Algona
We decided to go farther west, beyond the settled porrtion of the state, where we could take our choice, buy land or start a town..." Ambrose A. Call
In the spring of 1854, two brothers, Ambrose and Asa Call set out on a journey to find land on which to start a city. Twenty-eight year-old Asa Call had just returned to Indiana after working in California for several years as an Indian Commissioner. Asa had saved $6000.00 and was ready to buy some land in Iowa or Nebraska and start a new city in the west. He sent a letter to his brother, Ambrose in Minnesota, asking him to join him. Ambrose said, "Although, I had but little money, I had an abundant supply of good health and ambition and promptly accepted his invitation."
So the brothers met in Illinois, took a boat to Muscatine, IA and then walked to Iowa City which was the capital of Iowa in 1854. They decided to keep moving west. They met a family going west in a covered wagon and rode for two days with them. Asa and Ambrose eventually found land north of Fort Dodge that suited their purposes. Ambrose Call carved the following in a walnut tree near their camp: "Ambrose A. Call claims this grove-July 10, 1854."
In the spring of 1854, two brothers, Ambrose and Asa Call set out on a journey to find land on which to start a city. Twenty-eight year-old Asa Call had just returned to Indiana after working in California for several years as an Indian Commissioner. Asa had saved $6000.00 and was ready to buy some land in Iowa or Nebraska and start a new city in the west. He sent a letter to his brother, Ambrose in Minnesota, asking him to join him. Ambrose said, "Although, I had but little money, I had an abundant supply of good health and ambition and promptly accepted his invitation."
So the brothers met in Illinois, took a boat to Muscatine, IA and then walked to Iowa City which was the capital of Iowa in 1854. They decided to keep moving west. They met a family going west in a covered wagon and rode for two days with them. Asa and Ambrose eventually found land north of Fort Dodge that suited their purposes. Ambrose Call carved the following in a walnut tree near their camp: "Ambrose A. Call claims this grove-July 10, 1854."
Fast Fact: When Asa call surveyed the city in December of 1856 there were 88 city blocks but ony a handful of cabins built within the city limits.
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Listen to Asa Call's thoughts about founding a new town.
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