The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1915-04-08


Leon is located sixty miles south
of Des Moines, and about two miles
east Of the geographical center OF
Decatur county.
When Decatur county was first or
gained, Decatur City was chosen for
the county seat, but on account OF
the high water, it was not located
there within the time given by. the
legislature, so it was declared illegal
as the county seat. The county seat
was then moved to Independence.
There being another Independence
in Iowa, the name was soon changed
to South independence. The town
was laid out by the county surveyor
in May, 1853. The original plat was
eighty acres, forty being donated to
aid in the erection of public build
ings.
The first house in South Independ
ence was built by S. c. Thompson in
1853, although Thomas East built a
log cabin here in 1851, before it was
chosen for a county seat.
The first store was opened by l. N.
Clark in September, 1853. He had a
good trade with the Indians of the
five hundred to six hundred coming
at the same time. About this time,
w. w Ellis, Reuben ShakeltOn, and
John w. Warner came here.
The first court house was cheap,
two-story frame building, built on
the lot where Stephen Vargas house
now stands. In 1854, this building
was sold to William Blair and a new
brick court house was built where
kraft's clothing store now stands. 1t
was two stories high with three
rooms below, which were used for
Offices, and one above, which was
used for the court room. Also dur
ing this year, school house was
built on Gospel Ridge in east Leon.
H. V. wainwright was the teacher.
During the latter part of 1854, the
name OF South Independence was
changed to Leon by the vote of the
citizens. They sent petition TO the
legislature. 1t was drawn up by
committee of citizens, consisting OF
S. C. Thompson, DR.. J. P. Finley and
George L. Moore The name was
probably suggested by w. H. Chever,
who became attracted by it while he
was a, soldier in Mexico. BY an act
OF the legislature on January "a,
1853, the location of the county seat
can never be changed
About this time post office was
established and Joshua Davis was
chosen post master.
By the close of 1854, Leon had
four stores, about fifty private
houses and court house nearly COM
pleted 1t had population of about
eighty-fve.
The first. newspaper in the county
was established by P. H. and George
Binkley in 1865. It was called the
Leon Pioneer" The first Fourth of
July celebration was held in 1855.
The Odd Fellows lodge was the
first lodge in Leon 1t was organic
ed October 8, 1855.
IS After two years, the log school
house became too small to accommo-
date the number that wished to at
tend school, so the lower floor of the
old court house was used, but in
1857 this building was blown down
in a terrible storm and the building
back OF kraft's store and. one east
of the present town square were
used.
In 1857, the first church in Leon,
the Methodist, was completed. In
this building, meetings were held ev-
cry Sunday. II a minister could not
be obtained, John Patterson or Jim
Jordan would hold class" During
1857 and 1858, John Davis was in
charge Of the services.
The Jail was a log building one
block west of the northwest corner
of the square. 1t had iron bars over
the windows and was then consider
ed very safe. John Parrott, of Osce-
ola, was prosecuting attorney and
Mr.. Sears was judge.
In 1859, stage coach line which