Part 100 (1/2)

McKean, was the first mayor of the town of Marion which was incorporated in 1865. He was elected sheriff of the county in 1859, serving until the spring of 1861, when he resigned to enter the government army service, having already served in the Florida and Mexican wars, and November 21, 1861, was appointed brigadier-general, and after a brilliant service in the Civil war was honorably discharged in 1865, as brevet major general. On September 5, 1848, he was married to Sarah T. Gray, who still survives him, is a resident of Marion, and still bright and active at the age of ninety years.

One of the most prominent men in the early history of Marion, and we might add of the county, was Samuel W. Durham. A courtly gentleman of the old school, honored and respected by every one who knew him, he died at his home in Marion, May 2, 1909, at the ripe old age of ninety-two years. He was sheriff of Linn county from 1846-1848, county surveyor in 1841, serving one term, in 1851 serving one term, in 1871 serving two terms, and in 1889 serving two terms. He was also a member of the first const.i.tutional convention of Iowa, which convened at Iowa City October 7, 1844.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JAMES E. BROMWELL, SR.]

George Greene, Marion's first lawyer, and who built one of its first three residences, was the first member of the General a.s.sembly from Linn county. He also served in the council, now called the state senate, of the third legislative a.s.sembly of Iowa, which convened at Burlington November 2, 1840, representing Cedar, Jones, and Linn counties. He also served in the fourth a.s.sembly, which convened at Iowa City December 6, 1841.

The first court was held in Marion October 26, 1840, and the following record was made: ”Minutes of the District Court of Iowa Territory, within and for the county of Linn:

”Iowa Territory } } Linn County }

”Pursuant to an act of the Legislature of the Territory of Iowa, approved July, 1840, the District Court of the United States, and also for the Territory of Iowa, met at Marion, in said county, on Monday the 26th day of October, 1840.

Present: Hon. Joseph Williams, Judge of the Second Judicial District for the Territory; W. G. Woodward, Esq., District Attorney of the United States for the District of Iowa; R.

P. Lowe, Esq., prosecuting attorney for Second Judicial District; Hosea W. Gray, Esq., Sheriff of County of Linn; Socrates H. Tryon, Clerk of the District Court; Lawrence Maloney, Marshall of the Territory.”

The following are the lists of the early officers of Linn county, who were all residents of Marion:

Sheriffs--Hosea W. Gray, 1840; Ambrose Harlan, 1844; Samuel W. Durham, 1846; Ambrose Harlan, 1847; Vincent Beall, 1850; Samuel Brazleton, 1853; Levi H. Mason, 1855; Thomas J. McKean, 1860; William W. Smith, 1861; O. O. Stanchfield, 1862; Hiel Hale, 1866; John Hayzlett, 1868; G.

D. Gillilan, 1874.

Clerks of District and Circuit Courts--John C. Berry (Com.'s Clerk), 1839; S. H. Tryon, 1840; John C. Berry, 1844; Porter W. Earl, 1847; Hosea W. Gray, 1849; James M. Berry, 1851; A. J. McKean, 1854; J. L.

Crawford, 1873.

Treasurers and Recorders--Addison Daniels, 1841; O. S. Hall. 1844; John Zumbro, 1844; O. S. Hall, 1845; P. W. Earl, 1846; William M. Harris, 1846; Isaac Cook, 1851; N. M. Day, 1855; William Cook, 1860; James Johnston, 1864.

Recorders after the offices of treasurer and recorder were separated--John J. Daniels, 1865; Charles E. Putnam, 1873.

Treasurers after offices were separated--R. T. Wilson, 1866; S. T.

Berry, 1874; R. M. Jackson, 1882.

Auditors of the County--A. B. Dumont, 1869; John P. Coulter, 1870; Samuel Daniels, 1876; Joseph Moorhead, 1882; James E. Bromwell, 1888.

The following is a list of the early State Senators: I. M. Preston, 1852; William G. Thompson, 1856; H. G. Angle, 1860; J. B. Young, 1864; Robert Smyth, 1868; E. B. Kephart, 1872.

The following is a list of the early judges of the Eighth Judicial District: Joseph Williams, 1840; Thomas S. Wilson, 1846; James B.

Carleton, 1847; William Smyth, 1853; Isaac Cook, 1857; William E.

Miller, 1859; Norman W. Isbell, 1862; C. H. Conklin, 1864; N. M.

Hubbard, 1866; James H. Rothrock, 1867.

Ira G. Fairbanks was the first superintendent of county schools.

In the first const.i.tutional convention which was held at Iowa City October 7, 1844, and whose work was rejected by the people at the polls August 4, 1845, Linn county was represented by Thomas J. McKean, Samuel W. Durham, and Luman M. Strong. At the second one, held at Iowa City May 4, 1846, and whose work was endorsed by a small majority at the election held August 3, 1846, Socrates H. Tryon represented Linn and Benton counties.

The first estate ministered upon in Linn county was that of James Travis, who died in December, 1839. James Doty was appointed administrator February 15, 1840. His bond was for $200. His bondsmen were Jacob Leabo and John Stambaugh. Israel Mitch.e.l.l, who had been appointed by Governor Lucas, in 1839, was the judge of probate. It was this same Judge Mitch.e.l.l who located the first town in Linn county, viz: that of Westport, near the present site of Bertram, and who was the orator of the day at the first Fourth of July celebration in Linn county, held at Westport in 1839.

The second estate appearing of record was that of William Marion, who died July 4, 1840, and of which William Abbe was appointed administrator in 1841.

The third was the estate of Martin Martindale, who died in February of 1841, and of whose estate William Garrison was appointed administrator.

The following is the record of the first coffin made in Linn county: ”Be it remembered that on the 21st day of June, A. D. 1841, James E.