Garner Public Library
Carnegie Grant Information
Town & County
Twelfth Census of the United States â€” 1900. p. 449.
Thirteeth Census of the United States â€” 1910. 1,028.
Garner is the county seat of Hancock County, which was established on January 15, 1851. Hancock was named in honor of John Hancock (1737-1793), who served as President of the First Continental Congress. The county seat was locatd variously at Amsterdam, and then Hancock Center, and then Concord. In 1898, Britt attempted to win the county seat, but the move was countered by the city of Garner which had annexed the town of Concord. In 1903, Garner received the official designation as county seat. In Hancock County, both Garner and Britt received Carnegie grants.
(Source: Pratt, LeRoy G. “The Counties and Courthouses of Iowa.” Mason City, Ia; Klipto Printing & Office Supply Company, 1977, p. 143-145.)