The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1904-01-28
HOW LEON WAS NAMED ]
Some Interesting Facts Regarding
Our City as Tcld by !. N. Clark
and II. S. Miller.

ltS name attracted the attention OF Mr..
|. N. Clark who enjoys the distinction of
being the Oldest resident in this city
now residing here, and he called and
told us all about it.
Mr.. Clark came to Decatur county in
May, 1852, and ran the first store in this
part of the county, which was located
at what was known as the Oney corner,
a mile and half south Of what is now
Leon, which was before there was any
settlement at all. where Leon pow
stands. When the town was first start
ed in 1858 it was called Independence,
and Mr.. Clark in partnership with
I. b.. Winn opened store under, the
name of T. H.. Winn & Co. In 1854 he
moved to Decatur City and opened a
store under the firm name of Clark,
Vim & Co., which he conducted for
thirteen months and then returned to
Independence and again engaged in
business in partnership with Winn. At
that time there was considerable trouble
over the mail getting mixed with mail
for independence, town in Buchanan
county, and to avoid this the name was
changed to East Independence. About
the time of the county scat fight which
was won by this city, the county seat
being moved here from Decatur City,
there was talk of changing the name to
something shorter. One night a, number
of the business men got together to talk
over matters and select new name.
Among the number was George Moore,
of the firm of Richards s. Moore, and
while discussing the matter he kept
talking Of Leo, the lion, and finally
suggested that the town be called Leon.
This seemed just to suit every one
present, SO it was decided to change
the name to Leon and the change was
made at once.
EDITOR MISUNDERSTANDING read in
last weeks REPORTER an inquiry about
the naming of our county seat, will en-
deavor to give few facts relating to
the matter for the benefit of your read
ers. II,
] have been a resident of this county
for fifty years. Some of these facts arc
taken from the historical record, the
others from memory. The site of Leon
was first surveyed for a town called In
dependence. There being another town
of that name in Iowa the name was
changed to South Independence. This
was it's name when it became the coun-
ty seat in May, 1858. In the winter of
1s54-5, the name was changed to Leon
in compliance with a petition of the
citizens. The petition was drawn up
by committee consisting of DR.. J. p.
Finley, S. G. Thompson and George L.
Moore, who We're appointed by the citi-
zens of South Independence. Several
names were suggested among them the
name of Leon by George l.. Moore, who
had been to California and became fam
iliar with the name while there. Leon
was the name selected by the committee
and they petitioned the legislature
which granted the change.
1t is said Thomas II. East owned the
land and had built a house on the town
site before it was laid out for town.
S. G. Thompson was the first to build
after the location of the village. The
next building was put up by w. w. Ellis
and he sold the first goods in Independ-
ence. The next mercantile firm was
Cleveland, Winn q Co. |. N. Clark sold
goods for the firm.
remember a little incident that oc-
Cured at their store when fire broke
out in the building. Mr.. Winn, being
somewhat excited and water scarce,
thought Of the barrel of whiskey in the
other part of the store, drew b-cket-
full and threw it on the flames to put
out the fire. AS it blazed up he ran to
Mr.. Clark with this exclamation:
CLARK! Clark! D-m, hi, makes it
burn worser."
Another little incident, relating to
Clark and Winn, occurred at the Patter-
son Hotel where they boarded. "Uncle
Ike" no doubt, remembers it we'll.
Leon never had boom, but has grown
slowly and surely. It's population in
1856 was about 600. Fl. S. MILLER.
EDITOR REPORTER R-You ask some of the
old settlers Of the county to answer the
question, "Why was this city called
Leon?" The word Leon is an abbrevia-
tion Of the word Leonin which means,
resembling lion or partaking of his
qualities" (Leo) hence it would mean
strong, powerful, great; Leon, great
and powerful city, as the man who sug-
gested the name supposed it would some
day, and of course it is. j. f. CARRIER
To Patrons of the public Library.
Commencing Monday, Feb. 1, 1904,
the Leon Public library will be open
I