Davis County Poor House & Farm 
1960
The first record of any one becoming a county charge is found in the proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners at the October session 1845, as follows:-
Ordered that Samuel RIGGS be appointed as agent of the board to let out to the lowest and most suitable bidder the keeping of Sarah BANE, who has become a county charge, for the term of not more than 6 nor less than 3 months. That said RIGGS give public notice agreeable to law of the time and place when he will receive such proposals for keeping said Sarah BANE, and that on such day he received such proposals as may be made and let out the same to the lowest and most suitable person.
And at the April session, 1846, is found the following entry:-
Ordered, that Joseph B McCOY be allowed 23 dollars and 63 cents for keeping and furnishing clothing to Sarah BANE, a county charge, as per account this day filed.
The next accounting found April session, 1848:-
Ordered, that John ALLEN be appointed agent for the county to furnish George TITUS and Sarah his wife, with such articles of clothing and provision as in his discretion he may think actually necessary and present his bill for the same to this board for allowance at their regular terms until countermanded by the board.
This order was countermanded at the July session following. At the January session 1850, is found the following entry:-
It having been satisfactorily proved that Elizabeth MATHEW, a daughter of Wm MATHEW, is a deaf and dumb person of the age of 16 years, residing in this county; it is therefore ordered that the clerk of this Board report said Elizabeth MATHEW to the Superintendent of Public Instruction according to law.
At the April session 1850:-
Ordered by the board, that Matthew FOUNTAIN be allowed 12 dollars for keeping George TITUS, a pauper. Also ordered that he be allowed 22 dollars, for keeping the said same, from 19th of January up to the 6th of April, 1850.
At the July session 1850:-
Ordered that Matthew FOUNTAIN, be allowed 26 dollars for boarding George TITUS, a pauper.
At the October session 1850:-
Ordered, that Prudence PICKENS be allowed 13 dollars for boarding and taking care of Margaret ELDER, a pauper. Payment up to this date. Ordered, that Matthew FOUNTAIN be allowed 31 dollars and 60 cents for boarding and clothing George TITUS, a pauper. Ordered, that Pardon BROWN be allowed 54 dollars and 60 cents for keeping Andrew BROWN, pauper. Payment up to this date.
It was not until 1864 that the county made a move to purchase a poor farm, as shown by supervisor’s record November term 1864, when it was;
Resolved, That the board proceed at once to purchase a farm for a poor farm for Davis County, Iowa, and that a committee be appointed to receive propositions and report at next meeting, and they be authorized to borrow money enough to buy the farm and to erect suitable buildings thereon, not to exceed $4,000, at not more than 10 per cent interest for said money, and that the committee consists of, M H JONES, William EVANS, and JD DUNLAVY.
At the January term 1865:-
On motion, the committee on the poor farm is authorized to buy the farm of David SHEARER, containing 276 acres, at 11 dollars per acre. On motion, $1000 dollars be transferred from the county funds to make the first payment on the farm. On motion, Resolved by the board, the committee on the poor farm, MH JONES, William EVANS, and J B DUNLAVY, having bought a farm for $3036 dollars, and paid $1000 dollars on the same, they are authorized to borrow $2036 dollars to pay the balance on said farm, according to contract, the interest not to exceed 10 percent. H A WONN, G W PARSONS and AW SAWYERS, were appointed a committee to superintend the building of the poor-house. On motion, $500 dollars was allowed for building the poor-house, and the committee is authorized to draw on the treasurer for said $500, and the treasurer is authorized to transfer said $500 from the county funds to the poor-house funds. And $1000 was also changed to the poor-house fund to make the first payment on the farm.
In October, 1870, W EWING, Asa WILSON, and Wm D EVANS were appointed a committee to sell the poor farm and purchase another nearer the city of Bloomfield, not more than 40 acres, and erect the necessary buildings. They were required to give bond in the sum of $10,000.00.
The first Poor-House was located in Fox River Twp, near when present day Runkle and Baptist Cemeteries are located. It was later moved [1888] to Cleveland Township, East of the City of Bloomfield.
1960, the home is an 80 year old structure. The 2 story building has 32 rooms, an automatic fire sprinkler system, and aluminum siding.