Butler County is located in northeastern Iowa and is bordered by Floyd, Bremer, Black Hawk, Grundy and Franklin Counties. The first permanent settler in the county was Joseph Hicks, who made his way up Shell Rock and established himself near the present site of the town of Clarksville. This book follows the early settlers up to1883, the date of original publication. Topics of interest include: topography and agriculture; county government, political affairs and county seat struggles; population; the courts; local surgeons and the medical profession; the press; the old settlers' society; the role of the county in the Civil War; education; societies and public meetings. The text also covers the townships of Albion, Beaver, Benezette, Butler, Coldwater, Dayton, Fremont, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Pittsford, Ripley, Shell Rock, Washington and West Point. Biographical information is provided for notable citizens such as David Ackerman, Peter Cayle, F.L. Dodge, John Harlan, George R. Peet, Jeremiah Perrin, Solomon Sturtz, Milton Wilson and many others. Illustrated, with a new surname index.