OFFICIAL HISTORY
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY
The first legislative act providing for the
erection of counties within the limits of the territory which eventually became
the state of Iowa, was an act of the territorial Legislature of Michigan in
1834-"An act to lay off counties west of the Mississippi River." Lyon County is
the northwestern subdivision of the state of Iowa. It is bounded at the north by
South Dakota and Minnesota, on the east by Osceola County, Iowa, on the south by
Sioux County and on the west by the Big Sioux River, which stream divides it
from South Dakota. These limits embrace a beautiful region of country, extending
thirty-seven miles in length, east and west, and about seventeen north and
south, containing about 368,000 acres. When first created by the Iowa
Legislature, in 1851, it was named "Buncombe," in honor of a gallant
Revolutionary soldier, from North Carolina, but serious objections were made to
the name, owing to its double meaning, in its interpretation. Hence in the
autumn of 1862-during the dark days of the Civil War-an act of the legislature
changed the name to Lyon, in honor of Iowa's brave and gallant General Nathaniel
Lyon, who fell at the battle of Wilson's Creek, while leading the First Iowa
Infantry in a deadly charge. These facts have been gleaned from public records
at the state capitol, and have also been inserted in Hon. B.F. Gues' late
three-volume history of Iowa. However, the following concerning the origin of
the county name, was given by an early pioneer and historian of this county, and
not a few early settlers cling to the legend, for this reason it is given in
this connection.
S. C. Hyde, from whom we quote, said in a forty-page description of Lyon County,
in 1872:
"The legislature which convened in 1851 was composed of a large majority
favoring stringent corporation laws, and the liability of individual
stockholders for corporate debts. This sentiment in the legislature, on account
of agitation of railroad enterprises, then beginning, brought a large number of
prominent men to the capitol. To have an effect upon the legislature, they
organized a Lobby General Assembly, in which these questions were ably
discussed. They elected as their governor Verplank Van Anterwerp, who delivered
to this self-constituted body a lengthy message, in which he sharply criticized
the regular legislature. Some of the members of the latter body were in the
habit of making long speeches, much to the hindrance of business. To these he
especially referred, charging them with speaking for buncombe, and recommended
that their lasting memorial should be a county to be named "Buncombe." This
suggestion was readily seized upon by the General Assembly, and the county of
Buncombe was created, with few dissenting votes."
But be that as it may, Lyon County was created under the above name, and
together with several others was attached to Woodbury County for judicial and
revenue purposes. Woodbury at that date, however, was called Wahkaw, from Indian
dialect. Lyon County remained under the jurisdiction of Woodbury County, until
the time of its final organization, January 1, 1872.
At the September session of the board of county supervisors of Woodbury County,
by resolution adopted, Lyon County was divided into two civil townships as
follows: "All of said county east of the line between ranges 45 and 46 shall
compose one township, to be known as "Rock" and all of said county west of such
line shall compose a township to be known as "Lyon." At the same time, the board
ordered an election for the new townships, to be held at the next general
election, with the view of immediately organizing the county according to law.
The next legal steps, in behalf of the county was ordering an election of county
officers, the date being fixed as at the general election of 1871, when the
following were duly elected: Charles E. Goetz, Auditor; James H. Wagner,
treasurer; D.C. Whitehead, clerk of the circuit and district courts; T.W.
Johnson, Sheriff; L.A. Ball, county superintendent of schools; Thomas Thorson,
recorder; Eathan Allen, surveyor; J.S. Howell (chairman), Charles H. Johnson and
H.T. Helgerson, board of supervisors. S.G. Martin was elected justice of the
peace for Rock Township and a year later he was elected as the first and only
drainage commissioner Lyon County ever had-the office was later abolished.
From minute book "A" of Lyon County, partly a transcript from Woodbury County
books, it is found that in September 1871, the first tax levy was made for this
county-state revenue, two mills on the dollar; ordinary county revenues, four
mills on the dollar; poll tax, fifty cents; for support of schools, two mills on
the dollar; making and repairing bridges, three mills on the dollar; insane
fund, one mill on the dollar.
The first board of supervisors for Lyon County, after properly organized, met
January 1, 1872, at Beloit, J.S. Howell acting as chairman. Among the first acts
of this pioneer body was to purchase $9.56 worth of office furniture and
fixtures and to fix the assessed valuation of live stock, to be taxed within the
county. This list was as follows: Cows, $10.00; yoke of work oxen, $40.00; two
year old steers, $5.00; three year old steers, $10.00; common work horses,
$30.00; three year old colts, $18.00; two year old colts, $15.00; mules, $30.00;
sheep, fifty cents each.
A special election was called February 12, 1872, to vote on the question of
restraining stock from running at large. There were fifty-seven votes cast for
the measure and eleven against it. The law became effective ninety days after
the election.
At the same session of the board, D.C. Whitehead was awarded the contract by
bid, for the construction of a flat boat twelve by thirty feet, to serve for
ferry purposes on the Big Rock River, at Rock Rapids. The contract was let at
$300. All of the actual Lyon County residents were given free passage, but the
following toll was exacted from others: footmen, ten cents; team and wagon,
twenty-five cents; cattle and horses, five cents; and sheep, free.
May 21, 1872, the supervisors adopted the following motion: "On motion it is now
ordered that the sheriff, deputy sheriff and any constables of Lyon County, be
and the same are hereby instructed to arrest and bring before a magistrate any
party who shall be found cutting timber from the 'timberlands' belonging to Lyon
County, Iowa."
At the same session the board selected Wm. M. Lee, of Doon township; E.W. Lewis,
of Lyon Township, and Wm. B. May, of Rock Township, to assist D.C. Whitehead in
his duties as the swamp land commissioner, in selecting such lands as were given
the county by a state grant.
The February 1872, session of the board adjourned to meet in April, "at the
forks of Rock River, in Badgerow's Hall," at which time and place the salaries
of the county officials were fixed. The treasurer to receive $1,500 per year;
the auditor, $1,200; the clerk of courts, $1,000; and sheriff, $200 and fees. At
the same time a notice was ordered published in the Rock Rapids Journal, "until
ordered out," warning lawless persons from cutting and hauling away any of the
timber belonging to the county swamp land tract. At the June session of the same
year, S.C. Hyde was appointed to compile and publish a forty-page pamphlet on
the early history, advantages and resources found in Lyon County. A small
outline map of the county accompanied the book, which in the absence of any
printing office had to be printed at LeMars, in Plymouth County. The chief
object was to publish to the world the glories of Lyon County soil and general
advantages, in order to induce homeseekers, and it is said the desired end
effected was more than pleasing to the county fathers, as well as to the crafty
real-estate men.
During the same year the county gave five hundred dollars to pioneer D.C.
Whitehead to induce immigration to the county; also a fee of two dollars
additional for each actual settler he succeeded in getting to locate in the
county. It hardly seems possible, that thirty-one years ago men had to be hunted
up and induced by various means to become a free-holder of free land, in a
county now so famous for its well tilled, fertile fields, and general
prosperity. The days of cheap land here are gone, but the fine towns and rural
homes will ever be maintained.
In the early autumn of 1872 the county board found the need of some better
quarters for the county offices. The various officers kept their books at their
homes, far distant, one from the other, and it was next to impossible to do
business at so long a range. Consequently the board ordered the principal
officials to remove to a building, or buildings, to be later designated,
situated in the village of Rock Rapids, until a county seat could be legally
located. The vote stood-J.S. Howell and Charles H. Johnson, "Yea;" and H.T.
Helgerson, "No." Within the twenty days allowed them, the officials removed
their effects and became residents or Rock Rapids.