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On February 5, 1842, the Iowa Territorial Legislature passed a bill to incorporate a literary institute in Mount Pleasant. The bill became law on February 17. On March 11, 1843, nine years after the settlement was founded, four Mount Pleasant citizens donated twenty acres (81,000 m²) in four adjoining plots to enable the trustees "to erect a suitable building on some part of the donation, which should be used and forever appropriated as an institution of higher learning." This building, now called Pioneer Hall, is in use today on the campus of Iowa Wesleyan College. Pioneer Hall is the oldest existing college building west of the Mississippi River. At the time of completion in 1845, it met the College's academic needs and served as a residence for the president.