lock. But, happy thought, perhaps, she might know; alas! the words had slipped her memory. One hope, however, was left; and, together, they searched the scriptures, but could find nothing satisfactory. wife, always ready and full of expedients,— "A guardian angel o'er man's life presiding, Doubling his pleasure, and his cares dividing," The suggested that a form be written out and committed to memory. Between the two, the necessary language was conjured up, and like Demosthenes repeating a philippic along the shore of the Grecian sea, the new fledged justice sounded that marriage form up the hills and down the dales of Liberty township: "Like clocks; one wheel another on must drive Affairs by diligent labor only thrive." The important day arrived at last. A few friends had gathered in, the nuptial feast had been prepared, and at the appointed hour the happy pair joined hands, and awaited the fateful words. The justice during the early part of the day had frequently repeated the ceremony to his wife, and was assured that he knew his piece. He had persevered, and, Everything was ready, and the justice approached the couple and commenced repeating the memorized lines, and was nearly half through, when horror! a few words dropped out of his memory, and the threads of his smooth sentences were so tangled and mixed as to be rendered useless for further service on this occasion. A crimson blush his face o'erspread, varying his cheeks with white and red; and his heart working like a pump, made his head fairly thump. Though greatly confused by this break, he happily thought of the law, and holding up his right hand, gently quoted this command: "You who hold each other by the hand, do solemnly swear that you will perform the duties of married life to the best of you ability, so help you God. I now pronounce you husband and wife. " "The spider's most attenuated thread Is cord-is cable-to man's tender tie The contracting parties considered the marriage as perfectly legal, the witnesses were satisfied, even if the officiating magistrate and his wife were not. A period of merriment followed in celebration of the first marriage in Liberty township. It is a little late to quote a verse for the occasion, but better late than never, so here it is: Time rolled on in the even tenor of its way, and other pairs were mated by the first justice of Liberty township, who deemed— In after years when Mr. Custer was urged to become a candidate for mayor of Chariton, a friend told him that the canvass, in his behalf, was made because of his peculiar fitness and experience, having so long, faithfully and satisfactorily filled the position of justice of the peace. "Well," said Mr. Custer, "have my friends been telling the whole story?" "Why, what's that?" asked the friend. "Why, that I resigned the office of justice because I was not competent to fill it." The people however subsequently showed their confidence in his ability and worth by electing him repeatedly to the most important and trustworthy position within their gift: that of county treasurer. He is now a prosperous and respected merchant in Chariton. Other localities of the county also were settled by new comers this year, 1849. Among those who came were S. B. Chapman, Jacob Fudge, Hiram and Joseph Holmes, who made claims in what is now Union township. The only settlement that year in what is now known as Otter Creek township, was made by Nelson Case; and in what is now called Jackson township, by Joseph Mundill. John Ballard, Isham Hodgen and Joseph Stuart also came this year and settled in that part of the county now covered by English township. William and John McKinley made their appearance at the settlement of Samuel McKinley and X. E. West, made the year before in Washington township, and Jonas and Nelson Wescott also came this year from Monroe county, and joined "“Buck " Townsend at Chariton Point, and soon after became prominent at the new county seat, one as the first county judge, and the other as surveyor and merchant. Beverly Searcy also came to the same locality this year, He also became prominent in the affairs of the new county, as the records will develop. The Waynick brothers, Dr. W. W. and I. H., also returned to Lucas from Monroe county, where they improved a claim on its western limit, which they sold to one Prather, and in March, of 1849, they came to the locality of the "Point," and located claims some three miles east of the court house. They were accompanied by Samuel Francis, who afterward became their brother-in-law by the marriage of their sister, which is noted elsewhere as the first marriage in the county so far as any record shows. However, tradition says that Miss Rachel, daughter of Edmond Colver, of "Ireland" now Cedar township, made the first move in this direction in a union with P. G. Dunn, who entered a claim in section eight, in Cedar township, December 24, 1849, which was consummated by a justice of the peace from Monroe county, named Hendricks. This is a pioneer tradition only, verified by no record. FIRST UNITED STATES LAND ENTRIES. The primary object of pioneers who determine to encounter the hardships and privations of frontier life, is a home—a piece of God's earth which they can call their own. Hence, among the first things they do, is to locate a "claim" under the claim and pre-emption laws, where the land is not yet in market, and await the time it can be formally purchased from the general government; which is done by applying at the office United States land district in which such claim or pre-emption may lie, where the government price of $1.25 per acre is paid, and a certificate of purchase is issued to the purchaser-unless such certificate should be issued upon the presentation of a military land warrant, in lieu of money. At any time after such entry, upon the presentation of such certificate to the register of such land office, the holder, or his assignee, will be entitled to a patent-which is the same as a deed-from the President of the United States. This is termed the original purchase, beyond which no one need go to ascertain the validity of the title to his land in after years. Thus, in the pioneer days of Lucas county, her settlers who came prior to 1848, secured only a pre-emption title to their claims, which were maintained by law, and the force of custom. After the extinction of the Indian title to the land in this section of the state, by treaty of 1842, under which, the government got possession in 1846, it surveyed it and established a United States land office at Fairfield, where the first entries of claims were made. In February, 1853, the land office was removed from Fairfield to Chariton, where it remained until all the public land in the county was entered. The following list of entries include the first made in this county: William Riddle, Oct. 23, 1848, nw of set sec 1, tp 73, range 20 west, 40 acres. John Riddle, Oct. 23, 1848, e of set sec 1, tp 73, range 20 west, 80 acres. Jesse Hubbard, Nov. 16, 1848, net of sesec 15, tp 71, range 20 west, 40 acres. Zalomon J. Clair, Nov. 27, 1848, w fr of neof nw and ne† of sw sec 3, tp 73, range 20 west, 157 37.100 acres. James Peck, Dec 14, 1848, ne sec 24 and sw of set, se of sw and e of nw sec 35, tp 71, range 20 west, 320 acres. John J. Kennady, Dec. 14, 1848, n fr 73 34.100 acres. of nesec 2, tp 73, range 20 west, Samuel P. Martin, Dec. 14, 1848, wse sec 14, tp 71, range 21 west, 80 acres. Samuel Fowler, Dec. 29, 1848, sw sec 1, tp 73 range 20 west, 160 acres. Alvin P. Chaad, March 1, 1849, wof set and eof sw sec 34, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. Campbell Rankin, April 17, 1849, sw of sw sec 2, tp 72, range 20 west, 40 acres. Samuel McKinley, May 3, 1849, n of nw sec 26, and e† of sw sec 23, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. Samuel T. Summers, May 3, 1849, enw and n of sw sec 24, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. William McKinley, May 28, 1849, sw of ne, se of nw, nw of se and ne of sw sec 20, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. John McKinley, May 28, 1849, n of nw sec 20, and sof sw sec 17, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. Xury E. West, May 28, 1849, wse and e†of swsec 13, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. Entered under a military bounty land warrant. John Banks, June 8, 1849, nw fr sec 19, tp 71, range 20 west, 155 12.100 acres. Abner McKinley, June 28, 1849, se sec 21, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. Humphrey G. May, June 28, 1849, wof net and eof nw sec 34, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. Solomon J. Hickman, June 24, 1849, sw sec 36, tp 71, range 20 west, 160 acres. John McMaines, July 23, 1849, sesec 29, tp 72, range 21 west, 160 acres. Samuel Payne, August 4, 1849, sw fr 1 sec 7, tp 71, range 20 west, 156 67.100 acres. Edmund Colver, August 10, 1849; set of sesec 8, tp 72, range 20 west, 40 acres. James F. Robinson, September 20, 1849; sw of set sec 25, tp 72, range 20 west, 40 acres. Joseph W. Allen, November 20, 1849; nw of nw sec 9, tp 72, range 20 west, 40 acres. Thomas Wilson, Dec. 3, 1849; ne fr sec 5, tp 71, range 20 west, 183 acres. David J. Prather, Dec. 10, 1849; se sec 5, tp 72, range 20 west, 160 acres. William McDermot, December 20, 1849; sw of ne, and set of nw and nw of set, and net of sw sec 9, tp 72, range 20, west, 160 acres. Philip G. Dunn, Dec. 24, 1849; set of nw, and net of swt and w of sesec 8, tp. 72, range 20 west, 160 acres. James Roland, Dec. 30, 1849; se acres. sec 5, tp 72 range 20, west, 160 James G. Robinson, March 3, 1850; sw of sw† sec 20, tp 72, range 21 west, 160 acres. William T. May, June 6, 1850; w fr of nw sec 1, and e fr† of ne † sec 2, tp 71, range 20 west, 157 acres. David D. Waynick, September 24, 1850; w of net, and nw of se , and net of swt sec 20, tp 72, range 21 west, 160 acres. The United States Land Office remained in Chariton from February, 1853, until 1858, when it was discontinued, and the books, plats and papers were removed to Des Moines, pursuant to an order from the general land office, at Washington, which consolidated all the land offices of the state into one, at that point. During the period it was at Chariton it was under the official management, first of William Gilmore, from Dubuque, as register, and Col. Isaac Leffler, from Burlington. In 1854, Robert Coles was appointed register, and N. G. Sales, Receiver, by President Pierce. In 1856, Mr. Coles resigned and was succeeded by James Baker, now of Springfield, Missouri. In 1857 Mr. Baker resigned, and he, in tnrn, was succeeded by Joseph Braden, who retained the office until its discontinuance in 1858. The largest land entries made in Lucas county by any one person, were those of Samuel Fowler, of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1848, at Fairfield. The total of his entries were nearly twelve thousand acres, many of which his heirs still hold; or rather the heirs of his brother, Joseph Fowler, whose money was used in payment of this vast area of Lucas county. These lands were entered in the name of Samuel Fowler, but in his life time, and after the death of his brother Joseph, he conveyed them, by deed, to the heirs of the latter. The descriptive list of these lands in the deed, covers some five pages of the record in which the deed |