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Poweshiek County
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Poweshiek County
Historical Overview

Poweshiek County (589 square miles) was named for the distinguished Fox Indian Chief who stood for peace at the time of the Black Hawk War.  The name has been variously interpreted to mean "Roused Bear", "Shedding Bear", or "To Dash the Water Off."  The present area of the county was a fishing and hunting ground for Chief Poweshiek.  From 1837 to 1840, Poweshiek County was part of Keokuk County.  When the county was established February 17, 1843, and its boundaries defined, it was attached to Iowa County and, from February 5, 1844, until Poweshiek County was formally organized in 1848, it was attached to Mahaska County.

An election was held on April 3, 1848, and the first meeting of the county commissioners was held a few days later.  At their second meeting on July 3, 1848, the commissioners ordered that Richard B. Ogden be appointed to negotiate a loan to the amount of twenty dollars on the best terms that can be procured, and the faith of Poweshiek County is hereby pledged for the payment of same, with interest.  This money was to be used to purchase stationery, while another loan for $200 was to be negotiated to enter the quarter section designated as the seat of justice.  The land was purchased and the town of Montezuma (named to honor the Aztec emperor of Mexico, (1502-1520) was laid out in July-August 1848.  It was here that the first courthouse was built in 1849-1850, on the northeast corner of the square.  The county seat was not incorporated until 1868.

The population of the county in 1849 was 443 and it increased to 615 the following year.  Financed by the sale of town lots, this first courthouse was a  two-story wooden frame building.  With three apartments on the second floor for the county officials, it was considered a very elaborate building for its time.  This courthouse served the county for various purposes until 1859.  At that time it was torn down and the salvaged material was used to reconstruct a dwelling located several miles northward.

Following an election held in August 1856, which carried by a majority of only nine votes, construction was begun on a second courthouse in 1857.  Erected on the public square, the building cost $21,928.15.  Money for constructing this courthouse was raised by one mill tax levy on each dollar of taxable property in the county in 1856.  The contract was let to Dake & Dryden.  Built of brick, with limestone foundation, caps, and sills, the handsome and commodious building was completed in 1859.  An addition to the south was constructed some time later, in 1890.

On December 26, 1933, a project was begun to raise the courthouse and put a full basement and new foundation under it.  County officers were moved into the new basement quarters in August 1934.  Some $15,000 was spent on this remodeling.

Poweshiek County has had no strong movement to change the county seat from its original location, Montezuma, and its courthouse is among the oldest in Iowa.