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Des Moines County >> 1915 Index History of
Des Moines County, Iowa... P - R D. L. Portlock submitted by Julie Dresser D. L.
Portlock was a Hoosier by birth. Came to Pleasant Grove Township in 1842,
came to Burlington in 1836, where he followed his trade, that of carpenter.
He married Miss Elizabeth Flenor[sic], in 1850. Was a member of the
Christian Church, and a democrat. Dr. WILLIAM R. ROSS submitted by Dick Barton [p321]: The first white person who died and was buried in Des Moines County was a Revolutionary soldier - the father of Dr. William R. Ross. In September, 1833, Doctor Ross came to Burlington , his aged father accompanying him. In speaking of his father's death the doctor says: "He was accompanied by his aged father, who had fought through the Revolutionary war and who was one of the first settlers of Lexington , Ky. Worn down by age and toil, and being exposed to the inclemencies of a new home, the old gentleman was carried off the same fall with the chills and fever and now lies (1839) on the topmost pinnacle of our city." At the time of the death of this Revolutionary hero there was not a graveyard in Burlington and there is nothing to mark the place where he lies buried. [p379]: Address by Dr. William R. Ross, of Lovilia, Monroe County "My first visit to 'Flint Hills' was in July, 1833. I selected my claim west of and adjoining White and McCarver's claim. I then returned to Quincy, Ill., hired three or four men, and sent my father with them to build a cabin for the reception of my goods, which I landed here the last week in August by steamboat, consisting of dry goods, groceries, drugs and medicines. "In the fall of 1833, I sent a petition to the postmaster general to establish an office at 'Flint Hills,' which was done in the spring of 1834. I was commissioned postmaster and carrier for 'Flint Hills' to the nearest postoffice in Illinois , once a week at my own expense, until a regular route was established by the Government. "I obtained license at Monmouth , Ill. , and was married under a sycamore tree on the east bank of the river, December 3, 1833 . (The bride of that occasion, Matilda, daughter of Col. William Morgan, subsequently chief justice of Des Moines County , was introduced, and in her venerable age bowed to the audience in grateful appreciation of the respect shown to her.) "In the fall of 1833 I had two cabins built on my claim west of this park, which were occupied by my family in March, 1834; also a cabin for a schoolhouse, and for preaching, which was occupied by Mr. Phillips, whom I hired to make rails and fence the ground for pasture and garden. "In 1834 I had rails made and fenced 160 acres, and put eighty acres in corn on what is called the Judge Mason farm. I also had forty acres in corn on the John Pierson, Sr., farm. "In the spring of 1834 I received the laws with instructions from Governor Mason, of Detroit , Michigan Territory, to notify the people to hold elections to fill the different offices of Des Moines County , which had been established the winter previous by the Legislature of Michigan Territory. I was elected clerk of the court, treasurer and recorder. "In the fall of 1833 I surveyed the town. In January, 1834, the citizens met to name it; John B. Gray, of Vermont , proposed Burlington , which was acceded to. "In the winter of 1833-34 I wrote to Rev. Peter Cartwright on his route north, at a quarterly conference twenty miles east of Burlington , to send me a preacher. He licensed Barton G. Cartwright, who came to my house on my claim, in March, 1834, with an ox team and plow to break prairie through the week, and preach for us on Sunday. He and Mr. Ritchie, of Illinois , broke and planted on my prairie claims, afterwards owned by Judge Mason and John Pierson, Sr. "On the return of Peter Cartwright from his northern trip he was accompanied by Asa McMurtrey and W. D. R. Trotter, of Rock Island, and Henderson River Mission, who crossed the Mississippi to my house, and with Barton G. and David Cartwright held a two days' meeting in my pasture on this hill, and organized in May a class of six members, and appointed me class leader, the oldest in Iowa. "In 1834 I boarded Zadoc C. Inghram, who taught a school in the log cabin on my claim, the first school in Iowa . "I fenced the block east of the public square, and built a huge log house which was occupied by my family in the spring of 1835, where the first postoffice and the first court was held. "In 1837 I commenced the foundation of Old Zion Church, and built the house, which was free for every order to preach in, and was occupied three sessions, 1838-39-40, by the Legislative Assembly of Iowa Territory, and by the Federal and District courts." [p412]: Rev. Daniel G. Cartwright. Without doubt the Rev. Daniel G. Cartwright preached the first sermon ever delivered in Des Moines County . At the request of the famous Rev. Peter Cartwright of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he came to Burlington in March, 1834, and preached. He preached in a log cabin erected by Doctor Ross for religious and school purposes.... [p424]: William R. Ross was the first physician in the county. [p465]: What is called Old Zion Church can said to have come into existence about April 12, 1834, because at that time the Rev. Peter Cartwright formed a class composed of six persons, of which Doctor Ross was the leader.
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