History of Des Moines County, Iowa Excerpts from the "The History of Iowa", by Benjamin F. Gue. Copyright 1903 Transcribed by Sue Soden . Copyright © 1998 by Sue Soden. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, 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. ************************************************************************ DES MOINES COUNTY, IOWA 1834 created COUNTY SEAT: Burlington PARENT COUNTY: Wisconsin Territory Des Moines County as first established in 1834 embraced nearly one-half of the territory of the future State of Iowa. But in December, 1836, the counties of Lee, Van Buren, Henry, Louisa, Muscatine and Cook were created from territory within its limits. It was named for the Des Moines River and in January, 1838, was reduced to nearly its present boundaries, lying on the Mississippi River in the second tier north of the Missouri State line. It has an area of but four hundred thirteen square miles.