A happy 150th to Derby --- and Humeston, too

The year 2022 brings with it the 150 birthdays of both Lucas County's Derby and its neighboring town to the south in Wayne County, Humeston. The two towns were entrepreneurial enterprises of railroad investors then constructing what became known as the Chariton Branch of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad (later C.B.&Q.) that linked the Lucas County seat with Leon via the already exiting town of Garden Grove.

Derby was platted on the first of May, 1872, and a few months later the following account of it was published in The Chariton Herald-Patriot of Jan. 29, 1873. The village plat is taken from the 1896 atlas of Lucas County.

+++

Eleven miles southwest of Chariton, situated upon the high rolling prairie, in one of the most fertile as well as one of the most beautiful regions of Southern Iowa, stands the thriving village of Derby where twelve months ago the winter winds rustled among the prairie grass with nothing to obstruct its course. We do not boast of any marvelous growth of our village, but we do claim that the future of Derby is as bright and the prospects as encouraging as ever were those of any other town in Lucas county, at so early a day in their existence. 

Located upon the Chariton Branch of the B. & M. R. R. at an advantageous distance from all surrounding towns, being about midway between Chariton and Garden Grove, in a section of country that has long felt the need of a nearer market than has heretofore afforded, with the thousands of acres that must naturally pay tribute to her, she is destined in the near future to rank among the first of Iowa's villages.

At present as it is unanimously admitted, trade is dull, but for the time prior to the last 60 days the trade of Derby would be the pride and boast of many a town numbering as many years as ours does months. T.M. Hammaker and Geo. Bell & Co., merchants, have been doing a large business. B.T. Chapman is going to open out a stock of goods in the spring. John Throckmorton is finishing up a 20 by 40 store house as fast as the weather will permit, and as soon as complete will occupy it with a stock of general merchandise.

A church to be under the control of the M.E. Society will be built during the coming summer; enough and more than will enclose it has already been subscribed. The Presbyterians I understand are also going to build a church. I do not know what are the present prospects of this enterprise, but as it is being worked up by the Rev. W. C. Hollyday of Chariton, we can almost set it down as a fixed fact.

Within the last five months there have been shipped from this place 33 cars of cattle, hogs and sheep and 62 cars of corn and oats.

When the atmosphere is pure we have a very extensive view of the surrounding country from Derby. Chariton is in view and to the west, Smyrna in Clarke county is visible as is Humeston to the south, and away in he distance the faint outlines of Corydon is discernable. (signed) T.F.E.