THE NAME

Osceola County was named after a Seminole chief who was the acknowledged head of that band of Indians inhabiting the everglades of Florida. In 1835, the United States authorities attempted to remove the tribe into the country west of the Mississippi, but Osceola at the head of his brave followers refused to go, and such renowned commanders as Scott and Taylor were out-generaled in every encounter. After two years he was captured by treachery, sent to Charleston in irons, and afterwards at Ft. Moultire died of grief.

LAW PERTAINING TO ITS ORGANIZATION

     Chapter 9 of the Laws of the Third General Assembly, approved January 15, 1851, entitled, "An Act to Establish New Counties and Define Their Boundaries," among other things, provides as follows:
     Section 49. That the following shall be the boundaries of a new county, which shall be called Osceola, to-wit: Beginning at the northwest corner of Township Ninety-seven, Range Thirty-eight, thence north to the north boundary line of the State, thence west to the northwest corner of Township One Hundred, Range Forty-two, thence south to the south-west corner of Township Ninety-eight, Range Forty-two, thence east to the place of beginning."
     Section 17 of the same act created a new county called Wahkaw, which is the present County of Woodbury.
     Chapter 8 of the Laws of the Fourth General Assembly, approved January 12, 1852, entitled, "An Act Organizing Certain Counties Therin Named," provides for the organization of the County of Wahkaw, and the holding of a special election for that purpose.
      And Section 14. That for revenue, election and judicial purposes, the Counties of Ida, Sac, Buena Vista, Cherokee, Plymouth, Sioux, O'Brien, Clay, Dickenson, Osceola and Buncombe are hereby attached to Wahkaw, and the election for said county shall be held at Sergeant's Bluff, and as many

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other places as the organizing sheriff may designate in his notice of election."
      Thos. L. Griffey was the organizing sheriff of the County of Wahkah.
      Chapter 12 of the Laws of the Fourth General Assembly, approved January 12, 1853, entitled, "An Act in Relation to New Counties," provides the manner in which citizens of an unorganized county may secure the organization of their county by application to the county judge of the county to which such unorganized county is attached, and also provides for establishing the county seat, notice of election, canvass of returns and qualification of officers elected.
      And Section 4 of said chapter provides that the name of the County of Wahkaw shall be changed to Woodbury.
      Sections 226 to 230, inclusive, of the revision of 1860 contain general provisions relating to unorganized counties, the holding of elections for organization, etc., in which the authority is stated to be in the county judge to perform certain duties, but Sections 312 to 326, inclusive, in effect confer upon the board of supervisors the powers and duties of the county judge in relation to unorganized counties attached to organized counties. And Section 330 of the revision of 1860 also so declares.
      Under these provisions the County of Osceola remained attached to Woodbury County until its organization in January, 1872.

ORGANIZING OSCEOLA COUNTY

WOODBURY COUNTY RECORDS

   STATE OF IOWA}
  Woodbury County.}
     I, George W. Wakefield, auditor of Woodbury County, Iowa, do hereby certify that at the June session, A. D. 1871, of the Board of Supervisors of Woodbury County, to-wit: On the 6th day of June, A.D. 1871, the following proceedings were had to-wit:
     Resolved, that the County of Osceola in the State of Iowa, be organized at the general election of 1871.
     Resolved, that three townships be formed out of the County of Osceola in the State of Iowa, to-wit: All of Township No. Ninety-Eight, of Range Thirty-nine, Forty, Forty-One and Forty-Two, shall compose one township to be known and called Goewey Township. All of Township No. Ninety-Nine, Range Thirty-Nine, Forty, Forty-One and Forty-Two, shall compose one township to be known and called Holman Township. And all of Township No. One Hundred, of Range Thirty-nine, Forty, Forty-one and Forty-two, shall compose one township to be known and called Horton Township.
     Resolved, that an election be held for the election of Township and County officers at the general election for 1871, to be held as follows, to-wit: In Goewey Township, at the house of E. Huff; in Holman Township, at the house of A. Culver; in Horton Township, at the house of H. R. Fenton.
     Resolved, that the question of whether the Provisions of Chapter 144 of the Laws of the Twelfth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, shall be enforced in Osceola County, Iowa, shall be submitted to the legal voters of said County, at the general election of 1871, as provided in said chapter.
     Resolved, that the proper officers are hereby authorized and instructed to do and take all necessary steps to have these resolutions carried into effect.
     Resolved, that the Auditor be instructed to assess the lands in Osceola County at two dollars an acre,

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     I also certify that at the September Session, A. D. 1871, to-wit: On the 4th day of September, A. D. 1871, the following proceedings were had, to-wit:
     Resolved, that the following taxes shall be and are hereby levied for the year A. D.
1871, upon the assessed value of the taxable property in Osceola County, Iowa, for the year A. D. 1871, in accordance with law, to-wit:
     For State revenue, two mills on the dollar.
     For ordinary County revenue, four mills on the dollar and a poll tax of fifty cents.
     For the support of schools, two mills on the dollar.
     For making and repairing bridges, three mills on the dollar.
     For road purposes, five mills on the dollar.
     For teachers fund, ten mills on the dollar.
     For contingent fund, four mills on the dollar.
     I also certify that at the October session, A. D. 1871, to-wit: On the 16th day of October, A. D. 1871, the following proceedings were had to-wit:
     On motion the board proceeded officially to canvass the votes cast at the general October election, A. D. 1871, in and for Osceola County, Iowa, which was reduced to writing and placed on file, and the abstract of votes cast was recorded in the election book, and signed by the said board and attested by the County Auditor, and it appearing by proofs of file that due proclamation has been made of the several offices to be filled, and to the question submitted to the vote of the County.
     It was on motion ordered and declared that the following persons were duly elected to the offices set opposite their respective names, to-wit:

     Also the following question submitted to a vote of the people of the County was declared to have been carried in the affirmative:

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     "Shall the provisions of Chapter 144, of the Laws of the Twelfth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, be enforced in Osceola County, Iowa.
     The supervisors elect, in and for Osceola County, Iowa, were classed and divided by lot as by law provided, whereby it was found that George Spaulding was entitled to hold the office of member of the Board of Supervisors of said County for the term of three years, and H. R. Fenton was entitled to hold said office for the term of two years, and J. H. Winspear was entitled to hold said office for the term of one year.
     On motion it is now ordered that the auditor be instructed to notify Wm. A. McDonald and F. M. Robinson to appear at his office and determine by lot which of them shall be declared elected Auditor of Osceola County, Iowa, also to notify S. C. Couch and T. J. Cutshall to appear at his office and determine by lot which of them shall be declared elected Sheriff of Osceola County, Iowa, also to give notice of the adoption of the several questions submitted to the people as by law provided.
     I also certify that the following proceedings were held before the County Auditor of Woodbury County, Iowa, to-wit:
F. M. ROBINSON       }
Wm. A. McDONALD, } Ex Parte.
    Now on this 27th day of October, 1871, comes Frank M. Robinson for himself and John Cleghorn, Jr. for Wm. A. McDonald, and lots having been duly prepared and drawn, it was ascertained that Frank M. Robinson should be declared elected Auditor of Osceola County, Iowa, and pursuant to the order of the Board of Supervisors, made October 16, 1871, the said Frank M. Robinson is hereby declared elected Auditor of Osceola County, Iowa.
     I also certify that at the adjourned October session, 1871, to-wit: On the 29th day of October, A. D. 1871, the following proceedings were had, to-wit:
     On motion it is now ordered the Auditor be empowered and instructed to approve the bond of the Auditor of Osceola County, Iowa.
     I also certify that the following proceedings were had before the County Auditor of Woodbury County, Iowa, on the 19th day of December, A. D. 1871:

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F. M. Robinson, AUDITOR }
OSCEOLA COUNTY, IOWA. } OFFICIAL BOND.
     The official bond of F. M. Robinson, Auditor of Osceola County, Iowa, in the sum of Five Thousand Dollars with J. H. Winspear, H. R. Fenton and D. D. Doe as sureties is this day filed with the Auditor, and by him approved.
     IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Board of Supervisors of Woodbury County, this 22nd day of March, A. D. 1872.

GEO. W. WAKEFIELD,
Auditor of Woodbury County, Iowa.

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