From the beginning of the town in 1869, until it was incorporated in 1880, Dallas Center was a small country town under the jurisdiction of commissioners appointed by orders of the Circuit Court of the State of Iowa in and for Dallas County.  An item in The Dallas Center Globe of February 1880:  "Incorporation Election Notice:  Notice is hereby given that there will be an election on Monday, the 22nd day of March, 1880, at the office of the Dallas Center Globe, Dallas Center, Iowa, to vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" the incorporation of the town" -dated February 23, 1880, and signed by the following commissioners:  J.  Warford, John Fox,  O. R.  Woodward,  John Lloyd and  J. A. Richmond.

          Immediately following the March 22 election, quote, "After four unsuccessful attempts to incorporate the town, the measure carried by a very decisive vote of  70 "FOR" and  44 "AGAINST", being a majority of 23 in favor of the measure."

          Results of the first election of the incorporated town of Dallas Center, April 30, 1880, were reported as follows by election Judges John Lloyd,  J. A. Richmond and O. R. Woodward:  "There were 102 votes cast for mayor of which F. Hubbard received 57.  M. A. Townsend received 45.  For clerk, or recorder,  J. I. Kramer received 102 votes."  Trustees, or councilmen, elected included:  O. R. Woodward,  J. S. Easton,  J. F. McGrath,  J. W. Humphreys,  E. J. M. Stevens and James L. Loring.

          The first recorded matters of business of this first town council included that of composing and adopting ordinances regulating and informing citizens of rules established for the supervision of the town in consideration of the best interest of all.

          Ordinance No. 1, June 10, 1880, Boundaries and Seal, Sec. 1 concerned the official boundaries of the town.  Sec. 2, quote:  "The seal of the town of Dallas Center shall have the words "Dallas Center" around the outer edge and the word "Seal" in the center thereof."

          Ordinance No. 2, also adopted on June 10, 1880, concerned licenses, quote, "Be it ordained by the Town Council of the town of Dallas Center, Iowa.  Sec.  1.  That any person engaging in any of the vocations hereinafter named within the incorporated limits of said town shall first procure a license therefore, and for which shall be paid the sum hereinafter designated for such vocation, namely:

          1st - Saloon keepers for the sale of wine, beer, ale and other drinks not prohibited by the laws the state, shall pay $50 per annum or any portion thereof.  2nd - Billiard table keepers shall pay $25 per annum for each table (Repealed 1907), 3rd - Bowling alley keepers shall pay $25 per annum for each track (Repealed 1907).  4th - Bagatelle keepers shall pay $25 per annum for each table.  Any table whereon games may be played with balls and cues, not a billiard table shall be deemed a bagatelle table.  5th - Non-resident auctioneers of merchandise shall pay $5 per day.  6th - A peddler with one horse and wagon shall pay $5 per day.  7th - A peddler with two horses and wagon shall pay $7 per day.  8th - Other peddlers shall pay $1 per day or such sum as the mayor may deem just.  any person retailing any goods, wares or merchandise, fruits, vegetables, meats, fish or edibles along or upon the public street or from house to house shall be deemed a peddler.  9th - Dray-men with one horse and dray shall pay $5 per annum.  10th - Dray-men with two horses and one dray shall pay $10 annum."

          This is only a partial listing.  Others pertained to circus owner's fees, exhibitors of wild animals, agents, venders of patent medicines and traveling exhibitors of legerdemain, wax figures, paintings, statuary, theatrical plays and any person engaged in giving any public entertainment and the fees required of them, as well as the fines for failure to comply with the regulations.  Many of these ordinances were repealed as they became unnecessary and others were added as changing needs arose.

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IN MEMORY OF

John Anderson                              Thomas D. & Harry L. Neff

Ora F. Ward & Florence Bomberger Ward     Dewey Harmon and Ed Harmon Family