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From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875
This county is situated in the third tier south from the Minnesota line, and the second west from the Mississippi River, and is divided into sixteen congressional or land survey townships, containing in all 368,640 acres.
During the Summer of 1836, William Bennett moved with his family from Galena, Illinois, and built a cabin in the timber which has since been known as Eads Grove. This was the year before the government survey, and was the first settlement of any kind made in the county by whites. The next settlement, of which the writer is able to learn anything, was made by a party of Scotch early in the Summer of 1837. They emigrated from the Red River country of the North, part going to Jones County, and the remainder locating at a grove in the southeast part of this county, which is still known by the name of "Scotch Grove." Two Livingston brothers, Hugh Rose and some others whose names have been forgotten, formed the party. A little later a family by the name of Keby located near Rockville, on the east line of the county. They all built cabins, broke small patches of prairie, and raised a few potatoes and some other vegetables during that season.
In the Spring of 1838, Joel Bailey and John Keeler came into the county, made a claim near the ford on the Maquoketa, still called "Bailey's Ford," built a cabin, and broke some twenty acres of prairie, which was probably the first breaking of any considerable size done in the county. William Nicholson made a claim and did some breaking that same season, on the present site of the town of Hopkinton; Abraham and William H. Whiteside, S. P. Whiteker, --Nagle, Siles Gilmore, Welington Woolsey, Thomas Coles, J. W. Penn, --Swartz, Frank Moffit, John Corbin, the Cutter Brothers, G. D. Dillon, who built the first frame house in the county, all came that year.
During 1839-40, there was a slow but steadily increasing immigration. Among those who found their way here and became permanent citizens, the following are worthy of special notice; Clement Coffin, who settled first at Eads Grove, where, after remaining for a short time, he removed to Coffin's Grove, in the township now bearing that name, and was, at the time, located further west than any other white family of this part of the Territory of Iowa. William Eads and his son, Thomas Eads, John Hinkley, and Daniel Brown, who was the first blacksmith in the county, settled at Eads Grove. David Moreland, --McMillen and –McQuilton, located at Colesburg, or Colony, as it was then generally called. They came from Uniontown, Penn., chartered a small steamboat, on which they loaded their household furniture, farming implements, wagons, carriages, stock, etc., etc., came down the Ohio River and up the Mississippi, landing at Cassville, from which point they came across land to this county. They were thus able to bring more of the conveniences and luxuries of their eastern homes, than was enjoyed by any other family who settled here at that early period. C. W. Hobbs moved from Dubuque at this time with his family, and remained for some time at Rockville, removing to Delhi in 1843. Leroy Jackson and A. H. Carter bought out the Nicholson claim at Hopkinton, and each entered a quarter section of land, while Missouri and Sam Dickson located south of Colesburg, Lawrence McName at Colesburg, and Henry Baker at Eads Grove.
The first white child born in the county, was that of William Bennett, born in 1837 or '38, and living but a short time, was the first death. The oldest persons now living, who were born in this county, are William and Cornelia, twin children of G. D. Dillon. They were born in the Fall of 1840, and are living, one in this and one in Dubuque County. Soon after, on the 7th of January, 1841, was born to John Corbin a son, J. W., now living on a farm some two miles east of Delhi. The first death of an adult was that of Thomas Nicholson, father of William Nicholson, who died at Hopkinton in the Winter or Spring of 1839.
The first marriage which occurred in the county, was that of Thomas Cole and Miss Barbary Nicholson, step-daughter of William Eads, which was celebrated in July, 1940, the Reverend Simeon Clark, now of Farley, Dubuque County, performing the ceremony. It is related, with how much truth the writer can not say, that soon after this Samuel Kelley secured the "very best match in the county," by marrying the only marriageable woman then in the county.
The first flouring mill in the county was erected during the Summer of 1844, at Eads Grove, by William Bennett. It was what might be called a "corn cracker," having no smutter or bolt.
The following incident, among others related to the writer, will illustrate the style of those times, and the intense simplicity of the pioneers of this county. A certain dignitary of the law, wearing the judicial ermine of a "justice of the peace," was called upon to perform the solemn rite of marriage. Proceeding toward the dwelling designated, and finding his path obstructed by a rapid stream that had been suddenly swolen, and rendered impassible by a recent freshet, he called the high contracting parties to the water's edge on the opposite side, and made their hearts glad by marrying them from where he stood, although he was unable to salute the bride in the courteous manner his feelings and the custom of the times would have dictated.
This county was named and the boundaries defined by act of the Territorial Legislature at their first session, which met at Burlington in the Winter of 1837 and '38. At the session of 1839 and '40, William Smith, of Dubuque; Thomas S. Denison, of Bowens Prairie; and William Jones, of Bellevue, were appointed commissioners to locate the county seat. Early the following Fall, the first two mentioned, Smith and Denison, met, and together reviewed the locations which, in their opinion were the most eligible. After spending several days in making a thorough examination, it became evident that they could not agree. Each had fixed upon different locations, and the more they argued the more determined they each became, that the other was wrong and must submit.
After spending much time in their futile efforts to convince each other, they finally determined to go home and leave the location of the seat of county government an unsettled question. They soon, however, changed their minds, when they remembered that unless they gave the county seat a location, they could not receive any compensation for the time and labor they had spent in their unfruitful efforts to agree. Both still being unwilling to yield or to compromise, they at last, hit upon the plan of determining it by chance, and Smith being successful, located it at Mellheirn or "Dutchtown."
As soon as the action of the commissioners became known, it gave almost universal dissatisfaction. A mass meeting was called at Penn's Grove to protest against the injustice of their action. Petitions were put in circulation and generally signed by the citizens of the county, asking the Legislature to grant a re-location of the county seat by a vote of the people. This petition, duly signed, was presented to the Territorial Legislature, which met at Iowa City the following Winter, and on the 13th day of January, 1841, an act was approved granting to the citizens of Delaware County the right to locate their county seat by a vote of the people at the general election in the following August. This act was passed without opposition, except from Doctor Mason, of Dubuque, who very eloquently argued that it was too important a question to be left for the citizens of the county to decide. His eloquence, however, did not convince his associates of the danger, as it passed without further opposition.
In order to fix upon some location, that the people might vote intelligently, a mass meeting was called at Penn's Grove, about two and a half miles from the present location of Delhi, and after discussing the matter at length, a committee of seven was appointed, whose duty it was to visit all the suitable locations in the county and report. This committee was composed of Joel Bailey, Leroy Jackson, William H. Whiteside, Roland Aubrey, S. P. Whitaker, J. W. Penn and Cyrus Keeler. They met at Penn's some days later, and first proceeded to the geographical center of the county, a little west of the present Village of Delaware Center. It was, however, unanimously considered to be ineligible, as it was high rolling prairie without wood or water. They then went southwest to Spring Branch, it being the nearest timber, but upon examination found it to be hilly, broken, and unsuitable for a town site. They then followed this stream to the Maquoketa, at a point some two miles west and two south of the center, where some of the committee thought best to locate the future shire town. A majority, however, not being satisfied, it was determined to visit Silver Lake, a beautiful sheet of water surrounded by fine burr oak groves, in which were several large springs that were then considered almost indispensible in the location of a town site. As they were riding leisurely along, having reached the brow of the hill overlooking Silver Lake, and where the Village of Delhi now stands, a large deer suddenly sprang up, and running a short distance, stopped and stood looking at them. Roland Aubrey, who, frontiersman like, always carried his trusty rifle, quickly dismounting and raising his piece, was about to fire when Jackson exclaimed, "Now, Aubrey, kill that deer and we will stick the county seat stake right here." Aubrey then fired bringing down the deer, and with his unerring aim located the seat of county government of the now populous and wealthy County of Delaware.
During the Winter of 1843 and '4 the Territorial Legislature designated Delhi as one of the points in the 3d Judicial District for holding court during the following Fall. As there was no suitable building, and none in fact except the small log cabin of C. W. Hobbs, at the county seat, the citizens of the county seeing that something must be done, generally turned out, and while some cut and hewed logs in the timber, others came with their teams and hauled them to a designated point on the hill overlooking Silver Lake, and there constructed a commodious log court house some 18x24 feet, two stories high, with a court room on the first floor, and a jury room above. The contract for roofing, putting in doors and windows, and otherwise completing the building, was let by the county commissioners to Simeon Phillips, at a contract price not to exceed sixty-five dollars.
It was, however, not completed until after the holding of the first term of the District Court, which convened on the 30th day of September, 1844. Honorable Thomas S. Wilson, one of the judges of the Territorial Supreme Court, and presiding judge of the 3d Judicial District presiding; J. W. Penn, Sheriff, and Charles W. Hobbs, Clerk.
The grand jury, after being charged by "his honor," were conducted by United States Marshal, William E. Laffingwell, now of Clinton, in this state, to a thick clump of timber not far from the court house, where with a fallen tree for a seat, they held their first deliberations. As there was no business presented to them, their session was a short one, and they were discharged without finding a single indictment. The court adjourned for the term, on the evening of the first day, having transacted but little business, and without calling a petit jury.
During the late terrible war of the Rebellion Delaware County did her full part, in a state which so nobly responded to the calls of the General Government. The names of upwards of one thousand private soldiers and sixty commissioned officers are enrolled among the national archives at Washington, where they will remain to proclaim to future generations the honor due to the loyal "citizen soldiery" of Delaware County. Many went never to return, and their bones are now bleaching beneath Southern suns, with no storied mausoleum to mark their final rest. But they are not forgotten, for they live in the memory of their relatives, in the hearts of a grateful people, and in the history of a mighty nation. Could they ask for a more glorious career while living, or a prouder fame when dead?
MANCHESTER - Situated a little west of the center, is the largest and most important town in Delaware County. It is located on the Iowa division of the Illinois Central Railroad, forty-five miles west from Dubuque, on both sides of the south fork of the Maquoketa River, which at this place is from seventy to ninety feet wide. The natural advantages of the site for the location of a town are all that the most exacting could demand, being situated well above high water, sufficiently rolling to afford superior drainage, with a soil well adapted to gardening and fruit culture, and making excellent roads.
In Summer it originally presented many attractions to the eye of the early settler, covered as it was with a rich, thick carpet of grass, and dotted here and there with beautiful burr oak groves. It was the favorite resort of large herds of deer, which were often seen grazing beneath its shades, or sporting upon its grass plats. Wolves were numerous, and often ventured near the dwellings of the first settlers, while it is related that snakes of a large size were plenty and often showed themselves to the great alarm of the women and children, and in one case a lady rose in the morning in perfect unconsciousness that a huge serpentine monster, seven and a half feet in length, had been quietly coiled up in the same bed during the night. It is surrounded in many directions by prairies, which for fertility and adaptation to agricultural purposes are unsurpassed by any in the county, while in other directions timber of an excellent quality is found in abundance. Never failing wells of cold water are easily obtained, while the river and numerous springs afford an ample supply of living water. There are numerous quarries within two or three miles where building stone of an excellent quality are found in almost unlimited quantities, while there is an abundance of clay from which brick of a good quality are manufactured. Several excellent water powers now unused, but capable of running a large amount of machinery, are found in the neighborhood.
The first settler upon the original town site was a Norwegian, who, in 1850 or thereabouts, entered the north half of the northeast quarter of section thirty-three, and some other adjoining land. He built a cabin, did some fencing and breaking, but soon after becoming dissatisfied, disposed of his claim to Allen Love, and left the county long before there was any thought of establishing a town here. Near by were the improvements made by George and Henry Achers, while the first settlers in the township were John, William, Adon and Levert Padleford, who, with their mother and three sisters, located in 1841, and did much towards the early development of this part of the county. The land on which Manchester now stands was owned in 1855 by O. P. Reeves, Allen Love and L. Burrington, who first conceived the idea of establishing a town, and made liberal donations of land for that purpose to Judge Dyre, of Dyresville, and a man by the name of Chesterman, who located and surveyed the village that same year, and called it Burrington, in honor of Levens Burrington, one of the donors. During the following year they sold to the Iowa Land Company, who resurveyed and greatly enlarged it, laying out the original plat of the town of Manchester as it now exists. Samuel Bethel, now a resident of California, did the surveying and laid out the town for the company.
Among the first settlers of Manchester were Edson Merrill, A. R. Loomis, Doctor Robins, Thomas Toogood and William White, besides those mentioned above, who were first upon the ground. The first white child born here was Marvin Reeves, the first death Charles E. Reeves, children of Marvin Reeves. The first marriage was that of Lyman Wright to Miss Sarah Lockwood, while Marvin Reeves erected the first frame dwelling. The first store was built by Judge Dyer, and is still standing and known as the "long store." The "Clarence House" by Toogood and Bethel, the old Exchange, the store of A. R. Loomis and some other business houses, with a number of dwellings, were put up the first season. The first bridge across the Maquoketa was built by the proprietors of the town, who erected and assisted in the erection of several business houses and dwellings. The first banking house opened in Manchester, which was also the first one in the county, was the Manchester Bank, owned by David Leroy.
As a large majority of the early settlers of the place had recently removed from the East, they keenly felt the loss of school and church privileges which they had there enjoyed, so that among the first things they did was the erection of a school house, which was used some ten years for school, church and political purposes.
Soon after the establishment of a post office, considerable annoyance was experienced in mail matters, owing to the similarity of the name Burrington to Burlington, a flourishing town in the southern part of the state, and the name was changed to Manchester, derived, it is said, from Chesterman, one of the original proprietors, by prefixing the last syllable "man" to "Chester," thus forming Manchester.
In June, 1865, the Maquoketa River rose to an unusually high point, and the substantial bridge, built some three years before, was washed away by the flood for the second time. It was immediately replaced through the exertions of the energetic business men of Manchester. It was again swept away during the following winter, again replaced, and for the fourth time carried off by the freshet of March, 1868. During the season the substantial structure now standing was erected at a point a short distance below the old crossing, at a cost of eleven thousand dollars, five thousand of which was appropriated by the county and the remaining six thousand by the town corporation.
Manchester was regularly incorporated as a city in the early part of 1866. This was brought about through the active exertions of Messrs. Doggett, Green, Keller, Wells, and H. M. Conger. The first charter election was held on the 29th day of June, 1866, at which the following officers were chosen; Mayor, A. R. Loomis; Treasurer and Recorder, W. H. Board; Councilmen, C. H. Carpenter, N. Denton, Charles Paxon, Joel Bailey and John Schelling.
Manchester has a good graded school, with a high school building erected in 1866. The Congregational, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, Universalist, Advent and Catholic Churches have organizations, and most of them have good church edifices. The Mason and Odd Fellow orders have organizations, which are in a flourishing condition. They have two fire companies, a lecturing and a dramatic association.
DELHI - The county seat of Delaware County, is located some four miles southeast of the center of the county, on the southeast quarter of section seventeen, in township eighty-eight north, of range four west, of the fifth principal meridian. It was located by a vote of the people, held on the 3d day of August, 1841, and was surveyed, platted and laid out on the 5th day of April, 1842, by Joel Bailey, county surveyor.
In the Summer of 1843, Charles W. Hobbs and family moved to Delhi, erected a log cabin, made a claim, and were for two years the only inhabitants in the place. In the Fall of the same year a post office was established, under the then existing regulation of the Government giving every count seat a post office, and Mrs. Mary E., wife of C. E. Hobbs, was appointed post mistress. This was the first post office in the county, and was supplied with mail once a week by William Smith, of Dubuque, who had the first mail contract through the county, from Dubuque via Delhi to Quasqueton, in Buchanan County which he carried on horseback.
During the Spring of 1845 the population of Delhi was augmented by the arrival of John W. Clark, William Phillips, Thomas Norris, A. K. Easton and Joseph Mitchell.
Thomas W. Hobbs, now a resident of this town, and a son of C. W. Hobbs, was the first white child born in this vicinity, and Marshal, son of A. K. Eaton, was the first child who died here. The first public school in Delhi, and probably in the county, was held in the log court house during the Summer of 1846, and was taught by Miss Roxy Brown.
From the first settlement up to the Spring of 1851 the growth of the town was very slow, though there was a steady increase. As it was on the stage line from Dubuque west, and one of the principal stopping places, immigration about this time began to pour in more rapidly, and it soon gave evidences of becoming a town of considerable importance. Good buildings were put up, and energetic, wide-awake business men, mostly from the far East, located here; and with the almost certain prospect of securing a railroad at no very distant day, business of all kinds became lively. Had the citizens of Delhi then embraced the opportunity offered them, and secured the completion of the Dubuque & Pacific Railroad through their town, they would have made its future impetus given by its railroad prospects. It rapidly increased in wealth and importance, until in 1856 or 1857 it had a population of about eleven hundred, and was the most important town west of Dubuque. They however failed to comply with the requests of the railroad projectors, giving the matter but little attention, as they believed the road would come to Delhi whether they encouraged it or not. Thus they let pass the one opportunity offered them; and when the railroad was built it passed three miles north, and they were left "out in the cold." Since then the town has seemed to be on a decline, losing many of its most energetic men, and decreasing in wealth and population, until it now contains scarcely five hundred inhabitants.
HOPKINTON. - The Town of Hopkinton, situated in a beautiful grove on the east bank of the south fork of the Maquoketa River, is an enterprising village, and a station on the Davenport & St. Paul Railroad, some twelve miles southeast from the center of the county, and five from the south and east boundary lines.
It lies on the second branch of the Maquoketa, in a burr oak grove sloping towards the river, which gradually rising opens into a large rolling prairie on the southeast and extends to the timber of the north fork of the Maquoketa, a distance of seven miles. On the north are oak openings extending to Plum Creek, while the country lying between is broken, abounding in extensive limestone quarries which have been opened in many places. West and south it is bounded by the Maquoketa and a heavy growth of timber among the finest in the county. At the foot of the hill, and on the west, are the celebrated springs known as "Jackson's Springs." They are three in number, issuing from the solid rock, and excite the surprise and admiration of all visitors, while meeting, they form a sparkling stream capable of supplying an entire city with excellent pure soft water.
The pioneer settler in this town was William Nicholson, who made a claim and did some breaking in 1838, having been attracted by the fine mill sites, the rich beautiful valley land, and the valuable timber in the adjacent neighborhood. In the Fall of 1840 he disposed of his claim to Leroy Jackson and Henry A. Carter. Jackson took possession in November and Carter in the following March.
In 1842 the first white child was born, Sarah B., daughter of H. A. Carter. The first death was Thomas Nicholson, father of William Nicholson, which occurred in the Spring of 1839. In the Summer of 1843 or'4 the mother of Owen Lovejoy, for many years an honored and influential member of Congress from Illinois, then living with another son, Honorable John Lovejoy, since Minister to Peru, South America, but then living on a small farm near Hopkinton, taught the first school in this portion of the county. It was a private school only patronized by a few families. She continued it but a few weeks, as her son Owen came and took her with him to his home in Illinois, where she remained, never returning to this county. During her short stay she made a lasting impression upon all who had the good fortune to make her acquaintance, as being a lovely woman of marked ability and noble character, in every way worthy of her lamented son, the Christian statesman, Owen Lovejoy. The first public school was opened in 1850, and taught by Samuel Perry, who came from Maine in pursuit of health, but died at Hopkinton in the Spring of 1851. It was a good school, but sustained only through the continuous and persistent efforts of Carter and Jackson.
The first Sunday school established in Hopkinton, and probably in the county, was organized by Messrs. Jackson and Carter in the Summer of 1841. They were the first and only teachers at that time.
As the gradual increase of inhabitants created a demand for lumber, Carter and Jackson both built saw mills, one on the Maquoketa, and the other on Plum Creek. They laid out the town in 1850, and by holding out inducements to enterprising settlers it soon became quite a flourishing village. Care was taken from the first to exclude everything that would exert an immoral influence, and to secure all the religious and educational advantages that could be found in a new and comparatively wild country. A good district school was established, and occasionally a select school with evening sessions. No billiard or liquor saloons of any kind were tolerated, while principles of the highest moral character were inculcated, and the community became noted for its intelligence, enterprise, and patriotism. Sometime during 1854 a large colony of Reform Presbyterians, attracted by the natural advantages and the favorable situation to locate in a body, bought a large tract of land, and cutting it up into farms opened and improved them, thus greatly adding to the prosperity of the town and surrounding country.
SAND SPRING. - This town received its name from a large and beautiful spring which was quite noted in the early settlement of the country. In 1851, A. C. Bowen entered by warrant several thousand acres of land, on what is now called Bowen's prairie, including the present town site of Sand Spring, on which he built a cabin in 1856. During the same year the Dubuque and Southwestern Railroad was surveyed, and a station located here. The Land Company in connection with T. H. Bowen, laid out one hundred and sixty acres of land in the original town plot. The next year Reverend Bolles laid out the colony addition, containing forty acres, and about the same time Sherwood and Cummings added nearly the same amount.
EARLVILLE. - This town is situated near a fine grove on the line of the Iowa division of the Illinois Central Railroad, some five miles east of the center of Delaware County. Plum Creek runs near the edge of the town and furnishes a fair water power, which is partially improved. It is in the center of a rich farming country, well improved, and settled by a class of agriculturists above the average for intelligence and thrift. It contains honest, wide-awake business men, who have by fair dealing built up a large trade. They have secured good society, excellent schools, and strong church organizations, which give it a solid and permanent growth that augurs well for its future. Earlville was the first town in the county to secure a good school house, which has been, and still is, a credit to the people.
A prominent feature of this village, and one which first attracts the attention of the visitor, is the neat and tasty appearance of the dwellings and their surroundings, while the sidewalks are superior in quality and length to any village of its size in this part of the state. These characteristics, which are peculiar to towns settled largely from New England and the East, indicate that the people are industrious, enterprising and happy.
The town derived its name from G. M. Earl, who, moving from South Bend, Indiana, was nearly the first settler on the town site. He was permanently engaged in business here for a number of years, taking an active part and deep interest in all public improvements. Among the early forces engaged in building up and improving this town should be mentioned C. G. Gilman, who came with the railroad in 1858, opened a lumber yard, erected a number of buildings, developed a fine stock farm, and in general did much to stimulate immigration and build up business. B. Thorp, Senior, came about the same time, entered into trade and grain buying, and, with his sons, kept a large first-class general store.
GREELEY. - Is a pleasant little town located on the Davenport and St. Paul Railroad, north of Delaware Center, and contains some five hundred inhabitants. The village contains a good public school, which is well sustained and patronized, three churches, two hotels, some six or seven stores, blacksmith and wagon shop, post office, telegraph office, and other improvements and advantages usually found in towns of its size.
MASONVILLE. - This village is a station on the Illinois Central Railroad, seven miles west of Manchester and fifteen miles east of Independence. It was laid out in the Spring of 1858, by the Dubuque & Pacific Railroad Company. The land was originally owned by A. R. Mason, a resident of Massachusetts, who gave the railroad company an undivided one-half interest in the town plat, in consideration of their locating a depot here. The first settler was A. K. Martin, who came from Illinois, in June, 1858, located here and still remains a resident of the village. The first and oldest merchant is O. B. Dutton. It is a small quiet village, containing a population of about two hundred, is pleasantly situated near Prairie Creek, and is surrounded except on the northeast, by a fine, well improved prairie.
COLESBURG. - Is situated in the northeast part of the county, in a fine fertile farming section, a little south of the Turkey River Valley which contains some of the best timber in the state. The village was started in 1848 by H. Cole, from whence it took its name. He established the first store in 1850, in a small log building. D. Moreland was the first post master. J. B. Moreland erected a good stone building and opened a stock of goods in 1851, and P. C. Bolsinger a general stock in 1852. John V. Watson was the first attorney, while Mrs. McClennend taught the first school, in a log school house about a mile from the village. They now have a fine graded school, employing none but the best teachers.
DELAWARE CENTER - Is a pleasant village located a little east of the center of Delaware County, from which fact it derives its name. It is at the crossing of the Illinois Central and the Davenport & St. Paul railroads, thus possessing the best railroad facilities of any town in the county. It is on a high, rolling prairie, which gives it quite a sightly and commanding position. Although a new town, it has some very good buildings, handsome residences, two or three churches, and two hundred and fifty or three hundred inhabitants.
Delaware County Courthouse
 Delaware's first county seat was located in Delhi. There the citizens built an 18 by 24 foot two-story log cabin. The cabin lacked some finishing touches, including a roof and jurors had to enter the second story jury room with a ladder. The county commissioners resolved, in 1850, to build a new courthouse. Since no contractor could be found to build it, the settlers used their axes and completed the new courthouse and jail in 1853.
The county seat was moved to Manchester and the present courthouse was built there in 1894. For $38,000 a red pressed brick building was constructed. About 700 citizens donated money to purchase a clock for the tower. This building is used as the courthouse today.
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