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Constitution and Records
of the Claim Association of
Johnson County, Iowa.

by Benjamin F. Shambaugh (1894)

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Napoleon Johnson County Febuary 3rd 1840

The Claim association of Johnson County met persuant to adjournent Mr A. D. Stephen in the Chair--- on motion of Mr C Sanders the constitution of the association was red. On motion of S. H. M'Crory, the following amendment or addition was made to the third article and first section of the constitution of the association Viz all persons holding over a half sectio of land either by purchase or making claim there to shall be required to Expend in improvement or labour fifty Dollars everry six months hereafter from this date for everry quarter he or they may .................. (note: This and the following omissions are due to the mutilated condition of the original manuscript.) & above the half section or forfeit the same to ..................... or labour to be done on any part of the persons .................... claim they may deem proper to put it on.

On motion of S H M'Crory the following amendment or addition was made to the 3 article and 5 Section. Viz. Provided they doe not change their permanent residence for a longer period than six months at any one time.

On motion of S H M'Crory. the following addition or maendment was made to the 3 article & first sect Viz all persons holding claims on lands that have been surveyed since the making of said claims shall be required to hand the number of qrs range & Township to the Clerk, whos duty it shall be to anex the same to the description of such claim free of any charge & further whenever any lands hereafter are surveyed. it shall be the duty of all persons holding claims thereon to hand in their numbers as aforsaid or forfeit the same ---- no other amendment being offered The association proceeded to Elect officers for the ensuing year where ...................... I N Sanders was declared duly [President].................... S H M'Crory [was elected Clerk or Recorder]

Iowa. City. July 10th 1840

The claim association of Johnson County, pursuant to adjournment I N Sanders President in the chair the object of the meeting having been stated by the president. On motion of S. C. Trowbridge S H M'Crory was nominated Bidder for Townsh 70 N R. 6. west. and Cyrus Sanders assistant Bidder On motion of Wm. B Snyder the same bidders serve for Township 79 N R 5 west all of which was agred to on motion the association adjourned.

S H M'Crory. Sect.

Iowa City Febuary. 1st 1841

 The Johnson County claim association met pursuant to adjournment, the President not beeing in attendance on motion of Judge M'Cormick was called to preside On motion of Sqr. Stephen the constitution was red and the following amendment purposed which was purposed. and unanimously adopted Viz Claims that have been or that may be recorded hereafter No further amendments beeing offered on motion resolved that the association now proceed to the election of officers for the ensuing year whereupon ...... [Allen] Stroud was duly elected President and Philip Clark [Vice] President ........... S H M'Crory Clerk or recorder. A D Stephen Robert W[alker] ............. [William] Sturgis David Switzer Henry Felkner S B Gar[dner] ........................ judicial committee ..................... Able and E K [Morse] ........................ Marshal .....................

S H M'Crory Clerk

Iowa City February 7 1842

The Johnson County Claim association met pursuant to adjournment. Mr David Switzer in the Chair On motion the Constitution of the association was red after which the association went into an Election of officers for the ensuing year where on A D Stephen was Elected President Jacob Stover Vice President Wm P Doty and H G Reddout Marshalls Samuel H M'Crory Recorder, A D Stephen David Switzer Henry Felkner Robert Walker Cyrus Sanders Wm M'Cormick & C S Foster judicial committee On motion the association adjourned

S. H. M'Crory Sect.

In pursuance of Public notice a meeting of the Johnson County Claim association was called A D Stephen President in the Chair On motion of C Sanders a committee of five persons was appointed to draft resolutions for the for the meeting whereon the following persons --- was appointed said committee H Felkner S H M'Crory J Harris E Myers & Mr Weir --- the comittee retired and the constitution was red after which the committee made the following report

Resolved. that more effectually to sustain settlers in their just claims according to the custom of the neighborhood and to prevent difficulty and discord in society that we mutually pledge our honors to observe the following resolutions rigidly That we will not associate nor countenance those who do not respect the claims of settlers and further that we will neith neighbor with them ................... Trade bater deal with them in any way whatever .................... enemys of justice and good order

Resolved that to avoid difficulty growing out of the circumstance of persons extending their improvements accidently on the claims of others befoe the Lines were run thereby giving the first setlr an opportunity or advantage of Preempton over the right ful owner that any person who hold such advantages shall immediately relinquish all claim there to to the proper owner and any one refusing so to do shall forfeit all claim to the right of protection of the association

4 Resolved that we discountenance any attempts on the part of any and every person to intrude in any way upon the right ful claims of another and that the presumption is that a person thus attempting to take away a portion of the hard earnings of the enterprising and industrious setler is dishonest & no Gentlemen On motion the resolutions were unanimously adopted

On motion resolved that the proceedings & resolutions of this meeting be published in the Reporter & Standard

On motion the association adjourned

S H M'Crory Sect.

The Johnson County Claim association met pursuant to adjournment A D Stephen President in the Chair On motion of F M Irish the association adjourned to meet on Saturday next at 10 o clock A M which was agreed to

S H M'Crory Sect

The Johnson County Claim association met pursuant to adjournment. A D Stephen President in the chair the association being called to order on motion On motion the constitution was red. On motion of S C Trowbridge the officers of the association for last year to be continued this which was agreed to On motion of Judge Trimble the association now proceed to the election of bidders for Township 70 N R 6 west, whereupon S H M'Crory & Robert Hutchinson were duly Elected. On motion of A I Willis the association procede to Elect bidders. for Town 80 N R 6 W. where on H. Felkner & C Sanders was duly Elected. On motion of H Felkner the association proced to the Election of Bidders for Town 80 N Range 5 west where on H Felkner & C Sanders was duly Elected On motion of F M Irish a committee of 5 be appointed to draft resolution for this meeting wheron the Following gentlemen were appointed committee J P Carlton David Switzer John G Coleman and Wm M'Cormick & Mr D Jewitt, the committee retired a short time & reported the following Resolution which on motion was received adopted

Whereas from the proclamation of the President of the United States there is to be a sale of the Townships yet unsold in this County at the town of Marian (note: Marion in Linn County.) on the 20 of this month & the 6 of March next and where as for the purpose of protecting the claimants and securing to him his just right & for the purpose of preventing the speculator from taki form the setler the hard earned fruits of his Labour--- Therefore be it Resolved. that the members of this association hereby pledge themselves to unite their influence. to secure to each and every member of this association any claim to which he is justly entitled by preventing any other person or persons from entering the same without the claimants consent

 .......................... will at all times pledge ........................... and hereby pledge ourselves to cooperate with each other in enforcing all just measures that may be adopted for the protection of the claimants and setlers in their respective townships

Resolved that for the purpose of garding our rights against the speculator we hereby pledge ourselves to stand by each other and to remain on the ground until all the sales are over if it becomes necessary in order that each and every setler may be secured in the claim or claims to which he is justly entitled by the Laws of this association

Resolved that the same protection which is hereby pledged to the members of this association before the sale we hereby pledge ourselves to extend the same to all such members as may be unable to enter their claims at the sale after such sale and until the same may be entered by them

On motion Resolved that the editors of the Reporter and Standard be requested to publish the proceding of the association at this their meeting

On motion the association adjourned to meet at Marian on the 20 of this month

S H M'Crory Sect.

A D Stephen Prest

J H Stover V P

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