Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-02-24

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saiuteresting. even to those person-
ally acquainted with. the facts. 1t
was Known that there was negro,
or rather negress, in the County, else
such an order would have been re-
garded as an idle formality. g4 !.
Some time in 1874 or .'45, 2 man
named Thomas McGregor moved
from Illinois to what is now the
northeast corner of Indiana Town
ship, and called upon Mr.. George,
Henry, a settler in that neighborr-
hood, and asked his assistance IN
selecting q claim, Mr.. II, readily,
gave him the required assistance,
after which ,Mr. McGregor asked the
privilege Of moving into the house
with him, tin he could get a cabin
i4ed ap O. in.elni3A, l 81 lnfK
I~tg Ou5 0i aGC 6Yihillfid dHtihg those
Who were to become his neighbors,
and inasmuch as the family Of Mr..
McGregor was small, consisting of
only the man and his wife, he readi-
ly assented to that arrangement also.
But when the guests arrived, the
astonishment of Mr.. Henry may
possibly be imagined, when he be-
held in Mrs. McGregor full-bfooded
African, about as dark as the darkest
of her race, possessing all the charms
that could be summed up in a figure
of ample proportions, and features OF
combined brilliancy and proinin-
ence.
Asa matter of course, after this
discovery, he lost no time in recon-
sidering his promise. He was not
disposed to encourage further "do-
nestle relations" with this interest
ing pair, and honestly signitied to
Mac that his mind had undergone a
change on the subject. Sothe latter,
with his lovely spouse, was COM
PEELED to seek some other shelter.
Not finding house, they camped
out, as they had previously done,
until their cabin was built.
But the nature Of their relation
ship was such that they were not
long permitted to enjoy 1t in peace.
It was taken for granted that they
were livingiin violation of statute
of the Territory forbidding matri-
monial connection between blacks
and whites: e IoE T.. this. 2eeRa. thsx
Il q Nh R60ght bs50fd
! Justice Levi Bainbridge, on Lake
Prairie, and tried.
Not being very well pleased with
he rulings of this Court, they took a
d,ange of renate, and their case was
turned over to Justice Mike Morris,
Who happened to be present. After
diving ita hearing, Mike referred
he matter to the Mahaska County
Grand Jury-this being previous to
tie organization of Marion-where
4 ended, the jury not finding q true
/ I'LL against the offenders.
/ But the end was not yet. This
! vas only a brief truce In the tribula-
tbns OF this unfortunate couple. Al
tNe have seen, the lady was deemed
Iaa dfYender against another statute,
land that statute made it the duty o
the County Commissioners to take
action in the premises. Hence the
order noticed ON another page.
But for some reason Mrs. McGreg.
or did not heed the threatening
mandate. She was either not aware
of its existence, or determined to risk
the consequences Of disregarding it
But another SOON followed, Of
more specific character, to the effec
that Rose. Ann NfcGregor. should ap
pear, and give the required bonds
on or before the 18th Of January, OF
"be sold to the highest bidder" Blu
| even this failed to bring thestubborl
Rose Ann to terms. The fearfu
penalty of Noncompliance Herewith
though II may have caused the cul
lprit to trelnble in anticipation
moved her not otherwise. ltwas
therefore, found necessary to brini
Into action the practical force law
and the sheriff was armed with au
thority to bring Rose Ann bodily =
the seat Of Justice. se -'s
Armed with this authority, ant
attended by his deputy, Dr. L. &
Conrey, the sheriff proceeded to tn
/ residence OF the McGregors. Appar
emily this visitation had been ex