GROWTH OF THE COUNTY IN WEALTH AND POPULATION. The pioneers of this section of the country left their homes in the eastern states to better their condition and make for themselves and their posterity homes they could claim as their own.  Many of them were forced by circumstances to "seek pastures new" and brave every hardship and many dangers.  With assets chiefly limited to indomitable pluck and perseverance, they came here to carve out their own fortunes and in the outset were willing to take "pot luck" and trust in the future.  Hence, when the county first opened its official doors for business and the treasury drew on the people for money in the way of taxes to pay the expenses of the new and budding community, but little was forthcoming and even a deficit was reported by the incumbent of the county treasurer's office.  This is made clear by a few extracts from Mr. Barrows' excellent history which is given a place in this work.  Mr. Barrows relates that in 1838 the county treasurer received for taxes, licenses and fines, less than $500 and expended nearly $800.  In 1839 the receipts wer $2,578.04, which amount was paid into the treasury on licenses, ferries, fines and general taxes.  The expenditures amounted in that year to $1,804.63.  In 1840 the expenditures greatly exceeded the receipts.  There was paid into the treasury in that year $1,635 and paid out $2,121.  Seven thousand and nineteen dollars and nine cents was received in the county treasury for 1841 and $6,689.99 expended.  It would seem from this great increase in receipts and expenditures for this year that it was a highly prosperous one as compared with the former ones.  In 1842 the balance in the treasury was $484.48 and in 1843 the expenses of the county exceeded its receipts by $905.82.  The financial condition of the county in 1844 was considered very flattering as expenditures for that year were only $1,757.78 and the receipts $2,503.80.  A hiatus occurs in Mr. Barrows' records between the years 1844 and 1847.  For the last mentioned year he gives the following tabulated returns of the assessment on valuations on all kinds of property in the county: 73,264 acres of land valued at ..........................................$234,375 Value of town lots..................................................................71,970 Money at interest in the county.................................................1,675 Merchandise................................................................... ......10,885 918 head of horses................................................................29,244 Machinery..................................................................... ..........5,840 2,883 head of cattle..............................................................25,286 2,748 head of sheep................................................................4,013 3,960 head of hogs.................................................................4,224 5 head of mules......................................................................... .210 Miscellaneous property..............................................................800 Furniture..................................................................... ............1,960 48 wagons........................................................................ ......1,825                                                                                     _________ Total assessment...............................................................$396, 307 Now the sum total of this assessment and the various items that come under the fiat of the law for the purpose of producing revenue for the ambitious and growing bailiwick of Scott, may well be used for the purpose of comparison with a statement of taxable property in Scott county for the year 1909 to show the wonderful progress the county has made in the busy and profitable pursuits of husbandry, manufactures and other multifarious industries that have added so largely to her present wealth. Debbie Clough G-erischer G-erischer Family Web Site http://gerischer.rootsweb.com/ Assistant CC, Iowa Gen Web, Scott County http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/ List Manager for: IASCOTT-L * G-erischer-L * D-encker-L Fitzpatirck-L * V-lerebome-L * Huntington-L * Otis-L * Algar-L EIGS-L * Pickens-L * McNab-L * Patris-L - Rankin-L