In the very early days, very little attention was given to Christmas as a public holiday. From 1846 to 1850, the town was small, the people poor, their chief purpose and labor being to secure a living and establish homes. If the day was observed at all, it was with dancing parties and frolics by …
The pioneers were patriotic as well as public-spirited and industrious. The first Fourth of July celebration of the town was in 1846, less than four months after the town had a legal existence. The soldiers had left, taking away all the cannon, but cannon improvised from logs, and blacksmiths’ anvils,were utilized to make a noise, …
My reminiscences of pioneers and old settlers — the pioneer claims a little distinction because he was “first in” — has been confined mostly to the men, but the wives and mothers should not be forgotten. While they did not build houses, business blocks, churches, and schoolhouses, make laws, and lay the foundation of civic …
Much has been written as to the origin and meaning of the name, “Des Moines.” That it is from the French, and means “The Monks” is true. That the city was named from the river is also true. As there were never any monks in Iowa, it is evident the name is a mis-application, or …
The person who goes though [through] the country on the railroads diverging from the city, and sees the fine farm houses and their pleasing environments, has no conception of the trials and privations which encompassed their beginnings. As a rule, the pioneers located their claims near rivers and creeks. The clothing they wore, a small …
“Sac County contains sixteen congressional townships, west of the Des Moines River. It contains 369,640 acres, nearly a1l, of which is desirable land for either grain or stock farms, and the larger part available for either or both combined. The larger part of these lands are railway property and these can be purchased by home-seekers, …
The population of Sac City is now estimated to be 800. The place is one of the most flourishing in this section of Iowa. The present town officers are: Mayor, John Alexander; Recorder, Charles L. Early, Trustees: R. H. Lamoreux, Phil Schaller, P. H. Hankins, N. R. Flack, Jos. H. James. . In 1856 Sac …
Wheeler Lodge No. 398, A.F. & A.M Instituted October 1879, and worked under dispensation until June, 1880, when their charter was received. The charter members are and first officers were: J. M. Zane, W.M.; W. A. Helsell, S.W.; H. T. Martrin, J.W.; Frank Burleigh, Treasure; F. A. Cobb, Secretary. H. C. Wheeler, W.W. Field, Geo. …
This town is situated in the western part of Sac County on a branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. It was laid out by the Blair Town Lot and Land Company in 1877. M. H. Henipen is not only the first business man of Odebolt, but is one of the earliest settlers, having been …
The general history of Sac County can probably be presented in no better shape than as we give it in the following extract from a well written article, published in the Sac Sun, of Sac City, December 24th, 1880: “The immense emigration from the Eastern and East Central States which has for the past two …
“The first settlement was made by Otho Williams, who came from Michigan in the autumn of 1854, with his family, and took up a claim in the timber near Grant City, in the southeastern part of the county. He and his family were the first white inhabitants of Sac county, but during the two succeeding …
“This sketch is intended principally as a pen-picture of Sac County as it now is, and will include a short outline of its history and a few incidents of the life of the early settlers. “The early settlers of Sac, though they had the advantage of being able to try fruit raising under the protection …
On June 1, 1877, the following list of pioneers was made out by the secretary of the “Old Settlers’ Association”, the same showing the name, date of arrival in Sac county and the age of the person, at the time they signed this register in 1877: William Montgomery, May 15, 1855, aged fifty-seven years. D. …
Morgan Township Morgan Township has been included under the organization of Raglan, and formed a part until the 1st of January, 1868, at which time the previous petition, it was organized as Morgan Township. Morgan lies west of Raglan and on the Missouri River, four by five miles in extent, and contains a good timber …
1868 History: Morgan – Union Townships, Harrison County, Iowa Read More »
Harrison Township Harrison Township is the northeastern township of Harrison County. Timber in this township is not over abundant, the groves being small; but since it is surrounded by groves on all sides it cannot suffer for timber. Through it flows the beautiful Boyer’s healthy water. The Boyer is a small river, and one of …
1868 Harrison – Jefferson Townships, Harrison County, Iowa Read More »
Jackson Township The soldier river enters this township in the north-east corner, and leaves it about the middle of the south side. About its early settlement I know but little’ but this I do know, that its inhabitants at present are good working class of people, and that the township is composed of good and …
1868 History: Jackson – Little Sioux Townships, Harrison County, Iowa Read More »
Lincoln Township The first settlement commenced in Lincoln Township was some time during the year 1857. James Sellick, Hiram Moore and Henry Hushaw, were among the first who broke the sod in this township and as evidence of their appreciation of the place they located, they have remained there ever since, and are now prosperous …
1868 Lincoln – Magnolia Townships, Harrison County, Iowa Read More »
