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Decatur County, Iowa

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Chronological History Timeline
of
Decatur County, Iowa

  • 1838 Allen Scott, first white settler, came to Decatur county.
  • 1838 Sac and Pottawattamie tribes wintered here.
  • 1840 Other settlers followed Scott, thought they were in Missouri.
  • 1840 Slavery previtiled among first settlers.
  • 1840 Wild deer, turkeys, and other game was plentiful.
  • 1840 Oxen were used as draft animals.
  • 1840 Clothing was made from buckskin and homespun cloth.
  • 1840 Nearest post office was Princeton, Missouri.
  • 1843 Decatur county was obtained from Indiana by treaty.
  • 1846 Mormons settled place the named Garden Grove.
  • 1848 October 17 - Ozo N. Kellogg wife and three boys, Wm. Davis wife and six children, Enos 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.
  • 1849 First post office started by Allen Scott, called Nine Eagles.
  • 1849 First school taught by Mrs. Enos Davis, Garden Grove.
  • 1849 Boundary dispute settled in favor of Iowa.
  • 1850 L. Ujhazy settled New Buda on ground near present town of Davis City.
  • 1850 Decatur county was organized.
  • 1850 First meeting of the Board of County Commissioners- Josiah Morgan, William Hamilton, and Asa Burrell, Henry B. Noston, Clerk.The first order was one allowing Andrew Still $30 for acting as organizing sheriff.
  • 1850 County divided into four townships: Garden Grove, Morgan, Burrell, and Hamilton.
  • 1850 First marriage license issued to Henry Hall and Eliza Ann Ewing.
  • 1851 Madarasz, Majthenyi, Drahos and Varga, Hungarian exiles, settled at New Buda.
  • 1851 First district court convened at house of Daniel Moad. Judge, Wm. McKay; Clerk, Daniel Moad; Sheriff, John J. Stanley.
  • 1851 First case, suit for divorce, John Blades vs. Maria Blades.
  • 1851 Decatur City laid out and the county seat located there.
  • 1851 First courthouse. 20x22 feet and 14 feet high, built of hewed logs by John J. Stanley for $375 at Decatur.
  • 1851 One of first doctors, Samuel C. Thompson, came to county.
  • 1852 the first marriage took place - R.M. McBroom to Susan Witners Hiram Chase J.P. officiating.
  • 1853 By special election county seat was changed to Independence (Leon).
  • 1853 Westerville post office started.
  • 1853 Van Wert was settled.
  • 1853 a school district was organized and Mrs. Enos Davis taught school in one room of the hotel.
  • 1854 Second courthouse, 24x40 feet and two stories high, was built of brick by Arnold Childers and F. Parsons for $1700.
  • 1854 Number of townships increased to 16.
  • 1854 Pleasanton laid out.
  • 1854 Leon platted.
  • 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.
  • 1855 Davis City laid out.
  • 1856 July 7 - The Presbyterian Church was organized at the home of Stephen Carrithers with 13 members.
  • 1856 First jail built of logs, cost $1800.
  • 1856 A.B. Stearns began publishing the Garden Grove Bulletin and continued it about ten years.
  • 1866 Poor farm started.
  • 1869 First National Bank of Leon, John Clark, president.
  • 1874 Second courthouse burned.
  • 1875 Third courthouse built.
  • 1877 Third courthouse blown up.
  • 1879 Tuskeego started.
  • 1879 Lamoni laid out.
  • 1880 Weldon and LeRoy laid out.
  • 1881 Grand River laid out.
  • 1884 Present jail built at cost of $12,000.
  • 1894 Graceland College founded.
  • 1907 Present courthouse built.
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