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]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1856, Living with parents in Elk, Clayton Co., Iowa
• Census: 1860, Living in O'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa
• Census: 1870, Living in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1880, Living in LaConner, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1887, Living in Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1900, Living in Avon, Skagit Co., Washington

Notes:

Name:
Sheriffs of the County

The first Sheriff of Pocahontas county was Oscar Slosson, who was elected March 15, 1859. On Jan. 1, 1860, Henry Jarvis succeeded him and being re-elected in 1861, 1864 (for one year - an unexpired term) and in 1865, filled that office seven years, 1860 to 163, and 1865 to 1867. For the term commencing Jan. 1, 1864, he was not a candidate, and Abiel Stickney, who had been elected, having resigned the office March 21, 1864, Edward Hammond, by appointment of the board of supervisors on that date, performed the duties of that office until the end of that year.
It is of interest to note that Abiel Stickney was the one candidate in this county who was elected by the soldier vote. At the general election of Oct. 13, 1863, the home vote for the candidates for sheriff was as follows: John A. James, 16 votes; Abiel Stickney, 14, and John A. James was declared elected by a majority of two votes. But one month later when the four soldier votes were canvassed and all of them were in favor of Stickney, they gave him a majority of two votes and he was then declared elected.
On Jan. 1, 1868, Oscar Slosson became the successor of Henry Jarvis, and being re-elected in 1869, served four years, 868 to 1871. At the general election held in the fall of 1867, the contest for sheriff became a very spirited one and each of the candidates, Oscar Slosson and George Spragg, received 50 of the 100 votes polled in the county at that election. On drawing cuts the tie was decided in favor of Oscar Slosson.

Pioneer Period, 1855 to 1869 - Other important events

At their meeting held Jan. 2, 1865, the board agreed yo pay a bounty of $900 to each volunteer who would enter the army or navy of the United States, and the later records show hat Dennis Quigley and Thos. Quigley were recipients of this special bounty. This volunteer 'bounty' fund was raised by an assessment of four mills on the dollar during the year of 1865. A soldiers' 'relief' fund of two mills on the dollar had been raised for the benefit of those who had enlisted at the beginning of the war, namely:
A.H. Malcom
Oscar Slosson
Chas. W. Jarvis
W.S. Fegles
Henry Cooper
Henry Tilley
Hiram Evans
John Gayler
Andrew Mills

'For those true men who fought to lift
Our country's banner high in air,
Wreaths of lilies we weave and bring
Roses and star-eyed pansies fair.'

During the war, Pocahontas county furnished eleven men, which was one-third of the able-bodies residents of the county at the time. This was her full quota and there was no need of a resort to a draft.

Four of those named above, namely A.H. Malcolm, Henry Cooper, Hiram Evans and Oscar Slosson enlisted at the same time - Sept 2, 1861, at Fort Dodge - and became members of Co. A, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Capt. Franklin A. Stratton, of Fort Dodge. This company went by stage to Cedar Falls, the nearest railroad station, and in due season arrived at Dubuque where they were mustered in, September 21st, following.

Family/Spouse: Julia TOWSLEE. Julia (daughter of Nathan TOWSLEE and Mahala TILLOTSON) was born on 19 Apr 1839 in Smithville Flats, Chenango Co., New York; died on 10 Oct 1904 in La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington; was buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1856, Living with parents in Elk, Clayton Co., Iowa
• Census: 1860, Living with parents in O\'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa
• Census: 1870, Living in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1880, Living in Powhatan, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1900, Living in LaConner, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1910, Living in LaConner, Skagit Co., Washington

Family/Spouse: Loretta ?. Loretta was born about 1849 in New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Orlando married Harriet Jane HALSTEAD on 14 Apr 1875 in Fairbault, Minnesota. Harriet was born on 5 May 1857 in Volga, Clayton Co., Iowa; died on 5 May 1922 in La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington; was buried in Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1856, Living with parents in Elk, Clayton Co., Iowa
• Census: 1860, Living with parents in O\'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa
• Census: 1880, Living with husband in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1900, Living with husband in Clinton, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1910, Living with husband in LaConner, Skagit Co., Washington

Family/Spouse: Romeyn B. FISH. Romeyn was born on 18 Apr 1847 in Rensselaerville, Albany Co., New York; died on 5 Nov 1919 in Yakima Co., Washington; was buried in Grandview Cemetery, Grandview, Yakima Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1856, Living with parents in Elk, Clayton Co., Iowa
• Census: 1860, Living with parents in O\'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa
• Census: 1870, Living with parents in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa
• Census: 1880, Living in Tehama, Tehama Co., California
• Census: 1900, Living in Mt. Vernon, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1910, Living in Elkhorn, San Joaquin Co., California
• Census: 1920, Living in Anacortes, Skagit Co., Washington
• Census: 1930, Living in East College Place, Walla Walla Co., Washington

Edmund married Ellen Deborah SAVAGE about 1870. Ellen was born in Jan 1852 in Ohio; died on 26 Mar 1931 in Walla Walla, Walla Walla Co., Washington. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]