Many thanks to Mary E. Boyer, who graciously transcribed these chapters for IAGenWeb Marion County.
I have omitted page references throughout this book. If someone needs the page number for a particular reference, however, please email me and I will provide it.
Volume II of this history consists entirely of biographies, online at The Iowa Biographies Project.
Chapter I: Physical Features, Geology, Etc.
Location and Boundaries - Surface - The Des Moines River - Origin of its Name - The Skunk River -
Other Water-Courses - Timber - Geology - The Glacial Epoch - Character of the Glacial Drift - Geological Surveys -
Economic Geology - Coal - Building Stone - Clays - Miscellaneous Minerals - Water SupplyChapter II: Aboriginal Inhabitants
The Mound Builders - Character and Probable Purpose of the Mounds - Districts in the United States -
Peculiarities of Each - Theories Regarding the Mound Builders - Mounds in Marion County - The Indians -
General Distribution at the Close of the Fifteenth Century - The Sacs and Foxes - The Iowas -
Character Sketches of Their Principal Chiefs - The Pottawatomi - The WinnebagoChapter III: The Period of Preparation
Early Explorations in America - Conflicting Claims of England, France and Spain -
First Settlements in the New World - Jesuit Missionaries - Marquette and Joliet - La Salle -
Province of Louisiana - French and Indian War - Fur Companies - Clark’s Conquest of the Northwest -
The Louisiana Purchase - Iowa Under Various Jurisdictions - Acquisition of Indian Lands -
Policies in Dealing with the Indians - The Black Hawk War - Treaty of 1832 - Treaty of 1842 -
Its Principal Provisions - Removal of the Indians From IowaChapter IV: Settlement and Organization
Progress of Settlement in Iowa - Indian Treaty of 1842 - Early Trading Posts in Marion County - First Settlers -
West of the Red Rock Line - Claims and Claim Associations - Pioneer Life and Customs - Amusements -
Organization of the County - The “Cornstalk Convention” - The Organic Act - Locating the County Seat -
First Election - Election Precincts - Road Districts - Second Election - Vote on the State Constitution -
Evolution of the Present System of County GovernmentChapter V: Public Buildings, Etc.
No Public Buildings When Marion County Was Organized - The First Courthouse - Its Cost and Location -
The Second Courthouse - Condemned as Unsafe in 1895 - Present Courthouse - Bonds Voted to Build It -
Completed in 1896 - The Jail - The County Farm - Home for the Aged - The Inebriate HospitalChapter VI - Township History
Introduction of the Township System in the United States - Act of the Legislature
Authorizing Civil Townships in Iowa - Marion County Divided into Ten Townships in January, 1847 -
List of Townships in 1914 - Clay - Dallas - Franklin - Indiana - Knoxville - Lake Prairie - Liberty -
Location and Physical Characteristics of Each - Early Settlers and Incidents -
Present-Day Conditions - Schools - Railroads, Etc.Chapter VII - Township History, Continued
Perry Township - Pleasant Grove - Polk - Red Rock - An Indian Voter - Summit - Swan -
An Example of Frontier Justice - Union - Washington - Historical Sketch of Each Township -
Pioneers and Their Experiences - Early Schools and Elections - Railroads - Population and WealthChapter VIII - The City of Knoxville
Beginning of the City's History - Surveying the Site - Agents to Sell Lots - First Settlers - Changing the Name -
Incorporation of the Town - Growth and Development - Public Lighting - Telephones - Waterworks -
City Hall - Sewer System - Public Parks - Miscellaneous History - Commercial Club -
List of Mayors - Population and WealthChapter IX - Pella and its Environs
Location - Original Survey of the Town - Additions - First Settlers - The Holland Colony -
Hendrick P. Scholte - Religious Persecution in Holland - Sod Houses - Pella Incorporated -
List of Mayors - The Semi-centennial - Growth and Development - Fire Department -
Electric Light - Waterworks - Education - Business Interests - Population and WealthChapter X - Towns and Villages
Speculation in Townsites in Early Days - List of Towns and Villages in Marion County -
Historical Sketch and Interesting Incidents of Each - Post Offices and Rural Routes in 1914Chapter XI - Marion County in the Civil War
Introduction of Slavery into the United States - Its Prominence as a Political Issue - The Missouri Compromise -
The Omnibus Bill - Political Campaign of 1860 - Secession of the Southern States - Organization of the
Southern Confederacy - Star of the West Incident - Fort Sumter - Call for Volunteers - Iowa's Response -
Brief Histories of the Regiments in Which Marion County was Represented -
Rosters of Marion County Companies - Miscellaneous Enlistments - General Summary - The Work at HomeChapter XII - Spanish-American War, Etc.
Conditions Before the War - Cuba Under Spanish Rule - Insurrections and Revolutions - The Ten Years' War -
Debt and Tyranny - Uprising of 1893 - General Weyler - Sentiment in the United States -
Destruction of the Battleship Maine - Action of Congress - Cuban Ports Blockaded - War Declared -
The Fifty-first Iowa Infantry - Service in the Philippines - Iowa National Guard - Soldiers' Monument at PellaChapter XIII - Internal Improvements
Conditions in 1843 - Development of Seventy-two Years - River Transportation - Des Moines River Land Grant -
Steamboats on the Des Moines - Public Highways - Old Indian Trails - Corduroy -
First Roads Established by the County - Ferries and Bridges - The Railroad Era - Early Opposition to Railroads -
Railroad Meeting at Knoxville in 1853 - The Various Lines of Railway in Marion county - Mileage and ValuationChapter XIV - Finance and Industry
Public Finances - Bonded Indebtedness - Value of Taxable Property - Agriculture -
Statistics Relating to Crops and Live Stock - Farmers' Institutes - Their Influence - Coal Mining -
Brief Sketches of the Leading Mining Companies - ManufacturingChapter XV - Educational Development
Early Schoolhouses - Their Furniture - Course of Study - Spelling Schools - First Schools in Marion County -
Public School System - Permanent School Fund - School Revenues of the County in 1914 - Modern Buildings -
Central College at Pella - The Press - Short Histories of the County Papers - Public LibrariesChapter XVI - Church History
Difficulties Attending the Writing of Church History - Methodists First in Marion County - Methodist Churches -
Baptists - Christians or Disciples - Presbyterians - United Brethren - Lutherans - Congregationalists -
The Reformed Church - Catholics - Miscellaneous Churches - Rural ChurchesChapter XVII - The Bench and the Bar
Purpose of the Courts - The Lawyer as a Citizen - First Courts in Iowa - First District Court in Marion County -
Judge Williams - Judge McFarland - Judge Stone - Changes in Judicial Districts - Judge Ayres -
The Circuit Court - The Bar - Brief Sketches of Early Lawyers - Present-Day AttorneysChapter XVIII - The Medical Profession
The Doctor's Welcome in a New Settlement - Home Remedies of Pioneer Days -
Character of the Olden Time Physician - His Stock of Drugs and Method of Treatment -
His Social Standing - Sketches of Early Marion County Physicians - Medical SocietiesChapter XIX - Societies and Fraternities
Agricultural Societies - Old Settlers' Association - Masonic Fraternity - Independent Order of Odd Fellows -
Knights of Pythias - Improved Order of Red Men - Grand Army of the Republic - Miscellaneous SocietiesChapter XX - Miscellaneous History
The Rose Ann McGregor Case - The Majors' War - Early Day Lawlessness - Treasury Robberies - Jim Lane's TrialChapter XXI - Statistical Review
Population - Official Census Reports - General Industrial Conditions - Chronology -
A Summary of Principal Events Connected with Marion County History - Postscript