HISTORY: Cass County
From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

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CASS COUNTY.

PHYSICAL FEATURES AND RESOURCES.

	Cass is one of the southwestern counties, being the second east of the 
Missouri River, and the third north of the State of Missouri. It is twenty-four 
miles square, containing an area of 368,640 acres. The entire county is on the 
"Missouri Slope," or within the area drained by tributaries of the Missouri River. 
The numerous streams drain the county completely, and diversify the character 
and appearance of the surface. On almost every section of land in the county 
there is living water. The East Nishnabotany, Indian Creek, Turkey Creek and 
Seven Mile Creek afford good water powers.
	The northeast corner of the county is about 920 feet above low water in 
the Mississippi River at Davenport. The surface is generally undulating prairie, 
but there is considerable timber along some of the streams; the area of timber 
land in the county being estimated at about 12,000 acres. It is pretty well 
distributed throughout the county. The soil partakes of the general character 
peculiar to that of the Missouri slope in Iowa, and is rich and productive. The 
valleys along the principal streams are wide and afford some of the finest 
farming lands in Iowa. The valley of the Nishnabotany is noted for its beauty 
and fertility, and some of the smaller streams into which it is subdivided in this 
county retain these characteristics. Almost the entire surface of the county is 
susceptible of the highest cultivation, and is adapted to all the cereals, grasses, 
and vegetables common to the latitude. It is also a fine stock-growing and 
grazing county.
	The distribution of water is such that hundreds of locations can be 
found where both water and timber shelter can be had on the same farm for 
stock purposes. Kentucky blue grass, as well as other grasses, flourish well in 
Cass County. No county in the state, perhaps, can present greater inducements 
for this purpose than the favored County of Cass, which is sufficiently shown by 
the number of stock farmers already settled there, and the fact that they have all 
become wealthy, among whom may be mentioned John Hoply, Thomas 
Meredith, James Baxter, Oliver Mills, and many others. Every year there is an 
increased interest exhibited both in growing timber and hedges, as will be seen 
from the late statistics which will be found in this atlas. Osage orange hedging 
some years ago was thought to be a failure, but new systems and more care have 
proven it to be a complete success, and when brought into more general use will 
relieve very much the appearance of the prairies. There can be no question but 
that fruit growing can be successfully carried on in this county, as is 
demonstrated by some fine young orchards of apples, pears, cherries, and other 
small fruits to be seen in different parts of the county. Fruit growing requires 
more care and experience than the new settlers were disposed to devote to it, 
which is the reason that it has not had more attention, but as the county has 
increased in wealth and population it has been taken hold of, and now we have 
several good nurseries in the county. The county has good roads, and is famous 
for the number of its substantial bridges. As may be seen from the map of this 
county it is well supplied with school houses, which are neat and substantial, 
and are kept open at least three-fourths of the year.
	The county has considerable stone suitable for building purposes. The 
dark brown sandstone quarried on the Nishnabotany River, near the town of 
Lewis, has been used quite extensively in this and in adjoining counties. Stone 
suitable for the manufacture of lime is also obtained in several localities. 
Mineral paint is also found in Edna Township; it is from one to three feet thick, 
and has been used to considerable extent. No coal beds have yet been 
discovered, and yet it is quite likely that deep mining may develop them, as the 
geological formations which are exposed overlie the coal formations.
	The county has no public debt, nor has she had any for ten years or 
more. The rule in Cass is "to pay as they go." The population in 1866, was 
2,479; in 1875, as will be seen in table of statistics, 10,552. Spring wheat 
harvested in 1874, 676,209 bushels; corn, 1,901,062 bushels. We merely cite a 
few figures to show the rapid and permanent growth of the county.

COUNTY OFFICERS, 1875.

	WILLIAM GARDNER, Auditor.		WILKINS WARWICK, 
Treasurer.
	HORACE E. BACON, Clerk.		FRANK AYLESWORTH, 
Recorder.
	JAMES S. PRESSNELL, Sheriff.		E. D. HAWES, Supt. of 
Public Instruction.
E. E. HERBERT, Chairman Board of Supervisors.

	In liberality for the purpose of establishing and maintaining public 
schools, Cass County is one of the foremost in the state. In 1873, its school 
houses numbered 81, valued at over $60,000, and during the year previous the 
county expended in building school houses and maintaining schools upwards of 
$45,000. This, at a time when its population numbered about 7,000, may be 
considered a fair sample of its enterprise in this direction. The county has made 
excellent use of the land set apart for permanent school funds, and thus realized 
a fund of $47,533.70. With her means for adding to the wealth stored in the 
mind and all that can be required for the body, who can arrest her progress?

EARLY HISTORY.

	During the exodus of the Mormons from Nauvoo in 1845 or 1846, they 
established a station on the high land west of Nishnabotany River, about two and 
a half miles west of where the town of Lewis was afterwards located. Not far 
from this station was the site of an Indian village of the Pottawatamie tribe, 
which, in all probability, was the reason why the Mormons named it Indiantown. 
Indiantown continued for several years to be the only place of business in the 
county, and being on the principal thoroughfare between the Mississippi and 
Missouri Rivers, quite a large trade was done. As late as 1853 or 1854, Jeremiah 
Bradshaw kept a store there. The site is now occupied by well cultivated farms. 
The first permanent settlers were Jeremiah Bradshaw, from Illinois; V. M. 
Conrad, from New York; Peter Hedges, from Illinois; David Chapman, from 
Ohio; Joseph Everly (who was killed in some way unknown); J.M. Watson, 
known in early times as "King James." He was a great hunter, and was often 
seen riding over the country followed by a pack of hounds, some thirteen in 
number. He came from La Fayette, Indiana, and was accidentally killed while 
hunting. Deer were very plenty in the early history of the county. D. Morrison, 
one of the early settlers, father of J. C. Morrison, the present well-known Anita 
merchant, and who settled on turkey Creek near the present town of Anita in 
1853, is said to have killed seventy-five deer in one Winter. There were amongst 
the early settlers O. O. Turner from Illinois, Jefferson Goodale, and Joseph 
Doner, the latter two came in 1854. 
	The first post office in the county was at Indiantown, called "Cold 
Spring." The first settlement made on Turkey Creek was by R. D. McGeehon, 
who built the first house in the Summer of 1852, and it still stands on section 14, 
township 76, range 36. James L. Bryd and his sons came into the county in 
1853, and made their claims west of Atlantic, where they now live and have fine 
farms. Of the earliest settlers who are still living in the county, are V. M. Conrad 
and Jeremiah Bradshaw, the latter came into the county in 1851. 
	In 1853, a few not named came into the county, amongst which were 
George Wakefield, Albert Wakefield, who settled near Turkey Grove. The first 
preaching occurred at Jessie Ellis' house in the Summer of 1854; the next was at 
George Wakefield's, same summer. 
	The first saw mill was erected at Lewis in 1857, by Keyes, Peck & Co., 
and the same is now operated by John Roush. Previous to the building of the 
Lewis mill the settlers had to go with their grists to "South Coon," forty or fifty 
miles distant. R. D. McGeehon got his first "grist" ground after locating in Cass 
County, at Rockport, Missouri, distant one hundred and twenty-five miles, 
seventy-five miles of that without a house to cheer the traveler on his way.
	Jeremiah Bradshaw was the pioneer merchant, having opened a store at 
Indiantown in 1853. V. M. Conrad had a store at the same place in 1854 or 
1855. Iranistan had a store in 1854, kept by McCartney. Iranistan and 
Indiantown were rival cities in those days. Lewis became a competitor in 1854, 
and had a store in 1855; but not till 1856 was there a first-class general store in 
the county, when Keyes, Peck & Co. opened such a store in Lewis, and their 
names can yet be discerned on a store room formerly occupied by them, at the 
present time. George Conrad, who is now of the firm of Conrad & Chapman, 
merchants in Atlantic, started a store in Grove City in 1860. Lewis captured the 
post office from both its western rivals, and the name was changed from "Cold 
Spring" to Lewis. Grove City was the next post office established in 1857.
	The first election was held at Indiantown, in the Fall of 1852; thirteen 
votes were polled in all; total population at that time, about one hundred. The 
county was organized in 1853; the organizing sheriff was William S. Townsend; 
and the first election as a county was in the Spring of the same year. 
	The first county officers were; County Judge, Jeremiah Bradshaw; 
Treasurer and Collector, V. M. Conrad; Clerk, C. C. Woodward; Sheriff, Francis 
E. Ball; Drainage Commissioner, Levi M. Mills; Surveyor, David Chapman; 
Coroner, James N. Benedict; Assessor, H. L. Bradshaw; Supervisor, T. N. 
Johnson.
	Thomas G. Palmer and Milton Richards were appointed commissioners 
to locate the county seat, and on March 11, 1853, located the same at Lewis. 
Neither of the commissioners are now living in the county.
	The early business of the county seems to have been transacted at and 
in the vicinity of Indiantown, where the first settlement was made and the first 
election was held. The first money voted out of the county treasury was $34 to 
the locating commissioners of the county seat, for seventeen days' service. The 
first marriage license granted was to Henry Snyder and Sarah M. Karothe, on 
the 8th day of September, 1853. 

ATLANTIC.

	This is an incorporated city, now the county seat; has a population now 
of about two thousand. It was laid out in the Fall of 1868. The first train on the 
railroad came in January, 1869. The county seat was moved from Lewis to 
Atlantic in November, 1869, after a spirited contest. It is beautifully located, on 
the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, on land which gradually rises into 
gently sloping hills, which face to the north, and is skirted with a beautiful grove 
of timber on the southwest. Its western limit is near the Nishnabotany River. The 
principal business street is Chestnut, one hundred feet wide, on which are 
several fine brick blocks, that would do credit to an older place. There is a 
beautiful public park on Chestnut Street, which has been laid out and trees of 
different kinds planted. The county has also, adjoining the park, a block of 
ground for county purposes, on which trees have also been planted. Atlantic 
possesses a great deal of life and enterprise, and is destined to be a large place. It 
maintains excellent schools, had finished a very fine brick school building, and 
there is another in process of construction. For educational advantages it is 
second to no place in the state of its size. 
	The Presbyterians, Methodists, Congregationalists, Baptists and 
Catholics have good church buildings. The Episcopalians have an organization 
and own a lot, and expect to build before long.
	The Masons and Odd Fellows have both prosperous lodges here.
	There are three newspapers published here, which are the only ones in 
the county; 
	The Cass County Messenger was established in 1864 at Lewis. It is 
Republican in politics, published Saturdays, on the co-operative plan, by 
Johnson & Willey, and is well sustained.
	The Atlantic Telegraph was established in 1871, by Lafe Young, the 
present editor and proprietor. It is an eight column folio, printed entirely at the 
home office, published Wednesdays, Republican in politics, and has a large and 
increasing circulation.
	The Cap Sheaf is a democratic newspaper, edited and published by D. 
M. Harris, on the co-operative plan; issued every Friday. It was established May 
1, 1874, by its present proprietor, and has a very good circulation. 
	Atlantic has two good and substantial banks—the "First National" and 
the "Cass County"; four grain elevators, and a large steam flouring mill and 
elevator combined. It has a very large territory tributary to it. Part of 
Montgomery, Shelby and Audubon Counties do most of their business there.

LEWIS.

	This place is located on the east side of the East Nishnabotany River, 
about seven miles southwest of Atlantic.
	It was formerly the county seat, and a place of considerable importance, 
being on a main line of travel across the state before the construction of 
railroads. There is a good mill site on the river adjoining the town. The town 
was laid out in February, 1854. Among the first settlers were R. C. Lambert, S. 
M. Tucker, S. H. Myers, Charles Woodward, Daniel Stanley, James S. Rand and 
J. W. Benedict. The first house was built by S. M. Tucker, and the first white 
child born in the town was George D. Tucker. The Methodists were the first 
religious denomination that organized a society. The first newspaper published, 
and the first in the county, was the Cass County Gazette, by J. C. Brown, who 
was killed during the war at Millikin's Bend.
	ANITA. – This is a thriving station on the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railroad, in the northeast part of the county. It is an important shipping 
point for large portions of Cass and Audubon Counties, and is growing rapidly. 
It has churches, schools, elevators and stores, and promises well.
	WIOTA. – This is also a station on the railroad, between Atlantic and 
Anita. Being accessible to a fine district of farming country, it bids fair to 
become an important shipping point.
	MARNE. – This is a new station on the railroad, about six miles west 
of Atlantic; has a post office. It has grown quite rapidly in the last two months, 
and being in the center of a good county, there is no reason why it should not 
become quite a place.
	The other post offices are Newlan's Grove, Whitneyville and Wilson's.