HISTORY: Audubon County, Iowa From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************* AUDUBON COUNTY. This county is the third east from the Missouri River, and in the fourth tier from the southern boundary line of the state. It contains twelve congressional townships—the three southern ones being fractional—or a superficial area of about 446 square miles. SURFACE FEATURES. The surface is generally rolling and almost entirely free from ponds or marshes. The East Nishnabotany River rises in Carroll County and flows south through the entire length of Audubon, through a wide valley of unsurpassed fertility, that rises by gentle slopes from the streams to the upland prairies, which stretch away in undulating swells, rising and falling, one beyond another, until they are lost in the lights and shades of the distant horizon. The valleys of the other streams, though less in extent, present the same characteristics, while the high prairie lands between the streams are beautiful and well defined divides, with slight depressions, sloping down to the ravines which carry away the surplus water. The soil in the valley is a dark loam, somewhat mixed with sand, and exceedingly fertile; while on the divides and high prairies the soil is mainly composed of what the geologists term bluff deposit, a light mulatto- colored fine material, containing more or less calcareous matter and a small percentage of clay, which has proved to be a very productive soil. The largest stream is East Nishnabotany River, which flows from north to south, dividing the county nearly equally, and presenting a valley of unsurpassed beauty and fertility. It has a number of valuable tributaries among which are David's, Troublesome, Blue Grass and Gifford Creeks. The south-east townships are watered and drained by Crooked, Hamlin's and Frost Creeks, all tributaries of Troublesome Creek. South Raccoon River has its source in the northeast part of this county; while among other streams of sufficient importance to have received names are Whitted, Indian and Buck Creeks. The streams mentioned pass through and drain every township in the county, and, with other branches not mentioned, form an admirable system of natural drainage, and afford pure living water for stock at all seasons of the year. The county is also noted for the excellent character of its springs, which are found along all the valleys. Wells are every where easily obtained. The Nishnabotany River affords some good water powers. The main bodies of timber are along the Nishnabotany River, and mostly in the south half of the county. The largest body is what is known as Ballard's Grove, and contains about 2,000 acres. The timber is chiefly oak, walnut, maple, linn, hickory, elm, hackberry, cottonwood and cherry. The various wild fruits common in other parts of the state are found. HISTORICAL. The first persons who came to Audubon County with the intention of becoming permanent settlers were, Nathaniel Hamlin, Wm. P. Hamlin, Arthur Decker and John S. Jenkins and family. They all arrived at what is known as Hamlin's Grove, on the 9th day of May, 1851, a day memorable in the east part of the state as that on which occurred one of the most terrific tornadoes that ever visited Iowa. This was before any surveys were made in the county, except the lines of the east range of townships. John S. Jenkins took a claim near where Oakfield is now located, and Wm. P. Hamlin went down and took a claim across the line, in Cass County, but subsequently returned to Audubon. In the Autumn of the same year Dr. S. M. Ballard and B. M. Hyatt took claims in Big Grove (now Ballard's Grove), and William Powell located where Exira is now situated. In the Spring of 1853 a settlement was commenced at the upper end of Big Grove, by Alvin Herrick and his son Urbane. The first death in the county was the wife of Arthur Decker, in the Fall of 1852, while the first marriage took place April 16, 1856, the parties being George L. Kellogg and Susannah Kinyon—Urbane Herrick, a justice of the peace, officiating. In accordance with a petition of the citizens of Audubon the County Judge of Cass County issued an order authorizing a separate county organization, by the election of the necessary officers, on the 6th of April, 1855. Prior to this time the county had been attached to Cass for civil, judicial and election purposes. This first election was held in the cabin of John S. Jenkins, at Big Grove, forty-five votes were cast, and the following offices were elected; T. S. Lewis, Judge; John W. Beers, Clerk; Miles Beers, Treasurer and Recorder; Benjamin M. Hyatt, Sheriff; David Atkins, Prosecuting Attorney; Alvin Herrick, School Fund Commissioner; John W. Beers, Surveyor; and Wm. H. H. Bowen, Assessor. Most of the foregoing were re-elected at the succeeding August election. David L. Anderson was the next Prosecuting Attorney. On the 22d of May, 1855, Judge E. H. Sears appointed the following persons as Commissioners to locate the county seat, to wit; T. N. Johnson, of Adair County; T. Bryan, of Guthrie County, and C. E. Woodard, of Cass County. Two of them—Theophilus Bryan and C. E. Woodard—were duly qualified and discharged the duty assigned them. On the 20th of June they reported that they had selected the east half of the northwest quarter of section 22, township 78, range 35, calling the place Dayton. The tract selected was accordingly surveyed, and the first public sale of lots advertised to take place on the 22d of November, D. M. Harris at this time being the County Judge. At this sale only one lot was sold, and that brought fifty cents, J. L. Frost being the unlucky purchaser. Judge Harris, finding business rather dull, adjourned the sate to June 3, 1856, at which time some eighty-five lots were sold, at prices ranging from $1.50 to $9.00 each. This was the last county business ever transacted at Dayton, and the town site is a blank to this day, although there are parties in various parts of the United States who are in possession of the fee simple to corner lots here, and annually remit funds to pay their taxes thereon. R. C. Meek was the original proprietor of the land on which Dayton was located. On the 3d of March, 1856, many of the citizens petitioned the County Judge to submit to the electors of the county the question of the removal of the county seat from Dayton to a place then known by the name of Viola, but now called Exira. The prayer of the petition was granted, and on the 7th of April the election was held at the house of John S. Jenkins, but the proposition was defeated. The next effort to remove the county seat was made at the April election of 1861, and at this time carried in favor of Exira. The first county business was transacted at Hamlin's Grove, and the first term of the District Court was also held there in a school house, in the Fall of 1855, by Judge E. H. Sears. The first public religious service was in the log school house at Hamlin's Grove, by the Methodists. The first school was also taught there, by Miss Northgrove, and the next by Miss Beers. THE PRESS. The first newspaper ever published in the county was the Audubon County Pioneer, which was commenced at Audubon City in December, 1860, and continued three months by John C. Brown, who was subsequently Captain Company I, Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and was killed at Milliken's Bend. The Audubon County Defender is a neat five-column quarto published at Exira by E. H. Kimball. It was established in 1873, is the official organ, and the only paper published in the county. The county officers for 1875 are as follows; HUBERT S. WATTLES, Auditor. A. LORENZO CAMPBELL, Clerk of Courts. WILLIAM F. STOTTS, Treasurer. JOHN S. TOFT, Recorder. JOHN B. CONNRARDY, Sheriff. HARMON G. SMITH, Supt. Common Schools. ARTHUR L. SANBORN, Chairman Board of Supervisors. EXIRA. This town is located on the east side of David's Creek, a short distance above its junction with the Nishnabotany River, and about five miles from the south line of the county. The situation is pleasantly rolling prairie with some groves of timber adjoining, and fine farming lands extending in all directions. The original proprietors were David Edgerton and D. M. Harris. P. I. Whitted surveyed the town in April, 1857. As before stated, the original name was Viola, but there being another post office in the state of that name, the appellation Exira was adopted—the latter name being chosen in compliment to a lady. OAKFIELD. This place is five miles southwest of Exira, on the east side of the Nishnabotany River. It is located in a grove, a large proportion of which consists of oak timber, and hence the name. The town was laid out in the latter part of the year 1857 by Erasmus D. Bradley, who opened here the first store in the county. Nearly at the same time, however, N. Hamlin and H. M. Beck opened a store at Hamlin's Grove. Judge Isaac P. Hallock and Miles Beers settled where Oakfield is located in April, 1854. LOUISVILLE. —This is a small village about two and a half miles southwest of Exira. It was laid out by Nathaniel Hamlin in October, 1866. AUDUBON CITY. —This was a village on Troublesome Creek in the south part of the county, and was laid out by Nathaniel Hamlin and Thomas S. Lewis in September, 1855. As we have seen, a newspaper was once published here, but it has not prospered as a town.