The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-11-09


: he preserved them until the treaty was
: made and possession legally acquire
when he rebuilt his farm where he now re-
sides IN finely constructed mansion. It
, required the continued presence of the drA-
goons in the country, and their constan :
vigilance to restrain the impatience of the
Immigrants on the border from breakin o
over and marking out the country into
claims, and taking other steps in forming
settlements After the treaty was concl,ld
ed III the fall of lS42, and prior to the first
day of the following Mavs The time agreed
upon in the treaty for the Indians to yielt
possession of the country as high up asthe
river of Red Rock. the people had permits
sion to freely explore the country, but
We're restrained from marking lines orma-
king other evidences of location, and tho
'rdragoons regularly r.atrolleci fths. eoantr,y
to prevent the abuse of this privilege, and
| by the time of the arrival of that day- 50,
memorable in the history ofWapefio coun-
ty, the country had been thoroughly ex-
plored and imaginary lines of claims pro-
Jected throughout this county, and the ter
ritory OF several other counties in the rur-
chase. 1t was important in maintainirga q
right to claim in the courts, that il should
be made after the complete extingr.ish--
lnent OF the Indian title. and as that title
expired on the first day of May, and as the
legal day commenced at midnight, extra
ordinary preparations were made Tor efIeo-
tive operations at that eyentful hour. %.
To aid in an approach TO accuracy, in
nil of Ir,-
the rising grounds along the PROTECTED
boundaries, and were fired a short time
previous to twelve o'clock-time pieces.
were held at various stations throughouE
the country, and when the ntomentous
hour had fairly arrived. it was announced.
by the discharge of fire arms, and answered
III IKE manner throughout the country
y scene then ensued which, if it could
have been viewed throughout by a calm.
disinterested spectator, would have Offer
cred rich fund of amusement. The
night was dark, the stars furnished a too
feeble light for the necessity of the mo-,
ment, but every one pressed forward in
the execution of his purpose by torch light
and star light and in darkness, with axe
and Ratchet, blazing lines with all possi-
bic courses, corners and angles, crossing
and re-crossing their neighbor's track, ,and
overlapping each others claims. and leav-
ing strips and cores of unclaimed territory
between, creating a chaos of lines and
tracts of interminable confusion. When
daylight revealed the results of the nights
abor, alterations arose. and compromises
were generally effected without serious
difficulty or personal violence. \ large
number whose families We're in readiness
1n the boundary line, moved over during
he day with their stock and implements
lt iftsass Saf. u ss,-s~
we're at least one thousand settlers within
he present limits of the county occupying
ng in good faith, r. .......-
The survey of "Ottumwa" was immedi-
Itely made by the association above NAM
d. embracing about four hundred lots,
md each alternate lot throughout the plat
vas reserved as bonus TO the county for
he seat of justice, which arrangement
vas finally, after much expense TO the,
entered into by the county COM
nisSioners, and the county received gra-
uity of over two hundred lots laid of and
recorded, beside the use and exclusive oc-
.upancy of suitable building for holding
courts and for public offices, for aperiod OF
en- years. The commissioners appointed
oy the Legislature to locate the seat Of
Justice fixed on Ottumwa,' and finding
he town laid OFT and recorded, ommitted
% mention its name as is usually done by
similar boards. They only mentioned the
luarter section in their report, and the
County Board wishing to show some inn
press of their labors on the capitol of the
they changed the name 10 that of
Louisville. The town company made 2
strong remonstrance To this change, desir-
ng To retain the Indian name as a matter
IF taste. and avoid the confusion attending
.he adoption Of the name of other towns in
he country. They, however. finally
yielded and permitted the record to be
changed, with the intention of appealing
% the Legislature for it's restoration. 4
struggle for a post office under the several
names was at once set in motion, in which
he company were successful and the Post
Office was known as Ottumwa, while the
town was legally called Louisville. The
next Legislature blotted out Louisville
without even an effort ofits friends to save
it. Eddyville, Agency City and Dahlone-
ga were all laid out and commenced their
growth among the first improvements OF
the county, and the latter preferred its
claims for the county seat, but met no
favor with the locating commissioners.
The succeeding history of Wapello coun-
ty, has been written by DR.. G.. r. Boyd,
ESQ, for the use of the Historical Society.
Yo1yo TfayOc