This beautiful little town is located in the eastern part of Clark township on section thirteen, and was named in honor of Hon. Joseph Dysart, ex State Senator, from Tama and Benton Counties and ex-Lieutenant Governor of this State. It is surrounded by as fine a tract of prairie land as can be found in central Iowa. In the fall of 1872 the town was established on land belonging to J. W. Crisman, and is located on the Pacific Branch of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad. The first train made its appearance in the town on the 27th day of December, 1873, and as it was the terminus of the raod until August of the following year the town grew rapidly and when the road moved on her progress did not stop, and to-day there is a population of six hundred sould rejoicing over what her future promises to be. The first dwelling house was erected by Mr. Levi Johnston of Belle Plaine. Mr. William Davidson was the first to erect a store room and commence business. He opened, on January 1st, 1873, a fine general stock. About the same tiem Brown, Doty & Co., built a warehouse and commenced buying and shipping grain. Then followed S. Hanlin & son, C. Johnson and others who established business. Now the town is well represented in all branches of business and has become a place of considerable importance. The town is situated on high rolling ground and surrounded by a fine and richly producing country. This land once a broad unbroken prairie, is now converted into bountiful farms some as fine as there are in central Iowa.

No efforts have yet been made to establish manufacturing, and therefore, the merchants are dependent upon the trade of the surrounding country.

In educational pursuits Dysart has kept pace with her neighboring towns. In the southern portion of the town we find a beautiful frame building which is used for school purposes. It is large, two stories high with a dome rising from the east wing from which can be obtained a view of the town and surrounding country. The building is entered from the north and south sides into a large hall. From this hall a stairway leads to the second floor. The building contains, besides the halls, four large and commodious school rooms, each well furnished with the best furniture.

There are two religious denominations in the place, Methodist and Presbyterian. Each of these have fine church buildings of which we have spoken in another chapter.

The business portion of the town is substantially built, some large and commodious buildings reflect credit upon the enterprising men of her business circle.