Ida County Iowa History

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History and Genealogy
of
Ida County, Iowa

History of
Ida County, Iowa
Ida County is in the fourth tier of counties from the northern boundary of the state, and is the second east of the Missouri River. It contains 432 square miles or 276,480 acres. The Maple River runs through the county .from northeast to southwest. Its principal branches are the Odebolt and Elk, flowing in from the east, and Battle Creek from the west. Soldier River flows westward through the southern tier of townships. There are many smaller streams draining the county in all parts. The valleys of the streams are unsurpassed in fertility, and Maple Valley is especially noted for the beauty and fertility of its farming lands. Maple River, in this county, furnishes several mill sites. The general character of the surface is undulating or rolling prairie, though no portion is too broken for cultivation. The soil in the valleys is a dark mould, in many places from three to six feet deep. The uplands contain more clay, and are well adapted to the raising of wheat and all the cereal crops. This, like other counties in this part of the state, has but a limited supply of timber. We have it on authority of the county surveyor that this county has only about 1,000 acres of natural timber, about one half of this being in Ida Grove, which is situated on Maple River in about the center of the county. It is mostly oak, walnut, linn, elm and hickory. The white or soft maple skirts the borders of the streams in many places.
Among the wild fruits, the plum, grape, gooseberry and strawberry are found. Stock raising and dairying succeed well in this county, as it is unsurpassed for pasturage or hay. The wild grass known as the blue-joint predominates in the valleys, and in many places the yield of hay is as high as four tons per acre. Fine well water is found in almost any locality by digging to a moderate depth, rarely exceeding twenty five feet. No regularly stratified rock formations appear at the surface. The only rocks obtained in the county are the boulders. An abundance of material suitable for the manufacture of brick is found in all parts of the county. The bluff deposit, which overspreads the entire county, has been successfully used for making brick of a good quality. The principal productions are wheat, oats, corn, rye and potatoes. All kinds of vegetables and root crops common to the latitude succeed well. The various kinds of small fruits are easily raised, as well as some varieties of cherries and apples.
The first authentic account of the early settlement of Ida county was that, in 1854, of Robert Townsley and Edward Smith, who built a cabin and raised a small crop of sod corn. During the same summer Samuel King settled about a mile further down the valley, and broke up a small farm. These, however, proved to be but transient settlers.
The county was organized in 1858. The first election was held at Ida Grove in August of that year, when the following officers were elected: John H. Moorehead, County Judge; J. S. Loveland, Treasurer and Recorder, and B. Warren, Clerk of the District Court. At this time the population of the county was only about forty persons. Since that the population has increased very rapidly and in 1880 was 4,382. The county has settled very fast within the past two years and 5,500 may now be considered a low estimate of population. The present county officers are: Isaac Bunn, Clerk of the Courts; Wm. Jones, Auditor; F. W. Tibbetta, Treasurer; T. S. Snell, County Surveyor; E. L. Worcester, Recorder; F. A. Eastman, Sheriff; Dr. A. T. Baker, Coroner; Mrs. A. H. Smith, Superintendent of Schools; J. G. Freeman, Chairman; John Bunn, James Taylor, Board of Supervisors.
The first permanent settlement of whites in Ida County was made in Ida Grove, on Maple River, in 1856. The settlers were E. Comstock, from Michigan, and Judge John H. Morehead,whose family still resides at Ida Grove.
The first child born in Ida County was Ida Grove Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Smith. The first death was a child of the same family. The remains were taken to Southland, in Woodbury county, for interment. The first railroad, a branch of the Chicago & Northwestern, crossed into Ida County August 21st, 1877, and is now extended as far west as Mapleton, in Monona County. Ida County has fair prospects for another road through to Ida Grove soon, the same one that passes through Sac City and Sac County.
(Transcribed from the book "The History Of Western Iowa" published 1882)
Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer

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All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.

		History and Genealogy of Ida County, Iowa

History of Ida County, Iowa Ida County is in the fourth tier of counties from the northern boundary of the state, and is the second east of the Missouri River. It contains 432 square miles or 276,480 acres. The Maple River runs through the county .from northeast to southwest. Its principal branches are the Odebolt and Elk, flowing in from the east, and Battle Creek from the west. Soldier River flows westward through the southern tier of townships. There are many smaller streams draining the county in all parts. The valleys of the streams are unsurpassed in fertility, and Maple Valley is especially noted for the beauty and fertility of its farming lands. Maple River, in this county, furnishes several mill sites. The general character of the surface is undulating or rolling prairie, though no portion is too broken for cultivation. The soil in the valleys is a dark mould, in many places from three to six feet deep. The uplands contain more clay, and are well adapted to the raising of wheat and all the cereal crops. This, like other counties in this part of the state, has but a limited supply of timber. We have it on authority of the county surveyor that this county has only about 1,000 acres of natural timber, about one half of this being in Ida Grove, which is situated on Maple River in about the center of the county. It is mostly oak, walnut, linn, elm and hickory. The white or soft maple skirts the borders of the streams in many places. Among the wild fruits, the plum, grape, gooseberry and strawberry are found. Stock raising and dairying succeed well in this county, as it is unsurpassed for pasturage or hay. The wild grass known as the blue-joint predominates in the valleys, and in many places the yield of hay is as high as four tons per acre. Fine well water is found in almost any locality by digging to a moderate depth, rarely exceeding twenty five feet. No regularly stratified rock formations appear at the surface. The only rocks obtained in the county are the boulders. An abundance of material suitable for the manufacture of brick is found in all parts of the county. The bluff deposit, which overspreads the entire county, has been successfully used for making brick of a good quality. The principal productions are wheat, oats, corn, rye and potatoes. All kinds of vegetables and root crops common to the latitude succeed well. The various kinds of small fruits are easily raised, as well as some varieties of cherries and apples. The first authentic account of the early settlement of Ida county was that, in 1854, of Robert Townsley and Edward Smith, who built a cabin and raised a small crop of sod corn. During the same summer Samuel King settled about a mile further down the valley, and broke up a small farm. These, however, proved to be but transient settlers. The county was organized in 1858. The first election was held at Ida Grove in August of that year, when the following officers were elected: John H. Moorehead, County Judge; J. S. Loveland, Treasurer and Recorder, and B. Warren, Clerk of the District Court. At this time the population of the county was only about forty persons. Since that the population has increased very rapidly and in 1880 was 4,382. The county has settled very fast within the past two years and 5,500 may now be considered a low estimate of population. The present county officers are: Isaac Bunn, Clerk of the Courts; Wm. Jones, Auditor; F. W. Tibbetta, Treasurer; T. S. Snell, County Surveyor; E. L. Worcester, Recorder; F. A. Eastman, Sheriff; Dr. A. T. Baker, Coroner; Mrs. A. H. Smith, Superintendent of Schools; J. G. Freeman, Chairman; John Bunn, James Taylor, Board of Supervisors. The first permanent settlement of whites in Ida County was made in Ida Grove, on Maple River, in 1856. The settlers were E. Comstock, from Michigan, and Judge John H. Morehead,whose family still resides at Ida Grove. The first child born in Ida County was Ida Grove Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Smith. The first death was a child of the same family. The remains were taken to Southland, in Woodbury county, for interment. The first railroad, a branch of the Chicago & Northwestern, crossed into Ida County August 21st, 1877, and is now extended as far west as Mapleton, in Monona County. Ida County has fair prospects for another road through to Ida Grove soon, the same one that passes through Sac City and Sac County. (Transcribed from the book "The History Of Western Iowa" published 1882) Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer Copyright © Genealogy Trails All data on this website is Copyright by Genealogy Trails with full rights reserved for original submitters.

History and Genealogy of Ida County, Iowa

History of Ida County, Iowa

History and Genealogy
of
Ida County, Iowa

History of
Ida County, Iowa