History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/3/Counties/Mahaska
MAHASKA COUNTY was embraced in the original county of Demoine and was created in February, 1843. It lies in the fourth tier west of the Mississippi River in the third north of the Missouri State line and is twenty-four miles square containing five hundred seventy-six square miles. It was named for the noted chief of the Iowa Indians, Mahaska, which signifies “White Cloud.” The county is watered by the Des Moines, the North, South and Skunk rivers and their tributaries, contains extensive deposits of coal and is well supplied with native timber.
The first white settler in the county was Mr. Macbeth who, in October, 1842, selected a claim one mile above the “Hardfish” Indian village which then occupied the site of Eddyville. The cabin was occupied some years by John B. Gray and family. The county was not opened to white settlers until May 1, 1843, but scores of families were camped near the line in April, and, when the last night of the month came, rushed across the border to make a choice of claims. Among those who made homes in the southern part of the county at this time were Dr. E. A. Boyer, W. A. Delashmutt, John B. Gray, A. S. Nichols, and many others. For months settlers flocked into the county selecting homes mostly in the groves and along the timber belts which bordered the streams.
In February, 1844, M. T. Williams was appointed clerk and William Edmundson sheriff to organize the county. At an election held in April the following county officers were chosen: A. S. Nichols, William Stanley and Robert Curry, commissioners; William D. Canfield, treasurer; William Edmundson, sheriff; William Pilgrim, recorder, and John Cunningham, clerk. Commissioners chosen to locate the county-seat made choice of a farm belonging to W. D. Canfield at a place called the “Narrows” and gave it the name of “Mahaska.” The county purchased the farm upon which the town was platted by David Stump, the county surveyor. At the suggestion of M. T. Williams the commissioners changed the name of the new county-seat to Oskaloosa.
In June, 1843, a town had been laid out by William James on “Six Mile Prairie” which he named Harrisburg. George W. Jones afterwards purchased the ground and changed the name to Auburn. John W. Jones, his brother, who became State Treasurer, lived in the town and owned an interest in the plat. A strong effort was made by the proprietors to secure the county-seat.
The first mill in the county was built on Muchekinock Creek by Joseph H. and John K. Bennett in 1843. Miss Semira Hobbs taught the first school in 1844; and a church was organized the same year by the Methodists at Six Mile Prairie. The Oskaloosa Herald was established in July, 1850, by W. H. Needham and Hugh McNeeley. The Des Moines Valley Railroad was the first built into the county.