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James S. Pressnall, Sheriff, first saw the light in Hamilton county, Indiana thirty-six years ago. During the war of the rebellion he was a Lieutenant in the 63d, Indiana Infantry. He lived a short time in Marshall county, coming from there to Cass in 1869. He was deputy sheriff under Mr. Herbert's administration.

Samuel Harlan, County Surveyor, is the eldest one of the county officers, being now in his 66th year. He is a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, but resided several years in Ohio, and a number of years in Mahaska county, Iowa, from whence he came to this county in 1870. Mr. Harlan was one of the first Justices of the Peace of Atlantic township. He was appointed to his present office and then elected in 1873.

David H. Stafford, the Coroner, and the first who ever gave the office proper attention, calls Clinton county, New York his native place. He was born thirty-five years ago. In 1854 he became a citizen of Illinois, at Waukegon, and in 1869 he located in Atlantic, being one of the pioneer merchants of the place.

David H. Stafford, the Coroner, and the first who ever gave the office proper attention, calls Clinton county, New York his native place. He was born thirty-five years ago. In 1854 he became a citizen of Illinois, at Waukegon, and in 1869 he located in Atlantic, being one of the pioneer merchants of the place.

Horace E. Bacon, County Clerk, was born in Schuyler county, New York, in 1837. His parents removed to Lorraine county, Ohio, in 1844. In 1866, Mr. Bacon removed from Ohio, to Charlotte county, Michigan, and thence he came to Cass county, Iowa, in the spring of 1868, settling on a farm west of Lewis. In the fall of 1869 he was elected county recorder, serving in that capacity four years. In October, 1874, he was elected to his present place for two years.

John P. Gerberich, county treasurer, was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, March 25th, 1832. In September, 1855 he removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where he remained until March, 1859, when he located in Putnam county, Illinois. He remained in Illinois until April 26th, 1871, when he came to Atlantic to reside. In the fall of 1875 he was elected county treasurer for two years.

Frank Aylesworth, county recorder, was born in McHenry county, Illinois, October 4th, 1848, and came to Cass county, November 3d, 1869. The first few years he devoted to farming and school teaching. In October 1874, he was chosen county recorder, which position he now holds.

Hiram A. Disbrow, county superintendent, was born in Lorraine county, Ohio, March 11, 1844, and came with his parents to Cass county, in 1857. He served in Company "I," 23d Iowa Infantry during the war of the rebellion, and at the close of the war went to Tabor college where he graduated in 1873. He was chosen Superintendent last fall for a term of two years.

[NOTE.---Biographical mention of Wm. Gardner, county Auditor, will be found on page 61 of this pamphlet, he being classed among the old settlers.]

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

J. P. James, the present member from the Anita district, is a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, where he was born in the year 1819. In the year 1856 he removed from the county named to Logan county, in the same state where he resided until the spring of 1870, when he came to Anita, in this county. Mr. James was elected in the fall of 1875, (the first election after the number of Supervisors had been increased to five) for two years.

Ebenezer E. Herbert was born in 1827, in Columbia county, Ohio. He has lived in Iowa twenty years. He served during the war as Lieutenant in the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. He came to this county from Mahaska in 1869, and resides in Pymosa township. He was elected in the fall of 1873, for three years.

Simeon E. Huse, the member from Atlantic district, is a native of Vermont, having been born in that state March 29, 1836. He passed several years of his life in California, and Nevada, and while a resident of the last named State was a member of the Legislature. He came to Cass county, from Nevada in 1868, and stopped three months at Lewis. His first investment was a large tract of land lying a short distance north of Atlantic, (now a farm belonging to Mr. Brown), out of which he made considerable money.

E. J. Shields, the present chairman of the Board, is a native of Butler county, Ohio, being born in the year 1828. From Ohio he moved to Delaware county, Iowa, and from there he came to his present home in the year 1863. His farm is on the northeast quarter of Sec. 32, Noble township, which township he had the honor of naming. He has been a Justice of the Peace ten years.

Charles Pickett, who represents the Victoria district is a native of Onandaga county, New York, where he was born in the year 1838. In the year 1848 he accompanied his parents from York State to Wisconsin, from which State he removed to his present farm on the northwest quarter, sec. 25, Victoria township in the Spring of 1873. His family is comprised of a wife and four children. Mr. Pickett was elected in 1875.

From the History of Cass County, Iowa Together With Brief Mention of Old Settlers by Lafe Young, Atlantic, Iowa:  Telegraph Steam Printing House, 1877, pg. 90-92. Transcribed for Cass County by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2013.