Henry  County  was  then  represented  by  George  Hobson  and  Alvin  Saunders.
The  Constitution  adopted  by  this  body  was  sanctioned  by  the  people  at  an  elec-
tion held  on  the  3d  day  of  August,  1846,  there  being  9,492  votes  in  its  favor,
to  9,036  votes  against  it.  This  Constitution  was  presented  to  Congress  in
December,  1846,  and,  on  the  28th  day  of  the  same  month,  an  act  was  passed  by
that  body  for  the  admission  of  Iowa  into  the  Union.  The  first  election  for
State  officers  was  held  on  the  26th  day  of  October,  1846,  in  anticipation  of  the
act  of  Congress,  pursuant  to  a  proclamation  of  Gov.  James  Clark,  when  Ansel
Briggs,  of  Jackson  County,  was  elected  Governor;  Elisha  Cutter,  Jr.,  Secretary
of  State  ;  Jo'seph  T.  Fales,  Auditor,  and  Morgan  Reno,  Treasurer.
The  third  Constitutional  Convention  was  held  at  Iowa  City  January  19,
1857 ;  Henry  County  was  represented  by  Rufus  L.  B.  Clarke.  The  Constitu-
tion adopted  by  this  Convention  was  sanctioned  by  the  people  at  an  election
held  on  the  3d  day  of  August,  1857;  there  being  40,311  votes  cast  for,  and  but
88,681  votes  against  the  change.  The  Constitution  took  eifect  September
3,  1857.
EDUCATIONAL  INTERESTS.
This  county  ranks  high  in  educational  matters.  Mount  Pleasant  has  been
termed  the  "Athens  of  Iowa,"  because  of  the  character  of  its  schools  and  the
natural  influence  they  exert  upon  the  people.  In  Salem,  also,  is  found  a  sem-
inary of  learning  that  takes  a  leading  place  among  institutions  of  its  kind.
