Knon all allen en by these prevents that I William B. Carlen of the County of Dougan County of Pouyas and Commoun earth of Vaguna ando in consideration of the sum of Iollars to me in hand paid by Ishaur Kench ab or before the scaling and Delively. the recept Whereof is hereby and Sold а Deludy of ишо Нинанами of these pervers the Acknowleszed, have Bayound ance by these presents doth and to fully clearly and. Absobility. Barzhen and Sets unto the card bran a Muttatto Boy nama Jack, to have hold the same Boy funto hund the sacce Isham Kuth hes Heers Executors and administrators force And I the said William B Carter, for myself my Heers, Exccutors Administrators and every of us do Jun the $asd Boy Jack, / unto him the Said Isham Huth his Heerstand assigns for ever against россии the claims and Demand of all and every person and аль every Persons Whatsover. In Tesamony where of Thave her што бев ту hand and Seal this tuity January! One Thou, and twenty fifth day аю Huna 7mB Carter Syn'a seat and BILL OF SALE FOR A MULATTO BOY. NAMED "JACK". From the private papers of the grantee, Isham White, one of the first Board of County ANNALS OF IOWA. EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT. BUILDING THE NEW CAPITOL. Our leading article is a faithful record of the erection of the New Capitol, from the pen of Hon. Peter A. Dey, one of the State's chosen commissioners after the first board was superseded. The first board, consisting of eight members, in addition to the Governor, who was ex officio president, and included some of the most eminent men in the State, was found to be too cumbrous, and the next legislature provided for a commission consisting of the Governor and four practical men. It was wisely provided that the board should be a non-partisan body, a conclusion which met with universal approval. Messrs. Peter A. Dey and Maturin L. Fisher were the democratic members; Messrs. Fink bine and Foote, republicans. Mr. Finkbine was an architect by profession, and Mr. Foote a business man whose methods invariably led to system and exactness. Mr. Fisher, then a farmer, was a man of thorough education, a graduate of Yale college, a former superintendent of public instruction, than whom no one stood higher in public confidence. Mr. Dey was an educated engineer and had had many years of active experience, especially in the building of railroads, and thoroughly understood the nature and value of such materials as would. enter into the construction of the new State House. The qualities needed in servants entrusted with such high responsibilities were most admirably proportioned. When their labors finally culminated in the completion of the edifice it was proudly and justly claimed that not a single dollar had been diverted from its legitimate purpose. The people of Iowa were proud of the New Capitol, and that feeling has never suffered any abatement. Commissioners have come from other States to admire the edifice and hear the story of the processes whereby such desirable results were achieved. In Vol. IV, pp. 241-246, we gave Hon. John A. Kasson's admirable paper on "The Fight for the New Capitol " In that contest Mr. Kasson was the chosen leader of that large portion of the people of Iowa who desired the erection of a new capitol in place of the insufficient pioneer structure which was already lapsing into decay. It will doubtless seem strange to many readers that there could have been any opposition to a work of such obvious necessity. But the opposition was bitter, wide-spread, and led by some of the ablest men in the State. The causes which inspired opposition were various. Some good people may have honestly believed that the State could not afford the contemplated expenditure of money; others may have hoped for the removal of the seat of government to a different location; while something like demagoguery doubtless inspired the action of others. Common consent pointed to Mr. Kasson as the one available and competent leader in this sharp conHow it was fought to a successful conclusion in the legislature he has told in his own admirable style, and his paper will remain the final word on that subject as long as it shall interest our people. Mr. Dey sets forth with great clearness and entire truth, the qualifications of his associates. Those who still survive from that time will agree with us that a more competent board, or one which could have inspired a higher degree of confi dence, could not have been found in the State. So far as the personnel of the board was concerned, there was no complaint on the part of the press or the people. Its members enjoyed the largest measure of public confidence from the beginning to the end of their labors, and a most generous estimate of the value of their services still exists throughout Iowa and neighboring states. The historical papers of Messrs. Dey and Kasson leave nothing further to be said. They complete the history of the movement for the New Capitol. GENERAL JOSEPH MONTFORT STREET. During the publication of this series of THE ANNALS, we have presented several articles referring in one way or another to this distinguished pioneer, whose life closed at Agency City, Wapello county, May 5, 1840, where he was buried in a little enclosure a few feet from the grave of the Indian Chief Wapello. He was especially distinguished for his friendship to the Indians. He spared no effort to protect them from the rapacity of thieving agents who came among them to prey upon their substance and demoralize them with intoxicating liquors. He wished to improve their condition by establishing schools among them, and instructing them in farming and other arts of peace and prosperity. He had fierce contentions with the "grafters" of that day. His well intended efforts were not rewarded with the fruition they deserved. The Indian traders were too powerfully represented at Washington to admit of the success of a single unsupported philanthropist. As Iowa was for some time the theatre of his operations, his memory should ever be precious to our people and all possible light thrown on his career. The articles which have appeared in THE ANNALS have been to a large extent the inspiration and work of his granddaughter, Miss Ida M. Street, a sometime resident of Des Moines, but latterly of Milwaukee, where she has attained a high reputation as a teacher. We give considerable space in this number to one-half of her latest article, which is largely a compilation from official letters and documents touching the frauds which were sought to be perpetrated upon the Winnebago tribe of Indians, by a commission appointed for their protection by the general government. Some of this matter has been published heretofore, and may be found in the transactions of the Historical Society of Wisconsin, while a portion of it is now printed for the first time. The article will be concluded in the next number of VOL. VII-10. |