MONMOUTH TOWNSHIP
MONMOUTH, was organized as a
township April 4, 1854, taking its name from the city of Monmouth, which is situated
within its territory. The election was
held at the court house with John Leeper as Moderator, and B. F.
Corwin, Clerk. At this meeting, the
following named citizens were elected the township officers: Joseph Whitman, Supervisor; Samuel
Wood, Assessor; James McCoy, Collector; A. S. Gilbert, Clerk;
A. C. Cregg, Overseer of the Poor; C. W. Hunnicutt and W. N.
Smith, Justices of the Peace; James McCoy, Constable; C. V.
Brooks, R. S. Hall, and James McKemson, Commissioners of
Highway. This township is numbered 11 north
of range 2 west, and is bounded by Spring Grove on the north, Cold
Brook on the east, Lenox on the south and on the west lies Hale
Township. It is pretty well watered by Cedar
Creek, and its numerous little tributaries, which afford also ample
drainage facilities. The face of the
land is mostly undulating, with some level prairies. The soil is rich and susceptible of high cultivation. Bordering the streams there is a very
liberal growth of timber, and within the township are some very fine
groves. Three railroad lines pass
through it; the main line of the C.B. & Q. R.R.. enters on section 36,
deflects a little to the northward and passes through sections 26,27,28,29 and
31. The St. Louis branch enters between
sections 2 and 3, runs south through the city of Monmouth and passes out of the
township on section 31. The Iowa
Central passes diagonally across the southwest corner. Mrs. Talbott and son, from Kentucky , were
the first settlers in the township, and the county in 1827, locating on section
2. Mrs. Talbott died in
Monmouth, about the year 1849, aged 80 years and John B., mentioned very
often in the history of this county, moved to Oregon in 1850, and was living
then near the mouth of the Columbia River.
With the Talbotts came Allen G. Andrews, who settled on
Cedar Creek, section 6. He was an
educated man and a good Spanish scholar, and took a prominent part in the
public affairs of the township and county.
He died at his home some years ago. Abraham Swartz and his wife came in April,
1829, locating about a mile north of Monmouth.
They moved soon afterward to Knox County. Daniel McNeil, Jr., John Pence, Joel Hargrove, Isaac Hodgins
and Robert Wallace moved in, in the early part of 1830. During this year also came Hezekiah
Davidson, wife and 10 children--Alexander, Elijah, Helena, Irene, Benjamin F.,
James W., Cornelia Ann, Solomon P., Ellen S. and Thomas H. They located on section 16. Of this family only Thomas H. and James W.
Davidson are living. (See biography
of these two sons.) Later on William
Causland, E. Rodgers, Adam (Black) Ritchey, cousin of Adam (Sandy)
Ritchey, William Corwin and William S. Paxton were added to the settlement. Robert Wallace put up the first grist mill,
or corn cracker, in the township. It
was a small affair, and was located about four miles north of Monmouth. The next grist mill was put up by Aniel
Rodgers, in 1832. It was located about four miles north of Monmouth, on
Cedar Creek, section 7. Mr. Rodgers
afterward sold out to Olmstead & Avery. It had two run of stone, and was a great accommodation to the
people. Without this mill many a
pioneer would have been deprived of the luxury of sitting down to a corn cake. In addition to the grist mill, a saw mill
was put up and attached to this power, and considerable lumber was cut for the
settlement. This mill was burned in
1837, and was subsequently rebuilt by William S. Paxton, with an
increased capacity of two stone. It is
still running, and owned by Peter Oswell. It is claimed by some that Adam Ritchey built this mill
and sold it to Aniel Rodgers. Monmouth Township is one of
the most thoroughly cultivated and largest producing townships in this
county. Its population, including Monmouth
City, in 1880, was 6,420. It is
estimated that there has been since that time an increase of 600. The early history of this township
is so closely identified with that of the city of Monmouth, as well as
that of the county, that it has been found difficult to separate the two, and
for further particulars, the reader is referred to the history of Monmouth
and of Warren County. The County Superintendent is her
report for the year ending June 30, 1885, has the following items regarding the
public schools of the township: In the 15 districts there were 4
graded and 11 un-graded schools; 3 brick and 12 frame buildings, with a
property valuation of $29,850. Of
persons under 21 years of age, there were 3,918 of whom 1,860 were scholastic
age, 1,397 being enrolled. The highest
wages paid teachers was $90 and the lowest was $25. The tax levy for this township was $12,742.49. From the Assessor's report for the
year 1885, the following items are taken: Number of acres of improved lands:
21,233; value of improved lands, $461,010; total value of lots, $578,210;
number of horses, 1,286;
cattle, 1833; asses and mules, 22; sheep, 143; hogs, 3,372; steam engines, 6;
carriages and wagons,
506; watches and clocks, 455; sewing and knitting machines, 404; pianos, 158;
melodeons and organs,
116; total cash value of personal property, $325,178. |
Monmouth has honored the following
citizens with the office of Supervisor:
Supervisors Josiah Whitman
...
..1854 Amos
Buford, Asst..
..1872 Samuel Hallam
..
1855 Chancy Hardin
.
..1873-4 J. Leeper
..1856
Alex. Ankin,
Asst
.
..1873-4 Hiram Norcross
.
..
1857-8 Chancy
Hardin
..
.1875 John G. Wilson
1859 John B.
Meginnis, Asst..
.1875 Samuel Hallam
.
1860-1
Geo. Sickmons
.
..1876-7 Samuel Hallam
..
...1862-3
Samuel
Douglas
.
.1878 Josiah Whitman, Asst
.
1862-3 O.
S. Barnum, Asst
1878 Josiah Whitman
..
..1864
Samuel
Douglas
1879 John Brown, Asst
.
1864 Alex. Rankin,
Asst
.1879 James T. Owens
..1865 Samuel
Douglas
.1880 Wm. Clark, Asst
..1865
Geo. Sickmon,
Asst
...
1880 George Sickmon
..1866 Samuel
Douglas
...
..1881 Wm. P. Sykes, Asst
.1866
Amos Burford,
Asst
...
1881 John G. Wilson
1867-8
C. A.
Dunn
..
1882 John F. Owens, Asst
1867-8
C. P.
Averill, Asst
..
1882 Thos. Averell
....
1869
J. R.
Hanna
..
..1883 N. A. Rankin, Asst
...1869
A. T. Bruner,
Asst
..
1883 N. A. Rankin
1870
Sipher
Moses
.
1884 W. A. Grant, Asst
.1870
A. T. Bruner,
Asst
..
1884 W. A. Grant
..1871
G. W.
Claycomb
1885 C. V. Brooks, Asst
1871
A. T. Bruner,
Asst
..
1885 W. A. Grant
...1872 |
