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From: "jack scott" <>
Subject: [IADECATU] Decatur County History
Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 16:57:15 -0500


to the list:

This is the article that didn't get on the list before the article on the towns of Decatur County - so when you read 'em, their natural order is "Decatur County History" and then "Towns of Decatur County." By the way, I have discovered several of my relatives in these articles. ... jack

ps: if anyone want these in Word format, it's fancier, and the index seeks the various titles automatically.


FROM THE 1875 ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF IOWA 1

DECATUR COUNTY HISTORY 1

TIMBER 1

STREAMS 1

STONE AND COAL 2

PRODUCTIONS 2

BEAUTY OF SCENERY 3

EARLY HISTORY 3

ORGANIZATION 4

FIRST COURTS 5

COUNTY SEAT 5

COURT HOUSE 6

REPRESENTATION 7

CHURCHES, ETC. 8

FROM THE 1875 ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF IOWA

DECATUR COUNTY HISTORY

Decatur County is one of the southern tier of counties, and contains about 540 square miles.

TIMBER

This is one of the best timbered counties in the state, there being a good supply in nearly every township. The prevailing varieties are white, red, black and burr oak, hickory, black walnut, hard maple or sugar, soft maple, cottonwood, linn, white and red elm, ash, sycamore, hackberry, birch, box elder, quaking asp, and buckeye. Considerable quantities of maple sugar are made in the groves of stately hard maple found in places along Grand River.

The wild fruits which grow abundantly are plums, grapes, crab apples, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The wild cherry, mulberry, and red an black haw are also found. Among shrubs are the sumach, black elder, and hazel in great profusion, and all indicative of a rich, deep soil. The prickly ash and swamp dogwood are also found in places.



STREAMS

Like all the other counties in southern Iowa, Decatur is favored with numerous water courses, passing through it at regular and convenient distances, to afford good mill sites and a supply of living water at all seasons. Grand River enters near the northwest corner and, bearing in a southeast direction, passes out near the middle of the south line, affording many good mill-sites, some of which have been improved. Elk Creek is one of its main tributaries, coming in form the northwest, and affords water enough for mills a greater portion of the year. Long Creek, rising in Clarke County, flows from the north, and empties into Grand river on the east side in Decatur Township, and is also a good mill stream the greater portion of the year. Little Grand River is the next principal stream to the east, and also flows entirely across the county, nearly from North to South, passing into the State of Missouri six miles west of the southeast corner of the county. It has several tributar!
ies affording constant stock water, and all skirted with fine bodies of timber. Weldon Fork of Grand River is second in size of the streams in the county. It rises in Clarke County, and enters Decatur about eight miles west of the northwest corner, and crossing the northeast corner of Franklin Township, flows down through the townships of Garden Grove, High Point, Woodland, and Morgan, entering the State of Missouri two miles west of the southeast corner of Decatur County. This is a good mill stream and several sites have been improved. Its principal tributary is Steel's Creek rising in Wayne County, and flowing into Weldon Fork on the east side in Morgan Township. All the above named streams, with numerous tributaries not mentioned, are abundantly supplied with timber, and should coal never be found in the county, there will never be a scarcity of fuel. Along most streams fine springs flow out from the banks and along the ravines. Wells are usually from fifteen to thirty fi!
ve feet deep, and in most localities good well water is easily obtained.



STONE AND COAL

On the west and south sides of the county good building stone is abundant. A little coal has been found in several localities, but no banks have as yet been opened. If workable veins exist, they are at considerable depth below the surface, and were it not for the abundant supply of wood for fuel, and the consequent ease of dispensing with coal, there would doubtless be more effort made to test the matter. The limestone which is used for building purposes, and which is found in great abundance along Grand River and its tributaries, belongs to the upper coal measures, which are not productive in coal. Where exposed, these strata lie at least on a level with Grand River. So that if coal is found, the most ready way to reach it is by sinking shafts in the deeper valleys, and thus avoid the expense of penetrating the upper strata.



PRODUCTIONS

This is one of the fine grain producing counties, and is especially adapted to winter wheat. Its success has been such as to induce farmers to raise it more extensively than they formerly did. The well timbered counties are best adapted to winter wheat, it being less exposed in winter. All other crops, such as spring wheat, oats, rye, corn, potatoes, and vegetables generally, do well. No county in the state has produced better crops of grass, and the framers have engaged largely in its production. There are many fine meadows in the timbered portions, while in the prairie townships the people depend much more upon the wild grass. In 1866 the tame grass harvested was 5.647 tons and the wild grass 6.558 tons, but at present hay from tame grass predominates.

Decatur County is well adapted for raising fruits, and there are many bearing orchards. Apples produced here are sold in this and adjoining counties. Grapes, cherries, and all the small fruits do well. Some peaches have been raised, but they cannot be considered a success, as they are liable to the same causes of failure as in other portions of the state. In 1866 there were 7,972 fruit trees in bearing, and 35,319 not in bearing. During the last few years the interest in fruit raising has greatly increased, and in a few years the county will produce fruits in ample abundance to supply the wants of her people, and to spare.

In this county the streams are larger and the valleys deeper than in either of the counties adjoining. The timber also extends more on the slopes and in higher places than in other counties in this part of the state, while the soil is generally deep and fertile, both in the timber and on the prairie. In the southern part of the county, and along Grand River, many large farms have been made in the timber - the logs being rolled together and burned, as in the early days of Ohio and Indiana. While many fine groves have been thus destroyed, thousands of acres of the richest prairie have remained uncultivated. A tree in Iowa should never be destroyed, only when it is needed for use, or when there is an imperative necessity to use for some other purpose the ground which it occupies.



BEAUTY OF SCENERY

In variety and beauty of natural scenery this county is unsurpassed. Many of the views along Grand River are indeed grand, as the name suggests. From the prairie highlands the wooded slopes and valleys, present to the eye the loveliest landscapes. Amid these scenes many happy homes are appearing, and around them will cluster the fondest affections of the future.



EARLY HISTORY

There were several settlers in the south part of Decatur County as early as 1840. Among them were William Hamilton, Reuben Hatfield, James Hatfield, Alfred Stanley, John McDaniel, John E Logan, and Allen Scott. Some of the above came as early as 1838, and then supposed they had settled in Missouri. Before the settlement of the boundary question, several slaves were held in the south part of the county. I find the following among the early records:

"I, John McDaniel, of the county of Decatur, and state of Iowa do hereby release, give up, and set at liberty a free man, George, a black, a colored man, who has resided in my family from boyhood. Said man is about 45 years old at this time, aabout 5 feet 11 inches high. Witness my hand and seal this 25th day of February, A.D. 1852. Signed John McDaniel"

George is still living in the south part of the county, or in the edge of Missouri, and McDaniel removed years ago to Oregon.



ORGANIZATION

The county was organized April 1, 1850. The first meeting of the board of county commissioners was held May 6, 1850. The commissioners were Josiah Morgan, William Hamilton, and Asa Burrel. Henry B. Noston was the first clerk of the board. The first order was one allowing Andrew Still $30 for services as organizing sheriff. They also at this meeting made an order that the district court, probate court, and commissioner's court be held at the house of Daniel Moad until "such time as the county seat shall be located."

At a meeting of the commissioners in July of th4e same year, they divided the county into four civil townships, to wit: Garden Grove, Morgan, Burrel, and Hamilton - the last three names being their own. Who will say they were unwise in thus providing for the perpetuation of their own names, fame and memory? In the several townships thus organized, they appointed the following judges and clerks of elections:

GARDEN GROVE - Judges, William Davis, Victor Doze, and Hiram Chase; Clerks, Joshua R. Monroe, and Enos Davis.

MORGAN - Juddges, Reuben Hatfield, William Oney, and Christopher Wainscott; Clerks, Thomas Kilgore and Samuel McDowell.

BURREL - Judges, Asa Howard, Hohn McDaniiel, and John Still; Clerks, James Woodmansee, and Andrew Still.

HAMILTON - Judges, William Eaton, Jefferson Dimick, and William Hamilton; Clerks, Wyllis Dickinson, and Gideon J. Walker.





FIRST COURTS

The first district court convened at the house of Daniel Moad, May 19, 1851. This was about six miles southeast of the place where Leon is now located. Hon. William McKay presided as judge, and Daniel Moad served as clerk. John J. Stanley was the sheriff. The following were the grand jurors:

Mordecai Smith, Anthony Vanderpool, Elijah B. Hole, Oliver Hoskins, Alfred Stanley, Hiram J. Stanley, John Price, William Oney, John Jordan, Charles Jordan, Simon H. Harmon, John Vanderpool, Stanley Hatfield, Isaac Craig, Andrew Hatfield, Andrew J. Randolph. Mordecai Smith was appointed foreman, and Thomas Kilgore, bailiff. William H. Bramfield was appointed prosecuting attorney for the term.

The first case was a suit for divorce, John Blades vs. Maria Blades. The case was continued until the next term, and the plaintiff finally succeeded. About the next case was also an application for divorce - one Ann Knapp vs. Zelatur W. Knapp. The prayer of Ann's petition was granted.

The first marriage license was issued May 18, 1850, to Henry Hall and Eliza Ann Ewing. On the same day a license was also issued to Thomas Ewing and Mary Ann Carson. No return of marriage certificate seems to have been made in either case. The first marriage certificate on record is that of John Zimmerman and Harriet L. Lamb, married by William Catchlow, a justice of the peace, September 22 , 1850.



COUNTY SEAT

On the 18th day of January, 1851, an act of the Legislature was approved appointing commissioners and providing for the location of the county seat. The commissioners who officiated were Henry Allen and F. N. Sales. On the 21st day of July 1851, they reported to the Board of County Commissioners that they had selected the east half of the southeast quarter, and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 27, township 69, range 26, "being high, gently rolling prairie, through which runs the main road from Fort Des Moines to Independence, Missouri, and in the immediate vicinity of good timber and stone, with good mill privileges." They also reported that they had named the town "Decatur." N. Westcoat was employed to survey the new town. A sale of lits was ordered to take place in Decatur August 25, 1851, notice being given to the Des Moines Republic in Ottumwa, and Sentinel at Fairfield.



COURT HOUSE

At a meeting on the 27th of October of the same year, the Board of Commissioners determined upon the erection of a new court house, to be 20x22 feet, and fourteen feet high, and to be built of hewed logs. This first "temple of justice" still stands in Decatur, and although it did not long serve the purpose for which it was erected, yet it has kindly sheltered many a weary traveler since "Uncle James Ownby" first catered to the public beneath its roof. The lot on which it stands is No. 5, in block 18, and belonged to Allen Scott who conveyed it to the county. The house was built by John J. Stanley, on contract, for the sum of $375.

At the August election of 1852, the following county officers were elected, viz: Samuel C. Thompson, County Judge; Wilson L. Warford, Clerk; Andrew J. Evans, Prosecuting Attorney; and Thomas Miller, Supervisor of Roads. Among the early orders of Judge Thompson, was one providing for a vote to be taken at the Presidential election of that year on the question of the removal of the county seat. The project of course met with earnest opposition from the citizens of Decatur and the west side of the county. It was urged that the point to which it was proposed to change the county seat was but little, if any, more central than Decatur, and the county had incurred expense in building a court house. To the people of Decatur County this proposition elicited more interest than the pending Presidential contest of that day. The vote, however, was taken, and resulted in favor of removal to "Independence," subsequently called "South Independence," situated on the southwest quarter of the !
southwest quarter of section 28, and northwest quarter of section 33, township 69, range 25. The county surveyor was employed to survey the new town. At the next April term of the County Court a sale of lots was directed to take place on the second Tuesday of May, 1853, notice to be given to the Des Moines Valley Whig, Fairfield Sentinel, Iowa City Reporter, and "The Pioneer" at Trenton, Missouri.

Forty acres of land on which the new town was located had been donated to the county as an inducement for the removal of the county seat, and the survey of the town was made in May, 1853. On the 12th of the same month a court house was ordered to be built, and Peter C. Stewart became the contractor, the price being $1,650. For some reason he failed to discharge the contract, and at the June term of 1854, another order was made for a court house to be built of brick, 24x40 feet and two stories high with three rooms below for offices and one above for a court room. A contract for the brick work and plastering was let to Arnold Childers for the sum of $900, and for the wood work to F. Parsons for the sum of $800. This is the building now occupied in the discharge of public business of the county.

The Legislature in the winter of 1854-5 changed the name of the county seat to Leon, in compliance with a petition of the citizens. The petition to the Legislature was drawn up by a committee of the citizens of South Independence, consisting of S. C. Thompson, J. P. Findley and G. L. Moore. Different names were suggested, and among others that of Leon was proposed by Mr. Moore, who had been to California and became familiar with it there. The committee manifested good taste, as well as sense in adopting a named both short and musical, if not original.



REPRESENTATION

Since its organization the following persons have represented Decatur County to the State Senate:

Amos Harris, in the 4th General Assembly, elected at the general election of 1852, for four years.

Nathan Udell, in the 5th General Assembly, elected at the general election of 1854, to fill vacancy.

John W. Warner, in the 6th General Assembly, elected at the general election of 1856, for four years. Also served in the 7th General Assembly.

William E. Taylor, in the 8th General Assembly, elected for four years.

E. F. Esteb, in the 9th General Assembly, elected to fill vacancy.

C. G. Bridges, in the 1110th General Assembly, elected in 1863, for four years. Served in the 11th General Assembly.

Isaac W. Keller, in the 12th General Assembly, elected at the general election of 1867 for four years.

In the House of Representatives, Decatur County has been represented by the following persons:

Abraham Putnam, S. P. Yeomans, Thomas N. Bowen, W. J. Laney, Racine D. Kellogg, John R. Andrews, Thomas H. Brown, H. W. Peck, Henry W. Peck (sic) Fred Teal and Stanfield P. McNeill. Mr. Kellogg was twice elected and served two terms.

Amos Harris was the member of the Tkird Constitutional Convention in 1857, form the district embracing Decatur County.



CHURCHES, ETC.

Nearly all the evangelical religious denominations are represented in the county. The religious organizations of Leon are Methodist Episcopal, Christian, Baptist and Presbyterian. The Methodists have a neat, new and commodious frame church, with bell and well finished. They have a good membership, and a large attending congregation.

The Christian denomination have a brick church, 40x60 feet in size, also provided with a good bell. Flourishing Sabbath schools are connected with the above churches.

In Decatur City, the M. E. Church have an organization with about forty members. The town is embraced in what is known as Decatur City Circuit. The circuit has ten preaching places and embraces about 250 members. The largest society on the circuit is at Prairieville, eleven miles north of Decatur City. At this point there is a good frame church. There is also a good frame church at Decatur City. On this circuit and connected with the church, are seven Sabbath schools, that at Decatur City having an attendance of about eighty pupils. The Union Sabbath school at Decatur City has about the same number.

The Methodist Church - formerly known as the Protestant Methodists - have two organizations, one at Decatur City and the other at Funk's Mills on Grand River, north west of Decatur City. These societies were organized by Rev. F. A. Kirkpatrick in 1867. Mr. Kirkpatrick has been very active in promoting the organization and prosperity of Union Sabbath schools.

The Decatur County Bible Society was organized in 1853. The society has generally flourished and accomplished a good work.




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