Cass County

Ghosts still walk the land watered by the Nishnabotna and shaded by the great groves of walnut, oak, and maple. These are the spirits of men and women whose vision, faith, and daring led them to abandon homes in the East, leaving behind the social and physical amenities of an established community, to risk their lives and lay claim to a harsh and virginal land. The proud and handsome Ioway chief Mahaska, the visionary entrepreneur Franklin H. Whitney, and the wartime friend of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gov. Clyde Herring, are just three of the scores of extraordinary individuals who played a role in Cass County history. Not every effort met with success, as many early settlements now exist only in the ghostly images of fading memory; yet it is out of their vision and sacrifice that a thriving county of 16 proud townships emerged.

The vintage photographs in this book are derived from the Cass County Historical Museum archives, county newspaper offices, the State Historical Society of Iowa Library, and a variety of individuals. Lila Hoogeveen and Shiona Putnam are curators, officers, and board members of the Cass County Historical Museum and have degrees and expertise in art, education, business, and history.