Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-06-10
Audubon County
Early History
HON. III. f. ANDREWS
1855

1879
The year 1855 was an eventful one
in the annals of Audubon county.
Many new settlers came. So far as
ascertaned they We're: David L. An
derson, Norman Archer, Alonzo N.
Arnold, William f. Ballard, John w.
Benedict, Erasmus D. Bradley, James
M. Brown, Daniel Crane, John Crane,
Stephen Deborde, George Durham,
Isaac p. lIallock, ST.: DR.. Richard S.
Hallock, John A. Hallock. Isaac p.
Hallock, .Ir.: Franklin Hobbs, Moses
Hickman, Samuel Hickman, William
Holcroft, Lewis Hummell, Reuben c.
Kenyon, Alexander S. Kincade, Rob
ert A. Oliphant, William Pangburn,
Zelotes A. Phelps, Homer Phelps,
Thomas Roland Rev. Richard G.
Meek, Allen Mcdonald, Oliver Smith,
Michael Scharff, William B. Stone,
Colbert Strahl, George w. Tyler, Will
liam Walker, Nathaniel Virgins, Will
liam Virgins, and perhaps others.
Most of those who came brought fam
lilies, which will be hereafter noticed.
The DR.. Ballard seam saw mill was
erected this year on the east side Of
the Botna river, in section Is, near
his residence, which continued until
some time in the latter part of the
los, and did considerable work. 1t
was the second Saw-mill in the county.
John Countryman built the first in
section "a, on Troublesome, the previ-
Gus year. 1t was water mill and a
limited affair.
The most important events in 1856
were the organization of the county,
the election of officers and the loca-
ton of the county seat at Dayton.
i In 1858 the Legislature passed an
enabling act for the organization of
new counties.
| CHAP. u, 4th G. A. Approved Jan.
~, 1858, among other things made the
following provisions on the subject:
SEC. ,. Whenever the citizens of
any unorganized county desire tie have
the same organized, they may make
application by petition in writing,
signed by majority of the legal vot
ers of said county, to the County Judge
of the county to which such morgan
!, lied county is attached: whereupon
, said County Judge shall order an cleo
ton for county officers in such unor-
ganized county. Notice of said cleo
ton must be given, the election CON
Quoted and the returns thereof made
, to the organized county to which the
same was attached, and canvassed in
the manner prescribed by law for fill
: ing vacancies in county offices.
SEC. 3. The bonds of the county
; officers shall be given to the new
county,;sand transferred to the proper
officers as soon as they shall become
I legally qualified to act.
SEC. 3. That the majority of the
citizens of any county, after becoming
SO organized. may petition the Dist
riot Judge in whose Judicial District
the same is situated, during vaca ton
r of the General Assembly, whose duty
it shall be to appoint the commission
{ ers from three different adjoining
2 the county seat for such county. ac-
cording to the provisions of this act.
[ SEC. 6. Said Commissioners within
: two months after receiving notice OF
fc,, ,f,,An ,,f <.ff
i shall locate the Seat of Justice of said
!, county as near the geographical cen.
/. ter as may be, having due regard fol
5 the present, as we'll as the future pop.
p ulation. and when thus located it shall
: be the permanent county seat for such
i county.
1t will be recalled that Audubon
!. county was at that time attached as q
e civil township to Cass county for loca
governmental purposes.
Under provision of the foregoing
statute, application was made by the
u citizens of this county by petition tt
j. w. Benedict, County Judge of Cas-
county, praying the organization Of
. the county and for an order for county
J. officers.
1t is traditional that this petition
was presented by the late Peoria l
Whitfield, and the proper order for the
: election obtained. And that Mr.
Whitfield was the acting sheriff who
: gave and published the order for the
= election, to be held at the house OF
: John S. jenkins on April =, 1855.
Mr. Jenkins cabin was then located
on section %, in what is now Exir;
township.
" The Judges OF Election were Johr
S. Jenkins, Walter j. Jardine an6
|: Isaac V. ID. Lewis: the Clerks were
t John w. Beers and Carlos e. Frost.
}, An incident of the election was re
n lated to the writer by Mr.. |. V. ID
S Lewis and Mr.. John T. Jenkins. The