Sketches of Early Events In the History of Iowa
Narrative of settlement conflicts with Indians around 1836 and the founding of Washington County Iowa. Notes key settlers including Ritchey and Holcomb Bullock, mill sites at Old Van Doren, and the 1839 act establishing Washington County boundaries and seat of justice at Astoria with commissioners Gilliland and Ritchey choosing a site.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
N. Littler
Washington County Gazette
John Black
John Calewel
Abraham Hulock
Thomas Ritchey
Adam Ritchey
Our County
Our
Milo Holcomb
John B. Flullock
New Jersey
Monmouth
Ilinois
New Terrtory
Josiah Smart
Sarah McCuller
Jane Bell
Elizabeth Williams
Adam Ritcher
Washington
Amos
William Moore
Richard Moore
George
Simpson
Gabe
Ainsworth
Sid
Astoria
District Court
Messrs
Gilliland
Ritchey
Chambers
Raneve
Henry County
Warren County
Illinois
John FE
Malin
Wash- Thig
Houte Colleveve
Early settlement and seat location of Washington County Iowa
The article recounts the 1839 designation of the Washington County seat, the land ownership shifts around Thomas and Nathan Baker, and the county’s evolving borders through territories and counties. It highlights first settlers Matthew Moorhead and others, 1837 1838 arrivals, and the Slaughter county era with its brief Wisconsin territory court.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Matthew Moorhead
Thomas Caldwell
Thomas Baker
Henry Osborn
Crawford Township
William Kinsley
David Sykes
Nathan Griffin
Marion Township
Silas Washburn
Morgan Hart
Brighton
Thos. Baker
Henry County
Crawfordsville
William Benson
Baker
Slaughter County
Nathan Baker
United States
Moorhead
Adam Ritchey
Our
Rett’ Farm
Saxton Mount
John W. Neal
Joseph Nealy
Daniel Powers
Crills
Conrad Temple
Augustine
Wm. L. Harvey
John Lewis
George Ferrier
Robert C. Risk
Seneca Beach
Mr. Washburn
Francis Thorn
Parks
John Grimsley
Jack” Grimsley
John Jackson
Thomas Wilson
Abraham Custer
Gideon Bear
John Connelly
Jonathan H. Wilson
T. M. Neal Joseph Bearman
Joseph B. Davis
Ed. Clemens
Ohio
Feet
Messrs. Bealman
Connelly
Washington County
Astoria
Legislative Assembly
Messrs. Hughes, Wallace
Slaughter
David Irwin
Wisconsin Territory
Nelson Ball
David Goble
Wisconsin
Towa
First permanent settlement noted in the county history
The text recalls a white settlement beginning in 1836 as the county's initial permanent community, marking a milestone in local early settlement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Our County
County organizations through early and later history
The narrative surveys the county’s formative and subsequent governmental bodies as a preface to the fuller history of early settlement and development. It signals an outline of the county’s organizational evolution and sets the stage for detailed chapters.
Laughter County civil history and territorial reorganization
The text notes uncertainty in the civil history of Laughter County during its early territorial period. It cites legislation from January 18, 1838 by the Wisconsin territorial legislature organizing the county and a later January 25, 1839 act by the first Town Territory assembly reorganizing the county with altered boundaries and a name change.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Michigan
New Purchase
Dubuque
Demoine
Flint Hills
Burlington
Michigan Territory
Mississippi
Wisconsin
Congress
1St
Legislative Assembly of
Bemont
Louisa
Towit
Mississippi River
Des Moines
Henry
Slaughter
Astoria
Wm. R. Slauchter
Wisconsin Territory
Orecon
Ainsworth
B. Hughes
Wm. H. Wallace
Jacob Myers
Henry County
Territorial
David Goble
Myers
Fairfield
Washington Territory
Hughes
Goble
Passey
Territory of
Iowa
Washington County
Council
House of Representatives
John C. Ellis
John C. Ells
Slaughter County
John C. Elis
Iowa Territory
Legislative Assembly
Town
Johnson, Linn
Jones
Muscatine
James M. Clarke
Territorial Council
John Frierson
Wm. M. Toole
Levi Thornton
S. C. Hastings
Toole
Hastins
Muscatine County
Louisa County
Laughter County
Wisconsin Territorial Legislature
Early Adventurers Reach Pacific Coast in 1708
In the summer of 1708 Alexander Mackenzie the Montreal fur trader crossed the Rocky Mountains and reached the Pacific coast on June 22 becoming the first white man to cross the continent by a route north of Mexico While at the same time Captain Vancouver explored and charted the coast of British Columbia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Oras County
Ohio
John Easley
Joseph Brown
Hon. B. Frown
Cedar Township
Griffith
Schuyler County
Ill
Joseph Griffith
Ilinois
Marion Township
Joe
Mississippi
Silas Washburn
Hadley, Mays
Brighton Township
Missouri
Hancock
Wisconsin Territory
Our County
Washburn
Skunk River
Brighton
Morgan Hart
Allen & Co
Hart
Clay Township
Alexander Mackenzie
Montreal
Rocky Mountains
British Columbia
Pacific
Mexico
Captain Vancouver
Also Mentioned on This Page
Moore
East Fork
Crooked Creek
Mr. Ritchey
West Fork
Ritchey Brothers
Mr. R
Iowa River
County of
John Gilliland
Thomas Ritthey
William Chambers
Thomas
Board of Commissioners
Township Seventy Five
Thos, Ritchey
James W. Woods
Old Timber
Weet
Iowa City
Mount Pleasant
Robt. Glasgow
General Assembly
Mr. Osborn
Mr. Kinsley
Daniel Sykes
Elijah Reeves
Mr. Sykes
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!