Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-03-16
Organization of Audubon County.

1t is priv lege, that not many years
hence VIII not be given to men, to hear the
worthy old pioneers themselves, who first
broke the ice isl Audubon county. 1t will
be fifty years on the second day of next
April since Audubon county set up house
Keeping on her own account. On the
fourth day of March. 1885, it being Sunday.
the legal qualified voters of the county Of
sembled at the cabin of n. Hamlin, to con
slider the propriety of Audubon county,
and cut loose from Cass county The writer
and thinks that every voter was
present at that meeting. On motion of P.
i: Whitfield, DR.. s. N. Ballard was called to
D. Lewis, there being no dissenting vote.
Ballard took the chair and made a short
speech in favor of organizing. The ques-
ton was discussed pro and COM some in
favor of cutting loose from CaSs county
and others thinking that it would be too
much of burden for so few to carry At
this point in the meeting, d. NJ. Harris rose
ami said in the language of one of old,
Give me liberty or give me DEATH" His
words were like charge of electricity. L.
s Lewis nlade.a motion that the chair
| man appoint a committee to assist him in
drafting petition. directed to the Hon.
grant the privilege of organizing Audl-
bon county. The motion carried and the
chaifman appointed Hon. ID. NJ Harris
| After the law on the subject was ex-
amInsd. tue petition was drafted, written
by John Beers, who was called by the com
completed, Mr. Beers arose and read aloud
the petition and then it was signed by
every voter
have said this was on Sunday. Accord
ing to the law then in force, the County
Judge of every county had to hold county
court on the first Monday OF each MONTH
hence this petition had be presented to
county court, Monday. March 5tn 1865. The
question then arose as to who should at:
| tend said court and present the petition
and stay with it, ght and defend it. As
a matter of fact, it was well known that
| it would be a struggle in court from the
| reason that the revenue in the way of tax
received from the territory of Audubon
would fight it to the bitter end. Ballard
| made a short talk the matter, stating
that the person presenting said petition
| and was successful. his name would go
down in history, He then passed the hat
| for small collection, to defray the ex-
penSeS OF the agent to present said petit
ton and received five dollars. The offer
| was made to every citizen present to pre-
| sent the petition TO the county court of
CasS county, but no one volunteered. The
| Chairman then appointed r. |. Whitfield to
present the petition, so on March 5th Whit
| ted made his way to the town of Lewis
| then the comfy seat of CaSs county and
| at two O'Clock that day read the paper to
Hon. Judge Benedict. Then came the ight
won and was appointed by Judge Benedict
Organizing Sheriff.
The first election was held at the house
April, 1850. The result of the election has
| long since gone down in history.
| Now fellow-citizens and old settlers can
we have good meeting on the second day
OF the coming, April to celebrate that
event. it being the tiftieth anniversary of
Audubon county, say at Brayton, Extra or
Audubon Those who say yes" let us
hear from you.
| Written by one who was present and has
some of the original papers. ~