possession of nearly every one, and which entered into all kinds of conversation and official deliberations, left its impress particularly on the General Assembly of the Territory and young State of Iowa. In the organization of at least fifteen counties the names of battle-fields and distinguished generals of the Mexican War were perpetuated. The question of the acquisition of Texas and the consequent declaration of war with Mexico was the chief issue in the presidential campaign of 1844. The party in favor of this measure nominated as their candidate James K. Polk, who was triumphantly elected. The party cry during that campaign was "Polk and Dallas," and as commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States Polk was not only the standard-bearer of the Democratic party, but the central figure of the Mexican campaign. It was therefore to be expected, and altogether consistent with the general tendency of affairs, for the Legislature of the Territory, in session right in the midst of the Mexican campaign, to select as a name for the county which was to be the future capital of the State and the center of population, wealth and influence the name of the standard-bearer in the preliminary campaign and the central figure in the subsequent conquest. It was also very proper that the name Dallas, which had been associated with that of Polk during the campaign in question, should be given to the county immediately west. Whether or not the policy of naming counties after illustrious politicians and famous generals and battle-fields be a good one or not, it has nevertheless been followed to a greater or less extent in the various States throughout the Union, and in none more so than in Iowa, and in the case of no other county of Iowa was the selection more appropriate than that of Polk county. It was the purpose of those in authority in the Territory to perpetuate the illustrious names of the Mexican War. James K. Polk was the central figure of the time, around whom all the other names clustered; he was the central star of the galaxy, around whom all the lesser lights revolved. If his name was to be perpetuated by bestowing it upon a county, that county must be the center of influence, the brightest star of the galaxy. When the county was named the legislators in effect uttered a prophecy, and to the fulfillment of that prophecy have the leading citizens ever directed their efforts. The position of supremacy to which that prophecy elevated the county is to-day maintained, and that it will ever thus be maintained is attested by its location, natural resources, and the energetic, aggressive and progressive character of its people. A brief sketch of the man whose name the county bears will be in place here. He was born in Mecklenburgh county, North Carolina, November_2d, 1795. His ancestors were originally from Ireland, and the name was Pollock, which, in the course of time, was abbreviated to Polk. His ancestors emigrated to America during the eighteenth century, and were farmers, which avocation occupied the attention of the President's father and of himself while passing the years of youth and early inanhood. In 1806 the family removed to Dutch Run, in Tennessee. After receiving a rudimentary education, such as was afforded by the common schools of Tennessee, young Polk entered the State University of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1818. Immediately upon his graduation, he entered upon the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1820. In 1823 he was elected to the State Legislature and in 1825 was chosen to represent his district in the United States Congress. He soon won a wide-spread reputation in the National House of Representatives as a good debater and soon was the acknowledged leader of the opposition to the administration of John Quincy Adams. Upon the election of Andrew Jackson to the presidency he became one of the chief supporters of the administration. He received the nomination of his party for Speaker of the House, but was defeated through a coalition between the Whigs and a few disaffected Democrats who supported Mr. Bell. In 1835 he was elected Speaker, and again in 1837, and also in 1839. After having served fourteen years in Congress, he declined to be a candidate for re-election, and was chosen Governor of Tennessee. At the expiration of his term of Governor, he was a candidate for re-election, but was defeated, his competitor receiving the small majority of three thousand two hundred and twenty-two votes. Early in "May, 1844, the Democratic national convention assembled at Baltimore for the purpose of adopting a platform and nominating candidates for president and vice-president. The difficulty between Texas and Mexico had aroused an intense feeling of sympathy for the former and excitement was high. The question of annexation of Texas, and a consequent war with Mexico, was universally agitated throughout the United States, and was so generally advocated by the leaders of the Democratic party that the adoption of this measure was the accepted policy of that party. That political party known as Whigs were opposed to this measure, and as it was generally regarded as a move for the further extension of slavery, it was also opposed by all the anti-slavery people throughout the North. The intense hostility of the anti-slavery party to this measure found expression in the National House of Representatives a short time after, when Tom Corwin, of Ohio, gave expression to the daring and eloquent words in which he advised Mexico to Welcome the invader with bloody hands to hospitable graves." That Iowa, which in the organization of counties, should have done so much to commemorate that struggle and at the same time be the first and most radical of the anti-slavery States seems strange; but to return to the Baltimore convention. Mr. Polk was nominated on the ninth ballot, and was triumphantly elected, notwithstanding he had for an opponent the justly renowned and deservedly popular Clay. The popular vote stood as follows: Polk, 1,335,834; Clay, 1,297,033; Birney, 62,270. The election of Polk being regarded as decisive proof that the people favored the annexation of Texas, that measure was effected before his inauguration. One of his first acts after assuming the duties of chief executive, was to send General Taylor with a small force to occupy the disputed territory lying between the Nueces and the Rio Grande rivers. In April, 1846, the first actual hostilities occurred, and President Polk immediately sent a message to Congress, informing that body of the existence of war between the two countries, and asking for men and money to prosecute the same. Congress promptly responded and appropriated $10,000,000, and authorized the enlistment of 50,000 men. The vigorous manner in which President Polk prosecuted the war and its speedy and favorable conclusion are matters of general history with which we have nothing to do. Among the additional events of Polk's administration, were the adoption of the following measures: Low tariff; independent treasury system, whereby revenues were collected without the aid of banks; institution of the Department of the Interior; admission of Wisconsin. Mr. Polk was not a candidate for election to a second term and upon the inauguration of his successor he retired to Nashville, Tennessee, where he died June 15th, 1849, just three months and eleven days after retiring from the office which he had filled with such great distinction. Thus much have we deemed proper to be said with regard to the person for whom the county was named. So much every boy and girl, whose home is within the bounds of the county, should know, and less than that certainly would be unsatisfactory to one whose mind has ever been led to the investigation of the county's history. CHAPTER II. PHYSICAL FEATURES. Situation-Extent-Surface-Rivers - Timber-Climate - Prairies-Soils-Geology-Economic Geology-Coal-Building stone -Clays-Mineral springs-Spring and well water. POLK County is situated near the center of the State. Accurately speaking, it is about twenty miles west and about twenty five miles south of the geographical center of the State. The town of State Center, a station on the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, in Marshall county, is probably very nearly the geographical center of Iowa, while the city of Des Moines is probably more nearly in the center of wealth and population than any other point in the State. Numbering by counties it is in the fourth tier numbering from the south boundary of the State, in the sixth tier from the north boundary, in the seventh from the Mississippi river, and in the sixth counting from the Missouri. Its latitude is a little less than 42 degrees north, it being a very little north of the latitude of New York City; its longitude is about 93 degrees and 30 minutes west of Greenwich, and the center of the county is about 13 degrees and 50 minutes, or nearly 1,150 miles, west of the national capital. It is bounded on the north by the counties of Boone and Story; on the east by Jasper and Marion; on the south by Warren and Dallas; on the west by Dallas. About one-fourth of the north boundary touches on Boone and three-fourths on Story; on the east Jasper county forms the boundary, except that portion of the county lying between the township line and the Des Moines river, a distance of about one mile, where Polk county touches Marion; on the south, Warren county forms the boundary except at the southwest corner, where a strip of Dallas county, six miles long and one mile wide, overlaps Polk county. This loss is compensated on the east, where a strip of like length and width overlaps Jasper county. It comprises congressional township 78, of ranges 22, 23 and 24, and all of 25 except the strip before referred to, which belongs to Dallas, and in addition the aforementioned strip taken out of Jasper; also, townships 79, 80 and 81, of ranges 22, 23, 24 and 25. The county, were it in the shape of a square, consisting of sixteen congressional townships, would be twenty-four miles each way, and would contain three hundred and sixty eight thousand, six hundred and forty acres. As it is it contains some three thousand acres in addition to that amount. The civil townships as now constituted are as follows: Camp, Four Mile, Allen, Grant, Lee, Des Moines, Bloomfield, Walnut, Webster, Valley, Saylor, Delaware, Clay, Beaver, Franklin, Douglas, Crocker, Jefferson, Madison, Lincoln, Elkhart and Washington, twenty-two in all. Of these, five coincide with their corresponding congressional townships; they are as follows: Washington, Elkhart, Lincoln, Douglas and Franklin. Three of the civil townships are larger than the corresponding congressional townships, viz: Camp, Bloomfield and Madison. The remaining civil townships are less than congressional townships, Lee being the smallest township in the county. The county was at one time divided into civil townships, whose boundaries more generally corresponded with the boundaries of the congressional townships, but in later years very material changes were made, whereby natural boundaries, such as rivers, density of population, and the convenience of the people were consulted, rather than the arbitrary lines laid down in the original government surveys. These changes will be more fully and definitely discussed at the proper place. Part of the townships have regular and well-defined boundaries, while the larger number of them have irregular and ill-defined boundaries. This is due to the fact that in many cases the boundary lines consist of the irregular and changeable channels of rivers and smaller streams. Owing to the fact that bridges, however numerous they may be, do not furnish convenient and ready means of communication between the people of a township lying on both sides of a stream, this arrangement is probably the best subdivision of the county into civil townships which could be made, although in many respects the plan of constituting each congressional township into a civil township has its advantages. These streams of water, while they present many obstacles in the way of settlement and improvement, and are continually suggesting problems over which the county dignitaries may propose and cogitate, are at the same time of incalculable benefit to the county. They will be described at the appropriate place. The elevation of the county is somewhat less than the average of the State. The average of the county is not far from 850 feet above the level of the sea, or 406 feet above low water mark in the Mississippi river at Keokuk. The highest point in the county is about midway between the valleys of the Des Moines and Skunk, near the north part of the county, where the elevation is about 960 feet above the sea level, or 524 feet above low water mark in the Mississippi river at Keokuk. The lowest point is at the Des Moines river at the southeast corner of the county, where the elevation is about 700 feet, or 256 feet above low water mark in the Mississippi at Keokuk. The difference in elevation between low water mark in the Des Moines river at Des Moines and the Mississippi at Davenport is 230 feet, and between low water mark in the Des Moines river at Des Moines and the Mississippi at Keokuk, 314 feet. The elevations of the principal points on the various railroads in the county are as follows: Mitchellville, 948 feet above sea level. Depot at Des Moines, 795 feet above sea level. Crossing of 'Coon, west of Des Moines, 838 feet above sea level. The land in the county, away from the streams, is generally an undulating prairie, and has altogether a diversity of country seldom found in so small a space. At a varying distance from the larger streams rise irregu lar lines of bluffs, or hills, sometimes wooded and sometimes, previous to improvement, covered with a luxuriant growth of prairie grass, having between them water bottom lands of surprising beauty and unsurpassed fertility. These hills are generally a gentle slope, easily ascended and de scended by wagons, and sinking into mere benches, moderately lifted above the surface of the valley; again, sometimes, they rise to a height of over one hundred feet above the bed of the Des Moines river. From side to side, between these hills, the streams meander with banks varied by hill, meadow, and forest. Rising to the higher points the eye often commands views of exquisite loveliness, embracing the silvery course of river or creek, the waving foliage of trees, the changing outlines of hills and the undulating surface of flower-decked prairie, with cultivated farms, with farm houses from the log hut of the first settler to the brick or painted houses and barns of the more advanced cultivator of the soil, and the palatial mansions of the wealthy capitalist. A writer of considerable reputation and a close student of natural history, says: "The real beauty of this section can hardly be surpassed. Undulating prairies interspersed with open groves of timber and watered with pebbly or rocky streams, pure and transparent, hills of moderate height and gentle slope; here and there, especially toward the heads of the streams, small lakes as clear as the streams, skirted with timber, some with banks covered with the green sward of the prairie. These are the ordinary features of the landscape. For centuries the successive annual crops have accumulated organic matter on the surface to such an extent that the succession even of exhausting crops will not materially impoverish the land." The "small lakes," so called, have proved to be simply ponds or marshes, which, in certain seasons of the year, resemble small lakes. The county has less land unfitted for cultivation by reason of sloughs and marshes, than any of the neighboring counties. According to the report of the Commissioner of the Land Office this county had but 14,596 acres of swamp lands; Boone, 27,773; Story, 15,640. There is probably not a section of country of like extent in the State which possesses such an extensive and well distributed drainage system as Polk county. There is proportionately such a small area of waste and swamp lands, and the facilities for drainage of such are so admirable, that waste lands arising from this cause are too insignificant to be worthy of particular mention. The country presented to the first settler an easy task in subduing the wild land. Its natural prairies were fields almost ready for the planting of the crop, and its rich black soil seemed to be awaiting the opportunity of paying rewards as a tribute to the labor of the husbandman. The farms of Iowa at present are generally large, level, unbroken by impassable sloughs, without stumps or other obstructions, and furnish the best of conditions favorable to the use of reaping machines, mowers, corn planters, and other kinds of labor-saving machinery. RIVERS. Polk county is so well supplied with living streams of water, and they are so well distributed over the county, that the people of the county could not possibly make an improvement upon the arrangement if they were allowed the privilege and endowed with the power to make a readjustment of the system of rivers and creeks. Many of these streams have fine mill-sites, and by reason of the water power thus made so accessible, the early settler was spared many of the hardships and inconveniences experienced by the pioneers of other sections. These mill-sites even to the present day consti |