Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1920-07-29
EARLY DAYS OF
AUDUBON COUNTY

ed the first settlement of Audubon
county. There is no evidence of
any settlement here by white peo-
pie before that time.
1t will be seventy years next
spring since Nathaniel Hamlin ac-
companied by his brother James
and three others William Powell,
David Edgerton and Samuel Ogden
went west to look up a location for
a home They travelled to Council
Bluffs called Kanesville) and from
there up the Missouri river some
distance but found nothing desir-
able. Disheartened they decided to
return to their homes.
| On their return they followed the
Mormon Trail; the trail made by
the Mormons on their journey from
Nauvoo, Illinois to western Iowa.
The trail ran east from Council
Bluffs to the Nishna Botna and
thence up Troublesome Creek.
The water was high and they
crossed the creek one at time in
feed poX taken from their wagon,
and camped on it's bank. The loca-
ton pleased Nathaniel Hamlin and
he decided to make his future home
there and staked a claim. This was
in March and this claim was the
first site for a home in Audubon
county.
Mr.. Hamlin fastened back to his
home in Mahaska county after the
necessary equipment and returned
with his daughter Mary, ten years
old, seven yoke of work oxen, wagon
implements for work and provisions.
His brother, William and a Mr..
Decker came with him.
On their return journey they fell
in with John S. Jenkins and family
who were also on their way west to
look up a location for home.
Mr.. Jenkins decided to visit the
locality where Mr.. Hamlin had de-
cided to settle and see for him
self the beautiful country which
was described in such glowing color.
He did so and the party arrived at
Hamlin's claim on May 9th.
The next morning Mr.. Hamliu
commenced cutting logs for his
cabin, while Mr.. Jenkins and the
two men who came with Mr.. Ham.
lin took tramp to discover Other
desirable locations. Decker stakec
his claim where is now Boy Her.
rick farm and Mr.. Jenkins stakeC
his near the big spring on section
20 which now furnishes the water
for the Hallock home. William
Hamlin, the other man, staked bis
claim Just over the line 10 Cas-
county.
Mr.. Hamlin built his cabin anc
:, with little Mary, the ten year old
daughter, to drive the team, broke
out forty acres of land which ht
planted in sod corn, buck wheat
] turnips and potatoes.
D After doing his breaking ano
g planting he went back to Mahaska
f county after his family, arriving
i here with them on September 18th
b The family Of Mr.. Decker came
5 with them also Mrs. Decker moth
e er and brother, Mrs. Haggard ane
= her son, John Haggard. The Hag.
CARDS settled where Isaac Lewis af-
g forwards lived in section 26. John
I Milton Donnell came that fall als q
5 and lived in Audubon county many
e years.
4 VIM. Powell, another old settle
settled near where AID Seibert nov
. lives. About the same time DR.
Q Samuel M. Ballard, a physician o
Iowa City came and explained to
the settlers that he was seeking
+ good sized tract of farm and timber
land and that Audubon county suit
o ed him if he could secure the land.
The land was not yet in marke
+ and there were no laws concernin,
it but the settlers were dubbed to
n gether to make rules and regulation
- regarding claims and for mutua