Woodbury County is situated on the western border of the State, in the third tier from the north line. It is twenty-four miles north and south, by from thirty to thirty-six miles east and west, embracing a superficial area of about 832 square miles, or 432,480 acres. About 146,000 acres of this land is Missouri River bottom, of great fertility, and unsurpassed for agricultural and grazing purposes. This bottom is from six to ten miles in width and mostly above high water mark in the Missouri River. Although apparently nearly level, it is dry and susceptible of easy tillage. The soil is a deep loam, with a sufficient proportion of silicious material to render it retentive of moisture, while it seldom remains for any length of time so wet as to prevent the farmer from giving attention to his crops. Immediately adjacent to the valleys are the bluffs, forming a narrow belt, usually too much broken for cultivation, but a short distance back the land becomes gently rolling, and is well adapted to farming purposes. The Missouri, one of the great rivers of the continent, forms the western boundary of the county as far up as the mouth of the Big Sioux River. Thence, to the northwest corner, a distance of about five miles, the latter stream marks the western boundary. The principal streams flowing through the interior are Floyd, east and west forks of the Little Sioux, and Maple Rivers. Perry Creek is also a stream of considerable size. All these streams flow through rich and beautiful valleys, and receive many small affluents that completely drain the entire surface. The Little Sioux and Floyd Rivers furnish water power for the machinery. There is a deficiency of native timber in this, as in other counties of this part of the State. There are some groves of valuable timber, however, bordering on the Missouri and along the Big and Little Sioux Rivers. The varieties common are cottonwood, hickory, oak, walnut, elm, and maple--the first named largely predominating along the Missouri River. It has been found that many kinds of timber may be easily propagated, and when planted on the prairies make a rapid growth.

The geological formation is such as to allow but few exposures of rock in the county, or indeed, in this portion of Iowa. The entire surface is covered by the peculiar formation known by the name of "bluff deposit," extending to the depth of many feet. The bed of the Missouri River at Sioux City is 340 feet above that of the Mississippi at Dubuque, in the same latitude. There are at Sioux City, and one or two other places, exposures of a sandstone formation of the cretaceous age, with a stratum of soft, chalky

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limestone overlying it. This is too soft for masonry, but is used for making quicklime. The sandstone is quarried for ordinary building purposes. The same formation appears on Big Sioux River about two miles above the mouth, and extends, with occasional exposures, to the northwest corner of the county. The surface of the "bluff deposit" is used for making brick. The clays in the cretaceous deposit furnish an excellent material for making pottery. Woodbury, however, must rely chiefly on its fertile prairies for its development into a prosperous and wealthy county.

On the 14th of May, 1804, Captains Lewis and Clarke, with forty-two men, under the direction of the War Department of the Government, started from their encampment at the m0uth of Wood River, in what is now the State of Illionois, to explore the Missouri River and the unknown regions of the Northwest. After many strange adventures, and the accomplishment of a thousand miles of their journey, on the 18th of August they landed on the Nebraska side of the river, nearly opposite the southwest corner of the present Woodbury, where they held a council with a party of Ottoe and Missouri Indian Chiefs. On the morning of the 20th the Indians mounted their horses and left, having received some presents from the whites. On the 19th, in camp at the place where the council was held, Sergeant Charles Floyd, of the expedition, became very sick and remained so all night. The next morning, however, which was Monday, August 20, the party set out on their journey up the river. Having a "fine wind and fine weather," they made thirteen miles, and at two o'clock landed for dinner on the Iowa side of the river. Here Sergeant Floyd died.About one mile farther up the river, on the summit of a high bluff, his body was buried with the honors due to a brave soldier. His comrades marked the place with a cedar post, on which were inscribed his name and the date of his death. About one mile above, a small river flows into the Missouri, and here the party encamped for the next day. Captains Lewis and Clarke gave this stream the name of Floyd's River, to perpetuate the memory of the first man who had fallen in their expedition. The next day they set out early, passed the bluffs, now within the limits of Sioux City, which are mentioned in the journal of Patrick Gass, a member of the expedition, as "handsome, pale colored bluffs." Willow Creek and Big Sioux River, the latter just above where Sioux City now stands, are also mentioned. During a great freshet in the Spring of 1857, the turbulent Missouri washed away a portion of the bluff, so as to expose the remains of Sergeant Floyd. The citizens of Sioux City and vicinity collected the remains and re-interred them some distance back from the river on the same bluff.

The title of the Indians to the land in this portion of Iowa became extinct in 1847, and in the summer of 1848, forty-four years after the burial of Sergeant Floyd, a single pioneer, named William Thompson, settled at Floyd's Bluff--the first white man who

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became a permanent settler of the county. In the autumn of the same year his brother Charles and another man followed and spent the winter there, being, at that time the only white men in the county. Anticipating an immense immigration, he laid out a town here and named it in honor of himself--Thompsontown. Like other western towns, this for a while was supposed to be the point. To give it an air of business, and aid in its development, he erected here his cabin, and, on the organization of the county, in 1853, this was made the county seat. It was a sort of post for Indian traders for some years, but the city lots were too steep for cultivation, or for building, and, unfortunately, there was no place for a landing on the bank of the river, and the stakes are all that now remain to mark the progress of the town.

In may [May], 1849, Theophile Brughier, a native of Canada, but of French descent, settled at the mouth of the Big Sioux River, about two miles above where Sioux City now stands. Three years before he had visited the spot and made selection of the location. In 1835, at the age of twenty, Brughier left Canada and went to St. Louis, where he had an uncle who was a member of the American Fur Company. Under the advice of his uncle he engaged in the service of the company, but remained in their employ only a short time, when he joined the Yankton Sioux Indians and married a daughter of the somewhat distinguished chief. Hu-yan-e-ka, (War Eagle). He became a prominent man in the tribe, and had acquired great influence with them. After remaining with the Indians, and sharing the fortunes of the tribe for some ten years, he concluded to change his manner of life, and notified the tribe of his intentions. Accordingly, with his faithful Indian wife and children, he left the post of the American Fur Company and came down the river and settled, as above stated, at the mouth of Big Sioux River. War Eagle, the Indian chief father-in-law of Brughier, died in his house in the fall of 1851, aged about sixty-five years. He was a noted warrior among the Sioux, but always a friend of the whites. He was first recognized as a Chief of the Yankton Sioux by Major Pilcher, the Indian agent. About the year 1830 he was for some time employed as a pilot on the Upper Mississippi. His remains, with those of his two daughters, one of the the deceased wife of Mr. Brughier, now repose on the summit of a lofty bluff on the Iowa side of the Big Sioux River, just above the its mouth. Here are also the graves of several other Indians, as well as whites--eight or ten in all. From this romantic spot may be seen for many miles the broad winding Missouri, with its noble valley, the far off Blackbird Hills in Nebraska, with the intervening plains, islands and groves, and a portion of the rich bottom lands of Dakota, stretching as far as the eye can reach between the two rivers toward the northwest.

Note: I lived in Sioux City for some time, and my sister still lives there, so I am familiar with the above locations. I have included, on another page, photos of the Missouri River depicting the description given in the above paragraph, along with a photo of the monument to War Eagle. It is really a beautiful view.

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In the fall of 1849, Robert Perry, a man of somewhat eccentric character, but of fine education, removed from Washington D.C., and settled on the small creek which meanders through Sioux City, where he remained two years, and then removed elsewhere. The creek now bears his name. The next year Paul Pacquette located at the crossing of Big Sioux River, about two miles above the mouth.

In the spring of 1852, Mr. Brughier sold a portion of his cultivated land, including what is now a part of Sioux City, to a Frenchman named Joseph Lionais, for one thousand dollars. About this time some difficulty occurred with the Indians at Fort Vermillion, and a small number of French descended the river and made a temporary settlement in the same vicinity. After this no further permanent improvement was made until the spring of 1854, when Doctor John K. Cook, who had a government contract for surveying, arrived with his party. Being impressed with the eligibility of the place for the location of a town, and the romantic beauty of its surroundings, he and his party immediately located claims. Among those who selected and located claims at an early day in the vicinity of Sioux City, was the brave General Lyon, who fell at Wilson Creek.

At the mouth of the Floyd River, Dr. Cook found encamped the red men of the forest, with Smutty Bear, their Chief, who ordered him to desist from his work under penalty of being driven from the place by his wariors [warriors], whom Smutty Bear would summon from the upper country. The belligerent Doctor boldly replied, through the interpreter, that he would go at once, if necessary, for a sufficient force to exterminate Smutty Bear and his band. Dr. Cook plainly told him that he had come there to make a survey, and he meant to complete his undertaking. The savages, impressed with the determination evince by Dr. Cook, and intimidated by his well-timed threatenings, struck their tepees, and departed, leaving him there to complete his labors uninterrupted.

In the Winter of 1854-5, the town of Sioux City was laid out. Among the settlers at that time were the following: Hiram Nelson, Marshall Townsley, Franklin Wixon, G.W. Chamberlain, and Francis Chappel. About this time the Indians became troublesome, and began to steal horses, cattle and other property. Expeditions were fitted out against them, none of which, however, were attended with bloodshed. In the spring of 1855, Joseph Lionais sold his land for three thousand dollars, and on this an addition to Sioux City was laid out. It then contained two log cabins, but now comprises the principal business portion of the city. The first stage and mail arrived in Sioux City about the first week in September of this year, a postoffice having first been established. This event was hailed by the settlers as the beginning of the era of civilization. By Christmas Day there were seven log house, two of them being hotels--the "Sioux City House," and the "Western Exchange." Two stores were opened, one of which was kept in a tent, and the other in a log cabin. Late in the season settlers

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came in rapidly, and many who could not obtain houses were obliged to camp out. In the Spring of 1856 the population had reached about 150. The land office had been opened here for preemptions, October 22, 1855, but the public lands were not offered for sale until May 4, 1857.

By an act of the Legislature the county seat had, 1853, been located at Floyd's Bluff. In the Spring of 1856 it was removed to Sioux City by a vote of the citizens of the county, the majority in favor of removal being fourteen. The county was organized in 1853.

The first steam boat freighted for Sioux City was the "Omaha," and arrived in June, 1856. Her freight consisted of ready framed houses and provisions. In July of this year a stream saw mill was erected. Mrs. S.H. Casady and Mrs. J.R. Myers were the first women who spent a Winter in Sioux City. Both came in the Summer of 1855. The first white child born in the place was a daughter of S.H. Casady and wife, in 1856.

Among transcriptions fromthe earlies records, we find the following:

SERGEANT'S BLUFFS, WOODBURY COUNTY, STATE OF IOWA:
   To the organizing Sheriff of said County: We have fixed upon the southeast quarter of section 1, township 88, range 48, west of the Fifth Principal Meridian, at the point for the seat of justice for the aforesaid county of Woodbury, and, set a stake on the avenue, coming east and west between lots 131 and 97, as laid down in Thompson's plat of Floyd's Bluffs, in said County, and recorded in the Recorder's Office of Pottawatamie County, Iowa, this 18th day of July, 1853.

THOMAS L. GRIFFEY,
IRA PERYIER,
Commissioners.

This appears to be a copy from the Pottawattamie County records. The next entry bears date of January 2, 1854, and mentions that Thomas L. Griffey is allowed for services as Locating Commissioner $18.50, the same being Order No. 1. It would seem that men were scarce; for Order No. 3 is also to Thomas L. Griffey for services as Locating Sheriff. July 16th, 1854, Ray Harvey is allowed $2 for hauling a box of books from Council Bluffs City. These were doubtless the first permanent records kept by the county. By a warrant--or bond, it is called in the record,--issued August 10, 1854, it appears that Leonard Bates had acted as Clerk of Elections, and that R.E. Knox acted as the first District Clerk, probably Clerk of Election.

August 12th, 1854, is the first entry bearing date of Sergeant's Bluffs, which appears to have been written there. This entry mentions that L. Bates is allowed $16.65 for services as Treasurer and Recorder, and is signed by M. Townsley, County Judge. On the same day, Lewis Cunningham is allowed $10,50 for services rendered as Assessor.

The officials mentioned appear to have been appointed to hold until the first election; for on August 16th of the year following,

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John Cook give his bond as County Judge; Samuel H. Casady as Treasurer; M.F. Moore, Prosecuting Attorney.

October 15th this entry appears: John R. Myers was this day appointed District Clerk for this county, in place of Theophile Brughier, suspended by the District Judge at the last term of District Court." The proceedings, as appears by this record, are mixed as to dates, as if some original entries and others were copied from an older book.

August 1, 1853, Thomas L. Griffey as Organizing Sheriff, appointed Orin B. Smith Prosecuting Attorney and Eli Lee, Coroner. On the 30th of the same month, Hiram Nelson gives his bonds as Treasurer and Recorder.

A petition is on record, asking Orin B. Smith, County Judge, to call an election on the first Monday of April, 1855, to decide whether the county seat shall not be removed from Sergeant's Bluffs to Sergeant's Bluffs City. The petition is signed by twenty-six persons. The first seat of justice was half way between Sioux City and the present station of Sergeant's Bluffs. It is called on the records indifferently, Sergeant's Bluffs, Thompsontown and Floyd's Bluffs.

The election removed the county capital to Sergeant's Bluffs City, now Sergeant's Bluffs Station, on the Sioux City & Pacific road, where it remained until March 3d. Here let the record under this date tell the story.

This is all that is disclosed by the records about the locating of the county seat at Sioux City. When it is remembered that the County Judge before whom the petition for removal came, was John K. Cook, the founder of Sioux City, no further record is need to indicate what disposition was made of the petition for removal.

April 15th, 1859, Berhard Henn, Jesse Williams, A.C. Dodge, and others, petition the County Judge, John K. Cook, to enter for them the west one-half of section 28, township 89, range 47, as a town-site in trust for the lot owners. This town-site in the petition is called East Sioux City, now part of Sioux City east addition, and now comprises the principal business and residence parts of the town.

The present officers of Woodbury County are: J.R. Zuver, Circuit Judge, Fourth Judicial District; C.H. Lewis, District Judge, Fourth Judicial District; S.M. Marsh, District Attorney;

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Auditor, M.L. Sloan; Treasurer, John P. Allison; Clerk of Courts, J.H. Bolton; Recorder, Phil Carlin; Sheriff, D. McDonald; Coroner, Dr. W.O. Davis; Superintendent of Schools, N.E. Palmer; Surveyor, G.W. Oberholtzer; Attorney, G.W. Wakefield; Insane Commissioners, J.H. Bolton, Isaac Pendleton, Dr. J.M. Knott; Supervisors, P.C. Eberley, J.S. Horton, John Nairn, A.J. Weeks, D.T. Gilman.

Sioux City

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