Organization
As has been stated, Iowa was embraced in what was
known as the Louisiana Purchase, was a part of the District of Louisiana
in 1804; in 1807, was included in the Territory of Illinois, and, in 1812,
in the Territory of Missouri until the admission of the State in 1821 ;
was unattached to any organized Territory until 1834, when it became a
part of Michigan Territory, and, in 1836, became a part of Wisconsin
Territory; in 1838, was established as the Territory of Iowa.
On the 11th of January, 1840, the Territorial Legislature, by enactment,
organized the county of Clinton, the law to take effect March 1, 1840, and
making Camanche, which, it was stated, had polled more votes than all the balance
of the county, the seat of justice.
The act of organization declares that three County Commissioners and other
officers shall be elected on the first Monday in April, 1840. No record,
however, exists of any proceedings of the Commissioners until January 5, 1841.
We have verbal statements of old settlers which place it almost beyond doubt
that there were meetings held during the year 1840, and that Elijah Buel, George
Griswold and Robert C. Bourne were the first Commissioners, and it appears that
the next election was held in August, 1840. The act organizing Clinton County
also provided that the Commissioners of Scott County should select the names of
persons resident in Clinton County to serve as grand jurors. The following names
were returned in accordance therewith: Peter H. Groat, James Claborne, Richard
Crawshaw, Robert Thomas, Samuel Doolittle, John C. Holbrook, Frederick Hess,
John Emory, Shubel Coy, Benjamin Baker, Oliver A. Crary, Alfred Brown, Otis
Bennett, Daniel Smith, Richard H. Dawson, Eldad Beard, David H. Brown, Henry
Strickler, Robert C. Bourne, Philip D. Bradley, Eli Goddard, Alanson Dickerman
and Arthur Smith.
Of these, there appeared at the opening of the Court, October 12, 1840, James
Claborne, Benjamin Baker, Otis Bennett, Richard H. Dawson, Eldad Beard, Henry
Strickler, Robert C. Bourne, Alanson Dickerman and Arthur Smith. The Court
selected Samuel N. Bedford, George W. Harlan, John Welsh and Absalom Dennis as
talesmen to complete the required number, and the first grand jury of Clinton
County was sworn in, with Richard H. Dawson as foreman. James D. Bourne
had been appointed Sheriff by Governor Dodge,
and Martin Dunning held appointment as Clerk of the Court. Thomas S. Wilson was the Judge, and William J. A. Bradford, District Prosecuting
Attorney.
At the election for county officers, Robert C. Bourne, Eli Goddard and Elijah Buel
were elected County Commissioners. Mr. Bourne, having the highest number of
votes, was declared elected for three years. There was a tie between Messrs.
Goddard and Buel, and the Clerk cut the Gordian knot by declaring Mr. Goddard to
be the two years’ man, and Mr. Bud elected for one year.
James D. Bourne was elected Sheriff; Richard H. Dawson, County Assessor; Shubel
Coy, Treasurer; — Gardner, Recorder.