Town's Incorporation Came Late, 24 Years
after First Permanent Settlement in 1868
According to definition,
incorporation is the act of combining into one body, society, or
organization.
It seems that back in Doon's early days the thought of "combining"
was not a very much discussed or controversial issue. In January,
1892, issues of "The Lyon County Press" there is little
editorial or public comment concerning the issue. In one small
item it was stated "The people of Hull say they are
satisfied with incorporation. They say it is not expensive and
that it pays."
There was sufficient interest, however, to cause the District
Court of Lyon County, in its December 1891 term, to appoint the
following commissioners to hold an election on the incorporation
of Doon:
C.M. Goodyear
C.P. Scott
Chas Creglow
J.H. Gallagher
B.H. Perkins
All qualified voters were instructed to vote on the issue at an
election to be held in the school house in Doon on Saturday,
January 16, 1892, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The
form of the ballot was to be:
"For Incorporation" or
"Against Incorporation"
After notices of election were properly published in the paper
the election was held at its appointed time. The 55 votes cast
were unanimous for incorporation. There was only one dissenter
who owned property in Doon, but lived in Rock Rapids, and he did
not vote.
The January 29th, 1892 District Court decreed that since Doon had,
by proper election, unanimously voted for incorporation, it
should now be known as the "Incorporated Town of Doon."
Doon now being legally established as a town, needed officers to
supervise the inevitable affairs and problems to come. The court
appointed Commissioners gave notice of the first election in the
March 3, 1892 issue of the "Lyon County Press." This
announcement stated that the election was to be held Monday,
March 3, 1892, for the purpose of electing the following officers:
one mayor, six trustees, and one recorder.
Where as the question of incorporation had stirred up little
civic interest, the coming election drew much attention, probably
because personalities were now involved. For a while it looked
like the town would be split on two tickets, but the "Press"
editor rallied the people toward a unifying single ticket.
A town caucus was convened on the Saturday night preceeding the
election, for the purpose of balloting for nominees for the
ticket. The following men were nominated for office:
Mayor: H.D. Rice
Recorder: A.H. Thompson
Trustees: B.F. Cogswell, Hans Lorenzen, John Bentl, G.W. Bower, C.B.
Fairbanks, and L.H. Bailey.
In the election that followed, all nominees were elected, H.D.
Rice receiving 70 votes out of 70 cast, and Thompson receiving 69.
The town was ready to do business!