Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 3.djvu/551

 Paul Paquette built a cabin about two miles from the mouth of the Big Sioux River.

In 1853, soon after the change of name, the county was organized and the county-seat located at Floyd’s Bluff. The first county officials were Marshal Townsley, judge; Hiram Nelson, recorder and treasurer; and Joseph P. Babbitt, clerk. At this time Woodbury County embraced a large territory north and east which has since been divided into several counties. In 1854 J. K. Cook, a government contractor, came with a party and bought claims in the vicinity of Sioux City. Among those who owned claims in this locality was the gallant General Lyon who was killed at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek, the first year of the Civil War. In the winter of 1854 Sioux City was platted and among the pioneers in and about the new town were Joseph Lionels, Hiram Nelson, Francis Chappel, G. W. Chamberlin and Marshal Twonsley. In July 1855, a stage line was established supplying the town with weekly mail. The first term of court was held at Floyd’s Bluff by Judge Riddle in September, 1855. Numerous settlers arrived in Sioux City early in 1856 and the population of the new town was one hundred fifty. By a vote of the people the county-seat was moved from Floyd’s Bluff to Sioux City where a United States Land office was established in 1855.

The Omaha, a steamboat from St. Louis, arrived at Sioux City in June, 1856, loaded with provisions and lumber framed ready to be converted into houses. In July a steam sawmill was built. The first white women in the new town were Mrs. S. H. Casady and Mrs. J. R. Myers who arrived with their husbands in the summer of 1855. By the close of the year 1856 the population had increased to more than four hundred, and ninety buildings had been erected. On the Fourth of July, 1857, S. W. Swiggett issued the first number of a weekly newspaper named the Iowa Eagle.

In 1853 Mr. Shook settled on the Little Sioux River at a