Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-07
q. r. Marsh Untang1es Some
Interesting County History

Theodore r. NArsh, who. from his
work - an abstractor. has kept inti-
t,ately posted on many phases of coun-
ty history. addresses q communication
to the Times in which he
takes exceptions to some statements
made In the recent county historical
society meeting. relative to the system,
Of county Judges. Mr.. Marsh presents
historical data based on records in his
communication. which follows:
Editor Times-Republican: Upon
reading the account Of the recent meet
Ing of the Historical Society OF Mar
shall county. contained In the T.-R. Of
recent date the writer was impressed
with the thought that the county
iudgeship matter. as reported. was mis-
leading to a degree scarcely warranted
by authentic history. This writer has
been quite closely connected with coun-
~ affairs since early In 1872, and in
his business OF tracing land htlns upon
the records has. Of necessity, become
conversant with the business Of the
developed upon the records. and feeling
a desire to remove some possible mis-
ventures some further
statements concerning It,
Actual inspection OF the records
shows that the office OF county Judg Q
began with the organization Of the
county about 1851, and continued until
the close Of 1868. the incumbents OF
that office having been as follows.
~ Wesley Walker, signing himself
Judge of probate from the organiza-
ton to about May. 1851.
John Il. Hobbs for the rest of 1851
and 1852.
William c. Smith from close Of
Judge Hobbs term to January. 1850
William Battin from January. 1860,
to January. 1862. t:t
"R. Howe Taylor from January. 1862,
to January. 1854. ,,,
Edwin a Rice from January. 1864.
to January. 1866.
Truman A. Lampmon from January.
1866, to January. 1863. when The Office
Of county Judge ceased to exist.
Judge Lampman's last entry as
county Judge was made Jan. 2. 1889. be-
ing minute Of approval of the repor.
of the guardian Of Frank NJ. Wheeler,
minor a well-known resident Of this
county to the present day. The judges
last marriage license was issued Dec.
80. 1865. for the marriage Of Sylvester
Bennett to Rachel Brunton.
1.-THE idea advanced that Judge Bat
tin was the last county Judge. doubtless
arose from the fact that in 1851 the
newly created board of supervisors re-
lieved the county judEefrom several OF
the increasing duties supposed by the
rapidly increasing population Of the
county, but the most important judicial
OF Judge of probate-re-
NAMED under his jurisdiction until the
circuit court was authorized in 1858,
and assumed the jurisdiction in pro-
bate matters In JANUARY. 1859.
"The first case field i'm circuit court
was on Jan. 4, 1859. l9 -
1.-The writer also feels that an UNI
just dispersion is cast upon the memory
OF William c. Smith in the intimation
that the county seat war was caused
by his action.
That contest was simply a bitter
contest between the then rival towns
Marietta. which was in possession OF
the county seat. and Marshall-that
wanted 1t badly, In which contest Mar
shall mustered the most votes and pre-
scented the stronger case in the dis
trict and supreme courts of the state.
1.-THE district court has continued
from the organization
Of the county to the present time. and
has had full jurisdiction in law and
equity cases and criminal matters. and
was always superior to the county
judges or any other county official.
'sThe most important and compre-
hensive changes in county affairs took
place about 1868. resulting In the fol-
lowing:
.Abolishing the office Of county
Judge.
"Organizing the circuit court. which
was given jurisdiction in law and equf-
ty cases and all probate matters.
1.-THE setting up Of the, office of coun-
ty auditor.
THE change from the township dis
trict system Of the board Of super
visors, under which the county was
divided. into supervisor districts. each
Of which elected it's members to the
OpllOH VI cAcCliHs liAS0 sACAIOSAS W
the county at large.
From the organization Of the board
Of supervisors, to the introduction OF
the auditors office. the clerk OF the
district court, usually termed the coun-
ty clerk. was also the clerk OF the
board of supervisors, Cancelled mort
cages running to the county. and pre-
pared the tax lists.
with the Introduction Of the au-
ditor's office the auditor prepared the
tax lists and took charge Of the trans
A<.4,o nAoen nos,ee