BOONE.

     This township is situated in the southeast corner of Dallas county, and is known in the government surveys as congressional township 78, range 26, west of the fifth principal meridian.

     It has passed through numerous changes in its boundary lines since it was first called Boone, as it was one of the first three electoral precincts formed in the county, as early as 1849, and then received its present name. By the general division of the county into precincts, March 5, 1850, Boone precinct was made to include all of its present territory, except a one mile strip along its north side, and also included about half the present territory of Van Meter. (See previous order, March 5, 1850.)

     In the general division of the county into townships, February 2, 1857, Boone township was made to include all its present territory and one-half of Van Meter, as shown by the following order of the county court, recorded under the above date:

     Ordered, By the court, that the district of country included in the following limits shall form, and constitute, the township of Boone, to-wit: Commencing- at the northeast corner of township No, seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-six (26); thence west to the section line dividing sections three (3) and four (4), in township No. seventy-eight (78), north range twenty-seven (27); thence south on said line to the south line of Dallas county; thence east on the county line of said county to the southeast corner of the county aforesaid; thence north to the place of beginning.

     There seems to have been no important changes after this in the boundaries of Boone township until in January, 1869. when Van Meter township was organized in its present form, leaving Boone bounded, as it now is, by the congressional township lines.

     The main Raccoon river enters the east side of Boone township in the north part of section 30, then bends abruptly to the south and flows in that direction for about a mile when it turns again to the east and flows in a winding course within about a mile of the south line of the county and township, until it passes out at the east side of the township on section 25, and flows on to the Des Moines through Polk county.

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     Sugar Creek extends diagonally from near the northwest corner of the township toward the southeast until it empties into the Raccoon on section 26, and Johnson creek about two miles southwest of it, and nearly parallel with it, flows in the same general direction until it empties into the same river to the west. These three streams give the township excellent water and drainage privileges, as also an abundance of wood, building material, coal and mill sites. There is considerable timber and rolling land in Boone township, as also excellent river bottom land; and a large portion of the northeast half of the township is admirable prairie land. There is evidently plenty of coal, also, along- these streams and bluff lands, but no important mines have yet been opened, as so many are being worked in other localities not far distant, and with the conveniences the railroad affords of shipping, especially with the extensive Van Meter coal mine so near, it has not been necessary or profitable to open or work mines in Boone to any great extent.

     When the demand from abroad increases sufficiently to warrant the necessary expenditure, no doubt Boone will be able to find plenty of coal as convenient and of as good quality as is now found in the neighboring localities along the river, and the work of extensive mining will then be commenced in earnest. Building material of almost all kinds is very plentiful also in the township. Plenty of good stone for building purposes, as also for lime manufactory, is found within the limits of the township.

     It is throughout that locality that the greatest quantities of those "lost rocks" or limestone boulders have been found. They are becoming less numerous now, as so many of them have been used on account of the superior quality of lime they produce. But when these all fail there will be an almost unfailing supply found in the limestone quarries along the streams.

     The C., R. I. & P. R. R. passes east and west through the township, just north of the river, crossing the latter at its southern bend, just west of the town of Booneville.

     This railroad gives the entire township excellent market privileges, and gives it one town, BooneviIle, within its limits. (See sketch of Boonville.) Booneville is also its only post-office.

     Boone township was also among the earliest settlements in the county, and in giving the separate township histories it should be borne in mind that for many years, and in fact until January, 1869, Boone township also included the east half of Van Meter, and, therefore, many of the early incidents which now properly come under the history of Van Meter township really occurred in what was then Boone. On this account it is difficult to separate between the two and give the early particulars of each, and must, therefore, give much of the early histories of both in one. The first settler on the present territory of Boone township was John Wright, some time in 1846, on section 22. He had previously settled across the line, in what is now Van Meter township, early that spring, not far from Levi Wright's present home, and built the third log cabin erected in Van Meter; but as Levi Wright informs us, John did not remain on his first claim long until he moved off by himself into better hunting fields, and settled, as above stated, on section 22, within the present limits of Boone township, and thus became the first settler of that township as well as nearly the first in the other. Soon after he moved over, "Deaf Jim" Wright, his cousin, also

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went over and made his home principally with John for some time, but still kept his land in Van Meter, adjoining Levi.

     Greenbury Coffin also settled in Boone township about the same time as John Wright, or not long afterward, and near by him, on section 27, they being brothers-in-law.

     In 1847 William D. Boone, George Gresham, J. O. Goodson and John Johnson also settled in Boone township, and soon afterward others came in and formed quite a flourishing community. William D. Boone died in 1855.

     J. C. Goodson still lives on his old homestead, owning a large tract of some 300 acres of land. He first came to this county prospecting in 1846, but did not move and settle here with his family until 1847, and to him we are indebted for many important items regarding the township history.

     The first school in the township was taught by his wife, Priscilla Goodson, at an early day.

     The first marriage in Boone township was the same as that in Van Meter, George Haworth and Mary Stump, Sept. 2, 1847, in Henry Stump's new hewed-log house. This is also claimed as the first marriage in Van Meter township, as it occurred in the present limits of Van Meter, and both parties Jived west of the congressional township line, though it was at that time Boone township.

     They were married by J. C. Corbell, Esq. this being also the first marriage in the county. (See account.)

     The same is true also of the first death in these townships, that of old Mr. Coffin, in the winter of 1846-7, being also the first in the county. (See account.)

     The first cabins were built by John Wright and Greenbury Coffin, in 1846.

     The first sermon was preached in the township by a colored minister, now living in Des Moines, Rev. Ezra Rathburn, at the house of John Wright. This occurred soon after the settlement was made.

     The first circuit preacher who preached in the township was J. Q. Hammond who organized the first church in the township. It was a Methodist Episcopal Church, and some of the original members were J. C. Goodson and his wife, Priscilla Goodson, George Gresham and his wife, Nancy Gresham, Susanna Boone, and Sarah Lane.

     This is the only church now in the township, and is called the "Fairview Church," named by J. C. Goodson. The building is located a little south of the center of the township, and is the first and only church building in the township.

     Some of the ministers on this circuit who have ministered to it are as follows: Reverends J. Q. Hammond, Ockerman, Robert Haun, M, H. Hare, George Clark, Thomas Dixon, Donahue, Fleming, Murphy, Sexton, Barton, LaMonte, and E. P. Vail, the present pastor, living now at Waukee, where he a18o preaches, uniting the two churches as one charge. (See sketch of church at Waukee.)

     This township has one good iron bridge spanning the main Raccoon river, near Booneville, also a line railroad bridge a short distance above it, across the same stream, besides other bridges of minor importance over the smaller streams in different places. There is also one good steam mill in the township at Booneville.

     There are many large and well improved farms in the township, which are kept in fine repair by the owners, and stock-raising is followed extens-

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ively. This township displays some of the best blooded stock in the county, and has, perhaps, as many extensive stock-raisers and dealers as any other locality in the county. It also has some extensive and valuable orchards, and generally shows thrift. and prosperity in like manner with its adjoining neighbor, Van Meter.

     The Des Moines & Fort Dodge Railroad passes through the northeast corner of the township, cutting off a three-cornered piece containing about two sections.

     Boone township has a desirable location, as well as a stable and thrifty class of citizens, and on account of being situated so near Des Moines, as well as because of its natural advantages and advanced improvements the land is generally valuable and readily salable.

     The township now has nine school-houses, and as many sub-districts.

     The township officers elected at the last election were as follows: Township Clerk-Simpson Flinn; Assessor-S. S. Parkes; Trustees-Jameson, A. Nish, Jasper Goodson; Justice-J. M. Flinn; Constable-Austin Flinn.

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VAN METER.

     This township is the second one from the east in the south tier of townships in Dallas county. It is known in the government surveys as congressional township 78, north of range 27, west of the 5th principal meridian.

     The forks of the Raccoon river are near the center of this township, and the Bulger creek flows into the South Raccoon river within the township boundaries, giving it very fine water, timber and mill privileges. It also has plenty of good prairie farming land, and some excellent river bottom land for agricultural purposes.

     Its surface is, for the most part, rolling, the soil fertile, and the general improvements now pretty well advanced. It is becoming quite thickly settled, and has numerous large and well improved stock and grain farms, and the citizens are generally in comfortable circumstances.

     The territory now known as Van Meter township was, for a long time after the organization of the county, without any separate township organization, being split up and attached to the other adjoining townships. For a long time the east half was a part of Boone, while a part of the northeast corner was attached to Adel township, and the remainder, in connection with the greater part of what is now Adams township, united in forming 'Coon township, which was soon afterward all thrown into Adel township, and so remained for a number of years, until Adel was settled in its present form.

     Van Meter was first settled in its present form by the following order, made January 4, 1869, as shown by the records:

     Ordered, That all that portion of congressional township number seventy-eight (78), range twenty-seven (27), now included in the township of Boone; and all that portion of said congressional township number seventy-eight (78), range twenty-seven (27), aforesaid, now included in Adel, be detached from said townships of Boone and Adel; and that the whole of said township seventy-eight (78), range twenty-seven (27), shall constitute a new township, to be called and known as Van Meter township; and it is further

     Ordered, That William Ellis be appointed to post notices of the organization of said township of Van Meter, in pursuance of the statute in such cases made and provided.

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     This order established the township in its present form, with the boundary lines of the congressional township above named. Some minor changes in the boundaries may have occurred since, for school purposes or other conveniences, but no record of any important or permanent change is found since that date.

     Van Meter township has the honor of the first settlement in Dallas county being made within its present bounds. This settlement was made by the Stump Brothers, during the fall of 1845, as before stated (see early settlements.)

     Early the next spring a number of more settlers carne into that vicinity, the Wrights, the EIlises, the Haworths and others, and during that year the number was increased by the arrival of Henry Stump and family, Noah Staggs, Mr. Clark, Henry Garner, Henry Busick, John Juvenaugh, James Black, William P. McCubbin, Richard Golden, John Clayton, Sylvanus Night, James More, Nathan Moore and William Brown, and doubtless others whose names we have not been able to ascertain--making quite a thriving--settlement in that vicinity during that year.

     We are indebted to Mr. Levi Wright for the principal information regarding the early settlement of this township, who came into that vicinity in February, 1846, took a claim on section 16, in company with his brother, James Wright, built a cabin on his claim, and moved his family there from Polk county the following April, where he still lives, a number more coming into that and other parts of the county at the same time and in company with him.

     The first house built in Van Meter township was also the first one built in the county, which was the claim cabin, 16x18, built by the Stump brothers early in the winter of 1845, as previously mentioned.

     The second claim cabin in the county was built by Levi Wright a few months later, in the last of February, 1846, about the same size and style of structure and architecture as that of the Stump cabin.

     John Wright built the third cabin soon afterward, and Henry Stump, sometime during the spring of 1846--as Mr. Wright informs us--built the first double hewed-log house in the township, consisting of two rooms, one story high, each room being about sixteen feet square. This house was considered a fine structure in those days, and perhaps was not surpassed in beauty and convenience and comfort for many years.

     The first death in this township was also the first one in the county, as previously mentioned. It was that of old Mr. Coffin, the father of Greenbury Coffin, and father-in-law of John Wright. He died at Henry Stump's house, of old age, during the winter of 1846-47, and was buried in the Clayton grave-yard (see first death.)

     The first school-house in the township was a log cabin, built on section 15, during the spring of 1847, by a claimant who soon moved away and left it vacant, and for some time it was used as a school-house, until a better one was provided. The first school taught in this house was taught either by William P. McCubbin or Miss Malinda Night. Mr. Wright informs us that these were the first two who taught school in the township, but does not remember certainly which taught first.

     The first church service was at the house of James Black, some time in 1846. The sermon was preached by Rev. William Busick, a Radical Protestant Methodist, who supplied a circuit west of Des Moines. Religious

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services were then held altogether in private houses and school-houses for some time.

     The first church organization formed in the township was that of a Methodist Episcopal church, some time during 1847, and the first church building erected and dedicated in the township was probably the one in the town of Van Meter.

     The township has five different grave-yards within its limits: one at De Soto, one at Van Meter, one near Levi Wright's, and two others.

     The wooden bridge at Van Meter, built by Jonathan Peppard, is 364 feet long, being a double bridge, and is a model in construction. It is by considerable the longest bridge in the county, and cost a great amount of money for its construction.

     The iron bridge at Van Meter's mill on the Adel and De Soto road is 220 feet long, and is also a model bridge of its kind.

     This township has two fine bridges, built by the county, one spanning the main Raccoon river at the town of Van Meter, and the other across the South Raccoon at H. G. Van Meter's mill, near the west line of the township.

     The township has also some good stone-quarries, which furnish both sandstone and limestone in abundance, and a good many of the limestone boulders are found scattered on the surface in different places.

     It has eight school-houses, besides two graded schools in De Soto and Van Meter; and at least five or six church buildings, counting those in the towns.

     There are two thriving towns in the township, De Soto and Van Meter, each of which receive due notice further on, under the head of towns.

     Van Meter township affords plenty of coal, and the most extensively worked coal mine in the county, the one at the town of Van Meter owned and worked by the Chicago & Van Meter Coal Company, a sketch of which is previously given under the head of "Coal Mines."

     It also has two good water-power grist-mills, and numerous excellent mill sites on the Raccoon river.

     H. G. Van Meter's mill is situated on the bank of the 80uth Raccoon, about three miles west of De Soto, on the main road to Adel. On the same site was formerly a saw-mill, built by Glover & McPherson about 1855-6, and the property was sold by them in 1859 to H. G. & Jacob Van Meter, who tore down the old saw-mill and built a grist-mill a little above, or perhaps partly on the old mill site, in 1860-1.

     This mill is now owned by H. G. Van Meter, and is said to have one of the best dams on the river, having a head of about seven feet of water. It has three run of stone, one four-foot burr, one three and a-half feet, and one two and a-half feet, only two of which are run at once. One burr is capable of grinding eight bushels per hour as an average. This mill is kept in good running order, and has a large run of custom.

     Jacob Van Meter's mill is situated on the bank of the main Raccoon, near the town of Van Meter. It was built about 1866-7, and also has two wheat burrs, each about three feet, and one corn burr about two and a-half feet in diameter. Each of the wheat burrs is capable of grinding about six bushels per hour, and the dam has a head of about six feet fall. This mill is also kept in good repair, and has an extensive custom.

     Van Meter township has one good railroad, the C., R. I. & P. R. R., which enters the township at the east side, about a mile from the southeast

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corner, and follows the valley of the main Raccoon river as far as the town of Van Meter, where it turns up the valley of Bulger creek, and follows that in a rather crooked course, passing out at the east side of Van Meter township, on section 30, at De Soto.

     This road furnishes the township with excellent shipping facilities and market privileges, and gives it two towns within its limits--De Soto and Van Meter-- also two good post-offices at these towns, and daily mails arrive and depart regularly, north, south, east and west.

     There are numerous large and elegant farm houses and country residences in the township, among which may be mentioned those of J. J. and H. G. Van Meter, and fine yards and fruit orchards in every direction, all of which indicate thrift and enterprise on the part of the owners of the farms and .citizens of the township.

     The first election held in Van Meter township was held at the house of Henry Stump, April 5, 1847, that being one of the polling places at the first election, and it was then and there chiefly that the spirited contest was had between the rival candidates for the office of sheriff, when the jug of whisky won the day.

The township officers elected at the last election! 1878, were,

Township clerk-J. W. Welch,
Assessor-J. E. Brown.

Trustees:

F. M. Ross,
Jesse Dillon,
J. J. Van Meter.

Justices:

Z. Whaley,
J. W. Welch.

Constables:

J. B. Seaman,
G. W. Tomlinson.

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ADAMS.

     This township is the second one from the west, in the south tier of townships in Dallas county, and is known in the government surveys as ,congressional township 78, north, of range 28, west, of the 5th principal meridian. The South Raccoon river passes almost centrally through it, east and west, while Panther creek flows into it from the north, and Bear creek from the southwest, each emptying- into said river near the middle of the township, about a mile apart.

     Adams township is, therefore, well supplied with water, drainage, timber, coal, stone and mill privileges, as well as fertile soil and excellent farming lands, both on the prairies and capacious river bottoms.

     The settlements are becoming quite thick, the land being principally taken up and cultivated, and it has a good many well improved farms, the citizens being generally enterprising, thrifty, and well-to-do farmers.

     Like that of Van Meter township, the district of country now known as Adams township, was for a long time divided up, and constituted parts of other townships, a strip off the north side about two miles wide being

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joined to Adel township, and the remainder, in connection with part of the west half of Van Meter, forming what was called 'Coon township for a while, and then finally all was thrown into Adel township, and so remained for a number of years, until the following order, as found on the records, settled it in its present form, January 4th, 1869:

     Ordered, That congressional township No. 78, range No. 28. heretofore included in the township of Adel, be formed into a new township; and that the boundaries of said new township shall be the boundaries of said congressional township 78, range 28; and that said township shall be called and known as Adams township. And it is further
     Ordered; That Stephen Adams be appointed to post notices of the organization of said township, in pursuance of statute, in such cases made and provided.

     This order established the new township of Adams in its present form, and no order appears on record of its having been changed since, being still bounded by the lines of said congressional township 78, range 28.

     The new township was named after Stephen Adams, one of its present honored citizens, who was one of the influential ones in getting it set off from Adel, and organized as a separate township, as above described.

     It appears that a difference of opinion existed with regard to a railroad tax about to be voted on in Adel township, to which tax most of the citizens of Adams were opposed. In order to save further trouble and settle the matter peaceably, and in the most satisfactory manner to all, a petition was gotten up, signed by Mr. Adams and others, and presented to the county court, asking that the territory above described be set apart and organized as a separate township, which petition was granted, and Mr. Adams was appointed by the court to complete the organization of the said township in pursuance of law, the township thus taking the name of Adams.

     We are indebted to Mr. George S. Hills for the principal information regarding the early settlement of Adams township, who came in May 18, 1846, and settled on his present homestead, sections 10, 11, 14 and 16, where he still lives, comfortably fixed and well provided. John Longmire, his neighbor, adjoining on the west, and Tristram Davis, who settled just adjoining the latter on the west, were perhaps the first settlers in Adams township. Mr. Longmire and Mr. Davis came in the month of February, 1846, selected their claims, made some improvements, and returned for their families, and then moved out here again, arriving May 14, 1846; at the same time with George S. Hills, John Davis, a brother, and Levi Davis, a son of Tristram Davis, and perhaps others, all came in at the same time and settled along the north side of South Raccoon, adjoining one another, with their farms extending down on the fertile river bottom lands.

     Levi A. Davis settled on a claim just east of George S. Hi1ls, while his uncle, John Davis, settled just west of Tristram's claim, and that fall Archibald Crowl came in and settled on a claim just west of John Davis.

     During the summer or early fall of 1847, Nathan and Abner McKeen settled on the west side of Panther creek. There are doubtless other settlers who came in during this period of time, whose names and locations and dates of arrival we cannot ascertain, but the above named persons were among the first and, perhaps, the principal ones. The settlement and improvement gradually increased until the year 1850, when there was quite a brisk immigration which filled up the township quite rapidly. The winters of 1847-8, and 1848-9 were considered by the settlers as the hardest

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they ever witnessed before or since, and it required very careful work and management on the part of all in order to succeed in wintering through.

     The north half of Adams township was generally settled first, along the timber and bottom lands of the South Raccoon and Panther creek, and in these localities are now found the greatest number of old settlers, and some of, the best farms in the township. Other localities, however, were gradually settled, and with their greately [greatly] increased advantages were not long in catching up with their older neighbors.

     The first claim-pen in the township was built by Tristram Davis in the spring of 1846. It was simply a log pen about sixteen feet square, built up hurriedly so as to form the sides of a house, and let stand there for awhile so as to secure his claim. He afterward covered it with bark and lived in it all summer.

     John Longmire built the first log house in the township, in the spring of 1846, also. It was 16x18 feet, built of round logs scotched down at the corners during the process of building, and afterward the sides were hewed down, making it a finished hewed-log house, in which he lived many years, until he next built a larger hewed-log house.

     George S. Hills built the first frame house in the township, 24x48 feet, a story and a-half high, with a one-story kitchen, in 1857, in which he lived until a few years ago, when he built another new frame house, his present residence.

     The first death that occurred in the township was that of a child of some travelers passing through, whose name is unknown.

     The child died on the journey and was buried in the Davis burying ground. This burying-ground was located on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 16, and was a donation of Tristram Davis to the general public for that purpose, but it was never deeded to anyone. When he sold out he made a reservation of the grave-yard land, but still failed to deed it to trustees, and it still remains in that unsettled condition, for which reason, perhaps, not very many have felt secure in burying their friends and relations there, not knowing into whose hands it might fall.

     The first death among the settlers of the township was that of Miss Matilda Hill, and her sister Malinda also died about two weeks afterward. These deaths occurred in July, 185G, and the remains of both were interred in the Davis burying-ground.

     There are at least two other places of burying in the township, though only one of these is regularly fenced. It is south of the river, on section 14, and this one, with the Davis burying-ground, are the only ones fenced in the township.

     There is no church building in Adams township, and no church organization that we can learn of; the people generally going to the neighboring towns to church.

     The first attempt at building a school-house in the township promised fairly at first but finally proved a failure. The need of such an institution being felt, the citizens met and decided on their plan, each one agreeing to do his share by furnishing necessary materials. Some promised to furnish the materials for the sides, others the ribs, others the roof, others the floor, etc., etc., and the plan seemed to be working nicely; but it turned out that some of those who promised were prompt and faithful to fulfill their promises, while others failed, so the whole scheme fell through, and the result was they had no school-house until one was built by law, in 1853,

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which was a frame house 16x18 feet, situated on the southeast quarter of section 11.

     The contract for building this house was let, with the understanding that when the property of the district so increased as to be sufficient to payoff this debt by a tax of 15 mills on the dollar, a tax should then be levied to that effect and the debt paid off.

     At this time the entire township constituted one district, being then only part Penoach township, and the house being so far distant from many parts of the school district when finished, it was not at all profitable or convenient for many families to send to the school, and such did not feel like submitting to the tax levy for this purpose.

       It was proposed by George S. Hills and others, in view of these difficulties that all those living sufficiently convenient to the new school-house should pay their per cent of the proposed tax in advance, and thus payoff the contractors and workmen. This was done, and a sufficient amount in this way was soon raised and paid in, and all the debt squared, those paying their money, in the mean time, each taking a note from the district for the amount paid, to draw ten per cent interest until the district should be able to lift them, or until the school district should become small enough for all within its bounds to attend the school, then a tax should be levied and' the notes raised.

     The original cost, including house and apparatus, was $161, and notes were given out by the district for this amount, in return for money paid in, and loaned by individuals to pay off this debt. These notes range in amounts from $3 to $25, and by some mismanagement on the part of those placed in charge of financial affairs of the district, none of these notes have ever yet been paid, but are treasured, rusty and worn, by those who, loaned the money for the benefit of the district in the time of need, and for the advancement of the cause of education.

     The following is a copy of one of these notes held by George S. Hills, which, after an hour's search, was dug out of a huge pile of old papers, where it had remained buried for years. The original note was not drawn on buckskin but it will wear yet for many years, and would be as good as gold if he could only draw the money on it. But he congratulates himself that he is not alone in the boat, as there are numerous others in with him, and some singing to the tune of $25. The note reads as follows:

To the Treasurer of District No.4, Penoach Township:

You are hereby authorized to pay Geo. S. Hills ten dollars, with interest at ten per cent per annum until paid, from date. This January the 13th, A. D. 1854.

CLARK HILL.
President of School District No.4, Penoach Township.

Attest:
J. W. GAROUTTE, Secretary.

     This house was built by J. W. Garoutte, in 1853, and was used as the school-house of that district until about six years ago, when a new one was built, and the old one was moved away for a dwelling-house, for which purpose it is still in use.

     The first public school in the township was taught in this house during the winter of 1854-5, by Samuel J. Garoutte.

     Miss Mary Holt succeeded him as teacher the next term, and kept a private school in the same school-house, being paid by George S. Hills.

     Stephen Adams, for whom the township was named-taught the first

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school in the township, on the south side of the river, during the winter of 1856-7, in an old log house belonging to old Mr. Bilderback, and testifies that it was a very cold winter.

     There are now ten good school-houses in the township.

     The first water-mill in the township was built in 1856, by Charles Bilderback, on the northwest half of section 16, on the banks of the South Raccoon river, the same site where Mitchel &. Payton's mill now stands, and Samuel J. Garoutte was the mill-wright who constructed it.

     Messrs. Mitchell & Payton afterward purchased the property and now have a fine water-power flouring mill, kept in good repair and doing a thriving business. This is the only mill in the township.

     There is plenty of coal in the township, along the streams, in thin veins eighteen to twenty inches in thickness, but no mines of great importance have yet been opened-and worked. Marsh's bank is the only one worked to any extent in the township (which see under" coal mines ").

     The Bear creek stone-quarry is also located in Adams township, and is perhaps the most extensive one in the county.

     They are not working it now to any great extent but in the summer seasons from twenty to thirty hands general1y employed. (See building material.)

     Adams township also has one fine iron bridge across the South Raccoon river at Mitchell & Payton's mill, 160 feet long, and also one at Panther creek, built by the county.

     The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad passes through the south east comer of Adams township, and the stone-quarry branch runs up from Earlham, a distance of about a mile and a-half from the south line. The township has no post-office in its limits, but De Soto and Earlham supply the need.

     The township officers elected at the last election, 1878, were:

Township Clerk-J. R. Wilson.
Assessor-Stephen Adams.
Trustees-J. W. Forrester, William Brown, William King. .
Justices-Stephen Adams, J. D. Marsh. (Both held over from last
year.)
Constable-Alden Whitney.
Officers of school board-President. D. W. Snyder; Treasurer, Thomas Bilderback; Secretary, Stephen Adams.

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