Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-31

held almost nightly Injunctions and
writs of mandamus were threatened.
Battin was praised by some, cursed by
others. The hearing lasted several
days, and the decision was for Mar
shalltown. No appeal was taken. !
Swamp Lands Case Followed.
1t was out of the frying pan and in
to the fire with the young judge. He
had no sooner disposed of this case
until the swamp lands litigation
sprung up. Land had been given by
the government to the different coun-
ties, but the titles had not yet been
transferred Some of the land had
been entered by cash, other by bounty
land warrants. The government had
also granted for railroad building land
in odd sections across the state, and
one of these roads, now the North
western. crossed the county. Some of
the lands had,been sold by the county
and the funds so raised, to the amount
of $4,000, had been appropriated by
vote toward the building Of high
school at Albion. Men who had bought
the land were impatiently awaiting
their deeds. but the court was power
less to grant them. Something had to
be done to quiet the public sentiment.
Judge Battin had taken proofs Of all the
lands claimed as swamp lands,
and forwarded them to the United
States land office in time to ward off
the railroad claim. The expense he
incurred was about $780, and this was
considered by many as reckless ex-
travagance in disposing of public
funds. The judge was severely criti-
cised from many quarters, but when
the county began to receive patents
and cash, and land scrip, amounting
,, to between $4,000 and 100000, and
later from the proceeds built the new
court house and Jail, the tide of public
sentiment was turned, and Battin was
declared by some Of his former ac-
cusers as being wise and far-sighted
man.
Goes Out Of Politics.
Judge Battin served two years as
county judge, and upon the close of
his term, in 1861, retired from poll
tics. He moved to the north part of
the county and engaged in farming
until 1882 He assisted materially in
securing a S per cent tax and free
right way, for the proposed extern
sion Of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids
and Minnesota railway from Vinton
to the Des Moines river, but the pro-
ject finally failed to materialize. In
1882 he moved to Oskaloosa, and for
two years operated coal mining proper
ty at Hickory Grove, in Monroe coun-
ty. He moved back to this county in
1886, and to Marshalltown again in
1891.
Another Reception Tonight.
The first reception in honor Of Mr..
and Mrs. Battin's golden wedding took
place from 2 until this afternoon.
Another one this evening will be en-
joyed from 8 to 10, with another group
of friends as guests.
The guests from a distance, present
at the afternoon gathering, included
but one. Mrs. M. j. Hussey. of Albion,
who witnessed the original ceremony
Of fifty years az Those present
from out Of town were Mr.. and Mrs.
Hussey, Mr.. and Mrs Albert F. Styles,
and daughter, Rev. and Mrs. Zeno H.
Doan, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Howard.
and Mr.. and Mrs. James Howard, Of
New Providence; Mrs. Mary Wilson, Of
Corning, sister of Mr.. Battain: Mr..
and Mrs Jacob Kinzer, of Bangor;
Mrs. Mary Nichols and daughters, Ada
and Mildred, of Minerva; Mr.. and Mrs.
w. r. Moninger and daughter Mar
garet and Mr.. and Mrs. H. w. Mon
niger of Marietta township. and Mr..
and Mrs l.. M. Kinsey and daughter
Mabel, Of Taylor township.