The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1876-07-13

Inc Legislature convened at Dur
lington on the 4th OF November, 1889,
and the petition was presented to
that body on on the 24th ofthe same
month. 1t was referred to COM
mittee who on the second day follow
ing, reported bill in accordance with
the prayer of the petitioners, which
after various amendments, was final.
ly acted upon and became a law.
The friends of Rochester were in
dignant; they alleged that the Pc
tition had been surreptitously circu-
lated, and that they we're not apprized
Of It's circulation until after its pres.
entation to the Legislature, that in
consequence Of this secre. move ment
the remonstrance prepared by tnem.
and drawn up with argumentative
: force that seemed to them irresista-
! jDle, did not reach Burlington until
after the bill had passed one House
and was on its third reading in the
other, and that thei remonstrance was
consequently not taken into consid.
ershfDn.
The imputation Of secrecy or sur
reptitous action Of any kind, was Of
course promptly denied by those in
terested in the relocation. But the
denial had but little effect in sooth-
the exasperated advocates Of Roches-
| ter.
The bill passed both Houses and
became law, December 3lst, 1889,
entitled IAN act to relocate the seat
of Justice, in and for the county Of
Cedar" Its principal provisions
were:
l. Appointing Henry W. Higgins,
Of Scott county; John G. Mcdonald,
of Jackson county and John Egan, Of
Johnson county, commissioners Of re-
location.
2. Prescribing their official oath to
act with impartiality, and for the
best interest of the county.
3. Requiring them to meet FIRST at
Rochester, on the second Monday in
the following March, and if upon ex-
animation, they should End that
place convenient and eligible for the
seat of Justice, they must relocate
the same there, but if otherwise, they
are directed to proceed to locate the
same as near the geographical centre
of the county as the most eligible
situation can be found, combining
the advantage of health, convenience
of timber, water, etc.
4. Directing them as soon as they
have determined upon the place, to
give it such name as they may think
proper, and file copy of their pro-
ceedings duly authorized, with the
Clerk of the District Court.
The locating Commissioners were
promptly on hand on Monday the 9th
of March, 1910, at the town Of Roch-
ester, which unfortunately for its
chances OF success, was then nearly
submerged by an unusual stage Of
the river, and this fact doubtless caus-
ed their decision that it was not soon
venient and eligible for the seat Of
Justice"
They then visited the other points
that had been suggested, and after
careful and deliberate examination
consuming the entire week, unani-
mously agreed upon the n " ar. 6, 80
2-being the geographical center Of
the county-as the permanent coun-
ty seat, calling It TIProN, after the
name Of a distinguished General Of
Indiana, who was relative or con-
nection Of one oil the Commissioners.
The story that has been told that
most of the persons present when
the town was named, were intoxica-
ted, arose in all probability from some
exaggerated account of the breaking
bottle Of wine on the locating stake
at the time the name of the town was
announced, by an old sea-captain,
samuel P. Higginson) in imitation
of similar practice at the time Of
naming a vessel when launched from
the stocks.
On the 10Th of March, 1910, the
Board of County Commissioners met,
and the report of the locating CON-
missioners being duly certified 10
them, thev passed an order, which
was shortly afterward carried into
effect, authorizing and instructing
Daniel Comstock, one Of their body,
to pre.empt and purchase for the
county, the quarter section ofland on
which the town Of TiptQp was loca-
ted in manner and form rs provided by
the law, authorizing such proceedings,
the amount of money necessary to
complete the purchase being advan-
ced by Capt. Higginson, upon the
agreement to receive in return for
the same, twenty town lots Of aver
erage value in the new town, As soon
as it should be laid out; the mode Of
selection being that the Board should
select the first nine lots, then the
Captain should take his first lot, the
Board should then take nineteen lots,
then the Captain his second lot, then
the Board nineteen, and so on until
the whole twenty lots should be tax.
en-.
On tho 7th of April following Dan.
Comstock reported that he had per-