AN UNBLEMISHED LAND

Prior to 1763, the entire continent of North America was divided between France, England, Spain, and Russia. France held the portion known as the “Province of Louisiana,” which included the present state of Iowa. In 1763, France gave up her share of the territory west of the Mississippi river. The land now came into the possession of Spain. Spain held the territory for the next thirty-seven years. In 1800 the land once again came under the ownership of France in the treaty of St. Idlefonso. On the 30th of April, 1803, France ceded it to the United States for a total of $15,000,000.

On the 31st of October, 1803, an act of Congress was approved authorizing the President to take possession of the newly acquired territory, and provided for a temporary government. On March 26, 1804 Congress authorized the division of the “Louisiana Purchase,” as it was called, into two separate Territories. With this act what would be Iowa became part of the “District of Louisiana,” and the following year became known as the “Territory of Louisiana.” It remained under Territorial Government until 1812, when it was reorganized as the “Territory of Missouri.” The State of Missouri was admitted to the Union, in 1821. This left a vast part of what had been the “territory of Missouri,” to the north, including the present Iowa and Minnesota. In 1834, this area became part of the “Territory of Michigan.” In July, 1836, the territory embracing the present States of Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin were detached from Michigan, and organized under a separate Territorial government under the name “Wisconsin Territory,”

By virtue of an act of Congress, approved June 12, 1838, and on the 3rd of July of the same year, the “Territory of Iowa” was organized. It embraced all of the present State of Iowa, and a large portion of what is now the State of Minnesota. Robert Lucas, who had been one of the early Governors of Ohio, was appointed the first Territorial Governor, and William B. Conway, Secretary. The latter died during his term of office, and in November, 1839, James Clark was appointed to replace him.

The first Legislative assembly convened at Burlington, November 12, 1838. That place continued as the seat of the Territorial Government until the Fourth Legislative Assembly, which convened in Iowa City, December 6, 1841.

On December 28, 1846, Iowa was admitted into the Union as a State. Iowa City remained as capitol of the Territory and State, until the present location in Des Moines became permanent in 1857.