Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-11-24


Judge Fulton has short historical
sketch Of Iowa, which even those
familiar with the start and progress
of the State will read with interest,
while those who are not 80 conyersant
with its history will find in it much
Of valuable information. We quote:
Prior to the year 1863, the entire
continent Of North America was
divided between France, England,
Spain, and Russia. France held all
that portion of what now constitutes
our national domain west Of the
Mississippi river, except Texas and
the territory which we have obtained
from Mexico and Russia. This vast
region, while under the jurisdiction
Of France, WAS known as the "Prov-
ince of Louisiana" and embraced
the present State Of Iowa. 1T the
close Of the "old French War;" in
1863, France gave up her share OF The
continent, and Spain came into
possession Of the territory west Of the
Mississippi river, while Great Britain
retained Canada and the regions
northward, having obtained that
territory byconquest in the war with
France. For thirty-seyen years the
territory now embraced within the
limits OF Iowa remained as a part Of
the possessions Of Spain, and then
went back to France by the treaty OF
st. IdIefonsO, October ], 1900. On
the Both of April, 1903, France..ceded
it to the United States in coDsidera-
ton OF receiving 81, $50, 900, and the
liquidation Of certain claims held by
citizens Of the United States against
France, which amounted to the fur
ther sum Of 81, $50, 900, and making "A
total Of sl5,O00,O00. IL will thus be
seen that France has twice, and Spain
once, held sovereignty over the ter
ritory embracing Iowa, but the
financial needs Of Napoleon afforded
our Government an opportunity to
add another empire to its domain.
On the Dist Of October, 1903, an act
Of Congress was approved authorizing
the President to take possession Of
the newly acquired territory and
provide for 1t Il temporary govern
ment, and another act approved
March 2G, 1901, authorized the divis-
ION Of the "Lnuisiana purchase" as it
was then called, into two separate
Territories. All that portion south
'of the 33d parallel Of north latitude,
was called the Territory Of Orleans,
and that north Of the said parallel
was known as the "District Of Louisi-
ana and was placed under the
jurisdiction OF what was then known
as Indiana Territory"
BY virtue Of an act Of Congress,
approved March 3, 1905, the "District
Of Louisiana" was organized as the
"Tcrritory of Louisiana" with a
Territorial government OF Its own,
which went into operation July 4th
of the same year, and it SO remained
until 1912. In this year tho "Terri-
tory Of Orleans became the State OF
Louisiana, and the TERRITORY of Lou
isiana," was organized ~ the "Terri.
tory OF Missouri" This change took
place under an act Of Congress APP.
proved June 4, 1872. In 1919, por.
tion Of this territory was organized
as "Arkansaw Territory" and IN
1921 the State OF Missouri was admit.
ted, being n part of the former "Ter.
rit0ry Of Missouri" This left n vast
domain stillto the north, including
the present State Of Iowa and Min.
nesota, which was in 1884, made q
part of the "Tcrritory of Michigan
In July 1886, the territory embracing
the present States Of Iowa, Minnesota
and Wisconsin was detached from
Michigan, and organized with Il
separate Territorial government
under the name OF Wisconsin
Territory"
BY virtue of an act Of Congress,
approved June IL, 1893, on the 3d oil
July Of the same year, the Territory
Of Iowa" was constituted. 1t EN-.
braced the present State of Iowa
and the greater portion of what i;
now the State of Minnesota. Robert
Lucas, who had been one Of the early
Governors of Ohio, was appointed
the first Territorial Governor, and
William b. Conway, Secretary. Tht
latter died during his term of office
In November, 1883, and james Clarke
was appointed to the vacancy. The
first Legislative Assembly convened
at Burlington, November II, 1883.