HISTORY: Palo Alto County, Iowa From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************* PALO ALTO COUNTY. Palo Alto is the fourth county from the west line of the state, and the second from the north line, and contains 576 square miles. The west fork of the Des Moines River crosses the county, flowing in a southeasterly course. It enters about three miles west of the middle of the northern line, and passes out near the southeast corner. It has a number of small tributaries flowing in on both sides, two of the largest being Cylinder and Bridge Creeks. There are several small, but very pretty lakes, the principal ones being Lost Island Lake, Elbow Lake, Silver Lake, Rush Lake and Medium Lake-all near the western boundary of the county, except the last names. These little lakes are well supplied with fish. The county contains an aggregate of about two thousand acres of native timber, mostly skirting the Des Moines River, with a few small groves bordering the lakes mentioned. The leading varieties are burr oak, walnut, hickory, cottonwood, maple, linn, elm, ash, and hackberry. Among the common varieties of wild fruits, are plums, grapes, strawberries and raspberries. The surface is generally rolling, with a deep, rich and productive soil. Along the Des Moines River there is a bottom on either side, which before being brought into cultivation, produces a heavy growth of wild grass, some of which is the blue- joint variety, and regarded as excellent for pasturage or hay. On the upland prairies this variety predominates, and is regarded as very nutritious for stock. The chief productions are corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, and vegetables generally. The Des Moines River valley is especially adapted to corn and vegetables, while the upland prairies produce fine crops of wheat, and other kinds of small grain. The different small fruits are cultivated to some extent, and with success. The farmers of this county have devoted much attention to the raising of stock, for which it is well adapted. Numerous peat beds have been found in different parts of the county. There are probably no exposures of rock in place, the only rocks found being the boulders scattered on the prairies, and around the borders of the lakes. Good well water is obtained generally throughout all parts of the county, on the highest prairies as readily as in the valleys. The western part of the county lies on the great watershed, dividing the waters which flow into the Mississippi from those which flow into the Missouri. HISTORICAL. The first white settlement in Palo Alto County, was made in the vicinity of the present town of Emmestburg, by a colony composed mostly of Irish farmers, who arrived at their destination on the 5th day of July, 1856. Among them were James Nolan, John Nolan, John Neary, Martin Laughlin, Edward Mahan, Thomas Downey and Orin Sylvester, all having families, and all from Kane County, Illinois. The colony from time to time received large additions, and extended up and down in the valley across the county. They engaged largely in stock-raising, which proved a successful business. The Indian troubles at Spirit Lake, in March, 1857, had the effect for some time to retard the settlement of that part of the state. Although the population did not probably exceed fifty persons, the county was duly organized, December 20, 1858, and an election was held at the house of James Nolan, when the following were elected; James Hickey, County Judge; John W. Mulroney, Treasurer; and Thomas H. Tobin, Sheriff. Paoli was the first county seat, and some years ago a court house was erected there, but the county business was afterwards removed to Emmetsburg. For some time the county business was chiefly transacted at a place called Soda Bar, near the center. The first public religious meetings in the county were held at the house of James Downey, in July, 1857, by Catholics, most of the first settlers being adherents of that church. The first newspaper was the Palo Alto Democrat, started at Emmetsburg, by James P. White, in 1869. The county officers for 1875 are: WILLIAM H. SHEA, Auditor. THOMAS J. PROUTY, Clerk. MICHAEL L. BROWN, Treasurer. JEREMIAH L. MARTIN, Recorder. PATRICK C. NOLAN, Sheriff. ALBERT L. DAY, Supt. Common Schools CHARLES GIBBS, Chairman Board of Supervisors. EMMETSBURG. This is the county seat, and was the first town laid out in the county, but for a number of years made very slow progress. It is situated in the valley of the Des Moines, on the east side of the river, adjoining groves of timber. The river affords good water power at this point. The location is a pleasant one for a town, being on ground sloping toward the stream. Although, as stated, it was the first village laid out in the county, it really only began to assume the appearance of a town in 1871. During that year, Martin Coonan, the original proprietor caused a re-survey and enlargement of the town plat. This was done in view of the prospect of the early extension of the Iowa Division of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and the prospective construction of a road up the Des Moines valley. It is on the direct line of travel from Algona west to Spencer, Sibley, Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls, and is surrounded by a fertile agricultural region.