Worth County, Iowa
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |

VEIW FULL SIZED D.O.T. COUNTY MAP

Worth was created on January 15, 1851 (Organized in 1857) from Unorganized Territory. The County was named for William Jenkins Worth, a general in the Black Hawk War and Mexican-American War. The County Seat is Northwood. See also County History for more details.

Counties adjacent to Worth County are Freeborn County, Minnesota (north), Mower County, Minnesota (northeast), Mitchell County (east), Cerro Gordo County (south), Winnebago County (west). Worth County Cities and Towns Include Bolan, Fertile, Grafton, Hanlontown, Joice, Kensett, Manly, Northwood.

Since the beginning of the county, there was a debate over the location of the county seat. The first two rivals were Northwood and Bristol. Their battle became so heated that at one time there was a movement to divide the county.

Originally the thriving settlement of Bristol was the county seat, but the community of Northwood was threatening. Bristol tried to relocate the boundaries of the county, in order to put itself nearer the center of the county. This was an attempt to solidify its position as the county seat. The attempt failed, because after much litigation and contention, Northwood became the county seat in 1863. Following this, the settlement of Bristol, once the largest in the county, vanished.

The first county courthouse at Northwood was a small stone structure that was rented to the county for $3 per month. In 1865 the Board of Supervisors authorized the construction of a courthouse. Total cost of the two-story building was $1,000. Another county seat battle occurred in 1879. This time the parties were Northwood and Kensett. Northwood remained the county seat after winning the election, 709 to 644. Following this the county built its third courthouse. Local citizens pledged $5,000 toward the courthouse — only $4,594 was used, and land was donated by the county.

This brick building was used until 1893, when it was used as a high school, library, and city hall. Today it stands as the Worth County Historical Museum. The current courthouse was completed in 1893. The original tower was removed, and the entire courthouse was remodeled in 1938. A Civil War cannon sits on the courthouse grounds as a monument to all veterans. An addition was added to the courthouse in 1990, which included offices for the sheriff’s department, a new jail, offices for the clerk of court, and a magistrate courtroom/conference room. See also County Courthouse for more details.

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Records at the Worth 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 Worth County Courthouse at 1000 Central Ave,PO Box 243, Northwood 50459; Tel: 641-324-2840. 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. Worth County was attached to Fayette, Chickasaw, Floyd & Mitchell County for a breif time. Some early records may be found there.

Worth County Recorder's Office has Birth Records from 1880, Marriage Records from 1858, Death Records from 1880 and Land Records from 1857.

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.

Worth County Clerk of Court Office has Probate Records from 1897 and Court Records from 1863.

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 Worth County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Worth County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • All Iowa Counties Clerks of Court Contact Information
  • Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
  • Worth 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.
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Worth 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:

  • 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.

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 Worth County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Worth 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 FREEicon - 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.
  • Worth 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.
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Worth 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 Worth County, Iowa are1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Worth 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 Worth County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Worth 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
  • Worth 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.
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Worth 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 Worth County Maps. Email us with websites containing Worth County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Worth 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 Worth County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Worth County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Worth 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 Worth County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Worth County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Worth County Tax Assesors Office, Phone: (641)324-2942
    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.
  • Worth County, Iowa Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Worth 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 Worth County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Worth County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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  • 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
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Worth 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 Worth County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Worth 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 Worth County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Worth 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.
  • Worth County, Iowa Cemetery Books at Amazon.com
  • Worth County, Iowa Church Books at Amazon.com
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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 Worth County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Worth 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: [ Worth 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
  • Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
  • 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.
  • Worth County USGenweb Archives
  • Worth County, Iowa Family Books at Amazon.com
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Extended History

 

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

Worth was attached successively to Chickasaw, Floyd, Mitchell and CerroGordo Counties, by the Legislature, prior to its organization. By an orderdated September 1, 1857, from Arad Hitchcock, County Judge of Mitchell, towhich it was then attached, Worth County was divided into two civil townships,Bristol comprising all its territory west of the center of range twenty-one,and Northwood consisting of the remainder. The order designated the house ofJohnson & Turnure as the voting place for Bristol, with Frank Wiggins, JosephI. Loveland and James Keeler as judges of election, and the house of B. H.Bedett as the voting place for Northwood, with Charles Wardall, David H.Phelps and H. Crandall as judges, and directed the election of county andtownship officers at the ensuing general election, October 13. At this electionone hundred and eighty-six votes were polled, one hundred and twelve at Bristoland seventy-four at Northwood. Choice was made of Doctor James Keeler asCounty Judge; Chauncey S. Lane, Treasurer and Recorder; Benjamin K. Walker,Clerk of District Court; Stanley Wadsworth, School Fund Commissioner; AmosBently, Prosecuting Attorney; Lorin Turnure, Sheriff; Edward Cole, Surveyor;W. C. Caswell, Coroner. Alonzo Frink and Martin Bently were chosen Justicesof the Peace of Bristol, and Charles Wardall and Warren Barbour of NorthwoodTownship. Some informality delayed the organization until a legalizing act waspassed by the Legislature the following Winter; it was completed, and theofficers entered upon their duties during the first week of May, 1858.

The several townships were organized as follows; Bristol and Northwood in1857; Hartland, 1859; Fertile and Silver Lake, 1861; Brookfield and Union,1864; Deer Creek and Danville, 1872; Kensett, 1873.

Bristol and Northwood were rivals for the county seat from the beginning.The influx of immigration in 1857 gave Bristol the advantage in numbers; butbeing near the western border, it desired to release a part of Worth onthe east to Mitchell, and get a part of Winnebago in return. The Legislature,during the session of 1858, consented to the change of boundary; but, throughthe influence of a large land proprietor otherwise disposed, the Governorquietly pocketed the bill. Soon after, Judge Murdock, of the tenth district,appointed O. P. Harwood, of Mitchell, Van Patten, of Cerro Gordo, and GeorgeFinney, of Winnebago, commissioners, who, on the 7th of May, 1858, locatedthe county seat at Bristol. Northwood several times petitioned to have thequestion of re-location submitted to a vote, but did not succeed until 1863,when the county seat was removed to Northwood, by a vote of one hundred andfifteen to forty. Thus ended the county seat struggle.

While at Bristol, the offices were kept first in a log hut, and afterwardsin the upper room of a small frame building used as a store. At Northwood asmall frame building was erected for their accommodation, motives of economydictating the postponement of the erection of an expensive building until somefuture time.

The first settlement in the county was an off-shoot of the Scandinaviancolony led into Mitchell County by Rev. C. L. Clausen in the Spring of 1858.About the 18th of June Gulbrand Olsen and three others from this companypushed out as far as the Shellrock. Olsen took up 160 acres, embracing a part ofthe present site of Northwood and the water power adjoining. His companionslocated in the vicinity, but soon returned to the principal colony, leaving himand his family without a neighbor nearer than fifteen miles. In the Spring of1854 he was reinforced by four countrymen, Simon Rustad, ChristianAmmandsen, Nelson and Ole Lee, and also by three brothers by the name ofHart, who purchased the timber claim near the state line, afterward known asPhelps' Grove, four miles above Northwood, of one of Gulbrand's firstcompany. They remained only until the following Spring (1855), when they soldto David H. Phelps. He was accompanied by Tilly McWithy, and Hiram Biltonand his two sons, with whom he divided the timber. Nelson died in the Fall of1854, but his widow remained upon the claim.

In the Winter of 1854 William Burgert, a trapper, settled near Phelps Grove.In 1855 the Norwegian settlement was increased by the arrival of M. Paulsen,John S. Mark, Aslak Lee, Elling Ellingsen, Ole and Hans Aslaksen, S. Syversen,Ole Hansen, H. Halvorsen, Abraham Christophersen and G. Jorgensen, and maybe said to have passed its pioneer days. It received a considerable accessionagain in the Spring of 1856.

May 19, 1855, Charles Johnson made the first claim in the settlement,afterward known as Bristol, near Rice Lake, fifteen miles west of Northwood,and, during the following Fall, Chauncey Lane, Ben Bloker and John M. Bennett(the latter with family) located at the east end of the lake, where they werejoined by Haskell Skinner and his family. The following Spring they removedabout a mile distant to the present site of Bristol. Here, in the Spring of1856, they were joined by Otis Greeley and two men by the name of Tyler,with their families, and Henry Greeley. In July, Dr. James Keeler came andlocated, and in September brought his family from Janesville, Iowa,accompanied by Millard and Frink, with their families. J. S. Loveland,Sperrin, Fuller and Isaac Cummings came in August, or thereabouts, andMcPherson in October. Two ministers, named Strobridge and Forbes, came aboutthe same time. July 10th, 1856, Samuel Egbert moved in with his family, andtook up a claim on what is now a part of Northwood, where he still resides.During the same season there settled in the vicinity of Northwood and Phelps'Grove, J. W. Thompson, John Bickell, W. H. Pritchard, Thomas Lowthin,N. W. Emory, William Senior, Frank Coop, Jerry Epworth, John Elliott,Benjamin Eyr, I. M. Bolton, Arthur T. Bolton and G. H. Atwood.

In 1855 Ed. Wright located at Glen Mary, but, the following Spring,two brothers, Martin and Amos Bently, took his place at Glen Mary, whileWright, with his brother Samuel, and two others named Crane and Crandall,located at Wright's Grove. Owing to trouble between them and the Norwegiansettlement, a club was formed called the Settlers' Club, William Burgert,President; Samuel Egbert, Secretary; whose rules bound them to protect eachother in occupying 320 acres each. Late in the Fall the settlement at Elk Creekwas commenced by Rugg, Stevens and Platt, and the Silver Lake Settlement wascommenced the same year by Lars Larsen and G. K. Hundeby.

The succeeding Winter (1856-6) is known as the hard winter by thepioneers. The snow fell to an uncommon depth, and was, much of the time,impassable to teams. Provisions were hauled on hand-sleds from Osage andother points. The log huts, many of them without floors, admitted the snow indrifts. Deaths by freezing were quite common.

The first birth in the county was that of a son to Gulbrand Olsen,November 23, 1853. The first marriage was that of William Burgert and thewidow Nelson, in the Spring of 1856. The first road laid out was from Bristolto Northwood, in September, 1857. The first court in the county was heldSeptember 27, 1859, by John Porter, Judge of the Eleventh District, B. K.Walker, Clerk, and Lorin Turnure, Sheriff. The first mail route to this countywas established July 1, 1858, from Howard Center to Bristol, via Osage; in theFall it was changed so as to run via St. Ansgar and Northwood.

NORTHWOOD

Northwood is beautifully located on the high, dry bank of the Shellrock.It is regularly laid out, with wide, handsome streets. It was surveyedand platted in November, 1857, and September, 1858, by Charles Wardall,Lemuel Dwelle and Joel Dayton. Additions have since been made by L. & A. J.Dwelle, Egbert & Jones, and A. M. Woodward, and the plat now comprises about320 acres. Messrs. L. & A. J. Dwelle are the principal proprietors. Sincethe advent of the railroad Northwood has become a town of considerableimportance as the only advantageous market and trading point for a largesection of country, and has every promise of a permanent and steady growth.

In the Spring of 1857 the land was owned by Gulbrand Olsen, Samuel Egbertand Kittel Olsen. Early that Spring Charles Wardall purchased GulbrandOlsen's property, and, a little later, Dr. D. D. Franklin purchased that ofKittel Olsen. During the Spring the place was visited by Lemuel Dwelle andB. H. Beckett, both of whom invested and became permanent residents. Otherssoon followed.

The first frame building in Northwood was erected during the Summerby S. H. Franklin. B. H. Beckett opened a store in this building on the 9th ofSeptember, with goods hauled by team from McGregor, 130 miles distant. Hiswas the only store here until 1864, when a second one was opened by Nelson,Peterson & Klove. In the Fall of 1857 Northwood was made a post office, withDr. Franklin as post master. In the Summer of 1858 Charles Wardall constructeda dam and saw mill. In 1859 S. H. and Asa Franklin erected a hotel building,which was opened for custom in the Fall by John Becker. During this season thefirst school in Northwood was taught by Catherine Hostetter, in a room overBeckett's store. In 1860 a small frame school house was built. In 1861 Lemueland A. J. Dwelle bought Wardall's mill property, and proceeded to erect asubstantial grist mill, furnished with four run of stone. For some years gristswere brought to them from a distance of a hundred miles. In 1863 theacquisition of a county seat gave the growth and trade of the town considerableimpetus, which was greatly enhanced by the railroad in 1871, since which timeits prosperity has steadily increased.

Worth County Courthouse

In 1879, some years after the organization of the county, an attempt was made to move the county seat from Northwood to the town of Kensett. In order to retain the honor of being the county seat, Northwood raised money for a courthouse and contributed land for the site. A fine brick courthouse was built in Northwood in 1880. The total cost was about $4,400.

The present courthouse, completed in 1893, is solid brick, with a small tower. It was enlarged and remodeled in 1938.

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