Island Grove, IA

Island Grove is the oldest town in Emmet County. In 1855, Thomas Maher arrived from Dubuque, Iowa. He worked in the mills in the eastern United States. With a taste for adventure, he started west. Once the railroad tracks stopped at Dubuque, he took his gun and axe, and kept going west. He finally settled in on the western border of Mud Lake. It would be later re-named Ingham Lake. Why? Maher was a corporal in the Navy. His Captain was Captain Patrick Ingham. Once his family and friends arrived, it was known as the community of Island Grove. In 1873, a post office was placed near Maher's wood cabin. Maher was appointed as postmaster/ The post office would close one year later. Maher lived a full life. He died in 1914. He never moved after moving to Island Grove. There was never an official mayor, and the town was never incorporated. The cabin was taken down in 1945 by Clarence Olson.