KEOKUK, a county in the S. E. part of Iowa, has an area of 576 square miles. It is traversed by Skunk river, and its N. and S. forks, which flow nearly eastward, and unite in the S. E. part of the county; and the S. fork of English river intersects the N. part. The soil is productive, and adapted to grain and grass. The county contains numerous prairies, alternating with groves of hard timber. Wool, Indian corn, and oats are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 346,650 bushels of Indian corn ; 58,266 of oats, and 11,923 pounds of wool. A railroad is projected through the county from Muscatine to Oskaloosa. First settled about 1843. Named in memory of a noted Indian chief. Capital, Lancaster. Pop., 4822. (Baldwin's New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States..., 1854)
KEOKUK COUNTY Is the third county from the Mississippi River and the Missouri State-line; situated west of Washington, and north-west of Jefferson Counties. The land is of an excellent quality, well watered by the Checauque and its tributaries, which are skirted with a good supply of timber. Lancaster, the county-seat, has increased very rapidly during the past two years, as has the entire county. The Muscatine and Oskaloosa Railroad, which is under contract, passes through the county, touching the county-seat. Sigourney, Waugh's Point, and Richland are each centres of large settlements of intelligent and industrious people ; the latter place is settled principally by Friends, or Quakers. (Iowa As It Is in 1855; A Gazetteer for Citizens..., 1855)