OFFICIAL RECORD.
174
TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.
Governors--Robert
Lucas,1838-41; John Chambers, 1841-45;
James
Clarke, 1845.
Secretaries-William B. Conway,
1838, died 1839; James Olarke,1839;
O. H. W. Stull, 1841; Samuel. Burr,
1843; Jesse Williams, 1845.
Auditors-Jesse Williams, 1840;
W m. L. Gilbert, 1843; Robert M. Secrest,
1845.
Treasurers-Thornton Bayliss,
1839; Morgan Reno, 1840.
Judges-Charles Mason, Chief
Justice, 1838; Joseph Williams, 1838;
Thomas S. Wilson, 1838.
Presidents of Council-Jesse
B. Browne, 1838-9; Stephen Hempstead,
1839-40; M. 13ainridge, 1840-1; Jonathan
W. Parker, 1841-2; John D. Elbert,
1842-3; Thomas Cox, 1843-4; S. Clinton
Hastings, 1845; Stephen Hempstead,
1845-6.
Speakers of the House.-William
H. Wallace, 1838-9; Edward Johnston,
1839-40; Thomas Cox, 1840-1; Warner
Lewis, 1841-2; James M. Morgan, 1842-3;
James P. Carleton, 1843-4; James M.
Morgan, 1845; George W. McCleary,
1845-6.
First Constitutional Convention,
1844-Shepherd Leffier, President;
Geo. S. Hampton, Secretary.
Second Constitutional Convention,
1846-Enos Lowe, President; William
Thompson, Secretary.
OFFICERS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
Governors-Ansel Briggs, 1846
to 1850; Stephen Hempstead, 1850 to
1854; James W. Grimes, 1854 to 1858;
Ralph P. Lowe, 1858 to 1860; Samuel
J. Kirkwood, 1860 to 1864; William
M. Stone, 1864 to 1868; Samuel Merrill,
1868 to 1872; Cyrus C. Carpenter,
1872 to 1876; Samuel ;T. Kirkwood,
1876 to 1877; Joshua G. Newbold, Acting,
1877 to 1_78; John H. Gear, 1878 to__.
Lieutenant Governors---Office
created by the, new Constitution September
3, 1857 -Oran, Faville, 1858-9; Nicholas.
J., Rusch, 1860-1; John R. Needham,
1862-3; Enoch W. Eastman, 1864-5;
Benjamin F. Gue, 186667; John Scott,
1868-9; M. M. Walden, 1870-1; H. C.
Bulis, 1872-3; Joseph Dysart, 1874-5;
Joshua G. Newbold, 1876-7; Frank T.
Campbell, 1878 to __.
Secretaries of State-Elisha
Cutler, Jr., Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec.
4, 1848; Josiah H. Bonney, Dec. 4,
1848, to Dec. 2, 1850; George W. McCleary,
Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec. 1, 1856; Elijah
Sells, Dec. 1, 1856, to Jan. 5, 1863;
James Wright, Jan. 5, ]863, to Jan.
7, 1867; Ed. Wright, Jan. 7, 1867,
to Jan. 6, 1873; Josiah T. Young,
Jan. 6, 1873, to 1879; J. A. T. Hull,
1879 to__.
Auditors of State-Joseph T.
Fales, Dec. 5, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850;
William Pattee, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec.
4, 1854; Andrew J. Stevens, Dec, 4,
1854, resigned in 1855; John Pattee,
Sept. 22,1855, to Jan. 3, 1859;
175
Jonathan W. Cattell,
1859 to 1865; John A. Elliott, 1865
to 1871; John Russell, 1811 to 1875;
Buren R. Sherman, 1875 to-.
Treasurers of State-Morgan
Reno, Dec. 18, 1846, to Dec. 2, 1850;
Israel Kister, Dec. 2, 1850, to Dec.
4, 1852; .Martin L. Morris, Dec. 4,
1852, to Jan. 2, 1859; John W. Jones,
1859 to 1863; William H. Holmes, 1863
to 1867; Samuel E. Rankin, 1867 to
1873; William Christy, 1873 to 1877;
George W. Bemis, 1877 to __.
Superintendents of Public Instruction-Office
created in 1847--James Harlan, June
5, 1847 (Supreme Court decided election
void); Thomas H. Benton, Jr., May
23, 18H, to June 7,185-1; James D.
Eads, 1854-1; Joseph O. Stone, March
to June, 1851; Maturin L. Fisher,
1857 to Dec., 1858, when the office
was abolished and the duties of the
office devolved upon the Secretary
of the Board of Education.
Secretaries of Board of Education-Thomas
H. Benton, Jr., 18591863; Oran Faville;
Jan. 1, 1864. Board abolished March
23,1864.
Superintendents of Public Instruction-Office
re-created March 23, 1864:-0ran Faville,
March 28, 1864, resigned March 1,
1867; D, Franklin Wens, March 4, 1867,
to Jan., 1870; A. S. Kissen, 18'i0
to 1872; Alonzo Abernethy, 1872 to
1877; Carl W. von Coelln, 1877 to
__.
Registers of the State Land Office-Anson
Hart, May 5,1855, to May 13, 1857;
Theodore S. Parvin, :May 13, 1857,
to Jan. 3, 1859; Amos 13. Miller,
Jan. 3, 1859, to October, 1862; Edwin
Mitchell, Oct. 31, 1862, to Jan. 5,
1863; Josiah A. Harvey, Jan. 5,1863,
to Jan. 7, 1867; Cyrus C. Carpenter,
Jan. 7, 1867, to January, 1871; Aaron
Brown, January, 1871, to January,
1875; David Secor, January, 1875 to
1879; J. K. Powers, 1879 to-.
State Binders-Office created
February 21, 1855- William M. Coles,
May 1, 1855, to May 1, 1859; Frank
M. Mills, 1859 to 1867; James S. Carter,
1867 to 1870; J. J. Smart, 1870 to
1874; H. A. Perkins, 1874 to 1875;
James J. Smart, 1875 to 1876; H. A.
Perkins, 1876 to 1879; Matt. C. Parrott,
1879 to __.
State Printers-Office created Jan.
3, 1840-Garrett D. Palmer and George
Paul, 1849; William H. Merritt, 1851
to 1853; William A. Hornish, 1853
(resigned May 16, 1853); Mahoney &
Dorr, 1853 to 1855; Peter Moriarty,
1855 to 1857; John Teesdale, 1857
to 1861; Francis W. Palmer, 1861 to
1869; Frank M. Mills, 1869 to 1870;
G. W. Edwards, 1870 to 1872; R. P.
Clarkson, 1872 to 1879; Frank M. Mills,
1879 to --.
Adjutants General--Daniel S.
Lee, 1851-5; Geo. W. McCleary, 1855-7;
Elijah Sells, 1851; Jesse Bowen, 1857-61;
Nathaniel B. Baker, 1861 to 1877;
John H. Looby, 1877 to 1878; Noble
Warwick, resigned; G. L. Alexander,
1878 to --.
Attorneys General--David C.
Cloud, 1853-56; Samuel A. Rice, 185660;
Charles O. Nourse, 1861-4; Isaac L.
Allen, 1865 (resigned January, 1866);
Frederick E. Bissell, 18136 (died
June 12, 1867); Henry O'Connor, 1867-72;
Marsena E. Cutts, 1872-6; John F.
McJunkin, 1877 to__.
Presidents of the Senate-Thomas
Baker, 1846-7; Thomas Hughes,
1848; John J. Selman, 1848-9; Enos
Lowe, 1850-1; William E. Leffingwell,
1852-3; Maturin L. Fisher, 1854-5;
William W. Hamilton, 1856-7. Under
the new Constitution, the Lieutenant
Governor is President of the Senate.
Speakers of the House-Jesse
B. Browne, 1847-8; Smiley H. Bonhan,
1849-50; George Temple, 1851-2: James
Grant, 1853-4; Reuben Noble,
176
1855-6; Samuel McFarland,
1856-7; Stephen n. Sheledy, 1858-9;
John Edwards, 1860-1; Rush Clark_
1862-3; Jacob Butler, 1864--5; Ed.
Wright, 1866-7; John Russell, 1868-9;
Aylett R. Cotton, 1870-1; James Wilson,
1872-3; John H. Gear, 1874-7; John
Y. Stone, 1878.
New Constitutional Convention,
1857: Francis Springer, President;
Thos. J. Saunders, Secretary.
STATE OFFICERS, 1878,
John H. Gear,
Governor; Frank T. Campbell, Lieutenant
Governor; Josiah T. Young, Secretary
of State; Buren, R. Sheaman, Auditor
of State; Geo. W. Bemis Treasurer
of State; David Secor, Register of
State Land Office; John H. Looby,
Adjutant-General; John F. McJunken.
Attorney-General; Mrs. Ada North,
State Librarian; Edward J. Holmes,
Clerk Supreme Court; John S. Runnells,
Reporter Supreme Court; Carl W. von
Ceolln, Superintendent Public Instruction;
Richard P. Clarkson, State Printer;
Henry A. Perkins, State Binder; Prof.
Nathan R. Leonard, Superintendent
of Weights and Measures; William H.
Fleming, Governor's Private Secretary;
Fletcher W. Young, Deputy Secretary
of State; John C. Parish, Deputy Auditor
of State; Erastus G. Morgan, Deputy
Treasurer of State; ,John M. Davis,
Deputy Register Land Office; Ira C.
Kling, Deputy Superintendent Public
Instruction.
STATE OFFICERS, 1879.
John H. Gear,
Governor; Frank T. Campbell, Lieutenant-Governor;
J. A. T. Bull, Secretary of State;
Buren R. Sherman, Auditor of State;
George W. Bemis, Treasurer of State;
J. K. Powers, Register of State Land
Office; G. L. Alexander, Adjutant-General'
John F. McJunken, Attorney-General;
Mrs. Sadie B. Maxwell, State Librarian;
Edward J. Holmes, Clerk Supreme Court;
John S. Runnells, Reporter Supreme
Court; Carl W. von Coelln, Superintendent
Public Instruction; Frank M. Mills,
State ,Printer; Matt C. Parrott, State
Binder.
THE JUDICIARY,
SUPREME COURT OF IOWA.
Chief Justices.-Charles
Mason, resigned in June, 1847; Joseph
Williams, Jan., 1847, to Jan., 1848;
S. Clinton Hastings, Jan., 1848, to
Jan., 1849; Joseph Williams, Jan.,
1849, to Jan. 11, 1855; George G.
Wright, Jan. 11, 1855, to Jan., 1860;
Ralph P. Lowe, Jan., 1860, to Jan.
1, 1862; Caleb Baldwin, Jan., 1862,
to Jan., 1864; George G. Wright, Jan.,
1864, to Jan., 1866, Ralph P. Lowe,
Jan., 1866, to Jan., 1868, John F.
Dillon, Jan., 1868, to Jan., 1870;
Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1,. 1870, to
Jan. 1, 1871; James G. Day, Jan. 1,
1871: to Jan. 1, 1872; Joseph M. Beck,
Jan. 1, 1872, to Jan. 1, 1874; Wm.
E, Miller, Jan. 1, 1874, to Jan. 1,
1876; Chester C. Cole, Jan. 1, 1876,
to Jan. 1,1877; James G. Day, Jan.
1, 1877, to Jan. 1, ; James H. Rothrock,
Jan. 1, 1878.
Associate Judges;-Joseph
Williams; Thomas S; Wilson, resigned
Oct., 1847; John F. Kinney, June 12,
1847, resigned Feb. 15,1864; George
Greepe, Nov. 1, 1847, to Jan 9, 1855;
Jonathan C. Hal1, Feb. 15,1854, to
succeed Kinney, resigned, to Jan.,
1855; William G. Woodward, Jan. 9,
1855; Norman W. Isbell, Jan. 16, 1855,
resigned 1856; Lacen D. Stockton,
177
June 3, 1856, to succeed
Isbell, resigned, died June 9, 1860;
Caleb Baldwin, Jan. 11, 1860, to 1864;
Ralph P. Lowe, Jan. 12,1860; Geo.
G. Wright, June 26, 1860, to succeed
Stockton, deceased; elected U. S.
Senator, 1870; John F. Dillon, Jan.
1, 1864, to succeed Baldwin, resigned,
1870; Chester C. Cole, March 1,1864,
to 1867; Joseph M. Deck, Jan. 1, 1868;
W. E. Miller, October 11, 1864, to
succeed Dillon, resigned; James G.
Day, Jan. 1, 1871, to succeed Wright.
SUPREME COURT, 1819.
Joseph
M. Beck, Lee county, Chief Justice;
Austin Adams, Dubuque county, Associate
Justice; William H. Seevers, Mahaska
county, Associate Justice; James G.
Day, Fremont county, Associate Justice;
Jas. H. Rothrock, Cedar county, Associate
Justice.
CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION.
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
(The
first General Assembly failed to elect
Senators.)
George W. Jones, Dubuque, Dec. 1848-1858;
Augustus C. Dodge, Burlington, Dec.
1, 1848-1855; James Harlan, Mt. Pleasant,
Jan. 6,1855-1865; James W. Grimes,
Burlington, Jan. 26, 1858-died 1870;
Samuel J. Kirkwood, Iowa City, elected
J an 13, 1866, to fill vacancy occasioned
by resignation of James Harlan; James
Harlan, Mt. Pleasant, March 4, 1866-187i;
James B. Howell, Keokuk, elected Jan.
20, 1870, to fill vacancy caused by
the death of J. W. Grimes--term expired
March 3d; George G. Wright, Des Moines,
March 4-, 1871-1877; William B. Allison,
Dubuque, March 4, 1872; Samuel J.
Kirkwood, March 4, 1877.
MEMBERS OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Twenty-ninth Congress-1846
to 1847-8 - Clinton Hastings;
Shepherd Leffler.
Thirtieth Congress-1847 to 1849
- First District, William Thompson;
Second District, Shepherd Leffler.
Thirty-first Congress-1849 to 1851
- First District, First Session, Wm.
Thompson; unseated by the House of
Representatives on a contest, and
election remanded to the people. First
District, Second Session, Daniel F.
Miller; Second District, Shepherd
Letfler.
Thirty-second Congress-1851 to
1853 - First District, Bernhart
Henn; Second District, Lincoln Clark.
Thirty-third Congress-1853 to 1855
- First District, Bernhart Henn; Second
District, John P. Cook.
Thirty-fourth Congress-1855 to
1857 - First District, Augustus
Hall; Second District, James Thorington,
Thirty-fifth Congress - 1857 to
1859 - First District, Samuel
R Curtis; Second District, Timothy
Davis.
Thirty-Sixth Congress - 1859 to
1861 - First District, Samuel
R. Curtis; Second District, William
Vandever.
178
Thirty-seventh Congress-l86l
to l863 - First District, First
Session, Samuel R. Curtis.* First
District, Second and Third Sessions,
Jas. F. Wilson; Second District, Wm.
Vandever.
Thirty-eighth Congress-1863 to
l865 - First District, James F.
Wilson; Second District, Hiram Price;
Third District, William B. Allison;
Fourth District Josiah B. Grinnell;
Fifth District, John A. Kasson; Sixth
Dist., Asahel W; Hubbard.
Thirty-ninth Congress-l865 to l867
- First District, James F. Wilson;
Second District Hiram Price; Third
District, William B. Allison; Fourth
District Josiah B. Grinnell; Fifth
District John A. Kasson; Sixth District,
Asahel W. Hubbard.
Fortieth Congress-l867 to l869
- First District, James F. Wilson;
Second District, Hiram Price; Third
District, William B. Allison; Fourth
District, William Loughridge; Fifth
District, Grenville M. Dodge; Sixth
District, Asahel W. Hubbard.
Forty-first Congress-l869 to l87l
- First District, Geo. W. McCrary;
Second. District, William Smyth; Third
District, William B. Allison; Fourth
District, William Loughridge; Fifth
District, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District,
Charles Pomeroy.
Forty-second Congress-187l to l873
- First District, George W. McCrary;
Second District, Aylett R. Cotton;
Third District W. G. Donnan; Fourth
District, Madison M. Walden; Fifth
District, Frank W. Palmer; Sixth District,
Jackson Orr.
Forty-third Congress-1873 to l875
- First District, Geo. W. McCrary;
Second District, Aylett R. Cotton;
Third District, William G. Donnan;
Fourth District, Henry O. Pratt; Fifth
District, James Wilson; Sixth District,
William Loughridge; Seventh District,
John A Kasson; Eighth District, James
W. McDill; Ninth District, Jackson
Orr .
Forty-fourth Congress-l875 to l877
- First District George W. McCrary;
Second District, John Q. Tufts; Third
District, L. L. Ainsworth; Fourth
District, Henry O. Pratt; Fifth District,
James Wilson; Sixth District, Ezekiel
S. Sampson; Seventh District, John
A. Kasson; Eighth District, James
W. McDill; Ninth District, Addison
Oliver.
Forty-fifth Congress-1877 to l879
- First District, J. O. Stone; Second
District, Hiram Price; Third District,
T. W. Burdick; Fourth District, H.
O. Deering; Fifth District, Rush Clark;
Sixth District, E. S. Sampson; Seventh
District, H. J. B. Cummings; Eighth
District, W. F. Sapp; Ninth District,
Addison Oliver. .
Forty-seventh Congress-l879 to
l88l - First District, Moses A.
McCoid; Second District, Hiram Price;
Third District, Thomas Updegraff;
Fourth District, H. O. Deering; Fifth
District, Rush Clark; Sixth District,
J. B. Weaver; Seventh District, E.
H. Gillette; Eighth District, W. F.
Sapp; Ninth District, Cyrus O. Carpenter.
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
ON the 14th of
April, 1853, the following editorial
appeared in the Fairfield Ledger:
"STATE FAIR.-Iowa is an Agricultural
State, but as yet her agricultural
resources are but in the infancy of
their development. In some counties,
____________
*Vacated
seat by acceptance of commission of
Brigadier General, and J. F. Wilson
chosen his successor.
170
however, some attention
has been paid to the organization
of societies for the promotion of
the interests of agriculture. These
several societies have had their annual
fairs, and in this way much good has
been done, but the growing importance
of our agricultural and industrial
interest now demands a more general
and extensive arrangement. Let us
then have a State Agricultural Fair
sometime in next October or November.
Let some central point be fixed upon
for an exhibition which will be an
honor to our young State. It would
not be expected that the first exhibition
of the kind would vie with those of
older States, where societies have
long been established. But in a few
years a well organized State Society
with its annual fairs, would accomplish
the same good results that have attended
them in other States. The mechanical
arts, as well as the raising of stock
or grain, might be brought to a high
state of perfection. We suggest that
this matter be taken into consideration
in time, and let there be a union
of all the county societies that are
organized, with such as may be organized,
for the purpose of hold in a general
Agricultural and Industrial exhibition
next fall."
The suggestions
of the foregoing article were heartily
seconded by several papers of the
State, and especially by the Iowa
Farmer and Horticulturist, at Burlington.
No definite action
was taken until the14th day of October,
1853, when at the close of the Second
Annual Exhibition of the Jefferson
County Agricultural Society, that
Society met for the election of a
board of officers. At this meeting
O. W. Slagle offered the following
resolution:
Resolved,
That the officers of the Society be
instructed to take immediate steps
to effect the organization of a State
Agricultural Society and use their
influence to have said Society hold
its first exhibition at Fairfield,
in October, 1854.
This resolution
was adopted, and on the 21st of November,
a notice signed by P. L. Huyett, O.
Baldwin, and J. M. Shaffer, was issued
to the different county societies,
inviting them to send delegates to
a meeting to be held at Fairfield,
December 23, 1853, to take part in
the organization of a State Society.
Pursuant to this call, the meeting
was held, and delegates were present
from the counties of Henry, Jefferson,
Lee, Van Buren and Wapello. Communications
from officers of societies, and one
from Hon. James W. Grimes, were read,
heartily approving of the movement.
D. P. Inskeep, of Wapello county,
was chairman of the meeting, and David
Sheward, of Jefferson county, secretary.
A committee was appointed which reported
a constitution for the society. The
society was duly organized with the
following officers: Thomas W. Claggett,
Lee county, President; D. P. Inskeep,
Wapello county, Vice President; J.
M. Shaffer, Jefferson county, Secretary;
O. W. Slagle, Jefferson county, Corresponding
Secretary, and W. B. Chamberlin, Des
Moines county, Treasurer.
In addition to
the above officers, the following
were appointed a Board of
Managers:
Lee County.-Arthur Bridgeman,
Reuben Brackett, and Josiah Hinkle.
Van Buren County.-Timothy Day,
Dr. Elbert, and William Campbell.
Henry County.-Thomas Siviter,
Amos Lapham, and J. W. Frazier.
Jefferson County.-P. L. Huyett,
John Andrews, and B. B. Tuttle.
Wapello County.-R. H. Warden,
Gen. Ramsay, and Uriah Biggs.
Mahaska County.-Wm. McKinley,
Sr., John White, and M. T. Williams.
Polk County.-Dr. Brooks, Thomas
Mitchell, and William McKay.
180
Des Moines County.--J.
F. Tallant, A. K. Avery, and G. Neely.
Louisa County.-George Kee,
Francis Springer, and Joshua Marshall.
Muscatine County.-J. H_ Wallace,
James Weed, and John A. Parvin.
Dubuque County.-W. Y. Lovel,
Orlando McCraney, and L. H. Langworthy.
Johnson County.-R. H. Sylvester,
LeGrand Byington, and C. Saunders.
Scott County.-J. A. Burchard,
James Thorington, and Laurel Summers.
A resolution was
adopted providing that the first State
Fair be held at Fairfield, commencing
Wednesday, October 25, 1854. A resolution
was also adopted for the appointment
of a committee of five to memorialize
the General Assembly for pecuniary
aid, and the following were appointed:
George W. McCleary, of Johnson county;
George S. Hampton, of Johnson county;
David Rorer, of Des .Moines county;
Ralph P. Lowe, of Lee county, and
George Gillaspy, of Wapello county.
At this meeting
the following fourteen persons affixed
their signatures to the Constitution,
agreeing to become members: Charles
Negus, J. M. Shaffer, D. P. Inskeep,
Amos Lapham, J. W. Frazier, Josiah
Hinkle, J. T. Gibson, Stephen Frazier,
Evan Marshall, Thomas Siviter, John
Andrews, B. B. Tuttle, Eli Williams,
and P. L. Huyett.
This meeting was held in the court
house at Fairfield, and was not very
largely attended, for at that time
there was not a mile of railroad in
the State.
THE FIRST STATE FAIR.
In
accordance with the arrangement made
at the organization of the Society,
the first annual fair was held at
Fairfield, commencing October 25th,
1854, and continued three days. The
number of people in attendance was
estimated at the time at from 7,000
to 8,000. The exhibition was considered
a grand success. All portions of the
State at that time settled, were represented
by visitors. The fair was held on
the grounds which have for many years
been occupied as the depot grounds
of the Burlington & Missouri River
Railroad. There was a fine display
of stock, agricultural implements,
farm products, and articles of domestic
manufacture. In the ladies' department
there was an attractive exhibit of
their handiwork. The natural history
of the State was illustrated by Dr.
J. M. Shaffer's collection of reptiles
and insects, and by a fine collection
of birds shown by Mr. Moore, of Des
Moines. The dairy was well represented,
and a cheese weighing three hundred
and sixty pounds was presented to
Gov. Grimes by his Lee county friends.
The most exciting incident of the
fair was the equestrian exhibition
by ten ladies. This took place on
the afternoon of the second and the
forenoon of the third day. The first
prize was a gold watch, valued at
one hundred dollars. It was awarded
by the committee to Miss Turner, of
Keokuk. One of' the fair contestants
was Miss Eliza J. Hodges, then only
thirteen years of age. She rode a
splendid and high-spirited horse,
the property of Dr. J. C. Ware, of
Fairfield. The daring style of her
riding, and the perfect control of
the animal which she maintained, enlisted
the favor and sympathy of the throng
present in her behalf. The popular
verdict would have awarded the prize
to Miss Hodges. A purse of $165, and
some other presents, were immediately
contributed for the "Iowa City
girl," as the heroine of the
day was called. Provision was also
made for her attendance,
181
free of all charge,
for three terms, at the Ladies' Seminary
at Fairfield, and one term at Mt.
Pleasant, all of which she gracefully
accepted.
George C. Dixon,
of Keokuk, delivered the first annual
address. Thomas W. Claggett was re-elected
President, and Dr. J. M. Shaffer,
Secretary. The second annual fair
was appointed also to be held at Fairfield,
commencing On the second Wednesday
in October, 1855, and continuing three
days.
Such is a brief
account of the humble beginning, and
first exhibition of the Iowa State
Agricultural Society, which has since
grown to be one of the important institutions
of the State, attracting to its annual
exhibits many thousands of people,
not only from all parts of Iowa, but
from other States.
THE FISH COMMISSION.
The
Fifteenth General Assembly, in 1874,
passed An act to provide for the appointment
of a Board of Fish Commissioners for
the construction of Fishways for the
protection and propagation of Fish,"
also "An act to provide for furnishing
the rivers and lakes with fish and
fish spawn." This act appropriated
$3,000 for the purpose. In accordance
with the provisions of the first act
above mentioned, on the 9th of April,
1874, S. B. Evans of Ottumwa, Wapello
county; B. F. Shaw of Jones county,
and Charles A. Haines, of Black Hawk
county were appointed to be Fish Commissioners
by the Governor. These Commissioners
met at Des Moines, May 10, 1874, and
organized by the election of Mr. Evans,
President; Mr. Shaw, Secretary and
Superintendent, and Mr. Haines, Treasurer.
During the first year the Commissioners
erected a "hatching house"
near Anamosa. and distributed within
the State 100,000 shad, 300,000 California
salmon, 10,000 bass, 80,000 Penobscot
salmon, 5,000 land-locked salmon,
and 20,000 of other lands.
The next General
Assembly amended the law, reducing
the commission to one member, and
B. F. Shaw was appointed. During the
second year there were distributed
533,000 California salmon, and 100,000
young eels; in 1877, there were distributed
303,500 lake trout in the rivers and
lakes of the State, and several hundred
thousands of other species. During
the years 1876 and 1877, the total
number of different kinds distributed,
and on hand, was over five and a half
million. The Seventeenth General Assembly,
by an act approved March 23, 1878,
appropriated $6,000 for continuing
the promotion of fish culture in the
State. N. F. Shaw was continued as
Commissioner.
STATE ENCOURAGEMENT OF IMMIGRATION.
The
first legislative act in Iowa designed
to promote immigration, was passed
in March, 1860. The law provided for
the appointment by the Governor of
a Commissioner of Immigration to reside
and keep an office in the city of
New York, from the first of May until
the first of December of each year.
It was made the duty of the Commissioner
to give to immigrants information
in regard to the soil and climate
of the State, branches of business
to be pursued with advantage, the
cheapest and best routes by which
to reach the State, and to protect
them from imposition. To carry out
the objects of the law, the sum of
$4,500 was appropriated to be applied
as follows: for the payment of the
Commissioner two years, $2,400
182
for printing documents
in English, German, and such other
languages as the Governor might deem
advisable, $1,000 , and for office
and office expenses for the Commissioner,
$1,100. Under this law, Hon. N. J.
Rusch, of Scott county, who had previously
been Lieutenant Governor, was appointed
Immigration Commissioner, and in May,
1860, established an office in New
York. The object of the law seems
to have had special reference to foreign
immigration. The Commissioner in his
report to the Governor, in December,
1861, gave it as his opinion, that
the establishment of an agency in
New York was not the most successful
method of inducing immigration to
a particular State. He thought far
more could be accomplished at less
expense by the distribution of documents.
In February, 1862, the law was repealed,
and the office of Commissioner of
Immigration was discontinued May 1st
of that year.
The next effort
put forth by the State to promote
immigration was under an act passed
by the Thirteenth General Assembly,
in 1870. Hon. M. J. Rohlfs, of Scott
county, had at the previous session
introduced a bill in the House of
Representatives for the purpose, but
the measure did not then succeed.
At the next session he renewed his
efforts with success. The law provided
for the appointment by the Governor
of a Board of Immigration, to consist
of one member from each Congressional
district, and the Governor, who was
ex-officio President of the
Board. It also provided for a Secretary,
to be ex-officio Commissioner
of Immigration, and to be chosen by
the Board. Provision was also made
for the appointment of agents in the
Eastern States and in Europe, and
for the publication and distribution
of documents. To carry out its objects
an appropriation of $5,000 was made.
This was designed to pay expense of
documents, salary of Secretary, and
compensation of agents, the members
of the Board receiving no compensation,
except mileage for two meetings each
year, to be paid out of the general
fund. Under this law the following
persons were appointed by Governor
Merrill: Edward Mumm, of Lee county;
M. J. Rohlfs, of Scott county; C.
L. Clausen, of Mitchell county; C.
Rhynsburger, of Marion county; S.
F. Spofford, of Polk county, and Marcus
Tuttle, of Cerro Gordo county. At
their first meeting, held in April,
1870, they elected A. R Fulton their
Secretary, and authorized him to prepare
a pamphlet for distribution, in the
English, German, Holland, Swedish
and Norwegian languages. Many thousands
of copies of a pamphlet entitled "Iowa:
The Home for Immigrants," were
printed in the several languages named,
and distributed throughout the East
and in European countries. Many other
pamphlets and documents were also
distributed, and several agents commissioned.
So successful were the efforts of
the Board that the next General Assembly
appropriated $10,000 for continuing
the work. The amendatory law, however,
reduced the Board to five members,
including the Governor. The Board,
as reduced, was composed of the following
members: M. J. Rohlf, of Scott county;
S. F. Spofford, of Polk county; Marcus
Tuttle, of Cerro Gordo county; C.
V. Gardner, of Pottawattamie county,
and the Governor. The new Board continued
the former Secretary and pursued its
work by the distribution of documents,
through agents and by correspondence.
After four years existence the Board
of immigration was discontinued, but
not until it had doubtless been the
means of inducing thousands to find
homes within the borders of Iowa.
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