Prefatory Platitudes

   In the following Brief History we have endeavored to condense into a 
paper not too voluminous for a single reading before a public audience the 
leading facts and statistics of the Early Settlement, Progress and Present 
Status of Palo Alto County, aiming at utility rather than embellishment. 
Since undertaking this labor we have been convinced of the wisdom of 
writing these things at this time; for many useful and interesting facts 
of which no record has, or con'd be obtained, have been carefully gathered 
and compiled from living witnesses, who were themselves fully conversant 
with the events here recorded. By this means much has been obtained of our 
early history that would soon have passed into oblivion. We would also 
assure our readers, that where any difference of opinion exists regarding 
events occurring twenty or more years ago, concerning which the memory of 
individuals, might be cloudy, erroneous or defective we have carefully 
analyzed and compared, only accepting such facts as were corroborated by 
several witnesses.

   In our investigations we have been kindly assisted by many of the early 
pioneers who are still living in the county, among whom are Wm. D. Powers, 
James Hickey, John McCormick, Jr., Thomas H. Tobin, John Nolan, Miles 
Mahan, Mrs. J.P. White, Jeremiah Crowley, John T. Laughlin, M.D. Crowley 
and others. Our thanks are also due to that accommodating Clerk of the 
Courts, M.H. Bliss, who ransacked the records of Webster County, for facts 
we would not have otherwise obtained.



INTRODUCTION

   During a period of about thirty-two years, from 1788 to 1820, while the 
vagrant footsteps of the half civilized hunter, and the adventurous house-
hold of the hardy pioneer, were gaining a foothold on the west bank of the 
"father of waters" near the mouth of the Des Moines river, in what had 
passed under various names but was now know as Wisconsin Territory, and 
which has since become more widely known as the Commonwealth of Iowa, 
respectable tradition has, it, that the region now constituting 
Northwestern Iowa, was thought to be a barren waste, in fact a desert, 
part of the great sandy plains known to exist toward the base of the Rocky 
Mountains.

   During the succeeding forty years, the coming civilization spread away 
to the north and west and up the tempting valley of the Des Moines, 
steadily approaching the unknown land, till it swept the borders of what 
is now

PALO ALTO COUNTY

   This county lies on either side of the 43d parallel of north latitude, 
and has 17 1/2 degrees of west longitude from Washington, or about 94 1/2 
degrees from Greenwich. It is bounded on the north by Emmet county, on the 
east by Kossuth, on the south by Pocahontas and on the west by Clay, and 
in common with these and many other counties, was, about a quarter of a 
century ago, attached to Webster county as dependant territory.

   From 1850 to 1855 the military line of march between Fort Dodge, in 
Iowa, and Fort Ridgley, in Minnesota, lay through this tract of country, 
and according to the most reliable authority attainable, the soldiers, 
some of whom had served in Mexico and the borders of Texas, named it PALO 
ALTO, which name was originally from the Spanish and signifies "tall 
timber."-On one occasion, when the Government mill was being brought in by 
the soldiers they could not get through a creek in the southeastern part 
of the county and were compelled to leave the cylinder there for some 
time, hence the name-Cylinder Creek. Near another stream on our northern 
boundary, tradition has it, that a little dog, which accompanied a 
surveying party, and which was a great favorite with the men, died, while 
they were in camp near the brook. The little dog's name was "Jack," and 
through respect to his memory the stream was called Jack's Creek.

   In May, 1853, a detachment of Co. "E", 6th U.S. Infantry, commanded by 
Lieut. J.L. Corley, were compelled to go into camp by reason of a storm 
and took up their quarters near the west bank of a beautiful lake about 
the center of what is now Palo Alto county. On leaving the place for Ft. 
Ridgley, their destination, the soldiers cast lots to determine whether 
they should call it Storm Lake, Indian Lake or Lake Corley, but finally 
decided to name it in honor of their commander, Corley; but some time 
after, a party passing through westward, among whom was one Clark, 
afterward a resident of Kossuth county, coming upon the lake for the first 
time, named it from a size and situation between the rivers, Medium Lake.
   In 1854, what is now West Bend and eight other townships, were surveyed 
by Leech & Bell, and Jesse T. Jarrett, and the remainder of the county in 
the years immediately following, by other Dept. U.S. Surveyors, paving the 
way for 

EARLY SETTLEMENT,

which took place before the last of their labors was completed.

   On the 29th day of May, 1855, Wm. Carter, from Indiana, and Jeremiah 
Evans, from Ohio, arrived in what is now West Bend, and became the first 
permanent settlers of Palo Alto county. Samuel McClelland and six young 
men came with them but did not remain; Hannah Evans and Elizabeth J. 
Carter who came on the same date, were the first white women in Palo Alto. 
The first crop was 5 acres of corn planted by these families June 2, 1855. 
April 9, 1856, James Lynn and Wm. D. Powers joined the little band. In May 
they were joined by Samuel McClelland, and Adam P. Shigley and his family, 
and between that time, and the 4th of July came Daniel Howl and wife and 
John McCormick, Sr., and his son Robert.

   In the summer or fall of 1856 the Shippy family moved into what is now 
Fern Valley, and in the same season James Lynch, civil engineer, Thomas 
Cahill and James Hickey came to see the country, and Mr. Hickey and his 
family made permanent settlement, where they still live, in Great Oak. One 
of the earliest dwellings was a log house built by Wm. Carter, at West 
Bend.

   Those resolute and industrious pioneers had to construct habitations of 
such material as was at hand, such as logs, hay, sod, bark, etc. In the 
latter part of the year 1856 the first shingled roof ever laid in Palo 
Alto was placed by John P. Bickell upon the log house built by John 
McCormick, Jr., and in which he still lives. In the same year a settlement 
was made near the central part of the county, by a colony from Kane 
county, Ills., composed principally of Irish farmers, among whom were 
James Nolan, Edward Mahan, Thomas Downey, John Neary, John Nolan, Martin 
Loughlin and Oren Sylvester with their families, and Thomas Loughlin and 
Patrick Jackman, both single. They arrived at their destination July 5, 
and settled in what was called "the Patch", in the shelter of a beautiful 
grove near the south-east corner of section 14,96,33, where several houses 
were erected, and among them one by Thomas Downey, the remains of which 
are still extant on the premises of Daniel Kane. Here they gathered from 
their various pursuits and spent the first winter, sharing privations and 
what few comforts they had with each other cheerfully. Such of those early 
pioneers as are still living and here, are celebrating the Centennial 
today, and also spending their twenty-first Fourth of July in Palo Alto.

 
THE INDIANS
were frequent visitors to the houses of the early settlers, and the old 
chief, Inkpahdutah, and his band made themselves quite at home in the 
southern settlement.

   Early in the following spring, March 3, 1857, one or more of those same 
Indians together with a savage band from the northwest, perpetrated a 
horrible massacre on the settlers of Spirit Lake, and seriously threatened 
the settlements in this county. Those of hte men who could be spared, 
arming themselves as best they could, rallied to the support of their 
brethren on the northern frontier. The Indians having fled, and been 
dispersed, they returned to their homes, but fearing daily for the safety 
of their families, for which fear they had many good reasons, they at last 
became discouraged, and taking their oxen and wagons gathered up their 
families, and a few effects, and abandoned their new-found homes to make 
their way to Fort Dodge, then a military post, where they might expect 
protection.

   Arriving at Cylinder Creek about April 1st they found it impassable by 
reason of high water, and camped over night. So inclement was the season 
that they burned an ox yoke for fuel, and next morning pushed their wagons 
across the stream on the ice.

   Owing to their desire to secure a foothold in this then wild but 
beautiful region, and being reassured by their friends, most of the poor 
fugitives returned to their homes in due time, where they remained in 
peace, except occasional alarms, till 1862, when an extensive massacre on 
the borders spread dismay through the settlements again, but this time 
they prepared for battle and did not depart. The first death in the infant 
colony occurred in the latter part of June 1856. It was that of Mrs. 
Esbrina L. Shigley, who according to some authorities died from having her 
hands inoculated with strychnine, while preparing corn to destroy the 
blackbirds, that sorely infested their little fields, while others 
maintain that she took the draught that caused her death by mistake in 
medicine, but that she died of poison in the cabin of Jer. Evans on the 
farm where James Johnston now lives, about the last of June, 1856, all 
agree. The second was that of Robert McCormick, who, with his brother, got 
into an altercation with the Shippy brothers about a piece of timber, when 
becoming greatly enraged they exchanged shots, when Gavitt Shippy was 
wounded, and McCormick killed by him  June 30th, 1858. The shots were 
fired across the river. Thus, through the foolish rage of the passions of 
men, was sacrificed a fine young man, whom the little colony at that time, 
and much more, the near and dear ones could illy spare. 

   Our present limits of time and space will merely permit us to touch 
upon the more prominent events, as a full statement of the incidents of 
interest, and various vicissitudes and trials of these days would require 
a large volume, hence we must omit many details of privation and suffering 
and loss by swollen streams, long journeys, daily dangers and great 
difficulties in obtaining even the absolute necessities of life. A few 
brief selections will serve to illustrate the difficulty of obtaining even 
trifles. Miss Belle McCormick, now Mrs. Ira D. Stone, when writing to a 
friend in New Jersey, excused any defect that might appear in her letter, 
by saying they had no glass for windows, but she had placed a rude table 
near a chink in the wall, which served to admit the light by which she was 
writing. On another occasion her brother Thomas excused his long delay in 
writing in answer to a friend by saying that the frost had burst his ink 
bottle and to procure another would necessitate a journey of fifty miles.

   The winter of 1857 was a severe one, there being very deep snow and 
intense cold, when S. McClelland, R.F. Carter, A.B. Carter, D.Howl, W.D. 
Powers and Jas. Lynn started over the snows in Indian file with handsleds 
attached to their waists by ropes to haul provisions from Dakota. On their 
return with 100 pounds of pork, they got lost in a snow storm and were out 
all night some having taken the river and others to the prairie.
As late as the last days of February, 1867, John K. Martin (a brother of 
the writer) and Charles Hastings, traveled with two teams by way of  
Springvale (now Humboldt) and Linn to Belmond, in Wright County, making a 
round trip of 180 miles to procure a load of flour and oats for each. They 
could only procure at Belmond a sack of shorts and some oats for their 
teams, but fortunately, on their return to Springvale there was some flour 
in the mill and they got it all-and shouldered it through creeks and 
sloughs and broken ice several times on the way home, to save it from 
getting wet on their sleighs. In crossing 20 miles of wild prairie in 
Wright county against a cutting blast, they froze their faces considerably 
in spite of their best efforts to save them.

   Though many of the first settlers found pleasure and profit in hunting 
and trapping, they early turned their attention to the cultivation of the 

SOIL

at least in so much as to raise corn and potatoes for their own use. 
Geologically considered, the soil is a drift formation, except the river 
bottoms, which are mainly alluvial deposits.

    The high and gently rolling prairie, constituting the greater portion 
of the County, is generally composed of due proportions of clay, sand and 
rich prairie loam, constituting a species of the most agreeable and
 productive arable land, while the rich alluvial bottoms were such as to 
allure the hunter from his chosen occupation into stock raising, and tempt 
the most unwilling to follow his example. This was early discovered by 
speculators, and large tracts were purchased even before the first 
settlers had secured their titles. 

   The earliest entry we can find of record was made on the E.half of the 
S.W. quarter of Sec. 31,94,34, May 4th, 1857, by Freeman Cornish; the 
earliest recorded deed was given in September, 1858, and the earliest 
recorded patent is dated April 1st, 1859. Not only is the soil productive 
but adapted to all the various

PRODUCTS,

usually grown in this latitude, among which we may name, corn, oats, 
barley, rye, wheat, sorghum, broomcorn, potatoes, buckwheat, clover, 
timothy and millet. Among the fruits that can be raised successfully and 
in most cases abundantly are apples, in all their varieties, plums, 
grapes, gooseberries, strawberries, currants, etc., etc., many of these 
growing wild in profusion. To the production of all sorts of roots, and 
what are ordinarily termed vegetables, the soil seems specially adapted. 
While those engaged in agriculture, (which is the greater portion of our 
citizens,) share the vicissitudes common to all climates, we seldom or 
never fail to get a good crop of two out of the four staples, wheat, oats, 
corn and potatoes, and frequently have an abundant crop of all, as in 1875.

   But the summer of 1873 will long be remembered as an exception to this 
rule, when favorable (to us unfavorable) wind and weather swept across our 
borders an all-devouring host of grasshoppers from the sand deserts of the 
West, destroying the major portion of our crops, and leaving their progeny 
behind them to serve us in like manner the following summer.

   But 'tis past, and our fertile prairies continue to bloom as a garden, 
and we have reason to thank our kind Father that greater calamities are 
spared us. The Colorado potato bug gave us a passing call, but the chinch 
bug, the army worm, the weevil, the plague and the fire and the flood that 
have laid waste the health and substance of those in less favored 
localities, have never entered our fair domain.

   The first settlers received yearly a few accessions to their numbers, 
but for several years the increase was small.

   Miss Maggie Hickey, born Oct. 14th, 1856, was the first white native 
citizen of Palo Alto County. The 

POPULATION

in 1859 was 131, and in 1875 was 2728 and may now be safely estimated at 
3100.

   In due process of time the early settlers became tired of having their 
seat of County government 60 miles away, and manifested to the proper 
authority their desire for the

ORGANIZATION

of their own County as an independent political power. Accordingly a 
precept was issued on the 23rd day of September, 1858, by Luther L. Pease, 
County Judge of Webster County, ordering an election to be held in the 
county of Palo Alto on the 2nd day of Oct., 1858, for the purpose of 
electing County officers, James Hickey, James Nolan and Washington Reed 
being appointed judges of the election, which was to be held at the house 
of Thomas Downey.

   The judges of election having failed to canvass the votes or return the 
names of candidates voted for, the election was declared void.

   Nov. 22nd a petition signed by James Nolan, Jason R. Simmons, Richard 
M.J. McFarland, Thomas Downey, John Nolan, W.M. Walters and G.S. Ringland, 
was presented to the County Judge of Webster County asking for another 
order for an election in Palo Alto County, which order was made on the 
same day, the election to be held on the 20th day of December, 1858, same 
judges of election and place as before. A new precinct was also 
established consisting of Townships 94 and 95 Range 31. James McCormick, 
Wm. Carter and Wm. D. Powers appointed judges of election for said 
precinct, and the first election to be held at the house of Wm. Carter; 
Washington Reed was by the court directed to post up notices of the same 
in Palo Alto and Cylinder precincts 15 days before the election. At this 
election held Dec. 20th, 1858, the votes being duly canvassed by the 
proper officers of Webster County Dec. 24th, 1858, the following officers 
were duly elected; James Hickey, County Judge; Felix McCosker, Clerk, 
D.C.; John M. Mulroney, Treasurer and Recorder; John Shea, Drainage 
Commissioner; James McCosker, County Surveyor; Oren Sylvester, Coroner, 
and Thos. H. Tobin, Sheriff.

   In 1859 another change was made in the precincts or civil townships, 
and three subdivisions were mapped out and named respectively West Bend, 
Nevada, and Palo Alto, the latter which was the most northerly, was 
afterwards changed to Emmetsburg Township. On Dec. 31st, 1858, the County 
Seat was established at Paoli on N. half of Section 6, 95, 32, by C.C. 
Carpenter, John Straight and Wm. P. Pollock, Commissioners appointed for 
that purpose by C.J. McFarland, Judge of the 5th Dist.

   Like all pioneers, the people had to attend to their physical wants 
exclusively for a time, but they did not long neglect the mental, but 
proceeded to provide means of

EDUCATION.

In June, 1859, the People volunteered to build a school house, which they 
did, constructing it of logs on Daniel Howl's claim, and Thomas Campbell 
covered it with bark, but no material but the earth could be found for a 
floor. The first County Superintendent of Schools was John McCormick, Jr., 
who was elected on the 6th day of Nov., 1860. It does not appear who (if 
any one) taught in this house during that season and the first school of 
which we have any authentic record was taught on Sec. 34,97,33, just north 
of Martin Loughlin's residence, in the spring of 1861; a few days later a 
school was commenced by Miss Mary Matthews at West Bend township in the 
house first referred to. In 1870 there were 14 schools in the county, 11 
school houses, 6 log and 5 frame, 24 teachers examined, and 420 persons of 
school age. And in the year 1875, there were 74 teachers examined, 53 
school houses, all framed, 63 schools, and 1180 pupils.

   The total amount expended for educational purposes in 1870 was about $3,
300, and in 1875 it was $15,618 nearly.

   The first marriage in the County was that of Thos. H. Tobin to Miss 
Ellen Loughlin, Jany.7th, 1860.

   The first law suit was S.B. Olney vs. Washington Reed, May 3d, 1859.

   While noting the progress of our people from the trials and struggles 
of the early time up to so respectable a position as they now assume among 
the highly civilized people of Iowa, it may not be amiss to take a glance 
at their 

POLITICAL HISTORY

which, to those concerned, was always full of interest, and may be of some 
interest to us to-day. At the first election there were 44 ballots cast, a 
number too small to be missed from our more ponderous but no more exciting 
elections of to-day. We would naturally suppose this to be too limited a 
number in which to get up any divisions, or out of which to construct any 
factions, but we have both recorded evidence and evidence of living 
witnesses, that there was division, and one of the most bitter contests 
ever waged within the sacred precincts of Palo Alto swept every citizen
into its giddy vortex on one of those occasions. Such is the strange power 
of politics to excite the people. We find no record of the cause of 
division but the vote stood distinctly on every man and measure proposed 
17 to 27, with the exception of Thos. H. Tobin who, according to the 
records had no opposition, and was unanimously and triumphantly "elected 
High Sheriff of Palo Alto County."

   The first contested election was brought to trial Oct. 17th, 1861, John 
M. Mulroney contestant and John Nolan, James Nolan and Thomas McCormick, 
incumbents, but what might have been the cause of action, or the nature of 
the defense, history fails to record.

   Of the 47 ballots cast Oct. 11th, 1859, Samuel J. Kirkwood (Rep) for 
Governor received 3 and A.C. Dodge, 44.

   Of 34 ballots cast Nov. 8th, 1864, George B. McClellan had 33, and 
Abraham Lincoln, 1.

   Of 624 ballots cast on the 12th day of October, 1875, the Samuel J. 
Kirkwood above named, had, for Governor, 324 votes and Shepherd Leffler 
had 300. 

   But we will return more directly to our local government, which though 
showing some extravagances and errors-and what government does not?-has 
been such as to lead the careful historian, in most of even the blamable 
cases, to look at least with charity, upon the acts of those inexperience 
young statesmen, who had everything to provide, and much to endure, and in 
the following list of county officers from its organization to the present 
time, will be found dozens of men whose private word was a faultless bond.

   The following are the names, including the present incumbents, of the 
County officers, in chronological order from its organization to the 
present day:
   Treasurers: John M. Mulroney, James P. White and M.L. Brown.
   County Judges: James Hickey, Thomas McCormick, Patrick Mulroney, Daniel 
Kane and John M. Hefley.
   Clerk of the Courts: Felix McCosker, Thomas Maher, Michael Hickey, 
Thomas McCormick, Lott Loughlin, John Pendergast, Wm. E. Cullen, James 
Hickey, J.H. Underwood, Robt. Shea and Thomas J. Prouty.
   Drainage Commissioners: John Shea, Jeremiah Crowley and Hiram Hall.
   County Auditors: John M. Hefley, Wm. E. Cullen, Wm. H.H. Booth, Wm. H. 
Shea and Benjamin Franklin.
   County Surveyors: James McCosker, Andrew Hood, Michael Hickey, John 
Neary, Benjamin Franklin, Geo. S. Anderson, T.W. Harrison, Geo. H. 
Pendelbury and Le Roy Grout.
   Sheriffs: Thomas H. Tobin, A.B. Carter, John Nolan, Patrick Lynch, 
Thomas Campbell, Patrick Nolan, John McCormick, John M. Hefley, M.D. 
Daniels, P.C. Nolan and J.E. King.
   Coroners: Oren Sylvester, R.F. Carter, John McCormick, Sr., J.H. 
Underwood, Michael Kirby, Milo Gardner, W.K. Mulroney and T.E. McMurtrie.
   Superintendants of Schools: John McCormick, Jr., William Carter, Daniel 
Kane, J.H. Underwood, David Spaulding, J.L. Martin, John J. Robins, Albert 
L. Day, Matthew Kean and John C. Bennett.
   County Supervisors: John Nolan, Thomas Dawson, James Nolan, Samuel 
McClelland, A.B. Carter, Joseph T. Mulroney, J.H. Underwood, H.L. Joiner, 
Martin Coonan, E.Randall, James Johnston, Thomas H. Tobin, M. Kirby, O.D. 
Rider, R.M.J. McFarland, Alexander Younie, John A. Anthony, Charles Gibbs, 
Philo Sanford, Matthew Ryan, Thomas Eagan and John Doran-The present Board 
being, Charles Gibbs, chairman, R.M.J. McFarland, Matthew Ryan, Thomas 
Eagan and John Doran.    County Recorders: John M. Mulroney, A.B. Carter, 
Wm. D. Powers, William E. Cullen and J.L. Martin.

   It may not now be amiss to take a rapid survey of our 

FINANCIAL STATUS

   At the time of the organization of the County, in 1858, the amount of 
taxable property was almost insignificant, and as late as 1865, it could 
not have exceeded $150,000. Thus the people had no means to carry on their 
county government, and money was needed at every step, and the only chance 
left them, save one, the sale of swamp lands, was to draw on the future 
and the credit of the County, and issue "warrants" or orders on the County 
Treasury, and sell them at what they would bring. This they concluded to 
do and the first order issued was dated Dec. 29, 1858, drawn in favor of 
Luse & Wilson for $165.40, for County books. In view of the great need of 
some public improvements, and the fact that the County had, or was to have 
through an Act of Congress passed in 1850 and thence through an Act of the 
Legislature of 1853, about 75,000 acres of swamp lands, and one William E. 
Clark, of Baltimore, having offered to build two bridges on the Des 
Moines, build a brick court house and school house, and put in a steam 
mill at Paoli, the County seat, the people, by unanimous vote for the 
above and some other sundry considerations, bargained and sold the above 
lands, except such as might be reclaimed (not being swamp) valued at $95,
000 to said Clark, who, afterward, assigned his contract to John M. 
Stockdale, of Webster County, to whom a deed was made Dec. 29, 1860.

   Subsequently, a grant of land was made to the Des Moines River 
Improvement Company, which on their failure was transferred to the Des 
Moines Valley R.R. Co.-also about 75,000 acres, and still later another 
grant to the McGregor & Western, now McGregor & Mo. R.R. Co. of about 50,
000 acres. In the mean time, large amounts of warrants, at depreciated 
values, were being issued for current expenses, and very little revenue 
obtained. In 1863, ten thousand dollars in warrants were sold at 25 cts. 
to 45 cts. on the dollar to raise bounty for volunteers or substitutes, so 
that in the early part of 1872 about 200,000 acres of our best lands 
(aside from school and college grants) had been disposed of for public 
improvements, for which $15,000 had never been realized, and the County 
had, including interest due, about $50,000 indebtedness.

   About this time the people began to see where they were drifting and 
called a halt, and so great was the revulsion, that some cried 
"repudiate!" - "repudiate the debt!" But to the honor of Palo Alto be it 
said, the popular voice demanded that the debt be paid. Since that time 
there has been a general effort to retrieve the credit of the County, and 
it has been in a great measure accomplished, though there is much yet to 
be done. In this connection a brief mention of a potent agency in every 
good work should be made, namely,

THE PRESS

   The first weekly paper published in the County was the Palo Alto 
Democrat, established by James P. White, and the first number issued about 
Dec. 4th, 1869. It was suspended in 1873. Next came the Palo Alto Advance, 
established by McCarty & Hartshorn and Burnell & Harrison, known at that 
time as H.L. Burnell & Co. Its first issue was in June, 1870 and it was 
published until August, 1873, when O.C. Bates bought the Company out, 
brought the first printing press into the County and established the Palo 
Alto Patriot which was purchased by the Palo Alto Printing Company in May, 
1874, and the Palo Alto Pilot first made its appearance on the 11th of 
June following, and is still extant and prosperous. In the years 1873-4 a 
monthly paper known as the Enterprise was published by Burnham, Ormsby & 
Co. In June, 1875, the Palo Alto Reporter was established by Henry 
Jenkins, with a complete new press and outfit, the second in the County, 
and is still living and prosperous.

   Having taken this rapid review of our peoples progress in pursuit of 
wealth and worldly refinement, and in the midst of which many of them have 
passed off the stage of action, it may be well to inquire if they have had 
any thoughts of a future existence, and what have been their 

RELIGIOUS CONVICTIONS AND STANDING.

    The first public worship in the County was held at the house of James 
Hickey in 1861, by Rev. Father Elwood. The visits of clergymen were few 
and far between for the first twelve or fourteen years, during which time 
a bi-monthly, or semi-annual, or annual visit of a dispenser of the 
mysteries of the Gospel was something hailed with pleasure by those 
piously inclined. During these years, an occasional Catholic missionary 
(for a majority of the people were Catholic) was sent sixty or more miles 
to hold divine services in Palo Alto. Among those missionaries were 
Fathers Elwood, Marsh, Butler, Delaney, Monahan, Lenihan and others, till 
1871, when a church was built and Rev. J.J. Smith placed in charge of the 
congregation.

   About the year 1867, meetings began to be held among other Christian 
denominations, the most prominent being the Methodists, Baptists and 
Congregationalists, and Reverends B.C. Hammond, J.E. Rowen, D.S. McComb, 
Woolery, Webster, and others labored to arouse the people to a sense of 
their duty: and in the years 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1875, the Methodists, 
under Revs. Rowen, Woolery, Hamilton, Robinson and others, the Baptists 
under Rev. H. Kettlewell and others, and the Congregationalists, under 
Revs. Coleman, Fisher adn others, but more especially the Methodists, had 
extensive religious revivals, and many were added to the churches. Much 
has been done also, especially by the Catholics and Methodists, for the 
rising generation by way of religious instruction, Sabbath schools, etc. 
Both have commodious church edifices, the Catholics who are also the most 
numerous denomination in the County, having the largest building at 
present completed within its limits. on the 11th day of June a mission was 
commenced in the Catholic Church by two pious priests, Revs. Father 
Hennebery and O'Neil, of the Order of the Precious Blood, for the "revival 
of faith and morals among the people," and continued for 11 days with 
powerful and effective preaching, exhortation, prayer, and the 
administering of the sacraments, and hundreds were brought to repentance. 
At the close of a discourse on temperance, on the evening of June 19th, by 
Father Hennebery, and at his request, 500 people arose at one impulse and, 
with uplifted hand, pledged themselves forever to abstain from all 
intoxicating drinks; and on succeeding evenings, others joined the ranks 
to the number of nearly 700 in all.

   The preaching of the mission closed on Wednesday evening, June 21st, 
with a most impressive ceremony, when over 700 people, with lighted waxen 
candles held aloft in their hands, renewed their baptismal vows. The 
Catholics, Methodists, Congregationalists, Baptists and Lutherans are all 
the church organizations we find of record, the two former, only, having 
church edifices, but the Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Cambellites or 
Christians, Adventists, Unitarians, Spiritualists, Univeralists and Jews 
are also represented among our people.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

   The total products of the County in 1859, with the exception of a few 
minor items of vegetables, was 2,507 bushels of corn, and 2,695 bushels of 
potatoes; while in 1875 the yield of the four great staples was as 
follows: potatoes, 21,713; wheat, 23,208; oats, 46,859, and corn, 142,957 
bushels, making a grand total of 234,737 bushels, besides thousands of 
bushels of buckwheat, flaxseed, rye, barley and vegetables.

   In 1869, our total assessed valuation was $256,004, and in 1875 it was 
$946,055, and in 1876, will exceed one million dollars.

   In 1868-9 our warrants sold for about 30 cents on the dollar, and three 
years later, as before stated, our debt was about $50,000, while to-day 
our warrants are worth between 80 and 90 cents, and about $29,000 would 
pay the last farthing of our outstanding indebtedness, and with an annual 
revenue of about $51,000, though there is much to be done in the line of 
needed public improvement, it is to be hoped the above debt will soon be 
absorbed, and we believe our public officers, as well as citizens, are 
determined that it shall be. 

EMMETSBURG,

The County seat, near the center of the County, at the foot of Medium 
Lake, the nucleus of which was removed here, having been formed at the 
Riverdale Farm which was platted for a town by its former owner, Martin 
Coonan, has only existed on its present site about 18 months and has over 
400 inhabitants, and a large number of business houses, shops, mills, 
hotels, factories, etc., and two weekly newspapers, both flourishing, one 
having a Gordon job press in connection running to its utmost capacity. 
Four stages, one from each of the cardinal points, arrive and depart daily 
and its Post-office has just been made a money order office. Emmetsburg 
has also been lately erected into an Independent School District, (the 
first in the county) and has a new school building, costing about $1,600 
nearly completed. The prospect for a junction of the Des Moines Valley and 
McGregor & Missouri River Railroads at this point, in the near future may 
be reasonably and confidently looked for, the latter road having only 
about twenty-five miles to build into this town, which it is expected to 
do the present season.

   With clear purling streams and limpid lakes, and most delightful 
atmosphere the health of Palo Alto's people can not be otherwise than 
good, and a significant tact on this point is that the first two grave-
yards opened in the county, to-wit, in what are now West Bend and Fern 
Valley, were not opened for those who had died of disease, but rather by 
violence.

   We quote the following from J.A. Smith's History of Northwestern Iowa:
   "The climatic conditions of this region preclude the possibility of 
contracting bronchial affections, and fever and ague are of very rare 
occurrence. This is a poor country for doctors; what few there are wear 
poor clothes, and visit their patients either on foot or behind a horse so 
thin that its shadow attracts less notice than the virtues of a 
Congressman."

   Thus, as we close this brief sketch of its infant history Palo Alto 
marches cheerily onward, alive to the music and abreast with the progress, 
religion and refinement of the world's best civilization.

   In our researches we think we have discovered evidence of a prosperous 
and happy future for its people, and our prayer is that its sons and 
daughters (for the daughters will have more to do with it in the future 
than in the past) may by their sobriety, integrity and heroic virtue hand 
it over to a future generation on the next Centennial Day, with its 
hilltops crowned with castles, the palatial mansions of a patriotic 
people, whose honor, strength and virtue shall make them worthy citizens 
of our beloved country, and be the crowning glory of all.

J.L.M.
Emmetsburg, Iowa, July 4th, A.D. 1876.



                           Supplemental History

                                ----OF----

                             Palo Alto County

   EDS. REPORTER-In answer to inquiries and by way of Supplement to our 
CENTENNIAL HISTORY of this (Palo Alto) county, we would say that all the 
bright anticipations of 1876 are being realized. The grasshopper pest 
referred to has evidently departed forever. Our crops have been abundant, 
and our condition as an enterprising, agricultural people has averted in a 
great measure the financial evils felt so severely in older settled 
countries.

   Since closing our Centennial History, Emmetsburg has had a healthy, if 
not rapid growth. The county has largely increased in population.-The 
school building then being constructed here was rapidly completed and 
school opened in two departments (a portion of the time three departments 
have been organized) and the school is, and has been, second to none of 
its grade in this part of the State.

   Many new business houses, shops and factories have been added to those 
we had in 1876, (for a list and description of which we refer the reader 
to the Index and Advertising Pages of our Cen. hist. and to the 
advertising columns of the REPORTER. Another wagon factory is to be opened 
soon, and a plow factory has recently been established. We presume one or 
more cheese factories will be opened soon as there is a fortune for 
someone in it-and it has become almost a necessity.

   Emmetsburg, the county seat, was incorporated a few months ago, and the 
Milwaukee & St. Paul, Railway Company are rapidly constructing the McG. & 
M.R.R. across the county; they confidently expect to reach this town with 
their trains the last of July.

   Property, especially real estate, which has been very cheap here in the 
past, is rapidly advancing, and persons desiring to purchase in town or 
country will do well to buy soon.

   Immigration is pouring in upon this season as in days of yore, and all 
who come to help us settle and improve the country and transform the broad 
domain of rolling prairie into teeming fields and blooming gardens will 
receive a hearty welcome and a share in the success and happiness that 
surely awaits each one of us who does his duty. 

   The R.R. now being built across the state from east to west divides 
Palo Alto into two very nearly equal parts, and with its various depots in 
the county will afford reasonably convenient transportation to all the 
inhabitants, while the Ft. Dodge & Ft. Ridgley R.R., a new enterprise, is 
approaching from the south and making a junction with the east and west 
road here, at Emmetsburg, will give us ample facilities for communication 
and trade with all parts of the North, South, East and West.

   The Fourth of July was celebrated with becoming pomp and decorum; the 
long looked for R.R. engine, being plainly visible from the balcony of the 
REPORTER OFFICE, contributed to heighten the enjoyment of the occasion, 
and a fitting and eloquent Oration by A.L. Hudson, Esq., of Algona, was 
listened to with wrapt attention and patriotic enthusiasm, by about two 
thousand people.

EMMETSBURG, Ia., July 10, 1878. 


   LATER.-The cars have reached Emmetsburg, and with them come people 
looking for homes in town and country, looking for locations for 
elevators, factories, warehouses, etc. Agriculture, manufacture, trade and 
commerce seem to have received new impulses of vigor and hope.- But while 
the statement of simple facts makes a good record, and a strong 
encouragement to person seeking home, such as may here be easily secured 
and made prosperous by the honest, temperate and industrious, we do not, 
wish to mislead any, by assuming this to be a perfect Eden, and that all 
who behold are equally satisfied, for sensible people know that the round 
globe does not contain a country that is agreeable to all,- and this, like 
others, requires the earnest and intelligent effort of the individual, and 
this we believe with its cheap land: ($5 to $12 per acre) good water, 
clear streams, healthful climate and rich soil, will insure as much 
happiness to those who deserve it as any new and growing country can well 
bestow.

J.L.M.
July 25, 1878