Decatur County, Iowa - History Timeline Transcribed by Diana Hanson . Submitted to the USGenWeb Project Archives on July 2nd, 1998. ====================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ====================================================================== 1846 Settled by the Mormons 1848 October 17, Ozo N. Kellogg, wife and three boys, Wm. Davis, wife and six children, Emos Davis (his son) wife and daughter, Amasa J. Davis (another son), and John S. Brown, the first permanent settlers reached Garden Grove from White Pigeon, Michigan. 1848/9 Mrs. Enos Davis taught the first term of school. 3 months at $1.25 per scholar. 1849 O.N. Kellogg entered the first quarter section of land. 1849 Daniel Winters, a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, located four miles northwest of town and that section was dubbed "Gospel Ridge", which name it still bears. 1849 O.N. Kellogg opened the first hotel, called the "California House". 1849 Josephine Kellogg, the first child of 'gentile' parentage was born. Homer A. Davis, the second, was born in 1850. 1850 John S. Brown, the first postmaster was appointed. 1852 the first marriage took place R.M. McBroom to Susan Witners, Hiram Chase, J.P. officiating. 1853 a school district was organized and Mrs. Emos Davis taught school in one room of the hotel. 1854 A two story school house was built and Rev. J.R. Cary began a term of school in it, but it was burned before the term was completed. Sylvanus Arnold replaced it with an octagonal brick building which served many years. 1854 The Methodist Church was organized at the house of Sylvanus Arnold, Rev. David T. Sween, pastor. 1854 D. & A.B. Stearns located in Garden Grove and bought the store of G.W. Piper and began selling goods. 1856 A.B. Stearns began publishing the Garden Grove Bulletin and continued it about ten years. 1856 July 7, The Presbyterian Church was organized at the home of Stephen Carrithers, with 13 members.