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HAIR, JAMES T., Ed.
 Iowa State Gazetteer, Shippers' Guide and Business Directory.
Chicago: Bailey & Hair, 1865

GAZETTEER OF IOWA,

ARRANGED BY COUNTIES ALPHABETICALLY,

Given an Account Of Their

 

LOCATION, BOUNDARY, SURFACE, SOIL, TIMBER, MINERAL RESOURCES,

STREAMS AND RAILWAYS, TOGETHER WITH THE EARLY SETTLEMENTS

ORGANIZATION AND ITEMS OF EARLY HISTORY, AND THE

PRESENT POPULATION, MANUFACTURES, TRADE AND

GENERAL BUSINESS STATISTICS OF THE CITIES,

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

 

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Note.-- The County Population and Agriculture Statistics are given on the preceding pages in connection with the State Census for 1865. A Shipper's Guide will be found following these County sketches.

Page 87

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Adair County.

     Adair County is situated in the south-western part of Iowa being the third county east of the Missouri River, and the third north of the State of Missouri. It is bounded on the north by Guthrie, on the east by Madison, on the south by Union and Adams, and on the west by Cass. The Grand Divide, or the high land dividing the waters of the Missouri from the waters of the Mississippi, passes through the eastern portion of the county. The land is undulating, and mostly rolling prairie. The proportion of prairie to timber is about as twenty-five to one.

      TIMBER..-- The timber is well distributed throughout the county, covering most of the bottom lands. There are three large bodies, one on the east by Madison, on the south by Union and Adams, and on the west by Cass. The Grand Divide, or the high land dividing the waters of the Missouri from the waters of the Mississippi, passes through the eastern portion of the county. The land is undulating, and mostly rolling prairie. The proportion of prairie to timber is about as twenty-five to one.

      SOIL..-- The soil is chiefly black loam, containing a sprinkling of sand from two and a half to four feet in thickness, and resting on a bed of clay. It produces in abundance corn, wheat and all kinds of vegetables that grow in this latitude. Plums, crab apples and grapes grow spontaneously, in great abundance, and of an excellent quality.  Young orchards of the different fruits are looking finely, and this promises to be a good fruit-growing county.

      COAL, BUILDING STONE, ETC..-- No coal has as yet been discovered, but in several places coal slate is found on the surface near the streams. Limestone is found in abundance on the banks of Middle River. Good brick clay in small quantities is found in different localities.

      STREAMS, MILLS, ETC..-- Middle River, running in a southeasterly direction, enters the county near the centre of the northern boundary, and passes out near the centre of the eastern boundary. Grand River, rising in the northern part, runs in a southeasterly direction and passes out near the southeast corner of the county. The two branches of the Middle Nodaway River rise in the northwest part and running south, unite near the southwest corner of the county. The two branches of the Middle Nodaway River rise in the northwest part and running south, unite near the southwest corner of the county. These with many smaller streams and fine durable springs make this one of the best watered counties in the State.

      There is some good water power on the streams, but at present there are only one water and two steam saw mills in the county.

       As the farmers have to a considerable degree turned their attention to wool raising, and as the country is well adapted to this purpose, a woolen factory is much needed at present, and would in the future also be a very profitable investment.

       The county is divided into eleven townships, viz: Grand Rover, Greenfield, Grove, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Lincoln, Richland, Summerset, Walnut, Washington.

        RAILROADS..-- The Mississippi and Missouri River Railroad, and the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad upon their approach to the Missouri River, if they do not pass through this county will approach, the former very near to the north, and the latter very near to the south line, and in a few years it will have the advantages and benefits arising from a competition between the two roads

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cont. on p88

 

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