The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-08-21
AN OLDRECORD BOOK.
Valuable Manuscript volumn
Unearthed by Herald.

new quarters in the Gibbs building on
North Market street an important dis
covery was made. One of the very
first records or the official proceedings
in the organization of Mahaska county
was unearthed in corner in an out of
the way drawer where it had been
placed no one Knows how many years
ago. The record $ very valuable
one, being an account Of the proceed
ings of the first board of supervisors
of the county. The organization of
the county into townships is also given
on the first pages.
This record has evidently had a very
hard time of it since it pages were
completed for it bears evidence of hav-
ing been used as scrap book by
Perry Welker, formerly a well known
typo o. the city. On fly leaf of the
record is the inscription, Perry We'll
ker's Scrap Book, 1873" Mr.. Wellxer
had evidently found the record some
where and thinking the book of no par
ticular value had proceeded to start a
scrap book of newspaper clippings.
Some one had later evidently been
looking over the book and discovered
that it was a valuable record of the
official acts of the County Board OF
commissioners" The result was that
the pieces saved in the scrap book
were soaked OH the pages and the rec
ord was preserved. For some reason
the book was hidden away and was
forgotten until 1t came TO light in the
remoaVal of the Herald office to its
new home.
The record was taken to the county
AUDITOR, Mr.. Martin, who was overjoy-
ed to get possession of so valuable a
book. The record is in two parts. The
original record that had been written
upon unbound paper and then copy
that had been made in a record book.
The original embraced but few pages
however Ind the copy Of the pages
soon was followed by the record of ORR
ginal entry.
The record is especially interesting
and valuable as it names the first men
who had to do with the official acts Oh
me county. The first date mentioned
in the official language is May IL, 1874,
and the date OF the establishing of Os-
kaloosa as the seat of justice of the
county" The record was opened on
the 18th day Of May, 1874, while Iowa
was still under a territorial form of
government, and it closes with Octo-
ber 1S47, after Iowa had been admit
ted to statehood.
Some of It's Contents.
A copy of the opening pages of the
record may be of interest at this time
and they are here given verbatim be-
low. The pages of the book have been
more or less abused and have yellowed
with age. rhe ink with which the rec
ord was written is Drowned and faded,
Du. all is still legigle and perfectly
clear. Mr. Martin has placed the book
in the record vaults and the prize will
hereafter be guarded with the utmost
of care. The first pages of the rec
ord contain the following entries CIV
ing ..Ie record of the first meeting of
the first board of the county, the draw
ing of the first grand and petit jurors
and the establishing Of several town
ships Of the young county.
Territory of iowa, Mahaska county,
May Is, 1874.
Be it remembered that on this day
Robert Curry and Abraham S. Nichols,
having heretofore been duly elected
county commissioners of said county,
met at the county seat of said county
for the purpose of holding called ses-
sion of the commissioners court of
said county. Wilson Stanley, the other
commissioner, not being present Court
was called and opened by the two COM
missioners who were present and adj
journed until tomorrow morning at 8
o'clock.
Tuesday morning at o'clock court
met persuant to adjournment. Present
Robert Curry ana Abraham S. Nichols,
| whereupon Wilson Stanley, the other
commissioner having been elected and
qualified as the law directs appeared
and took his seat as commissioner of
said county.
The board then proceeded to select
grand and petit Jurors for the first
term OF the district court to be holden
in said county on the third Monday in
July next.
The following persons were selected
for grand Jurors, as follows:
James Vance,
john Rose,
Richard Parker,
Michael S. norris,
Geo. w. Jones,
William Bean,
Wellington Nossman,
Adam Storts,
John Shelleday,
Jacob Crane,
Geo. Arganbright,
Aaron c. Bowers,
Adam Cline,
o. A. Matthews,
Jefferson Chitwood,
James Hickenbothom,
James Comstock,
William Welch,
Harrison Davis,
Brantley Stafford,
Alexander NAY,
John Vance.
The board then proceeded to select
| court and selected the following per-
| sons:
John Newell,
John d. Baldwin,
| Alfred Sewers,
Robert Hammond,
Jacob Nordike,
William c. Brown,
Alfred HOOD,
Pleasant Parker,
John P. Majors,
Thomas Wln.ams,
Wesley w. Friel,
Robert Curry, Jr.,
Samuel Peters,
Thomas Brooks,
William Bowel,
Thomas Fansher,
James Sewers,
James noss,
| Solomon Barber,
Green +. Clark,
Joseph Benedict,