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 as 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 officers 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. Scars 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 sale 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. Scars.

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.

"A. T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa", Chicago: Andreas Atlas Co., 1875, pg. 477.