Home > Records > History Main > 1877 History

Cass county is the second county east of the Missouri river, in the third tier from the southern boundary of the State, lying east of Pottawattamie and west of Adair counties. It is exactly square in outline, being twenty-four miles from east to west and the same from north to south. Consequently, it contains five hundred and twenty-six square miles, or three hundred and sixty-eight thousand six hundred and forty acres. The county is divided into sixteen Congressional townships.

Much the greater part of the surface of the county is prairie, and between the valleys and the large streams it is usually gently undulating. The character of the valleys of its creeks is almost entirely that of drift valleys, the sides being gently sloping and nowhere steep. A few exposures of rock in the Nishnabotany produce some steepness of its sides at a few points, but these are rare exceptions. The county is drained principally by upper branches of the West Nodaway; the East Nishnabotany (almost universally called the 'Botna), Indian, Troublesome, Buck, Turkey, Crooked and Camp creeks. The creeks and streams drain the county completely and give considerable diversity to its surface. The 'Botna and Nodaway rivers, Indian, Troublesome and Turkey creeks, afford good water power for mills.

The soil is a black loam and of such fertility that its cultivation will ever be the principal industry of our people. In many places the black soil is eight feet deep, and not being underlaid by hardpan, will stand drouth or flood better than the soil of any other prairie country.

Stone for building purposes is not found in first class quality in the county, as yet, although we believe a good quality of lime stone will yet be discovered. Sand stone suitable for cellars and foundations is found near Lewis in large quantity. It is largely used for those purposes.

Timber is plenty along the streams and creeks, and wood for fuel is cheap. Coal has recently been discovered in section 34, Edna township, and is being taken out in large quantities. The residents of that portion of the county are supplied with coal, at nominal cost. Coal is sold at Atlantic, Wiota and Marne, (the four railroad towns in the county), at from $4.00 to $5.00 per ton.

The county has post offices ample for the accommodation of the people with mail facilities. The offices are as follows; Atlantic, Anita, Lewis, Wiota, Marne, Cass Center, Whitneyville, Newlon's Grove and McDill. Some of the residents of the south part of the county get their mail at Grant adn Wilson post offices, in the edge of Montgomery county.


From the History of Cass County, Iowa Together With Brief Mention of Old Settlers
by Lafe Young, Atlantic, Iowa: Telegraph Steam Printing House, 1877. Transcribed for Cass County by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2013.