THROUGHOUT HISTORY ...

In the early days of the 1840s, there were no bridges and it became necessary for the convenience of the settlers that ferries be maintained at certain points along the rivers.  The Board ordered that a skiff, or canoe, be kept at a point to ferry across the North Fork of the Skunk River.  Ferriage rates charged were 6 1/4 cents for each footman. 

One of the oldest cemeteries in the county is the Hornish, or Shockley, graveyard in Clear Creek Township.  A log church, the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States, was built near the site.  The first burial in this cemetery was Peter Besser, October 1844, just a few days after he had arrived in Keokuk County from Germany. 

Schools and churches in Sigourney were not organized until sometime later. The first church to be organized and erected was the Methodist Church in 1845. 

A post office was established in Sigourney and the first mail received on February 7, 1845.  The mail was carried on horseback from Washington to Oskaloosa, via Sigourney, once every two weeks.  Mr. James was the first postmaster.  This was the only post office in the whole section of the country.

The first ice house was put up in the winter of 1857 and during the following summer, the first ice cream was sold in Keokuk County.

J.J. Heider, Esq was the first Mayor of Sigourney, the town having been incorporated in October 1858.  Mr. A.W. Blair was the first attorney and Dr. Weeks was the first Physician. 

The first steps taken toward the establishment of a county home was in June 1866.  The county Board of Supervisors consisted of sixteen members at that time.

In 1846, Joseph Knox was the leading merchant of Sigourney.  From 1845-1860, many different trades could be found at various times: dry goods, and groceries, wagon shops, cabinet shops, fanning mill shops, clocks and watches, boots and shoes, stoves and tin ware, saddle and harness shops, tailor's, coopers, marble works, gunsmith, livery stables, tanneries, and hardware.   

During the Civil War the town did not grow much.  After the war a new energy was displayed.  A few of the old building were torn down and more durable structures built.  It was not, however, until the town succeeded in securing railroad communication with the outside world that many changes occurred. 

The first Rock Island train arrived from Washington on April 9, 1872. As railroad communication continued to grow, so did the rail system for Sigourney. Great excitement came as people went down to see the first Milwaukee train arriving from Cedar Rapids on December 31, 1883. 

C. H. Lynn was the bus man.  With his team of horses and a bus, he met all Sigourney trains and transferred the passengers to all parts of the city and even in some parts of the county.  His home was a two-story hotel in the south part of tow; beds and meals at $0.25 each. 

The area between the two depots on north Main Street began to boom after the coming of the railroad. In this district, know as "Brushtown", there were several places of business, including a rooming house, a two-story hotel, and a very thriving produce company.  On the west side of the street toward the Rock Island tracks were several places of business along the "board walks", including a cigar factory and three saloons. On north across the tracks were several small homes and the first Catholic Church of Sigourney. 

As the railroads came to Sigourney, so did utilities. Mr. Cicero Dobie had the first telephone office on the east side of the square.  The first electric light plant in Sigourney was located on the east side of Jefferson Street across from the Memorial Hall from 1895 to 1909.  A new light plant was built east of the Milwaukee Depot in 1909. When Charles Gelker turned on the first electric switch, the whistles blew and the church and school bells rang out a glorious welcome.  All lights were shut off at midnight.  The coming of electricity gave relief to many street lamplighters, who travel from post to post with their small stepladders and coal oil can. 

When the automobile age arrived, the first garage in Sigourney was owned and operated by Peter Iosbaker and George Namur, a local druggist at the time.  Mr. Iosbaker furnished the mechanical ability and Mr. Namur the salesmanship.  They started their agency with two Ford cars, having purchased then in Des Moines from the Clyde Herring Ford Agency.  Mr. Herring later became Governor and Senator from Iowa.