The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-11-02

pledged by the trustees was placed
In the county treasury, which was
certified to the legislature.
At the first election the vote stood
as follows: Fort Madison, 465 votes;
Franklin, 435 votes; West Point, 800
votes. Total, 1920 votes
No election resulting a second sose
was taken which resulted as follows:
Fort Madison, $50 votes; Franklin,
AT votes; total, 1896 votes, giving
Fort Madison majority Of 264 This
is the vote given in one OF the his
tories OF Lee county, but they are evil
IDENTIFY incorrect, as the figures will
not prove by any rule Of arithmetic
taught In the schools and colleges of
Iowa or any other state
| Fort Madison, however, evidently
won and 1t was so declared, and ac-
tive preparations began at once for
the erection of the county buildings
as pledged.
While these buildings were being
constructed, 1t Is said, that con;bi
nation was formed by Franklin and
West Point against Fort Madison and
petition was sent to the next legis-
latnre asking that the county seat
question be reopened. The people or
Fort Madison met the issue with an
address by the mayor and alderman
in which they reviewed the contro-
yersy from the beginning, but 1t
proved Of no avail and the legislature
| passed an act entitled: can act to re-
locate the county seat Of Lee county,
which was approved January 10, 1843,
and commissioners were appointed
under the act. These commissioners
met at the town of Franklin and de.
| cided to locate the county seat at
West Point which they considered the
most eligible point under their in
strnctions in the act in pursuance Of
which they were acting, the citizens
of West Point filing an obligation in
reference to the building of court
house under the supervision of the
county authorities.
In an editorial in R. w. Albright's
Lee county Democrat Of Fort Madi-
son, 1t was explained that mutual
! arrangement had been entered into by
the people of the contending points
and the citizens OF Fort Madison that
4 the county seat should remain at Fort
Madison for one year after site had
been selected by the comm ssioners
and arrangements agreed upon for the
disposal Of the court house at Fort
Madison, two-thirds of the expense OF
which was met by Fort Madison
4 West Point kept her pledge and
built the court house.
Then scheme was concoctsd to di
4 vide the county and form a new coun
!. ty to be called Madison. An act tt
this effect was passed by the legisla
ture and approved February is, 1914
by which the question of division wal
submitted to the qualified voters al
the April election, 1914, which result
ed as follows: Against division, 9o2;
for division, 713. The scheme was
!, defeated by majority Of 239 votes.
This result did not quiet the county
seat agitation and the legislature was
. again petitioned to open the question
In answer to this petition an act, en-
titled, IAN act to relocate the seat o
! justice of Lee county, was passed
and approved June 10, 1915, by which
the question was referred to the PEG
pie and an election authorized to bs
held on the first Monday in Angus
at which election Fort Madison, Yves
i Point, Keokuk, Franklin. Mon ros'
and Charleston were the candidates
!. resulting as follows: Fort Madison
1854; West Point, 30s; Franklin. 1926
| Keokuk, 2OS; Montrose, 2S7; Charles
ton. A.
There being no choice. at an cleo
ton held the first Monday in Septen1
+ IL