History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/3/Counties/Guthrie
GUTHRIE COUNTY was at one time a part of the original county of Keokuk and was created in 1851. It contains sixteen townships embracing an area of five hundred ninety-three square miles, and lies in the fourth tier east of the Missouri River and in the fourth north of the State of Missouri. The county was named in memory of Edwin Guthrie who was captain of the only company Iowa furnished for the Mexican War. He was mortally wounded in battle and his name was given to this county through the influence of his friend Theophilus Bryan.
In 1848 John Nevins made a claim and built a log cabin in what is now Jackson township. Other settlers came during the next two years and in July, 1851, Theophilus Bryan was appointed sheriff to organize the county government. At the first election the following officers were chosen: Theophilus Bryan, judge; Silas G. Weeks, clerk; Thomas M. Boyles, treasurer; Michael Messenger, sheriff, and William Carson, prosecuting attorney. The county-seat was named Panora.
When first created the eastern boundaries of the county were six miles east of the present lines. The first term of court was held by Judge McFarland in 1854. In December, 1855, William Tracy established a weekly newspaper at Panora called the Western Pioneer. During the same year a town was laid out near the geographical center of the county and named Guthrie Center. In 1859 it became the county-seat which was two years later removed to Panora but in 1873 again removed to Guthrie Center where it has remained. The county is traversed by the south and middle branches of the Raccoon River and its surface is for the most part rolling with a good supply of native timber. The Rock Island Railroad traverses the southern part of the county, the Des Moines Northern the eastern and the Milwaukee the northern townships.