That’s when William Williams, who had been the civilian merchant for the Army post named Fort Dodge, laid out the town.

The Army had abandoned the post in the summer of 1853, sending its soldiers north to Fort Ridgeley in Minnesota. Williams bought the land that the fort was on and platted a town to be called Fort Dodge.

But while people lived there, and the mail was delivered there, the place was not a city in the formal legal sense until 1869.

Webster County was established in April 1853. The creation of the county involved several twists and turns, including an intense rivalry between Fort Dodge and the town of Homer over which one would become the county seat.

-Messenger file photo
The Fort Dodge Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S., was built in about 1915. But city government started well before ground was broken for the building. In 1869, city voters decided to formally incorporate the community. William Williams, who established the town in 1854, was elected to be the first mayor.

There was no such drama as Fort Dodge evolved from town to incorporated city.

While everyone called the place Fort Dodge, the predecessor of today’s city was an unincorporated town in what was then Wahkonsa Township. Whatever government services there were came from the township or the county.

That was typical of the era, according to Fort Dodge historian Roger Natte. He said at that time townships were more important than cities, and people identified with the township that they lived in.

When the population of Fort Dodge topped 2,000 in 1869, a group led by Williams moved to have the place formally incorporated as a city.

In August 1869, the group petitioned the courts for permission to hold an election on the question of whether Fort Dodge ought to be incorporated. That permission was granted on Aug. 26, 1869.

The referendum was held on Oct. 1, 1869.

Records in the City Clerk’s Office show that the vote was overwhelmingly in favor, with 200 people voting yes and seven voting no.

Fort Dodge was formally incorporated as a city on Oct. 26, 1869, according to the Iowa Secretary of State’s Office.

The first local election was held that year. Williams was elected to be the city’s first mayor.

The first members of the City Council are listed in the City Clerk’s records as C. Arnold, A.M. Dawley, C.B. Richards, James Swain and Thomas White.

There were also some appointed officials. James B. Williams was the city clerk, W.H. Wright was the marshal and A.N. Botsford was the solicitor, which was what the city attorney was called at the time.