An attempt will be made to list some of the early settlers known to have located in the Dallas Center area in the early years, those known to have century-old or older family farms and a few of the landmarks.

          Among the earliest known pioneer settlers was the family of Dr. James B. Brenton who came by covered wagon from Indiana in 1853, sixteen years before the town of Dallas Center came into being.  They purchased land southwest of the town site.  Dr. Brenton, father of William H. Brenton, was the first medical doctor west of Des Moines and became known as the "doctor on horseback", serving his fellow-men for 38 years, until his death in 1891.  William H. Brenton was 13 years old when he rode horseback beside his father's covered wagon to Dallas County.  During those early years he saw the first retail business open in Dallas Center in 1869 and told of seeing Indians as they came through the country begging from farm to farm.  As of 1969, the land which was purchased in 1853 is still in the family, making it 116 years in the Brenton name.  It has come down through Charles R., W. Harold and now under the tile Brenton Farms, Inc., is being managed by the sons of W. Harold who are fifth generation family members.

          In the same wagon train with the Brentons, were Mr. and Mrs. David Smart and the Moses F. Clark family.  The three families built a cabin that first fall on the Brenton land and all lived together in it the first winter in Dallas County.  The Smarts also purchased land nearby, but sold it later.

          Moses F. Clark and wife and four children accompanied the above families from Nobelsville, Indiana in October, 1853 and settled on a farm purchased by them from the Government, located about four miles southwest of Dallas Center.  James William Clark accompanied his parents to Iowa.  Four more children were born to the Clarks, one of whom was Robert Henry Clark.  The farm is still in the Clark name, owned by the children of thse two sons.  Those owners living in Dallas County include:  Florence F. Clark and Louise Clark Hubbard, daughters of James William Clark; and Georgia W. Clark, daughter of Robert Henry Clark, all residing in Adel.  Georgia Clark and her father were both born on the farm that his father and her grandfather homesteaded.

          Andrew Rhinehart, a native of Virginia, came to Iowa by covered wagon in 1853, spending the first winter in Polk County.  In the spriing of 1854, he and his wife and four children came to Dallas County.  He purchased a grist and saw mill on the Coon river approximately two miles north of the present highway No. 44 bridge.  In 1863, he purchased and settled on 258 acres, north of the four corners west of town, on highway No. 169.

          George L. Rhinehart, (1847-1916) eldest son of Andrew and Margaret Rhinehart, continued to own and operate the family homestead as well as additional land in Sugar Grove township, until he moved to a newly constructed home in Dallas Center on Kellogg Avenue in 1902.  The ownership of the original land has continued in the family through Charles Rhinehart (1876-1944) and presently Rhinehart Farms, Inc.

          George L. Robertson bought the SW ¼ Sec. 36 in Grant township in 1864.  His son, Benjamin S. Robertson owned and operated it later and presently it is owned by his daughter, Pearl Beckel.

          Early in the summer of 1868, Robert Scott, his wife and four daughters moved to the farm northeast of Dallas Center, in Grant and Sugar Grove townships, which they had purchased.  Robert Scott was born in Scotland and lived in the state of New York before coming to Iowa.  They travelled by train to Des Moines, then finished the journey in a horse-drawn wagon.  There was a small house to live in but no conveniences, few neighbors, no fences or trees.  Much land was still open prairie with ponds and had not been cultivated.  There were many hardships.  Three of their young daughters died during their first years here.  The remaining daughter was Anna Mary, later Mrs. F. F. Ellis.

          Robert Scott operated the farm for many years during which time his grandson, Robert Scott Ellis, was growing up and was assuming much of the work and responsibility.  In 1922, following World War I, R. Scott Ellis moved to the farm and lived there the remainder of his life.  It is still owned by his family and his sons Robert and Richard are operating it now.  In recent years the farm has been known as the Scott Ellis farm.

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