A
traveler passing through Lyon County in 1890 writes, “Admit that the
Garden of Eden was located on this continent, then I can trace its
location, for nowhere else on the American continent are so many
evidences of its probable location, as here in Lyon County.”
An
early historian says, “We doubt if anywhere in the United States may be
found a more fertile and beautiful region of country than is embraced
within these limits.” He speaks of early settlers coming here because
they were encouraged by “tales of the wonderful beauty of Lyon County.”
Indeed,
from what we read, one of the first things that struck most of the
pioneers when they came here was the “wondrous beauty” of this place.
They cannot seem to say enough about the smoothly undulating surfaces
of the land, the almost complete freedom from stones, hills, bluffs, and
stagnant waters. They speak of “just enough elevation and depression
of surface to allow perfect drainage.” The pure clear streams meandered
through all portions of the county, making the landscape “ever a feast
to the eye.”
The
railroad official who was in charge of laying the tracks in our area
had two children named George and Edna. It was at his request that the
two towns be named after his children. The coming of the railroad was
the determining factor in the establishment of the town of George, as it
was in the establishment or growth of most towns at that time.
Often
the supervisor of the railroad decided where new towns were going to be
located along the way. They generally attempted to route through towns
already established, and when a town was by-passed by the railroad it
was called and “inland town” and soon died out or was relocated.
So
it was when the tracks were laid this far, the official in charge gave
orders to lay a side track and put out a box car for a depot. This was
the beginning of the town of George. From the time the first train went
through George on December 25, 1887 until many years later when cars
and trucks took over, everyone in town or the country depended in one
way or another on the train.
~ from In and Around George, Iowa 1871-1912 published in 1976