Audubon County.

The residents of the county look with pride at the agricultural and industrial development it has shown in the past four years. Everything figured, Audubon county is now worth more than the whole Louisana [sic Louisiana] purchase, of which it was a part. There seems to be a great bridge of time between the time when the first settlers were reclaiming her prairies from the virgin soil and now, that the new generation cannot realize. All its people are acquainted with its soil and we will pass to some of the early events of the county, acknowledging the assistance of John T. Jenkins, H. S. Wattles, Hon. H. F. Andrews and others in securing data.

Audubon county was organized by order of Judge Benedict, then of Cass county, in the spring of 1855, the first election being ordered and held April 2, of that year. It was named for the naturalist, John Janie Audubon, who died that year.

The first actual settler was Nathaniel Hamlin, who with his daughter, Mary, staked out his claim in March of 1851. He then went back east and John S. Jenkins moved in with his family in May of the same year.

The first deed was a conveyance of thirty-five acres of land by Samuel B. Hopkins to John S. Jenkins for the consideration of $100.

The fist village platted was Dayton, July 8, 1855.

The first child born was a child to Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Decker in December, 1851.

The first marriage recorded was that of George L. Kellogg to Susannah Kingon April 16, 1856, Urbane Herrick officiating.

The first log house was raised by N. Hamlin in the spring of 1851, on Section 35, Township 78, Range 35, west.

The first frame barn was put up by Bry Milliman, July, 1857.

The first newspaper was issued in December, 1860, and called the Audubon County Pioneer.

The first school house built was a log building put up by N. Hamlin and D. M. Harris, who furnished nine children for it. Miss Ellen Northgrove, who became the wife of Albert Wakefield, was the teacher. It was a private school.

The first postoffice was at Nathaniel Hamlin's, who was commissioned postmaster by Zacharias Taylor in 1853, October 1.

D. E. Soar was the first harness maker, who located in Exira, 1870.

The tax in 1858 was County tax four mills: State tax one and one-half mills; Road tax one mill; in all eight mills on the dollar.

Hon. H. F. Andrews built the first brick building, the office he now occupies in Exira.