Cherokee County was formed in January, 1851, at which time most of her sister counties were located and their boundaries defined. In January, 1853, it was attached to the county of Wahkan—now Woodbury—for revenue, election and judicial purposes. At this time, however, it was a county in nothing but name; for its fertile prairies, beautiful rivers and clear, sparkling brooks had as yet failed to attract the attention of the “vanguard of civilization.” Finally, in the Spring of 1856, Robert Perry, a hardy pioneer from the eastern part of the State, visited this section and stopped for a short time near what is now known as the city of Cherokee. The solitude proved altogether too unattractive, and he soon took his departure for another and more thickly settled portion of the State.

In the early part of the same year, a number of hard-working, intelligent men in Milford, in the old commonwealth of Massachusetts, became fired with a desire to visit this wonderful Eldorado, about which they had heard so much, and if possible, to secure for themselves homes here. Under the leadership of Dr. Russell, a prominent citizen of Milford, a joint stock company, known as the “Milford Emigration Society,” was formed, consisting of fifty-five members, twenty-four of whom were heads of families, the design being to find homes somewhere in Western Iowa. Just prior to the formation of this company, Carlton Corbett and Lemuel Parkhurst, both stalwart, daring young men, had been sent out by the citizens of Milford to explore this portion of the country, and select a suitable location for colonists. Twenty persons, under the auspices of the Milford Emigration Society, started on February 11th, 1856, for northwestern Iowa, intending to meet Corbett and Parkhurst at Sioux City, that being the objective point of the colony at that time.

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During the civil war, Cherokee County furnished more soldiers in proportion to her population than any other county in the Union.

Cherokee county is situated in Northwestern Iowa. It is the third from the north and second from the western border of the state, and comprises twenty-four miles square, equal to 368,640 acres of land. It is divided into sixteen townships, each being the regular surveyed “congressional township.” This county is west of the great “Divide,” or water-shed between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. The principal stream of the county is the Little Sioux river, entering at the northeast corner and passing out of the county about seven miles east of the southwest corner, thus flowing diagonally across the entire extent of the county’s territory. The West Fork of the Little Sioux is a tributary draining and watering several townships in the northwestern portion. There are a few other beautiful streamlets that add to the beauty and utility of Cherokee county. These include Willow, Rock, Pitcher, Perry, Fiddle and Fourteen-Mile creeks, with the Maple river and its branches, which traverse the southeastern portion of the county.

As near as can be learned by careful research, the following were the facts about some of the more important events that have transpired during the early settlement, and immediate years following:

The first settlement in Cherokee county was made by Robert Perry, in Pilot township, in the month of May, 1856. Soon thereafter came members of the Milford Emigration Company, and also another New England colony, headed by George W. Banister, still residing in the city of Cherokee.

The first house erected within the county was built by the “Milford Colony,” in the summer of 1856. It was twelve by twenty feet, and a story and a half high.

The first sawmill was built in 1865, by Mr. Twiford.

The first gristmill was that constructed by Mr. Bliss, in 1870.

The first deed granted for land in Cherokee county was filed for recording (according to the Woodbury County Transcript), Aug. 5, 1856. It described the southeast quarter of section 28, township 91, range 40. It was conveyed by Robert Perry (first settler in the county), for the consideration of $100 “in hand paid” by William R. Henry, George A. Jackson and H. C. Campbell, of Woodbury county, Iowa.

Real-estate mortgage number one in the county was that of Michael Pendergrast, in consideration of $300, on township 91, range 41, to one August Kirwan. It was recorded Dec. 28, 1857.

The first election in the county was held at the log house of George W. Lebourveau, in the month of August, 1857. This was in “Old Cherokee.”

The first postoffice in the county was established at the house of Benjamin Holbrook, on section 26 of what is now Cherokee township, in the autumn of 1857.

The first marriage within Cherokee county was that of Carlton Corbett and Miss Rosabella Cummings, in the autumn of 1859.

The first birth was Ida M. Brown, daughter of James A. Brown and wife. She was born Jan. 28, 1858, and became the wife of Henry Hubbard, of Hazelton, South Dakota.

The first death to occur in the county was that of a Mr. Davis, who died from the effects of freezing in the month of January, 1857.

The second death was that of Elizabeth Jane Parkhurst, Aug. 5, 1859. Her sister Annie died two weeks later.

The first general store of merchandise was kept within the old blockhouse, at the stockade built for protection against the Indians in 1862–63.

The first plowed furrow in the county was turned over from section 26, township 92, range 40, below where later the mill stood. The plowing was with oxen and the land was the two-acre piece on which the New England Colony raised their first crop of corn.

The first Fourth of July celebration in this county was held in 1858, on Benjamin Holbrook’s land. County Judge G. W. F. Sherwin was the orator. A basket picnic was held in the hay barn of Mr. Holbrook, and a pig was roasted. At the celebration of 1861, the first year of the Civil war period, George Killem made a speech, under the wagon bridge, where the celebration was held. During the speech he referred to the South trying to destroy the Union, and remarked in his loyal zeal that they might tear down this bridge a hundred times and yet loyal hands will rebuild it one hundred and one times.

The first frame house in the county was built for G. W. F. Sherwin, on section 24, township 92, range 40, in 1858. The material used in its construction was brought by wagon from Sioux City.

A county agricultural fair was held in the county in 1872.

The first law firm of the county was Kellogg & Lewis.

The first democratic convention in the county was held in a corn field in 1858, during the month of June. The members of this pioneer political convention were Silas Parkhurst, Lemuel Parkhurst, Benjamin Holbrook and Robert Perry.

The first kiln of brick burned in Cherokee county was fired up by its owner, George Filer, in 1867, on land near the present trotting park. The bricks produced were of an excellent quality.

The first brick house in the county was the schoolhouse erected in 1867. It stood in the old village of Cherokee, and after serving as a residence for some years, was finally blown down in June, 1881.

The first term of school in the county was taught in 1858, by Mrs. Lemuel Parkhurst, now of Linn county, Iowa. The amount paid her in advance was $55. The same was sent from the home “colony” in Milford, Massachusetts and the amount was her wages for three months’ service. The school was taught in their own log house.

At the regular session of the board of supervisors, held Sept. 6, 1869, Congressional township 92, range 39, bounded by Buena Vista county on the east, on the north by Spring township, Cherokee county, on the south by Pitcher township, and on the west by Cherokee township, was set off and formed into a separate Civil township to be known as Afton. This is one of the most even, fertile sections of the county, its general topography not materially differing from the townships of Cedar and Liberty. Its population in 1885 was 813, of whom about two hundred were of foreign birth.

The beautiful Maple river takes its rise within this township, and flows on to the southward. The farms of this township are all highly improved and have splendid groves of artificial timber about the building sites. The land is valued high, and produces all crops common to this latitude and soil in great abundance.

Congressional township 91, range 39, constitutes the civil township of Pitcher. It was created by act of the county board of supervisors, Sept. 6, 1869. Originally its territory belonged to Pilot township. It is bounded on the east by Buena Vista county, on the south by Diamond township, on the west by Pilot township and on the south by Afton township. Much of the township is within the famous Maple valley country, and is excellent for agricultural purposes. This stream crosses the township from north to south. Aurelia has usually been the chief trading place of the people within this township.

In 1885, outside the incorporation of Aurelia, the township had a population of 455 American and 155 foreign born. The census of 1905 by authority of the state, gave its population as 558, exclusive of Aurelia, which town had 654. Many of the townships in the county have not increased in population for two decades, but in improvement and wealth they have all advanced rapidly.

Aurelia

The only town within Pitcher township is Aurelia, named for a daughter of Railroad Builder John I. Blair. It is situated on section 10, township 91, range 39, about eight miles southeast of Cherokee. It is an important station point on the main line of the Illinois Central railway. It was platted Feb. 15, 1873, the same being executed by J. H. McAlvin for the Iowa Falls & Sioux City Town Lot Company. See “Recorded Plats.” The sprightly town of Aurelia has always been classed among the best places, outside the county seat, of any town in the county. It is surrounded by one of the most charming, level and fertile sections of the beautiful Northwest. American people have always dominated here. The true type of citizenship has obtained here from the very first of its history. In 1890 it had about as many population as at present—about eight hundred.

The Town’s Beginning

There is always some interest clustering around the first events in the birth and development of any town which has attained the prominence that Aurelia has.

The first business house was erected for the Clarkson & Simpson general store.

The first residence was built by R. R. Whitney.

The pioneer hotel was built by W. C. Marsh in 1876. He operated the same two years and sold out. It was known as the Marsh House, and was destroyed by the fire in 1883.

The first grain warehouse in Aurelia was built and operated by R. R. Whitney in 1871. The first regular grain elevator was that of Clarkson & Simpson in 1872.

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The first drug store of the place was that conducted by George Enright in 1877. He sold to W. H. Reynolds.

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The first hardware store was that of S. A. Frisbie in 1876.

The first furniture dealer was C. C. Grew in 1878.

The first livery barn was conducted by Nelson & Siglin, in 1877–78.

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The first physician in Aurelia was Dr. W. F. Quirk, in 1877.

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The first newspaper was the Clincher, by G. L. Bailey.

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In the eighties, at the request of the farmers, the town council appropriated the sum of $550 for putting in a set of standard weighing scales, and employed a man to look after the same, paying him sixty dollars per month. This plan suited both farmer and dealer.

The postoffice was established at Aurelia in 1870, with George Simpson as postmaster. […]

In the eighties this office suffered loss by fire and many of the records were lost at that time.

There are now five rural free delivery routes extending out from Aurelia.

Incorporation History

Aurelia was incorporated as a town in 1880.