“The Locust Creek Country” was the name given to a broad and fertile stretch of land tributary to that stream. The settlers of Howard and Chariton Counties frequented the Locust Creek Country to hunt and fish. James Pendleton and Joseph Newton, who lived near Fayette, were among the first white men to visit this region for that purpose. They were so charmed with it that they decided to pick out a location and remain here permanently. They came in the fall of 1831, erecting their log cabin and filing claim to Section i4, Township 58, Range 21, now the southwest corner of Locust Creek Township. Having properly established their location the two hunters went back to Howard County for their families and returned with them in the following spring. These were the first white settlers tiers in Linn County. The family of William Bowyer was the next to come from Howard County. That was in January, 1932, five years before the county was organized. This same year Silas and Peter Fore came to Section 29, Township 59, Range 20, some two miles northeast of Linneus, and located. The act of the Legislature organizing Linn County honored Silas Fore by choosing his house for the seat of the county government . Among the other parties who soon settled in the neighborhood were judge James A. Clark, Thomas Russell, John J. Flood, Dr. Nathaniel Drydcn and David Curtis. A year later John Yount came from Cole County, Missouri, and located on Section 11, Township 38. Range 21. The above list comprises the settlers in Linn County February 24, 1833.

By the spring of 1834, the settlers in the Locust Creek Country had increased considerably. The Black Hawk War was over and the white men who had been serving in it returned to their claims. Then came Colonel John (“Jack”) Holland, the founder of Linneus, the county seat. Holland’s cabin was built within the present city limits of Linneus. John Yount and David Curtis were the constructors. The records show that Linneus was built on land that was a gift from Jack Holland and wife, the first settlers there, it being understood that the town was to he the permanent county seat.

During the events above the Locust Creek Country was tributary to Chariton County, but as it filled up rapidly the population soon became large enough to justify an organization of its own. So in the winter of 1836-37, a bill was passed by the legislature establishing Linn County. This bill was approved by the governor, Daniel Dunklin. January 6, 1837. This act of organization included also the counties of Livingston, Macon and Taney. From the date of the organization Linn County developed rapidly. People began coming in from other parts of Missouri and from other states. The fame of the Locust Creek Country as a rich agricultural section, fine hunting ground and its delightful climate spread far and wide.

The first mechanical enterprise was a horse mill, erected by William and Jesse Bowyer, on the east side of Locust Creek. It was built three years before the organization of the county and was successfully operated for many years after. The population had grown to such proportions that soon after the county was organized Bolt’s Mill began grinding on Parson Creek, and Maddox and Rooker put up a mill on Yellow Creek. In 1840, Seth Botts and William Bowyer constructed a water mill on Locust Creek, three and a half miles from Linneus. Near the mill was generally a good blacksmith, a skillful man who did many kinds of ironwork. These two industries, milling and blacksmithing, were the forerunners of the great industrial development Missouri was destined to see. Linn County was settled, largely by Kentuckians. There was a strong settlement up on Parson Creek, Jackson Township, in 1838. Benton, the territory now included within the boundary of Baker and Yellow Creek Townships, began to settle rapidly also about this time, and on up to 1840, and beyond. By 1840, Linn County had become well established. Its population numbered 2,245, and was distributed in the various townships with fair regularity.

From the year 1840, dates the most material progress of Linn County. Schools and churches were established in all the settlements and considerable attention given to the improvement of the highways. In 1843, Senator Lewis F. Linn died, for whom Linn County and its county seat had been named.

The year 1854, brought to Missouri the greatest drought recorded in her history up to that time, and only one approaching it in severity has occurred since. But nature atoned for the chastisement the following year. In 1855, there was one of the largest crops ever pro­duced in Missouri. Since that time Missouri has had dry years and wet years, hut nothing as devastating as the summer of 1854.

From 1840 to 1860. Linn County kept abreast of other counties in Missouri in development and increase in population. In 1840, the tax levy was $700, and in 1860 it was over $9,000. The county’s progress was steadily onward up to the Civil War. That important event re­tarded the growth in all communities, and Linn County suffered with the rest.

From the year 1870, Linn County’s growth was in about the same ratio as that of the state. Brookfield. From a town of 1156 in 1868, had developed into an important railroad center with a population of 5,749 (census 1910). It is the commercial metropolis of the county.

It is the richness and productiveness of soil, which makes Linn County stand pre-eminent among the counties of North Missouri. The alluvial bottomlands, with the soil reaching in depths from two to six feet, lying along every stream and creek, are easy of tillage and make splendid fields and magnificent farms. This soil is simply inexhaustible, and a corn crop can be raised from year to year for a quarter of a century without exhausting the producing qualities.

The soil is of black loam, of great depth and thickness, and is generally underlaid with rich, calcareous clay, abundant in silica and the phosphates and carbonates of lime. Such subsoil with the black mold above referred to makes the finest basis for grains grasses and fruits in the world, and gives a wide range of production. In the entire county there is little land indeed that cannot be utilized for agricultural or grazing purposes. Everything grown in this latitude, from ocean to ocean, is produced here in high quality and most bountiful growth. Corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, flax, broomcorn, millet, Hungarian sorghum, tobacco, hemp, all the garden and field vegetables and a long list of fruits, with the whole family of grasses, any and all are at home in this soil and reach perfection in growth and quality. This remarkable versatility of production gives these county prime agricultural advantages over the special farming regions of the continent. Corn is the great staple and gives a yield of 40 bushels per acre, depending upon cultivation and season.

‘The Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Company made application to the county court for right-of-way through Linn County November 5, 1855. The court granted this application.

At seven o’clock on the morning of February 13, 1859, the Hannibal & St. Joseph road was completed, and an unbroken line of steel extended from Hannibal on the Mississippi River to St. Joseph on the Missouri River. The final connection was made near Chillicothe. The road is now a main line of the Burlington system, but old-timers refuse to recognize it by any other name than the “Hannibal & St. Joe.”

Brookfield was laid out July 20, 1859. This was done under the direction of Major Josiah Hunt, land commissioner for the railroad company. The division headquarters, shops, etc., had been temporarily at Thayer, but with the completion of the road it was decided to move headquarters a little to the west. John Wood Brooks, a civil engineer from Boston, surveyed the town, which was named in his honor. So Brookfield was marked down on the map. Engineer John Wood Brooks was further honored by having four streets of the town named for him. They are “John.” “Wood,” “Brooks” and “Boston,” all crossing Main street.

Among the first residents of Brookfield were Captain and Mrs. Dennis, Mr. Hurd, Patrick Kerrigan, Mr. Landrigan, Thomas Bresnehen, Cornelius Slaughter, Jacob Van Meter, Frederick C. Loring, Henry Steinhelver, James Proctor, Michael Gannon, Michael McGrail, Ed Stephens, John McCormick, Charles Davis, first train dispatcher; Rad Dennis, James Tooey, W. T. Snow, Augustus Turner. A. J. Tillotson, Michael Quinn, John L. Houck and John McGowan. The two latter came in on the first train.

James Tooey came from St. Catherine in July, 1860, and built the first store in Brookfield. He was the first merchant and carried a good stock of general merchan­dise. The Brookfield postoffice was established in August, 1860. James Tooey was appointed postmaster by President Buchanan. The first white child born in Brookfield was the son of Cornelius and Mrs. Slaughter, the date being January 7, 1860. He was christened William Brookfield Slaughter. Frank Bernard and Nellie Mathews, employed at Captain Dennis’ hotel, were first two married. The wedding occurred in the fall of 1860. Brookfield enjoyed the benefits of preaching by able ministers. The first Catholic church was completed and dedicated in August, 1860, Father Hogan officiating.

The first school in the town proper was taught by Miss Lizzie Renick. In the spring of 1863, there were fifteen pupils. The first schoolhouse was completed in 1865. Dr. Banning was the first physician. He came in January, 1866. Drs. Shook and Rider practiced here during the Civil War.

Turning from those primitive days of Brookfield, those days of the sixties, seventies and even the eighties, what a change do we find in what is now the metropolis of North Central Missouri. This rapidly growing Brookfield, with the business streets teaming with traffic and hurrying people; with new buildings going up on every hand, surely the scene under Brookfield's smiling summer sky is a joy forever. It is indeed a vivid impression of growth that strikes the beholder. On the beautiful residence additions surrounding the commercial center of Brookfield the people look down and see the liveliest mart in the state, size considered. Here in progressive Brookfield everything is on the move.

Nature’s best endowment of a city consists in the bestowal of those climatic and topographical conditions which contribute to the public health. The healthfulness of a city is a guarantee of its prosperity, and capital cannot he more profitably invested than in guarding it. The past year has been one of great progress in conduct of the sanitary affairs of the city.

The population of Brookfield differs in many important particulars from that of any other city in the west. There are no “floaters,” drawn hither by temporary causes. The population of Brookfield is stable. The merchants, manufacturers, professional men, mechanics and laborers are Brookfield men. They own their own homes. We doubt whether there is another city in the country of equal size, wealth and importance of which these observations are as true as they are of Brookfield.

Having all the necessary municipal improvements, such as electric lights, gas, waterworks. sewerage, twelve miles of finely paved streets, excellent public schools, new and modern churches and public buildings, it offers every advantage of the largest metropolitan cities.

Brookfield is well supplied with public schools, and is known as a seat of education. There are five ward schools and a high school, which in itself will compare favorably and even rank above many college buildings.

Here you will find all the principal denominations of religion, there being nineteen different churches. Among them are many handsome church edifices, practically new and beautifully located.

The fraternal organizations, lodges and societies have shown wonderful growth and advancement. The following is a list of the most representative: Masons, lodge, chapter and commandery; Brotherhood of American Yeoman; Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers; Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen; Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen; I. 0. 0. F., lodge, camp, and Daughters of Rebecca, auxiliary; Eagles Lodge, Knights and Ladies of Security; K. 0. T. M.; Modern Woodmen of the World; Order of Railway Conductors; Woodmen of the World; Royal Neighbors; Elks; K. of F.; Commercial Club.

The ten parks are beauty exemplified, affording pleasure and recreation to the residents and visitors. They are:

• East and West Park “Twin Parks” - situated on either side of North Main Street - Playground and Gazebo
• Rusk Park - situated on South Clinton - Baseball & Soccer Field and Playground
• Graff Park - on East Wood St. - Adult baseball field
• South City Park -  South on Hwy. 11, east on outer road, half mile - Camping, swimming pool, grills, picnic areas, shelter houses, and playgrounds
• Tourmey Park - South Main Street - Shade and park benches
• Simpson Park - East Prarie Street - Playground
• Park School Park - Practice ground summer baseball and softball
• Fairview Park - Thompson and Hunt Streets - Shelter House and Playground
• Elk Park - Wood Street - Playground
• City Lake - North on highway 11 - Camping, Fishing, Picnic areas

Brookfield, the metropolis of Linn County, is a city of 15,885. The central division point of the Burlington Route in Missouri, Brookfield has forged to the front looking to metropolitan improvements the past one or two decades, that has appealed for admiration from even contemporaries. Thus, the Brookfield of today, surrounded by a rich and prosperous agricultural domain, is a most desirable place for investment and for a home. In other words, Brookfield is “a good place to live.”

Brookfield’s inception dates back a half century. With all honor to the pioneers who founded the town, who “blazed the way,” it was with the second generation that came modern ideas, municipal improvements, greater commerce, more beautiful churches, theaters, parks, streets, avenues and homes.

Until today, this advent of the year 1913 finds Brookfield a city of commercial importance and municipal beauty calculated to imbue every citizen with a sense of pride for his “home town.”

Brookfield has seven miles of well paved streets, that of Main being paved a distance of two and one-eighth miles. This street is too feet wide.

One year ago a progressive city administration, with the Commercial Club taking the initiative, put in a “white way” illumination that has come in for many compliments from visitors. It is generally conceded that Brookfield is the best paved, best lighted, and withal the cleanest interior city in Missouri. The Street cleaning service is unsurpassed, this being a sort of hobby with the mayor and the council.

The waterworks System is owned by the city, and the quality of water is health giving, as clear as a crystal as it comes from the spring supply, or sand strata some twenty feet under ground. This water is so pure and wholesome that it is used by the Burlington on the dining car service. The splendid water system permeates every part of the city.

Other public utilities, such as electric light, gas and telephone, are private ownership, and the service is all that could lie asked for.

The public school system is second to none, while the churches are modern and some of them would be a credit to a city of 50,000 population.

Brookfield’s theaters are the finest to be found in any city of Brookfield’s size in Missouri. The DeGraw cost $40,000 while The Grand, which was opened the first of the year, was completed at a cost of $18,ooo, and like The DeGraw, it is an elegant playhouse.

But while Brookfield is up in the front rank in the matter of advantages making for a delightful place of residence, the city contains industries that gives her commercial supremacy in Linn County.