An Early History of the Town of Clermont
Clermont is a small town in northeast Iowa located in the valley on the banks of the Turkey River, overlooked by Montauk, home of the late Ex-Governor Larrabee.
Tradition establishes Andrew Moates as the first settler, although the time of his coming is somewhat obscure; and it is understood that a man by the name of Delaplaine laid claim to lands where the town of Clermont now stands, and in 1848 built a cabin there. A year later Carlton and Thompson, a mill firm at Elkader, came to the Turkey at the same point and bought the claim from Delaplaine and erected a saw mill there. Carlton and Thompson let the building contract to Carlton and Sawyer, who moved here in June 1849 and built two log cabins on what is now block 24 in Clermont, located about 20 rods east of the first saw mill. These were the first houses in Clermont after Delaplaine’s rude claim cabin, located near the mouth of the Dibble creek. Mr. Carlton opened the first stock of goods in the fall of 1849.
The township was established by county commissioners in 1850; and the name was fixed by them, although the spelling was then “Claremont.” In 1850, Edwin Stedman, John Hendershott, and Chancy Leverich with their families, J.B. Hough and Andrew Martin settled in the vicinity of Clermont. In 1851 the town of Clermont was laid out by John Thompson and C.D. Carlton, proprietors; and here beside the waters of the Turkey River came the Yankees, the Swiss, the Irish, the Swedes, and the Norwegians to settle and cultivate the opulent land.
Taken from Historic Clermont – First Edition 1968 – A book compiled and written by the Clermont Historical Society
Eagle Scout Projects
Nathan Wagner – Corn Crib
Chris Spies – Old Jail
Josh Butikofer – Cemetery Kiosk
Zach Monroe – Recreation Trail Kiosk
Steven Kress – FFA Canoe Landing
