During the 100 years, six generations of the family have lived on the farm including Robert Scott's father, Samuel, who also came here from Scotland via New York State.

          In 1869, Benjamin and Helen Fox purchased a farm one and one-half miles southwest of Dallas Center.  It was later owned by their son, Priestly Fox and then by Harry Fox, father of Lawrence Fox and Kathryn Fox Burger.

          The John Kent farm, southeast of Dallas Center in Walnut Township was purchased in 1869.  It has since been owned and operated by William Kent and is presently owned by his daughter, Mary Kent Dukes.

          Adam Durkes bought a farm just southwest of Dallas Center in 1865.  It has been owned since by a son, William Durkes and is presently owned by Harry Durkes.

          Solomon G. Barton came from New York and purchased a farm west of Dallas Center in 1869.  It has been owned and operated later by Albert Barton and presently is farmed by his son, Dwight Barton.

          Thomas J. Randall came to Iowa in 1860 and to Dallas Center in 1869.  He homesteaded 240 acres of good farm land about two miles northeast of Dallas Center in 1869.  The original house built at that time was replaced in 1962 by a modern farm home.  One hundred forty acres of the original homestead remain in the Randall family as of 1969, present owners being Mrs. Harry Randall and her daughter, Jane Thompson.

          The L. L. Collins family came from New York originally.  They lived in Michigan and Indiana briefly and came to Dallas county in 1855.  He purchased land northeast of Dallas Center in Grant township.  Some of this land is still in the Collins family.  His sons were Ed. L., James B., Gilbert, Fred and Silas Collins.  Daughters were Cecelia Collins Bowman and Jessie Collins Barrett.

          Other names familiar in the community in early days include L. Morgan, Joe Slocum, Moses Slaughter, Julia Slaughter Lunn, J. A. Richmond, George Smith, John Fox, Jacob Beare, C. E. Bomberger, Jacob Sehman, Daniel B. Zuck, Joseph Rowe, Peter B. Hoff, Christian Royer, John H. Royer, Abram Ebersole, Jacob Weber, Joseph K. Myers and J. O. McClure to name only a few.

          Elizabeth Winkley Snell, 1804-1907, was born in England.  In 1869, she came to Dallas Center to visit her two sons Richard and William Snell.  She  moved here the following year, 1870, remaining until her death in 1907.  At that time she was the oldest woman in Iowa, having passed her 103rd birthday.

          Barney Murphy, 1858-1937, was born in Ireland and came with his parents and family to Dallas Center early in 1869.  His father helped build the railroad grade through this area.  Barney Murphy saw the town of Dallas Center spring up on the barren plains, dotted only sparsley with farm houses.  He experienced the hardships of the early pioneers and remembered his father walking to Des Moines for flour and other groceries for a growing family.  He often recalled the thrill of the first train in town in July, 1869.  He attended the first school in a railroad shack north of town taught by Julia Slaughter Lunn, as well as the first schools held in town in any available place before the school house was built.  Mr. Murphy became active in buying and selling horses.  It was largely due to his efforts along this line that Dallas Center became known for its large shipments of horses in the early 1900's, often shipping at least a carload of horses each week from this area.  When he died in 1937 at the age of 79, he was the last survivor of those who were in Dallas Center before the railroad was completed.

          Dr. B. H. Criley, 1850-1945, came to Dallas Center to practice medicine in 1871.  He was so young looking that one pioneer mother said that she hoped her family stayed well that winter as he "looked too young to be a doctor".  Dr. Criley married Addie L. Morgan of Pennsylvania who was a worldwide concert pianist.  While here, he built the home at 506-15th and the office at 504-15th about 1890.  He retired in 1914 and moved to California after selling the office and house to Dr. E. J. Butterfield, who had started his practice in town in 1903.  Dr. Butterfield retired in 1946, selling the home and office to Dr. W. A. Castles, who in partnership with Dr. E. E. Lister, still maintain the office in 1969.

          What may be the oldest house in the community which is still in use, is the present home of the Robert Morris family about three miles southwest of town.  It was built by Joe Slocum in 1865 making it 104 years old.

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