CORONERS.

(Date of election.)
Martin W. Miller, Aug., 1847, to Aug., 1849. Harvey Adams, Aug., 1849, to Aug., 1851. Martin W. Miller, Aug., 1851, to Aug., 1852. J. V. Pierce, Aug., 1852, to Aug., 1857. M. F. Gerard, Aug., 1857, to Feb., 1859. John Richhart, Feb. 14,1859, to Oct., 1859, by appointment. J. D. Ferguson, Oct., 1859, to Oct., 1863. Levi Diddy, Oct., 1863, to Oct., 1865. Wm. Thornburgh, Oct., 1865, to Oct., 1866. M. E: Coons, Oct., 1866, to Oct., 1873. T. R. Foster, Oct., 1873, to Oct., 1875. Wesley Wright, Oct., 1875. .

PROBATE JUDGES.

Samuel Miller, Aug., 1847, to April, 1848. W m. D. Boone, April. 1848, to Aug., 1848. Uriah Stotts, Aug., 1848, to April, 1849. Samuel Miller, April, 1849, to Aug., 1849.J. C. Goodson. Aug., 1849, to -, 1851.

     The probate business then passed into the hands of the county judge.
See above.

COMMISSIONERS' CLERK.

Samuel Miller, April 5, 1847, to Aug., 1847. S. K. Scovell, Aug., 1847, to May, 1850. Benjamin Greene, May 13, 1850, by appointment. Served until office was abolished.

DRAINAGE COMMISSIONERS.

George Davis, Aug., 1852, to April, 1857. L. L. Collins, April, 1857, to Oct., 1859. Joseph Parker, Oct., 1859, to Oct., 1865. W. H. H. Brown, Oct., 1865, to Oct., 1867. G. L. Robertson, Oct., 1867, to Oct., 1869. 1. D. Redfield, Oct., 1869.

SEALERS OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.

Archibald Crowl, August, 1847, to August, 1848. Z. Babcock, August, 1848.

LOT FUND AGENTS.

Thomas Butler, July, 1847, to __________. F. G. France, ______October, 1850. Benjamin Greene, October, 1850, to August, 1851.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.

William McKay, appointed to serve at the first session of the District Court, April 5, 1847. Henry Stump, April, 1848, to August, 1849. Benjamin Greene, August, 1849, to August. 1851. Leroy Lambert. August, 1851, to August, 1852. E. L. Morse, August, 1852, to August, 1853. Benj. Greene, August, 1853, to August, 1856. Jeremiah Perkins, August, 1856, to August, 1857. Wm. Henry Dodge, August, 1857.

DISTRICT CLERKS.

George S. Hills, April, 1847, to August, 1847. S. K. Scovell, August, 1847, to August, 1850. Andrew Schouten, August, 1850, to November,

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1850. S. K. Scovell, November 19, 1850, to April, 1854. Judah Learning, April, 1854, to August, 1856. Cole Noel, August, 1856, tQ October 15, 1866 (resigned). John Warford was appointed to fin vacancy. J. R. Joy, elected October, 1866, to November, 1868. N. G. Long, November, 1868, to October, 1874. A. O. Hotchkiss, October, 1874--present incumbent; re-elected twice.

SHERIFFS.

Eli Smithson, appointed organizing sheriff by State Legislature. Jesse K. Mi1ler, April, 1847, to August, 1847. Eli Smithson, August, 1847, to August, 1849. Samuel Marrs, August, 1849, to February, 1850. Horatio Morrison, February, 1850, to April, 1850-by appointment. William Ellis, April, 1850, to August, 1850. Irwin O. Hughs, August, 1850, to August, 1852. Wm. Davidson, August, 1852, to August, 1855. Slemmons O. Taylor, August, 1855, to August, 1857. Isaac D. Marsh, August, 1857, to September, 1862. William Ellis, by appointment, September, 1862, to October, 1862. J. M. Byers, October, 1862, to October, 1871. A. W. Haines, October, 1871, to October, 1875. Shubal J. Ellis, October, 1875, to October, 1877. J. W. Bly, October 9, 1877-present incumbent.

ASSESSORS.

Isaac Miller, elected April 5,1847, but no office being authorized yet, did not qualify. The duties of the office were performed by the sheriff for several years. S. F. Graham, April, 1857-1858, when the office was abolished.

TREASURERS AND RECORDERS.

Levi A. Davis, April, 1847, to August, 1847. J. C. Corbell, August, 1841, to August, 1849. Samuel Dilley, August, 1849, to November, 1850. S. K. Scovell, November, 1850, to August, 1851. R. Y. Irwin, August, 1851, to April, 1852. J. W. Hays, April, 1852, to August, 1855. Jacob P. Eckles, August, 1855, to October, 1859. F. S. Graham, October, 18'59, to November, 1864. The office was then divided.
TREASURERS (ALONE).
F. S. Graham, November, 1864, to June, 1867 (resigned). S. J. Garoutte, appointed to fill vacancy. John Maulsby, October, 1867, to October, 1869. S. J. Garoutte, October, 1869, to October, 1873. Thomas C. Walsh, October, 1873, to October, 1875. Jesse Macey, October, 1875, to October, 1877. E. H. Conger, October, 1877-present incumbent.

RECORDERS (ALONE).

Jeremiah Perkins, November, 1864, to November, 1868. J. W. Coons, November, 1868, to October, 1874. J. W. Mattox, October, 1874, to October, 1878. J. G. Howe, October, 1878-present incumbent.

AUDITORS.

Jeremiah Perkins, October, 1869, to October, 1871. Z. W. Kelly, October, 1871, to October, 1877. L. Swearingen, October, 1877-present incumbent.

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SURVEYORS.

Martin W. Miller, April, 1847, to August, 1849. John S. Sammis, August, 1849, to October, 1849. Aaron L. Johns, October, 1849, to August, 1850. S. K. Scovell, August, 1850, to November, 1850. O. D. Smalley, November, 1850, to August, 1855. Adam Buck, August, 1855, to August, 1857. Jno. T. Jackson, August, 1857, to November, 1860. John W. Wright; November, 1860, to October, 1863. W. S. M. Abbott, October, 1863, to November, 1864. John W. Wright, November, 1864, to October, 1865. H. H. Moffatt, October, 1865, to October, 1867. Thomas C. Walsh, October, 1867 (never qualified). A. J Lyons, by appointment, to November, 1868. E. T. Abbott, November, 1868, to October_ 1870. J. A. Carrothers, October, 1870, to October, 1871. J. T. Jackson, October, 1871, to October, 1875. A. A. Nolan, October, 1875-present incumbent.

SCHOOL FUND OOMMISSIONERS.

S. K. Scovell, April, 1848, to April, ] M9. Ira Sherman, April, 1849, to April, 1850. Bejamin [Benjamin?] Greene, April, 1850, to April, 1852. Leroy Lambert, April, 1852 to 1857. S. K. Scovell, April, 1857-1858.

COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.

(Office established April, 1858.)
James O. Reed, April, 1858, to June, 1859. John W. Boyle, by appointment, June, 1859, to October, 1859. Joseph R. Reed, October, 1859, to May, 1860. S. B. Hempstead, by appointment, May, 1860, to November, 1860. M. C. Twitchell, November, 1860, to October, 1865. William Hastings, October, 1865, to October, 1867. Amos Dilly, October, 1867; to October, 1871. A. E. Simons, October, 1871, to October, 1873. J. M. Crocker, October, 1873, to October, 1875. Amos Dilley, October, 1875present incumbent; re-elected in 1877.

JURORS-1879.

The following is a list of the men drawn to act as grand and petit jurors at the next term of District Court, which commences at Adel, March 31st:

Grand Jurors._D. Sutherland, J. M. McLucas, Jno. McOormick, E. M. Jones, Elisha Bennet, J. F. Coulter, W. H. H. Binns, H. Stitzel, J. S. DeMotte, Cyrus Parcel, Jesse Macy, W. W. Waldo, R. M. Lee, W. P. Dills, .N. M. Y. Ustick.

Petit Jurors.-G. W. Halley, Geo. Blackman, Ira Edwards, R. H. Ross, C. W. Patch, P. Wagner, Sr., J. Ludington, H. Estes, J. L. Carter, T. H. Brenton, C. Squires, G. W. Roland, Jacob Hougham, David Crane, D. C. Bligh.

REPRESENTATIVES.

J. C. Goodson and Benjamin Greene, 1852-53. Ezra Van Fossen, 1854-56. Benjamin Greene, 1856-58. Leroy Lambert, 1858-60-the last of the district representatives. The first representative that Dallas county, alone, sent to the house was Leroy Lambert, 1859-61. Peter T. Russell, 1861-63. Elwood -Lindley, 1863-65. W. S. M. Abbott, 1865-67. Leroy Lambert, 1867-69. Cole Noel, 1869-71. Hugo G. Van Meter, 1871-73. John McLucas, 1873-75. T. C. Norris, 1875-1877. W. S. Russell, 1877-79.

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SENATORS.

James Redfield, 1862-66. Only served during one session, when he was appointed lieutenant-colonel of 39th Iowa Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Allatoona, Ga., October 5, 1864. His term in the Senate was served out by some one from another county.

The remaining senators elected from this county were: Joseph R. Reed, 1866-70. Henry Thornburgh, 1870-74.

CIRCUIT JUDGES.

John Mitchell, 1868-78. S. A. Callvert, the present incumbent, was appointed by the Governor, June 1st, 1878, and elected October, 1878. He is the first and only one elected to that position from this county.

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DISTRICT JUDGES AND JUDICIAL DISTRICTS.

     Dallas county has not yet furnished a district judge from the ranks of her citizens; but we give the names of the different judges presiding over the I District Court in the county, and the judicial districts to which they belonged, together with the various changes in those districts until they were settled in the present form.

     Hon. James P. Charlton, the first district judge who presided in Dallas county, belonged to the Fourth Judicial District, and was the only judge from that district who presided over a term of court in this county until after the change. Originally, the fourth district was composed of the counties of Benton, Boone, Dallas, Iowa, Jasper, Johnson, Linn, Marshall, Polk, Poweshiek, Story and Tama. But, in 1849, Washington county was annexed to it, from the first district, and Dallas, Boone, Jasper, Marshall, Polk and Story counties were detached, to form the new Fifth Judicial District, consequently, Charlton was no longer the presiding judge here.

     Dallas county remained in the fifth district about seven years, and during that time the following district judges presided over court, in Adel:

     Hon. William McKay, of Polk county, presided over the second term of District Court held in the county, June 4, 1849, as shown by the records. He was elected to that office April 2, 1849, and commissioned April 27, just two years after the date of Hon Charlton's commission.

     Hon. McKay continued as the presiding judge here until after the May term of court, 1854.

     Hon. Phineas M. Casady, of Polk county, was elected as his successor, April 3, 1854; qualified June 1st, and then resigned without serving even lone term.

     Hon. Charles J. McFarland, of Boone county, was appointed in his place by Governor Hempstead, in May, 1854; qualified in July, and presided over the October term of the district court in Dallas county .the same year.

     Hon. Wm. W. Williamson, of Polk county, was declared elected as his successor on April 2, 1855, and qualified the 11th; but this election was contested, and the contest was decided January 10, 1856, in favor of Hon. Charles J. McFarland, who qualified the same day, and resumed the duties of his office, continuing to preside over the district court, Dallas county until December, 1856, when a change in judicial districts was again made, and Dallas, Jasper, Marion and Polk counties were detached from the Fifth to aid in forming the new Eleventh Judicial District, and McFarland was no longer the presiding judge in Dallas.

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     Hon. W m. M. Stone, of Marion county, was elected the first judge of this new Eleventh District, April 6, 1857; was commissioned April 23, and served in that capacity until January 1, 1859.

     In accordance with Article V of the Constitution of 1857 the fourteen old judicial districts, formed under the constitution of 1846, were superseded by eleven new districts, the judges and district attorneys of which entered severally upon their duties January 1, 1859.

     Under the last change Dallas county again became part of the Fifth Judicial District in connection with Adair, Guthrie, Madison Polk and Warren counties, which position it still retains.

     Hon. John H. Gray was the first judge of this new district, after the change under the constitution of 1857.

     He was first elected October 12, 1858; was re-elected October 14, 1862, and served in that capacity with great acceptance for more than seven years, until October 14, 1865, when he died, highly esteemed and sadly lamented by all who knew him.

     Hon. Charles C. Nourse was duly appointed his successor by Governor Wm. M. Stone, October 16, 1865; .qualified October 20, and in less than a year resigned; this resignation to take effect August 1, 1866.

     Hon, Hugh Maxwell was appointed to fill the vacancy until October 9, 1866, when he was elected by the people, and was re-elected October 11, 1870, serving out his second full term of office, and occupying the position more than eight years.

     Hon. John Leonard was elected as his successor October 13, 1874, entering upon the duties of his office the first of January following, and faithfully served his four years' term in an acceptable manner.

     Hon, W, H. McHenry was elected as his successor October 8, 1878, and is therefore the present incumbent.

COUNTY FINANCES.

     The financial management of Dallas county has always been an economical one.

     Opposed to running the county in debt, its financiers have never permitted useless extravagance or rash expenditure, and in the opinion of some have at times ignored the best interests of the county by a too conservative management.

     The county taxes have been comparatively light, and generally judiciously extended.

     In the early days county orders were sometimes considerably below par, selling at from sixty to seventy cents on the dollar; but this was years ago, and the present high standard of county warrants brings contract bids down to a cash basis, securing for the county full work for the orders drawn.

     No money has ever been paid out of the county treasury for any railroads through its territory, nor has any very great amount ever been spent for the erection at public buildings.

     At the April election. 1857, a vote was carried ordering that a new courthouse be built, and paid for out of the treasury fund to the amount of about $10,000; a poor farm was purchased and fitted up by the county; a good brick jail was built about six years ago at a cost of about $5,000; and a few years ago a brick building was erected in the court yard for the offices of treasurer, clerk and recorder, which cost also about $5,000. The above

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items constitute about the bulk of the expenditure from the county treasury for public buildings for county use, aside from that drawn from the school fund for the erection of school-houses, which latter fund has been quite liberally drawn upon and judiciously expended to the credit of the county.

     The outstanding county warrants only amount to about $5,000, the greater per cent of which is not due yet, and the bond indebtedness is little over $4,000, making the entire indebtedness of the county at present a little less than $10,000, which this year's levy will entirely cancel, leaving the county on a square footing, and making a most creditable showing for the financial management of the county.

     The long concealed wealth of the county now begins to become available, so that it would be a very easy matter to borrow a few hundred, or even many thousands of dol1ar on the public credit, in comparison with what it was nearly thirty-two years ago, when the credit of the county could not secure for it the meager sum of $200 with which to enter the "town quarter" selected as the seat of justice.

     The wealth and value were here at that time, as well as now, hid deep down in the earth and mixed in the fertile soil; but these were not then available, and the mere prospect of them was not sufficient security for obtaining the ready cash in any considerable amount, since that most important article was even much more scarce then than now in these much criticized and sadly abused days of "specie resumption."

     As people, in those early days, did not dream that the county would attain the present stage of development in thirty years, so now no one can estimate the advancement it will make in thirty years to come.

TREASURER'S REPORT OF 1878.

County treasurer's semi-annual report of receipts and disbursements of the several funds examined and approved:

Click on images for larger size
E. H. Conger	Report

376     Valuation and Tax Report of 1879

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thirty years, when the amount of the assessment in the county, as taken by Jesse K. Miller, in 1847, was only $2,403.75, which amount included all the personal property and money then in the county subject to taxation, and the population of the county during those thirty years has increased from the few hundred to some sixteen or seventeen thousand, perhaps more.

BRIDGES.

     Owing to the great number of rivers and running streams throughout the county, there are few counties that have been called upon for larger expenditures for bridges than Dallas, in proportion to the age of the county and number of inhabitants, and in this respect the response of the people has been liberal. Crossed as the county is by four rivers and a great number of large creeks and numerous smaller streams that require bridging-, the expense of building and maintaining bridges for the convenience of the public has been considerable, and as a result the county is already furnished with a large supply of good bridges.

     In many cases substantial iron bridges have been constructed, both arch and truss, varying in cost of construction from eight hundred to several thousand dollars. There is a larger number of good substantial wood bridges, however, in the county, most of which were built by Mr. Jonathan Peppard, of Union township. The county being favored with having a good bridge-builder and contractor within its own limits, who always aims to give eminent satisfaction in his work, has very naturally and properly employed him in their contracts, and has, therefore, a great many of his wooden bridges, as this is the only kind he contracts for.

     There are two good wagon bridges across the main branch of the Raccoon river. one at Booneville, and one at Van Meter; three or four across the South Raccoon; two or three across the Middle Raccoon; and some seven or eight across the North Raccoon river, besides a great many of minor importance across the different creeks and smaller streams rendering crossing quite convenient and sate to almost all parts of tae county.

     There is one good railroad bridge within the county limits, situated near Booneville, built in 1869, by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company; and another one is now under contract and process of building across the North Raccoon east of Adel, by Jonathan Peppard, for the Des Moines, Adel and Western Railroad Company, the following account of which is clipped from the Dallas County News:

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THE BRIDGE.

     "After days and weeks of hard work and close figuring the officials of the Des Moines, Adel & Western R. R. Company have succeeded in selling a sufficient number of bonds to justify them in contracting for the erection of a bridge across 'Coon river at this place, and consequently last Saturday the contract was awarded to Jonathan Peppard, with the stipulation that it should be completed within ninety days, and we understand Mr. Peppard says it will not require over sixty. It is to be what is termed a combination bridge, of two spans, each a hundred feet, an approach on the east of two hundred feet and on the west of about ten feet, the whole to cost $4,770. And now in a very short time Adel can truthfully boast of a railroad which will, beyond doubt, be a paying institution, whereas heretofore

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it has scarcely paid its running expenses. By the time the bridge is completed there will already have been erected a good, substantial depot on this side of the river, the necessary switches put in at either end of the road, and at least one passenger coach ready for business.

     "The people along the line west are anxiously waiting for spring to open so they can commence work on the grade, and ere the year 1879 closes Des Moines, Waukee, Adel, Redfield and Panora will be connected by railroad. Three cheers for our little narrow gauge, which has forever settled the question of the removal of the county seat, and put Adel in a fair way to make one of the finest and most prosperous towns in the West."

     "The board of supervisors, last Saturday, let the contract for an iron bridge across South 'Coon at Maulsby's Ford, just north of Dexter, to the King bridge company of Cleveland, Ohio. They also let the contract for a similar bridge at Van Meter."—January 17, 1879.

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POOR FARM.

     Asylums for the poor, the disabled and the orphans are distinctively Christian institutions, which are becoming more and more numerous and efficient in these latter days. It has been frequently remarked that among heathen nations, Rome, Greece and Macedon, no State institutions were ever established for the use of the destitute; but in this age a State, or even a county of any considerable age or advancement, would be considered .far behind the advance of progress without some provision being made for the relief and care of paupers and destitute ones.

     In this respect Dallas county has used diligent efforts toward performing its duty of public benevolence in providing a poor farm for its paupers, and in endeavoring to keep that in proper condition to provide for the comfort of all who may be deemed proper subjects for such public care and aid.

     This institution has not yet become self-sustaining, but is supported by the county fund when the income is not sufficient.

     It is located on the southwest quarter of section eight (8), township seventy-nine (9), range twenty-seven (27), 160 acres.

It was purchased by the county from Cyrus Hemphill, June 9, 1869, at a cost of about $4,000, and the deed was filed for record June 11 of that year. More land was afterward purchased by the county, adjoining the first quarter-section purchased, increasing the amount to two hundred acres, and the necessary improvements have since been made year by year.

     The following report, made February 18,1875, by a committee appointed by the board of supervisors to inspect the poor farm, shows the improvements that have been made and the condition of things at that date:

To the Honorable Board of Supervisors:

GENTLEMEN--I would respectfully report that I have inspected the poor farm of Dallas county, Iowa, and make the following statement:

There are two hundred acres of land, of which something over one hundred acres are improved and in good cultivation.

The fences are in good repair, buildings all new and in good order. The dwelling-house is 30x45 feet. There are thirteen rooms in the house and a good cellar under the house.

There is a good, new barn, and the appearance of everything indicates good management.

There is now on the farm 2,000 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of wheat, about 150 bushels of oats, about 15 tons of hay.

There were about 1,500 lbs, of pork put up for the use of said farm, There are 150 head of hogs, that will average about 120 lbs, each; four milk cows, worth $120; three calves,

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worth $25; one span of horses, worth $300; one new wagon, worth $95; one pair of bobsleds worth $20; one good stirring plow, one good stalk-cutter, one harrow, one corn-planter, and there should be, before spring work commences, two new cultivators furnished.

All of which is respectfully submitted, this.16th day of February, 1875.

LEM. WARFORD.

     Other changes and improvements have been made during the past three years, and the farm is still kept in good repair by the county.

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