The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1909-02-18
INTERESTING PAPERS.
Some Rare old Public Documents
We're Found Among the Papers
of Mrs. f. F. Thompson.

of Mrs. f. f. Thompson.
Among the many papers and books
which had been carefully preserved by
the late Mrs. r. F. Thompson, of this
city, were found two documents Of con-
siderable interest, which we are priv
ileged to publish this week, and the
originals will be placed with the De-
catur County Historical Society to be
carefully preserved.
One of the papers is The original deed
from DIR. S. G. Thompson and wife to
Decatur county of the forty acres of
land on which now stands the business
section Of the city of Leon. During the
controversy over the building of the
new court house and the question of re-
locating the county seat few years
ago, there was considerable discussion
as to just what the provisions of the
deed were, and the original document
will be perused with great interest by
the general public. The deed is written
in the we'll known handwriting of DR..
Thompson and is upon the blue foolscap
paper which was is general use at the
q time the deed was made in 1866.
The following is the deed, being
marked on the back that it was filed for
record Sept. 1, 1856, and recorded in
Book l, page 500, signed by j. Jordan,
recorder, by g. T. Young, deputy:
For the consideration of the county
seat of Decatur county, Iowa, being To-
Gated on the southwest quarter of the
southwest quarter of section No. twenty
eight and the northwest fourth of the
northwest quarter of section No. thirty
three all in township No. sixty-nine
north of range No. twenty five west and
being and remaining there the perman-
ent seat of justice of said county. We,
Saml G. Thompson and Fidelia F..
Thompson, his wife, do hereby convey
to said county or the legal agents of
said county for the use and benefit Of
said county of Decatur, Iowa, for part
of the seat of justice of the same the
following real estate, viz: Town lots
Numbers three and ten in block No. five
and lots Nos. one, twelve and five in
block No. twelve and lots Nos. three to
ten in block No. twenty and lots Nos.
one, twelve, five and eight in block No.
twenty-seven and lots Nos. one and
eight in block No. six and lots Nos. one
and eight in block No. eleven and lots
Nos. one and eight in block No. twenty
one and lots Nos. one and six in block
No. twenty two in the town of Leon, the
aforesaid county seat of said county,
and we warrant the title to the same
against the lawful claims of all persons
whomsoever. Witness our hands and
seals this twenty-seventh day Of August
A. D. 1886.
SAM'L C. THOMPSON,
FIDELlA r. THOMPSON.
State OF Iowa, 80,
Decatur county, 90
and county courts in and for said
county, by my deputy, sam'l Forrey, do
certify that Sam' G. Thompson and
Fidelia F. Thompson, his wife, are per-
sonally known to me to be the identical
persons whose names are affixed to the
foregoing deed as grantors and that
they acknowledge the signing of the
aforesaid conveyance to be their vol
untary act and deed. Witness my hand
and the seal Of the county court here
unto affixed. Done at Leon this 9th
day of August, A. D. 1866.
SAM'L. M. DUNN, Clerk,
Per SAMUEL FORREY, Dept. Clerk.
The second paper is the financial
statement of the receipts and expend-
itures of Decatur county for the year
ending July 1, 1855, and this also is of
considerable interest. 1t shows that
the total receipts by the county treas
arer from all sources during the year
was ,734 81. The total salaries paid
all the county officials for their service
was $927991. The total tax collected
from all the residents of the county was
only $1,542.17. Today this amount of
tax is paid by two or three citizens of
Decatur county. The total expense of
assessing the entire county was only
S13S00, and it cost for office rent for two
years and fuel for one year the enorm.
Gus sum of $81.25.
The following is the report in full:
Statement of the receipts and expenditures of De-
satur county for the ending July lst A. d. 1855:
Collected by treasurer of delin-
luent taxes for the year 1858
and which has all been dis
bursed upon county warrants SO 81
Revenue of 1854 and disbulsel
upon warrants after deducting
certificates of overplus file l542 II
County revenue on hand in treas
nry lst of July. 1855, as treas
urer's report ...-....,......... 58 27
Total receipts of treasurer for
the year sl654 ri
Collected by county Judge in
county warrants for town lots
IN the south part OF Leon. 80 90
Total receipts of the county for
the year ...-...,. =, -. sl,7a4 81
Amount of delinquent tax for
the year 1853 remaining un-
paid $3.50. -, -. SO 81
Amount OF delinquent tax for
the year 1854 as per abstract
: of assessment rolls of said year SAL 80
Total assetts of the county .... s2,s59 81
EXPENDITURES.
whole amount OF warrants issued
for salaries of county Judge,
clerk and treasurer. s 727 991
Whole amount of warrants issued
for salaries of prosecuting at
torney and sheriff ..... 200 90
Books of record ...............-... II9 90