1882_county_history.htm

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History and Genealogy
of
Crawford County Iowa

1882 History of Crawford County, Iowa
The county of Crawford is twenty-four miles north and south by thirty east and west. It contains twenty Congressional townships, or a superficial area of 720 square miles, and lies on the Western Slope, the second county east from the Missouri River, in the fifth tier from the northern and southern boundaries of the State.
It is well watered by running streams, the largest of which is the Boyer River, which traverses the county diagonally from northeast to southwest, entering five miles west of the northeast corner, and passing out three miles east of the southeast corner. East Boyer River, its most important tributary, enters Crawford from Carroll County, flows in a southwesterly direction, and unites with the main stream at Denison, a little southeast of the center of the county. Other important tributaries of the Boyer are Dunham's, Walnut, Ernst, Buss, Welsh, Paradise, Buffalo, Otter, Boone, Coon and Buck Creeks. The Nishnabotany River and Williams Creek, with their several branches, water the southeastern portion of the county. Soldier River, which crosses the northwestern corner, receives a large number of tributaries, among which may be mentioned Beaver Creek. A branch called East Soldier also passes through the northwestern part of the county, with a by no means inconsiderable tributary called Spillman Creek. Willow River waters a considerable portion of one township in the southwestern part of the county. All of the above streams are small, with the exception of the Boyer River, but all afford an abundance of water for stock throughout every season of the year. In a number of places fine springs are found, and good well water is obtained at moderate depths. The water of the running streams is excellent for drinking and domestic uses, and is usually clear and cold.
The finest groves of timber are on the Boyer and East Boyer Rivers, a number of groves being scattered along some of the smaller streams, however. The largest body of timber in the county is Mason's Grove, beginning about five miles northeast of Denison. This grove includes about 2,000 acres along the east side of the Boyer River. Dunham's Grove, on the East Boyer, six miles east of Denison, contains about 300 acres of timber, among which is a quantity of black walnut. In other parts of the county are groves of good timber, principally on or near the Boyer River. The timber lands of the county aggregate about sixteen sections, or 10,240 acres—about one acre of timber to each forty-five feet of prairie. The following varieties are included: Black oak, burr oak, black walnut, black and white hickory, linn, hackberry, soft maple, ash, elm, cottonwood, cherry, etc.
The shrubberies are principally ash, sumac, hazel, pith-alder, etc., which generally grow in the valleys, or about the edges of the timber. There is an abundance of walnuts, hickory nuts and hazelnuts.
Wild fruits grow in abundance; there are plums, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, cherries, crab apples, wild currants, and occasionally blackberries. In consequence of the scarcity of native timber, many of the farmers have planted groves of silver leaf maple, cottonwood, black walnut and box elder, all of which have grown with astonishing rapidity; so much so that the former boundless expanse of prairie was within a few years become dotted with beautiful groves, which ere long will re-arrange the nature of the country, as they have already diversified and improved the landscape, affording, moreover, as great additions to the principle of utility as they have already made in the direction of ornamentation.
The surface configuration of the county is rolling, the divides separating the streams being bulky masses of earth which sweep down into the valleys over beautiful declivities from the undulating plains above. Near the headwaters of the streams the surface is more rolling and broken than on the main divides, in a few places being too uneven and precipitous for successful cultivation.
The soil is almost uniformly composed of the light colored, fine, silicious material of the bluff deposit peculiar to the Missouri Slope, is of great fertility, and is in places largely mixed with sand. The Boyer Valley is probably unsurpassed in Iowa, is capable of a cultivation which is being rapidly brought about, and which when brought to the condition assured in the near future, will present one of the most attractive farming portions of the State. Compared with the size of the stream, the valley is wide, and has a deep, rich soil, well adapted to the production of the finest crops of corn, wheat, oats and other kinds of grain. Extending, as it does, some thirty miles through the county, it embraces a large area of land of unsurpassed fertility. It must not, however, be understood that the upland prairies are sterile, as the greater portion of them is but little inferior to the bottom lands. The best upland prairies are in the east, north and northwest portions. In the smaller valleys and ravines extensive accumulations of black soil or vegetable mould are often found, which probably came from the washing of the ravines from the adjacent slopes, which bear evidence of having been thus denuded of their coating of dark humus. The enthusiastic lover of nature can scarcely picture a more pleasing landscape than that afforded by the valleys of the Boyer Rivers, viewed from the upland ridges at almost any point along their courses, overlooking miles of their park-like valleys. embellished with clumps of trees, well improved farms, orchards, rural homes, and tasty villages.
Stone suitable for building purposes is not abundant, the only quarry worked in the county being situated about four miles southwest of Denison on a branch of Buck Creek. It is a species of limestone that answers for ordinary purposes. There are indications of the same formation in Spring Grove, Burnt Woods, and at other points in the county. Clay and sand suitable for the manufacture of brick, are sufficiently plenty, and a number of handsome brick structures have been erected in Denison and other localities. No veins of coal have been found as yet in this county, and it is probable that, if the productive or lower formation of the coal measure underlies the area embraced in Crawford County, it is at so great a depth beneath the surface as to render its development for the present impracticable.
The soil and climate are well adapted to the production of wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, beans, peas, potatoes and other vegetables and grains indigenous to the Temperate Zone. The yield of spring wheat, which is the variety principally raised, has been from fifteen to forty-five bushels to the acre, with a probable average of about twenty-five bushels. Comparatively few farmers have engaged in the cultivation of tame grasses, but it has been fully demonstrated that timothy and blue grass will succeed well, while clover also does reasonably well, so far as it has been tried. There is a number of orchards in the county, which have been yielding for a number of years, and which give promise of assured success in the future. Much attention is being paid to fruit culture, which is destined to become one of the important industries of this section. Cherries, vines and all small fruit do well, growing luxuriantly and producing excellent varieties of fruit.
The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad enters Crawford County a little north of the center of the eastern boundary line, and running southwest down the valley of the Boyer, a distance of over thirty-one miles, makes its exit near the southwest corner, affording good communication with the eastern and western markets.
In May, 1849, Cornelius Dunham, of Jackson county, Iowa, brought Franklin Prentice and his wife to the county, and left them at the place known as Dunham's Grove, on East Boyer River, about six miles east of the present town of Denison. Mr. Prentice built a cabin for Dunham, who came with his family in the autumn of the same year, accompanied also by a man named Reuben Blake. This was the first settlement in Crawford County. The same year, Prentice took a claim at the mouth of Otter Creek, on Boyer River, near Mason's Grove. The next settlers were Jesse Mason and family, and George J. and Noah V. Johnson, all of whom came in June, 1850, and settled at Mason's Grove. In the autumn of this year, Levi Skinner and Calvin Horr settled at the same place. The next settler was Thomas Dobson, in the spring of 1851, who also settled in the vicinity of Mason's Grove. In the autumn of 1853, Edward Howorth with his sons, Edward and Daniel, located at a place called Three Bee Tree Grove, in the southwest part of the county, not far from the present thriving town of Dunlap. In 1854, the settlement at Mason's Grove received the following additional members: Benjamin Dobson, A. R. Hunt, D. J. Fowler, Clark Winans, B. F. Wicks and E. W. Fowler.
During the same year Benjamin Dobson erected the first saw mill at this place, and the following persons located in other parts of the county: John Gilbreath, John R. Bassett, and Moses and Daniel Riddle, at Coon Grove, four miles south of the present town of Denison; Mathias Didra, at Buck Grove, in the southern part of the county: Charles Kennedy and Robert D. Butterworth, at Three Bee Tree Grove, and William H. Jordan, at Lost Grove, near the present town of Crawford, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. John A. Dunham and Rufus Richardson came the same year. Those mentioned were all the settlers in the county up to 1855, during the spring of which year the following came: Reuben and John Vore, S. C. Dow, S. J. Comfort, Cyrus B. Whitmore, John Poordy, Isaac B. Goodrich, S. B. Greek, S. S. Sisley, John Sisley, Edward Van Vleet, James Slater and H. C. Laub. The last named settled at Mason's Grove, and the others in various places in the county. In 1856, there were but few additions to the settlers, the following, with their families, it is believed, comprising all: George C. King, William J. Todd, John B. Huckstep, Edwin Cadwell, Tracy Chapman, Morris McHenry, Esau McKim, and Joseph Brodgen, all of whom located at Mason's Grove; and R. B. Alexander, S. Bell, B. B. Bishop and William Wilkie, who settled in the southern and southwestern parts of the county. Hon. J. W. Denison came to the county in the autumn of 1855, and during that year and the next, selected a quantity of land for the Providence Western Land Company, and in September, 1856, commenced the settlement of the town of Denison. He brought with him Francis Reynolds and John B. Swain, who erected a steam saw and grist mill in the new town.
The first births in the county were David and George Jesse Mason, twin sons of Jesse and Eliza Ann Mason, born in 1852. The first marriage ceremonies took place at Mason's Grove, October 12th, 1853, at which time and place Rev. Thomas Dobson united in marriage George J. Johnson and Elizabeth Ann Mason, Noah V. Johnson and Jane Mason, Calvin Horr and Elizabeth Mowery. The first death was that of John A. Dunham, in the winter of 1854-5. The first entry of Government land was made August 21st, 1854, by John Gilbreath. The first school house erected was at Mason's Grove, in the autumn of 1856, in which Morris McHenry taught the first school, a term of three and one half months, commencing November 4th, 1856. The first sermon was preached Sunday, October 19th, 1856, by Rev. William Black, of the M. E. Church, and the same day, after the sermon, the first religious society was organized, with seven members, as follows: George C. King, Mrs. E. R. King, O. S. Wright, Tabitha Wright, John B. Huckstep, Martha A. Huckstep, and Rufus Richardson. The first Sunday School was organized at Mason's Grove, under the auspices of the M. E. Church, with twenty pupils, on the 7th day of January, 1857, George C. King being the Superintendent. The first lawyer was S. J. Comfort, who was also the first acting Prosecuting Attorney. Dr. David McWilliams was the first physician.
Up to April, 1855, Crawford County was attached to Shelby for civil purposes. At the April election of that year the following county officers were elected: E. W. Fowler, County Judge; Thomas Dobson, Clerk; A. R. Hunt, Treasurer and Recorder; I. J. Fowler, Sheriff; Isaac B. Goodrich, School Fund Commissioner; Cyrus Whitmore, Prosecuting Attorney; Samuel Kennedy, Surveyor; L. S. Kinner, Coroner; John R. Bassett, Drainage Commissioner. At this time there was but one election precinct in the county, all the votes being cast at Coon Grove, in what is now Denison Township. New county officers were chosen at the following August election, at which time John R. Bassett was elected County Judge. Judge Bassett transacted his first official business September 3rd, 1855, on which date he acted upon a petition for a county road, refusing to grant the petition for reasons set forth in the records as follows:
"I set the road petition aside on these grounds: In the first place, I cannot find out that there were notices as the law prescribes in three public places in the county. Secondly, the notices not agreeing with the petition. Thirdly, and the greatest objection, is that there was no one offered to enter bonds for the security of the payment of the Commissioner, providing the road was not finally located. For these objections I hereby set the road aside and pronounce not in accordance with law."
On the 3d of December of this year, the Judge, Clerk and Recorder met and reported their accounts of moneys received from August 1st to December 1st, the Judge having received $5.75; Clerk, $3.00; Recorder, $8.70. Total, $17.45. They made an equal division of the amount and appropriated it toward the payment of their salaries. William L. Henderson, having been appointed surveyor and agent to select the swamp lands, made his report December 5th, 1855, and was allowed $150 for his services.
The first estate administered upon was that of Cyrus B. Whitmore, John Vore being appointed administrator. The location of county roads constituted a large proportion of the business of the County Judge. Judge Bassett continued to serve in this capacity up to the organization of the Supervisor system.
The following persons constituted the first Board of Supervisors: Thomas Dobson, Milford Township; Henry C. Laub, Denison Township; Daniel Howorth, Union Township. Daniel Howorth was President, and S. J. Comfort, Clerk of the Board.
The Court House at Denison was completed in the autumn of 1858. It is built of brick, 30x40 feet, and two stories high. The various county offices are in the lower story, and the upper story is used as a court-room and for various public meetings. The rest of the building was about $6,000. It is located in the center of the public square, a beautiful rolling track of ground, which is enclosed by a neat fence and planted with finely growing trees. Good bridges have been erected on all the principal roads over the streams.
About five miles below Denison, in the Boyer Valley, there is a semi-circular group of ancient artificial mounds. There are about nine of them, situated on a plateau or table rising above the lower bottom. They are about five feet above the general level of the ground. Another similar group is located on the second bottom at the mouth of Paradise Creek. Human remains have been found in some of them, showing that they were burial places.
Crawford County's present population is fully 15,000. There are 458,333 acres of land in this county, the valuation of which, for 1879, was $2,747,198; for 1880, $3,752,648; value of lots, $220,590; of personal property, $458,214; of railroad property, $326,646. The property valuation for the present year is not as yet obtainable, but there are certain indications of a most highly gratifying increase. There are thirty and one-half miles of railroad in the county, and two hundred miles of telegraph wire.
The present county officers of Crawford County are: A. D. Moloney, Auditor; G. W. Heston, Clerk of Courts; L. M. Cornwell, Treasurer; M. Smith, Recorder; J. D. Jones, Sheriff; E. M. Ainsworth, Superintendent of Schools; M. McHenry, Surveyor; A. McMartin, Chairman Board of Supervisors.
Crawford County's population in 1880 was 12,413; the total vote of the county for Governor at the election of 1881, was 2,136.
[History of Western Iowa, 1882, transcribed by CD]

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		History and Genealogy of Crawford County Iowa

1882 History of Crawford County, Iowa The county of Crawford is twenty-four miles north and south by thirty east and west. It contains twenty Congressional townships, or a superficial area of 720 square miles, and lies on the Western Slope, the second county east from the Missouri River, in the fifth tier from the northern and southern boundaries of the State. It is well watered by running streams, the largest of which is the Boyer River, which traverses the county diagonally from northeast to southwest, entering five miles west of the northeast corner, and passing out three miles east of the southeast corner. East Boyer River, its most important tributary, enters Crawford from Carroll County, flows in a southwesterly direction, and unites with the main stream at Denison, a little southeast of the center of the county. Other important tributaries of the Boyer are Dunham's, Walnut, Ernst, Buss, Welsh, Paradise, Buffalo, Otter, Boone, Coon and Buck Creeks. The Nishnabotany River and Williams Creek, with their several branches, water the southeastern portion of the county. Soldier River, which crosses the northwestern corner, receives a large number of tributaries, among which may be mentioned Beaver Creek. A branch called East Soldier also passes through the northwestern part of the county, with a by no means inconsiderable tributary called Spillman Creek. Willow River waters a considerable portion of one township in the southwestern part of the county. All of the above streams are small, with the exception of the Boyer River, but all afford an abundance of water for stock throughout every season of the year. In a number of places fine springs are found, and good well water is obtained at moderate depths. The water of the running streams is excellent for drinking and domestic uses, and is usually clear and cold. The finest groves of timber are on the Boyer and East Boyer Rivers, a number of groves being scattered along some of the smaller streams, however. The largest body of timber in the county is Mason's Grove, beginning about five miles northeast of Denison. This grove includes about 2,000 acres along the east side of the Boyer River. Dunham's Grove, on the East Boyer, six miles east of Denison, contains about 300 acres of timber, among which is a quantity of black walnut. In other parts of the county are groves of good timber, principally on or near the Boyer River. The timber lands of the county aggregate about sixteen sections, or 10,240 acres—about one acre of timber to each forty-five feet of prairie. The following varieties are included: Black oak, burr oak, black walnut, black and white hickory, linn, hackberry, soft maple, ash, elm, cottonwood, cherry, etc. The shrubberies are principally ash, sumac, hazel, pith-alder, etc., which generally grow in the valleys, or about the edges of the timber. There is an abundance of walnuts, hickory nuts and hazelnuts. Wild fruits grow in abundance; there are plums, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, gooseberries, cherries, crab apples, wild currants, and occasionally blackberries. In consequence of the scarcity of native timber, many of the farmers have planted groves of silver leaf maple, cottonwood, black walnut and box elder, all of which have grown with astonishing rapidity; so much so that the former boundless expanse of prairie was within a few years become dotted with beautiful groves, which ere long will re-arrange the nature of the country, as they have already diversified and improved the landscape, affording, moreover, as great additions to the principle of utility as they have already made in the direction of ornamentation. The surface configuration of the county is rolling, the divides separating the streams being bulky masses of earth which sweep down into the valleys over beautiful declivities from the undulating plains above. Near the headwaters of the streams the surface is more rolling and broken than on the main divides, in a few places being too uneven and precipitous for successful cultivation. The soil is almost uniformly composed of the light colored, fine, silicious material of the bluff deposit peculiar to the Missouri Slope, is of great fertility, and is in places largely mixed with sand. The Boyer Valley is probably unsurpassed in Iowa, is capable of a cultivation which is being rapidly brought about, and which when brought to the condition assured in the near future, will present one of the most attractive farming portions of the State. Compared with the size of the stream, the valley is wide, and has a deep, rich soil, well adapted to the production of the finest crops of corn, wheat, oats and other kinds of grain. Extending, as it does, some thirty miles through the county, it embraces a large area of land of unsurpassed fertility. It must not, however, be understood that the upland prairies are sterile, as the greater portion of them is but little inferior to the bottom lands. The best upland prairies are in the east, north and northwest portions. In the smaller valleys and ravines extensive accumulations of black soil or vegetable mould are often found, which probably came from the washing of the ravines from the adjacent slopes, which bear evidence of having been thus denuded of their coating of dark humus. The enthusiastic lover of nature can scarcely picture a more pleasing landscape than that afforded by the valleys of the Boyer Rivers, viewed from the upland ridges at almost any point along their courses, overlooking miles of their park-like valleys. embellished with clumps of trees, well improved farms, orchards, rural homes, and tasty villages. Stone suitable for building purposes is not abundant, the only quarry worked in the county being situated about four miles southwest of Denison on a branch of Buck Creek. It is a species of limestone that answers for ordinary purposes. There are indications of the same formation in Spring Grove, Burnt Woods, and at other points in the county. Clay and sand suitable for the manufacture of brick, are sufficiently plenty, and a number of handsome brick structures have been erected in Denison and other localities. No veins of coal have been found as yet in this county, and it is probable that, if the productive or lower formation of the coal measure underlies the area embraced in Crawford County, it is at so great a depth beneath the surface as to render its development for the present impracticable. The soil and climate are well adapted to the production of wheat, oats, rye, barley, corn, beans, peas, potatoes and other vegetables and grains indigenous to the Temperate Zone. The yield of spring wheat, which is the variety principally raised, has been from fifteen to forty-five bushels to the acre, with a probable average of about twenty-five bushels. Comparatively few farmers have engaged in the cultivation of tame grasses, but it has been fully demonstrated that timothy and blue grass will succeed well, while clover also does reasonably well, so far as it has been tried. There is a number of orchards in the county, which have been yielding for a number of years, and which give promise of assured success in the future. Much attention is being paid to fruit culture, which is destined to become one of the important industries of this section. Cherries, vines and all small fruit do well, growing luxuriantly and producing excellent varieties of fruit. The Chicago & Northwestern Railroad enters Crawford County a little north of the center of the eastern boundary line, and running southwest down the valley of the Boyer, a distance of over thirty-one miles, makes its exit near the southwest corner, affording good communication with the eastern and western markets. In May, 1849, Cornelius Dunham, of Jackson county, Iowa, brought Franklin Prentice and his wife to the county, and left them at the place known as Dunham's Grove, on East Boyer River, about six miles east of the present town of Denison. Mr. Prentice built a cabin for Dunham, who came with his family in the autumn of the same year, accompanied also by a man named Reuben Blake. This was the first settlement in Crawford County. The same year, Prentice took a claim at the mouth of Otter Creek, on Boyer River, near Mason's Grove. The next settlers were Jesse Mason and family, and George J. and Noah V. Johnson, all of whom came in June, 1850, and settled at Mason's Grove. In the autumn of this year, Levi Skinner and Calvin Horr settled at the same place. The next settler was Thomas Dobson, in the spring of 1851, who also settled in the vicinity of Mason's Grove. In the autumn of 1853, Edward Howorth with his sons, Edward and Daniel, located at a place called Three Bee Tree Grove, in the southwest part of the county, not far from the present thriving town of Dunlap. In 1854, the settlement at Mason's Grove received the following additional members: Benjamin Dobson, A. R. Hunt, D. J. Fowler, Clark Winans, B. F. Wicks and E. W. Fowler. During the same year Benjamin Dobson erected the first saw mill at this place, and the following persons located in other parts of the county: John Gilbreath, John R. Bassett, and Moses and Daniel Riddle, at Coon Grove, four miles south of the present town of Denison; Mathias Didra, at Buck Grove, in the southern part of the county: Charles Kennedy and Robert D. Butterworth, at Three Bee Tree Grove, and William H. Jordan, at Lost Grove, near the present town of Crawford, on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. John A. Dunham and Rufus Richardson came the same year. Those mentioned were all the settlers in the county up to 1855, during the spring of which year the following came: Reuben and John Vore, S. C. Dow, S. J. Comfort, Cyrus B. Whitmore, John Poordy, Isaac B. Goodrich, S. B. Greek, S. S. Sisley, John Sisley, Edward Van Vleet, James Slater and H. C. Laub. The last named settled at Mason's Grove, and the others in various places in the county. In 1856, there were but few additions to the settlers, the following, with their families, it is believed, comprising all: George C. King, William J. Todd, John B. Huckstep, Edwin Cadwell, Tracy Chapman, Morris McHenry, Esau McKim, and Joseph Brodgen, all of whom located at Mason's Grove; and R. B. Alexander, S. Bell, B. B. Bishop and William Wilkie, who settled in the southern and southwestern parts of the county. Hon. J. W. Denison came to the county in the autumn of 1855, and during that year and the next, selected a quantity of land for the Providence Western Land Company, and in September, 1856, commenced the settlement of the town of Denison. He brought with him Francis Reynolds and John B. Swain, who erected a steam saw and grist mill in the new town. The first births in the county were David and George Jesse Mason, twin sons of Jesse and Eliza Ann Mason, born in 1852. The first marriage ceremonies took place at Mason's Grove, October 12th, 1853, at which time and place Rev. Thomas Dobson united in marriage George J. Johnson and Elizabeth Ann Mason, Noah V. Johnson and Jane Mason, Calvin Horr and Elizabeth Mowery. The first death was that of John A. Dunham, in the winter of 1854-5. The first entry of Government land was made August 21st, 1854, by John Gilbreath. The first school house erected was at Mason's Grove, in the autumn of 1856, in which Morris McHenry taught the first school, a term of three and one half months, commencing November 4th, 1856. The first sermon was preached Sunday, October 19th, 1856, by Rev. William Black, of the M. E. Church, and the same day, after the sermon, the first religious society was organized, with seven members, as follows: George C. King, Mrs. E. R. King, O. S. Wright, Tabitha Wright, John B. Huckstep, Martha A. Huckstep, and Rufus Richardson. The first Sunday School was organized at Mason's Grove, under the auspices of the M. E. Church, with twenty pupils, on the 7th day of January, 1857, George C. King being the Superintendent. The first lawyer was S. J. Comfort, who was also the first acting Prosecuting Attorney. Dr. David McWilliams was the first physician. Up to April, 1855, Crawford County was attached to Shelby for civil purposes. At the April election of that year the following county officers were elected: E. W. Fowler, County Judge; Thomas Dobson, Clerk; A. R. Hunt, Treasurer and Recorder; I. J. Fowler, Sheriff; Isaac B. Goodrich, School Fund Commissioner; Cyrus Whitmore, Prosecuting Attorney; Samuel Kennedy, Surveyor; L. S. Kinner, Coroner; John R. Bassett, Drainage Commissioner. At this time there was but one election precinct in the county, all the votes being cast at Coon Grove, in what is now Denison Township. New county officers were chosen at the following August election, at which time John R. Bassett was elected County Judge. Judge Bassett transacted his first official business September 3rd, 1855, on which date he acted upon a petition for a county road, refusing to grant the petition for reasons set forth in the records as follows: "I set the road petition aside on these grounds: In the first place, I cannot find out that there were notices as the law prescribes in three public places in the county. Secondly, the notices not agreeing with the petition. Thirdly, and the greatest objection, is that there was no one offered to enter bonds for the security of the payment of the Commissioner, providing the road was not finally located. For these objections I hereby set the road aside and pronounce not in accordance with law." On the 3d of December of this year, the Judge, Clerk and Recorder met and reported their accounts of moneys received from August 1st to December 1st, the Judge having received $5.75; Clerk, $3.00; Recorder, $8.70. Total, $17.45. They made an equal division of the amount and appropriated it toward the payment of their salaries. William L. Henderson, having been appointed surveyor and agent to select the swamp lands, made his report December 5th, 1855, and was allowed $150 for his services. The first estate administered upon was that of Cyrus B. Whitmore, John Vore being appointed administrator. The location of county roads constituted a large proportion of the business of the County Judge. Judge Bassett continued to serve in this capacity up to the organization of the Supervisor system. The following persons constituted the first Board of Supervisors: Thomas Dobson, Milford Township; Henry C. Laub, Denison Township; Daniel Howorth, Union Township. Daniel Howorth was President, and S. J. Comfort, Clerk of the Board. The Court House at Denison was completed in the autumn of 1858. It is built of brick, 30x40 feet, and two stories high. The various county offices are in the lower story, and the upper story is used as a court-room and for various public meetings. The rest of the building was about $6,000. It is located in the center of the public square, a beautiful rolling track of ground, which is enclosed by a neat fence and planted with finely growing trees. Good bridges have been erected on all the principal roads over the streams. About five miles below Denison, in the Boyer Valley, there is a semi-circular group of ancient artificial mounds. There are about nine of them, situated on a plateau or table rising above the lower bottom. They are about five feet above the general level of the ground. Another similar group is located on the second bottom at the mouth of Paradise Creek. Human remains have been found in some of them, showing that they were burial places. Crawford County's present population is fully 15,000. There are 458,333 acres of land in this county, the valuation of which, for 1879, was $2,747,198; for 1880, $3,752,648; value of lots, $220,590; of personal property, $458,214; of railroad property, $326,646. The property valuation for the present year is not as yet obtainable, but there are certain indications of a most highly gratifying increase. There are thirty and one-half miles of railroad in the county, and two hundred miles of telegraph wire. The present county officers of Crawford County are: A. D. Moloney, Auditor; G. W. Heston, Clerk of Courts; L. M. Cornwell, Treasurer; M. Smith, Recorder; J. D. Jones, Sheriff; E. M. Ainsworth, Superintendent of Schools; M. McHenry, Surveyor; A. McMartin, Chairman Board of Supervisors. Crawford County's population in 1880 was 12,413; the total vote of the county for Governor at the election of 1881, was 2,136. [History of Western Iowa, 1882, transcribed by CD] Copyright © Genealogy Trails All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.