New Sharon, IA, 1871 map; Prairie Township; Mahaska County; Iowa

New Sharon, IA, 1871 map; Prairie Township; Mahaska County; Iowa

New Sharon was settled by unexpected pioneers of the day, back in the 1840's and 1850's. John Hiller, a biracial person, was the first inhabitant of Prairie Township, and established an illegal trading post in the region in 1844, one year after the Iowa Territory was opened for settlement. Then, a group of Quakers came to homestead the land in 1853. The settlers thought the prairie land was beautiful and reminded them of the Plains of Sharon described in the bible. In 1857, New Sharon was created. New Sharon's population always continued to rise, though slowly, in comparison to other railroad booming communities of the day. By 1876, New Sharon had a population of over 900. New Sharon was a dry town from 1871 to around 1933, which many argue is the reason why the community thrived the way it did. This is a plat of New Sharon dating back to 1871.

Mahaska County Historical Society

Mahaska County Collection

Curtis Media Corporation: Dallas, Texas

2008-07-18

www.wmpenn.edu/library/library/about.html

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Wilcox Library

http://cdm16125.contentdm.oclc.org/u?/p270701coll6,64