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Lyon County History and Information

VEIW FULL SIZED D.O.T. COUNTY MAP

Lyon was created on January 15, 1851 (Organized in 1872) from Unorganized Territory. The County was named for Nathaniel Lyon, brigadier general in the Mexican and Seminole Wars. Lyon was killed while leading the First Iowa Infantry at the Battle of Wilson's Creek in Missouri. This was the first battle in which Iowa troops took part in the American Civil War. The County Seat is Rock Rapids.

Counties adjacent to Lyon County are Rock County, Minnesota (north), Nobles County, Minnesota (northeast), Osceola County (east), Sioux County (south), Lincoln County, South Dakota (west), Minnehaha County, South Dakota (northwest). Cities and Towns Include Alvord, Beloit, Doon, George, Granite, Klondike, Inwood, Larchwood, Lester, Little Rock, Rock Rapids.

The county was originally called Buncombe County, in honor of Edward Buncombe of North Carolina. On September 11, 1862 it was officially changed to Lyon County. The county originated in 1872.

The first county business was held in the homes of the various county officials, often over 45 miles apart. Some offices were held in the village of Beloit. In 1873 the county offices were all located in the town of Rock Rapids, named for the rapids found in the Rock River.

Bids for the first courthouse were opened on May 5, 1873 but it was not until June 24, 1874 that the cornerstone was laid into place. The $14,000 courthouse was dedicated in 1875.

This building was later moved to the north, where it became the Marietta Hotel. Today the three-story building stands as the Boon-Mar Apartments.

The present Lyon County courthouse was started in 1916 and completed one year later at a cost of $135,053. The three-story structure is constructed of Indiana limestone, and the main entrance is appropriately decorated with a carved stone lion. Many of the original pieces of oak furniture are still used in the building. In the summer of 1991, an inventory was taken of all unused furniture, equipment and miscellaneous items throughout the building. Many of these pieces were donated to the Lyon County Historical Society. A public auction was held to dispose of the rest of the items. See also County History for more details.

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Records at the Lyon County Courthouse

Lyon County Vital Records

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Lyon County Maps & Atlases

Lyon County Military Records

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Lyon County Genealogical Addresses

Lyon County Church & Cemeteries

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Lyon County USGenweb Archives
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County History

From the A.T. Andreas Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Iowa, 1875

Lyon is the northwest county of the state, the Big Sioux River separating it from Dakota Territory. It is thirty-seven miles long, east and west, by about seventeen north and south, containing an area of about 575 square miles, and has an altitude of nearly 1,400 feet above sea level.

The principal streams are the Big Sioux, which borders it on the west, and the Rock River with their numerous tributaries. The main branch of Rock River flows centrally across the county, receiving near the south line its principal tributary, Little Rock River, which flows through the county from northeast to southwest. A considerable tributary called Mad Creek, also rises in Minnesota and meanders nearly across the county. Among other tributaries of Rock River are Kanaranza, Otter and Tom Creeks. These are all clear and beautiful streams, and completely water all parts of the county. The Big Sioux and Rock Rivers furnish some excellent mill sites. The valley of the Big Sioux is from three to six miles wide, and is exceedingly fertile. Along this stream are some fine groves of native timber, and there are also a few groves on Rock River, though the supply of timber in the county is quite limited. The prairies are rolling, and in fertility are unsurpassed, there being but little or no waste land in the county. The soil is generally a drift deposit, covered with a black sandy loam and vegetable mold. It produces the finest crops of cereals and grasses.

By an act of the General Assembly, approved January 15, 1851, the boundaries of the county were fixed, and the name of Buncombe given to it. By this name it was known on the early maps. By an act, approved January 12, 1853, Buncombe County and several others were attached to Wahkaw (now Woodbury) County for judicial and revenue purposes, and thus remained until its organization January 1, 1872; but by an act, approved September 11, 1862, the name was changed to Lyon, in honor of General Nathaniel Lyon, who fell at the battle of Wilson's Creek. At the time of the creation of Buncombe County the title to the soil still vested in the Sioux Indians, but by a treaty of July 23, 1851, they relinquished the title to the United States, and stipulated to remove at once to their reservation on the Upper Missouri. They did not take their final departure, however, until several years after. The government surveys in the county were not completed until 1857.

Long before there were any permanent settlers in the county this was the resort of many adventurous hunters and trappers. One of the most noted was Daniel McLaren, who built his cabin on the Big Sioux at the mouth of the little creek which now bears his name. After the county began to settle he took a homestead, but finally went further west. "Old Tom" had his cabin at the mouth of Tom Creek, near the present town of Rock Rapids, and was killed by the Indians. The names of three other daring adventurers were Roy McGregor, George Clark and Thomas Lockhart, young men from Massachusetts, who were here in the Summer of 1862. McGregor was killed by the Indians; Clark was drowned in March, 1863; and Lockhart, after many narrow escapes, returned to civilization. Lewis P. Hyde, from Minnesota, made the first permanent settlement July 23, 1866, taking a homestead on the Big Sioux River, about two miles below the present Town of Beloit. He, with his sons, built the first settler's cabin. In the Fall they returned to Minnesota and spent the Winter, coming back in Spring with their families. Sioux City, seventy miles distant, was the nearest market, and during the Summer of 1867 the Sioux Indians were their only neighbors. In the Fall of 1867 Halvor Nelson, and his brother Ole Nelson, of Clayton County, visited the county seeking a location for a mill. Early in the Spring of 1868, with a colony, they returned to the county, and Halvor Nelson immediately set to work to build a saw mill. Part of this colony settled west of the Big Sioux River in Dakota. In May, 1868, H. D. Rice went from Clay County and settled on Rock River, locating at the place known as Doon. Mrs. Rice came in September, and was the first white woman to settle on Rock River.

In August of this year Emerick Irwin and H. W. Reves built cabins and settled near, and J. B. Hartron in December following. These persons, and the little colony at Beloit, comprised the population during the Winter of 1868-'9. In the following May, Charles H. Johnson of Wisconsin, settled on Little Rock River at the mouth of Otter Creek, and soon after T. W. Johnson, A. A. Johnson, Emerick Irwin, and the Messrs. McGuire, located in the same vicinity. In June of the same year D. C. Whitehead, of Webster County, went up Rock River to look for a location. On his way he was joined by Matthias Sweesy and Delos Tousley. On the 22d of June they reached the point to which Mr. Whitehead gave the name of Rock Rapids, where they selected homesteads, and thus made the beginning of another thriving settlement. The following also settled in different parts of the county prior to 1870; George W. McQueen, John A. Wagner, S. G. Martin, Justice Martin, Amos Severson, Thorseten Korsted, Ole Sorenson, Hans J. Oleson, Simon Toblason, John Albertson, E. W. Lewis and others, the colony at Beloit also receiving considerable additions. At the close of the year 1869 the population of the count had reached about one hundred, although the first settlement was made three years before. Since this time the population has rapidly increased.

On the 28th of May, 1871, the first white child was born in the county-Odena Lee, daughter of A. K. Lee. The first sermon was preached by Reverend Ellef Oleson, at the residence of Mr. Nelson, at Beloit, September 6, 1870; and at the same time and place was solemnized the first marriage—that of Ole Torberson and Petrina Peterson. The first death was that of Lyman A. Wagner, son of John A. Wagner, December 26, 1870, aged four years and twenty days. The first school was taught in the Winter of 1870-1 by Mrs. D. C. Whitehead, at Rock Rapids. On the 25th of July, 1871, was commenced, by C. E. Bristol, at Rock Rapids, the publication of the first newspaper—the Rock Rapids Journal. At first this paper was printed out of the county. The first paper printed in the county was the Lyon County Press, the first number of which was issued at Doon, September 20, 1872, by L. B. Raymond & Co.

On January 1, 1871, Lyon County severed its connection with Woodbury, and was organized as an independent county. At this time the county was divided into two civil townships—Lyon and Rock. The first election was held October 10, 1871, at which ninety-seven votes were polled. The following county officers were elected; Charles E. Goetz, Auditor; James H. Wagner, Treasurer; D. C. Whitehead, Clerk; T. W. Johnson, Sheriff; Thomas Thorson, Recorder; L. A. Ball, Superintendent of Schools; Ethan Allen, Surveyor; and J. S. Howell, Charles H. Johnson and H. T. Helgerson, County Supervisors.

ROCK RAPIDS — This is the county seat, and is situated on a beautiful prairie tableland at the junction of Rock River and Kanaranzi Creek. Adjoining the town there is a very pretty grove of native timber, and the river here furnishes several excellent mill sites. There is an abundance of rock suitable for use in the construction of dams.

BELOIT — This place is situated on Big Sioux River, at the extreme southwest corner of the county. There is fine water power here, and also some beautiful groves of maple, elm and other kinds of timber.

DOON — This town is situated on a smooth plateau on the east bank of Rock River, at the confluence of Mad Creek, Rock and Little Rock Rivers. It commands a fine view of the valleys of these streams. Two fine water powers are furnished at this point.

LARCHWOOD —This is the central point of a large colony from Illinois, and is surrounded by excellent farming lands. It is in the northwestern part of the county.

Lyon County Courthouse

Rock Rapids, located in the geographical center of Lyon County, was chosen as the first county seat. A successful vote at a general election led to the approval of a $15,000 contract for a courthouse in April, 1874. A two-story frame building was finished in 1875.

The second courthouse was built in 1916 and remains in nearly its original condition. The outer walls are made of cut Bedford stone lined with brick. The building measures approximately 110 feet by 71 feet and is 52 feet high. A full-size cast stone lion guards the main entryway and Italian marble lines the corridors leading to a rotunda. The building cost $109,695.13.

Lyon County History and Information

Records at the Lyon County Courthouse

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Lyon County Vital Records

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Lyon County Census Records

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Lyon County Maps & Atlases

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Lyon County Military Records

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Lyon County Tax Records

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Lyon County Genealogical Addresses

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Lyon County Church & Cemeteries

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits