Natural Resources RICH FERTILE SOIL There is no greater natural resource than the rich Iowa soil around Steamboat Rock. The earliest recorded breaking of Hardin county virgin soil by the white man was in autumn of 1849 in what is now Union township, by Greenberry Haggin. The next spring about a […]

Natural Resources WILDLIFE Another resource that the early settlers enjoyed was an abundance of wild game. Many of them brought a cow or two, a few pigs, and some poultry. They were breeding stock, and were not available for food until their herds and flocks were established. This made the […]

Natural Resources GOLD In years after California’s gold rush, a rumor began to spread that gold had been found in Hardin County. Farmers neglected their fields to wield picks and shovels. Prairie schooners brought prospectors, but no one struck “pay dirt” and the excitement died down nearly as quickly and […]

Natural Resources COAL MINES The first settlers of the town site had such a large supply of cord wood obtained in clearing their land that they found little use for the coal outcropping along the Iowa River between Steamboat Rock, and Eldora. It was not too long however, before coal […]

Natural Resources WOOD FOR LUMBER AND FUEL The History of Hardin County states that “Clay township was undoubtedly the most heavily timbered township in the county, being about half covered with heavy timber.” It seems hard to believe today, but much of this timber was cut used and even sold […]

Natural Resources LIME FOR PLASTER Many of the oldest homes in Steamboat Rock, have plastered walls plastered with locally processed limestone. The lime used for plaster and mortar in these older buildings was produced by calcining or “burning” limestone in kilns. The remains of several of these lime kilns indicate […]

Natural Resources CLAY FOR BRICK Clay that appears in several places in the area around Steamboat, was of good brick-making quality. Since it was easily accessible a brick works was started about one-half mile northeast of the present corporation limits of Steamboat Rock. With careful investigation one may still be able […]

Natural Resources BUILDING STONE Nearly every foundation, cellar, basement, cistern, and well curbing that was constructed in the area, including much of western Grundy county before 1915 was made of locally quarried stone. This stonevaries from dense buff-colored limestone to porous dark brown sandstone. Many of the foundations exhibit a skillful […]

Natural Resources The early pioneers that settled this vast country of ours were without a doubt strong and hardworking. The most remarkable quality however, was their ingenuity. Their ability to make do with what they had. When they found stone they built homes of stone. When they found wood in […]

Growing Beyond Their Dreams THE MASONS A dispensation was granted on February 10, 1868 to organize a Masonic lodge in Steamboat Rock. A charter was granted on June 8, 1870, and Equality Lodge, No. 262, A.F. and A.M. was organized with the following charter members: Wm P. Noyes, A.A. Noyes, […]