History of Washington County (1875) This chapter comes from "A. T. Andreas' Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa. 1875." Transcribed by Amalea Anderson. Copyright 1998, Amalea Anderson. ====================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for their private use as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ====================================================================== WASHINGTON COUNTY PIONEERS It is believed that the first white settler was Adam Ritchey. He came from Warren County, Illinois, in the Fall of 1835, accompanied by a friend, and explored the country from the Mississippi River to the western border of what is now Washington County. At that time the only white man in the county was an Indian trader known as "Joe Smart," who kept a trading house near the mouth of main Crooked Creek. After completing their explring trip, Ritchey and his companion returned to Illinois. In Fegruary, 1836, Mr. Ritchey again came to Iowa, accompanied by two brothers and two or three other men, all of whom staked and "blazed" out their claims. The others then returned home, but Mr. Ritchey remained six weeks, to make rails and put up a shanty to live in. He then followed, but returned in May, bringing with him his oldest son, and daughter, Sarah, a girl of thirteen years. The daughter kept house, while father and son broke thirty acres of prairie and planted it with corn; then all returned to Illinois to prepare for a final move to their new home. On the 9th of October, 1836, Mr. Ritchey and his family arrived on their claim for permanent settlement. This was in the south part of what is now Crawford Township, near the Henry County line. During this season, David Goble, Sr., and his family, including two sons, Harrison and David, Jr., settled north of Mr. Ritchey, on Long Creek, in what is now Oregon Township. Isaac Pence and family settled near Ritchey, and two young men from New Jersey, Milo Holcomb, and John B. Bullock, located on Crooked Creek, within the present township of Marion. In the Fall of 1836, Richard Moore and family, with three other families, located in what is now Washington Township, about three miles from the present county seat. On the way, one of their party, a Mrs. Mastelier, died at the claim of Isaac Pence. Richard Moore and John Maulsbey made a coffin of "puncheons," or split logs, the best they could do, as no lumber could be obtained. Here ends the catalog of white settlers in Washington County for the year 1836. In 1837 we find the names of William and Amos Moore added to the number near Crooked Creek; Lauman Harvey a little southwest of the site of Washington, and one or two families in the vicinity afterwards known as Brighton. In 1838 there was considerable increase of settlement, and about this time we find the names of Thomas Baker, Nelson Ball, Joseph Field, Dennis Marks, J. B. and G. W. Teas, Joseph Neil, John W. Neil, Joseph B. Davis, Thomas and Nathan Baker, Orson O. Kinsman, John B. Houston, Robert Risk, Almon Moore, Simon P. Teeple, John Crill, W. B. Thompson, Thomas Wilson, William Ayres, William Bassey, John Lyon, Matther Morehead, Jesse Hiatt, Thomas Ritchey, Abraham and John Hulock, William L. Harvey, Nathan Griffith, George Parks, John Stout, John Grimsley, Daniel Powers, William M. Fancher, among the residents of the county. ORGANIZATION The first legislative assembly which convened on Iowa soil met at Burlington, Nov. 10, 1837. Iowa was then known as Wisconsin Territory. This legislature passed an act for the organization of the County of Slaughter. The organization does not seem to have been perfected, however. There are no further records to tell of the existence of Slaughter County, save the minutes of one or two terms of court. On the 7th day of May, 1838, His Honor David Irvine, Judge of the Second Judicial District of Wisconsin, appeared on the scene, and proceeded to open court at a place said to be Astoria, under a large oak tree. Thomas Baker was appointed clerk. A United States Marshal was present, and summoned a grand jury, who deliberated in a neighboring slough. The officers and jury received an allowance of pay for one day's services, which was the only business transacted, and the court then adjourned until next term. The second term of court was held Oct. 22 of the same year, under proclamation of the Governor, by Judge Joseph Williams, and the record says: "No persons appearing, either as parties, attorneys, or jurors, the court was adjourned to the next term." There was neither sheriff nor clerk present, by virtue of election, and in the absence of any record of election, it is presumed that the county was still without officers. The inhabitants did not like the name of Slaughter, and twice petitioned the legislature for a change, and on the 25th day of January, 1839, the first legislature of Iowa Territory passed an act establishing the County of Washington, changing the name from Slaughter, appointing John Gilliland, of Louisa, Thomas Ritchey, of Henry, and William Chambers, of Muscatine County, Commissioners to locate the seat of justice, locating the seat of justice temporarily at Astoria, and attaching to Washington County all the territory west of it for judicial purposes. Under this act there were elected, in April, Joseph Neil and Joseph B. Davis, Commissioners; Thomas Baker, Clerk; Nathan Baker, Judge of Probate; John B. Houston, Treasurer; Almon Moore, Recorder; Milo Holcomb, Sheriff; John Crill, Coroner. The commissioners held their first meeting the 5th day of May, 1839, at the house of Richard Moore, a place now about four and a half miles southeast of Washington, and divided the county into six townships, or election precincts, as follows: East Fork, voting place, the house of John W. Neal; Crooked Creek, voting place, Milo Holcomb's house; Skunk River, elections to be held at the house of Orson O. Kinsman; Walnut Creek, voting place, the house of Robert Risk; Washington Township, voting place at Washington, the seat of justice; and English River, place of holding elections, the house of Simon P. Teeple. All of the territory more recently known as Highland Township, and the greater portion of Jackson, was left unorganized, as it was then the popular notion that these large prairies would never be inhabited. Could they behold this region to-day, converted into most productive farms and dotted with houses and barns, they would look upon the transformation as truly wonderful. The last ten years has wrought a great change in the mind of the western emigrant in relation to the practicability of utilizing the great prairies. COUNTY SEAT How or when Astoria got the designation of the county seat has never been recorded in history, nor is it written among the records of Washington County. It passed away with the territory of Wisconsin, and Slaughter County, which gave it birth. Its location even is uncertain, except that it was within the present limits of Oregon Township. According to tradition, it was laid out in 1838, and one building of logs was erected, sixteen feet square, and designed for a court house, but was never finished. Thomas Ritchie and John Gilliland, two of the commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice, selected the southwest quarter of section 17, township 75 north, of range 7 west, as the county seat. It was named Washington, and the board of commissioners at their second session, June 13th, 1839, formally adopted the name. This session was held at the house of Nathan Baker, and, like the previous one, was a special session, and its transactions completed the work of organization. PROGRESS AT THE COUNTY SEAT The quarter section chosen for the seat of justice was entered by the county and surveyed into lots during the month of June, 1839. Here the board of commissioners held its first regular session on the first day of July, 1839. At this session the clerk was ordered to advertise a sale of lots in the town of Washington, on Monday, August 19. The commissioners placed a valuation upon each lot to be considered the bid of the county. The terms of sale were one-eighth cash, the balance in equal payments - six, twelve, and eighteen months. Twenty-four lots were sold at an average price of $38.15. In April, 1840, the clerk was authorized to sell lots to any person who would erect thereon a good and substantial frame house not less than sixteen feet square. Another public sale was held on the 16th day of June, 1840, at which twenty-eight lots were sold, averaging $30.75 each. The highest price paid was $72. September 7, 1839, an order was made for erecting a temporary court house. The contract was awarded at a public letting to Joseph Neil for $759, and July 8, 1841, the building was accepted, the board deducting $100 from the contract price for improper workmanship. The building stood on the corner of the square. In 1842 a wooden jail was erected at a cost of $1020, and used until it became untenable. Feb. 18, 1845, a contract was made with Alex. Lee for the erection of a court house, which was completed on the 7th of July, 1847. INCIDENTS OF EARLY HISTORY It is related that when Adam Ritchey, the pioneer settler of the county, announced his intention of crossing the Mississippi and seeking a home in Iowa among the Indians, the pastor of the church of which he was a member attempted earnestly to dissuade him from the rash act. Failing in his purpose, he delivered himself about as follows: "You may go, but I warn you that no good will ever come of it, and you will receive punishment for it, for you are deliberately leaving your church and communion, going away among the heathen, and the Gospel will never cross the Mississippi!" Coming from any other place than Illinois an Iowan of the present day would scarcely believe such an opinion possible even at so remote a date as 1836. Milo Holcomb and John B. Bullock, immediately on their arrival, commenced erecting a saw mill, on Crooked Creek, which was completed in 1837. In 1839 it was furnished with burrs for grinding corn and buckwheat. This was certainly the first mill in the county. During the early settlement of the county the Sacs and Foxes were quite numerous and had a village of nearly six hundred souls near the site of Washington. This they abandoned in 1838, and located near Skunk River, at a place afterward named Sandy Hook. The latest account of them is near Wassonville, where they occupied territory until 1843. The only incident that threatened a collision between them and the white settlers occurred in 1842. The settlers became excited by a report that the Indians encamped near Wassonville held a white woman in captivity. A company of about thirty men, tolerably well armed, proceeded to the spot. They were unable to decide among themselves whether the woman was white or a dusky daughter of the forest; they agreed, therefore, to take her to one side, away from the influence of the Indians for her decision. Upon proceeding to carry out their purpose some of the Indians leveled their guns upon the intruders, who met the demonstration in the same manner. The woman was secured, but chose to return to the Indians, and the affair ended without bloodshed. In early days the settlers received all their mail via Wapello, Louisa County. A Mr. Higbee was the first mail-carrier, and usually performed his trips semi-monthly, on foot, sometimes carrying the mail in his hat, until the increase made it necessary to carry a mail-sack. Pottsville was the name given to the first postoffice established in the county. Its euphonious name was given in honor of Mr. John B. Potts, for his activity in securing its location. David Goble, Sr., was postmaster, and kept the office at his house. The first term of court held in the county after complete organization and under Iowa law, was June 17, 1839, by Judge Williams. A grand jury was empanneled, but found no indictments. The first case of record was an action for trespass. Three hundred dollars damages were claimed of Milo Holcomb by Joseph Field and Dennis Marks; but the case was settled at defendant's costs. J. B. and G. W. Teas and Isaac Van Allen are mentioned as attorneys present. The majority of justice was first represented in the county by Adam Ritchey, who held a commission from the Territorial Governor as Justice of the Peace. In the Summer of 1837 he performed the first marriage ceremony in the county for Harrison Goble and Lydia Osborn, who, with their friends, came to the "Squire's" on horseback. The first child born in the county of white parents was Elizabeth Ritchey, daughter of Adam Ritchey and wife, born June 12, 1837. The first store-room in the county was erected by Milo Holcomb, near Van Doren's mill. The first preaching was by Rev. Samuel Douthet, a missionary of the Associate Presbyterians, in February, 1837, at the house of Mr. Ritchey. Meetings were continued two weeks. In 1841 Mr. Pickerell established a ferry across the Shunk River in the vicinity of his mill, where the Brighton Mills now stand. Here were erected the first flouring mill and the first woolen mill in the county. PHYSICAL FEATURES Washington is the second county west of the Mississippi in the third tier from the south line of Iowa. Its area is about 573 square miles, or 366,720 acres. Its drainage is thorough and complete, diverging from the watershed, which traverses it in a southwesterly direction near its center, to the important rivers laving its northeast and southwest corners. The watershed has considerable elevation above the river beds, giving the uplands a rolling surface. A peculiarity in the drainage of the southwest part of the county is worthy of notice. One of the forks or confluents of Crooked Creek rises in the east part of Keokuk County and flows in a southeasterly course nearly parallel with the watershed, while the other rises in the northeast corner of Henry County and flows in a directly opposite course until they meet, the course of the stream is then very nearly west until it enters Skunk River near the southwest corner of the county. The principal bodies of timber are on Skunk and English Rivers, and Crooked Creek. Timber is sufficiently abundant for all practical uses, and consists of all the varieties common to that part of the state. A large proportion of the area of the county is prairie of great fertility, adapted to the production of all kinds of grain, vegetables, grasses, and fruits. Belts of rich alluvial bottom lands border all the principal streams. The uplands are undulating, with a dark, rich soil, capable of enduring the effects of protracted drought. The county is regarded as one of the best agricultural and stock-raising counties in the state. COAL As Washington County lies almost wholly within the subcarboniferous geological age, and extends only into the margin of the coal fields, the presence of coal in the county so far as is known, is limited to a local outlier near Brighton, and it is doubtful if any permanent, productive mines will be found in the county. WASHINGTON In December, 1839, Joseph Adams built the first house in this town. It was a double log house; one part 14x16, for a dwelling, and the other part, 16x16, for a blacksmith shop. Both apartments were occupied before the close of the month. The next building was also a double log house, one story and a half high, erected for a hotel by Daniel Powers, and occupied as such by him in March, 1840. During the month of May, following, John Daugherty started a store in a part of the hotel building. In the same year, came Almon Moore and family. He also engaged in mercantile business. Amos Emory came the same year, and went into the grocery and liquor trade. After this the growth of the town was gradual and slow for several years. The first physician in Washington, was Doctor George H. Stone. Wlliam Case was the first lawyer; John Jackson the first justice of the peace, and Thomas Baker the first post master. The first child born in the town was Margaret Adams, daughter of Joseph Adams and wife, born September 22, 1840. A young man by the name of Everetts, was the first person interred in the Washington graveyard, in the Winter of 1839-1840. The first religious services at or near the town, were conducted by Reverend J. L. Kirkpatrick, who organized a Methodist Society at the house of William L. Harvey, about one mile southwest of town, on the 20th day of October, 1839. At the date of organization it numbered about fifteen members. The first newspaper established was the Washington "Argus", Lewis F. Walden, proprietor, and J. F. Rice, editor. It was a respectable sheet in appearance, and edited with considerable ability. In politics it was Democratic. It was discontinued inside of two years. The next attempt to establish a newspaper, was in 1856, when the Washington "Press" was started by A. R. Wickersham as editor and proprietor. It was independent in politics, but of strong anti-slavery proclivities. It subsequently became a Republican paper, and has so continued. In June, 1855, Honorable N. Everson opened an exchange and deposit bank, and in 1857, Shaw, Rigour & Co., opened a similar institution, which firm was shortly succeeded by William H. Jenkins & Co. Both institutions gave place to, and were succeeded by, the Washington Branch of the State Bank of Iowa, which began business April 19, 1859, with a capital stock of $50,000. George A. Green was President, and H. M. Holden, Cashier. The Directors were - James Dawson, Joseph Keck, John W. Quinn, G. A. Green, and George C. Stone. Perhaps the most important event in the history of Washington, was the completion of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad to the place, on the last of August, 1858. The event was celebrated on the 1st of September, of that year, by the largest gathering of people that had ever assembled in the place. Over one thousand visitors from eastern towns met the citizens on the public square and partook of a free entertainment. Between seven and eight hundred persons arrived on the first passenger train, many of them being distinguished railroad men, editors and politicians. The completion of the railroad gave a new impetus to business, especially in the town, which improved rapidly in buildings, and business of all kinds. The United States Express Company established an office in the place, November, 1857, with A. D. Michael as Agent. Several attempts were made to incorporate the Town of Washington. In 1855, the attempt was carried as far as the election of officers, but being irregular was abandoned. In 1857, the Legislature passed an act incorporating the City of Washington, but this was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. In September, 1858, an attempt to incorporate was voted down. In 1863-4, another effort was more fortunate, and on the 29th of September, 1864, the first town council who took their seats were elected, to-wit: Mayor, Ralph Dewey; Recorder, L. F. Sherman; Trustees, A. W. Chilcote, V. W. Andrus, James Dawson, Joseph R. Lewis, and William Wilson, Jr. Washington has an excellent system of public schools, thoroughly graded, which employ ten teachers and a superintendent at good salaries, under an organization as an independent district. The town also has an academy with quite a large number of students. The "Washington County Press" owned and edited by H. A. Burrell, who purchased the office of Mr. Wickersham in 1866, is the oldest paper in the place. It is Republican in politics; published every Wednesday, and enjoys a prosperous business. The "Washington Gazette", edited by John Wiseman, is an independent journal published Fridays, and has a large circulation and good jobbing facilities. It was established in 1868. Washington is one of the finest inland cities in Iowa, and enjoys a large and prosperous trade and shipping business. BRIGHTON. - This is a thriving incorporated town in the southeastern part of the county, about eleven miles from Washington, and one mile south of Skunk River. It is on the Chicago & Southwestern Railroad, with good farming lands, timber and building stone convenient. The river here also furnishes good water - power for mills. The other villages and post offices are: Ainsworth, Clay, Crawfordsville, Dairy, Dutch Creek, Lexington, Middleburgh, Richmond, Riverside, Valley, Wassonville, West Chester, White Ash, and Yatton.