Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-12-23
ingham. During the same fall, settle.
nent was commenced on Deer Greek
in the present township of Howard,
I.

ingham. During the same fall, a settle.
ment was commenced on Deer Greek
in the present township of Howard,
by Christian Bruner. In the spring OF
1852, Col. John Connell and William
Hitchner settled in Perry township
Among the early settlers OF Indian Vii
lage township, we also mention the
names OF William Taylor, N. j. Blodg-
ct, William Houston, J. II. VOORHEES,,
Isaac Butler, and Washington Abbott.
Among the early settlers in the W
cinity OF Toledo and Tama City, were
John G. Vermilya, j. II. Hollen, Geo.
Carter, II. A. Redman. Myron Blodg-
EFT, B. A. Hall, John Ross, Judge Gra-
ham, aud DR.. Wesley Daniel. After
1852, settlements were made in various
other parts of the county, and those
already commenced continued to grow
and prosper.
County observation-disclosures to
the organization of Tama county, it
had been under the civil jurisdiction
OF Benton county. Under an order
from the County Judge lot the latter
county, the qualified electors of Tama
county were authorized to held an
election on the first Monday in August,
1852, for the purpose OF etfect,ng a
permanent organization. At this time
the county was divided into three civ.
il townships, to-wit: Howard, Indian
Village, and Buckingham. The elec.
tors OF Howard township met at the
house OF Rein A. Redman; those OF
Indian Village at the house Of Eli w.
Daily, aud tioseot Buckingham at the
house of N. L. Osborn. On the first
Monday in May previous to this, there
had been q temporary organization,
and the following officers elected: J ohm
c. Vermilya, Judge; John Ross, Treas.
urer and Recorder; David D. Appel.
gate, Clerk, and Myron Blodgett, Sher-
itf. at the general election held in
August, 1852, there were y votes cast
in the county. The first four county.
warrants were issued to David Bruner
for services as Assessor OF Howard
township, and amounted to $3.50.
County Seat.-7he commissioners
appointed by Hon. James p. Carlton,
then Judge OF the 4th judicial district,
to locate the County Seat of 7ama
comfy, were Joseph NJ. Ferguson, Of
Marshall county, and Il. B. Ogden, of
Powcshiek county. On the 2oth of
October, 1853, they met at the house
Of Judge John c. Vermi!ya, and being
duly qualified, proceeded to the dis.
charge OF their duty. They spent some
time in making examinations of the diff.
erent points suggested. The first being
an elevated quarter section about one
mile north OF Christian Bruners mill,
which, they concluded, was entirely too
far north west. The second point ex-
amincd was near the residence of Da-
vid Bruner, and was objected to on
the same ground. They then went to
the present site of Toledo, in township
So, of range Is, where they determined
to establish the permanent seat Of just
ice, calling the place Toledo. About
this time Judge Vermilya laid out the
town, and T. 3.Stalcy erected the first
frame dwelling house at the mort east
corner of the Public Square. John
Zehrung erected the. first business
house, and opened the first stock of
goods, in the spring of 1851.
The first county business, after the
location OF the seat Of justice, seems
to have been transacted at the house
OF Judge Vermilya. 1t was here that
Judge Carlton convened the first Dis
trict Court, September Is. 1884.
When the town was laid out, beau-
tiful block, 3l2 feet square, was re-
served for a Court House. On this
fine edifice has just been completed, at
a cost OF about $4,000 for the use OF
the county. 1t is built OF brick, two
stories high, and 4ox70 feet on the
grourd. There is a stone basement
used for storage. The first, or ground
floor, is divided into spacious and COM
Portable offices, and the upper floor into
court room and jury rooms. The whole
building is model of neatness and taste
both in architectural design and beauty
of finish in all its parts. Except an
appropriation of $1,000. the county
is indebted to the liberality Of the Cit
izens of Toledo, and other private con.
tributions, for this fine structure, Of
which all the citizens of the county may
justly feel proud. The Court House
grounds have been ornamented by the
planting OF various kinds OF forest
trees, including cottonwood, maple and
elm. ~
In this connection we give the names
of the worthy gentlemen who will be
the incumbents of the several county
Offices after the first Monday ia Janu-
airy; 1870, to-wit: 7. S. Free, Auditor;
l.. b Blinn, Clerk; Theodore Schaeffer,
Treasurer; Jacob Yeiser, Jr., Recorder;
Knight Dexter, Sheriff; J. Il. Stewart,
Superintendent; G. w. Hyatt, Sur.
veyor; n. Fisher, Coroner, and E. Gal
lion. Drainage Commissioner.
The financial condition of thecounty
is excellent, being free from debt,
with revenue sufficient to meet all
necessary current expenses. The as
sessed value of the taxable property
OF the county reaches an aggregate Of
nearly tour and hall millions Of doll
ars. II,
The first entry of land within the
limits Of Tama county, WAS made by
Horace N. Atkinson. May Is, 1s4S,
and was in section 80, township So,
range l5-now Zama township. A
few moro entries were made in lS49
and 1880, but the. greater portion OF
the land was entered subsequently, TO
the last date. -
The first death in the county, of
which we have any account, was that
otMiss Mariah Blodge,t at Iudiattown,
in the fall of 1852.
THE PRESS.
The first newspaper started IN Tama