Page "Davenport, Iowa" Paragraph 6

Scott County was formed by an act of the Wisconsin Territorial legislature in 1837.

Davenport and neighbor Rockingham both campaigned to become the county seat.

The city with the most votes from Scott County citizens in the February 1838 election would become the county seat.

On the eve of the election, Davenport citizens acquired the temporary service of Dubuque laborers so they could vote in the election.

Davenport won the election with the help of the laborers.

Rockingham supporters protested the elections to the territorial governor, on the grounds the laborers from Dubuque were not Scott County residents.

The governor refused to certify the results of the election.

A second election was held the following August.

To avoid another import of voters, the governor set a 60-day residency requirement for all voters.

Davenport was again the victor by only two votes.

Because the margin of victory was so close a third election in the summer of 1840 was held.

As the August election drew nearer, Rockingham residents grew tired of the county seat cause, and the efforts of Davenporters were difficult to challenge.

Davenport easily won the third election.

Consequently, to ensure that the county seat issue would not be played out again, Davenport built the first county courthouse.