, ex 
 clusive of loans, for the payment of the interest of such 
 debt or liability, as it falls due, and also to pay and dis 
 charge the principal of such debt or liability within twenty 
 years from the time of contracting thereof, and shall be 
 irrepealable until the principal and the interest thereon 
 shall be paid and discharged; but no such law shall take 
 effect, until, at a general election, it shall have been sub 
 mitted to the people, and have received a majority of all the 
 votes cast for and against it, at such election, and all money 
 raised by authority of such law, shall be applied only to 
 the specific object therein stated, or to the payment of the 
 debt thereby created, and such law shall be published in at 
 least one newspaper in each judicial district, if one is pub- 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 225 
 
 lished therein, throughout the State, for three months 
 preceding the election, at which it is submitted to the 
 people. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 Incorporations. 1. No corporate body shall hereafter 
 be created, renewed, or extended, with the privilege of 
 making, issuing, or putting into circulation, any bill, check, 
 ticket, certificate, promissory note, or other paper, or the 
 paper of any bank, to circulate as money. The General 
 Assembly of this State shall prohibit, by law, any person 
 or persons, association, company, or corporation, from exer 
 cising the privileges of banking, or creating paper to circu 
 late as money. 
 
 2. Corporations shall not be created in this State by 
 special laws, except for political or municipal purposes: but 
 the General Assembly shall provide, by general laws, for 
 the organization of all other corporations, except corpora 
 tions with banking privileges, the creation of which is pro 
 hibited. The stockholders shall be subject to suph liabili- 
 ties and restrictions as shall be provided by law. The 
 State shall not, directly or indirectly, become a stockholder 
 in any corporation. 
 
 ARTICLE IX. 
 
 Education and School Land. 1. The General As 
 sembly shall provide for the election, by the people, of a 
 Superintendent of Public Instruction, who shall hold his 
 office for three years, and whose duties shall be prescribed 
 
226 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 by law, and who shall receive such compensation as the 
 General Assembly may direct. 
 
 2. The General Assembly shall encourage, by all suit 
 able means, the promotion of intellectual, scientific, moral, 
 and agricultural improvement. The proceeds of all lands 
 that have been, or hereafter may be granted by the United 
 States to this State, for the support of schools, which shall 
 hereafter be sold or disposed of, and the five hundred 
 thousand acres of land granted to the new States, under 
 an act of Congress, distributing the proceeds of the public 
 lands among the several States of the "Union, approved 
 A. D. 1841, and all estates of deceased persons, who may 
 have died without leaving a will or heir; and also such 
 per cent, as may be granted by Congress on the sale of 
 lands in this State, shall be, and remain a perpetual fund, 
 the interest of which, together with all the rents of the 
 unsold lands, and such other means as the General As 
 sembly may provide, shall be inviolably appropriated to 
 the support of common schools throughout the State. 
 
 3. The General Assembly shall provide for a system of 
 common schools, by which a school shall be kept up, and 
 supported, in each school district, at least three months in 
 every year ] and any school district neglecting to keep up, 
 and support such a school, may be deprived of its propor 
 tion of the interest of the public fund during such neglect. 
 
 4. The money which shall be paid by persons as an 
 equivalent for exemption from military duty, and the clear 
 proceeds of all fines collected in the several counties for 
 any breach of the penal laws, shall be exclusively applied, 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 227 
 
 in the several counties in which such money is paid, or 
 fine collected, among the several school districts of said 
 counties, in proportion to the number of inhabitants in 
 such districts, to the support of common schools, or the 
 establishment of libraries, as the General Assembly shall, 
 from time to time, provide by law. 
 
 5. The General Assembly shall take measures for the 
 protection, improvement, or other disposition of such lands 
 as have been, or may hereafter be reserved or granted by 
 the United States, or any person or persons, to the State 
 for the use of a University; and the funds accruing from 
 the rents or sale of such lands, or from any other source, 
 for the purpose aforesaid, shall be, and remain a perma 
 nent fund, the interest of which Jiall be applied to the 
 support of said University, with such branches as the pub 
 lic convenience may hereafter demand for the promotion of 
 literature, the arts and sciences, as may be authorized by 
 the terms of such grant. And it shall be the duty of the 
 General Assembly, as soon as may be, to provide effectual 
 means for the improvement and permanent security of the 
 funds of said University. 
 
 ARTICLE X. 
 
 Amendments of the Constitution. 1. If at any time 
 the General Assembly shall think it necessary to revise or 
 amend this Constitution, they shall provide by law for a 
 vote of the people for or against a Convention, at the next 
 ensuing election for members of the General Assembly : in 
 case a majority of the people vote in favor of a Convention, 
 
228 CONSTITUTION OP IOWA. 
 
 said General Assembly shall provide for an election of 
 Delegates to a Convention, to be held within six months 
 after the vote of the people in favor thereof. 
 
 ARTICLE XL 
 
 Miscellaneous. 1. The jurisdiction of Justices of thi} 
 Peace shall extend to all civil cases, (except cases in Chan 
 cery, and cases where the question of title to any real 
 estate may arise,) where the amount in controversy does 
 not exceed one hundred dollars, and by the consent of 
 parties may be extended to any amount not exceeding five 
 hundred dollars. 
 
 2. No new county shall be laid off hereafter, nor old 
 county reduced, to less contents than four hundred and 
 thirty-two square miles. 
 
 3. The General Assembly shall not locate any of the 
 public lands, which have been, or may be granted by Con 
 gress to this State ; and the location of which may be given 
 to the General Assembly, upon lands actually settled, 
 without the consent of the occupant. The extent of the 
 claim of such occupant, so exempted, shall not exceed 
 three hundred and twenty acres. 
 
 ARTICLE XII. 
 
 Schedule. 1. That no inconvenience may arise from 
 the change of a Territorial government to a permanent 
 State Government, it is declared that all writs, actions, 
 prosecutions, contracts, claims and rights, shall continue as 
 if no change had taken place in this government; and all 
 process which may, before the organization of the judicial 
 
CONSTITUTION OP IOWA. 229 
 
 department under this Constitution, be issued under the 
 authority of the Territory of Iowa, shall be as valid as if 
 issued in the name of the State. 
 
 2. All the laws now in force in this Territory, which are 
 not repugnant to this Constitution, shall remain in force 
 until they expire by their own limitations, or be altered or 
 repealed by the General Assembly of this State. 
 
 3. All fines, penalties, and forfeitures, accruing to the 
 Territory of Iowa, shall accrue to the use of the State. 
 
 4. All recognizances heretofore taken, or which may 
 hereafter be taken, before the organization of the judicial 
 department under this Constitution, shall remain valid, 
 and shall pass to, and may be prosecuted in the name of 
 the State. And all bonds executed to the Governor of 
 this Territory, or to any other officer in his official capacity, 
 shall pass over to the Governor of this State, or other pro 
 per State authority, and to their successors in office, for 
 the uses therein respectively expressed, and may be sued 
 for, and recovered accordingly. All criminal prosecutions 
 and penal actions, which have arisen, or may arise, before 
 the organization of the judicial department, under this Con 
 stitution, and which shall then be pending, may be prose 
 cuted to judgment and execution in the name of the State. 
 
 5. All officers, civil and military, now holding their offices 
 and appointments in this Territory, under the authority of 
 the United States, or under the authority of this Territory, 
 shall continue to hold and execute their respective offices 
 and appointments until superseded under this Constitution. 
 
 6. The first general election under this Constitution, 
 
 20 
 
230 CONSTITUTION OP IOWA. 
 
 shall be held at such time as the Governor of the Terri 
 tory, by proclamation, may appoint, within three months 
 after its adoption, for the election of a Governor, two 
 Representatives in the Congress of the United States, 
 (unless Congress shall provide for the election of one 
 Representative), members of the General Assembly, and 
 one Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State. Said 
 election shall be conducted in accordance with the existing 
 election laws of this Territory, and said Governor, Repre 
 sentatives in the Congress of the United States, Auditor, 
 Treasurer, and Secretary of State, duly elected at said 
 election, shall continue to discharge the duties of their 
 respective offices for the time prescribed by this Constitu 
 tion, and until their successors are elected and qualified. 
 The returns of said election shall be made in conformity to 
 the existing laws of this Territory. 
 
 7. Until the first enumeration of the inhabitants of this 
 State, as directed by this Constitution, the following shall 
 be the appointment of the General Assembly: 
 
 The County of Lee shall be entitled to two Senators, 
 and five Representatives ; the County of Van Buren, two 
 Senators, and four Representatives ; the Counties of Davis 
 and Appanoose, one Senator, and one Representative, 
 jointly; the Counties of Wapello and Monroe, one Sena 
 tor, jointly, and one Representative, each; the Counties of 
 Marion, Polk, Dallas, and Jasper, one Senator, and two Re 
 presentatives, jointly; the County of Des Moines, two Sena 
 tors, and four Representatives; the County of Jefferson, one 
 Senator, and three Representatives ; the County of Henry, 
 one Senator, and three Representatives ; the Counties of 
 
CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 231 
 
 Louisa and Washington, one Senator, jointly, and one 
 Representive, each ; the Counties of Keokuk and Mahaska, 
 one Senator, jointly, and one Representative, each ; the 
 Counties of Muscatine, Johnson, and Iowa, one Senator, 
 and one Representative, jointly; Muscatine, one Represen 
 tative, and Johnson and Iowa, one Representative, jointly; 
 the Counties of Scott and Clinton, one Senator, jointly, 
 and one Representative, each; the Counties of Cedar, 
 Linn, and Benton, one Senator, jointly; the County of 
 Cedar, one Representative, and the Counties of Linn and 
 Benton, one Representative, jointly; the Counties of Jack 
 son, and Jones, one Senator, and two Representatives ; the 
 Counties of Dubuque. Delaware, Clayton, Fayette, Bu 
 chanan, and Black Hawk, two Senators, and two Repre 
 sentatives, jointly; and any county attached to any county 
 for judicial purposes, shall, unless otherwise provided for, 
 be considered as forming part of such county for election 
 purposes. 
 
 8. The first meeting of the General Assembly, under 
 this Constitution, shall be at such time as the Governor of 
 the Territory may, by proclamation, appoint, within four 
 months after its ratification by the people, at Iowa City, in 
 Johnson County, which place shall be the seat of Govern- 
 ment of the State of Iowa, until removed by law. 
 
 Done in Convention, at Iowa City, this 18th day of 
 May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
 hundred and forty-six, and of the Independence of 
 the United States the seventieth. 
 
232 CONSTITUTION OF IOWA. 
 
 In Testimony Whereof, We have hereunto subscribed 
 our names : ENOS LOWE, President. 
 
 Attest, WM. THOMPSON, Sec. 
 
 Thomas Dibble, Erastus Hoskin, David Galland, Suli- 
 fand S. Koss, Shepherd Leffler, Curtis Bates, Wm. G. 
 Coop, John Ronalds, Samuel A. Bissell, Socrates IT. 
 Tryon, Wareham G. Clark, William Hubbel, John J. 
 Selman, George Berry, John Conrey, Josiah Kent, Joseph 
 H. Hedrick, Sylvester G. Matson, S. B. Shelledy, James 
 Grant, George Hobson, H. P. Haun, Stewart Goodrell, 
 Sanford Harned, David Olrnstead, G. W. Bowie, Alvin 
 Saunders, William Steele, T. McCraney, F. K. O Ferrall, 
 J. Scott Richman. 
 
 ORDINANCE. 
 
 Be it ordained by the Convention assembled to form a 
 Constitution for the State of Iowa, in behalf of the people 
 of said State, that the following propositions shall be made 
 to the Congress of the United States, which, if assented 
 to by that body, shall be obligatory on this State. 
 
 1. Section number sixteen in every surveyed township 
 of public lands, and where such section has been disposed 
 of, other lands, equivalent thereto, and as contiguous aa 
 may be, shall be granted to the State for the use of Com 
 mon Schools. 
 
 2. Seventy-two sections of land set apart and reserved 
 for the use and support of a University, by an act of Con 
 gress approved on the twentieth of July, one thousand 
 eight hundred and forty, entitled " An act granting two 
 
CONSTITUTION OP IOWA. 238 
 
 townships of land for the use of a University in the Ter 
 ritory of Iowa," shall be applied solely for the use and 
 support of such University, in such manner as the General 
 Assembly may direct. 
 
 3. That one quarter section of land in each township 
 be granted to the State for the purpose of purchasing a 
 Common School library for the use of such township. 
 
 4. That five per cent, of the nett proceeds of the sales 
 of all public lands lying within this State, which shall be 
 sold by Congress after the admission of the State into the 
 Union, shall be granted to the State, for the use of Com 
 mon Schools. 
 
 That, in consideration of the grants specified in the four 
 foregoing propositions, it is declared, that this State will 
 never interfere with the primary disposal of the soil within 
 the same, by the United States, nor with any regulations 
 Congress may find necessary, for securing the title in such 
 soil to the bona fide purchaser thereof; and that no tax 
 shall be imposed on lands, the property of the United 
 States, and that in no case shall non-resident proprietors 
 be taxed higher than resident. 
 20* 
 
234 STATE OFFICERS, ETC. 
 
 CHAPTEE XXY. 
 
 STATE OFFICERS AND CONGRESSMEN, FROM THE ADMIS 
 SION INTO THE UNION TO THE PRESENT TIME. 
 
 GOVERNOR. Term, 4 Years. 
 
 Beginnmg of Term. 
 
 1. Ansel Briggs November 30, 1840. 
 
 2. Stephen Henipstead December 2,1850. 
 
 3. James W. Grimes " 3,1854. 
 
 SECRETARY or STATE. Term, 2 Tears. 
 
 1. Elisha Cutler, Jr November 30, 1846. 
 
 2. Josiah H. Bonney December 2, 1848. 
 
 3. George W. McCleary (3 terms,) 2, 1850. 
 
 AUDITOR or STATE. Term, 2 Years. 
 
 1. Joseph T. Fales (2 terms,) November 30, 184G. 
 
 2. William Pattee (2 terms,) December 2, 1850. 
 
 3. A. J. Stevens " 3, 1854. 
 
 TREASURER OF STATE. Term, 2 Years. 
 
 1. Morgan Reno (2 terms,) November 30, 1840. 
 
 2. Israel Kister December 2, 1850. 
 
 3. M. L. Morris (2 terms,) " 2, 1852. 
 
 SUPERINTENDENT OP PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. Term, 3 Years. 
 
 Elected. 
 
 1. James Harlan, (election declared illegal,) April, 1847. 
 
 2. Thomas H. Benton, Jr., (2 terms,) " 1848. 
 
 3. James D. Eads " 1854. 
 
STATE OFFICERS, ETC. 285 
 
 BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS. Term, 2 Years. 
 
 Elected. 
 
 1. HughW. Sample, President, August 2, 1847. 
 
 1. Charles Corkery, Secretary, " " 
 
 1. Paul Bratton, Treasurer, " " 
 
 2. William Patterson, President, " 6, 1849. 
 
 2. Jesse Williams, Secretary, " " 
 
 3. George Gillaspy, Treasurer, " " 
 
 The second Board was legislated out of office on the 1st of 
 
 February, 1851. 
 
 COMMISSIONER AND KEGISTER OF THE DBS MOINES RIVER 
 IMPROVEMENT. Term, 2 Years. 
 
 1. V. P. Antwerp, Commissioner, ... appointed from Feb. 1, 1853. 
 
 2. Josiah H. Bonney, " elected, April 4, 1853. 
 
 1. George Gillaspy, Register, appointed, February 1, 1851. 
 
 2. Paul Jeffers, " " " 1852. 
 
 3. George Gillaspy, " elected, April 4, 1853. 
 
 ATTORNEY-GENERAL. Term, 2 Years. 
 
 1. D. C. Cloud August 1, 1853. 
 
 2. August 7, 1854. 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE, IN 1855. 
 JAMES W. GRIMES, of Burlington, Governor. 
 George W. McCleary, Iowa City, Secretary of State. 
 A. J. Stevens, Fort Des Moines, Auditor. 
 M. L. Morris, Iowa City, Treasurer. 
 
 James D. Fads, Iowa City, Superintendent of Public Instruction. 
 D. C. Cloud, Muscatine, Attorney-General. 
 
 Wm. McKay, Commissioner of the Des Moines River Improvement. 
 John C. Lockwood, Register of the Des Moines River Improvement. 
 Anson Hart, Register of the Land Office. 
 
 THE LEGISLATURE. 
 
 Maturin L. Fisher, President of the Senate. 
 Reuben Noble, Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
236 STATE OFFICERS, ETC. 
 
 CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. 
 
 George W. Jones, of Dubuque, Senator, Term expires, 1859. 
 
 James Harlan, of Mt. Pleasant, " " " 1861. 
 
 Augustus Hall, of Keosauqun, Representative. 
 James Thorington, of Davenport, " 
 
 THE JUDICIARY 
 Supreme Court. 
 
 George G. Wright, Keosauqua, Chief Justice. 
 W. G. Woodward, Muscatine, Associate Justice. 
 N. W. Isbell, Marion, " 
 
 George S. Hampton, Iowa City, Clerk. 
 
 District Court for Iowa. 
 J. J. Dyer, of Dubuque, Judge. 
 J. C. Knapp, of Keosauqua, District Attorney. 
 Laurel Summers, of Le Claire, Marshal. 
 Warner Lewis, of Dubuque, Surveyor- General. 
 
 Note. The election for Governor, State Officers, and Board of 
 Public Works is held on the first Monday in August. The term 
 of service of the Governor and State Officers commences on the- 
 first Monday in December following the election. 
 
 Times of Holding Elections. 
 
 1. General Election Is held 1st Monday in August, 
 every two years. Time of holding next General Election 
 will be August, 1856. Officers elected : A Governor, once 
 in four years; a State Senator, once in four years; a Secre 
 tary, Treasurer, and Auditor of State, Prosecuting Attorney, 
 Clerk of the District Court, Representatives to the General 
 Assembly, and Representatives to Congress, every two 
 years. 
 
STATE OFFICERS, ETC. 237 
 
 2. August Election Is held 1st Monday in August, 
 every two years, alternate with the years of the General 
 Election. Officers elected : County Judge, once in four 
 years ; Sheriff, Coroner, Recorder, and Surveyor, every two 
 years. 
 
 3. Ap*il Election Is held annually, 1st Monday in 
 April. Officers elected : Judge of District Court, once in 
 five years ; Superintendent of Public Instruction, once in 
 three years; School Fund Commissioner, once in two years; 
 three Township Trustees, a Clerk, two Constables, and an 
 Assessor, every year ; two Justices of the Peace (or as many 
 as the Trustees of each township may direct,) every two 
 years (one being elected each year). 
 
 4. Presidential Election Is holden 1st Tuesday after 
 the 1st Monday in November, 1856, and every four years 
 thereafter, for the election of Electors of President and Vice- 
 President of the United States, the number of whom is equal 
 to the number of Senators and Representatives in Congress 
 to which this State may be entitled. 
 
 5. City Elections Held at such times as fixed by the 
 charter, or as regulated by ordinance ; electing Mayor, Mar 
 shal, Clerk, Treasurer, and Aldermen. 
 
238 POLICY OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 POLICY OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Ex-GovERNOR HEMPSTEAD, in his Message to the Legis 
 lature last winter, remarked : 
 
 " In concluding this communication to the General As 
 sembly of Iowa, I may be permitted to refer to the policy 
 of government, under which we have increased in population 
 and wealth, unsurpassed in the history and settlement of 
 Western States; and, it must be conceded, that for the 
 high position which we now occupy, as a sovereign State 
 of the American Republic, we are principally indebted to 
 the Constitution and laws for that prosperity. 
 
 " Of the Constitution of this State, it may with justice 
 be said that it is republican in its character, and designed 
 to protect the people against abuses and evils which have 
 crept into the government of other and elder States. It 
 prohibits any association or corporation from exercising the 
 privilege of creating paper to circulate as money. It de 
 clares that corporations shall not be established by special 
 1 laws, except for political or municipal purposes ; and for all 
 others, that general laws shall be passed for their organiza 
 tion, reserving to every one the privilege of forming com 
 panies for the transaction of all lawful business, and limit 
 ing State indebtedness in such a manner as to prevent great 
 
POLICY OP GOVERNMENT. 239 
 
 loss or repudiation. These restrictions, it is believed, have 
 done much to build up this State, and to assure citizens that 
 they are not to be oppressed by monopolies, bankruptcy, or 
 extraordinary taxation/ 
 
 The stand Iowa has taken on the subject of Slavery, may 
 be inferred from the following extract from Gov. GRIMES S 
 Inaugural Address last session : 
 
 w The removal of that great landmark of freedom, the 
 Missouri Compromise line, when it had been sacredly ob 
 served until slavery had acquired every inch of soil south 
 of it, has presented the aggressive character of that system 
 broadly before the country. It has shown that all compro 
 mises with slavery, that were designed to favor freedom, are 
 mere ropes of sand, to be broken by the first wave of pas 
 sion or interest that may roll from the South. 
 
 " It has forced upon the country an issue between free 
 labor, political equality, and manhood on the one hand; 
 and, on the other, slave labor, political degradation, and 
 wrong. It becomes the people of the free States to meet 
 that issue resolutely, calmly, and with a sense of the mo 
 mentous consequences that will flow from its decision. To 
 every elector, in view of that issue, might appropriately be 
 applied the injunction anciently addressed to the Jewish 
 King : Be strong, and show thyself a man/ 
 
 " It becomes the State of Iowa, the only free child of 
 the Missouri Compromise, to let the world know that she 
 values the blessings that compromise has secured to her, 
 and that she will never consent to become a party to the 
 nationalization of slavery." 
 
240 
 
 POLICY OF GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The following returns (as far as heard from up to the 
 date we write,) will exhibit the present politics of Iowa : 
 
 April Election. 
 
 Counties. 
 
 K. N. 
 
 327 
 419 
 108 
 346 
 45 
 464 
 152 
 266 
 400 
 352 
 337 
 323 
 
 874 
 181 
 
 50 
 277 
 313 
 29 
 
 504 
 178 
 231 
 28 
 145 
 95 
 79 
 73 
 
 Anti- 
 K. N. 
 
 660 
 171 
 
 22 
 
 19 
 
 32 
 
 285 
 
 Prohibitory Law. 
 
 For. 
 
 Against. 
 
 
 644 
 498 
 392 
 630 
 206 
 363 
 
 399 
 448 
 
 788 
 
 250 
 339 
 230 
 
 66 
 175 
 
 130 
 
 285 
 37 
 
 57 
 112 
 
 9 
 
 88 
 100 
 
 300 
 724 
 
 225 
 315 
 
 210 
 136 . 
 
 35 
 
 8 
 
 143 
 446 
 
 
 Muscatine 
 
 
 
 Cedar 
 
 Jackson 
 
 
 Clayton* 
 
 
 Divis 
 
 Johnson 
 
 
 Henry 
 
 
 
 Jones* 
 
 
 
 Wapollo 
 
 
 Warren 
 
 
 
 Black Hawk 
 
 
 Powasheik 
 
 
 Tama 
 
 
 
 Marion 
 
 Majority so far for K. N. State 
 " " " Prohibitory. 
 
 6396 
 ricket 
 
 jaw 
 
 1189 
 
 6049 
 
 2739 
 5207. 
 3310. 
 
 
 
 * Those counties marked with an asterisk are reported, the 
 remainder are official. 
 
EDUCATION. 241 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 EDUCATION. 
 
 School System. A very liberal provision is made for 
 the permanent support of common and academic institutions 
 in this State. By an act of Congress, 500,000 acres of 
 land have been set apart for the promotion of the cause of 
 education. Some of these lands have been sold, and the 
 proceeds safely invested for the benefit of schools. Much, 
 however, remains still in the market, and will be disposed 
 of as the wants and interests of these nurseries of knowledge 
 demand. 
 
 There is to-day about one million of dollars in the hands 
 of the School Fund Commissioners, within the State, which 
 is loaned at ten per cent., yieldiDg an income of nearly one 
 hundred thousand dollars. This amount, distributed among 
 the schools of the Commonwealth, places them upon a foot 
 ing not surpassed by any new State in the north-west. 
 
 State University of Iowa. 
 
 This institution opened in some of its departments re 
 cently. It has been permanently located at Iowa City,t 
 the site of the Capitol, and is to have the use of the 
 public buildings, together with ten acres of land, on which 
 the same are situated. Two townships of land, granted by 
 act of Congress, July 20th, 1840, for the support of a uni- 
 21 
 
242 EDUCATION. 
 
 versity, have been donated by the State to this institution, 
 and constitute a permanent and munificent fund ; upon 
 whose interest to lean for support. 
 
 Branches of tlie State University. 
 
 The Medical Department of the State University, is the 
 College of Physicians and Surgeons, located at Keokuk, in 
 Lee County. The State Superintendent of Public Instruc 
 tion says : " The best interests of the State University de 
 mand that the law making the College of Physicians and 
 Surgeons the medical department of the State University of 
 Iowa, should be repealed, and that the entire University 
 Fund be concentrated upon one object, and the building up 
 of one institution, and not have it squandered by dividing 
 it on different schools in various parts of the State, as by 
 such means we will not be able to sustain a respectable in 
 stitution in the State. One institution of learning, well 
 sustained, is of more advantage to the people at large, than 
 twenty only in name, as many of our colleges are in this 
 State. One university, with an able corps of professors, 
 and properly managed, will be sufficient for the accommo 
 dation of all the students who will attend a State University, 
 and besides that, will be a credit to the State." 
 
 Branch at Fairjield. One branch of the State Univer 
 sity is established at Fairfield, Jefferson County, and is put 
 upon the same footing with respect to funds and other de 
 tails, as the present Seminary. 
 
 Branch at Dubuque. Another branch of the State Uni 
 versity is to be established at Dubuque. The trustees have 
 
EDUCATION. 243 
 
 been appointed, the site selected, and most of the measures 
 necessary to the enterprise taken. 
 
 Normal Schools. The State is divided into three dis 
 tricts, in each of which there was to be established a Nor 
 mal School, for the education of teachers for our common 
 schools. The law establishing these schools, located them 
 at Oskaloosa, Mount Pleasant, and Andrew. 
 
 District Schools. Of these, Jas. D. Eads, Esq., late 
 State Superintendent, says : " In many of the older coun 
 ties that I have travelled through, the citizens have gone to 
 work with a liberal and praiseworthy spirit, in erecting large 
 and commodious buildings for educational purposes. The 
 city of Keokuk takes the lead in having the finest building 
 in the State, in the erection of which the citizens have ex 
 pended nearly ten thousand dollars ; and with a liberal spi 
 rit, they pay the Superintendent of the school eight hun 
 dred dollars per annum. 
 
 "Fort Madison, Burlington, Muscatine, Davenport, Ly 
 ons, Anamosa, Colesburgh, Marion, Rochester, Tipton, 
 Denmark, Primrose, West Point, Centreville, Oskaloosa, 
 Cedar Falls, and many other towns, have erected buildings 
 which will stand as lasting monuments of the liberality of 
 those engaged in so glorious an enterprise, and an honour to 
 our young State. 
 
 " Iowa, young as she is, already commands a prominent 
 position, not only in reference to the magnitude of her 
 School Fund, but in the progress she has made in the orga 
 nization of her districts, and the general establishment of 
 free schools. 
 
244 EDUCATION. 
 
 "According to the returns of the County Commissioners, 
 there are twenty-three hundred and fifty-five organized 
 school districts in Iowa, and over one hundred and eleven 
 thousand children between the ages of five and twenty-one 
 years. When we consider, in connection with these facts, 
 that our population is increasing with a rapidity almost un 
 paralleled in the history of any country, and that in a very 
 few years we shall equal in numbers the most populous of 
 the Eastern States, it becomes apparent that we cannot be 
 too active and vigilant in all that pertains to the education 
 of the youth of our State, who are so soon to control the 
 destiny of a great Commonwealth. 
 
 ({ While we congratulate ourselves upon the possession 
 of so magnificent a school fund, as has been secured to us 
 by the action of the General Government, and our State 
 Legislature, we must not forget that much remains to be 
 done on the part of the people themselves, before we shall 
 fully enjoy the advantages of a universal system of free 
 schools, of a character commensurate with the object of their 
 organization, viz. : to give to every son and daughter of 
 Iowa a thorough knowledge of all the essential elements of 
 a good practical education. 
 
 "I have had the pleasure, during the past season, of 
 visiting a large number of union or graded schools, in the 
 larger towns of the State, and have been very highly grati 
 fied in witnessing the many advantages they possess, when 
 properly conducted, over those schools which maintain 
 separate organizations. 
 
 "As appears from the returns of the County Commis- 
 
EDUCATION. 245 
 
 sioners, the average sum paid to the district school teacher 
 is less than twenty dollars to the male, and less than ten 
 dollars per month to female teachers." 
 
 In all the thickly settled counties, common schools are 
 convenient, and should the tide of immigration continue to 
 flow as it has done, in five years not one county in ten will 
 be destitute of the facilities for a sound education. The 
 number and condition of public schools are given more par 
 ticularly in the sketches of the counties, in another portion 
 of this work. 
 
 Blind Asylum. An institution for the instruction of tho 
 blind was organized and put into operation in Iowa City, in 
 the spring of 1853. It has been impossible, thus far, to 
 procure suitable buildings for the accommodation of those 
 wishing to attend, and an appropriation of $6000 has been 
 made for the erection of appropriate buildings. The num 
 ber of pupils at present in attendance is twenty-three. 
 
 Deaf and Dumb Asylum. An institution for the in 
 struction of the deaf and dumb, has recently been opened 
 in Iowa City, which bids fair to do great service, even the 
 present year, in extending to this unfortunate class, the 
 light and knowledge which, but for education, they must be 
 deprived of. 
 
 Academies and Colleges. This State is well supplied 
 with acadamies and colleges, some of which will compare 
 favorably with those in the Atlantic States, while all reflect 
 credit upon the patriotism and enterprise of the Hawkeye 
 State. We give herein a sketch of the condition of those 
 21* 
 
246 EDUCATION. 
 
 of the principal schools of this class, concerning which we 
 have been able to gain satisfactory data : 
 
 The Burlington University. This is a literary institu 
 tion of the Baptist denomination, located at Burlington, in 
 i April, 1852. The college edifice was erected in 1853-4, 
 and dedicated on the 4th of July, 1854. This building is 44 
 by 65 feet, three stories high, and its style of architecture 
 and economic arrangement reflect great credit upon its found 
 ers and architects. The first annual catalogue of the in 
 stitution was issued on the first of January, 1855, which 
 reports 167 pupils, and a faculty of eight different teachers, 
 with Geo. W. Gunnison, A. M., as principal. The school 
 is now in a flourishing condition. The institution possesses 
 available property to the amount of $20,000, and is nearly 
 free from debt, besides $5000 secured and drawing interest, 
 as the commencement towards a fund for enlarging their 
 buildings. The plan of the institution provides for prepa 
 ratory and collegiate departments, with courses of study for 
 gentlemen and ladies. The gentlemen s course embraces 7 
 years 3 preparatory, and 4 collegiate; the ladies 5 years 
 1 primary, and 4 advanced. Those desiring further in 
 formation of the institution, may address the Principal, at 
 Burlington, or Rev. Jas. A. Nash, President of the Board 
 of Trustees, at Ft. Des Moines. 
 
 Davenport Female University. 
 
 Female Eclectic Institute. This institution, still in 
 the first year of its history, is the only female seminary 
 in the United States which, in the character and extent 
 

 
EDUCATION. 247 
 
 of its instruction, is founded upon the broad basis of a 
 university. 
 
 By the scheme of its organization, provision is made for 
 1st, Twelve professorships in the sciences and letters, viz : 
 one each in Mathematical Sciences, Experimental Sciences, 
 Natural Sciences, Ancient Languages, Modern Languages, 
 English Language and Literature, Historical and Political 
 Sciences, Logical and ^Esthetical Sciences, Moral and Men 
 tal Sciences, Yocal and Instrumental Music, Drawing and 
 Painting, Chirography and Book-Keeping. 
 
 2d. Two professorships upon the professions of the sex, 
 viz : one upon the Principles of Study in general and in 
 particular ; one upon the Principles of Teaching in general 
 and in particular. 
 
 3d. One professorship upon Conversation and the Pro 
 prieties. 
 
 4th. One professorship upon the Trades taught in the 
 University. 
 
 5th. One professorship upon Domestic Economy and 
 Domestic Duties. 
 
 By the scheme of its organization provision is also made 
 for granting eighteen species of diploma. 
 
 We cannot better exhibit the leading features of the Da 
 venport Female University, than by an extract from a letter 
 addressed by the talented and accomplished principal, Mrs. 
 Caroline P. Lindsley, A. M., to the editor of the " Rock 
 Islander." In her communication she states that the Uni 
 versity " is designed to supply not only the great wants in 
 the female educational systems of the times, but the wants 
 
248 EDUCATION. 
 
 of divers classes of our countrywomen, the wealthy as well 
 as the indigent, genius as well as mediocrity. To this end 
 it will furnish an extensive and thorough training : 
 
 " 1st. For those who aim chiefly at distinction in the 
 field of science and letters ; 
 
 <l 2d. For those who aim chiefly at distinction in the pro 
 fessions permitted to woman ; 
 
 "3d. For those who aim chiefly at distinction in the 
 trades taught in the institution ] 
 
 " 4th. For those who aim chiefly at superior knowledge 
 of the duties of domestic life ; 
 
 "5th. For those who aim at commendable eminence in 
 each of these general divisions of female effort and 
 enterprise." 
 
 Three departments of the University are already opened^ 
 and if demanded by the proficiency of applicants, eight will 
 admit pupils by the first Wednesday of September next, 
 the commencement of the collegiate year. 
 
 The character and extent of the instructions, unap- 
 proached as they are by any female institute in the country, 
 do not constitute, however, the only evidence of superiority. 
 The University, while it takes the title of a great school of 
 industry and learning, does not overlook the interests of 
 those who have claims upon its beneficence. Accordingly 
 it opens its halls, with scarcely the shadow of tribute, to 
 those who seek its groves, to lessen the expenses of instruc 
 tion by the pursuit of some trade, or to enjoy its advantages 
 at reduced consideration. Hence 
 
 1. Employment at the trades taught in the University is 
 
EDUCATION. 249 
 
 invariably given at living rates to young ladies who may 
 desire to support themselves, in part at least, while prose 
 cuting their studies. 
 
 2. The daughters of the clergy, without regard to faith, 
 are entitled to tuition at half the established prices, and, 
 upon the opening of the fall term, will receive their tui 
 tion free, in every branch except painting and instrumental 
 music, provided they board with the Principal. 
 
 Iowa Female Collegiate Institute, at Iowa City^ under the 
 auspices of the I. 0. of 0. F. 
 
 "Articles of incorporation were adopted and recorded on 
 the 29th of July, 1853, which place the institution under 
 the particular auspices of the Independent Order of Odd 
 Fellows of Iowa, and secures in the instruction and govern 
 ment of the school the same broad and liberal basis, and the 
 same freedom from every species of sectarianism, which dis 
 tinguishes that Order. 
 
 " It also offers to all Lodges and Encampments, contri 
 buting one hundred dollars to the funds of the institution, 
 a perpetual scholarship ; and to each individual contributor 
 of the same amount, a scholarship for twenty years, or 
 during his natural life. By this arrangement we hope to 
 be able, at some future day, to offer free instruction to all 
 poor orphan daughters of the Order in the State. This, 
 indeed, is a primary object had in view by the Board in the 
 establishment of their institution, and will not be lost sight 
 of in their future plans and labor for the permanent organi 
 zation of their school. 
 
250 EDUCATION. 
 
 "During the past year the attention of the Board has 
 been directed chiefly towards the collection of funds, and to 
 the preparations for the erection of a suitable College edi 
 fice for the use of the institution. 
 
 l( In this effort, very gratifying success has rewarded their 
 labor. Notwithstanding the protracted illness of their agent 
 has deprived the Board of his services for nearly one-half 
 of the past year, yet they are happy to report the collection 
 of about $8000 in cash, notes, valid subscriptions; and other 
 property, as the result of their efforts. 
 
 " The City Council at Iowa City, at their regular meeting 
 in September, 1853, donated to the Board an eligible site 
 for their College edifice; and the Grand Lodge of the 
 I. 0. of 0. F. of the State of Iowa laid the corner-stone of the 
 College, October 27th, 1853, with the usual ceremonies of 
 the Order." 
 
 The edifice will be completed and ready for occupation by 
 the first of July, 1855. 
 
 For further particulars, address F. H. Lee, Secretary, 
 Iowa City. 
 
 See particulars of " Iowa Conference Seminary," of Mt. 
 Vernon, and of the " Iowa Wesleyan University," " Mt. 
 Pleasant High School, and Female Academy," in the 
 sketches of Linn and Henry Counties. 
 
 Iowa College. 
 
 This College is located in the city of Davenport, and 
 occupies grounds of great natural beauty, overlooking a wide 
 
EDUCATION. 251 
 
 expanse of prairie on the north, and commanding on the 
 south a fine view of the Mississippi River, and the adjacent 
 cities. 
 
 It was founded in 1848, and is sharing in the general 
 prosperity attending every enterprise in this attractive 
 State. 
 
 The institution, under the care of well-qualified instruct 
 ors, is furnished with a chemical and philosophical appa 
 ratus, and has a library of some 2000 volumes. With the 
 new building soon to be erected, and a commodious boarding- 
 house already in use, the College will be prepared to offer 
 facilities for a thorough education, both in the preparatory 
 and college departments. 
 
 "Ladiei College." 
 
 The above is the name of an institution soon to be opened 
 in the city of Davenport, (we write under date of April 1st,) 
 under the direction of T. H. Codding, Esq., who is also its 
 proprietor. The building, when completed, at a cost of 
 $20,000, will present a front of 120 feet, and four stories 
 in height, with a depth of 80 feet. The main building will 
 be ready for the reception of scholars on the 1st of May. 
 Upon the selection of the site for the " Ladies College/ 
 too much praise can scarcely be bestowed. Standing upon 
 a lofty bluff, it commands a sweep of landscape scarce ex 
 celled throughout the region of the Upper Mississippi, 
 while the broad summit of the hill, whose centre it decks, 
 affords ample room for extensive promenades, and the gentle 
 
252 EDUCATION. 
 
 slopes which decline towards the lowlands, render it easy 
 of access to pedestrians and carriages. 
 
 The aim of the " Ladies College" is to prepare young 
 ladies for the active practical duties of life, which aim it is 
 proposed to effect by a judicious combination of mental 
 moral, and physical training. Its proprietor says : 
 
 " The course of instruction will be thorough and com 
 plete, and at the same time very discriminating and select, 
 avoiding everything of an entirely useless character, and 
 substituting those branches whose tendency is to give vigor 
 and elasticity to the youthful mind. 
 
 "The manner of teaching will be the most approved 
 and improved known in our country or in Europe, giving 
 the pupil the full understanding of her subject, while it is 
 presented by the teacher in a style entirely new and fasci 
 nating." 
 
 To insure to pupils a thorough English and classical edu 
 cation, and familiarity with the languages, a large corps of 
 experienced and accomplished teachers have been engaged 
 as assistants to Mr. T. H. Codding and Mrs. 0. Codding, 
 the Principals and Superintendents of the Institute. 
 
RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 253 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 
 
 Congregational Churches. The State of Iowa is divided 
 into five associations. The latest reports are from the pro 
 ceedings of the annual Association, in June, 1854, as 
 follows : 
 
 No. of Members, 
 
 Council Bluffs Association, 40 No. of Ministers in the State, 57 
 
 Davenport " 471 " Churches " " 72 
 
 Denmark " 759 Meeting Houses built 39 
 
 Des Moines River " 362 < " building 6 
 Dubuque " 604 
 
 Estimated addition in 9 2236 
 months 250 
 
 2486 
 
 Congregational churches are thus located : Council Bluffs 
 Association. Civil Bend, Council Bluffs, Tabor, (Florence, 
 N. T.). Davenport Association. Anamosa, Copper Creek, 
 Davenport, Deep Creek, De Witt, Le Claire, Lyons, Ma 
 rion, Muscatine, Sabula, Sterling, Sugar Creek, Summit, 
 Tipton, Toledo. Denmark Association. Brighton, Bur 
 lington, Clay, Columbus, Crawfordsville, Danville, Den 
 mark, Flint, Hillsboro , Long Creek, Mount Pleasant, 
 North Marion, Old Man s Creek, Salem, Trenton, Wapello, 
 Warren, Wayne. DCS Moines River Association. Ben- 
 22 
 
254 
 
 RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 
 
 tonsport, Chariton, Eddyville, Elk Creek, Fairfield, Farm- 
 ington, Keosauqua, Knoxsville, Marysville, Oskaloosa, Ot- 
 tumwa, Pleasantville, Red Rock. Dubuque Association. 
 Bellevue, Bowen s Prairie, Cascade, Centre, Colesburg, 
 Cottonville, Decorah, Dubuque, Durango, Farmersburgh, 
 French Settlement, Garnaville, Lansing, Manona, Maquo- 
 keta, Quasqueton, Sherold s Mound, Teroli, West Union, 
 Yankee Settlement. 
 
 Statistical Table of Baptists in Iowa. 
 
 Associations. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 Pastors. 
 
 1!! 
 
 S" 9 
 
 No. of 
 Members. 
 
 Date of Report. 
 
 Des Moines 
 
 21 
 
 11 
 
 247 
 
 1159 
 
 Aug. 25 1854. 
 
 
 24 
 
 17 
 
 73 
 
 1078 
 
 Sept 15 1854 
 
 Oskaloosa 
 
 16 
 
 5 
 
 32 
 
 502 
 
 Aug 3o l854 
 
 
 14 
 
 6 
 
 98 
 
 384 
 
 Sept. 29 1854 
 
 Fox River . 
 
 17 
 
 7 
 
 69 
 
 628 
 
 Sept 8 1854 
 
 Eden 
 
 10 
 
 8 
 
 
 300 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6 Associations 
 
 102 
 
 49 
 
 519 
 
 4051 
 
 
 Not included in above 
 
 3 
 
 11 
 
 
 49 
 
 A low estimate. 
 
 
 105 
 
 60 
 
 519 
 
 4100 
 
 
 Statistical History of tlic Iowa Baptist Convention. 
 
 Anniver y. 
 
 Where Held. 
 
 Moderator. 
 
 Clerk. 
 
 In. Preacher. 
 
 1st 1842. 
 2d 1843. 
 3d_i844. 
 4th 1845. 
 5th 1846. 
 6th 1847. 
 7th 1848. 
 8th 1849. 
 9th 1850. 
 10th ?; ses 
 1861 J2jes 
 llth 1R52. 
 12th 1853. 
 13th 1854. 
 
 Iowa City, 
 Davenport. 
 Mt. Pleasant, 
 Bloomington, 
 Iowa City, 
 Farmington, 
 Davenport, 
 Iowa City, 
 Mt. Pleasant, 
 Muscatine, 
 Bmlington, 
 
 Rev. B. Carpenter, 
 Rev. H. Johnson. 
 Rev. E. Fisher, 
 
 Rev. W. B. Morey, 
 J. T. Fales, 
 C. G. Blood, 
 
 Rev. H. Johnson. 
 A. Sherwood. 
 C. E. Brown. 
 
 Rev. B. F. Brabrook, 
 J. T. Fales, Esq., 
 Rev. D. P. Smith, 
 Rev. B. F. Brabrook, 
 Rev. D. P. Smith, 
 J. T. Fales, Esq. r 
 J. T. Fales, Esq., 
 
 J. T. Fales, 
 Rev. W. B. Morey. 
 Rev. T. H. Archibald, 
 Rev. T H. Archibald, 
 Rev. S. B. Johnson, 
 Rev. S. B. Johnson, 
 Rev. S. B. Johnson, 
 
 J. N. Seely. 
 H. Burnett. 
 D. P. Smith. 
 C. E. Brown. 
 T. H. Archibald. 
 G. J. Johnson. 
 W.A. Wells. 
 J. A. Nash. 
 G. J. Johnson. 
 W. Elliott. 
 
 Keokuk, 
 Davenport, 
 
 Rev. E. M. Miles, 
 Rev. H. Burnett, 
 
 Rev. Wm. Turton, 
 Rev. H. R. Wilbur, 
 
RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 255 
 
 Presbyterian Churches. The Synod of Iowa is divided 
 into three Presbyteries. According to the statistical re 
 ports for 1854, this Synod consists of the following : 
 
 No. Members. No. Churches. 
 
 1. Presbytery of Iowa 247 24 
 
 2. Presbytery of Cedar 799 47 
 
 3. Presbytery of Des Momes 787 100 
 
 In Synod of Iowa 1833 171 
 
 Location of Presbyterian Churches. 
 
 First Presbytery. Keokuk, West Point, Middletown, 
 Morning Sun, Mount Pleasant, Charleston, Burlington, 
 Lowell, Spring Creek, Fort Madison, and Kossuth. Se 
 cond Presbytery. Muscatine, West Liberty, Farmer s 
 Creek, Tipton, Scotch Grove, Cascade, Grandview, Marion, 
 Lime Grove, Dubuque, Davenport, Iowa City, Le Claire, 
 Solon, Blue Grass, Maquoketa, Postville, Franckville, 
 Colesburg, Lybrand, Pleasant Grove, Yinton, Indepen 
 dence, Hopkinton, Lisbon, Princeton. Third Presbytery. 
 Fairfield, Libertyville, Sigourney, Birmingham, Win 
 chester, Oskaloosa, Washington, Brighton, Albia, Craw- 
 fordsville, Troy, Keosauqua, Bentonsport, Kirkville, Indi- 
 anolo, Ottumwa, Knoxville, and Ft. Des Moines. 
 * Protestant Episcopal Church. The territorial limits of 
 the diocese embrace the entire State. The Right Bev. H. 
 W. Lee, D. D., is the bishop of the same. It was orga 
 nized into a diocese, August 18th, 1853, under the provi- 
 sionary charge of the Rt. Rev. J. Kemper, D. D. The 
 present bishop was elected June 1st, 1854. 
 
256 
 
 RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 
 
 There are organized parishes in the following places : 
 Dubuque, Bellevue, Davenport, Muscatine, Burlington, Ft. 
 Madison, Keokuk, Ft. Des Moines, Washington, Iowa City, 
 and Cedar Rapids. Churches are built in the following 
 places : Dubuque, Davenport, Muscatine, Burlington, and 
 Keokuk, and one is in progress at Cedar Rapids. 
 
 The number of clergy in the diocese is 11 ; number of 
 communicants, about 300. Immigration is adding to fami 
 lies and communicants every month. Number of Sunday 
 Schools not ascertained as yet. The second annual conven 
 tion meets at Burlington, on the 29th of May next. 
 
 Methodist Churches. 
 
 In the following table we give a full history of the con 
 dition of the Methodist Churches in Iowa, as rendered at 
 the Eleventh Annual Conference, held September 27th, 
 1854: 
 
 M. E. CHURCHES. 
 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 Churches. 
 
 rf 
 
 Preachers. 
 
 Members. 
 
 DISTRICTS 
 
 Churches. 
 
 Parsonag s. 
 
 1 
 
 Members. 
 
 Keokuk 
 Burlington.... 
 Dubuque 
 Upper Iowa ... 
 Mt. Vernon .... 
 
 22 
 23 
 8 
 15 
 4 
 
 7 
 10 
 5 
 4 
 4 
 
 49 
 35 
 21 
 21 
 
 30 
 
 4171 
 2830 
 1518 
 1332 
 1374 
 
 Iowa City 
 Ft. Des Moines 
 Council Bluffs 
 
 Total 
 
 14 
 
 7 
 3 
 
 80 
 
 6 
 9 
 
 
 41 
 
 33 
 41 
 13 
 
 222 
 
 1948 
 
 2882 
 408 
 
 15131 
 
 M. E. SABBATH SCHOOLS. 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 "8 % 
 
 
 
 
 Sfr 
 
 "S * 
 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 I 
 
 jjjj 
 
 II 
 
 o- 
 
 s 
 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 A 
 
 i 
 
 "o 
 
 11 
 o ^ 
 
 c "i 
 
 
 
 
 i 
 
 >ti 
 
 3* 
 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 >a 
 
 
 Keokuk 
 
 62 
 
 2650 
 
 6263 
 
 112 
 
 Ft. Des Moines 
 
 41 
 
 1656 
 
 4151 
 
 34 
 
 Burlington.... 
 
 39 
 
 2496 
 
 5615 
 
 94 
 
 Council Bluffs 
 
 11 
 
 417 
 
 850 
 
 3 
 
 Dubuque 
 
 2* 
 
 1363 
 
 4657 
 
 9 
 
 Scattering 
 
 4 
 
 430 
 
 100 
 
 6 
 
 Mt. Vernon,... 
 
 36 
 
 1146 
 
 4229 
 
 48 
 
 Total 
 
 271 
 
 13,254 
 
 35,173 
 
 398 
 
 Iowa City 
 
 39 
 
 1215 
 
 3715 
 
 35 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 257 
 
 Catholic Churches and Clergy. 
 
 The diocess of Dubuque, comprises the State of Iowa, and 
 is administered by the Rt. Rev. Mathias Loras, D. D. The 
 principal buildings at Dubuque embrace the " Cathedral of 
 St. Raphael," now nearly completed, the " Holy Trinity," 
 (German), and a new and spacious church in the upper part 
 of the city, "under the patronage of St. Patrick." Also 
 the "Mount St. Bernard Theological Seminary," situated 
 four miles from Dubuque, with ten seminaries and three 
 professors ; the " Cistercian Monastery of Our Blessed Lady 
 of La Trappe," New Melleray, near Dubuque ; " Brothers 
 of Christian Instruction," at New Paradise Grove, four 
 miles from Dubuque, and " St. Joseph s Female Academy," 
 situated eight miles from Dubuque. Beside the above, the 
 Catholics have the " Convent and Academy of the Visita 
 tion," at Keokuk, and churches and stations at the follow 
 ing named places : 
 
 Dubuque County, at Dubuque, Cascade, Green Oak, New 
 Vienna, St. Joseph s, Shellsmound, St. Nicholas, and T6te- 
 de-Mort ; 
 
 Jackson County, at Garry Owen, St. Lawrence, Cascade, 
 Belleview, and Sabula; 
 
 Jones County, at Castle Grove, and St. Thomas; 
 
 Delaware County, at Buffalo Grove ; 
 
 Clayton County, at Carnovillo, and Guttenberg ; 
 
 Clinton County, at Lyons, and Camanche ; 
 99* 
 
258 RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. 
 
 Scott County, at Davenport,* and Le Claire; 
 
 Muscatine County, at Muscatine; 
 
 Johnson County, at Iowa City, English River, and Old 
 Man s Creek; 
 
 Des Moines County, at Burlington, Dodgeville, and 
 Augusta ; 
 
 Lee County, at West Point, Fort Madison, Keokuk, and 
 Farmington ; 
 
 Winnesheik County, at Big Springs, and Old Mission ; at 
 Ottumwa, Wapello County ; Ft. Des Moines, Polk County ; 
 Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, and New Paradise 
 Grove, near Mount St. Bernard. 
 
 Recapitulation. Churches, 35; stations, 17; clergymen, 
 29 ; religious communities, 5 ; Catholic academies, 4 ; Ca 
 tholic population, 20,000. 
 
 * The Catholic is the largest church in Davenport, covering an 
 area 44 by 84 feet. The cost of the edifice was about $10,000. 
 Number of members, 3000, (many of them residing in the coun 
 try.) Connected with the church is a youths school, conducted 
 by Rev. J. A. M. Pelamourgues, and three assistant teachers. 
 The entire square upon which these buildings are located, was 
 donated to the church, by Antoine Le Claire. 
 
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 
 
 259 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX; 
 
 BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 
 
 Free and Accepted Masons. 
 
 Location. No. of Members. 
 
 Burlington 50 
 
 Muscatine 63 
 
 Dubuque 44 
 
 Iowa City 28 
 
 Wapello 23 
 
 Marion 49 
 
 Augusta 18 
 
 Mount Pleasant 35 
 
 Keosauqua 46 
 
 Tipton 26 
 
 Keokuk 29 
 
 Fort Madison , 18 
 
 Bloomfield 33 
 
 Fairfield 35 
 
 Ottumwa 25 
 
 Salem 49 
 
 Oskaloosa 47 
 
 Lyons 
 
 Burlington 23 
 
 Agency City 34 
 
 Ft. Des Moines 18 
 
 Grandview 17 
 
 Rochester 17 
 
 Cedar Rapids 28 
 
 Location. No. of Members. 
 
 Washington 30 
 
 Farmington, 16 
 
 New London 32 
 
 Keokuk 23 
 
 Muscatine 37 
 
 Iowa City 20 
 
 Sigourney 80 
 
 Winchester 21 
 
 De Witt 23 
 
 Kirkville 24 
 
 Maquoketa 16 
 
 Davenport 28 
 
 Richland 11 
 
 Sabula 20 
 
 Troy 16 
 
 Libertyville 23 
 
 Centreville 14 
 
 Wintersett 15 
 
 Le Claire 13 
 
 Crawfordville 13 
 
 Anamosa 11 
 
 Bentonsport 7 
 
 Cedar Falls 
 
 NOTE. This table is taken from the Report made to the Grand 
 Annual Communication, June 6th, 1854. Other lodges have been 
 
260 
 
 BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 
 
 organized since, and numerous members added to the Order, but 
 this is the latest reliable data accessible. In this list the lodges 
 are arranged according to their age and No., except that one (No. 
 9), "revoked," is omitted; so that Mount Pleasant is No. 8, Keo- 
 sauqua, 10, Tipton, 11, &c. The next session of the Grand Lodge 
 of Iowa, will be held in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, the first 
 Tuesday in June, 1856. 
 
 Independent Order of Odd Fellows. 
 
 There are of the I. 0. of 0. F. in this State, sixty-one 
 lodges, which are located in the following counties : 
 
 Appanoose, 
 
 Fayette, 
 
 Mahaska, 
 
 Buchanan, 
 
 Henry, 
 
 Madison, 
 
 Black Hawk, 
 
 Jackson, 
 
 Muscatine, 
 
 Bremer, 
 
 Jefferson, 
 
 Pottawattamie, 
 
 Clayton, 
 
 Johnson, 
 
 Polk, 
 
 Cedar, 
 
 Jones, 
 
 Scott, 
 
 Clinton, 
 
 Keokuk, 
 
 Van Buren, 
 
 Delaware, 
 
 Lee, 
 
 WappeUo, 
 
 Dubuque, 
 
 Louisa, 
 
 Washington, 
 
 Des Moines, 
 
 Lima, 
 
 Winnesheik, 
 
 Davis, 
 
 Marion, 
 
 Warren. 
 
 Sons of Temperance. 
 
 The number of divisions of Sons of Temperance in the 
 State, as near as we can ascertain, is not far from one hun 
 dred and fifty, most of which are located as follows : 
 
 Counties. Towns. 
 
 Appanoose Centreville. 
 
 Black Hawk, Waterloo. 
 
 Cedar, Rochester, Springdale. 
 
 Clinton, De Witt, Camanche. 
 
 Davis Bloomfield. 
 
 Delaware, Delhi, Hopkinton, Uniontown. 
 
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 261 
 
 Counties. Towns. 
 
 Des Moines, Burlington. 
 
 Dubuque, Dubuque, Hogansville. 
 
 Henry, Mount Pleasant, Salem. 
 
 I Andrew, Bellevue, S. Fork, Sa- 
 
 Jacksan > 1 bula, Lamotte. 
 
 Jasper Newton. 
 
 Jefferson, Fairfield, Glasgow. 
 
 Johnson, I owa City. 
 
 Keokuk, Sigourney. 
 
 Lee, Keokuk. 
 
 Louisa, Toolsboro . 
 
 Lucas, Chariton. 
 
 Mahaska, Hopewell, Oskaloosa, 
 
 Marion, Knoxville. 
 
 Monroe, Albia. 
 
 Mills, Silver Creek, Glenwood. 
 
 Polk, Ft. Des Moines. 
 
 c , $ Davenport, Le Claire, Blue 
 
 ) Grass. 
 
 Van Buren ... ... \ Keosauqua, Farmmgton, Pitts- 
 
 "( burg. 
 
 !0ttumwa, Dahlonega, Agency 
 City, Eddyville, Bentonsport, 
 Bonaparte, Birmingham. 
 
 Washington, Washington, Richmond. 
 
 Warren, Indianola. 
 
 James Thorington, of Davenport, is G. W. P. of Iowa. 
 
262 BANKING-HOUSF 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 BANKING-HOUSES. 
 
 IN Iowa, the issue of bank-notes is prohibited by law, 
 consequently we have no home currency, and depend en 
 tirely upon other States for a circulating medium. Al 
 though we occasionally receive the refuse of the East, yet 
 large quantities of notes of the safest banks are continually 
 sent west for circulation. Hence, every State, from Maine 
 to Georgia, and from the Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, 
 contributes to the assortment, while at the same time the 
 proportion of coin is greater here than at the East. This is 
 in a measure owing to the immigration from the Eastern 
 States and Europe. 
 
 There are banking houses at most of the important towns 
 in the State, where banking, exchange, and land agency 
 business is transacted, and to them we refer the reader, as 
 every way worthy of confidence and patronage. Of these, 
 we would mention 
 
 At Burlington. Green, Thomas & Co., successors to E. 
 W. Clark, Bros., & Co., bankers, dealers in exchange, and 
 land agents ; 
 
 At Cedar Rapids. Green & Weare, bankers, collector, 
 and general land agents; Ward & Bryan, bankers ani 
 land agents ; 
 
BANKING-HOUSES. 263 
 
 At Council Blu/s. Green, Weare Benton, bankers, 
 collectors, and general land agents ; 
 
 At Dubuque. M. Mobley, exchange and banking house ; 
 F. S. Jessup & Co., bankers, dealers in eastern and southern 
 exchange, land warrants, &c. ; W. J. Barney & Co., bank 
 ers, dealers in exchange, and general land agents ; 
 
 At Davenport. Cook & Sargent, bankers, dealers in 
 eastern and southern exchange, and general land agents; 
 McGregor, Lawes & Blakemore, bankers, exchange and real 
 estate brokers ; Maclot and Corbin, bankers and dealers in 
 exchange ; Yerby & Barrow, bankers and dealers in domes 
 tic and foreign exchange, and land agents ; 
 
 At Fort Des Moines. Cook, Sargent & Cook, bankers, 
 dealers in exchange, and land agents ; Green, Weare & Rice 
 bankers, collectors, and general land agents ; Maclot, Corbin 
 & White, bankers, exchange brokers, and land agents; 
 Hoyt Sherman, banker and dealer in exchange and land 
 warrants ; 
 
 At Fairfidd. Henn, Williams & Co., dealers in land 
 warrants and exchange ; 
 
 At Iowa City. Cook, Sargent & Downey, bankers and 
 general land agents ; 
 
 At Tipton. W. H. Tuthill, banker, and dealer in ex 
 change and land warrants. 
 
 At each of these banking-houses, interest is paid on spe 
 cial deposits ; bills of exchange on all the principal cities of 
 the United States and Europe are bought and sold; gold 
 and silver are bought and sold, loans effected, and all other 
 
264 
 
 BANKING-HOUSES. 
 
 banking business transacted, save the issue of bills. As 
 land agencies, they buy and sell warrants, select and entor 
 vacant lands, examine titles, &c. 
 
 One species of coin is not current in this State ; we al 
 lude to the cent and half-cent, while even the three-cent 
 piece is barely tolerated, and is seldom seen except in church- 
 plates, and at the post-office. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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