GLO Notes Quotes

General Land Office Research

Department of Landscape Architecture

Iowa State University

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GLO Notes Quotes

The quotations below were selected because they relate to our research. They are grouped by topic.

"John Phillips Jun...left for Keokuk assigning no other reason than his wages would not keep him in pantaloons & boots." Wm. Dunn, October 8,1851, T69N R35W (Taylor County)

"exchanged Andrew Cosgrove for Louis Howard, the former having left the work for home." Horatio Waldo, 18__??__, T R (Greene County)

"exchanged A.L. Brown for Wm. Meyers on account of the lameness of the former." Horatio Waldo, June 20, 1851, T82N R31W (Greene County)

"James C. Smith having frozen his face, hands & feet so severely as to render him unfit for service, I put William Cram in his place as chainman, & run without flags." Leonard B. Hodges, February 16, 1853, T95N R19W (Cerro Gordo County)

"John Clark froze his feet and 3 men froze fingers, toes, faces, and noses." L.B. Hodges, 18__??__, T R (Floyd County)

"Milton Robbins and Isaac Warner, chainmen, quit work on account of bad weather." S.T. Caldwell, November 4, 1852, T84N R29W (Greene County)

"Found chain ¼ inch too long. Ithamar Ellot sworn as Axeman William Stoddard as Flagman. Assistants Monroe and Delaney proved incompetent." Peter Moriarty, October 10, 1851, T71N R37W (Montgomery County)

"On the 24 April the hands refused to work on account of an alarm as to an Indian War. May 18th, 1832, left off work in consequence of the Indian War. Returned November 3, 1832. Working for $15 a month." Jenifer T. Sprigg, 1832, T65N R5W (Lee County)

"camp burned up." Wm. B. Yerby, November 5, 1856, Section 3 of T98N R46W (Lyon County)

"Surface flat level and marshy - soil second rate - fit for nothing but meadow. Here we stoped work to burn Prairie and fight fire." James W. Woods, October 6, 1854, T96N R24W (Hancock County)

"The cost of executing a survey is not to be compared with the cost of performing any other species of work. The surveyor's provisions and equipage are always to be transported over a trackless country, his supplies are to be carried a great distance, and his assistants are always to be employed at exorbitant wages. If overtaken by accident, such as the snows and frosts of winter, or the sickness of summer, a pecuniary loss is the unavoidable consequence. The present rate of compensation affords no indemnity in case of accident or unexpected difficulty, and is even insufficient when all the circumstances that attend the surveyor are favorable." GLO Surveyor General George W. Jones, October 18, 1846, report to GLO Commissioner (quoted in Lokken 1942, p. 37)

"Surface high bottom 1st ½ mile, 2nd low and subject to inundation musquitoes very thick and large. Soil produces little else." Johnson Pierson, June 18, 1852, T69N R41W (Fremont County)

"nettles & twoo many musquitoes for to taking notes." Perrin Kent, July 31, 1837, T68N R5W (Lee County)

"We would generally work until dark and then find our way around the sloughs and through them to our camp. You can neither imagine, nor can I describe, the torment of the mosquito. The air would be literally thick with them. If we talked they got into our mouths; they would fly into our eyes and ears; would cover our faces and hands." Deputy Surveyor Cyrus C. Carpenter (quoted in Lokken 1942, p. 63) who subdivided townships in Emmet and Kossuth Counties and later became governor of Iowa

"The foregoing list of names of the settlers and the improvements and land claimed by each will show their views and difficulties and conflicting interests resulting in the settlement of a new and unsurveyed country and it seems to show the necessity of some act of Congress regulating the rights and privileges of those who may hereafter settle on the unsurveyed public lands." William A. Burt, November 27, 1837, T77N R1E (Muscatine County)

"Settlements are making very rapidly and some have the appearance of an invention of the settler to improve and cultivate the soil and make himself a permanent home. Others evidently have no other object than specula [sic] in the publick [sic] lands, by dubbing together and extorting money from those who wish to make an honest settlement. Such should be excluded from the benefits of a pre-emption law if any passes Congress at their next session. Mob law, which is becoming too common in the nation, should be checked by every legislative enactment that can be made to bear upon it, but the honest, industrious settler deserves the favour of the government. Let the person applying for pre-emption be required to swear that he has not sold claims or speculated in the publick [sic] lands as a condition of his right to pre-emption." Uriah Biggs, July 20, 1837, T69N R8W (Van Buren County)

"The town of Adel, the county site of Dallas, is located on section 29. It has now six families, a post office, tavern, store, and family grocery." Wm. Henderson, deputy surveyor, October 23, 1849, T79N R27W (Dallas County)

"Their [sic] is no settlers in this Township nor any improvements of any kind whatever." Louis V. Davis, August 29, 1849, T91N R15W (Butler County)

"This township contains neither stone, springs, or timber and will probably none of it sell except a section or two in the southwest corner." Samuel Goodnow, November 17, 1837, T72N R5W (Henry County)

"This Township has no settlements or improvements, is entirely in an uncultivated condition. Is principally Poor Prairie with very many marshes & wet places." James Jackson, November 4, 1849, T88N R23W (Hamilton County)

"This Township for the most part is very level & many places low & wet; unfit for cultivation. There are no Streams coming in to this Town Nor any passing out. No Mineral! No Springs! No Rock or Stone of any account! No Timber." Lewis Thomas, July 1, 1847, T87N R23W (Hamilton County)

"The land is claimed wherever the Timber will warrant settlement but there is so little permanency in the improvements that I have not mentioned them in my topography." Joseph Moorehead, September 4, 1847, T80N R25W (Polk County)

"interspersed with numerous small ponds or marshes rendering its settlement impracticable." Thos. McCulloch, June 2, 1854, T94N R27W (Kossuth County)

"There are upon the Des Moines as many as 500 acres of timber in one tract and this frequently claimed by one man to the chagrin of 100 other men." Geo. Temple, July 19, 1855, T96N R29W (Kossuth County)

"a spring with enough water in it to supply a city of a population of 50,000 inhabitants. There are no cities there nor never will be." Geo. Temple, July 19, 1855, T96N R29W (Kossuth County)

"SE half of section 12 is claimed as a town site. It is called Palmette City." C.A.M. Estes, October 17, 1859, T95N R33W (Palo Alto County)

"the town of Tuscarova has a very fair prospect to die a natural death." Perrin Kent, July 31, 1837, T68N R5W (Lee County)

"water fit to drink is very hard to get, that in marshes being exceedingly repulsive and unhealthy." R.O.C. Anderson, November 15, 1854, T89N R33W (Calhoun County)

"through the application of labor and expense, marshes could be reclaimed and made serviceable." H.K. Averill, October 4, 1853, T99N R10W (Winneshiek County)

"I may add by way of general description that this Township is abundantly supplied with Timber of the best quality for building and other purposes there are also some verry valuable stone quarries in the South and West parts of this Township Sugar or Devil Creek is a small stream that affords water enough part of the year to propel Machinery, some three to six months per year The North and Northeasterly sections is Prairie of the first quality and is verry pleasantly situated and bids fair to become one of the wealthiest settlements in thes section of the country The Town of West Point is situated on the South margin of a beautiful high rolling Prairie and has one of the most commanding prospects of almost any village in the Territory The South part of this Township is generally verry broken." Perrin Kent, July 31, 1837, T68N R5W (Lee County)

"that it has been a favorite resort of the red man is proved by the many recent indications of his presence." Sam'l.W. Durham, March 28, 1847, T83N R18W (Marshall County)

"The grave of the Chief Black Hawk is upon the SE ¼ of Sec 2." Willard Barrows, October 30, 1843, T70N R12W (Davis County)

"In the southwest corner, however, there are about 15 acres of very heavily timbered land, chiefly black and white oak, and some hickory. This has been considered a favorite hunting region by the Indians and there is a band of them now on the ground." A.L. Brown, December 5, 1844, T82N R11W (Benton County)

The surveyors in Benton County cited numerous instances of Native American settlement. In the description at the end of the township survey described a tract of ground that was considered a favorite hunting region of the Indians. Furthermore, this same township listed an area of "Indian diggings" between sections 27 and 28. A.L. Brown, December 5, 1844, T82 R11W (Benton County)

"The Township is remarkable for its many evidences of savage life which existed here but two years ago. Trails, deserted wigwams and neglected 'corn patches' are found all along the river" Sam'l W. Durham, November 9, 1846, T83 R16W (Tama County)

"This Township presents to the first view of the traveller, a rather uninviting appearance, and the inclination of the Prairie adjoining the timber, to be wet, and the scattering and inferior timber adjacent, strengthens him in his first impression of dislike. But let him pass through the outskirts of the timber into its center and he will be enraptured with its apparently inexhaustible supply of tall and stately trees, its unrivalled sugar groves , its beautiful creeks and rivulets, waterfalls and springs; then let him go to the prairie away from its outskirts and view its beautifully undulating surface, with a dark and dry soil of unsurpassed fertility, let him ascend its mounds and overlook the whole bounded as it is on Either side by the South and North forks of the Turkey River, with their brightly sparkling waters their rock bound shores and bounding currents -- and he will no longer wonder that this was once the favorite resort of the red men of the forest. But now the scene is changed, from what it was a few years ago, the rifle of the Indian hunter and the axe of the dusky maiden no longer resound through the forest -- the then smooth beaten trail is now growing up in grass the cornfield in weeds -- the flag still waves over the graves of the deceased warrior, but his comrades are gone to distant lands and he now sleeps on the soil of the white man, soon perhaps to be disturbed by the ploughshare of the adventurous American." Hugh Treynor, 1849, T95N R9W (Fayette County)

"Broken prairie, soil first rate. On the bluffs herdsgrass, hazel and redroot abounds. In the ravines rushgrass, bluegrass, and willow prevails." George VanZandt, August 23, 1837, T80N R2W (Cedar County)

"In places the timber is standing thick, then is scattering, that it is hard to distinguish between timber and prairie." E.F. Lucas, August 18, 1837, T71N R9W (Jefferson County)

"The most of the land, returned as prairie, might perhaps with as much propriety be called barrens or openings, as there could be found upon it occasionally a scrubby oak or hickory but I have thought it would be more readily known by the description of prairie, and I have therefore designated it as such." Moses M. Strong, July 31, 1837, T86N R4E (Jackson County)

"This Township is generally Rolling-Dry Prairie of an excellent quality. There is no water except Des Moines river which forks in Section 19 The East fork bears N.E The West fork West. Timber is chiefly Br Oak, Elm & Maple The oak being what is termed barrens-Maple & Elm grows along the banks of the river & is of little use except for fire wood." J.W. Clark, July 4, 1854, T91N R28W (Humboldt County)

"This township is all rich rolling prairie and nothing more can be said of it worthy of notice or that would excite public curiosity." I. Higbee, September 23, 1843, T83N R10W (Benton County)

"prairie township with nothing worthy of particular notice." A witness tree for the quarter corner between sections 14 and 15 in the same township was described as "Balm of Gilead." C.A.M. Estes, October 11, 1859, T98N R34W (Emmet County)

"This township has not so many basins and sloughs as the others. They are near the dividing ground." Wm. Henderson, November 30, 1849, T81N R27W (Dallas County)

"This township embraces a fine body of rolling prairie." J.H.D. Street, November 13, 1852, T81N R35W (Audubon County)

"Not a stick of timber, not even a riding switch can be found growing in this township." S.O. Woodworth, September 23, 1849, T73N R31W (Union County)

"wholly prairie, not a stick of timber within the lines." Geo. Temple, October 23, 1854, T97N R27W (Kossuth County)

"nothing worthy of note, it being entirely prairie." John Snook, June 19, 1855, T100N R27W (Kossuth County)

"There is not wood enough in the whole of it to make a fire to bake a loaf of bread; nor is there in all enough of spring water that is palatable to make a cup of coffee...every here and there scattered among the dry prairies little marshes which receive the water from the rolling prairie and being thus made full remains so till the heat of the summer dries them up by evaporation...so soon as the dry prairies are broken the soil will naturally wash down and fill them up." Geo. Temple, July 26, 1855, T96N R30W (Kossuth County)

"The greater part of this Township is so occupied with ponds and Marshes as to very materialy [materially] affect its value for agricultural purposes." Joseph Moorehead, July 3, 1847, T80N R23W (Polk County)

"The prairie where not injured by Marshes and ponds is of a soil that would compare favorably with the richest bottom lands on the Mississippi." Joseph Moorehead, July 16, 1847, T80N R24W (Polk County)

"This Township is mostly prairie yet although the soil is of the Richest quality its numerous ponds and Marshes renders it of comparitavely [comparatively] little value." Joseph Moorehead, September 13, 1847, T81N R23W (Polk County)

"Surface level and marshy; whole line a very fine frog pond, unfit for cultivation; Soil mud." Johnson Pierson, June 18, 1852, T69N R41W (Fremont County)

"Is all prairie and so wet and marshy that but a very small part of it is likely to be brought under cultivation at least for many years." Joseph Moorehead, July 24, 1847, T81N R24W (Polk County)

"There are many basins and sloughs in the north Eastern part of this Township. They all have drains, go dry in a long dry season, will eventually fill up, may be drained at small expense, will make the best of meadow land, The soil in and about them are generally very rich." William Henderson, October 23, 1849, T79N R27W (Dallas County)

"There are many ponds from 6 inches to 4 feet deep contain from ½ acre to 40 Acres some few larger. generally from 2 to 10 acres. all of which have their drains, or outlets. and it is said, in a long drought most of them go dry, but there will always be a sufficient quantity to supply stock water." William Henderson, August 12, 1851, T80N R29W (Dallas County)

"This township has no settlements or improvements, is entirely in an uncultivated condition, is principally poor Prairie, with very many marshes & wet places." James Jackson, November 14, 1849, T87N R24W (Hamilton County)

"In the northwest corner of section 7 there is a curious spring having a rim around it some 20 inches high, sufficiently strong for men to walk upon. The rim has the colour of sand stone but has little or no grit in its composition. It is almost as light as cork and seems to be composed of moss petrified. It is called Curiosity Spring, I do not sufficiently understand those things to correctly describe this singular formation." Wm. Henderson, deputy surveyor, August 23, 1851, T81N R29W (Dallas County)

"ponds mostly covered with a coarse grass, forming a very strong sod. Sod frequently floats on the surface of the water." James Harlan, June 11, 1853, T88N R34W (Calhoun County)

a 500-acre "floating marsh" in which "the sod under our weight sunk and rose about two feet." Horatio Waldo, July 16, 1851, T83N R33W (Carroll County)

"the ground oozy and bushy" with "hossblendi rock." Jessie Williams, June 28, 1853, T83N R40W (Crawford County)

"marsh, which is a quaking bog." P. Harvey, October 13, 1855, sections 33 and 34 T100N R31W (Emmet County)

"fine 40 acres of swamp land." P. Harvey, September 16, 1856, sections 27 and 28 T100N R33W (Emmet County)

"marsh in the western part of the township that is floating in some places." Horatio Waldo, June 28, 1851, T82N R32W (Greene County)

"a long drought which left sloughs, marshes, and ponds dry." Thos. McCullogh, June 9, 1855, T93N R26W (Wright County)

"a few marshes which are marshes only in the springtime as they now are dry and I pass over them as safely as if they were solid terra firnia [sic]." Geo. Temple, July 19, 1855, T96N R29W (Kossuth County)

"Quaking Marsh is useless." Michael Burke, July 10, 1854, T100N R14W (Howard County)

"The whole country is covered with small ponds, sometimes the depth of 2 and 3 feet." James Davis, November 4, 1847, T79N R26W (Dallas County)

"I hve [sic] found myself surrounded by snakes of enormous size and concluded to back out and raise a reinforcement that being done and all well equipped with clubs we commenced the attack and soon succeeded in driving the enemy into their stronghold but not untill [sic] 11 were slain. The fight was a spirited one of short duration. The slain were piled at the entrance of the den to warn the inmates to beware of a surveying party. They were the large mountain snake in length from 4 to 5 feet, some of which had 17 rattles." Milo Jones, deputy surveyor, October 13, 1837, T88N R3W (Delaware County)

"Beaver dam 2½ feet high across creek bears N33°E 755 links." Sam'l.W. Durham, October 5, 1853, T95N R20W (Cerro Gordo County)

"This Township presents a uniform undulating Surface--slightly varying in some places to a level and in others, particularly on the West side of the Stream, to a roll, Sufficient to render the Soil dry and pleasant. One peculiarity about it is its numerous Small hillocks or bunches of Elevated Earth generally about 2 feet above the Common Surface, and 10 or 15 feet in diameter thrown up by wolves, badger, skunk, gopher &c Who burrow underneath. They are overgrown with Weeds forming at a distance to the imagination, the epperance of a vast natural meadow, with its crop cut and piled up in small bunches, after the manner of managing wild hay. The Stream is rendered Sluggish by a constant succession of beaver dams-- Some made with an ingenuity that would do credit to the human species. The Small 'Patch' of timber on the line between Sections 33 & 34, is the only timber in the Township, and it only covers one or two acres." Sam'l.W. Durham, October 5, 1853, T95N R20W (Cerro Gordo County)

"This is a beautiful Township of Prairie land, with a Surface smooth and level - Soil rich and generally dry. It has two streams affording water in all Seasons, but no timber. Willow bushes grow along the largest creek in various places affording the busy beaver material for building their dams. There is no swamp land in the Township." Sam'l W. Durham, June 16, 1855, T90N R39W (Cherokee County)

"This township contains a number of Sloughs which are all unfit for cultivation although some of them are fit for hay and the River and Creek bottoms Subject to overflow and unfit for cultivation altho the soil is excellent. Floyd River enters this Township in Section 3 and runs winding through this Township in a S.W direction untill it leave this Township in Section 30. Floyd River is in this this Township on an average about 30 links wide and caused by bever dams to be about 30 inches deep gentle current good clear water low grassy banks in some places are lined with willow buches runs in a gravel bed and contains about one bever dam to every mile the dams average about 2 feet high Floyd River is sufficient for a good power for mills but the banks are rather low there are but a few trees in this township and no trees in a reasonable distance for to be used for bearing trees the only timber in this Township are in a small grove near the centree of the Section 16 a few trees of willow and boxelder." Geo. Stump, October 2, 1855, T95N R43W (Sioux County)

According to the surveyor’s notes there was much evidence of muskrats in Adams County.

One surveyor provided in his field notes a long description of game: buffalo (killed some), elk, coons, badgers, and beavers. (Franklin County)

"there are many beavers, but no other settlers. Flood Creek was not inappropriately christened." L.B.. Hodges, 18__??__, T R (Floyd County)

"evidences of abundance of fish and large numbers of water fowl." John W. Webber, October 17, 1855, T95N R34W (Palo Alto County)

"the prairie had been recently burned" surveyors found buffalo horns and elk horns four and a half feet long. John T. Haight, November 24, 1837, T86N R4W (Jones County)

"abounds in amfibeous [sic] animals, beaver, otter, mink, muskrat, elk." Geo. A. Shannon, November 17, 1853, T99N R21W (Worth County)

"Soil generally dry, mixed with sand, fertile, of a kind warm nature, and very productive." J.H.D. Street, December 5, 1851, T72N R41W (Mills County)

"soil of a kind, warm nature." J.H.D. Street, December 5, 1851, T72N R41W (Mills County)

"soil of superior quality." John S. Sheller, June 18, 1853, T88N R38W (Sac County)

"splendid farm land." John S. Sheller, June 4, 1853, section 3 of T87N R39W (Ida County)

"We crossed the NW corner of a large field belonging to a Saint." Alex Anderson, November 1, 1851, T79N R43W (sections 17 and 18) (Harrison County)

"This township may be said to be a waste of Prairie--hilly or broken and totally unsuitable for agricultural purposes except grazing." Wm. G. Ross, April 23, 1847, T82N R19W (Marshall County)

"upland soil is mostly poor, being either gravel or else cold, wet, and sterile." Horatio Waldo, August 22, 1851, T83N R29W (Greene County)

"would timber be conveniently procured, it would be most excellent farming land." A. Leech, June 22, 1854, T95N R30W (Kossuth County)

"in many places, a rich growth of weeds." Sam'l. W. Durham, July 12, 1855, T89N R38W (Sac County)

"This Township is, (the quarter part of it) East of the West Nishnabottana The upland portion of it is not surpassed in beauty and fertility by any in the State. The prairies are well supplied with fine springs of water, and large groves of fine timber are on Walnut Creek from its rapidness in some places I would think might be made very serviceable as a motive agent in propelling machinery, but as yet nothing of the kind has been attempted. The Nishnabottana is a lazy sluggish stream and its waters are muddy eternally from the mud banks which it is furnished with resembling in consistency those of the Missouri River. There is in many parts of this Township abundance of lime rock, which is said to be of a good quality. The land of this region is settling up very fast and it will not be long before it is all (that is the usable part) claimed and in cultivation." Johnson Pierson, June 18, 1852, T69N R41W (Fremont County)

"This Township is mostly high rolling prairie, generally first rate soil. A portion of the S.W. part of the Township along the breaks of Walnut Creek is broken and covered with oak, hickory and hazle bushes, red root &c. with scattering and inferior oak and hickory timber. Beaver creek is a very large and beautiful creek affording many favorable sites for mills. The prairie contiguous to it is beautiful, and where there is timber sufficient, will invite the attention of the pioneer seeking a location for a farm." Sam'l. W. Durham, October 2, 1847, T79N R25W (Polk County)

"I saw important agricultural district conveniently divided into fertile prairie and groves of good timber. Is well watered; well timbered & attracting the attention of settlers. Soil good 2d rate; Surface rolling: The Des Moines river passes through its S.W. corner leaving rich bottom lands on both its banks." Samuel Jacobs, August 21, 1847, T78N R22W (Polk County)

"This Township abounds in variety and extend of all properties sought after by the settler. On the North side of the Des Moines are very heavy bodies of first rate white and black oak timber, while the River and creek bottoms are covered with a dense forest of tall and stately timber of every description peculiar to this climate. Keokuk prairie is a beautiful dry, level and generally rich prairie, lying between the Des Moines river and North Three river; it is already in –- a high state of cultivation by the numerous settlers who have been attracted by its beauty and the adjoining easy facilities for making farms and erecting machinery. Agency prairie vies with Keokuk prairie in beauty and fertility-its smooth and polished surface and extraordinary richness of soil, almost surrounded as it is by fine timber, has already drawn the wealthy settler to invest his capital in developing its rich resources. The Coal and sandstone are extensive, and of good quality-the coal mentioned in section 15 is inexhaustible, and fills the whole bluff and bed of the River – Upon the whole it is entirely the best Township in the District surveyed by the undersigned." Sam'l W. Durham, November 19, 1847, T78N R23W (Polk County)

"This Township is generally very handsome prairie, with the exception of some broken & barren country near the river. There is not much good timber here except that mentioned in Sections 2.3.12.13.14.23 and 16. The North eastern part of the Township is very beautiful affording fine situations for farms. Walnut creek is a very pretty creek-there is now being erected on it, near its mouth, a Saw mill. The Raccoon River affords a good many first rate sites for mills, as will appear from the accompanying plats." Sam'l. W. Durham, October 19, 1847, T78N R25W (Polk County)

"This Township is well supplied with timber and water and is fast filling up with settlers. It will admit of a heavy settlement. Its close contiguity to the Des Moines makes it desirable location to those who look to the Des Moines as a future thoroughfare to convey their produce to market. the North Eastern part of the Township is pretty flat containing a great many reservoirs of water or marshes." Sam'l. W. Durham, September 11, 1847, T79N R23W (Polk County)

"This Township is surpassed by few in this District of country in the various qualities admired and sought after by the eager emigrant. It has the high rolling prairie, and the level dry prairie with polished surface, with large and extensive groves of upland and bottom timber, sufficient to supply a farm on almost every quarter section of prairie in the township The creeks are generally handsome and of a lasting character. The Des Moines is in many places close encompassed with hills and stoney [stony] banks which with the consequent rocky bed afford easy facilities for erecting and propelling machinery. Some stone coal of a good quality is discovered - that mentioned in section 17 has been opened and found to be good, and in great abundance." Sam'l. W. Durham, September 27,1847, 79N R24 (Polk County)

"surface. Upland rolling, Bottoms level. Soil good. Timber good along the streams. The land in this Township is what might be called very good and well supplied with timber Water & Rock !!!!!!!!" Thomas Baker August 4, 1849, T78N R27W (Dallas County)

"The surface of the ground in this Township is generally level, sometimes rolling- The soil is rather poor being gravelly [gravely] on the top, but having a mould beneath - The whole country is covered with small ponds, sometimes of the depth of 2 & 3 feet - The timber is scarse [scarce] & poor & not adapted to building or farming purpose - There are no settlers in the Township." James Davis, November 4, 1847, T79N R26W (Dallas County)

"The Town of Adel, the County site [seat] of Dallas is located on Section 29 - in this Township, near the centre [center] of the county on a beautiful Prarie [prairie] bottom on the West side of Coon [Raccoon], It has a large supply of timber east of and near it, and is well supplied with water power for manufactoring [manufacturing] purposes, It has now six families, a Post office, Tavern, store and family Grocery There are about 15 other families residing in this Township, most of whom bid fair-soon to have valuable improvements, There is a temporary Corn Mill owned by Christopher Fowler on the School Section, This Township is very well Supplied with timber, and water. The soil may be considered throughout the Township, as well addapted [adapted] to Agricultural purposes. There are many basins and sloughs in the north Eastern part of this Township. They all have drains, go dry in a long dry season, will eventually fill up, may be drained at small expense, will make the best of meadow land, The soil in and about them are generally very rich." William H. Henderson, October 23, 1849, T79N R27 (Dallas County)

"This Township is very destitute of timber, having only a few scattering Trees on Panther Creek, and along its eastern boundary- There is Considerable timber on Coon [Raccoon] River in the Township East of it- There are no settlements or improvements in it, The soil is generally of a productive good quality, There are a great many sloughs and basins throughout this Township Most of which becomes dry in along dry Season, they will in time fill up. may be drained at small expense, and would then be good land, the Soil in and about them being of a rich quality, and well calculated for Meadows." William H. Henderson, November 2, 1849, T79N R28W (Dallas County)

"The upland in this Township is generally rolling, & gravelly [gravely], & the soil not rich- The bottom on Beaver Creek is good land. The country is filled with small ponds, & they form a marked characteristic of the whole of this Section of Country - Beaver Creek is a narrow & deep stream, with a sandy bottom- The only Timber on the Township is in the Creek, & that is generally of an inferior quality, mostly Bur oak & Elm- There are no settlers in the Township." James Davis, November 10, 1847, T80N R26W (Dallas County)

"This Township is destitute of timber except on its western boundary. There can be a heavy settlement made along this boundary, as the timber is somewhat extensive. There are now 8 families, residing in and near this timber, and are busily engaged in improving The Soil in this Township is well calculated for farming & grazing there are many basins and sloughs which go dry in a long dry season, they may all be drained, the soil in and about them is generally rich & will make good meadows." Wm. H. Henderson, December 4, 1849, T80N R27W (Dallas County)

"This Township Straddles Coon [Raccoon] River, on both Sides of which, there is considerable timber, And there are about 10 families residing in it, most of them have tolerable farms- and are able to buy There are Several rich prarie [prairie] bottoms the Eastern half will soon be settled The Western is not so convenient to timber, the Soil is generally good, There are Many basins and Sloughs which can be drained, the Soil in and about them is good and well calculated for meadows." Wm.H. Henderson, November 10, 1849, T80N R28W (Dallas County)

"The prairie in this Township is generally rolling & interspersed with small ponds-next to the Timber it is wet The soil is a rich loam The Timbered land is broken & the bottom although excellant [excellent] land an almost inaccesable [inaccessible] except at certain points- There are a few settlements along the border of the Timber." James Davis, November 21, 1847, T81W R26N (Dallas County)

"The foregoing Township straddles Beaver Creek, and two large Branches of said Creek, below the mouths of which there is a good mill site, about to be improved on Sections 14, It is a permanent Stream on the main Branch there is some narrow skirts of timber There are three families on Section 14 who are about building the mill, There are no others residing in said Township, This Township has not so many basins & sloughs as the others. they are near the dividing ground. the soil is generally well adapted to Agricultural purposes." Wm. H. Henderson, November 30, 1849, T81N R27W (Dallas County)

"The foregoing Township Straddles Coon [Raccoon] River and Beaver Creek, both of which within this Township has considerable timber, and some verry [very] handsome prarie [prairie] bottoms. There are no Settlers in it, and only two above it on those Streams, It will admit of Many good Settlements, and both Streams are good for Mills and water power, is plenty- The Soil is eaqual [equal] to any in the Country." Wm. H Henderson, November 20, 1849, T81N R28W (Dallas County)

"This Township has the East Fork of Des Moines traversing it diagonally – a stream not surpassed by any in the west for beauty & for the advantages it affords at the numerous rapids along it for Mills &c The greater portion of it is timber of an Excellent quality – the adjacent prarie [prairie] Excellent for grain & grass This Township may be classed first rate three individuals with their families have located here & many claims are being made." Wm. J. Neely, October 22, 1849, T87N R26W (Hamilton County)

"This Township is mostly prairie of a very good 2nd rate- Soil well adapted to grain & grass. No improvements The East Fork of Des Moines river runs through the W. Side of it affording at its many rapids sites for mills &c In short this Township is 2nd rate for Land-timber & advantages for farming." Wm. J Neely, October 29, 1849, T88N R25W (Hamilton County)

"This Township has the East Forth of Des Moines & its timber in its East by. afording [affording] mill Sites & advantages for machinery – timber suficient [sufficient] for improving & fencing the fine Sloping prairie West – which is well drained with Brooks of pure water." Wm. J. Neely, November 5, 1849, T88N R26W (Hamilton County)

"a variety of surface and soil, the bottoms form the luxuriant growth of grass and weeds found on them, cannot be surpassed for richness." Geo. Temple, September 13, 1856, T93N R38W (Buena Vista County)

"as handsome a township in the state." Sam'l W. Durham, June 12, 1855, T89N R39W (Ida County)

"a mound about 80 feet above the creek and is a conspicuous object from nearly every part of the township." Horatio Waldo, June 28, 1851, T82N R32W (Greene County)

The surveyor’s notes described a "pressipis" and "untutored savages." (Allamakee County)

"The surface Rolling...but the principal as it were in Billows (not mountain high)." Wm. Leffler, November 14, 1849, T71N R30W (Union County)

"Several mounds, some 50 feet high." J.T.. Nowlin, July 18, 1855, T91N R35W (Buena Vista County)

"some romantic mounds." W.W. Smith, July 25, 1855, T92N R37W (Buena Vista County)

"The General Description of this township can be summed up in a few words, viz. Prairie, Surface undulating Soil 1st rate. There are a few scattering trees & some hazle brush in the N W corner. On the north randoms between 2 & 3, & 3 & 4 there is a ravine which looks as though there might possibly be a small creek in it. when the snow leaves. Too uncertain to note." Leonard B. Hodges, February 18, 1853, T95N R19W (Cerro Gordo County)

"dykes [sic], apparently formed by the waves of the lake, in some places 6 or 7 feet high...composed largely of boulders...have the appearance of an artificial work." John W. Webber, October 17, 1855, T95N R34W (Palo Alto County)

[marsh is] "good for nothing." Alex Anderson, December 20, 1852, T87N R46 (Woodbury County)

"Land rolling, first rate, timber destroyed by wind. This township has excellent advantages for farming and water power. It has timber of a good quality & first rate rolling prairie - and in secs 5.6.7 & 8 Gypsum of good quality abounds. This township may be classed first rate." Wm. J. Neely, November 21, 1849, T88N R28W (Webster County)

"There is scarcely anything in this township worthy of notice." Ira Cook, November 6, 1852, T84N R35W (Carroll County)

"not worthy of special notice." C.A.M. Estes, September 3, 1859, T98N R39W (Osceola County)

"Of this township, much could be said. But it is deemed useless to say much." E.F. Lucas, September 22, 1837, T72N R8W, (Jefferson County)

Lokken, Roscoe L. 1942. Iowa public land disposal. Iowa City: State Historical Society of Iowa. 318 p.