County History.

In April, 1851, the first white settlers crossed the boundless prairies and settled in Audubon county. History varies as to who were the first settlers, at least the honor of affecting the first settlement lies between Nathnaiel Hamlin and John Jenkins both having come here about the same time. The latter gentleman arrived with his family consisting of a wife and several children while the family of Mr. Hamlin did not come hither to make their home until the fall of 1851. Both of these sturdy pioneers built log hots, broke a few acres of land, after having set the stakes that designated their claims, and commenced life in earnest on these prairies. Mr. Jenkins resided here until his death which occurred in 1885. Mr. Hamlin still lives upon the land which he first settled and at this writing is a vigorous man of years. But few settlers came afterwrds until the breaking out of the Rebellion. Prior to 1860 but 156 actual settlers old enough to be termed voters, resided in the county.

This section was not greeted with a very large settlement until about the year of 1875-76. It was at this time that Captain Charles Stuart (deceased) and Hon. Geo. Gray, came from Illinois and together purchased large tracts of the most choice land. They realized with the shrewd eye of speculators, that a railroad would be built into the county by the C. R. I. & P. R. R. Co., as this corporation owned many thousand acres of land which would only become valuable when such a road had been constructed. They turned over hundreds of acres of the virgin prairie in 1876. From that time to the present the county has witnessed a marvelous growth and not a few reside in our midst at the present who have realized handsomely by their land speculations. Land that in 1875 sold at $3.00 to $5.00 per acre is now worth $35.00 to $40.00 and even as high as $60.00 per acre.

The first village platted within the county was Dayton, the same being executed in 1855.

The first birth was a child born to Mr. and Mrs. A. Decker in December 1851. The mother died in childbirth and this is the first death in Audubon County.

The first store was opened in Oakfield in 1855 by E. D. Bradley, father of F. P. Bradley of Audubon.

The first sale of land was made on August 16th 1854, a quarter section in section 17, township 78 and range 35, west, being sold for $100.00.

The first marriage in Audubon county was that of Geo. L. Kellogg to Susannah Kingon April 16, 1856.

The first log house was built by N. Hamlin in the spring of '51.

The first mill was built by Green, Chapin and Hobbs at Louisville in the summer of 1856.

The first general election was held in 1856, a total of 86 votes being cast for presidential candidates.

The first post office was established in 1852 at the residence of N. Hamlin in Oakfield township. Mr. Hamlin was the post-master.

The first county fair was held on section 15, township 78, range 35, in 1859.

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

The first school house was a log building erected in 1857 and but nine pupils were enrolled.

The first church edifice was built at Exira in 1870.

The first court was held in 1855 at the Hamlin log school house.

The earliest attorneys in Audubon county were D. M. Harris and D. S. Andrews.

Audubon county was organized in the spring of 1855. The name was derived from the eminent naturalist, John James Audubon. On June 3rd, 1862 the county was sub-divided into three townships, these were named Audubon, Exira and Oakfield. In 1873 five more townships were created, the same being Douglas, Greeley, Hamlin, Leroy and Viola. In 1874 Cameron and Melville were added; in 1875 Sharon was created and the following year Lincoln township was given its birth.