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Community History

Originally called Ashurst, Zearing was born of the Lincoln Township of Story County, which was formed on June 6, 1866. The City of Zearing was founded in October 17, 1881; it was later incorporated on February 6, 1883.

The town was named for Judge William Mitchell Zearing of Chicago. Judge Zearing owned land in the community. It was named in honor of Judge Zearing after he presented a bell to the first church of Zearing. It is recorded that the original gift was to be a college, but the Zearing family lot much of their holdings in the Great Chicago Fire.

For those interested, a handful of books on Zearing's history are available at the Zearing Public Library.

• Community History of Zearing, Iowa
  by Donald H. Grimm. 1956
   
• The Zearing Community Pictorial History: Centennial Edition
  by Loren Norman, Darrell Norman, Emilie Grimm, Mary Lundy, Arleyne Gildersleeve. 1981
   
• Zearing Community History
  by Inez McBride, Elaine Good, John Lund, Claire Obenchain. 1987