SPRING VALLEY.

     This township is the second one from the west in the north tier of townships in Dallas county, and is known in the government surveys as congressional township 81, north of range 28, west of the 5th principal meridian.

     In the general division into precincts, in March, 1850, this was also, part of Buena Vista precinct, and in March, 1856, it was made to form a part of Dallas township. It remained in this shape and connection during the general division into townships, February 2, 1857, and until the division of Dallas township was made, September 6, 1858, when Spring Valley wa8 first organized as a township, as shown by the following order of the court, made that date:

     Now, on this day, comes J. H. Roberts and others, and file a petition praying for the formation of a new township in the township of Dallas.

     Whereupon it was ordered that the district of country included in the following bounds shall constitute the township of Spring Valley: Township No. eighty-one (81), north of range No. twenty-eight (28). The first election to be held at J. Chiles.
No record appears of any important change having been made in its boundary lines since that date, and it still remains bounded by the congressional lines of township eighty-one, range twenty-eight, west of the 5th principal meridian.

     The North Raccoon river enters Spring Valley township near the northwest corner, and flows diagonally through it to the southeast, passing out at the south side, about two miles west of the southeast corner of the township; and Beaver creek flows across the northeast corner of the township, cutting off about two sections of land. These streams furnish the township with plenty of timber, coal, building materials and mill privileges, and are spanned by several good bridges; one large wooden frame bridge east of Perry, across the North Raccoon river. There is also one good water-power grist mill on the North Raccoon, near the south part of the township, owned by Henry Thornburgh, and known as "Thornburgh's Mill".

     It was originally built as a saw mill, and some seven years afterward the present grist mill was built on the same site. It has three run of stone, two for grinding wheat and one for corn, and is doing a fine home custom work. There is also a steam mill at Perry, owned by Otis & Selby Brothers,

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which is doing a good business, especially for all the northern part of the township and surrounding country, drawing the custom more or less from abroad, as the people come into Perry to trade, and dispose of their produce.

     The land in this township is pretty much all taken up and under good cultivation and improvement.

     This township has only one post-office, which is at Perry.

     Though there is considerable timber land, and some rough land along the river and creek passing through, there is still a predominance of valuable and fertile farming land in the township, and many large well-improved stock and grain farms. Having a good railroad and one enterprising town in their midst, the citizens of Spring Valley largely partake of the same spirit of enterprise, and are constantly pushing general cultivation and improvement along in a most encouraging and commendable manner.

     Perry, the only town within its limits, is one of the most live, thrifty, prosperous towns in the county, and quite naturally sheds the same influence abroad throughout the township, and the effects are becoming quite visible on all the surrounding community, The Des Moines & Fort Dodge R. R. extends diagonally through the township from southeast to northwest, entering the township near the southeast corner, and passing out about two miles east of the northwest corner, leaving the town of Perry a little north of the center, and thus convenient to all parts of the township, giving them an excellent market and trading-point right at home.

     Spring Valley is an independent school district and has nine schoolhouses within its limits, besides the schools at Perry, which receive due attention under sketch of the town.

     The first settlement in Spring Valley township was made by Dutch Henry in the spring of 1848, on what afterward became the William Elder farm, situated west of the North Raccoon river, not far from the present site of Perry. Dutch Henry, however, did not remain very long in possession of that claim, as he suddenly found occasion to disappear entirely from this part of the country, on account of the, to him, unwelcome presence of Ira Sherman, the wool grower at the house-raising, as before related; leaving his claim and improvements to be occupied and enjoyed by others. He had first settled in Sugar Grove township before going to the above mentioned claim.

     Cornelius McKeon, Esq. settled in Spring Valley township not long after Dutch Henry's settlement. The above was a son of one of the McKeons who settled near the mouth of Panther creek, in Adams township, a short time previous. Not long after he settled in Spring Valley, numerous others came in and joined him, among whom may be mentioned Judge Thornburgh, Harvey Willis, John McMillen, Michael Shively, Wilson Minor, Jesse Bramfield and others.

     This township soon increased quite rapidly in settlement, and has become one of the finest townships in the county.

     The farmers are engaged quite extensively in raising stock, for which the township is well adapted, being admirably watered and supplied with farming and pasture land; and having a good railroad passing through gives the citizens a good shipping point at Perry, not far from the center of the township.

     The first election in the township was perhaps the one held at the house of J. Chiles in the fall of 1858.

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

Township Clerk-J. T. Davis.
Assessor-Thomas Whitmer.

Trustees.
Thomas Scott.
W. F. Cardell.
L. P. Wilcox.

Justices:
E. D. Lunt.
A. G. Webster.
W. Snyder.
S. D. Gamble.

Constables:
A. W. Parmeter.
A. D. Haskins.
W. H. Harlan.
I. S. Bibbins.

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BEAVER

     This township is the second one from the east in the north tier of townships in Dallas county, and is known in the government surveys as congressional township 81, north of range 27, west of the 5th principal meridian. In the general division of the county into precincts in March, 1850, it was mostly included in Des Moines precinct, a small corner being in Buena Vista. February 2, 1857, it was constituted a township by itself, with its present boundary lines as shown by the following order of the county court on that date:

     Ordered, By the court that the district of country included in the following limits shall form and constitute the township of Beaver, to-wit:
     Commencing at the northeast corner of township No. eighty-one (81), north range twenty-seven (27); thence west to the northwest corner of the aforesaid township; thence south to the southwest corner of the aforesaid township; thence east to the southeast corner of the aforesaid township; thence north to the place of beginning.

     In January, 1859, Beaver township, as thus constituted by the above order, was entirely cut to pieces and swallowed up by the extension of Des Moines and Sugar Grove townships, about one-half being thrown into each of these townships. (See sketches of Des Moines and Sugar Grove.)

     June 3. 1861, the board of county supervisors issued the following order, again constituting the township of Beaver, with the same boundary lines as before:

     Ordered, That the district of country included in township No. eighty-one (81), north of range twenty-seven (27), west of the 5th P. M. Iowa, form and constitute the township of Beaver; and that a warrant be issued for an election to be holden at the house of Seth B. Dayton, in said township, on the 8th day of October, A. D. 1861, for the purpose of perfecting an organization of said township; and that there be elected at that time and place, three township trustees, one township clerk, two justices of the peace, two constables, one assessor and such other officers as may be provided by law.
     Warrant issued to Seth H. Dayton, June 14, 1861.

     No record appears of the above described boundary lines having been changed since that date.

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     Beaver township has no river passing through its limits, but has several large creeks and running streams.

     The big Beaver creek passes in through its west line about a mile south of the northwest corner, and flows diagonally in a winding course through the township, passing out at the east side about a mile and a-half north or the southeast corner. The little Beaver creek flows into it from the north, a little east of the center of the township; and Slough creek flows into it from the south, passing through the southern part of the township, nearly centrally north and south, and emptying into the big Beaver on section 16. These three streams, each of considerable size, water and drain the entire township nicely, and together with the large tracts of fertile prairie and farming land contained within the township limits, render it an attractive locality for stock-raising and agricultural pursuits. There is considerable timber along some of these streams at different places, especially bordering on the Beaver creeks, and being so near the central part of the township is quite convenient to all portions. The belt of timber along the North Raccoon is not far distant from the western portion of the township, and the Des Moines river timber on the other side is comparatively convenient to all the eastern portion of Beaver township, so that all parts are well supplied with timber, coal, building material and milling privileges at convenient distances.

     Though the township has no town within its own limits, it is conveniently located to the two thriving towns in adjoining townships, Minburn and Perry. The D. M. & Ft. D. R. R. passes through the southwest corner of the township, cutting off a small portion.

     The township has no post-office located within its bounds, but is handy to at least four different ones, Perry, Minburn, Xenia and Snyder postoffices.

     Beaver, though organized quite early as a township, did not progress in settlement and improvement so rapidly for a number of years, as it was at one time entirely divided up and thrown into adjoining townships, and did not, perhaps, take so much interest in its general progress as a township until after it was organized in June, 1861, in its present form; and since that time, especially of late years, it has been making marked progress. Though there is still a large tract of unimproved land in it, there are some well improved farms and some thriving settlements.

     Spanning the Beaver creek, there are two wood frame bridges built by the county, within the township limits, each about sixty feet long, built by Jonathan Peppard, of Union township, and good roads are now being constructed on the principal section lines throughout the township.

     The first settler in Beaver township was Seth H. Dayton, who located there at an early day.

     Among the early settlers of the township, also, were J. M. Townsend, Mrs. Gardner and family, C. C. Burdick, Mr. McConnell, and others, who came in about the same time and soon after those above mentioned.

     This township was organized with seven voters, all of whom were Democrats, making the township for a long time the banner Democratic township of the county, but of late years it has become Republican.

     The Walworth family also came at an early day and settled in Beaver township among the very first, and built a mill on Beaver creek. There are nine school-houses in the township.

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     The first election held in Beaver township was, perhaps, the one held at the house of Seth H. Dayton, October 8, 1861.

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

Township Clerk-K. Cameron.
Assessor-H. H. Hayes.

Trustees:
James Stephens.
Ira Doty.
D. Norwood.

Justices:
M. S. Conway.
D. O. Bligh.

Constables:
Emerson Carleton.
James Gardiner.

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COLFAX.

     This is one of the central townships in Dallas county, occupying the second place from the south and west in the tiers of townships, and is known in the government surveys as congressional township 79, north of range 28, west of the 5th principal meridian.

     It has no river flowing through its boundaries; but the Panther creek enters near the northwest corner of the township and flows diagonally through, passing out about two miles west of the southeast corner, giving; it plenty of water and drainage facilities. There is not much timber within its bounds, except what is found along the Panther creek, but most parts of the township are near enough either to the North or South Raccoon rivers and their heavy timber belts to make timber quite convenient and easily accessible to all parts of the township.

     The beautiful tract of farming land contained in this township cannot easily be excelled.

     It contains both high rolling prairie and beautiful fertile valley land, well drained and sufficiently watered by springs, and running streams. It is not a very old settled township but shows thrift and enterprise on every hand, and has a good many large, well improved farms, which produce immense yields of corn and other crops, and the farmers are now beginning to raise and turn off large droves of fat hogs and herds of cattle.

     Some fine tracts of prairie are yet found, that have never been brought under cultivation, being held principally by eastern speculators, which has held the township back somewhat in its progress and settlement; but the time is not far distant, doubtless, when all these vacant prairie lands will change hands, and be brought under cultivation, and when Colfax will be numbered among the thickly-settled townships of Danas county. The extension of the Des Moines, Adel & Western narrow-gauge railroad passes through the southern part of this township down through a beautiful, fertile valley, which extends from a little west of Adel on toward the Middle Raccoon river, and affords a valuable tract of farming land of great fertility.

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     During all the early years of the county, and in fact until quite recently, the territory now included in Colfax township was mostly attached to Adel, with occasional strips being cut off and attached to other adjoining townships, accordingly as the increase of settlement demanded, and it was not until January 4, 1869, that, it was set off by itself and constituted a township with its present boundaries, as shown by the following order of the supervisors, which appears on record under the above date:

     Ordered, That all that portion of congressional township, No, 79, range 28, heretofore included in the township of Union, and all that portion of said township 79. range 28, heretofore included in the township of Adel be detached from said townships of Union and Adel, and that said congressional township No. 79, range 28, shall constitute a new township, to be called and known as Colfax township. And it is further ordered that John Tyre be appointed to post notices of the organization of said township, in pursuance of the statute in 8uch case made and provided.

     The above order cut off from Union the four sections previously annexed for school purposes (May 9, 1859), and all the rest of said congressional township from Adel, and constituted the new township of Colfax at the same time that Van Meter and Adams townships were organized, and also cut Adel township down to its present form.

     Among the first settlers in Colfax township were William Franks, Jackson Franks, Willis Franks, William Loper, John Tyer, J. N. Ludington, and John Metz, an of whom came in at quite an early day, and with energy and perseverance have succeeded in making themselves comfortable homes, and greatly advancing the cultivation and improvement of their township. There are two church organizations in the township. The M. E. Church has no building erected yet, but hold their meetings in the Tice schoolhouse, and their membership now numbers thirty-four. They will probably build a house of worship soon. (See the account of this church as given by the pastor, Rev. David Shenton, under the history of the Adel M. E. church.)

     The German Baptist Church is located on section 4, Colfax township, and is called the Panther Creek Church.

     The association was organized in the fall of 1869, with Christian Long as Bishop. The members at that time were as follows: His wife, son and daughter, Henry Stitzel and wife, John B. Diehl and wife, Henry Miller and wife, Jacob Rowland and wife, Emanuel Couchenour and wife.

     Their meetings were held regularly each Sunday at different places unti1 the building of their church, which occurred in the spring of 1873. They have a commodious and well constructed edifice, capable of seating about 500 people. It was built at a cost of about $1,400.

     Their present membership is from 70 to 75, and the church is in a flourishing condition.

     In February, 1877, Mr. Robert Badger succeeded Mr. Long, which place he fills with credit to himself and satisfaction to his people.

     The township has two good county bridges over the Panther creek, one near Mr. Ludington's and one near Mr. Foster's, besides several others of minor importance.

     It also has one post-office, called Panther Creek post-office.

     With this one within its bounds, and Adel and Redfield so near, all parts are conveniently situated for receiving and sending mail matter.

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     The first election held in Colfax township was, perhaps, in the spring of 1869, soon after the order was issued for its organization; and the township officers elected at the last election, 1878, were:

Township Clerk-C. W. Sutherland.
Assessor-C. H. W. Payne.

Trustees:
F. A. Kennedy,
V. P. Gray,
J. Ludington.

Justices .
James Snyder,
L. D. Bullis.

Constables:
James Ackley,
J. S. Fair,
William Bales.

The township has nine good school-houses, and as many good schools.

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LINCOLN.

     This township is the second one from the north in the west 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.

     It has no river passing through it, but is very well supplied with two running streams of considerable size, which afford plenty of water and drainage. The Mosquito flows full length of the township, north and south, down through the west half, and Panther creek nearly full length of the .township from north to south through the east half, flowing out at the southeast corner into Colfax township, thus leaving a strip north and south of excellent agricultural land, from three to four miles in width lying between these two streams, nicely rolling and well located, with another strip a little more than the width of one section full length of the west side of the township, on the west side of Musquito [Mosquito] creek, and another on the east <side of Panther creek nearly the full length of the township, about one or two miles wide; all of pretty much the same quality of farming land.

     A large amount of the land in Lincoln township is not yet under cultivation, as it was among the last townships settled and organized in the county, and the settlement before its organization was not very extensive, except in a few localities.

     Much of the wild land in the township is held by speculators and capitalists, who do not live here, and, as a consequence, not nearly the improvements have been made that would otherwise have been, though there are now a good many large and well-improved farms in the township, and during the past few years it has been making very encouraging progress in the line of settlement and cultivation. It has very little timber within its bounds, except what is found along the two streams above mentioned, and especially along Mosquito creek, which stream has in some places quite a strip of timber along its banks, consisting chiefly in soft maple, elm and

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swamp ash; and formerly a good many white ash grew along its banks, but these have mostly all been cut off and used by the first settlers, so that few traces of them now remain.

     This stream is also well supplied with fish of the small varieties, and plenty of coal is found all along it during its entire length through the township, rendering the coal abundant and convenient to the settlers in all parts of the township. There are also strong indications of coal occurring further up along this stream, but no veins of any importance have yet been opened above the township line. One surface vein within the bounds of Lincoln, on Musquito [Mosquito] creek, has been opened a number of years since, and is being worked to some extent. It is from twenty inches to two feet thick where it has been opened, and yields unusually hard coal, not of the best quality and rather difficult to be mined, as it is only done by stripping.

     The highest point of the cut is about 24 feet. The outcrop of coal was first discovered by George Martin and Lem. Southerland while passing along the stream and the vein was afterward opened. There is evidently much more and better coal to be found at no great depth under this, but no special efforts have yet been made to discover it.

     The township now has eight good school-houses within its bounds, in all of which good schools are kept during the average school months each year; and for a while the township had strong prospects of a narrow gauge railroad passing through its northern portion, the proposed Des Moines & Western R. R., before mentioned. (See railroads.)

     It has no town within its bounds, but has one post-office, called Brough P.O., on section 9.

     By the general division of the county into precincts in 1850, the present territory of Lincoln township formed part of Buena Vista precinct, and by the general division of the county again into townships February 2, 1851, Lincoln became part of Iowa township. It remained as the north half of Iowa township for a little more than a year, when, March 2, 1858, it was made part of Washington township, and thus it remained until June 3, 1867, when it was cut off from Washington and constituted as a township of itself by the following action of the board of supervisors, as appears on the minutes under the above date:

     Petition presented by Powell and others asking that a new township be formed of the west part of the present Washington township, to-wit: Township No. (80) eighty, range No. (29) twenty-nine.

     By motion the township was organized; to be called Lincoln township.

     Resolved, That the clerk of the board be, and he is hereby, directed to issue a warrant as contemplated by chapter thirty of the Revision of 1860, for the organization of the township of Lincoln, Dallas county, Iowa, and that said warrant be directed to J. R. Powell, to carry into effect this resolution; and that by said warrant said election be ordered to be held at the .school-house of district No.3, in said township, on the regular election day in October, A. D. 1867.

     The above action settled Lincoln in its present form, bounded by the congressional township lines, and no record appears of any important change in its boundary lines having occurred since that date.

     J. R. Powell, now of Panora, Guthrie county, was, perhaps, the first settler in Lincoln township, who settled at an early day on section 18, near the west side of the township and county, and who was instrumental in getting the organization completed when it was.

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     It appears from the order that the first election in the township was held in October, 1867, and we understand that there were only about the required number of voters then living in the township-about seven or eight, all told. For a long time after Mr. Powell settled there he was about the only occupant of that part of the county, but was afterward joined by others, whose names we have been unable to ascertain; and it has now grown to be quite a settlement in different parts of the township.

     It has now eight school-houses, only lacking one of the allotted number to each township; and before many years, doubtless, the increasing population will require the ninth.

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

Township clerk-John Hoyt.
Assessor- E. M. Jones.

Trustees.
R. Hollingsworth,
R. Walton,
James McNeal.

Justices:
E. Davis,
I. V. Smith.

Constables.
G. W. Rote,
D. Miller.

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GRANT.

     This township is the second from the north in the east tier of townships in Dallas county, and is known in the government surveys as congressional township 80, north of range 26, west of the 5th principal meridian.

     The territory it now includes formed parts of different precincts, and passed through various changes in boundary and division lines, until the general division of the county into townships in February, 1857, when it was made to constitute the north half of Walnut, and was finally organized into a separate township, with its present boundary lines, September 7, 1868, as shown by the following order, which appears on the record under that date, as made by the board of supervisors:

     Petition presented by J. D. Whitman and others asking for the organization of a new township, formed of parts of Walnut and Des Moines townships, to-wit: Township 80, range 26.
     Ordered, That the petition be received, and the township organized as petioned for September 8, 1868.
     Ordered, That the township organized of congressional township 80, range 26, be called Grant township, and that B. W. Thomas be appointed to organize said township in pursuance of law. .Warrant issued to B. W. Thomas, September 14, 1868.

     This township has no river passing through it, but has one running stream of considerable size. The Beaver creek flows across the northeast part of it, entering at the north side about midway and following a very crooked course to the southeast through the township, passes out at the east side about midway, flowing on into Polk county, and emptying into the Des Moines river.

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     This stream, through the territory of Grant township, has considerable timber along its borders, and numerous other smaller streams flowing into it from different directions, which afford the northern part of the township a sufficient supply of surface water and drainage, while the southern part of the township has not so many running streams, but has small ponds of surface water in various places which partly supply the demand for surface water for stock use.

     There is still a great deal of vacant prairie land in this township that has not yet been cultivated, affording fine opportunities for opening valuable farms in a desirable location, within a short distance of the State Capital. There are numerous large and well improved farms, however, in the township, and some extensive stock-raisers and dealers, both in blooded herds and in feeding and shipping for market.

     J. D. Whitman has an extensive and valuable herd of thoroughbred Shorthorns and high-grade blooded cattle, with which he has taken much pains in improving, and deserves great credit for the increasing interest thus awakened in the township and surrounding country, in improved stock-raising, by his pains and energy in the advancement of this branch of business so important and profitable in the West. There are others, also, in the township, who are taking great interest in this work, and are getting fine herds of high-grade stock around them, already giving the township quite a desirable reputation in that line, though it is yet young as an organized township, compared with others around it.

     It has also a number of extensive stock-feeders and shippers, among whom may be mentioned Hooker & Gillett, who deal quite largely each year, not only in raising, but in purchasing and then herding, feeding and shipping during summer and winter seasons, thus creating a home market for stock cattle, when those having a small number do not desire to feed and also gaining for the community a reputation as a stock township. The township has no railroad in its limits, but the Des Moines & Ft. Dodge R. R. passes just west of it, leaving the lively thriving town of Dallas Center within a mile of the southwest corner of Grant township, and thus furnishing excellent facilities for shipping either north or south, and thence east over two main roads to Chicago. Being situated so near Des Moines also makes Grant a good feeding and shipping point. It has no town or post-office within its limits, but Dallas Center being so near, and Minburn and Waukee not far distant, the facilities for trading and market are comparatively convenient, and these three post-offices, together with Snyder P. O., so near the north line, in Des Moines township, all parts of the township can easily get and send mail matter.

     Mr. Humphrey was the first settler in Grant township. He settled on section 22, in 1849.

     Mr. L. Morgan was among the first settlers in Grant township. In 1855 he located on section 22, where he still lives, in old age, comfortably situated.

     J. D. Whitman was among the first settlers of the township, coming in and settling on section 30, in 1857, where he still lives, carrying on his large stock business.

     L. W. Briggs, on section 35, and A. Huff also came at an early day and for several years this township settled up rather slowly, being for a long time quite unsettled as a separate township organization, but during later

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years it has been progressing finely and making good improvements in preparation for fruit-growing, stock-raising, and general agricultural pursuits. The township has nine school-houses in its bounds, and as many sub-districts. The first election in the township was, perhaps, held in the fall of 1868.

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

Township clerk-D. Manning.
Assessor-John McCormick.

Trustees:
S. Darling,
D. H. Stoner,
C. E. Rice.

Justices :
C. F. Ellerman,
S. W. Briggs.

Constable:
T. T. Wilson.

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