Pottawattamie County Iowa
Timeline

1700


1736 French Expedition left Detroit to attack Sauk and Fox Indians in Iowa





1804 Lewis and Clark held council with Indians in C. B.
1806 Lewis and Clark made their return trip.



1818 The big flu epidemic struck the Hancock area.
1819 The first steamboat landed in Kanesville.





1832 Missouri River changed channel and formed Big Lake.

1832 The first white settlers came to Kanesville.
1833 Black Hawk Purchase land opened to settlement.
1833 Treaty granted land to Chippewa, Omaha, & Pottawattamie Indians.

1835 Pottawattamie. Indians settle on 5 million acres in S.W. Iowa
1836 Davis Hardin appointed Asst. Indian Farmer ($600/yr).

1837 Blockhouse, first C.B. building erected by C.B. Moore

1837 First Catholic Mission founded in Kanesville.

1837 Pottawattamie Indians arrived in Pott. County.
1838 Fathers De Smet and Mazello arrived in C.B.
1838 Fathers De Smet established St. Joseph Mission. (St.Mary)

1839 Two Companies of troops sent to Pottawattamie Co. to keep peace.
1840 First white child born in C.B. area (Susan Wright)

1841 Blockhouse mission closed.

1841 Last Baptism at Fr. De Smet's mission.

1841 Chief Billy Caldwell died in Pottawattamie County.
1842 Camp Fenwick was established.

1843 John Audubon visited Ft. Croghan, west of Lake Manawa

1843 Fort Croghan was flooded by Missouri River and abandoned
1844 Masons organized the Grand Lodge of Iowa at Iowa City

1846 Pottawattamie Indians gave up claims to Iowa land and moved to Kansas.

1846 First Mormons arrived in Pottawattamie County from Nauvoo.

1846 Brigham Young met with Mesquaki Chief Poweshiek.

1846 Construction begins on 1st ferry from C.B. to Omaha.

1846 Lavina Stoker (1st white child) born in Pott. Co.
1847 Lee Bybie first settler in Boomer Twp.
1847 First school opened at Bybie's Camp.
1847 Pott. Co. established by Pott. Co. Purchase Act.
1847 Brigham Young declared President of Mormon Church in Kanesville.

1848 First Marriages in Boomer Twp. McKeown Hall

1848 Jacob Myers built mill at town of Macedonia.

1848 Orson Hyde began the Frontier Guardian newspaper.

1848 Brigham Young established Kane Post Office at Miller's Hollow.

1848 Name changed from Miller's Hollow to Kanesville.

1848 Thomas Jefferson Ring, 1st settler in Macedonia.

1848 Pottawattamie County organized.
1849 Gold Rushers started coming through Kanesville.
1849 Grist mill built on Pigeon Creek in Hazel Dell.
1849 One Half mill tax levied to support local schools.
1849 First Frontier Guardian was published.
1849 First ferry licensed to George A. Smith.
1849 Sheriff J. Parker got orders to build first jail.
1849 Orson Hyde building bought for first Pott. County Courthouse. ($800)

1850 First Methodist Episcopal church organized.

1850 First permanent settler in Hardin Twp. Rees D. Price.

1850 Joseph Hill was first settler in Rockford Twp.

1850 L.W. Babbitt founded the Bugle newspaper.

1850 Lorenzo Dunn became first death in Harden Twp.

1850 Wm. Brown began Lone Tree Ferry in Kanesville.

1850 LDS historian estimated 5,000 left C.B. for Salt Lake

1850 Omaha Indians set fire that almost burned Kanesville.

1850 J.A. Price was first child born in Hardin Twp.
1851 Martin & Stutzman built sawmill in Macedonia Twp.
1851 Washington Lewin became first settler in Knox Twp.
1851 Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Synod formed, Claus Clausen, Mitchell County, as first president
1851 Pott. County reduced to present size.
1851 First Pott. County seat decided by election.
1851 James Sloan, 1st Judge of Pott. Co., began 1st term

1852 1st school established east of Broadway Meth. Church.

1852 H. B. Cox's child became 1st death in Rockford Twp.

1852 Henry Adams opened Blacksmith's shop in Macedonia.

1852 Moses H. Hathaway appointed Postmaster at Kainsville

1852 Kanesville land Office established.
1853 Joseph Headler's son was 1st birth in Knox Twp.
1853 Vote passed for name change from Kanesville to Council Bluffs.
1853 Council Bluffs incorporated.
1853 United States Land Office established in C.B.
1853 Jacob Cox' daughter first birth in Rockford Twp.
1853 First public sale of government land.
1853 First Council Bluffs City Council meeting following incorporation.
1853 First execution at Hangman's Hollow (Glenn Ave.)
1853 Congregational Church organized.
1853 Rockford Twp. was organized.
1853 First fire in C.B. 25 buildings burned, $18,000 damage.
1853 Pacific House officially opened with a grand ball.

1854 1st Post Office in Belknap Twp. Big Greene (Oakland)

1854 First marriage in Knox Twp. M. Townsend Geo. White.

1854 First school organized in Rockford Twp.

1854 First settlers moved to Waveland Twp.

1854 George Headler first person to die in Knox Twp.

1854 Joseph Lyman opened first school in Macedonia Twp.

1854 Orris Belknap first settler in Belknap Twp.

1854 Marshall Turley given $750 to build 2nd jail.

1854 Land grant for city of Council Bluffs established.

1854 C.B. named as capital of new Nebraska territory.

1854 Underground Railroad opened in Tabor, Ia.

1854 Wm. Black First birth in Waveland Twp.

1854 Michael Beard became first death in Center Twp.

1854 Zolphes Williams died. First death in Waveland Twp.

1854 First birth in Belknap Twp. George Slocum.

1854 General Dodge and family moved to Council Bluffs.
1855 First election in Waveland Twp.
1855 Iowa legislature established School for the Deaf.
1855 Knox Twp. organized.
1855 First election for C. B. city officers held. Mayor gets $100/year for salary.
1855 G. W. Henderson first settler in Neola Twp.
1855 1st marriage Rockford Twp. S. Copeland & John Goss.
1855 First school built on Hazel Dell Crescent Twp. Line.
1855 First school established in Crescent Twp.
1855 William Wells was first born in Silver Creek Twp.

1856 Crescent City platted.

1856 Ellisdale P.O. established in Hazel Dell Twp.

1856 Pleasant Taylor built a mill in Washington Twp.

1856 Seth Hunt & Sons built first mill in Knox Twp.

1856 Wm. Walker built 1st house in Big Grove (Oakland)

1856 First railroad passenger train entered Iowa City

1856 Center Twp. & York Twp. organized.
1857 Col. Babbitt founded the Daily Bugle.
1857 M. Belknap & S. Slocum first marriage in Belknap Twp.
1857 Northwest Rail Way entered Council Bluffs.
1857 School in Silver Creek Twp. Est. at stage station.
1857 Waveland Twp. (formerly Walnut Creek) organized.
1857 Crescent Twp. & Macedonia Twp. organized.
1857 Mrs. Margaret Piles first death in Silver Creek Twp.

1858 Alice Turner became first birth in Washington Twp.

1858 Boomer Twp. Organized. City Clerk Misspelled Bloomer.

1858 First Pott. Co. Agricultural Fair held.

1858 First school in Center Twp. established.

1858 Knox Twp. School District organized.

1858 S. Dean & H. Shank first marriage in Wright Twp.

1858 Jesse Van Riper became first birth in Wright Twp.

1858 James Twp. &Silver Creek Twp. organized.
1859 1st marriage Waveland Twp. S. Wilson & Levi Smith.
1859 First Marriage Washington Twp. M. Piles & J. Taylor.
1859 Grenville Dodge elected to Congress.
1859 Ground broken for C. B. & St. Joseph Railroad.
1859 C. B. Independent School District established.
1859 A. C. Bloomer house almost totally destroyed by fire.
1859 Abraham Lincoln visited C.B. for three days.
1859 Grove Twp. organized.
1859 Pott. Co. Democratic Convention in C.B.

1860 1st marriage Silver Creek Twp. Wheeling & Smith.

1860 1st school built in Washington Twp.

1860 1st school erected in Hardin Twp.

1860 C. B. Iron Works established. First mfg. in C.B.

1860 Downsville Cemetery established.

1860 Methodist Church organized in Silver Creek Twp.

1860 State Bank of Ia. Organized. Later 1st Nat'l Bank.

1860 State Road est. in Keg Creek Twp. (C.B. & Lewis Rd.)

1860 Concert Hall at Broadway & Center destroyed by fire.

1860 North Star Branch of RLDS organized in C. B.

1860 C. B. levied the first dog tax.

1860 Philip McGuire hung near Fairview Cemetery.
1861 D.C. Bloomer appointed manager of first land office.
1861 G.W. Davis first settler in Pleasant Twp.
1861 Methodist Church organized in Washington Twp.
1861 Military organization called HOME GUARDS established.
1861 R.R. completed through Pott., Mills, & Fremont Co.
1861 RLDS Church established in crescent City.
1861 First meeting of Pott. Co. Board of Supervisors.
1861 G. M. Dodge chosen Captain of C. B. Guards.
1861 2nd Guard Co. (C.B. Union Cavalry) organized.
1861 G.M. Dodge established the 1st Co. of Militia in C.B.
1861 G. M. Dodge appointed Col. 4th Ia. Infantry.
1861 Big Grove Missionary Church organized.
1861 Methodist Episcopal Conference held in C. B.
1861 Ocean Wave Saloon struck by lightening and burned.

1862 First telegraph came to Council Bluffs.

1862 Last payment for $40,000 stock in the St. Joseph R.R.

1862 Soldiers Aid Society merged with Army Sanitary Comm.

1862 Pacific House stables struck by lightening and burned

1862 To aid recruiting, city tax cancelled for any soldier

1862 Pacific House Stables struck by lightening.

1862 Wm. H. Kinsman promoted to Lt. Col. Co E, 23rd Reg.
1863 First school taught in Norwalk Twp.
1863 Union League established.
1863 Col. Kinsman wounded at Battle of Black River Bridge, died May 17.
1863 A company formed to build the Union Pacific Railroad.
1863 Nathan P. Dodge formed a bank, later C.B. Savings.
1863 Annual Mormon Convention held at farm of M. Follet.
1863 Lincoln declares C.B. eastern terminus of U.P. R.R.

1864 2 horse thieves and deserters hung at Newtown.

1864 Catholic Cemetery established.

1864 Fairview Cemetery organized.

1864 Ferry established at Traders' Point.

1864 First Turners Society founded by John Epeneter.

1864 Stutsman Street School built.

1864 Walnut Hill Cemetery organized.

1864 First Civil War Draft held in C.B. (60 chosen)

1864 Lion escaped from Mabies' Circus in C.B.
1865 Lucinda Nolands was 1st death in Washington Twp.
1865 M.P. Church organized in Wheeler's Grove.
1865 Presbyterian Church in C.B. completed.
1865 School built at 7th Street and Willow.
1865 First rail laid at Omaha for U.P.R.R.
1865 C. B. State Bank became First National of C.B.
1865 Presbyterian Church Festival in Pottawattamie County.

1866 Broadway Christian Church built in C.B.

1866 First library established in Council Bluffs.

1866 School building erected on Washington Avenue.

1866 State Legislature moved School for Deaf to C.B.

1866 Young Mens' Library Assoc. organized.

1866 Bugle published by W.T. Giles.

1866 Pott. Co. Courthouse voted in. Cost $3500.

1866 Row of buildings on south side of Broadway burned.

1866 Several buildings burned on Broadway & Main ($15,000)

1866 First meeting to establish C.B. Public Library.

1866 Cornerstone laid for Broadway Methodist Church.

1866 Special election to improve streets & est. Fire Dept.

1866 Cottonwood jail destroyed by fire.

1866 John W. Chapman took control of Nonpareil.

1866 W.S. Burke retired from Nonpareil.

1866 C.B. & St. Joseph R.R. came to C.B.
1867 96 Acres bought & donated to state for I.S.D.
1867 C.B. Free Press started. (German Democratic Newspaper)
1867 German Society organized.
1867 Pierce St. School & Court St. School built.
1867 Young Ladies' Seminary organized.
1867 Chicago and Northwestern arrived in C.B.
1867 Northwestern R.R. brings first passenger to C.B.
1867 Fire destroyed Empire Block (between Pearl & Main)
1867 Fire destroyed the Nonpareil Newspaper
1867 Stewart and Haas Building collapsed.
1867 Burlington R.R. reached C.B.
1867 First locomotive crossed Mo. River on temp. bridge.

1868 Adam Armstrong selected as 1st Supt. of Schools.

1868 Empire Block burned.

1868 Excelsior Masonic Lodge built.

1868 Foundation laid for I.S.D.

1868 Geise Brewery built.

1868 First Baptist Society organized

1868 County Clerk's office burned.

1868 Row of buildings on Fourth Street burned.

1868 Col. Babbitt wants capital of U.S. in C.B.

1868 Broadway Methodist Church dedicated.

1868 Council bluffs Daily Democrat started publication.

1868 Gen. Grant, Sherman, & Sheridan in Council Bluffs.

1868 Conference for Methodist Church in Council Bluffs.

1868 New steam fire engine arrived.

1868 Four buildings on Sixth St. destroyed by fire.
1869 Burlington Railroad entered Council Bluffs.
1869 C.B.&Q arrived in Council Bluffs.
1869 Center street School built.
1869 Epidemic of Diptheria and Dysentery in C.B.
1869 Geise Brewery brewed its first bottle of beer.
1869 Hardin Twp organized.
1869 Main building and west wing completed at I.S.D.
1869 Ordinance passed keeping pigs off C.B. streets.
1869 Street Railway licensed.
1869 Town named Pacific (Avoca) changed name to Botna.
1869 Towns of Avoca & Neola Platted.
1869 Weston established.
1869 Circuit Courts came into effect.
1869 French Mall kept a bagnis in Council Bluffs.
1869 Third District Court held for the first time.
1869 200 couples attended first Firemen's Ball.
1869 Clarence M. Peterson, first child born in Avoca.
1869 Council Bluffs Post, (German Newspaper) started.
1869 Corner Stone laid for Ogden House.
1869 First Fire Department parade.
1869 Odd Fellows open new hall in 3rd story Bdwy & Main.
1869 Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific R.R. arrived in C.B.
1869 Rev. Charles Badgett hold first services in Avoca at R.R. Depot.
1869 Oddfellows Lodge #174 was started. (German)
1869 Oddfellows Lodge #184 was started. (English)
1869 $25,000 Fire on Fourth Street and Glen Avenue
1869 Ivanhoe Commandery of Knights Templar organized.
1869 Burlington and Missouri River R.R. (fourth) began.
1869 Ogden House opened.

1870 C.V. Gardner and Thomas Ledwick publish Avoca Delta.

1870 Construction began on R.R. bridge over Missouri.

1870 Construction started on Council Bluffs High School.

1870 Council Bluffs Agricultural Wards began.

1870 Council Bluffs publishes new code of ordinances.

1870 First students graduated from Council Bluffs schools.

1870 I.S.D. building completed & students came for first time.

1870 Post Office built in Neola.

1870 Rock Island R.R. built a hotel and dining hall.

1870 Unitarian Society organized.

1870 Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy R.R. arrived in C.B.

1870 First Burlington line train arrived in C.B. from K.C.

1870 Pott. Co. Agricultural Society organized.

1870 C.B. Gas Light Company authorized to lay pipes.

1870 A tornado struck Council Bluffs.

1870 Edwin J. Abbott elected Constable in Council Bluffs.

1870 First residence of C.B. (John Ross house) burned.

1870 Congressional Republican Convention held in C.B.

1870 Washington Twp. organized.

1870 First Congregational Church of Avoca organized.

1870 Presbyterian Church of Avoca organized.

1870 Iowa editorial excursion visited Council Bluffs.

1870 Catholic girls' school opened by Sisters of Charity.

1870 R. P. Snow Wholesale Grocery destroyed by fire.

1870 Council Bluffs High School opened.

1870 Second Methodist Church was organized.
1871 Big Grove Grange established.
1871 Bonds issued for right of way for Union Pacific.
1871 First schoolhouse built in Pleasant Twp.
1871 Methodist Sunday School started in Avoca.
1871 Parma Post Office established.
1871 Farmers' Institute held at the Pott. Co. Courthouse.
1871 Northwestern Oddfellows started.
1871 United States District Court held at Council Bluffs.
1871 First cross state R.R. reaches C.B. (C. & N.W.)
1871 Northwestern Odd Fellow (Periodical) published.
1871 Grant Music Festival held.
1871 Cumberland Presbyterian Church organized Macedonia.
1871 Avoca Oddfellows Lodge was instituted.
1871 St. patrick's Benevolent Society organized.
1871 Episcopal Diocesan Convention held at St. Paul's in C.B.
1871 State Dental Assoc. held its annual meeting.
1871 Mt. Nebo Masonic Lodge organized at Avoca.
1871 Large quantities of huge fish appeared in Spoon Lake.
1871 Iowa Teachers' Association began in Council Bluffs.
1871 President U.S. Grant visited Council bluffs.
1871 Patrons of Husbandry organized a Grange.
1871 Manufacturers' Association was formed.
1871 Walnut Lodge #122 organized.
1871 Mayor Bloomer announced plans for Coal Mine in C.B.

1872 Belknap Twp. organized.

1872 Christian Advocate established.

1872 Council Bluffs Independent newspaper started.

1872 Land office records were moved to Des Moines.

1872 Mutual Protectionists organized in Crescent Twp.

1872 St. Francis Academy built.

1872 Vote on formation of Belknap Co. defeated.

1872 Rev. H.S.DeForest installed as pastor of Congressional Church

1872 Pacific House burned.

1872 Nehemiah Baldwin became Registrar of U.S. Land Office

1872 Final span of Great Missouri Union Pacific Bridge completed.

1872 Meeting for Superintendents of Ia. R.R. held in C.B.

1872 Susan B. Anthony spoke in Council Bluffs.

1872 Miss Fanny Kellogg performed at Dohaney Opera House.

1872 Pacific House reopened after repairing fire damage.

1872 Mr. Lentzy took charge of the Ogden House in Council Bluffs.

1872 Capt. Massey, riverboat capt., & family visited C.B.

1872 Neola Twp. organized from York and Boomer Twp.

1872 First High School Graduation Ceremony.

1872 Iowa Press Citizen Newspaper visited C.B.

1872 First publication of the Daily Republican.

1872 Presbyterian Church in Avoca established.

1872 Omaha and Southwest Railroad submerged by flood.

1872 Steamer Mud Hen blew up in Missouri River and sank.

1872 Whipple Methodist class organized.

1872 First Bank in Avoca organized.

1872 First national Bank, Council Bluffs, robbed.

1872 Furniture store and three other bldgs. burned in C.B.

1872 Peaches selling for $.05 a box

1872 Belknap Twp. organized (Belknap was Grant's Sec't of War).

1872 Fair held on Pott. County Ag. Society grounds.

1872 Missouri so low ducks ruined their feet on sand bars.

1872 Iowa's Governor Carpenter visited Pott. County.

1872 Capt. Dunlevy of Esperanza stayed at Ogden Hotel.

1872 200 Mormons arrived from N.Y. en route to Utah.

1872 Mrs. Moses Shinn, one of first settlers of C.B. died.

1872 River approaches graded so wagons could cross on ice.
1873 Fire destroyed Avoca Delta newspaper.
1873 Catholic Church built in Walnut.
1873 German Methodist Church organized in James Twp.
1873 Grasshoppers destroy nearly all of the crops.
1873 Methodist Episcopal Church built.
1873 Hazel Dell, Keg Creek, Norwalk, Waveland. & Wright Twp. organized.
1873 C.B. becomes eastern terminus of U.P. Railroad.
1873 Rev. N.C. Robinson organized Knox Presbyterian Church
1873 Pleasant Twp. organized from Knox Twp.
1873 Steamers Far West and Nellie Park pass through C.B.
1873 Land Office in Council bluffs closed.
1873 May, Berry, and Smith purchased the Independent.
1873 Layton Twp. organized from Knox Twp.
1873 James Bros. & Younger Bros. robbed train at Adair.
1873 Dr.Lee De Forest, Father of Modern Radio, Born in C.B
1873 L.D.S. held annual conference at Parks' Mill.
1873 First election held in Pleasant Twp.
1873 First election held in Walnut.
1873 The Globe (Democratic newspaper) established.
1873 First Congregational Church of Avoca incorporated.

1874 Catholic Church completed in Neola.

1874 Methodist Church built in Avoca.

1874 Methodist Church of Hancock Organized (Valley Church)

1874 S.S. Keller married Libbie Noble.

1874 Sioux City & Pacific R.R. made regular runs to C.B.

1874 Flint & Haldane arrive to take over Ogden Hotel.

1874 Ark Masonic Lodge #335 established in Oakland.

1874 Local Prices: Oats $.40, Wheat $.90, Corn, $.45/bu.

1874 Huntington & Sons sold Potatoes for $1.10 / bu.

1874 Rural Pott. County has extensive prairie fires.

1874 2 Mass Temperance Meetings held in Pott. County

1874 Herd law lets counties decide if herds can run free.

1874 Merchants' Exchange Club organized.

1874 Ogden House destroyed by fire.
1875 Chicago, R. I. & Pacific built station in Minden.
1875 City of Minden platted.
1875 First school built in Walnut.
1875 G. Diederich built first store in Minden.
1875 Garner Twp. established from Kane Twp.
1875 Graceland Cemetery organized in Avoca.
1875 John Chase Furniture Factory burned.
1875 Lewis Twp. established from Kane Twp.
1875 New Hope Baptist Church established in Center Twp.
75 No. 3 school built in Pleasant Twp.
1875 Rev. Adams constituted New Hope Baptist Church.
1875 Transfer Hotel burned.
1875 Two story Public School built in Walnut.
1875 United Brethren Church established in Valley Twp.
1875 Weston P.O. established in Hazel Dell Twp.
1875 Wheeler Grove Church built.
1875 First City Council meeting held in Avoca.
1875 First Congregational Church of Avoca dedicated.
1875 Heavy rains caused flooding in Council Bluffs.
1875 James N. Riley house struck by lightening and burned.
1875 Ark Masonic Lodge #335 chartered at Oakland.
1875 Minden Post Office established.
1875 Merchants Exchange Club of C.B. held a banquet.
1875 State Democratic Convention held in Council Bluffs.
1875 The Freie Presse, a German paper, was established.
1875 Mariah Lodge, No. 237, IOOF organized in Walnut.
1875 Union Pacific decided to build depot and hotel.
1875 Joab Stoves tried for murder of Jordan Clark.

1876 Catholic Church organized in Avoca.

1876 First school built by Kaaven & Wilson in Minden

1876 G.H.Ferguson started hotel business at Pacific House.

1876 John Baldwin rebuilt the Ogden House Hotel.

1876 George T. Phelps took charge of Ogden House.

1876 No. 1 School built in Pleasant Twp.

1876 Presbyterian Church built in Walnut.

1876 Sunday School at Minden organized with 20 pupils.

1876 Whipple was constituted.

1876 F. Grote Company will mfg. 1 million bricks this yr.

1876 Wightman Company will mfg. 2 million bricks this yr.

1876 Lincoln, Lewis & Minden Twps. of Pott. County organized.

1876 C.P. Church of Pleasant Grove organized.

1876 Mutual Protection Assoc. of Boomer Hazel Dell formed.

1876 Gymnasium built at rear of German School.

1876 First general election held in Lincoln Twp.

1876 Edwin Thomas Meredith, future Sect. of Ag., born at Avoca.
1877 No. 5 & No. 7 schools built in Pleasant Twp.
1877 Shugart Implement burned.
1877 Thomas Thomas of Boomer Twp. died.
1877 Minden board of trustees divided Twp. into 5 parts.
1877 First Board of Trustees met in Minden.
1877 Savings, Loan, & Building Assoc. Incorporated at C.B.
1877 I.S.D. totally destroyed by fire.
1877 Garner Twp., named after Wm. Garner, organized.
1877 Robert Getman, horse thief, arrested by Marshall Jackson, & taken to Marshalltown.
1877 Work began on German Hotel on South Main Street.
1877 J.S. Love organized a Twp. Sabbath School at Weston.
1877 Mt. Hope United Methodist began in Old Rand School.
1877 Mount Hope United Methodist Church organized.
1877 American Sunday School Union began in Avoca.
1877 First election in Minden Twp.
1877 Town of Walnut incorporated.
1877 Council Bluffs feels earthquake.
1877 Brick factory & Power Company destroyed by fire.

1878 Christian Church organized in Silver Creek Twp.

1878 Emigrant House built by Thomas Swobe.

1878 Harlan Branch of Rock Island built.

1878 Minden German Lutheran Church organized.

1878 Ms. Harding, M.D. established Therm Electric baths.

1878 Walnut German Club organized.

1878 Oddfellows' Delta Lodge organized in Avoca.

1878 Greenback Party held convention in Council Bluffs.

1878 Walnut News began publication.

1878 Layton & Valley Twp. organized.

1878 Baptist Church completed and dedicated in C.B.

1878 Groneweg and Schoentgen begin wholesale grocery.

1878 First election held at Archer School in Hancock, Valley Twp.
1879 A.H.T.A. Society organized in Valley Twp.
1879 Election held for funds to open Union Avenue.
1879 Pleasant Grove C.P. Church erected.
1879 Rev. Poorman organized the M.P. Church of Valley Twp.
1879 Wabash, St. Louis, & Pacific R.R. completed to C.B.
1879 Union pacific employees paid in gold on this day.
1879 Eastern Star(Queen Esther Chapter)organized in Avoca.
1879 Grand Army of the Republic post began in Walnut.
1879 Pott. County Democratic Conv. held at courthouse.
1879 Carson got hail 3" in diameter.
1879 State Democratic Conv. met at Dohaney Hall, C.B.
1879 Fire Dept. held a Grand Ball at Dohaney Hall.
1879 Walnut Lodge No. 194 founded.
1879 Dodge, Korty, & Dickey start first telephone company in Council Bluffs
1879 Nonpareil published 1st list of phone customers (56)

1880 Abe Lincoln post, Grand Army of the Republic est.

1880 B.T. Stevenson built first grocery store in Hancock.

1880 Bloomer School built, tribute to Dexter Bloomer.

1880 Carson Branch of Chicago, R.I. & Pacific R.R. built.

1880 Cumberland Presbyterian built a church in Macedonia.

1880 First house built in Hancock.

1880 First public school built in Avoca.

1880 Fourth Ward School built, known as Bloomer School.

1880 Macedonia Tribune established.

1880 Methodist Church organized in Hardin Twp.

1880 Minden German Lutheran Church started.

1880 Mr. Hancock platted Hancock & named it after himself.

1880 Population of Council Bluffs was 18,063

1880 School No. 8 built in Pleasant Twp.

1880 Walnut installed city water.

1880 Z. Brown founded the Neola Tribune.

1880 Neola Presbyterian Church built, cost $1500.

1880 Dr. P.J. Montgomery arrived to open an office in .C.B

1880 Pott. Co. Vets organized. 120 Vets met at courthouse.

1880 V.A.S. Society organized in Avoca.

1880 I.O.O.F. organized in Neola.

1880 Cyclone struck Big Grove Twp.

1880 Presbyterians organize and establish a church.

1880 Macedonia Bank organized.

1880 Avoca Herald established.

1880 Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Dye, first child born in Macedonia.

1880 Mrs. Emma Mitchell became first death in Macedonia.

1880 Samuel Armstrong built the first house in Hancock.

1880 T.R. Van Pelt opened a barber shop at Revere House

1880 Rev. Todd appointed officers to form Oakland Church.

1880 German musical society, Avoca Mannerchor, began.

1880 C.B. gained title to Lakeview Park (Big Lake)
1881 Christian Church Built.
1881 Fire destroyed 16 buildings in Walnut.
1881 Methodist Church built in Hancock.
1881 Ruba Masonic Lodge organized.
1881 Town of Carson incorporated.
1881 Water Works inaugurated.
1881 W.H. Benjamin opened general store in Hancock.
1881 Odd Fellows Lodge built in macedonia.
1881 Reve-King Concert Company performs at Doaney's Opera House in Council Bluffs
1881 Plat for town of Hancock completed, not filed.
1881 Missouri flooded again, forming Lake Manawa
1881 Oakland Acorn began, only paper in Belknap Twp.
1881 First Memorial Day services held in Council Bluffs.
1881 Manawa Hotel opened at Lake Manawa.
1881 Seiffert and Weise opened a lumber yard in Hancock.
1881 State Fireman's Association meeting held in C.B.
1881 Lumber yard opened in Hancock.
1881 Irwin Lodge #118 organized in Neola.
1881 Bloomer school opened for High School classes.
1881 Upper part of Oakland platted.
1881 Congregational Church at Big Grove organized.
1881 Steam Boiler exploded set off car of dynamite at R.I.
1881 G. Deidrick started General Stores in Avoca & Hancock.
1881 Special election held to change form of C.B. gov't.
1881 King Kalakaus (Sandwich Islands) arrives in Council Bluffs
1881 Contract for rebuilding of Rock Island Roundhouse, destroyed by explosion, is let.
1881 Valley Lodge #439, IOOF, chartered at Hancock
1881 Valley Lodge. I.O.O.F. established in Valley Twp.

1882 Council Bluffs Mutual Benefit Association.

1882 First town hall built in Minden.

1882 German Day School opened in Minden.

1882 Milwaukee Rail Road entered Council bluffs.

1882 Oakland Incorporated from Big Grove.

1882 Towns of Neola, Underwood was chartered.

1882 Oakland Oddfellows Lodge #442 established.

1882 Plat for town of Hancock filed.

1882 Avoca Creamery opened for business.

1882 Agate Lodge, #423, organized at Neola.

1882 Cooper & McGee Hardware opened at 41 Main St.

1882 Fire in Macedonia destroyed most of New Macedonia.

1882 Methodist class organized in Wright Twp.

1882 Presbyterian Church built in Neola.

1882 Society of Friend organized in Norwalk Twp.

1882 Odd Fellows library merged with Free Public Library.

1882 First meeting of the Neola Town Council.

1882 Election held to incorporate Oakland.

1882 Election of Council Bluffs city officers.

1882 Peter Hall & Peter Weis started building storehouse.

1882 Sella Brothers Circus came to town.

1882 Will Haggerty opened butcher shop on upper Broadway.

1882 F.L. Clark became Asst. Supt. of Am. Express Co.

1882 H. Judd went to Ohio because his mother was dying.

1882 Edmundson and Shugart found the Citizens' Bank.

1882 Graybill and Fisher platted Underwood.

1882 Hancock Grain elevator completed.

1882 Chicago, Milwaukee, & St. Paul R.R. reached C.B.

1882 Citizens' Bank began operation.

1882 M.G. Griffin became manager of the Daily Bee.

1882 New York and Council Bluffs R.R. organized.

1882 J.W. McKenzie appointed 1st agent of C.&N.W.

1882 Wabash Battalion and Northwestern Battalion organized

1882 Fanny Kellogg (famous opera singer) came to C.B.
1883 Construction started on St. Columbanus Ch. (Weston)
1883 First Broadway Street fire in Minden.
1883 First electric lights arrived in Council Bluffs.
1883 Schmaedecke Hotel built in Underwood.
1883 St. Paul's Lutheran Church built in Boomer Twp.
1883 First water from C.B. waterworks pumped into mains.
1883 First fire department formed in Council Bluffs
1883 Christian Home Orphanage was incorporated.

1884 Avoca court established, held upstairs in Opera House

1884 Quick Post Office established.

1884 Reels P.O. established in Hazel Dell Twp. (Sec.6)

1884 Opening night for Dohaney's new Opera House.

1884 City Board of Health condemned Pott. Co. Courthouse.
1885 Supervisors leased Masonic Temple for County Offices.
1885 Hazel Dell United Methodist Church founded.
1885 James Crow organized & platted Minden School District

1886 C. B. became the 2nd city to have electric trolleys.

1886 First graduating class from Avoca H.S. had 3 students

1886 Hoopes and Lindsay opened a general store in Hancock
1887 Lake Manawa R.R. incorporated.
1887 Council Bluffs Rowing Association organized.
1887 Co. A, 5th Ia Inf. formed with A.W. Cowes, Captain.
1887 St. Peter's Catholic Church organized in C.B.
1887 Henry Castner first burial in Weston Cemetery.
1887 Cornerstone laid for St. Peter's, C.B.
1887 Steamer "Manawa" sank during storm, 3 drowned.
1887 Sisters of Mercy opened hospital in house on 4th St.

1888 City neighbors of America organized in C.B.

1888 RLDS Church built in Underwood (cost $2,000)

1888 St. Francis Xavier dedicated (5th Ave & 6th St.)

1888 St. Peter's Catholic School built on west Pierce St.

1888 St. Patrick's buy property to build new church.

1888 Third Pott. Co. courthouse dedicated & formally opened.

1888 St. Peter's Catholic Church dedicated on Palm Sunday

1888 Cornerstone laid for St. Patrick's Church, Neola

1888 30,000 witness opening of Broadway to Dodge St. bridge.
1889 Fire destroyed north side of main street in Carson
1889 5th Ave. Methodist Church incorporated.
1889 Epworth United Methodist Church incorporated.
1889 Fairview Evangelical Church built by Geo. Briggs
1889 Stewart Packing House burned. (14th St & 4th Ave.)
1889 Fairview Chapel dedicated.
1889 Town of Lake Manawa incorporated.

1890 E.K. Tausand built two story Minden School ($4875)

1890 John Burmeister built Walnut Hotel.

1890 Town of Minden incorporated.

1890 Blue Grass Palace opened at Creston, Iowa*

1890 Farm Creek Branch of LDS church dedicated.
1891 Town of Hancock incorporated.
1891 First Christian Church of C.B. incorporated.
1891 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church organized.
1891 St. Patrick's Catholic School opened at Neola.

1892 First part of Illinois Central bridge built in C.B.

1892 Town of Macedonia incorporated.

1892 Medical Society convention of Mo. Valley held in C.B.
1893 Bentley started when Chicago Great Western built.
1893 Co.L,51st Ia Inf. left for Spanish American War.
1893 7th Annual Bankers' Conv. met at opera House, C.B.
1893 Gun Club organized in Council Bluffs.

1894 Fire destroyed south side of Main Street, Carson.

1894 Second Broadway fire in Minden.

1894 Temperature 26 degrees below zero at Neola.

1894 Neola Post Office made a Presidential Office.

1894 Kelley's army (1500) arrived here.

1894 Cistern installed in Minden for fire protection.

1894 Col. Reeds Pavilion destroyed by tornado,(Lk. Manawa)

1894 Water Carnival held at Lake Manawa.

1894 Meteor fell near C.B. and exploded.

1894 Manawa Hotel destroyed by fire.
1895 First double track streetcar built.
1895 Uriah McClain built community store in Bentley.
1895 Fire destroyed the Deere Wells & Co. Fence Works.
1895 Fire Destroyed the Empkie Shugart Warehouse.
1895 First Congregational Church dedicated at Oakland.

1896 Post Office established at French (6 mi N.W. Neola)

1896 S.S. Bayliss, (Bayliss Park) died.

1896 School built on Mayne's farm, near Crescent.

1896 W.J. Bryan, Presidential Candidate, spoke at Neola.
1897 Walnut got gas street lights.
1897 Bethany Lutheran Church began as a Sunday Mission.
1897 Old Centennial Mill, Avoca, destroyed by fire.

1898 First water system installed at Minden ($5000)

1898 Fred Bore organized the Hancock Savings Bank.

1898 Avoca Public Library opened.

1898 Mount Hope United Methodist Church dedicated.

1898 Contract let for Water Works in Minden.
1899 Illinois Central Railroad entered Council Bluffs.
1899 Fire destroyed entire block of businesses in Minden
1899 First troops return from Spanish American War.
1899 Co.L, 51st Ia Inf. mustered out of federal service.

1900 First train from Illinois Central arrived in C.B.
1901 Germania Verein, social organization began in Minden
1901 Theodore Roosevelt stopped in Avoca.

1902 Underwood incorporated as a town.

1902 Hancock Telephone Company incorporated.

1902 Zion Congregational Church in Treynor dedicated.

1902 Oak Leaf Camp #3042 Royal Neighbors of Am. organized.

1902 Main building of I.S.D. destroyed by fire.
1903 Town of McClelland began.

1904 Corn Canning Factory established in Minden.

1904 Chicago Great Western R.R. began. (Ft. Dodge to C.B.)

1904 Mt. Hope United Methodist Ladies Aid organized.

1904 Third fire at Iowa School for the Deaf, Roof of boys' dorm destroyed.

1904 Cornerstone of B'nai Israel Synagogue laid.

1904 First meeting of the German Lutherans of Avoca.
1905 Town of Treynor incorporated.
1905 Elephants came to Lake Manawa (Hagenbeck Circus)
1905 Glendale Presbyterian Church chartered.

1906 Women's Christian Temperance Union began in C.B.
1907 Council Bluffs Auditorium built in 30 days for garden show.

1908 Droge Kiddle Hay barn burned. (518 Pearl St.)

1908 Cornerstone laid at Holy Family Catholic Church.
1909 First motion picture theater opened in Carter Lake.

1910 Rock Island Depot, Minden, burns to ground.

1910 National Horticultural Congress Show Opens in Council Bluffs
1911 I.S.D. quarantined for small pox & scarlet fever.
1911 Treynor Short Line R.R. opened. It ran 5 years.
1911 Lincoln Memorial dedicated in Council Bluffs.

1912 Olaf Nelson started Nelson Tin and Furnace Works.

1912 Avoca Cannery destroyed by fire.

1912 Novelty Theater of Neola burned to ground.
1913 Council Bluffs and Omaha hit by tornado. 3 killed.
1913 First Chataqua held in Walnut.
1913 First Sauerkraut day in Walnut.

1914 First class (6) graduated form Minden H.S.

1914 First electric light plant installed in Minden.

1914 Just Us Girls club formed in Hancock.

1914 Council Bluffs Fire Truck visited its first fire.
1916 Underwood Lutheran Church started.
1916 General Dodge died.
1916 Griswold Hardware Store destroyed by fire.
1916 Rev. J.N. Hoiser, Avoca, killed in R.R. accident.
1916 Capt. Powell,& Co.L, 3rd Ia Inf, leave for Mexico.
1916 Capt.of Co.L, 3rd Ia Inf. ordered recruits to camp.
1916 Macedonia Chapter of the Eastern Star granted charter

1917 Hancock Railroad depot burned to ground.

1917 Fire destroyed Sapp Block. (Scott St & Bdway.)
1919 R 6 Seaplane crashed in Lake Manawa.

1920 Robbers got $3.5 Million from train in C.B.
1921 Iowa National Guard unit starts in C.B.
1921 Eva King (Queen of Boxcar Bandits) captured.
1921 Raid planned in which Eva King arrested and 3 killed.

1922 Council Bluffs Altrusa Club organized.

1922 Lake Manawa Roller Coaster destroyed by fire.

1922 First football game for Thomas Jefferson (Beat Oakland 19 - 9)

1922 Fire destroyed Woolworth's at 4th & Broadway.

1922 Fire destroyed the Brown Block at 113 Pear.
1923 Minden bought a Model T Ford Fire Truck
1923 Horses make last run to fire for C.B. Fire Dept.
1923 Tornado killed several in C.B.

1924 Minden carnival started by American Legion.

1924 I.S.D. in Quarantine, 3 girls died.

1924 Swimming pool opened in Avoca.
1925 Tornado wrecks 40 farms near Neola. 1 Killed.
1925 Hancock Community Club started.
1925 Hancock Community Hall opened.
1925 Grand Hotel burned in Council Bluffs.

1926 Fire gutted Lake Manawa Pavilion.

1926 Trans Mississippi grain elevator destroyed by fire.

1926 Official beginning of Girl Scouting in Pott. Co.

1926 St. Patrick's Catholic Church dedicated (C.B.)
1927 Knox Twinklers 4H club formed.

1928 Creamery in Avoca made its first pound of butter.
1929 Rainbow Park established to memory of W.W.I. vets.
1929 Treynor Lutheran Church Dedicated.
1929 St. Paul Lutheran Church dedicated.

1930 Jewish Synagogue, 618 Mynster gutted by fire.

1930 First talking movie shown at Phoenix Theater, Neola

1930 Avoca Garden Club organized.
1932 First day that drivers' licenses required.

1933 Minden American Legion built a new hall
1934 Boy Scout Troop 97 of Avoca got its charter.

1935 Chicago Great Western Freight depot burned.

1935 Fire burned McAtee Grocery (Main & Pearl at 5th Ave.)
1936 South Omaha Bridge Road completed and dedicated
1936 Charter granted to Rebekah Lodge #65, Oakland, Ia.

1938 Fire burned Clark Drug, City Nat'l Bank and Apartment

1938 Treynor locker, pool hall and trading post burned
1940 First annual horse show in Walnut

1942 Avoca Rainbow Girls Club started.

1942 Gas Rationing began in Council Bluffs
1943 Minden Community Club organized.
1943 Ration books issued for fruits and vegetables.
1943 Processed food rationing starts in C.B.
1943 President Roosevelt visits Martin Bomber Plant.

1944 6 killed when bomber crashes near Big Lake

1944 The Pleasant Knox Peppy girls' club was formed.
1945 Leuth Staub V.F.W. post formed at Avoca.

1948 Schierbrock Dept. Store, Neola, destroyed by fire.
1950 Mayor Council form of Government abandoned by C.B.
1950 Knox project club for ladies was organized.
1950 First Presbyterian Church at 7th St. & Welton burned.
1950 Four South Main Street businesses destroyed by fire.

1953 Construction began on viaduct on West Broadway.

1953 Treynor Lion's Club organized.

1953 Botna Valley Blue Belles 4H Club started.
1954 Avoca Rotary Club was chartered.
1954 First meeting of the Up & At Em 4H Club.

1955 Minden United Church of Christ dedicated.

1955 Broadway Viaduct opened in Council Bluffs.
1956 St. Paul's Lutheran, Treynor, named a shrine
1956 Our Lady, Queen of Apostles Church established.

1958 Sewer system installed in Minden.
1959 Avoca RailRoad depot torn down.

1961 Avoca Nursing Home opened.
1964 Macedonia Chapter Eastern Star joins Carson Chapter

1965 First woman mayor of Walnut elected (Roma Arndt)
1966 Roosevelt School burned.
1966 Central Baptist Church founded by 27 people.
1966 Rebekah Lodge #439, Hancock, gave up its charter.
1966 Minden Republican Womens' Club organized.
1966 Avoca Courthouse named to Nat'l Hist. Register.

1967 Fire at Northcrest Manor Nursing Home evacuates 90.

1967 Track for the Northwestern R.R. reached C.B.
1970 First meeting of the Newtown Avoca Historical Society
1970 Ranks Dep't Store burned (325 West Broadway)

1971 Minden grain elevator burned to ground.
1972 Fire destroyed Elder Court Apts. 40 homeless.
1972 Hancock United Methodist Church celebrated Centennial

1973 Compulsory garbage service began in Minden.
1974 Strand Theater and Brodkey Jewelers burned.

1975 The Railroad closed the Neola Depot.
1976 Tornado hit Minden.
1976 Kirn Junior High School burned.

1980 Last day of operations for the Rock Island Railroad.
1982 Bluffs Elevator explodes, five killed, 22 injured.

1982 2 die in natural gas explosion and fire at 1st Federal Savings & Loan.
1987 Avoca Lions' Club Chartered.

1992 Clerk's office in Avoca Courthouse closed.
1995 Phil Gramm Pres. Candidate visited Squirrel Cage Jail



2000

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