Beacon, once known as the town of Enterprise, did not fully switch its name over until 1874. Beacon's success revolved around its coal mining connection and proximity to the railroad lines. Before Oskaloosa established a railroad line through its…
This is a city plat of Eddyville as it appeared in 1871. Eddyville was founded in 1840 by Jabish P. Eddy of Ohio. Establishing a trading post along the banks of Des Moines River, Eddy plotted out his vision for the town before the Sac and Fox…
Evans, formerly known as Elida due to the Elida Coal Company operation at a close distance, was founded in 1872 in honor of D.J. Evans, a prominent citizen of the town. Like many communities in Mahaska County, Evans was a coal mining town that…
This is a town plat of Givin with an unknown date for the map. Givin was founded in 1870 by Harry Brewer, who named the town Givin after John Givin, Superintendent of the Keokuk and Des Moines Railway Company. In 1910, 315 people lived in Givin. …
Lakonta was created by Congressman John F. Lacey in 1900 for the purpose of coal mining extraction. The railroad came right through this community and served the coal mining industry there very well. Lakonta is now called Traux. It is speculated…
Muchakinock, formerly known as Coal Valley, was a town created solely for the purpose of coal mining. H.W. McNeil (a.k.a. Big Mac) and his younger brother W.A. McNeil (Little Mac) were responsible for the founding of the town. At one point,…
This is the plat of Oskaloosa as it appeared in 1890. By this point, the town wards were more clearly identified and the town was much more modernized.
Rose Hill was once located on two separate places in two different periods of time. The first Rose Hill was known as Rosehill (one word), and was established in 1849. In 1860, the town went out of existence. In Augut of 1875, a new town plat was…
Tioga was established as a meeting place for coal trains coming from the Muchakinock mines, so the town of Tioga was established and platted on August 24, 1886. The most memorable occurence in Tioga was the train wreck that took place on September…
