Sac County History and Information

Sac was created on January 15, 1851 (Organized in 1856) from Unorganized Territory. The County was named for the Sac Native American tribe. The County Seat is Sac City.

Counties adjacent to Sac County are Buena Vista County (north), Calhoun County (east), Carroll County (southeast), Crawford County (southwest), Ida County (west). Cities and Towns Include Auburn, Early, Lake View, Lytton, Nemaha, Odebolt, Sac City, Schaller, Wall Lake.

Sac County was originally attached to Benton County. In 1851 the Legislature established the current boundaries of Sac and attached it to Wahkaw or Woodbury County. On January 22, 1853 it was attached to Polk County and on July 1, 1855 it was attached to Greene County for administrative reasons. A census was taken later that same year and 251 people were counted, enough to finally establish Sac County as an independent county. It was formally established by law in 1856 and named for the Sac Indian tribe, which was prominent in the area. The name means either "People of the Yellow Earth" or "red bank."

In November 1856 the citizens of Sac County petitioned the District Court to appoint a commission to locate the county seat. Sam H. Riddle, 7th District Judge, appointed two men to "within two months locate the Seat of Justice as near the geographical center as may be, having due regard for the present as well as the future population." Later that same month the county seat was established and named Sac City.

In the summer of 1860 a special election was held to determine the building of a courthouse. The election called for the raising of $10,000 - via 10 percent bonds - to be paid $1,000 annually and asked should a tax be levied. The bond issue passed and construction was begun in the fall by W. N. Neservery of Webster County.

By the end of the decade the citizens realized that they had built a courthouse that was too small to handle the demands of the county. This, coupled with the fact that the county government was changing from judges to supervisors prompted county and township officials to campaign for a new courthouse. Several elections failed to raise the needed support, and finally on September 6, 1869 the Board of Supervisors issued a resolution for the building of a county courthouse at a cost of $30,000 to be completed by October 1, 1873.

This courthouse burned after a prisoner started a fire in the county jail that spread to the courthouse. County offices were held in several buildings in Sac City. A small battle for the county seat followed the burning of the courthouse. A group of businessmen from Wall Lake approached the Board of Supervisors and offered a "substantial sum of money towards the new courthouse." The citizens of Sac City then went to the Board with 1,745 names in support of Sac City. In the end Sac City won out, and a new courthouse was built at the cost of $30,000, $15,000 coming from insurance. It was completed in January 1890. See also County History for more details.

• The Sac County Official Government Website
• Search for Local Iowa Researchers or Earn Money by becoming a Local Iowa Researcher!
• Search the Iowa USGenWeb Archives
• Sac County, Iowa History Books at Amazon.com
• Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
• Search Historical Newspapers from Iowa (1814 - 1900) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 125 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in more than 500,000 issues of over 2,500 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
• Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.

Records at the Sac County Courthouse

See Also Iowa Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link below, calling or visiting the Sac County Courthouse at PO Box 368, Sac City 50583; Tel: 712-662-7791. See Also Courthouse Street Addresses for current courthouse addresses for all Iowa Counties. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. Sac County was attached to Woodbury & Greene County for a breif time. Some early records may be found there.

Sac County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1864, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1856.

The Recorder's Office was created in 1839 by the First Legislative Assembly. The Recorder continues to maintain official records of documents affecting title to real estate. Every real estate transaction that takes place begins in the Recorder's Office. One of the major duties of the office is the management of public records. As a result, accuracy and preservation of records are a must in the Recorder's Office. Instruments that are recorded are not only important for today, but serve as a historical library for all of the tomorrows.

In addition to real estate transactions, the Recorder's Office issues titles and liens; records veterans discharge papers; processes passport applications; accepts marriage applications and issues the subsequent license; issues certified copies of birth, death and marriage records as well as other numerous duties.

Sac County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1857 and Court Records from 1869.

In each of Iowa's 99 counties, a clerk of district court office manages and maintains all trial court records, including pleadings, evidence and orders. The clerks of court have hundreds of administrative duties. They accept and process fines, fees and court costs owed to the state, child support checks, and civil judgments owed to litigants. They maintain a record of liens on all real estate in the county. Clerks help with involuntary hospitalization cases. They have the authority to dispose of scheduled violations which are not contested and do not require a court hearing. Clerks are also responsible for informing state and local government agencies of court orders.

The Iowa district court has general jurisdiction of all civil, criminal and juvenile cases and probate matters in the state. The district court, which is also known as the trial court, is the point of entry in the court system for most cases. The Iowa district court is composed of different kinds of judicial officers with varying amounts of jurisdiction-judicial magistrates, associate juvenile judges, associate probate judges, district associate judges, and district court judges.

Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Sac County Court Records by clicking the link below:

• All Iowa Counties Clerks of Court Contact Information
• Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
• Sac County, Iowa Court Books at Amazon.com
• Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
• Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.

Sac County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Iowa

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Lucas State Office Building, 1st Floor, 321 East 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319, (515) 281-4944 recording, Iowa prefers you get all Vital Records from the State Office in Des Moines and NOT at the County Clerk's office. They have the following records:

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• Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates:In Iowa, official registration of births, deaths, and marriages began July 1, 1880. All original records that have been registered are on file with the Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics.
  • Cost: $15.00 per birth certificate & $10.00 per death certificate.
  • Processing Time: Filled requests take 30-45 days, depending on seasonal demands and mail service. Genealogy requests take least 60 days. When ordered by mail (Application) or 2-5 Days when you order online
• Divorces: Divorces on file are Brief statistical records only since 1906.
• Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
• Fees are payable by check or money order made out to the Iowa Department of Public Health. In-person requests may also be paid in cash. Checks must be drawn from the applicant's account; money orders must be in the name of the applicant. Fees must be paid at the time of the application.
• Walk-In Service:  Walk-in service is available for in-person requests at the state vital records office between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for state-observed holidays. The office is located at the address listed below, just inside the main north entrance and to the right of the main lobby. The Lucas building is the first state office building east of the state Capitol building, on the south side of Grand Avenue. Written applications must be satisfactorily completed and signed. Applicants must also provide valid, current government-issued photo identification. Copies may either be picked up after two days or mailed to an entitled person.

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Local registrars are located in county recorders offices and maintain records of birth, death and marriages that have occurred in that county. County registrars do not have code authority to have Birth, death, and marriage records between the years 1921 to 1941.

Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Sac County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

• VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
• Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
• Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Iowa newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
• Sac County, Iowa Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
• Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

Sac County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Iowa

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Sac County, Iowa are 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Sac County, Iowa are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1860, 1870 and 1880.There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Sac County Census Records by clicking the link below:

• Census Online - Iowa Census Records
• Iowa Census, 1838-70: This collection contains the following indexes: 1838 Territorial Census; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1841-1849 Tax Lists; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1851 State Census Index; 1852 State Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index.
• Iowa State Census 1885: This database is an index to the 1885 Iowa State Census (U.S.A.). It covers several counties and contains the following information: the names of every member of the household, their genders, ages, birthplaces, lcation (town, county, state), marital status, and much more.
• Iowa State Census, 1895: This database contains information for 91 counties from the 1895 Iowa State Census in the united States. Information listed includes the name of every member of the household, their sex, age, birthplace, and location (town and county).
• Iowa State Census Collection, 1836-1925: This database contains Iowa state censuses for the following years: 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, and 1925. It also includes some head of household censuses and other special censuses from 1836-1897. Information available for an individual will vary according to the census year and the information requested on the census form. Some of the information contained in this database though includes: name, age, gender, race, birthplace, marital status, and place of enumeration.
• The USGenWeb Archives Iowa CENSUS IMAGES PROJECT
  
• Sac County, Iowa Census Books at Amazon.com
• Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.

Sac County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Genealogy Atlases has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Iowa showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Iowa showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps. The Iowa Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Maps. Email us with websites containing Sac County Maps by clicking the link below:

• The USGenWeb Archives Digital Map Library
• Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Iowa Maps
• Sac County, Iowa Map Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

Sac County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Iowa

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Sac County Military Records by clicking the link below:

• Iowa Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
• National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, 1776 D Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20006; Phone: (202) 628-1776
• Iowa Society of Sons of the American Revolution
• National Society of Sons of the American Revolution, 1000 South Fourth Street, Louisville, Kentucky 40203; (502) 589-1776
• Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of Iowa (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
• Southern Claims Commission from the State of Iowa (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
• Iowa Civil War Soldier Burial Records: Listing of 30,000 Civil War veterans who served or lived in Iowa following the war.
• Iowa Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, 1885: This database contains a list of ex-soldiers, sailors, and marines who were living in Iowa in 1885. These individuals were supposed to have served in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, or the Civil War. Information found in this list includes name of...
• Sac County, Iowa Military Books at Amazon.com
• Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers - Maps are an invaluable part of family history research, especially if you live far from where your ancestor lived. Because political boundaries often changed, historic maps are critical in helping you discover the precise location of your ancestor's hometown, what land they owned, who their neighbors were, and more.

Sac County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

The tax rolls for personal property and real estate were kept by the auditor or the treasurer of each county. A few of these records have been microfilmed and are available at the State Historical Society of Iowa. Original county tax rolls are usually not transferred.

Old age pension tax is a resource genealogists should consider in Iowa. A 1934 directive to collect an old age assistance tax was based on a list of all persons over twenty-one years of age. Although the tax was discontinued in 1936, the information included could be important: name, address, sex, date of birth, place of birth, and names of both parents. Many counties have had these lists microfilmed and they are available through the FHL.

Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Sac County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

• Sac County Tax Assesors Office, ?
  The Treasurer is responsible for collection of property taxes and other fees for state, county, city, school districts, community colleges, and other taxing entities such as townships, fire districts, and drainage districts.
• Sac County, Iowa Tax Books at Amazon.com

Sac County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Iowa Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Sac County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

• Sac County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 54, Sac City 50583-0054
• State Historical Society of Iowa, Capitol Complex, Des Moines, IA 50319
• Iowa Genealogical Society, 6000 Douglas, P.O. Box 7735, Des Moines, IA 50322
• State Historical Society of Iowa Research Library, 402 Iowa Avenue, Iowa City, IA 52240
• State Historical Society of Iowa Library, Capitol Complex, Des Moines, IA 50319
• National Archives; Central Plains Region, Kansas City, 2312 East Bannister Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131-3011; Email: kansascity.archives@nara.gov; Phone: 816-268-8000
• Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
• Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
• Iowa Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com

Sac County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Iowa

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Sac County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Sac County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Predominant church groups in Iowa include Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist. Less in size, but equally important in religious history in the state are the Quakers, Mormons, Mennonites, and Congregationalists. The first church building in Iowa, a Methodist church built of logs, was constructed in Dubuque in 1834. A year later the Catholics erected a parish building in the same city. In 1843 the “Iowa Band” of Congregational and Presbyterian clergy began ministering to the settlers in Iowa. In 1854 a small group of the Community of True Inspiration arrived from Germany, settling along the Iowa River in the mid-section of the state. A year later additional members of their group joined them, establishing the unique Amana colonies of present-day Iowa.

Many of the local chapters of the Iowa Genealogical Society have publications of cemetery records in their respective counties which can be ordered through the chapter. A state-wide publication listing is available through the state society. A large number of cemetery transcription collections as well as records of funeral homes, casket lists, and obituary indexes are held by the FHL

Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Sac County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

• Find Obituaries in The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of Iowa obituaries to help you research your family history. Search for a Iowa newspaper obituary about your ancestor or a celebrity. Begin your search today and find death notices and funeral announcements printed in newspapers from Indiana.
• IOWA WPA GRAVES REGISTRATION SURVEY - These records contain burials throughout much of Iowa that were compiled by WPA workers in the 1930 s, including grave markers which no longer exist today. Records may be searched within a county or state-wide.
• Iowa Cemetery Records: These cemetery records represent seventy-six counties and Graceland Cemetery of Sioux City, Iowa, in the united States, that were transcribed by the Works Project Administration. Records in this database generally include the page number where the record can be found in the WPA index, the name of the deceased, birth date, death date, age, cemetery name, town name, and additional comments if any.
• Iowa Civil War Soldier Burial Records: Listing of 30,000 Civil War veterans who served or lived in Iowa following the war.
• Sac County, Iowa Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
• Sac County, Iowa Church Books at Amazon.com

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Sac County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Sac County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

• Search 60 Years Of Everton Data: For the first time ever you can get access to more than 150,000 pedigree files and family group sheets from Evertons. Learn More
• Search the Family Tree DNA Project- Use DNA testing to break through your genealogical barriers!
• Sites on USGenweb: [ Sac County ] [ Iowa ] [ Main Page ]
• [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards]
• Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
• Iowa Family Group Sheets
• Family Trees - Ancestry has thousands of family trees shared by other members. They can help you identify how ancestors are related and give you clues about birth, marriage, and death information. Family trees are an excellent resource for filling in gaps in your research or even to simply know where to begin.
• Pictures - One of the more exciting discoveries in doing family history research is finding a photograph of your ancestors or their residence. Finding historic postcard photos and drawings of towns and important events throughout history can also give you a visual look into your ancestors lives.
• Reference Materials & Finding Aids - Reference materials, including dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other how-to books, can be tremendously helpful in finding and interpreting historical documents. Many of these books can help you learn where to look for more information and how to use what you've already found to uncover more clues.
• Sac County USGenweb Archives
• Sac County, Iowa Family Books at Amazon.com

Extended History

 

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

Sac County is the third from the Missouri River, and the fourth from the north line of the state. It contains a superficial area of five hundred and seventy-six square miles, or 368,640 acres. It is admirably watered and drained by North Raccoon and Boyer Rivers and their tributaries, together with several branches of Maple River, which have their sources in this county. One of the largest of these is Elk Creek, in the northwest part of the county. Cedar and Indian Creeks are important tributaries of North Raccoon. Boyer River rises in Buena Vista County, and flowing south, crosses Sac County near the middle.The southern extremity of the important chain of small lakes occupying the "Great Watershed," is in Sac County. The middle of the county is about on the summit ridge, Raccoon River on the east flowing to the Missouri. On the "watershed" between Raccoon and Boyer Rivers, are situated several small lakes, the largest of which is called Wall Lake. This lake is in township eighty-six and eighty-seven, of range thirty-six, being in the southern part of the county. This little body of water covers an area of about three square miles, an in very few places exceeds a depth of twelve feet. Part of the shore is bordered by embankments of earth and boulders, in some places the boulders having the appearance of a wall laid up by the hands of man, and hence the name, Wall Lake. The lake is abundantly stocked with fish, and during the Spring and Autumn months is resorted to by vast number of water fowl. In the north part of the county another lakelet covers an area of about one square miles. It is in township eighty-eight of ranges thirty-six and thirty-seven.There are some groves of timber bordering Raccoon and Boyer Rivers. The leading varieties are oak, black walnut, cottonwood, linn, elm and maple. The general character of the surface is rolling, but in no part much broken. Very little is too flat or wet for cultivation. The soil is of great fertility, being admirably adapted to corn, wheat, oats, grass, and vegetables of various kinds. The valleys of the principal streams present belts of farming country of great beauty and fertility. Stock raising is a profitable industry.

HISTORICAL.

The first white settler in Sac County was Otho Williams, who located at Big Grove, on North Raccoon River, in the southeast part of the county, in 1854. He opened a farm in the timber, with thousands of acres of rich prairie land on all sides of him. The following settlers soon followed him; F. M. Cory, Leonard Austin, Joseph Austin, William F. Lagourge, William I. Wagoner and Seymour W. Wagoner. The last named was major of a cavalry regiment in the Union army during the Rebellion, and was killed while leading a charge in battle.Previous to 1856, Sac was attached to Greene County for political and judicial purposes. The first election for county organization was held at the house of Eugene Criss, April 7, 1856, when thirty-seven votes were cast for the entire county. The following were the county officers elected; Samuel W. Watts, County Judge; Francis Ayres, Clerk of the District Court; F. Lagourge, Sheriff; H. C. Crawford, Prosecuting Attorney; F. M. Cory, Treasurer and Recorder; and Jacob McAfer, Drainage Commissioner.The first District Court was held at Sac City, June 8, 1857, by Judge C. J. McFarland. Only three cases were tried. The first marriage in the county was that of Elijah Wine and Miss Montgomery, December 15, 1857.During the latter part of August, 1857, a party of surveyors found a man dead in a slough on the prairie, who was supposed to have been murdered, as a ball had passed through his back. The remains were not identified, and at the time of the discovery created some excitement in the settlement.Henry A. Evens' estate was the first administered on in the county, and Rovert E. Browning the first administrator appointed. The first county warrant was issued July 31, 1856, to Thomas Napier, for county books; amount, $56,25. The second, August 2, 1856, to J. M. Jopnes, for county books, for $176.The first deed on record is from Joseph Smith to A. N. Taylor.Fort Dodge, a distance of fifty miles, was the nearest post office. The early settlers would frequently meet at Sac City and hire some one to go after their mail, and would pay twenty-five cents on each letter received. They had also to go there to get their blacksmithing and milling done, and to Des Moines, a distance of one hundred and five miles, for their groceries and provisions.Near the mouth of the Cedar there were encampments of the Pottawattamies and Maquoketa tribes; they were attacked by a war party of Siouxs, when the two tribes united, in common defense, the latter retreated up the Cedar, hotly pursued by the former. Near the north line of the county, the Sioux halted and fought the two tribes for several hours. A number were killed on both sides. The Sioux were defeated. The graves of the "fallen braves" are still to be seen on the banks of the Cedar, near the county line, and from their appearance a great number must have been killed.Previous to the organization of the county, the following persons were appointed commissioners to locate the county seat; C. W. Williams, T. E. Brown, and a Mr. Huxford. They made selection of a point six and a half miles west of the east line of the county, on the west bank of North Raccoon River, adjacent to a fine body of timber. At this place a town was laid out on the 4th day of July, 1855, John F. Buncomb, of Fort Dodge, acting as surveyor. The new town received the name of Sac City.

SAC CITY.

This is a pleasant village in the oldest settled portion of the county. There is good water power here, and a fine body of timber. It was the first town laid out in the county, and is the county seat. The first house erected was a large log building, which was occupied by Eugene Criss as a hotel. He hauled the windows, doors, nails and lumber for finishing all the way from Dubuque, two hundred and seventy miles. The second house was built by James Gammon. A new, handsome and substantial court house has just been completed at this place.GRANT CITY.—This is a village located on section fourteen, township eighty-six, range thirty-five, in the southwestern part of the county. Its location is on the east bank of North Raccoon River, in a grove of timber. There is also good mill power on the river at this point. The village was laid out in 1863. It has a Baptist, Episcopal and Methodist church, several mills, and stores with general stocks of goods.

Sac County Courthouse

The first Sac County courthouse was built in 1860. It was a two story brick building that measured 34 by 46 feet at its base. In 1873, the second courthouse was constructed for a total of $30,000. The building burned down in 1888. The person who was convicted of setting the courthouse on fire was sentenced to 12 years in the penitentiary.

Fifteen thousand dollars in insurance money and $15,000 which the citizens raised was used to build another courthouse in 1889. This building serves the county today and appears relatively the same today as when it was first erected.