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Was organized in 1853, and is the western tier of counties, and the fourth from the north line of the State. It is bounded on the north by Plymouth County, on the east by Ida, on the south by Monona, and on the west by the State of Nebraska. It is one of the largest counties in the State being twenty-four miles wide and forty miles long. The Little Sioux River passes through the eastern part, its west fork through the central portion. Floyd River flows through the northwestern township, the Maple River through the southeast township, and the Missouri and Big Sioux Rivers form its western boundary. The central portion of the county is rather hilly in some townships, but the fine lands along the rivers and in the northern townships, make it one of the best counties in that part of the State. There is not, however, timber enough to supply the intervening prairies, unless prudently used, over a space of several miles among ridges, and at the heads of timber ravines, extending a mile or two from the Little Sioux. There are frequently seen patches of young oaks of a year's growth, growing as thick as weeds, and some spots that have escaped the annual fires of two or three years, with some spots also of larger growth, where the thinner grass in burning had only injured but not killed the young trees. It is probably that at not a very distant period there was a forest of oak encroached upon by the prairie fires, with the roots still remaining and supporting a dwart forest which bears acorns, even upon the second and third years growth. If the fires were kept from such tracts the lands would in a few years be covered by a dense forest. Another peculiarity of the Missouri slope is the absence of boulders, but few being seen except along the face of the fluffs of some of the rivers. The drift deposit appears to have been deeper along the Mississippi slope, and hence but little rock is seen in places even where the beds of the streams are a hundred feet below the average level of

the prairie. The channels of the streams have probably worn into the rock, but the day, gravel and surface soil have slid over the erosions, until the rock, if once exposed, is now seldom seen. The rivers are generally very crooked, have a strong current, and with banks and beds of clay or alluvium compoased of the surface soil. The winding courses of the streams across the wide bottoms, sometimes without timber margins, have the appearance of canals. It is another peculiarity that the soil though so loose does not wash, but in the absence of rain becomes so absorbent as to receive the rain and melted snow without forming rills or brooks of much extent, except when supplied by unfailing springs. Perpendicular banks of streams ten or fifteen feet high, often with trees growing up directly in front of them, are a curiosity, at least to those accustomed to see earth banks of at least 45 degrees of inclination. The timber along the Big Sioux and Missouri is mostly oak among the ravines, and cottonwood on the river bottoms.

The climate of this district is evidently more dry, there is usually less snow, and the annual fall of rain is less than near the Mississippi. This slope may be considered the eastern part of the dry region extending to the foot of the Rocky Mountains, but without that objectionable degree of dryness common to the plains of western Nebraska. It is a country well adapted to stock growing, and especially to sheep. In this respect it is unsurpassed.--Many of the "sloughs marked on the plats of Government surveys are the best grass lands, and may be driven over with a team at any season of the year. Some of the prairies also marked "second rate," probably on account of the lighter grass, are now proved to be the best grain lands. The average height of the Little Sioux, Floyd, and Missouri Rivers, above the ocean, is nearly 1,300 feet. The present market advantages of the county are good, being connected with St. Louis by the steamboat trade of the Missouri, as well as with the States of Nebraska and Dakotah.

SIOUX CITY, the county seat, is situated on the Missouri River, two miles below the mouth of the Big Sioux River. It contains six general stores, one hardware store, one drug store, one grocery, and numerous mechanical shops of various kinds. It is to be the terminus of the DuBuque and Sioux City Railroad, and the starting point of one of the branches of the Pacific Railroad. It possesses all the advantages that would be expected in such a fortunate location, and has a population of about 1,000.

SMITHLAND is on the Little Sioux River, thirty miles southeast of Sioux City. It contains a Methodist church, one flour mill, three saw mills, two general stores, and one grocery. The Little Sioux River affords many good mill privileges. Population 125, township 300.

WOODBURY is on the Missouri River, and on the stage route from Council Bluffs to Sioux City. It has a Methodist church and one saw mill. Population 100.

The remaining post offices and villages are Correctionville, Linndale, Morris and Oto.

Is situated in the fifth tier of counties west of the Mississipi [sic Mississippi] River, and is bounded on the north by Minnesota, on the east by Mitchell County, on the south by Cerro Gordo, and on the west by Winnebago.

The principal stream is Shell Rock River, which heads in Minnesota, and flowing in a southeasterly direction, enters the county twelve miles east of the northwest corner, and leaves it five miles west of the southeast corner. It flows through a very fertile country, and affords several good water powers. The banks of the river are rocky, but not in the least bluffy. Elk Creek is a small stream, which heading in the northwest part of the county, empties into Shell Rock River, a little south of the village of Northwood. Deer Creek is in the eastern part of the county, and flowing east, empties into Cedar River, in Mitchell County. Beaver Creek heads in the northwest corner of the county, and empties into Shell Rock River at Northwood.

The general surface of the county is slightly undulating, and consists of about one-eighth timber and the remainder prairie. The timber is principally oak, and much of the timber land is what is called "oak openings." The soil is good, and well adapted to the cereals suited to the climate. The facilities for stock raising are of the best kind. Building stone is found in abundance on Shell Rock River and Elk Creek, and there is plenty of brick clay, in the different parts of the county.

The only manufactories in operation in the county, are: a water power flour mill and saw mill, at Northwood. There are other good water powers which are unimproved. Manufactories would pay well as it is a good country for sheep, and there are no more good water powers, for about one hundred miles, both north and west.

The county was organized in 1857, and contains seven townships, as follows: Bristol, Brookfield, Fertile, Hartland, Northwood, Silver Lake and Union. The first settlement was made in 1853, by Gulbrand Olesen and Simon Rustad. The population of the county is about 1,200, an increase in two years of 40 per cent.

NORTHWOOD is the county seat, in the northern part of the county, on Shell Rock River, which affords good water power at this place. It has one general store, and one flour and saw mill. Population, 150.

BRISTOL is in a township of the same name, in the western part of the county. It has one Methodist Church, one general store, and one saw mill. Population, 100.

HARTLAND is a post office in a township of the same name, 10 miles northwest of the county seat, on the State line. Population of township, 200.

Is situated in the third tier of counties from the north, and the sixth from the east line of the State. It is bounded on the north by Hancock, on the east by Franklin, on the south by Hamilton, and on the west by Humboldt and Webster Counties. The Iowa River runs in a southerly direction through the eastern portion of the county, and Boone River through the western. The timber which covers about one-fourth of the county, is mostly on these two streams, and the central portion of the county, is one large, level prairie. Burr oak, black walnut, elm, linn, butternut, hickory, ash and maple are the principal varieties of lumber. The soil is a black loam, and well adapted to all kinds of grain. Good brick clay is found in considerable quantities, but building stone is rather scarce.

Wall Lake in the southern part of the county, is surrounded by a wall which has the appearance of having been made by hands, but was in fact formed by natural causes. The county was organized in 1855, and contains eight townships: Boone, Belmont, Eagle, Grove, Iowa, Liberty, Pleasant, Troy and Vernon. The early settlements were made on the Boone and Iowa Rivers. Among the early settlers on the former were:Dr. Crapper, C. H. Martin, H. W. Montgomery, Nelson Usher, M. B. Brossfield, N. B. Paine, S. B. Hemett and Son, and William Striker. On the latter Henry Lunck, A. Dumond, J. W. Elder, L. H. Cutler, Isaac White and Robert Bowen.

GOLDFIELD, a small post village, is the county seat.

BELMOND is situated in the northeast portion of the county, eight miles from the county seat, and thirty miles northwest of Iowa Falls. It contains two churches, Methodist and United Brethren, two general stores, and a flour and saw mill. The Iowa River affords a good water power at this place. The soil is sandy, and well adapted to corn, wheat and oats, and stands the extremes of dry or wet weather, remarkably well. Population of township, 400.

BACK GROVE is in the southwestern portion of the county, about ten miles from the county seat, and fifteen miles northeast of Fort Dodge, on the stage route from Webster City to Luni. It contains one church, Methodist Episcopal. The soil of the township is a black mould, varying from one to four feet in thickness.

The remaining post offices and villages are: Fryeburg, Luni and Montgomery.

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