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History of Bremer County The first
white man came to Bremer County in 1845 and settled about
two miles southwest of Denver. At that time this area
was a Native American Reservation belonging to the Winnebago Tribe, numbering about 300. Later the
Reservation was purchased by the government, and the Native
Americans were moved to the Crow River area of Minnesota,
about 150 miles north of St. Paul.
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Frederika Bremer |
Bremer County had been
named in 1850 by Governor Hempstead, who was an admirer of
the Swedish authoress, Frederika Bremer. Bremer County
is thought to be the only Iowa county named after a person
eminent in literature.
Townships were named for famous people also: Washington,
Jefferson, Jackson and Polk, for four of our Presidents.
Fremont and Douglas for candidates for President.
Dayton for a Presidential running mate in 1856.
Lafayette and Warren for two famous soldiers of the
Revolution. Frederika for Frederika Bremer.
Maxfield for Judge Maxfield, and Sumner for Charles Sumner
who was a Senator of the Civil War period.
Waverly was first settled in 1850, and it soon grew to
importance due to its waterpower that was used by the flour
and saw mills. On January 24, 1853, Waverly was chosen
as the county seat, and unlike numerous counties, the county
seat has remained unchanged. Waverly was
selected because of its growth, commercial position, and
railroad facilities.
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Old Courthouse
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Bremer County was permanently organized in August 1853
with the election of county officers. The first
courthouse was erected one year later by Richard Miles at a
cost of $147.50. The small frame building was used for
only three years, and then it was replaces by a brick and
stone two-story structure that cost $23,000 to complete.
None of the materials used in its construction-brick, stone,
and lumber were from outside of the county. This 43' x
63' building was dedicated on January 1, 1858 at a grand
ball and reception that was held in the new building.
This second courthouse did not contain a vault for the
safekeeping of county records, so in the summer of 1870 a
small brick building was constructed adjacent to the
courthouse. The $5,000 building was used to house all
of the county records.
These two building were torn down in 1937 in order to
make room for the third and present courthouse. The
county used a W.P.A. grant of more then $60,000 to construct
a $139,000 courthouse. Several bands were on hand to
celebrate the dedication and open house of the new
courthouse on June 10, 1037.
On July 2, 1975 a joint law enforcement building was
erected to be shared by the Waverly Police Department and
The Bremer County Sheriff Department. At this time the
Sheriff's housing quarters, office, and jail were removed
from the courthouse building.
In 2003 Bremer County celebrated its 150th year from the
election of county officers.
Sources:
1965 Bremer County Atlas
Kathy Thoms, Bremer County Director of Finance & Management
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