SETTLEMENTS OF FOREIGN BORN

Winneshiek county was one of the first in Iowa to harbor a large and permanent settlement of foreign born people. The Germans were the first to come. In 1848 and 1849 the Krumms, Andrew Meyer, George Beckel, John Gaertner, Joseph Huber, and Anthony Stadle settled in Washington township. These were not merely the first foreign born residents, but in the case of the Krumms they lacked less than a month of being the very first permanent settlers of any nationality in the county. In 1850-51 another company of Germans settled in the western part of Calmar township. They were Joseph Spielman, George Herzog and Conrad Riehle. Charles Kroeg preceded them in 1849, and, with the exception of Herzog, all brought their families. In later years Military township was a favored spot among the Germans and in its present population may be found many descendants of this nationality. Lincoln township claimed quite a number also. Bloomfield, Frankville and parts of Pleasant, Canoe and Hesper are now populated by the Germans, though most of them are properly entitled German-Americans, having been born in America.

Calmar township was also destined to be the home of a large Bohemian settlement. The first of this nationality came in 1854. In glancing over the record one sees the familiar names of Bouska, Mikesh, Novak, Kubish and Payer. From this beginning there grew up a large company that overflowed into Sumner, Jackson and Washington townships.

While we are writing of the settlers of Calmar it is worth while to remember that almost all of the Swiss who came to this county resided in or near Spillville. In 1854 J. H. Hinterman, Felix and J. H. Meyer and John Leeble settled there, and I think I am right in including J. J. and J. H. Haug in this list, though J. H. Haug came later. Others came at subsequent dates, but the representation by this nationality has never been large. Of those above mentioned J. J. Haug is the only one who survives.

In 1850 the county welcomed its first Norwegian settlers. Reference is made of these people in the chapter dealing with the first residents of the county, but the late Abraham Jacobson has left a very complete and interesting account of the band that located in Springfield township and formed the nucleus of the largest:

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body of foreign born citizens in this part of Iowa, hence we refer the reader to his story, which will be found under the record of townships and towns. During the years immediately following this settlement the central part of the county, and even well up into Highland township, received steady and increasing accessions of settlers from Norway. Today their descendants represent about half of the population of the county.

Bluffton township seems for some unaccountable reason to have attracted the Irish, and while there are Norwegians, Germans and Americans among its residents, the rich, musical brogue of Friend Pat is the most often heard. The first settlers in the township were largely Americans, but at just what time the natives of the Emerald Isle began to acquire residence there is not clearly indicated, yet they were there as early as 1855. Most of them came from Illinois, where they had residence for varying periods, but the parent stock of the present generation were largely foreign born.

Winneshiek county also boasted of a goodly number of Englishmen. Among the earliest of these were George Yarwood, Harry Wheatmen, Edward and Jack Vine and John Pickworth, who lived out on the prairie beyond the Peter E. Haugen farm in the southwest corner of Decorah township. There was another settlement in Lincoln township, another in Hesper, while in Decorah there was the late Co1. William Thurlow Baker and his brothers, Capt. Charles G. Baker and John T. Baker and their families, R. F. B. Portman (still a resident here), A. J. Ashmore, the Clive brothers, H. H. Horn and family, Capt. S. Charles Welsh and wife, and a number of others whose names are not now recalled. They brought with them their customs and the traditions of England. Those who resided in Hesper and Lincoln townships were a particularly lively set of fellows, mostly young men who had come here to engage in farming, but whose previous experience and lack of knowledge of local requirements did not hold out much hope of success. Whatever may have been their shortcomings in these respects, they were generally plentifully supplied with money and knew how to win their way socially, so as long as the purse was free they were not poor in companionship or enjoyment.

There have been and still are a few Scotchmen in the county, also a few Danes, and occasionally one may find a native of Sweden, but these are few. Thus is completed the roll of the foreign born; but whether foreign born or native, almost all are trying to be loyal American citizens, contributing their share in working out the problems that face us as a people and building for a better civilization.

Since the foregoing was written Decorah has acquired some new citizens of Mexican birth. That they will remain and become permanent in their residence is not thought probable, however.

CHAPTER IV

COUNTY ORGANIZATION

Who organized Winneshiek county, and when did the organization take place? I t has been quite generally accepted that an organizing act passed by the Iowa Legislature on January 15, 1851, appointed John L. Carson as organizing sheriff with authority to act on and after March 1, 1851; that pursuant to the authority so vested in him he designated Monday, April 7, 1851, as the date of election, and set stakes at Louisville, or Lewiston, on the Turkey river, at McSwain's mill (Moneek) , and at Decorah, as the places where the polls would be open. As further evidence that an election was so held we find engrossed upon the first page of the first records of Winneshiek county the following testimony:

"State of Iowa-Winneshiek county.

"I hereby certify that at an election held in the county of "Winneshiek, and State of Iowa, on the 7th day of April, A. D. 1851, Decorah was duly elected to be the county seat of said county.

"In testimony whereof, I have set my hand the 14th day of April, 1851.

"J. L. CARSON, Organizing Sheriff."

Could a more certain record be expected, taking into consideration the fact that in those days even lawmakers were not as particular as they are today in the matter of setting out statements and facts so that no question could arise?

Yet after all these years there comes forward, in the form of a notice of appointment personal letters, and a copy of a notice of election, evidence that would tend to contradict the foregoing record and give to Josiah Goddard credit for acting as organizing sheriff.

As early as 1849 the settlers began to agitate the question of county organization. It would appear from the letters that follow that the agitation reached a point, early in 1850, where Josiah Goddard, acting for himself and others, forwarded a petition to Judge James Grant, of the second judicial district of Iowa, asking that Mr. Goddard be appointed organizing sheriff. Reference to papers and documents of Mr. Goddard. now in the possession of his son, Harrison J. Goddard of Fort Atkinson, discloses the following notice of appointment given over the signature of Judge Grant:

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"To all whom these presents may come.
"Greeting.

"Know ye, that in pursuance of the laws of Iowa, in such case made and provided, at the request and in pursuance of the petition of the citizens of Winneshiek county, I have appointed and by these presents do appoint Josiah Goddard sheriff or said county, for the purpose of organizing said county of Winneshiek, to hold his office until the first special election in said county, and until his successor is elected and qualified; and I do hereby appoint the . . . day of . . . in the year 1850 as the time for the first special election to be held in said county.

"Given under my hand at Davenport, in 'the Second Judicial District, on the 18th day of March, 1850.

"JAMES GRANT,
"Judge 2 Jud. Dis,"

This notice was accompanied by the following letter to Mr. Goddard, in which the reader will observe that specific directions were given as to the mode of procedure for the special election:

"To Josiah Goddard, Esq.,
"Fort Atkinson, Iowa.

"Dear Sir:

"I send you an appointment as sheriff of Winneshiek county. You will find all your powers and duties pointed out by the act of February 24, 1847.

"The first thing which you will do is to give bond and. qualify as any other sheriff: which you can do before the clerk of the district court of some adjoining county.

"You will then divide the county into precincts, fix places for holding the election therein, give names to the precincts and describe their boundaries and names in the notices of election. You will give about ten days notice of the election by posting three written or printed notices in about three of the most public places in each precinct in the county.

"You will give notice for all the important county officers, viz: Three county commissioners, one sheriff, one coroner, one clerk of the district court, one clerk for the board of county commissioners, one prosecuting attorney, one recorder, who is to act as treasurer and collector, one fund commissioner, and two justices of the peace and two constables for each precinct.

"You will appoint judges of election for each precinct. After the election you will receive the returns and grant certificates of election to those who have the highest number of votes, and do all such acts as the commissioner's clerk is required to do until one is elected.

"You will fill up the day of the election in your appointment at such time as may suit your convenience.

"When the board of commissioners meet, you will furnish them with a copy of your appointment, and a return of your proceedings, which it will be advisable for them to enter on their records.

"If some of your citizens will attend Clayton court, I will fix a time for holding court in your county. If the citizens of Fayette county desire an organization, they can, of course, have it by a petition.

"Your Obt. svt.,
"JAMES GRANT,
"Judge 2 Jud. Dis,"

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That Mr. Goddard exercised the authority conferred upon him to call an organizing election, and followed the instructions contained in the foregoing letter, is evidenced by one of the original copies of the notice of election, found among his papers. It bears unmistakable evidence of having been exposed to the weather, the ink being faded and the sheet spotted as by rain drops. The notice reads as follows:

"ELECTION NOTICE

"Notice is hereby given that by virtue of authority invested in me as the organizing sheriff of the county of Winneshiek, I have this day divided the said county of Winneshiek into three election precincts with the following boundaries to wit:

"PRECINCT NO. ONE

"will be embraced in so much of said county as lies west of the town line dividing range 8 and 9 and south of the town line dividing 97 and 98.

"PRECINCT NO. TWO

"will be embraced in so much of said county as lies in townships No. 98 and 99.

"PRECINCT NO. THREE

"will be embraced in the residue of said county of Winneshiek. In precinct No. one the polls will be held at the house of Mr. Carson at the agency. In precinct No. two the polls will be held at the house of William Day. In precinct No. three the polls will be held at the house of S. W. McSwain. The electors of the above named precincts will on the day of election choose their judges and clerks to preside over said election who in the absence of a justice of the peace may qualify each other to preside over said election.

"And notice is further given that an election will be held at the poll houses in the above named precincts on the 5th. day of August, 1850, when the following state and county officers will be voted for, to wit:

"One Governor, one Congressman, Secretary of State, Auditor, State Treasurer, Treasurer of Public Works, one Senator and one Representative.

"COUNTY OFFICERS

"One Sheriff, Treasurer and Recorder, three County Commissioners, one Commission Clerk, Clerk of District Court, District Attorney, Probate Judge, Coroner, County Surveyor. The judges of election will make their returns to this office so that the returns may be canvassed at 12 o'clock, noon, on Thursday following said election and such county officers are requested to meet at this office on Monday the . . . day of August and qualify for entering upon the discharge of their several duties pertaining to their several offices.

"Given under my name this 20th July, A. D. 1850.
"JOSIAH GODDARD,
"Organizing Sheriff of County of Winnesbiek."

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Force is given to all of the foregoing by the following letter from Hon. Eliphalet Price of Clayton county to Mr. Goddard:

"Guttenberg, July 19,1850.

"Dear Sir:

"I have only a moment's time to say that I have just had an interview with the Superintendent of Public Instruction who informs me that at the time of electing your county officers on the first Monday in August you will also be expected to elect a School Fund Commissioner. My impression was when with you that this officer could be appointed by the Sheriff and Clerk of the District Court, but Mr. Benton says that he could only recognize him if elected, which he will do if such officer is elected and qualified in your country at the time of your first election of county officers. This perhaps will not reach you until Friday before the election. You would then have time to notify the people in each precinct of the fact and they could elect one. You will please let Horkins know of this fact and he will, I have no doubt, assist you to get up the notice or give the information.

"In haste yours,
"ELIPHALET PRICE."
"J. W. Goddard."

Mr. Price at this time was engaged in taking the census. It is evident from the context of his letter that he had been in Winneshiek on this mission, and while here had conferred with Mr. Goddard concerning the organization of the county.

Up to this point the claim of Mr. Goddard's heirs that their father was the organizing sheriff of the county has logical and conclusive evidence to support it. Something must have occurred subsequently to postpone the election, however, for among Mr. Goddard's papers is found the following letter from I-Ion. Joseph T. Fales, auditor of state:

"Auditor's Office, Iowa., "Iowa City, September 6, 1850.
"Josiah Goddard, Esq.,

"Dear Sir:

"Yours of the 24th ult. came to hand last evening and I take pleasure in replying and sending you the laws. I had heard that your county was organized some time since was the reason of my writing and sending blanks.

"In the laws of 1847, page 115, you will find your duties as Organizing Sheriff. In the appendix of the Revised Statutes, page 739, you will find the Naturalization Laws of Congress.

"I will be pleased at any time to give you any information in my power.

"Yours,
"JOSEPH T. FALES,
"Auditor of State.

"P. S. When your county is organized please give me notice with the names
of the officers elected.
"JOSEPH T. FALES."

The reader will note that this letter is dated September 6, 1850, a month after the organization election was to have been held. That there can be no mistake in

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the date is borne out by the postmark on the cover, which reads "Iowa City Sep 6 Iowa."

The letter was written on a folded sheet, double letterhead size, and folded so as to make the outer half an envelope, and sealed with wax. The letter "V" stamped in the same colored ink as the postmark shows that the postage was paid in the sum of five cents, but no postage stamp was affixed, indicating that the Iowa City postmaster had no stamps. This was not uncommon even as late as 1850, although the Government began issuing stamps in 1847. Letters so marked and bearing unmistakable evidence of authenticity, as does the one above referred to, are highly prized by collectors of postage stamps, being regarded in almost the same light as a privately issued stamp bearing the sanction of the Post Office Department.

But to return to our text. Here we have the statement of John L. Carson as it appears on the county record, supported by an organizing act of the Iowa Legislature. Against it are the documents embraced in Mr. Goddard's claim. Who is to say, now, which of these men is entitled to the honor? Of those who were residents here in 1850 but few remain, they are advanced in years, and it is doubtful if they could, from this distance, be able to settle the question.

A fair-minded reader may here see an opportunity to accord to both Mr. Goddard and Mr. Carson an equal share of honor for their activities. To Mr. Goddard may be credited the initiative in starting the ball rolling. He it was who conducted all the correspondence leading up to the organization, showing that in him was centered the confidence of his neighbors and acquaintances. Certainly there is honor in commanding such an expression from one's fellowmen, and the appointment as sheriff to see that the forms of law were carried out could add nothing in esteem from those who had already by their confidence made him their spokesman. That Mr. Carson was also a man of prominence and influence is undeniably disclosed through the fact that he was probably the first postmaster at Old Mission, where the Indian school and agency was located. In any event we cannot change the record as it appears in black and white on the books of Winneshiek county, and right or wrong, he will continue to be regarded by many as the one who acted as organizing sheriff.

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