Geo. E. Brigham, Isaac Walker, Henry Sangler and Henry Trios, with six wagons and fourteen yoke of cattle, went in the same direction. These were followed on the twenty-fifth of April by Webb, Geo. Childs, W. E. Aldredge, James Bales and John W. JOHNS.
In May Dr. L. Car and family, Wm. O. Miller, N. Jennings, R. W. Keigley, G. W. Grow, G. Smiley, P. Brown, Wm. B. Swaney, Wells Swaney, P. Bechtel and T. Baldus went also from the west part of the county.
On the night of the third of June 1859 there was a killing-frost, that did considerable damage, especially in the low lands. During this month there was considerable excitement over the diversion of the Land Grant to the C., I. and N. Railroad Company. The roads were full of returning Pikes Peakers. Webb L. Childs, Geo. Childs, Hunt and Brigham, of this county came back "perfectly satisfied." The Robinsons, McLains and Mrs. Berry also returned, but few of them ever have reached the diggings.
During this month the final location of the Agricultural College was made and a picnic for the coming Fourth of July on the College grounds was at once arranged for by the delighted citizens of Story and Boone counties. This seems to have given an impetus to the farmers, and early in August a County Agricultural Society was organized and arrangements made for holding a Fair. T. C. McCall was elected president, and James Frazier, Secretary. The date fixed for the Fair was October 19 and 20, and the premium list was published in full in the Advocate. No cash premiums were offered.
Schools were opened in the new school house at Nevada on the fourteenth of November, 1858, Dr. Fuller and Miss May Moore as teachers.
During the year 1859 many changes in business firms occurred, some failed and left the country; new men started in and others changed their occupations. At the close of this year Hawthorne & Talbott and J. H. Sinclair had the lead as merchants in Nevada.
EDUCATION.
The first record in the office of the School Fund Commissioner is dated January 13, A. D. 1854, and relates to the formation of School District No. 1. It comprised sixteen square miles, being four miles square, the center being the section corner of sections three, four, nine and ten of Indian Creek Township, not far from the present residence of N. Webb, to whom the necessary notice issued at that date. Although this was called "No. 1, in township 82, range 22," it contained four square miles in township 83, range 22.
" District No. 1 in township 82, range 24, was six miles from east to west, and four miles in width, the center of which was at the point where Grant, Union, Palestine and Washington townships