Marshall County History
Marshall
County was one of a group of twelve counties which was established on January
13, 1846. By an act of legislation passed on January 21, 1851, B. B.
Berry of Mahaska County,
Manly Gifford of Jasper County, and W. W. Miller of Dallas County
were appointed commissioners to locate the county seat. Two of these
men, Manly Gifford and W. W. Miller, met and agreed upon a locaton
and gave it the name of Marietta. This
site was chosen because of its nearness to the center of the County, and more
especially because of its surrounding timber, which would furnish fuel and
building material for the settlers. Soon after the location was
selected town lots were sold and with the proceeds a courthouse was erected.
In 1851 Henry Anson came from New York and
built the first cabin erected at Marshalltown,
while about this time the towns of Lafayette and LeGrand
were also platted. As these towns developed, each became a rival of Marietta for the honors
of the county seat.
The agitation became strongest in Marshalltown
-- or Marshall
as it was then called. Indeed, the demand for a removal became so
strong that in April, 1856, the question was submitted to a vote of the
people. The result, however, was a majority of 134 votes in favor of
retaining the location at Marietta.
[Controversy was great. The ballets were recounted and later a new
vote was taken.] On the last day of the year, 1859, the safe and
records of the county were loaded on an ox-sled and taken from Marietta
to Marshall.
The Iowa Journal of History and Politics
Vol XXII 1924 published by The State Historical
Society of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. Article
by Jacob A. Swisher
Jennie
R. Williams
This page last updated on February 7, 2006.
