In 1857, the Western Union Railroad Company completed surveying the line of its proposed route, and engaged upon its construction. At that time, the site of Dakota was owned by Robinson Baird and Ludwig Stan- ton. The former sold his claim to Thomas J. Turner, who, in turn, sold to S. J. Davis, and to him, in conjunction with Ludwig Stanton, is due the honor of the surveying and platting of the present prosperous village. Robinson Baird, Chas. Butterfield and a man named Wohlford, owned houses located at different points on the one hundred acres which subsequently became the town, and these are said to have been the only improvements visible at this time. Soon after, an application was made to the Department to locate a post office in the village. This was (^ranted, and the present name adopted by the Postmaster General, at the suggestion of Robinson Baird and Benjamin Dornblazer. The improvements concluded during the earlier years of Dakota's existence were scarcely of a character to astonish the outside world, or enrich the operator, and the first substantial house erected in the town was due to the enterprise and ambition of Benjamin Dornblazer. In the year 1859, that gentleman and John Brown, appreciating the future importance of the place for shipping purposes, put up a warehouse adjoining the track of the road then laid, and in the fall of the same year a second warehouse was moved into the city, like the Trojan horse, ready complete, and located to the rear of that subsequently raised by Fisher & Schmeltzer.

In 1860, the town contained seven dwellings, occupied severally by Benjamin Dornblazer, Samuel Lapp, D. W. C. Holsople, Abner Hall, Robinson Baird, Daniel Keck and " Auntie " Dawson. Holsople carried on a blacksmith- shop, Robert Neil a cabinet-shop, and Daniel Keck conducted the village store. In that year, S. H. Fisher and S. D. Schmeltzer erected a warehouse, the third to be raised since the town was laid out, but three years previous ; the Methodist Church also went up, and improvements began to be generally made. These included the dwelling now occupied as a residence by John Brown, which was completed in 1860, and used as a hotel. George Muffley built a residence, as also did a Mrs. Ingraham ; Charles Mufiley completed a carpenter-shop and tap-room, emigrating from some distant point in a house of limited dimensions and comforts, protected from the elements by a car-roof, and was persuaded to cast anchor in the growing village and open for business. This latter failed to materialize with gratifying profit to the Ganymede, who enlisted in the army, and is reported as having been killed in one of the engagements in the Southwest.

The war coming on, improvements were suspended, and nothing of importance was accomplished. This uninteresting condition was prolonged until 1864, in which year a number of dwellings were added to the list of domiciles. In 1866, more of the same kind were erected, and between that year and 1870, the main part of the town was built up. In 1869, the town was incorporated as a village, and business increased in a proportionate ratio. This gratifying prosperity continued until 1873, when the panic palsied trade, improvements, and other features of advancement which had previously manifested a healthy growth. This calamity affected Dakota visibly and disastrously ; there was neither business nor money; the crops, though abundant, could not be profitably marketed, and these adverse circumstances produced their natural results, as already suggested. After five years of embarrassments and financial stringency, times became more easy, money was to be had, crops to be marketed, and the resources of the surrounding country, in process of a more generous development, to enrich the town.

The past two years have been years of prosperity to Dakota; the year 1880, a gratifying improvement over 1879, with a promise for the future correspondingly encouraging. In 1879, $169,315 was paid out in the village for grain, hogs and cattle. Five hundred and ninety-four car loads of grain and 125 car loads of cattle and hogs were shipped therefrom, and improvements of value and beauty added to those previously enumerated. The village has a population of over 200, is an important station on the road, the center of a rich agricultural country, and possessing all the requirements for a successful out- come. The village was incorporated by a special act of the Legislature, approved during the session of 1869, and the first election under the provisions thereof held on Monday, April 5, of the same year, at which Silas Yount, W. R. Auman. J. D. Bennehoff acted as Judges ; F. B. Walker and A. T. Milliken, Clerks. The act of incorporation was adopted by a vote of twenty-four to twelve, and the following officers have served at intervals since that date:

1869 — Peter Yoder, President; John Brown, W. R. Auman, Greorge Lambert and R. M. Milliken, Associates.

1870 — The board remained as in 1869, except that W. Askey and E. H. Dressier were elected in place of George Lambert and R. M. Milliken.

1871 — W. R. Auman, President; W. Askey, J. Fury, John Brown and J. D. Schmeltzer.

1872 — G. Walker, President; J. D. Schmeltzer, who resigned and was succeeded by D. Lides, E, Yount, A. Oaks and S. Zimmerman who was succeeded by D. Keck, Zimmerman having resigned.

1873— J. Brown, President; E. W. Yount, D. B. Bobb, Ezra Durling and Isaac Aldendorfer.

1874— George Walker, President; D. B. Bobb, John Brown, W. R. Auman and Daniel Seidles, Sr.

1875— Michael Stack, President; D. B. Bobb, W. R. Auman, Samuel Schmidt and Edwin W. Yount.

1876— Michael Stack, President; R. M. Telfer, N. B. Perry, E. W. Yount and D. M. Ruth. 1877 — W. R. Auman, President; S. P. Rote, John Brown, M. Stack and R. M. Telfer. 1878— John Brown, President; W. R. Auman, R. M. Telfer, M. Stack and T. B. Schmeltzer. 1879— D. B. Bobb, President; S. P. Rote, R. M. Telfer, T. B. Schmeltzer and A. M. Artley. 1880— M. Slack, President; D. Keck, W. R. Auman, A. M. Artley and Joseph Unangst.

Village Treasurer. — George Lambert, 1869; W. Askey, 1870-71; S. Zimmerman, 1872; E. W. Yount, 1873; W. R. Auman, 1874-75; E. W. Yount, 1876; S. P. Rote, 1877; R. M. Telfer, 1878; S. P. Rote, 1879; Joseph Unangst, 1880.

Village Clerk.— A. M. Milliken, 1869; E. H. Dressier, 1870; J. D. Schmeltzer, 1871 ; A. Oaks, 1872; D. B. Bobb, 1873-75 ;,R. M. Telfer, 1876 -77; T. B. Schmeltzer, 1878-79; W. R. Auman, 1880.

Rock Run Presbyterian Church.— The congregation was organized in 1855, and one year later the church edifice in Section 30, Rock Run Township, erected and occupied until the village of Dakota was built up, when the organization was changed to that point where, in 1870, the church now occupied was built, the old edifice in Section 30 being appropriated by the Reformed Presbyterian's, of which the Rev. Dr. Harris is the Pastor. The church at Dakota is of frame, 35x55, with a steeple eighty feet high, supplied with an organ, and was built at an expense of $3,000. It will afford a seating capacity for 300 worshipers. The congregation consists of sixty members, and the following ministers have served : The Revs. John M. Linn, L. H. Mitchell and J. C. Irwin. Services are held every other Sabbath.

Methodist Church — Was organized soon after the village was laid out, under the auspices of the Rev. W. D. Atchison. In the summer of 1860, the congregation erected a commodious and handsome house of worship in the village of Dakota, at a cost of $2,000. In 1878, the steeple was completed, and other improvements added. It is of frame, 49x36, with a capacity for 300, and in every respect appropriate to the uses for which it was designed. The present congregation numbers 100 members, and the value of church property, including a parsonage, represents about $4,000. The following is a list of ministers who have officiated : The Revs. W. D. Atchison, Barton H. Cartwright, John 0. Foster, ' Aaron Cross, James M. Condee, T. H. Haseltine and George H. Wells, the present incumbent.

Evangelical Lutheran Church. — Sometime during the year 1857, the Rev. Ephraim Miller began to preach in the schoolhouse at Dakota, and, on the 3d day of September, 1859, the following persons held a meeting and organized the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dakota : Ephraim and Sarah Stotler, Samuel and Mary Lapp, Jacob and Helena Maurer, John and Catharine Wirth, James Ling and George Frantz. The Rev. Ephraim Miller was elected Pastor, Ephraim Stotler, Elder, and James Ling, Deacon. In the fall of 1867, steps were taken to build a house of worship, which was completed and dedicated December 5, 1868, at a cost of $2,626.71, the same being paid when the edifice was delivered to the church authorities. At the date of its dedication, money was subscribed for the purchase of a bell, which was accordingly procured, the first bell introduced into the township. The present congregation is composed of a large number of worshipers, and the value of the church property is quoted at about $2,500. The ministers who have served are the Revs. Ephraim Miller, A. A. Trimper, Solomon Ritz, Charles Anderson, Samuel Cook, John Slott, Charles Young, R. Lazarus, S. C. Seidel and J. A. Beidler, the present Pastor.

Schools. — The system of education in force elsewhere throughout the county is employed at Dakota. The present edifice was begun in 1855, and completed, with an addition costing $500, in 1867. There are two departments, primary and grammar, requiring the services of two teachers, and furnishing the means of education to an average daily attendance of 125 pupils. The school is under the control of a Board of Directors, consisting of E. M. Shullenburger, J. Clingman and D. M. Holsopple, and require an annual appropriation of $1,000 for their support.

Dakota Lodge, Vo. 566, L. 0. 0. F. — Was instituted by Deputy Grand Master W. J. Fink on the 22d of February, 1875, with eight charter members, and the following officers: E. Durling, N. G. ; J. W. Gladfelter, V. G.; E. Yount, Treasurer, and J. D. Schmeltzer, Secretary. The lodge attained a high degree of prosperity, but, upon the morning of October 27, 1877, the building to which the lodge had removed in 1876 from Keek's building, was totally destroyed by fire, the craft losing everything except its lodge books, and suffering, in addition to the inconvenience occasioned by the fire itself, a pecuniary damage of $380. Rooms were at once fitted up in Artley's building, and possession taken thereof December 22, 1877, since when prosperity has prevailed against the elements. The present membership is forty-eight, with the following officers : W. H. Butterfield, N. G. ; E. Yount, V. G. ; T. B. & J. D. Schmeltzer, Secretaries ; J. R. Young, Treasurer.