The society of Friends have a fine settlement in the southeast corner of the county.  They hold out, we believe, more pleasing and substantial inducements to their brethren who may desire to settle in a new country, than are offered elsewhere in the West.

As a whole our citizens are intelligent, generous and enterprising, and we doubt if a happier people may be anywhere found.  The early settlers of Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin now look back upon the day when they were pioneers as the happiest period in their lives.  So it is here.  Gladly do we journey a dozen miles to raise the log cabin of a settler, or to join in a social gathering.

Our people take an active interest in the advancement of agriculture, manufactures, education, the growth of our towns and villages, and above all the settlement of the country.  Those who come among us to find homes or engage in business pursuits will be greeted with a hearty welcome, aid and encouragement.

A county agricultural society has been organized which will hold its first fair during the present fall.

Several Christian societies have been organized, and measures are being taken for the erection of churches.

The orders of Free Masons and Odd Fellows are represented among our citizens, and their early organization is proposed.

Our early settlers foresaw danger in the neglect of education.  To guard against the evils of materiality they have adopted the common school system which has so long vitalized the eastern states, and which has followed the pioneer as inseparably as his shadow.

Seventeen school buildings, costing from one to three thousand dollars each, and provided with all the modern conveniences, have already been built in Lyon county.  Not only are the common branches taught, but, wherever numbers will admit, graded schools may be established.  Our public school system is closely connected with the State University and the many colleges in Iowa, and our educational advantages are not surpassed in the older states.

The revenue for the support of these schools is ample.  First, there is section sixteen in every township granted by the general government for school purposes.  This grant in Lyon county amounts to 11,520 acres of choice lands which will be sold to actual settlers, for the support of schools.  To this may be added the interest annually received from the permanent State School Fund--now amounting to over four millions of dollars--and revenue from taxation.  The large quantities of non-resident and railroad lands in the county may be taxed for school purposes and internal improvements.  The latter gives an advantage over localities where the lands are largely in the hands of government and are non-taxable.