This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Pioneer flood story of the Mahans in Iowa’s early days
Excerpts from an unpublished manuscript recount a pioneer flood along the Des Moines River near Fort Dodge and Spirit Lake. Miles Mahan Jr. recalls how his family’s cabin, hay stacks, and bottom lands suffered from a multi disaster flood with tornado like wind and earthquakes, leaving cattle feed scarce through the long winter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Des Moines
Mile . Mahan Jr
Ft. Dodge
Iowa
Spirit Lake
Old Town
Emmetsburg
Mahans
Cabini
Miles