# History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/1/18

MAP OF IOWA As It Would Have Been Had the Constitution of 1844 Been Adopted with Boundaries Fixed by Congress
​THE boundary of Iowa as fixed by Congress would have taken eleven counties from southeastern Minnesota, extending the northern boundary of Iowa about forty-two miles farther north than now. But the western boundary was on the line of the west side of Kossuth County and thence south, dividing the counties of Calhoun, Greene, Guthrie and Adair, following the west line of Union and Ringgold to Missouri. This would have cut off from Iowa as now formed, thirty-one counties of the Missouri slope and the Des Moines valley. It would have brought the western boundary of the State within about forty miles of Des Moines. The State would have been about one hundred and eighty miles wide from east to west, and about two hundred and fifty miles long from north to south. This would have brought the geographical center near Cedar Falls and probably made that town or Waterloo the permanent Capital.
Hon. A. C. Dodge, the Iowa Delegate in Congress, opposed the change in boundaries with all the ability and influence he could command, but when it was finally approved by Congress and the President, he acquiesced, believing that no more acceptable boundaries could be obtained. He issued an address to his constituents advising them to accept the boundaries fixed by Congress and ratify the new Constitution. In that address he said:
Mr. Dodge was again nominated for Delegate in Congress by the Democratic Convention which met at Iowa City on the 11th of June, 1845. The Whigs nominated Ralph P. Lowe on the 13th of June. The last Legislature, in anticipation of the admission of Iowa as a State, had, during the winter of 1844-5, postponed the session of the Legislature until May, 1845. But the Constitution with the boundaries of the proposed State as fixed by Congress, met with determined opposition from the people. The natural western boundary was the Missouri River, and
THEODORE S. PARVIN
​many of the most sagacious and patriotic citizens were unwilling to permit the Missouri slope, embracing one-third of the most fertile portion of the Territory, to be forever severed from the State. They preferred to postpone the time when it should take its place in the Union, feeling confident that by rejecting the obnoxious boundaries now, they could in the near future secure to Iowa its natural and more desirable area.
On the other hand, there was a powerful and influential party urging the adoption of the Constitution with boundaries fixed by Congress which would secure the immediate admission of Iowa. It was urged that such action would at once by the election of Senators and Representatives in Congress and with the various Federal officers apportioned to it, greatly promote its influence in national affairs. The Governor and all State officials would be chosen by the people, all of which would enlarge the rights and privileges of its citizens and lead to greater prosperity. The Democratic party had elected a majority of the delegates who framed the Constitution, and it was regarded as a product of that party. A decided majority of the voters of the Territory were Democrats, and expected to be able to fill all of the important offices in the new State with men of their own political faith. Consequently the Democrats as a party, worked for the adoption of the Constitution. The Whigs were opposed to several of its important provisions and resisted its adoption. At this juncture, Enoch W. Eastman, Theodore S. Parvin and Frederick D. Mills, all young men and Democrats, realizing the irreparable mistake this dismemberment of Iowa would be, organized an opposition to the acceptance of the Constitution with the proposed boundary and at once took the field to work for its rejection. They enlisted the cooperation of two more influential Democrats, Shepherd Leffler and James W. Woods and made a thorough canvas of the Territory, holding public meetings in which they eloquently set forth the fatal mistake it would ​be to accept the proposed dismemberment of the fair proportions of Iowa. The contest was fierce and bitter but patriotism and good judgment prevailed.
The Constitution was rejected by a majority of 996, thus securing the preservation of Iowa, embracing the entire western slope to the Missouri River. It was a critical period in Iowa history, and the people of the State will never cease to honor the three young men who, by their courage and wisdom, preserved for all time its symmetrical proportions.
A new Legislature was chosen at this election, which convened at Iowa City on the 5th of May, 1845. It was organized by the election of S. C. Hastings, of Muscatine, President of the Council; James M. Morgan, of Burlington was elected Speaker of the House.
The Democrats had a large majority in each branch of the Legislature and the leaders of that party were exceedingly anxious for the admission of Iowa as a State. They secured the passage of an act providing that the rejected Constitution should again be submitted to a vote of the people at the August election with. the boundaries as fixed by the Constitutional Convention. It was expressly provided in the act for submission that, if the Constitution should be adopted, it should not be held to be an acceptance of the boundaries designated by Congress and the admission of the State should not be completed until the conditions that might be imposed by Congress should be ratified by a vote of the people; and that the election of State officers should be postponed until the State was finally admitted. The proposition was strongly opposed by the Whig members of the Legislature, but was carried by a strict party vote.
The Whigs prepared a protest, embracing their objections to the bill, which was entered upon the journal of the House and subsequently published in the Whig papers of the Territory. When the bill was submitted to Governor Chambers he promptly vetoed it, but it was approved
ENOCH W. EASTMAN
JAMES CLARKE Last Governor of Iowa Territory 1845-6
​by a two-thirds vote of each branch of the Legislature, and became a law.
Among the important acts of this session was the repeal of the charter of the Miners’ Bank of Dubuque; abolition of the office of Territorial Agent, conferring his duties upon the Treasurer; incorporation of a University at Iowa City; a change of the name of Louisville to Ottumwa; the organization of Iowa and Marion counties.
The following joint resolution was passed:
Mr. Dodge in his canvass for reëlection as Delegate, led his party in advocating the adoption of the rejected Constitution of 1844. The result of the election was 7,235 votes for the Constitution, and 7,656 against it. Thus it was again rejected by a majority of 421. General Dodge was reëlected over Ralph P. Lowe, Whig, by a majority of 831. Dodge had influence enough with President Tyler to prevent the removal of the Democratic Judges of the Territory—Mason, Wilson and Williams—but Governor Chambers, who was a Whig, was removed by President Polk in November, 1845, and James Clarke, a Democrat, was appointed his successor. Mr. Clarke had been Secretary of the Territory from 1839 to 1841, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1844. Jesse Williams was made Secretary of the Territory to succeed Samuel J. Burr, and Robert M. Secrest succeeded William L. Gilbert as Auditor.
The Eighth and last Territorial Legislature assembled at Iowa City on the 1st of December, 1845, and elected Stephen Hempstead President of the Council and George W. McCleary was chosen Speaker of the House.
Governor Clarke in his message deplored the rejection ​of the Constitution and urged the speedy admission of Iowa as a State, calling attention to its great increase of population until settlements now extended nearly to the Missouri River. He urged the Legislature to ask Congress for a grant of public lands for the improvement of the navigation of the Des Moines River.
Among the acts of the Legislature was one conferring upon married women the right of ownership and control of real estate, and providing that they should not be liable for the debts of their husbands. An act was passed authorizing the levy of a tax for the support of public schools. The Legislature provided for another constitutional convention, consisting of thirty-two members, to be chosen at the April election to meet at Iowa City the first Monday in May, 1846, to frame a constitution. This constitution, when framed, to be submitted to a vote of the people for adoption. The name of Kishkekosh County was changed to Monroe, in honor of the fifth President.
In 1841 J. B. Newhall, of Massachusetts, visited the Territory of Iowa, traveling extensively over the prairies, along the rivers and among the new towns. He wrote a series of articles for an eastern journal under the title, “Sketches of Iowa.” He also lectured in the eastern States and England upon the natural advantages and resources of “Western America.” Through these lectures and his sketches, published in book form, the public received much valuable information in relation to Iowa and the Mississippi Valley. He visited the far West as early as 1836, finally made Iowa his home and in 1845 became the Secretary of Governor James Clarke.
In 1846 he wrote and published a book called, “Glimpse of Iowa,” which gives much valuable information relating to the new State in the first year of her statehood. Mr. Newhall writes that
EMIGRANTS COMING TO IOWA, FROM 1833 TO 1854
In the little book published in 1846 by Mr. Newhall are found many items of interest, showing the condition of Iowa when it became a State. He enumerates the principal towns as Fort Madison, Keokuk, West Point, Montrose and Franklin. In a directory of each of the chief towns are found names of men who became prominent in its history and development. In Fort Madison at this early day can be found in the list of lawyers: Edward Johnston, Hugh T. Keid, John F. Kinney, B. S. Roberts, Philip Velie and D. F. Miller. C. H. Perry kept a hotel. There were six churches and one weekly newspaper, the Lee County Democrat, published by R. W. Albright, with T. S. Epsy, editor. Thomas A. Walker was postmaster. In Bloomington (now Muscatine) were R. P. Lowe, W. G. Woodward, Jacob Butler, J. S. Richman and S. C. Hastings, lawyers; D. C. Cloud was a carpenter and a magistrate; T. S. Parvin also magistrate and lawyer. There were five churches, and one select school taught by Miss Sherer. William E. Leflingwell was a boat builder. The Bloomington Herald, a weekly paper, edited by M. T. Emerson, was the only paper published in the little city. Dr. James Weed had an extensive nursery of 100,000 fruit trees near the city. Joseph Williams, judge of the Supreme Court, lived there.
​In Davenport among the merchants were Hiram Price, J. L. Davenport and A. C. Fulton. The lawyers named were James Grant, Ebenezer Cook, James Thorington and G. C. R. Mitchell. The Davenport Gazette, edited by Alfred Sanders, was published every Thursday. There were seven churches and three private schools. James Thorington was one of the teachers. The postmaster was John Forrest. The “Directory of Keosauqua,” enumerates among its lawyers: J. B. Howell, J. C. Knapp, G. G. Wright and A. C. Hall. Edward Manning was a merchant. The Des Moines Valley Whig was published weekly by J. B. Howell, and the Iowa Democrat, another weekly, was published by J. and J. M. Shepherd. But two churches are named.
At Mount Pleasant, Alvin Saunders was a merchant; William Thompson, John F. Morton and W. H. Wallace were among the lawyers. John S. Bartruff was the postmaster and Samuel S. Howe was principal of a female seminary. There were five churches, and a collegiate institute, with Rev. A. J. Huestis as president. Fairfield had among its lawyers, C. W. Slagle, Caleb Baldwin and Charles Negus. The postmaster was E. S. Gage. There were two private schools and three churches. At Keokuk there was a weekly paper, The Iowa Argus, owned by Wm. Pattee. The postmaster was Adam Hine. There were six lawyers, four physicians, three churches and three hotels. Fifty buildings had been erected during the year past. Forty thousand bushels of wheat had been shipped by river during the fall.
Iowa City had seven general stores, seven churches and twelve lawyers. Among the latter were Curtis Bates, Wm. Penn Clark and Geo. S. Hampton. The city had the State University, Iowa City College and a female academy. The two weekly papers were the Iowa Capital Reporter, edited by A. H. Palmer, and the Iowa City Standard, by Foster & Morris. C. Trowbridge was the postmaster.
Burlington had two newspapers published weekly— ​The Iowa Territorial Gazette, a Democratic journal, published by Thurston & Tizzard; the Burlington Hawkeye, owned by Edwards & Broadwell, a Whig paper. Among the merchants were W. F. Coolbaugh, J. G. Lauman, J. G. Foote and Silas A. Hudson. There were five hotels and five churches; a historical society, of which David Rorer was president, and a public library. Among the lawyers were James W. Grimes, J. C. Hall, L. D. Stockton and E. W. Eastman. The mayor was J. L. Corse, and the postmaster, Levi Hager. Dubuque had at this time eighteen mercantile establishments, and among the merchants were Thomas H. Benton, Jr. There were six hotels and five churches and one printing office. The only paper was the Miners’ Express, of which George Greene was editor and publisher. A. P. Wood was just about to establish another. There were five flouring mills in the city and vicinity and one steam saw mill. There were six private schools. Six smelting establishments were turning out 4,000,000 pounds of lead annually. John King was postmaster, J. K. O'Farrall mayor of the city.
The following are some of the prices prevailing at this time: “horses, from $50 to $60; oxen, from $40 to $60 a pair; farm wagon, $75; plows from $8 to $20; sugar, 10 cents; coffee, 10 cents; tea, 75 cents to $1 per pound; flour, $4 a barrel; unbleached cotton sheeting, 18 cents, and calico from 10 to 20 cents per yard. Good board was furnished at $1.50 or $2 per week. The wages of common labor were from 75 cents to $1 per day. Government land sold at $1.25 per acre, and an ordinary log house cost from $50 to $75.” There were no canals, railroads or telegraph; few stage lines, and no daily mails, or daily papers. The weekly mail was carried on horseback. There were no banks and very little money in circulation. There were few buyers of farm products who paid cash. Exchange was the common method of dealing.
Such, in brief, is a view of Iowa as it was in 1846, when the State government was organized with a population of ​96,088. The total number of votes polled at the first election for Governor was 15,005. There were few church buildings, and, outside the chief towns, the school houses were built of logs, as were nearly all of the farm houses, a large majority of the residences and many of the business and public buildings in the towns. There were no labor saving farm implements, and the scanty household furniture was largely of home manufacture. Salaries of public officials were small—the Governor received but $1,000; the Secretary of State, $500; the Treasurer, $400; and the State Librarian, $150 per annum.
The annexation of Texas brought on a war with Mexico in the spring of 1846. Iowa was still a Territory but was taking the steps necessary to become a State. The President was authorized by Congress to call into the field, arm and equip fifty thousand volunteers. He issued his proclamation and Iowa was requested to furnish a regiment. On the 1st of June, 1846, Governor Clarke, from the Executive office at Burlington, issued a call for a regiment of volunteers. There was great enthusiasm, mass meetings were held in many of the towns and enlistment began at once. By the 26th of June twelve companies had been enlisted, consisting of two companies in each of the counties of Lee, Van Buren and Des Moines and one in each of the counties of Dubuque, Muscatine, Johnson, Louisa, Washington and Linn.
Governor Clarke offered the command of the Iowa regiment to ex-Governor John Chambers, but because of ill-health he was not able to take the field, and, with reluctance, declined. In the meantime Captain Edwin Guthrie, of Fort Madison, and Frederick D. Mills, of Burlington, had raised an independent company of one hundred men, which was accepted and became “Company K” of the Fifteenth United States Infantry. The company had enlisted for one year, entered the service in July, 1847, and, in General Scott’s army of invasion, marched to the City of Mexico after fighting several battles in which this Iowa ​company took part. Mills was commissioned Major of the Fifteenth Regiment and was a most gallant officer. He was slain on the 20th of August after the Battle of Cherubusco, while leading a detachment in pursuit of a portion of the Mexican army, near the walls of the City of Mexico. Isaac M. Griffith, a sergeant in the Iowa company, lost an arm at Cherubusco. In June, 1848, Captain Guthrie was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his company in battle.
In June, 1846, soon after the war began, Captain James Allen, of the First Dragoons, was sent by the War Department to Iowa to confer with the Mormon leaders at Mount Pisgah and Kanesville for the purpose of procuring volunteers for the army. Brigham Young, then at the head of the Mormons, urged his people to raise a battalion for the war. In a short time five hundred men were enlisted and organized into what was known as the “Mormon Battalion,” which joined the army of General Stephen W. Kearny, then gathering at Forth Leavenworth. This army marched over the plains by way of Salt Lake to California. The Mormon Battalion remained with the army of General Kearny, doing good service in California until the term of enlistment expired. The first were mustered out at Los Angeles in July, 1847 and the remainder at San Diego in March, 1848. The loss of the battalion during the term of service was nine men.
The twelve companies which had been raised in Iowa under the President’s first call for fifty thousand were never organized into an Iowa regiment. The men were anxious to go to the seat of war, but so many regiments had been accepted from the various States that the Secretary of War, on the 25th of November, 1846, notified Governor Clarke that the Iowa regiment would not be needed. An Iowa officer who greatly distinguished himself in the war, was Benjamin S. Roberts, of Fort Madison. He went into the army as a lieutenant of mounted riflemen at the beginning of the war, was in General ​Scott’s army and participated in all of its battles. He led the advance into the Mexican capital and pulled down their flag with his own hands. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in the regular army. In 1849 the Iowa Legislature voted him a sword in honor of his brilliant services.
The Mexican War furnished names for several Iowa counties and towns. The Legislature of 1850 created new counties of the remaining portion of the State. The battle-fields and heroes of the late war were fresh in the minds of the people and their memory was perpetuated in many of the counties named. Buena Vista, Cerro Gordo and Palo Alto were the names of battle-fields used; and Taylor, Ringgold, Mills, Yell, Worth, Butler, Hardin and Guthrie were the names of officers who had distinguished themselves in the Mexican War. Numerous townships and towns commemorated other heroes of the war.