Red Oak, the county seat of , is located in the center of a rich farming area. The city is on the main line of the CB&q Railroad and on U. S. Highway No. 34 and State Highway No. 48.

    The first settlers to the community were W. C. Mathews in 1851. Pleasant Jones came in 1852, and James Shank in 1854.

    From 1866 to 1868, Red oak made very little progress. Justus Clark stated that in 1868 he stood on east hill and counted every house in town. They numbered fifty, including all kinds.

    With the approach of the railroad in 1869, Red Oak took on new activities. In that year Red Oak was organized into a town. Heretofore  the only government was the regular township government. Today, the city of Red Oak contains 2,080 acres and over 2,100 residences.  It has an estimated population of over 7,000.

    Among the names of the early pioneers of Red Oak are to be found, Justus Clark, limber merchant and farmer; Charles Bolt, contractor and builder; Charles F. Clark, cashier of First National Bank of Red Oak; Horace Deemer, attorney-at-law; W. H. Evans, a watchmaker and jeweler; M. E. Fisher, dealer in groceries, provisions and fruit; J. F. Fisher, retail and wholesale dealer in cut meats; L. N. Harding, farmer; Alfred Hebard, real estate dealer and capitalist; J. W. and F. O. Judkins, proprietors of the Judkins House; J. M. Junkin, attorney-at-law; Smith McPherson, attorney-at-law; Jason B. Packard, farmer; Henry Shank, druggist; C. H. Lane, Red Oak's first merchant; and O. E. Whitaker, livery, feed and sale stable operator, and too many others to name.

Aerial View of Red Oak

An Early Privilege

   It was a "great privilege" to ride on Red Oak's street car, which was drawn by mules.  The car barn was located at Prospect and Sixth streets, and the route of the street car was along Sixth street, then west on Reed street, then south on Fourth street, thence west on Coolbaugh street to the west corn of the Washington school corner, and then south to the Depot Hotel. The street car was operated by Mr. M. Bonham, and the fare was five cents.

Early Scene of East Side of Red Oak Square