HISTORY: Davis Co., IA From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Pat April 2003 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net//copyright.htm ************************************************* ________________________________________________________ NOTE: For more information on Davis County, Iowa Please visit the Davis County, IAGenWeb page at http://iagenweb.org/davis/ ________________________________________________________ DAVIS COUNTY. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. Davis is the third county west of the Mississippi River, in the south tier. It embraces an area of 315,290 acres. It is watered by the Des Moines River, which passes through its northeast corner, and by several tributaries of that river, to-wit; Soap Lick, Salt and Chequest Creeks. Several other streams which flow into the Mississippi pass through the county, viz; Fox River, North and South Wyacondah, and Fabius. These streams afford a plentiful supply of stock water to nearly all parts of the county. Along them, and upon the highlands adjoining are extensive groves of the finest timber, so distributed over the county as to be convenient to all parts. The "divides" between the streams are generally smooth prairies, sufficiently rolling for drainage. PRODUCTS. The county is one of the finest for agricultural and grazing purposes in the state. The reports of its Agricultural Society show that at its second annual fair, a premium was awarded for the production of 138 bushels of corn from a single acre, and at the third annual fair, for 213 bushels from a single acre. The average yield of wheat per acre is from fifteen to twenty bushels, but as high as forty bushels have been raised. Farming is profitable here, as improved agricultural implements are extensively used, and great care taken in the management of the soil, and the succession of the crops. Grain in large quantities is taken to the stations most convenient on the Keokuk & Des Moines Railroad. Rye, barley and oats are sure crops. The yield of oats is often from fifty to eighty bushels per acre. Buckwheat succeeds well, and will yield from fifteen to forty bushels per acre. Sorghum has been extensively raised and manufactured. For grazing purposes this county is equal to any in the state. Hay, timothy and clover are the principal crops, but blue grass is a sure crop. The wild grasses on the prairies and along the water courses afford fine pasturage for stock running at large. The numerous splendid herds of cattle to be seen in all parts of the county attest the superior advantages of this county as a grazing country. The county is well adapted to fruit raising, and many orchards are in bearing. Pears, cherries and grapes do well, and also the various kinds of small fruits, such as currants, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries, etc. Among the wild fruits blackberries and plums are usually plenty. Around Bloomfield there are several vineyards which have proved successful. The Concord is the principal grape now cultivated, but the Clinton and some other varieties do well. Considerable attention is now given to the cultivation of osage orange hedges. With proper care and attention there is no difficulty in raising a good hedge in five years, and many farmers are availing themselves of its advantages. COAL, STONE, ETC. Davis County contains large quantities of excellent coal, the veins worked being about four feet in thickness. It will probably rank among the best coal counties in the state. It also contains some fine quarries, from which excellent building stone has been obtained. An excellent article of hydraulic cement has been manufactured from a bluish limestone found in this county. There is no difficulty in obtaining good well water in most parts of the county, by digging from twenty to thirty feet. EARLY HISTORY. The county was first settled by emigrants from Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana and Southern Illinois. Previous to the first of May, 1843, the territory embracing Davis County, was occupied by the Sac and Fox Indians. Up to this time, with a few exceptions, there were no white inhabitants. The exceptions were a few from Missouri and Kentucky along the southern border, on territory at that time claimed by the State of Missouri, and a few squatters on the extreme eastern portion of the county, on part of the first or "Black Hawk Purchase." As early as 1837, a number of persons had located along the southern border, and within the limits of the county. The same year James H. Jordan established a trading post near a village of the Sac and Fox Indians, on the Des Moines River, and in 1838, he permanently located in the county at the place subsequently known as Iowaville. Van Caldwell and a few others settled near the same place in 1839 and 1840. It was at this Indian village that the renowned chief, Black Hawk, spent the last days of his life. He died here on the 3d day of October, 1838, and was buried by his family and friends on what was known as the old council ground, at the upper end of a small prairie above Iowaville. The cabin in which he died and that of Mr. Jordan, stood only about ten rods apart. The remains of the chief were afterward stolen away by parties who took them to Alton. On complaint of his family they were subsequently recovered by Governor Lucas, and brought to Burlington, then the seat of territorial government. Black Hawk's sons consented that the remains might be left at the executive office in Burlington. The skeleton was finally placed in a museum there, and some years after, with many other valuable relics, was consumed by fire. The Indian Chief Keokuk also had his residence in Davis County, about one mile down the river from that of Black Hawk. In March, 1842, a post office was established in the county called Fox, which name it retained for a number of years, when it was changed to Stringtown. This post office was within the limits of the "Black Hawk purchase." Samuel A. Evans was the first post master. The first mail was carried by Colonel Stiles S. Carpenter, then of Van Buren County; but after making a few trips, Samuel Swearengen obtained a contract for carrying the mail weekly. The second post office established was at the house of Lloyd A. Nelson, and was established in 1844. It was then called Lewiston, and Mr. Nelson was post master. At that time Colonel Carpenter had a "claim" two miles southeast of Lewiston, which he called "Prairie Springs." The county seat was not yet located, and a rivalry sprang up between the two places for the location of the county seat. Prior to 1844, the county had no political organization of its own, but was attached to Van Buren County for civil purposes. On the 16th of February of this year, the Territorial Council enacted a law for a county organization from and after the 1st of March. The same act appointed Charles H. Price, of Van Buren County, Thomas Wright, of Henry County, and John Brown, of Lee County, Commissioners to locate the county seat. At the time of the organization of the county, Colonel Stiles S. Carpenter held the office of Clerk of the District Court by appointment from Hon. Charles Mason, one of the judges of the territorial court. Colonel Carpenter was a leading and influential man in the early days of the county. He held the office of district clerk until after the adoption of the state constitution, when he declined a re-nomination, and was elected prosecuting attorney. He removed to Texas in 1857, where he died soon afterwards. He was a native of Vermont. On the first Monday in April, 1844, the first county officers were elected, as follows; Samuel W. McAtee, Abram Weaver and William D. Evans, County Commissioners; Gabriel S. Lockman, Surveyor; Israel Kister, Recorder; Greenbury Willis, Assessor; Fortunatus C. Humble, Sheriff, Franklin Street, Commissioners' Clerk; Miles Tatlock, Judge of Probate; Calvin Taylor, treasurer; William McCormick, Coroner; and George Titus, Sealer of Weights and Measures. The County Commissioners at their first meeting determined the name of the county seat by lot. Mr. McAtee was in favor the name "Jefferson," Mr. Weaver preferred that of "Davis," and Mr. Evans suggested "Bloomfield." Each name was written on a slip of paper and placed in a hat. Mr. Street, the clerk, was directed to draw out one of the ballots, and the result decided the name of the county town to be Bloomfield. The first district court was organized at Bloomfield September 23, 1844, Hon. Chas. Mason being Judge; Hon. L. D. Stockton, District Attorney; John Leffier, Deputy United States Marshal; Colonel Stiles S. Carpenter, Clerk, and Samuel S. Riggs, Sheriff. Twenty-four men were summoned to sit as a pettit jury, but no grand jury was empanneled. Only one case was tried, and that an action of replevin. The first marriage took place March 27, 1847, the parties being Thomas King and Harriet Douning. The marriage rite was performed by L. N. English, a justice of the peace. The first law suit in the county was between Joseph Carter, as plaintiff, and Aaron Earnest, as defendant, for the price of a "claim." COUNTY OFFICERS FOR 1875. JOSEPH W. CLAYTON, Auditor. AMBROSE H. HILL, Clerk of Courts. HENRY NULTON, Treasurer. WILLIAM VOTAW, Recorder. JOHN McKIBBEN, Sheriff. ISRAEL F. JENKINS, Supt. Schools. JESSE P. FORTUNE, Chairman of Board of Supervisors. BLOOMFIELD. This thriving county town is located at the geographical center of the county, about nineteen miles due south of Ottumwa. It is in the midst of a fine agricultural district. It has excellent railroad advantages. On the 26th of June, 1846, the land was entered by James H. Cowles, on which the Town of Bloomfield was laid out, he conveying the land to the county commissioners in their official capacity for that purpose. The town was laid out the same Summer, and the post office removed from Lewiston. The first merchant was John Lucas. He came to the county in 1844, and purchased a claim adjoining the town plat. He erected his log cabin about a half a mile north of Bloomfield, and opened a stock of goods which he brought with him from Fountain County, Indiana, where he had previously been engaged in the mercantile business. In this cabin he remained with his family (some seven in number) and his stock of goods for several months, when he moved into town, having erected a frame building on the west side of the public square. During the same year Samuel Steele & Co., and Carpenter & Davis, commenced mercantile business in town. Steele & Co., built a long frame building on the north side of the square, and Carpenter put up a log cabin on the west side. The stores of Mr. Steele and Mr. Lucas were the only buildings in town except log cabins till 1849. In that year Captain Hosea B. Horn built the first frame dwelling house erected at the county seat. In this connection we allude to some of the later merchants and business men of the place. A writer of the history of Bloomfield in 1868 says; "As among the most substantial and enterprising business men of the place may be mentioned the following: In the line of dry goods and groceries. Calvin Taylor, Cook & Findley, and Duffield & Lovett. As druggists, S. H. and J. B. Glen, Findley and Duffield, and A. D. Gibbons, all stand deservedly high. J. W. Kittleman & Bro., and Kister & Cowan, are leading dealers in family groceries, H. Collins & Son in hardware, J. R. Shaeffer in jewelry, watches and clocks, and Burgess & Skidmore in boots and shoes, and Kittleman & Bro. also manufacture and deal in boots and shoes. General J. B. Weaver holds the office of assessor of internal revenue, and is one of the enterprising business men of the county. The bar of this county embraces some of the best legal talent of southern Iowa. S. T. Ballard, who has stood high here as a teacher, is now turning his attention to the law. Among the most popular physicians is Dr. D. C. Greenleaf, who, by the way, once represented the county in the Legislature. Shadle & Grider have accomplished much for the place by adding to its hotels the comfortable looking Iowa House, of which we hear good report. The First National Bank of Bloomfield is one of the sound institutions of its kind. Among the enterprising artisans we mention Messrs. Head & Sayre, house, sign and portrait painters. Howard Willey deals extensively in fruit trees, and nursery stock generally. An excellent steam flouring mill, with three run of stones, has just been erected about half a mile west of the town. Bloomfield is in the midst of one of the finest agricultural districts of Davis County, and possesses the elements to make it one of the most thriving inland towns in Iowa. It is now improving more rapidly than ever before. Seven large brick business houses are to be erected the present season, some of which are now under way. A large number of new dwelling houses are also going up, several of which are to be quite costly. In fact, Bloomfield exhibits all the evidences of a prosperous and growing town. F. C. Overton is the present mayor, with A. H. Hill as recorder. J. Boyer, Esq., is postmaster and express agent, The business houses and newspapers of that time were summed up as follows; The town has seven general stores, three drug stores, four family groceries, two hardware stores, two dealers in stoves and tinware, one in agricultural implements, two furniture stores, two merchant tailors, one gunsmith, one bakery, two wagon shops, three blacksmith shops, three boot and shoe establishments, one jeweler, three hotels, one artist, five milliners, three painters, eighteen carpenters, five plasterers, two livery stables, nine lawyers, four physicians, one dentist, four churches, two school houses, one printing office, and one national bank. The churches are Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, O. S. Presbyterian, and Christian. They are all frame buildings. The public school houses are two-story brick buildings. It is in contemplation to erect a commodious edifice, suitable for the purposes of a graded school. The Masons and Odd Fellows each have flourishing lodges; and also a Chapter of the former, and an Encampment of the latter. The printing office is owned by E. T. White, Esq., the editor and proprietor of the Davis County Republican, a live newspaper, and one that is doing a good work in representing the interests of the community in which it is published. It should be the pride, as it is surely the interest of the people of Davis County to give it a generous support. From the same office is also issued the Union Guard, with H. H. Jones, Esq., as editor and publisher. It is a neat little twenty column sheet. Since that date (1868) great improvements have been made, and the town wears an air of thrift and prosperity in its various departments of business. The population at the present time is 969. The situation is a dry and rolling prairie, with plenty of timber within convenient distance. The nearest coal bank in operation is about eight miles distant, and about the same distance good building stone is obtained. The principal business houses of the place are located fronting a public park, which is enclosed and planted with forest trees, mostly maple. The trees are thrifty, and form a most delightful grove. The county, although able to establish banks and build railroads, has never yet felt rich enough to provide a court house. Her courts have heretofore been held in the different churches about town. The Board of Supervisors in 1868 took steps toward leasing or buying an upper story on the north side of the park for county purposes. In this hall courts are still held. THE PRESS. The Davis County Republican has already been referred to. It was established in 1863, by A. M. Karns, and has passed through three changes of proprietorship, E. T. White, as above stated, being editor and proprietor in 1868. We have not been able to obtain the dates of all the changes, or when each person who has been connected with the Republican from first to last began and retired; but the present proprietors are J. A. T. Hull and A. M. Karns. The Republican is the oldest paper in Davis County and has the largest circulation. It is one of the official papers of the county. J. H. T. Hull, editor; A. M. Karns, publisher. The Bloomfield Democrat was established September 16, 1869, by T. O. Walker, its present editor and proprietor. It was enlarged to an eight column paper in 1870, and has a good patronage, being well conducted and one of the official organs of the county. It is the only Democratic paper published in Davis County. The Odd Fellows' Banner, was established by J. B. King, October 17, 1874. It is a weekly issue, neutral in politics, and, as its name indicates, devoted to the interests and literature of Odd Fellowship. It has a present circulation of 6,000, and is rapidly increasing. The publisher contemplates soon putting in a power press with steam fixtures. The Commonwealth, a Republican weekly was established in 1873, by Moore & Van Benthusen, and is at present conducted by the same firm. The Teacher at Work, is a monthly publication, edited by Rev. A. Axline, principal of the Normal and Scientific Institute. It is devoted to the normal department of common school education. NORMAL AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE. This institution, located at Bloomfield, is an individual enterprise, and is under the management of Rev. A. Axline, with a board of trustees. The following are the members of the board; M. H. Jones, S. W. McAtee, Judge Trimble, J. B. Weaver, and J. W. Ellis. PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The schools of Bloomfield are on the graded plan, and it has been the purpose of the Board of Education to make equal in every respect to the wants of the community, so far as a popular education is concerned, by supplying them with the best facilities for teaching and the best talent. To this end the district has made liberal appropriations. The new public school building soon to be completed, will hardly have a superior anywhere in the state in point of architectural beauty and perfection of arrangements, and it will be an ornament to the city as well as a monument of the zeal and liberality of its builders in the cause of popular education. CHURCHES. Bloomfield has seven churches, viz; two Christian, one Baptist, one Methodist Episcopal, one Congregational, one United Presbyterian, and one Universalist. These bodies have church edifices, and nearly all sustain regular preaching. DRAKEVILLE. – This is a thriving incorporated town on the Chicago & Southwestern Railroad, about six miles northwest of Bloomfield. It has three churches – Methodist Episcopal, Christian and Protestant Methodist. It has also a weekly paper, The Sun. independent in politics, J. B. Moore, editor. OTHER VILLAGES. There are also the following villages and post offices in the county; Albany, Ash Grove, Belknap, Bush, Floris, Monterey, Oak Springs, Pulaski, Savannah, Stiles, Troy and West Grove. NORMAL SCHOOL. The Troy Normal School is located in the village of Troy, Troy Township. It was established in 1856, and is a private institution. Its present condition is reported as prosperous. Prof. Hull, principal.