David SLOSSON

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1856, Living in Elk, Clayton Co., Iowa
• Occupation: 1856, Shoemaker
• Census: 1860, Living in O\'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa
• Census: 1870, Living in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1880, Living with daughter Ann Fish, in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa

Notes:

Name:
During the two years 1858 and 1859, a number of new families located in the Des Moines settlement, among whom were David Slosson, John A. James, Perry Nowlen, Henry and William Jarvis, Ora Harvey, .F. Avery, James Edelman, Hank Brown and John Straight.

David Slosson, in May 1858, came to Pocahontas county, with a family consisting of his wife, Esther Vaughan, who died in 1875, three sons - Oscar, Orland and Edmond - all of whom were young men, and one daughter, Ann, who became the wife of Eomeyn B. Fish and is still a resident of the county. On his arrival, David Slosson located on section 26, and on September 28, 1858, entered his preemption claim for lots 1 and 2 and the W1/2NE1/4 of that section, containing 158 acres. His eldest son, Oscar Slosson, December 8, 1860, entered as a pre-emption the SE1/4 Sec. 24, 160 acres, same township, and received the patent for it June 1, 1861; and Orlando, the second son, on January 18 1868, entered as a homestead the NW1/2 Sec. 26, 160 acres, same township and received the patent for it September 1, 1869.

David Slosson was the son of David and Esther (Vaughan) Slosson, his father being of Welsh and his mother of English descent. He was a native of Vermont, where he was born march 11, 1811, near Grand Isle. He received a good common school education, and when quite young moved to New York state, where he learned the shoemakers' trade.

At twenty he married Rachel Vaughan, a cousin, and during the next five years worked at his trade during the winter and on the farm during the summer. He then moved to Summit count, Ohio - later to Clinton County, New York, and in 1846 returned to Summit county, Ohio. The next move was to Michigan, and in 1852 he came to Clinton county, Iowa, where he remained until the time of settlement in this county in 1858.

His next move was to Washington Territory, where his three sons - Oscar married to Julia Towslee, Orlando married to Harriet Halstead and Edmond married to Ellen Savage - still reside. He died there June 30, 1884. His daughter, Mrs. R.B. Fish, resides at Rolfe.

At the time of the organization of this county, David Slosson had the honor to be chosen the first County Judge and served in that capacity from march 21st, the day he qualified, to Dec. 31, 1859. the duties devolving upon this officer were those that are now performed by the Board of County Supervisors. As there was no public building in the county his cabin, which was somewhat central in the Des Moines settlement, became the seat of government for the county, and the public records were kept there until the erection of the first court house, in the fall of 1860.

His administration of the affairs of this county, though limited to a period less than one year, was unusually eventful and has been rendered memorable by thee important contracts that were concluded by him in behalf of the county. These contracts related to the erection of the first court house at Old Rolfe, the construction of the first bridge over the Des Moines river and the special survey of the swamp lands of the county that they might be given in payment for the public building and bridge.

The following item from the record is of interest as showing the salary of the Judge and his systematic method of keeping the record:

STATE OF IOWA
Pocahontas Co.,
County Court
July 9, A.D. 1859

On this day, I, David Slosson,County Judge of said county, drew a warrant for $12.50 for one (the first) quarter's salary fee.

David Slosson
County Judge

The law creating the Board of County Supervisors was enacted in 1860, and in 1861 he had the honor to serve as a member of the first Board of County Supervisors. He also served on his Board during the years 1863 to '67, 1870 to '71 and 1874 to '79, making a period of nearly thirteen years that he served in this capacity, the longest of any inucmbent in that office.

Family/Spouse: Rachael VAUGHAN. Rachael was born on 21 Aug 1810 in New York; died on 27 Nov 1875 in Iowa; was buried in Old Rolfe Cemetery, Pocahontas County, Iowa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Oscar SLOSSON was born on 20 Feb 1833 in Clinton County, New York; died on 6 May 1903 in La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington; was buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington.
2. Orlando Simeon SLOSSON was born on 2 Feb 1840 in New York; died on 13 Jun 1917 in Tacoma, Skagit Co., Washington; was buried on 14 Jun 1917.
3. Ann E. SLOSSON was born on 2 Sep 1846 in Chazy, Clinton Co., New York; died on 20 Nov 1918 in Grandview, Yakima Co., Washington; was buried in Grandview Cemetery, Grandview, Yakima Co., Washington.
4. Edmund David SLOSSON was born on 6 May 1849 in Michigan; died on 23 Oct 1930 in College Place, Walla Walla Co., Washington; was buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Washington.

Notes:

David moved to South Hero, Chittendon County, Vermont. Then moved to Grand Isle,Chittendon Co., Vermont where he married Esther Vaughn. They settled in Chazy, New York after 1804. No death records found. David and family are listed as living in Grand Isle, VT, 1800 through 1830. By 1840, living in Town of Chazy, NY (U.S. Census) They had a large family.

David married Esther VAUGHNSouth Hero, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA. Esther was born about Feb 1774; died on 19 Aug 1849 in Grand Isle, Vermont, USA; was buried in Slosson Cemetery, Chazy New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]