The farms belonging to Wapello and Keokuk were on what is known as Keokuk prairie, lying back from the right bank of the Des Moines river. Appanoose's farm included a part of the present site of the city of Ottumwa. The memory of these chiefs has been perpetuated by three counties and two cities, which bear their names, while a county in northern Iowa bears the name of the famous old war chief, Black Hawk. APPANOOSE OPEN FOR SETTLERS On October 11, 1842, another treaty was made with the Sac and Fox Indians, in which they conveyed all their remaining lands in Iowa to the United States. They were to vacate the eastern portion of the lands ceded to a line running west of the present counties of Appanoose and Lucas and north through Marion, Jasper, Marshall and Hardin counties, to the north limit of the grant, on May 1, 1843, and the remainder on October 11, 1845. When the time came for the departure of the Indians they were sad and sorrowful. They lingered around their old homes reluctant to leave them forever. The women were weeping as they gathered their children and household goods together for the long journey to a strange and distant country. The warriors could hardly suppress their emotion as they looked for the last time upon the beautiful rivers, groves and prairies that they had owned so long and were so reluctant to surrender. As the long line of the retreating red men silently and sorrowfully took its way westward, the booming of guns and the light of a hundred bonfires gave evidence of the advancing hosts of white settlers who hastened in to occupy a vacant place. In the progress of years these once powerful and warlike tribes became listless and enervated, losing the energetic characteristics which distinguished them in former times. The excitement of war and the chase having long ago died out in their changed environment, they became degenerate, intemperate and lazy. CHAPTER V FIRST GOVERNMENT OF APPANOOSE COUNTY-CHANGES MADE IN TITLES OF OFFICES -BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS-COUNTY JUDGE-BOARD OF SUPERVISORS-PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIRST BOARD BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS When the county was created the act of the legislature established a governing body for the new entity, designated the same as a board of commissioners and prescribed in general terms its duties. Therefore, the business affairs of the county were placed in the hands of three men, who, agreeable to instructions. under the creating act, held its first term of court at the time provided for so doing. COUNTY JUDGE In 1851 the office of county commissioners was abolished and to take its place that of county judge was created. The last meeting of the board of county commissioners was held July 28, 1851, and as its successor in the business affairs of the county, Reuben Riggs was elected county judge in August, 1851. His duties were numerous and jurisdiction almost without limit. The county judge not only became heir to the powers of the board of commissioners, but was also clothed with the authority of a court of probate and was empowered to sit as a committing magistrate. He was his own clerk. If of an arbitrary disposition, the county judge could make himself very obnoxious to his enemies and vice versa to his friends. Among his duties were the issuance of marriage licenses and solemnizing the rite of matrimony. He was his own clerk and in case of absence or death the duties of the office devolved upon the prosecuting attorney, and in case that officer was not available, the clerk of the district court. There is no adverse criticism to be offered anent those gentlemen who served as county judge in Appanoose, hence the allusion to temperament does not apply to Judge Riggs or his successors. In 1860 the office of county judge was abolished. In some respects it was found faulty, but on the whole the system worked well. In this county the government by the judges was economical, but in other sections of the state complaints were frequent of extravagance, autocracy in office and favoritism. On the first Monday in January, 1861, the township system of government was adopted, by which each township was represented on THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Elections for members of the board of supervisors were held annually and each township had a candidate. This system prevailed for ten years, when the plan of electing the supervisors at large was created in 1870 and went into operation in this county in 1871. That year three candidates for the office were elected by the county at large. From that time to the present (1912) the members of the board have been three in number, which seems to be a reversion to first principles in the make-up of the governing body of the county. The acts of the board of commissioners appear in the following paragraphs and are given verbatim as they were recorded by the clerk of the board. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Be it known on the first Monday, fifth day of October, A. D., 1846, Reuben Riggs, George W. Perkins and J. B. Packard County Commissioners elected of the general election held on the first Monday of August, A. D., 1846, in and for the County of Appanoose and Territory of Iowa Met at the Store of Spence Wadlington near the centre of the said County of Appanoose then and there convened and organized a board of County Commissioners for the said County. In pursuance of an act of the Legislature Assembly approved January 13, 1846 for the organization of said County of Appanoose. MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1846. The office of clerk of the board of county commissioners being vacant J. F. Stratton was appointed Clerk pro tem of said board. On motion the board adjourned until the 6th at 9 o'clock A. M. TUESDAY 6 O'CLOCK A. M. J. F. Stratton filed the necessary bond and oath and took his seat. Jonathan Scott assessor filed in his assessment roll received and examined. Be it ordered by said board that a percentage of 5 mills on the dollar on all Taxable property be levied for County purposes on said assessment as a County Tax. Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that a Poll tax be levied of Fifty cents per poll for county purposes. Be it ordered that Three mills per cent be levied on said assessment for the support of Common Schools. Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that all the portion of the assessment returns by the assessor as related to property and Polls that come into the county after the first day of March, 1846, be rejected and stricken out. Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that Dempsey Stanley, Sebastian Streeter and William Crow be appointed Viewers to View and cause to be Viewed and marked the route for a Road or Highway Commencing on the East line of the County of Appanoose at the greater section post on the East line of Section Thirteen in Township Sixty-nine North Range Sixteen West and to run from thence Westward on or near the quarter section line through Sections 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18. Continuing on or as near the said line as the formation of the line will admit to the Chariton Creek at a riff near the center section Sixteen (16) in Township Sixty-nine north of Range 17 West and from thence on the most eligible route to the northeast corner of section Twenty-four (24) in Township Sixty-nine North Range 18 West, thence West on the Section line dividing Sections 13 & 24 to the Northwest corner of said section 24, said Viewers to meet at the house of J. F. Stratton on the first Monday of November next and proceed to view and cause to be surveyed and returned to said board on the first day of January, A. D., 1847, term of said board, without expense to the county. COUNTY SITE OF THE COUNTY SEAT SELECTED Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that the seat of justice of the County of Appanoose this day located and designated by Andrew Leech and William S. Whitaker, Esq., Commissioners, appointed by the Legislature Assembly for the Territory of Iowa to locate such seat of justice, shall be known by the name of the town of Chaldea. THE COUNTY SEAT IS PLATTED WEDNESDAY 7, 9 O'CLOCK A. M. Be it ordered by the authority aforesaid that J. F. Stratton, County Surveyor, proceed to survey, lay out and plat the town of Chaldea as soon as practicable. and agreeable to a plan exhibited by J. F. Stratton and approved by said board of County Commissioners. Be it ordered that Andrew Leech be allowed the sum of twelve dollars for his services as Commissioner to locate the seat of justice of Appanoose county. Be it ordered that William S. Whitaker be allowed the sum of sixteen dollars as Commissioner to locate the seat of justice of Appanoose county. To be paid from the proceeds of town lots in the town of Chaldea. Be it ordered that J. F. Stratton clerk of the district court be allowed the sum of thirty-nine dollars and eight cents for services rendered under the act of the organization of Appanoose county as per account 5. Be it ordered that Jonathan Scott assessor be allowed the sum of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents for takeing the assessment of the county for the year A. D., 1846. Be it ordered that Jonathan Scott assessor's charge for takeing the census of the county be rejected and set aside. JUDGES OF THe august elecTION, 1846 Be it ordered that Clerk of the B. C. C. issue orders to the following named persons who served as judges of the August election: John W. Clancy. Henry Miller PRECINCT NO. I . $1.00 1.00 Walter G. Perry, services and mileage, carrying returns 8 miles. 1.40 PRECINCT NO. 2 Nathan Bartlett, services and mileage, carrying returns 32 Be it ordered that the Clerk of B. C. C. issue orders to the following named persons who served as clerks of the election of August, 1846: Jesse Wood, services and mileage to carry returns 34 miles.. 2.70 PRECINCT NO. 4 James J. Jackson John Overstreet, services and mileage to carry returns 18 miles ..$1.00 1.90 Attest: J. F. STRATTON, Clerk. REUBEN RIGGS, GEORGE W. PERKINS, J. B. PACKARD, County Commissioners. |