The first election of officers for Hamilton County was not held until the first Monday in 1857. The election included 347 voters. The results were as follows:

County judge: J.D. Maxwell, with 204 votes, Hampton Corbin, earning 143 votes

District Clerk: G.W. McClure with 206 votes, J.C. Pemberton with 119 votes

Prosecuting Attorney: E.R. Green earned 197 votes, with William R. Daniels at 139 votes

Treasurer and Recorder: Cyrus Smith with 206 votes, J.C. Pemberton 119 votes

County Assessor: R.D. Remington 154 votes, Alex Turner 142 votes, E. Lakin 44 votes

Sheriff: William Royster with 343 votes, S. Sufficool 2 votes

School Fund Commissioner: J.W. Payne 188 votes, J.H. Cofer 152 votes

County surveyor: E. Huntington 242 votes, Sam H.J. Lunt, 72 votes

Drainage Commission: H.M. Barstow 190 votes, J. Gilcrist 150 votes

Coroner: L. Lakin 148 votes, A. Gaines 119 votes

These original elected officials were to serve until the August 1857 election, with the exception of the assessor and drainage commission, who were to serve for two years, and coroner for 1 year.

The first publication of the Hamilton Freeman was on June 26, 1857, the first newspaper published in the county.

The people of the county held great reference for the “Declaration of Independence,” but until the organization of the city, had too few to hold a true celebration. But in 1857, it was determined that there should be a grand and glorious fourth.

According to Lee’s History of Hamilton County, the following events occurred:

The festivities commenced in the evening of the third with a grand ball at the Willson house where the young folks “tripped the light fantastic” until the national salute was fired at sunrise.

At ten o’clock a procession was formed under the direction of Col. John Peake and marched to the grove west of town. A. Moon was president of the Day. Rev . J.K. Large offered a very impressive prayer and J.J. Wadsworth read the Declaration of Independence.

John F. Duncombe, of Fort Dodge, was to have delivered an address, but instead S.B. Rosencrans too the stand,

When the address had been concluded the procession returned to the Willson house for dinner, after which toasts were proposed and responded to.

Peter Lyon told about shooting elk, but a short distance from where he was then speaking. Judge Maxwell bore down hard on “land sharks” and expressed a determination to stand by Hamilton County to the last.