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SURVEYS AND LAND SALES.

     The reader is doubtless aware that the original subdivision of land into townships and sections was made under the direction of the general government, and was entirely independent of county organization. The subdivision of territory into counties was done by the direction and authority of the Territorial or State Legislature; the subdivision of counties into voting precints [precincts] or civil townships was by the direction and authority of the board of county commissioners or supervisors, but the subdivision of land into congressional townships and sections was entirely independent of all State or county authority, done by deputy surveyors appointed by the Surveyor-General and generally completed before the county was organized.
     The system of land surveys provides for the division of the country into small, square portions of uniform size, varying from that shape only when large rivers, lakes or sea borders make it necessary. To begin such a division of land there must of necessity be some fixed points to measure from. The first lines starting from such points are of two kinds: Principal Meridians, running north and south, and Base Lines, running east and west. The surveys, of course, began in the eastern part of the United States whre the country was first settled, and the first line established was called the First Principal Meridian. As the surveys extended further west other Principal Meridians were established. The land surveys of Washington county are rekconed [reckoned?] from the Fifth Principal Meridian. The point which fixes the location of this line is the mouth of the Arkansas river; it runs due north through Missouri and the eastern part of Iowa and ends at the bank of the Mississippi river at the boundary line between Clayton and Dubuque counties. At a distance of six miles west of this line extends another line parallel to the principal meridian, and all the land lying between these two parallel lines is called Range One, West. At a distance of six miles from this second line extends another parallel line, and all the land lying between these two lines is called Range Two, West, and so on till we come to Washington county, the eastern boundary of which is the fifth line drawn parallel to the principal meridian; six miles west of that extends another line, and all the land lying between the two is called Range Six, West. Consequently, in describing land, any portion lying in Crawford, Oregon, or Highland townships being between these two lines, is termed Range Six, West.
     The point which fixes the location of the Base Line is the mouth of the St. Francis river, in Arkansa. This line runs east and west and six miles north of it extends another line parallel to it; all the land lying between these two lines is called Township One, North. North of this second line extends a third parallel line and the land included between them is called Township Two, North, and so on till we come to the line forming the

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southern boundary of Washington county which is the seventy-third line, numbering from the Base Line, Six miles north of this line extends the seventy-fourth parallel line, and Crawford, Marion, and Brighton townships lying between these two lines are in township Seventy-four North, Crawford township being in the southeastern part of the county and its boundaries corresponding with the boundaries of the congressional township as described on the "tax books and books of the real estate dealer as Township Seventy-four, North, Range Six, West. Iowa township all lies in township seventy-seven, but part of it is in range six and part in range seven, hence in describing a parcel of land it would not do to say section thirty-six, Iowa township, because there are two sections numbered thirty-six in Iowa township, and it could not be made to appear from the description which one was meant. Again, the names of the civil townships as well as their boundaries are liable to be changed at any time by order of the board of supervisors, but the name and boundaries of Township Seventy-four, North, Range Six, West cannot be changed by any action of county or State officials, and land designated by that description can be identified in all time to come; those numbers are not subject to the vicissitudes of municipal affairs, hence their employment in all real estate transactions.
     In surveying lands it is customary and necessary to first run the township lines. Upon investigation we find that the township lines of seventy-four and seventy-five, north, in Washington county were run prior to May, 1837. At that time Gen. Ewing had taken the contract to run the section lines in these townships, and Mr. J. L. L. Terry, at present a citizen of Washington, joined the surveying party which was about to engage in the work. He says the party crossed the Mississippi river from Illinois, at New Boston, on May 14, 1837. They encamped the first night at the north end of Virginia Grove, near the house of a squatter named Higbee, and the next day commenced work at the southeast corner of township seventy-four north, range five west, which was afterward the south-eastern township of Slaughter county. The party consisted of seven persons: Joseph Paddock in charge of the party, 2 chain bearers, 1 stake driver, 1 flagman, 1 wagoner, and 1 cook. They worked every day regardless of the state of the weather, and slept at night in a tent with which they were provided, This tent was usually pitched near the centre of the township and here also were the provisions and cooking utensils. They took two meals each day, one early in the morning before beginning work, and the other late in the evening after returning to camp.
     Beside the dangers and hardships which were common to such parties in those days, they met with some unusual and unexpected adventures. On one occasion, while at work between the West Fork and main branch of Crooked creek, there was a heavy rain, which raised the water in the streams so that they could not cross, and the provisions becoming exhausted they were compelled to work for a number of days with nothing to eat except honey, coffee, and a single wild duck. In crossing the west fork of Crooked creek to commence work on the next township they lost all their provisions, spare clothing, and barely escaped being drowned. Mr. Terry gives the following account of some adventures with the Indians while carrying on the surveys:
     "On the 12th of' September the surveyors started up Crooked creek on the north side and came to the cabin from which the Indians had previously driven Richard Moore. In this cabin they remained about one week

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awaiting supplies, for which they had previously dispatched an ox team; the day after their misfortune on Crooked creek, while there we visited the Indian village, situated near Crooked creek, on the farm now owned by the heirs of the late Wm. G. Stewart, about one mile southwest of Washington on the road leading to Brighton. The chief, Poweshiek, was away at Washington City with other chiefs, whither they had gone to adjust a boundary difficulty. The management of the affairs of the village was under the direction of a subaltern chief by the name of Hard-Fish. It was this chief who started the difficulty with the settlers, which resulted in forced evacuation of the Baker and Moore families. The Indians did not disturb us, though upon one occasion I called alone at the wigwam of Hard-Fish, and after declining to go in upon the invitation of that dignitary, he very peremptorily ordered me to puck-a-chee (go away), which order I promptly obeyed. The same day with the balance of my company I called again. On this occasion he aroused our American blood by exhibiting a full suit of clothing, such as was worn by our soldiers, and which had evidently been taken from the body of some soldier whom he had killed. While holding this suit up before us he exhibited that fiendish pleasure that none but a savage like himself could manifest. At that time there was not a single white person living in what is now Washington township. While we were surveying the southern tier of townships, surveys were being carried forward in the north part of the county and before we finished our part of the work we were transferred to Wapello county, where we finished a contract which had been begun and our work in the southern part of Washington was finished by others."
     The deputies who supervised the work in the various townships of the county with the dates at which the work was completed cannot be determined from the field notes, as they are in part imperfectly certified, and the dates omitted in many cases. It is found, however, that the survey of township 74, range 6, was completed September 10, 1837; township 74, range 7, completed September 25, 1837; township 75, range 6, completed October 21,1837; township 76, range 6, completed November 14, 1837. It is probable that all the land in the county was surveyed prior to the summer of 1839, with the exception, probably, of township 77, range 9, a small part of which did not come into possession of the General Government till 1842.
     The lands being surveyed there was a disposition on the part of the Government officials to put them on the market, and some few settlers had the means and disposition to buy. However, a large majority of the settlers had no money with which to enter the lands which they had pre-empted and through the influence which they brought to bear upon the authorities, the sales were postponed till March, 184:0. By common consent, however, a few parcels were entered in 1839; they were as follows:
     E. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 33, and w.1/2 of sw. qr. sec. 34, township 74, range 6, by Matthew Moorhead; e. hf. of nw. qr. and e. hf. of sw. gr. sec. 28, township 75, range 6, by David Goble, Sr.; sw. qr. of sec. 17. township 75, range 7, by Simon Teeple and Richard Moore, commissioners of Washington county. This last described parcel of land had been selected as the location of the county-seat, and of course it was necessary to enter it before any public improvements were made.
     The first general sale of lands for this county was held at Burlington in March, 1840. Not only lands in Washington county, but in various other

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counties, were offered at this time. Quite a multitude of settlers were present on that occasion, and they are represented by Mr. Terry, who was present in the capacity of bidder from Oregon township, as covering the whole face of the country along the bluff's of the Mississippi in the vicinity of Burlington. But notwithstanding the immense crowd there was very little money, and from the books of original entry we find that but a few, pieces of land in this county was entered at that time, and they by such men as Milo Holcomb, who had means of accumulating money other than wresting it from the soil of the virgin prairie.
     Many persons from other counties took measures at this sale to secur their homesteads by availing themselves of the proffered aid of Eastern capitalists, who then as now generously tendered aid for a good round usurious interest. The terms were as follows: a quarter section of land usually sold at the uniform rate of $1.25 per acre or $200.00. The capitalist entered the land paying the money for the same, and then gave the claim owner a bond for a deed at the expiration of three years, on the latter giving his note for $400 with seven per cent interest from date. Notwitbstanding these hard conditions, many settlers availed themselves of them as the only means to secure their homes. One of these capitalists from Pittsburg, Pa., after entering a parcel of land ascertained that it was very valuable, and refused to give the claim owner a bond on the usual conditions, The fact becoming public during the day, occasioned great excitement, and the following night a large crowd of indignant settlers surrounded his hotel and compelled him to deliver the bond on penalty of being thrown into the river.
     In October and December following lands were again offered for sale and at those times were entered quite a large amount of the choicest lands in the southeast and central portions of the county. The following named men entered the parcels indicated at that time:

CRAWFORD TOWNSHIP.

     John and William Marsden, n. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 1; Milton Green Mize, ne, qr. sec. 2; John Hendee, n. hf. of ne. gr. sec. 3; David A. Hervey, s. hf. of ne. qr., and n. hf. of se. qr. sec. 4; Richard Hudson, e. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 7; Anthony Smith, e. hr. of nw. qr. sec. 15; William Burris Sexton, nw. qr. of sw. qr. sec. 19; John Neal, e. hf. ot sw. qr. sec. 22; Anthony Smith, w. hi: se. qr., e. hf. of se. gr., sw. qr. of nw. qr. sec. 22; Robert Neal, se. qr. of ne. qr. and sw. qr. of ne. qr. sec. 22; John Lyon, s. hf. sec. 23; William O. Kinnear, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 24; Robert Jamison, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 24; William Huston. e. hf. nw. qr. sec. 25; William Wooley, w. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 25; James Wooley, sw. qr. sec. 25; William R. Wallace, w. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 26; William Wooley, n. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 26; William R. Wallace, sw. qr. of se. qr. sec. 26; John Neal, w. hf. of ne. qr. Sec. 27; Robert Jameson, e. hr. of nw. qr. sec. 27; William O. Kinnear, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 27, James G. P. McElroy, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 27, Margaret Denholm, sw. qr. of nw. qr. sec. 27; James Woodworth, se. qr. of se. qr. sec. 27; John Lyon, sw. qr. of se. qr. sec. 27; David Hanes, w. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 28; Jesse Bothkin, sw. qr. sec. 28, James McCully, w. hf. se. qr. sec. 28; John Crawford, e. hf. se. qr. sec. 28; John Crawford, e. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 29; James Colwell, w. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 29; George Gearheart, e. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 29; Rebecca P. and Mary Gearheart, e. hf. of sw. qr. 88C.29;

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     Catherine Gearheart, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 29; William B. Sexton, w. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 30; James T. Plymate, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 30; William B. Sexton, nw. hf. sw. qr. sec. 30; Jesse Botkin, e. hf. Of ne. qr. sec. 32; James Colwell, w. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 32; David Hames, nw. qr. sec. 32; Matthew Moorhead, e. hr. of ne. qr. sec. 33; James McCulley, w. hf. of ne. qr. and w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 33; Jesse Botkin, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 33; Solomon McCully, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 33; William McCulley, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 33; Matthew Moorhead, e. hrf. of se. qr. sec. 33; Matthew Moorhead, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 34 and w. hf. of sw. qr. of same; James McCulley, e. hf. of sec. 34; William H. Knott, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 35; Samuel Pence, e. hf. of se. qr. sec. 35; William Huston, sw. qr. of ne. qr. sec. 35; Isaac Waldriss, nw. qr. of sw. qr. sec. 35; Benjamin Zickafoose,.ne. qr. of sw. gr. sec. 35; Samuel Pence, e. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 36; James Wooley, w. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 36.

OREGON.

     John Hendee, e. hf. of se. qr. sec. 17; John Hendel, w. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 20; R. W. Burton, e. hf. of sw. qr. and w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 21; Isaac Mills, nw. qr. of ne. qr. sec. 21; William Stronoch, sw. qr. of sw. qr. sec. 25; Abraham Hulick, sw. qr. of se. qr. sec. 26; Samuel Stephen, e. hf. of ne. qr. and e. hi. of sw. qr. sec. 26; Milton Green Mize, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 26; Anthony Smith, sw._qr. of ne. qr. sec. 27; David Goble, ne. qr. of nw. qr. sec. 27; John Dyer Welch, ne. qr. of se. qr. and sw. qr. of se. gr. sec. 27; David Goble, e. hf. of nw. qr. and e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 28; Anthony Smith, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 28; John Hendel, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 28; John Hulick, se. qr. of se. qr. sec. 29; John Hendee, e. hf. sec. 34; John Hendee, w. hf. of ne. qr., w. hf. of se. qr., w. hf. of sw. qr. and w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 35; Samuel Stephen, e. hf. of se. qr. sec. 35; Lewis Hulick, se. qr. of sw. qr. sec. 35; Hiram Peabody, De. qr. 36; Wm. Marsden, w. hf. sec. 36; George W. Ferguson, De. qr. of se. qr. sec. 36.

MARION.

     Thomas Evans, e. hr. of se. qr. sec. 1; Benjamin Tucker, s. hf. of nw. qr. and.w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 1; Baalam Anderson, n. hr. of nw. qr. sec. 2; Samuel Hamby, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 2; Michael Senff, ne. qr. sec. 3; Lambreth, e. hf. of sw. gqr. sec. 3; Baalam Anderson, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 3; John H. Randolph, e. hf. of se. qr. sec. 3; James Dawson, n. hf. of nw. qr. and se. qr. of nw. qr. sec. 3; John Armstrong, w. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 4; James Dawson, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 4; James S. Dill, ne. qr. of sw. gr. sec. 4; Adam Ritchey, e. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 5; Henry Williams, sw. qr., w. hf. of ne. qr. and e. hf: of nw. qr. sec. 5; John Graham, w. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 5; George Dill, w. hf. of se. qr. sec 5; John Graham, se. qr. sec. 6; John Graham, se. qr. of ne. qr. sec. 6; Henry Williams, w. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 8; Jeremiah Heath, e. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 10; James Moore, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 10; Henry Williams, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 10; John H. Randolph, e. hf. of se. qr. sec. 10; Isaac M. Whitsol, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 11; Alvin Saunders, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 11; Robert Clemens, e. hf. of se. qr. sec. 11; Wm. Van Hudson, e. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 11; Richard Hudson, w. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 12; John H. Randolph, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 12; Joseph Buffington, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 13; Thaddeus Moore, sw. qr. of ne. gr. sec. 13;

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Noah Parrish, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 13; Allen Phillips, e. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 13; Joseph Buffington, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 14; Wm. Van Hudson, e. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 14; Richard Hudson, w. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 14; Baalam Anderson, ne. qr. of n w. qr. sec. 14; Ezekiel Cooper, e. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 15; Jacob Westfall, e. hf. of: se. qr. sec 15; Ezekiel Cooper, e. hf: of ne. qr. sec. 15; Aaron Conger, w. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 15; Wm. L. Essley, se. qr. of sw. gr. sec. 17; Lyman Whitcomb, sw. qr. of nw. qr. and sw. qr. of sw. qr. sec. 17; Wm. L. Essley, w. hf: of ne. qr. sec. 18; Claudius T. Hendrix, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 18; Wesley Rumble, se. qr. of sw. qr. sec. 22; Milo Holcomb, e. hf. sw. qr. sec. 29; John Graham, n. hf. sec. 30; Cyrus McMillen, nw. qr. of sw. qr. sec. 30; Milo Holcomb, ne. qr. sec. 31, and w. hf: of sw. qr. sec. 31; Lee O. Plunket, nw. qr. of nw. qr. sec. 34; William I. Springston, e. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 35; Milton Bensoll, nw. qr. of se. qr. sec. 34.

WASHINGTON.

     Joseph B. Rodgers, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 7; Michael Hayes, se. qr. and e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 7; James Dawson, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 8; Jesse Botkin, e. hf. of sw. qr. and w. hf of se. qr. sec. 8; John Hendee, e. hf. of se. qr, sec. 8; Simon Teeple and Richard Moore, Commissioners of Washington county, sw. qr. sec. 17; James W. Isett, ne. qr. sec. 17; Wm. Conner, e. hr. of nw. qr. sec. 17; Wm. Basey, w. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 17; Nathan Baker, w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 17; Thos. Baker, e. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 17; Jonathan Wilson, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 18; James Delong, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 18; Jesse Ashby, w. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 29; Wm. B. Thompson, e. hf. of sw. qr. and w. hf. of se. qr. sec. 30; John Graham, w. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 32; James Dawson, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 32; James McCully, e. hf. of nw. qr. sec. 33; James Dawson, w. hr. of nw. qr. sec. 33; Amos Moore, sw. qr. of ne. qr. sec. 33; Baalam Anderson, se. qr. and e. hf. of ne. qr. sec. 34; James Dawson, e. hf. of sw. qr. sec. 31.

THE FIRST REAL ESTATE RECORD.

     This book is still in existence and is quite a novelty. It consists of a half quire of foolscap paper stitched together, covered with a sheet of common brown wrapping paper. The first record bears the date of October 1st, 1839, the last is dated April 11th, 1840, hence the record of all ,the real estate transactions made in the county during the first six months was copied on less than six sheets of foolscap. The first custodian and presumptive manufacturer of this remarkable book was J. B. Davis, who appears to have been the first recorder. He appears to have been a good penman, used a good quality of ink and the book, considering the material of which it is composed, is in, a good state of preservation.

FIRST MORTGAGE.

     The mortgage, that formidable condensing instrument, so much used in later times by the lender to evaporate the borrower, seems to have been early introduced into the manipulation of Washington county real estate, and very appropriately has a place on the first pages of the history of real estate transactions. It was given by Matthew Moorhead to David Bunker

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and covered the two parcels of land which the former had bought of the Government in September previous. It runs as follows:
     "Know all men by these presents, That I, Matthew Moorhead, of the county of Washington, in Iowa Territory, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars, me in hand paid, the. receipt of which I do hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargained, sold, conveyed and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, convey and .confirm unto David Bunker, his heirs and assigns forever as a good and indefeasable estate in fee simple the following described lots or parcels of land situated and being in the said county of Washington in Iowa Territory, viz: The east half of the northeast quarter of section thirty-three, and the west half of the northwest quarter of section thirty-four, in township seventy-four, north of range six, west, to have and to hold said premises with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise pertaining, to the said David Bunker his heirs and assigns forever, to his own proper use, benefits, and behoof forever as a good and indefeasable estate in fee simple; and I, the said Matthew Moorhead, for myself, my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, do covenant with the said David Bunker that before and until the sealing and delivery of these presents, I, the said Matthew Moorehad, are lawfully seized in fee simple of the above granted premises, and that I, Matthew Moorhead do and will warrant and defend the same to the said David Bunker, his heirs and assigns forever, against the lawful claims of all persons whatsoever.
     "The conditions of the above obligation is such that if the said Matthew Moorhead shall well and truly complete the following payment, viz: The sum of one hundred dollars, on or before the first day of October, 1840, it being for a note of hand given by the said Matthew Moorhead to the said David Bunker, which becomes due about the first of October, 1840, for the sum of one hundred dollars, then the foregoing obligation to be null and void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law. Given under my hand and seal this third day of October, A. D. 1839.

MATTHEW MOORHEAD.

" Attest:
"THOMAS BAKER.
"NATHAN BAKER."

"TERRITORY OF IOWA,}
"WASHINGTON COUNTY.}
     "Personally carne before me Thomas Baker, clerk of the Washington District Court, the above-named Matthew Moorhead, and acknowledged the, signing and sealing of the above obligation to be his voluntary act for the purposes above mentioned. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand; and affixed the temporay [temporary] seal of said court, at Washington, this 3d day of October, 1839.

THOMAS BAKER, Clerk.

     The next instrument recorded is a bill of sale given by Daniel Powers toAllen Phillips:

     "Know all men by these presents, that I, Daniel Powers, of the county of Washington, in Iowa Territory, for and in consideration of the sum of 'four hundred dollars, the receipt of which I hereby acknowledge, have, bar- "

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gained, sold and conveyed unto Allen Phillips a certain prairie team composed of five yoke of cattle, together with one prairie plow and five log-chains, which I, the said Powers, is lawfully seized of and have good right and lawful authority to sell and convey the same in manner aforesaid.
     "The conditions of the above obligation is such that if the said Daniel Powers shall well and truly complete the following payments, viz: The sum of two hundred dollars on or before the first day of September next, and also the s11m of two hundred dollars on or before the first day of October, 1841, for which I, the said Daniel Powers, have gave my notes to said Phillips, payable as aforesaid, then this obligation to be null and void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue in law.
     Given under my hand and seal this 14th of December, 1839.

his               
"Attest: DANIEL x POWERS.
mark                

"THOMAS BAKER.
"JOSEPH ADAMS."

The next is a record of the

FIRST REAL ESTATE TRANSFER.

      The first real estate transferred was situated on English river, and consisted of a mill-site, the property of C. D. Haskell. The following is a copy of the deed:
     "This indenture, made and concluded this 31st day of December, 1839, between Charles D. Haskell, of the first part, and Abraham Owens, of the second part, both of the Territory of Iowa and county of Washington, witnesseth: That said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has bargained, sold, released and confirmed unto the party of the second part and his heirs and assigns forever, one equal, undivided third part of eighty acres of land, being heretofore known as Haskell's mill-site claim, on English river, in the county of Washington, and Territory of Iowa; and I do hereby sell and release, and forever quit claim, one equal third part of the above mentioned land, together with one equal, undivided third part of the water privilege, spring, minerals and timber, and one-third part of the appurtenances thereunto belonging, reserving the express right to cut and haul off timber for my farm when required, to his heirs and assigns forever; and to warrant and defend the same against all other claims, the United States excepted.
     "In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and date above written.
[Seal.]
"Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
"A. H. HASKELL,
"CLARISSA HASKELL."

"C. D. HASKELL.

"TERRITORY OF IOWA, }
"WASHINGTON COUNTY. }
     "This day personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the peace in said county of Washington, Charles D. Haskell, who is personally known to me to be the real person whose name is subscribed to the

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foregoing deed, and who then acknowledged that he signed, sealed and delivered the same freely and of his own accord, for the use and benefit of the persons therein named.
"A. H. HASKELL,
"Justice of the Peace."

      It seems that these two men, Haskell and Owen, afterward formed a partnership for the purpose of carrying on the milling business. Their capital stock consisted of $334.31, and the partnership bond called for the moderate sum of $30,000, from which it will appear that mill-sites on English river as well as town lots in Astoria were standpoints of great expectations in former times.
     In 1840 Thomas and Nathan Baker conveyed to John Lyon eighty-five and seventy-two hundredths acres of land. The tract is now a part of the city of Washington, and the consideration was $400. The instrument is the last one found in the before-described first book of real estate transfers, and was acknowledged before John Jackson, a justice of the peace, on the 11th day of April, 1840.
     Having thus given some idea of the first real estate transaction, it will be proper now to give a brief account of the business of the county and the leading

TRADING POINTS.

     It has already been remarked that quite a number of business houses for the sale of dry goods, groceries and general merchandise had been established in various parts of the county prior to the year 1846, when Iowa became a State; but up to that time, and for many years afterward, Burlington and Keokuk were the chief trading points for Washington county. Some trade was carried on at Muscatine, but this was chiefly confined to lumber. There was very little farm produce which needed to be marketed for a number of years, the home demand being sufficient to exhaust the supply. Brighton became quite a market at an early day, and through the exertions of a few men of capital and enterprise that town became famous far and near as a trading point. Hogs were sometimes killed and hauled to Burlington, prices ranging from $1.25 to $1.75 per cwt. At an early day the gentlemen already referred to, viz. Calvin Craven, Nicholas Dayton and James M. Craven, embarked in a very hazardous undertaking;, it being nothing less than buying stock and driving it to Chicago. Their first drove consisted of one hundred head of fat cattle. They crossed the Mississippi river at Burlington, and from there followed a direct route to the City of the Lakes, arriving; there at the expiration of nineteen days. They butchered the cattle in Chicago and sold them on the hook at prices ranging from 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 cents per pound. The men made money by the operation—the total expense of the trip amounting to but $90.
     Notwithstanding this fortunate venture trips of this kind were not of frequent occurrence, the market for what surplus grain and stock there was, being; Brighton or Burlington as a general thing. The basis upon which operations of this kind were carried on in those days forms a marked contrast with the basis of such operations in this day of quick returns and small profits. The dealer bought up the stock and gave his note for the purchase price. After he had accumulated a drove sufficiently large

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he started for the market, and this, owing to the great distance and the slow movements of the fattened stock, often required weeks for the round trip. There was indeed one circumstance which expedited business. In the language of one who knows, "The hogs were good travelers." After disposing of the drove and returning, the stock-dealer again made the round of his circuit and paid for the stock. If his venture proved a fortunate one, he could pay all his bills and have something left as a compensation for his trouble; if not, some of the stock raisers had to wait until the drover made another trip. The money which the drovers, thus circulated through the country was pricipally [principally] bank bills on the State banks of Ohio and Indiana.
      An incident peculiar to these times, illustrating the status of commercial operations, is related of a gentleman who mayor may not have resided in Washington county, but the authenticity of the statements can be vouched for. Mr. M. was proprietor of a store where was sold a line of general merchandise. Mr. M. carried on quite an extensive trade with the farmers of that section, and was doing a flourishing business. However, as is generally the case with establishments of that kind, there accumulated quite a large amount of old goods, out of style and out of date. Under these circumstances, some merchants would have offered the old goods at "less than cost," or employed a loquacious auctioneer to dispose of them to the highest bidder — but not so with Mr. M. He proceeded as follows: It being a prosperous year with farmers, he entered the field early as a hog-buyer, buying hogs of all sizes and descriptions; bought late and early, and 'bought continuously for a number of weeks, giving his note for the purchase-money, as was customary in. those days. After he had bought all the hogs in the county which were for sale, and which were old enough to travel, the word was passed around that all hogs thus purchased, should be delivered at the county-seat on a given day. The hogs came, filling the town and the region round about. Mr. M., in the meantime, had employed quite a force of medium-sized boys and vocal men, who, on the given day, were to take charge of the hogs and drive them to Keokuk, Mr. M. accompanying them.
     Upon arriving at Keokuk, Mr. M. concluded that the St. Louis market was preferable to the Keokuk market, so he chartered a large boat, after dismissing all his employes except a few who were in his secret, put the hogs on board, and, having given final instructions to the remaining employes, dismissed them and himself set sail for St. Louis. Upon the return of the first delegation of drovers, there was some little uneasiness on the part of Mr. M.'s note-holders. The former persons could give no satisfactory account of Mr. M., and it was whispered among the latter that he had lost heavily by the transaction. After a few days the rest of the drovers returned, and upon being questioned appeared to know as little of Mr. M. as, those who had preceded them. Soon it was whispered around that Mr. M. had failed, and most likely would not return. One by one came the persons of whom Mr. M. had bought hogs and turned in their notes for goods at the store, and soon the crowd became so numerous that they could not be waited on by the force of clerks then employed; more clerks were employed, and Mr. M.'s establishment was so thronged that it resembled a rush at a savings bank in time of a panic. All styles of dry goods and clothing, which had lain on the shelves for years, were bought up with avidity, boxes, containing groceries which had not been opened for months.

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were soon emptied and were heaped up in the rear of the building; all kinds of cutlery, hardware, agricultural implements, jewelry, musical instruments and toys were carried off by the wagon-load. In short, there was a pressing demand for everything and anything; which farmers could eat, drink or wear, both useful and ornamental, and at the end of a week Mr. M.'s entire stock, including all the old goods which had long been a drag on the market; was disposed of, and the shelves bare. At this supreme moment Mr. M. returned with a large stock of new goods and his pockets full of money. He pretended to be greatly surprised when he found his store-room empty and manifested great feeling when informed of the reports which were afloat; he even threatened to prosecute the parties who originated the story of his insolvency. Mr. M., however, took no steps to discover the names and location of his traducers; he even regained his accustomed urbanity, and it was a matter of surprise to many how quickly Mr. M. rallied from the fit of gloom and despondency which seized him on his first return. Mr. M. continued to buy stock for many years thereafter, but his patrons never made another run on his store.
      There were persons in every settlement who made a business of freighting, making regular trips to Burlington and Keokuk, while stage lines were operated to and from the principal cities for the accommodation of the public.
     The journey was often long and wearisome. The sloughs were not bridged, and in the spring it was no uncommon thing for a passenger on the stage to make his journey on foot and carry a rail with which to help pry the stage out of the mire. This was "high-toned" traveling and from this may be imagined what sort of a journey was that of a lone settler and an ox team.
     Washington was quite a pioneer town itself then, and accommodations were limited. It is related that on one occasion the boarders at a certain house had rather a late breakfast. It happened in this wise: The .landlord had noticed that his larder was running low, but he was in hourly expectation of supplies. One evening the pantry was bankrupt, but the host was in hopes his team would come with provisions before morning. But "hope deferred maketh the heart sick" at every dawn. The landlord looked wistfully across the prairie in vain. Finally he mounted a horse and rode to a house down the road, where he secured a little meal and half a side of bacon from a settler and started for home, where half-dozen hungry boarders sat in front of the cabin pining for the flesh, pots of civilization, and soon their spirits rose and "their mouths began to water, for away to the south came the plucky landlord, riding like a Jehu, and holding aloft the half-side of bacon as a sign of relief."
     The towns which had been laid out being so small, and the means of transportation to them being so limited and irregular, they were unable to supply, regularly, the now increasing demand from all around them, and settlers in these parts thought themselves happy if they were not compelled to go on far beyond there to Keokuk or Burlington to obtain the necessaries of life.
     In order to secure many of the necessaries of life they were often under the necessity of going to Burlington and Keokuk to supply the wants of their pioneer homes. After stores and trading points began to be established in this county, the merchants for many years were in the habit of

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going to these distant points on the river to purchase their stock of goods and bring them through by wagon transportation.
     Occasionally a number of families in a community would club together, make out a list of what they needed, and send off to the trading post as many men and teams as necessary, or as could be obtained, to procure and bring home supplies for all; and thus to a great degree they worked together, and to one another's interest as one great family.
     In this way, also, they took turns in going to mill, to the stores, for the mail, etc., and when a cabin was to be raised, or a neighbor assisted in any way, all within reach or hearing turned out with one accord, quite willing to lend the helping hand, and enjoy in common the feast and frolic that was sure to accompany all such gatherings.
     In this isolated condition, pioneer life here, as elsewhere, was one of stern realities and serious trials, especially for the sick and aged ones, while so far removed from points of supply, and almost completely cut off from communication with the outside world. If a stranger from any distance came into the new settlement he was treated with unusual cordiality, and questioned with unabating zeal with regard to the great world-matters without; and if he saw fit to accept the urgent invitation of the settlers to share their humble hospitality in welcome for many days, he might rest assured that he must pass through that long siege of innocent questioning by the inquisitive settlers, from which he would often derive as much pleasure and profit as they.
     The young and growing settlements along English river in the north part of the county were less advantageously situated in regard to trading places, post-offices, and mills, than the settlements in the central and southern portions of the county. The condition of affairs there is graphically portrayed by Wm. E. Hawthorn, a gentleman who for over a quarter of a century has been one of the leading citizens of the county and for about forty years has resided in the north part of the county:
     "Until 1841 there was not enough grain and other provisions raised to supply the settlers of the neighborhood; the principal supplies having to be brought from Burlington, a distance of sixty miles. The settlers having to depend on ox teams it took about a week to make the trip. In 1840 there were but two teams of horses in that section of country, one owned by John R. Hawthorn, and the other by Wm. A. Seymour. We also had to go to Skunk river to mill, which took from two days to one week. In 1843 N. McClure started the first grist mill on English river, and before that many families depended ,principally on hand mills, one owned by R. B. Davis and one by John Holland, and a cast iron mill owned by John Diehl, all of which were free for the use of neighbors to grind corn, buckwheat, and wheat. Often the coffee mill and the grater were used to grind meal and Graham flour. Most of the settlers manufactured their own clothing and many tanned their own leather and made their own shoes. A supply of tobacco was raised at home and pressed, John Holland having a press for that purpose. Money was scarce and much of that not very good. About all the good money which could be raised was saved up to enter land.
     Wages were from forty to fifty cents per day; rail making fifty cents per hundred; corn was worth from six to ten cents per bushel; wheat from twenty-five to thirty-five cents; cows ten dollars per head; a yoke of work oxen from forty to sixty dollars; prairie breaking two dollars per acre, which was done with oxen, three to five yoke to the team. Yatton post

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office was established in 1841, N. P. Cooper being the first post-master and the mail, which was carried on horseback, was received once a week; prior to that time we had to go to Washington or Iowa City for our mail; the rate of postage was twenty-five cents for a single letter.

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