History and Genealogy of Clay County, Iowa
Clay County, Iowa 1876 History Clay County is located in the northwest of the state, and is twenty-four miles square, consequently it contains 368,640 acres. The county is drained and watered in nearly every part by the Little Sioux river and its numerous tributaries, which extends by numerous windings to fully seventy miles in the county, and gives a large number of water powers, which must eventually attract the attention of manufacturers. Ocheyedan creek is the largest of the Little Sioux's tributaries, and there are fertile valleys through which both streams flow to their junction near the town of Spencer. Willow, Prairie, Muddy, and Henry creeks also deserve notice. There are several small lakes in the eastern part of the county, prominent among which are Lost Island Lake, Swan, Pickerel, Virgin, and Mud, besides other lakes of too little volume to be named. There are fish in abundance in the several lakes and streams. This part of the state is not favored by nature in the matter of timber, but this county is more fortunate than some of its neighbors, and the soil will respond liberally should groves be planted. The surface of the county undulates pleasantly, and it is said by those who are competent to pronounce, that it has no waste land, every acre being capable of growing the staple products of the county, such as wheat, corn, roots, oats, and grass. Nutritious wild grasses and pure water in abundance will make this county the paradise of farmers, who will unite grazing to their other pursuits. The first white families that came into the county to settle drove their stakes in 1856, and the little colony was barely twelve months old, when the Sioux, on their way to the Spirit Lake massacre, made their raid through the territory, destroying property, and driving off stock in a spirit of pure wantonness. The conduct of the Sioux on this occasion depopulated the county, as all the families cleared out, and did not return until many months had elapsed. The organization of the county was effected in October, 1858, and the county seat was located at Peterson, to meet the wishes of the bulk of the settlers, who were in the southwest corner of the county, but when at a later date the population had become more diffused, the location was abandoned. Peterson had the advantage of a large body of timber, and a good water power in the Little Sioux river, which was used to drive a sawmill, but the place has not made much progress. ………………….. Spencer Spencer is now the county seat, having succeeded to the honors relinquished by Peterson. The town is situated on the east side of the Little Sioux river, in a broad and fertile valley. The first settlement on this spot, appears to have been made in 1868. The river affords several good powers at and near the town, and beyond question the place will become noted for its factories, but its growth has not been rapid. The first settler upon the Little Sioux river, at this point, would have located the town on the opposite side of the river from that on which it stands, out immediately after the town was platted, and before his own residence had been commenced, the projector left for the war in the south, and his intentions were frustrated. [An Illustrated History of the State of Iowa, 1876, submitted by Cathy D.]
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