BELLEVUE, the seat of justice of Jackson county, is situated on the Mississippi river, twelve miles due south of the city of Galena ; the town site is upon an elevated plateau of land about fifteen feet above high water mark; it is surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills, mostly covered with timber, which break off the severe cold winds of winter, and prevent the temperature from falling as low by several degrees, as a few miles distant upon the ridges. This town was first settled in 1836, by J. D. Bell. In that year this site was selected (by authorised Commissioners, one of whom was the late Captain John Atcheson) for the Capitol of the then Territory of Wisconsin ; and but for some difficulty between the proprietors of the land and said Commissioners, this would have then been made the Capitol of Wisconsin Territory, which at that time included both sides of the river. This spot had always been a favorite one with the Indians, and its beautiful location caused said Commissioners to select it as a commanding situation for the Capitol.
The population of our town is about 1000. The population of the county is fully 15,000, and emigrants daily arriving.
There are five organized churches in the town, viz., Congregationalist, Episcopalian, Methodist, Baptist, and Catholic — one of each. (Iowa As It Is in 1855; A Gazetteer for Citizens..., 1855)
BELLEVUE is situated on the Mississippi River, 22 miles below DuBuque, and 12 miles from Galena, Illinois. The town site is upon a plateau of land about fifteen feet above high water mark, and is surrounded by an amphitheatre of hills which break off the severe cold of winter. The town was first settled in 1836, by J. D. Bell. It has five churches, viz.: Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic; one Lodge of Masons, and one newspaper—the Union Banner, weekly, S.D. Helms, Editor and proprietor. It contains two flour mills, one saw mill, one iron foundry, nine general stores, six grocery stores, two drug stores and two breweries. There is a good water power as yet undeveloped. Population, 1,400. (Hair's Iowa State Gazetteer..., 1865)