IOWA TOWNSHIP.

     This township includes all of township 77, range 6, except what lies east of the Iowa river, and in addition to this twelve sections of range 7.
     A few settlements had been made on English river in the north part of the county prior to 1840. The first settlement in Iowa township was probably made by Joseph Edelstein. This man was originally from Switzerland. He first located in Ohio, and in 1838 came to Iowa in search of a new location. He took a claim on English river, not far from the present site of Riverside, on section 13, township 77, range 7. Here he built a cabin, and made arrangements to bring his family from Ohio. From some cause the cabin was burned down before the arrival of his family in 1839, and he was compelled to live with his family in a cave near English river until he could build another dwelling. After the completion of the new cabin he moved into it and prospered. Besides faming he did considerable work at his trade of wagon-making. He was a zealous Catholic, and in the course of time quite a community was established in that neighborhood composed of persons of like religious faith. One of the first church buildings of the county was erected in that locality. His family consisted of six children, three boys and three girls. Mr. Edelstein and his wife died a number of years since. A short time after Edelstein settled on English river a man by the name of John Diehl settled in the same neighborhood. His claim was on section 14. He came from Germany a single man, and shortly after arriving in America married a lady by the name of Elizabeth Spaner. He and his wife moved on the claim, taken the year previous, in 1839. He was a Lutheran, and succeeded well at his occupation as a farmer; the family consisted of two children, both girls. Mr. Diehl died in 1843, and his widow still lives on the original claim.
     In 1839, Simon P. Teeple, from the State of New York, took a claim in section 13, built a cabin and moved into it with his family. He was a physician; the first in English river neighborhood, and among the first in the county. His wife was a sister of Dr. Stone, one of the first settlers of Washington. Dr. Teeple was an enterprising and industrious individual, and soon became one of the most prominent citizens of the county. He held a number of prominent offices, among others, that of representative to the territorial legislature, and his house was the place where the first election in the township was held, in 1840. In 1841 Dr. Teeple removed to Iowa City, where he soon afterward died.
During the latter part of the year 1839 .A. H. Haskell, Charles Haskell, and Abraham Owens took a claim on English river in section 18, township 77, range 6. The two former individuals were from Rhode Island. A. H. Haskell was a married man, the other two were without families. There was a good mill-site on this claim, which they immediately determined to

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take advantage of and erect a mill. During the following winter they collected quite an amount of timber and prepared the frame for a mill. During the following March English river became so swollen as to overflow its banks and some of the timber was carried off by the current, while there was immediate danger of the whole frame being carried off. Charles Haskell and Abraham Owens got into a skiff in order to rescue some of the timber from the current, and while doing this the skiff was capsized and both occupants were thrown in the river. Owens succeeded in getting to the shore half drowned, and Haskell perished in the river and his friends were unsuccessful in attempting to recover the body. Some two and a half years afterward, in August, 1842, a man by the name of George Cline noticed a dog burrowing in the ground near the river, about half a mile below the mill-site; upon examination he discovered the skeleton of a man, which proved to be the remains of Charles Haskell. The skeleton was carefully exhumed placed in a coffin and buried near the present site of the Sutton mill. The death of Charles Haskell is supposed to have been the first which occurred in that part of the county.
     A. H. Haskell and Owens proceeded with the erection of the mill but did not complete it. They sold their claim in 1841 to Mr. N. McClure and left the county.
     Wm. Duvall found a splendid grove of timber which he took for a claim in 1839. The town of Riverside is now located on that claim, Duvall having -disposed of it and left the county in 1842.
     In the spring of 1839 Reuben B. Davis settled on section 32, township 77, range 6. The settlement which he begun was near a creek which was named in his honor, Davis creek, and still bears that name. He came originally from New Jersey, and settled in Des Moines county, this State. He was. a member of the denomination called Seventh Day Baptists, and by -occupation was what may be termed "jack of all trades." When he moved into his cabin his family consisted of his wife and two children. In 1840 he erected what in those days passed for a frame house, and was probably the first of the kind erected in that section of country. It was 16x36 feet, weatherboarded with shaved clapboards, floored with split puncheons, covered with shingles, a stone chimney in the center, and two fire-places. The house was originally intended for a tavern, as the military road leading north was laid out about this time; it passed near the dwelling and the owner anticipated quite a run of custom from the travelers who were to throng this thoroughfare. A1though the military, road did not prove to be as much thronged as was anticipated, the tavern did a fair business during the following four years, as it was a popular resort for travelers and claim hunters.
     The first marriage in the township was that or Frank Forbes to Elizabeth Holland; the marriage ceremony was performed at the house of John Holland by R. McReynolds.      The first birth was that of George L. Edelstein, July 19th, 1840; his parents were Joseph and Frances Edelstein. On the 12th of June, 1841, Annie McDaniel, daughter of Gilson and Alvira McDaniel, was born; she was the first female child born in Iowa township.
     Rev. R. McReynolds, a Baptist minister, preached the first sermon in the township at the house of R. B. Davis, in June, 1840. The first school in the township was taught by Herman S. Guy, who is now dead. The house in which this school was taught stood on section 26. There were about twenty pupils attended. The school lasted three months and the teacher

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received $2.00, or its equivalent in trade, for each pupil in attendance. The school-house was erected in 1841 by the citizens of the neighborhood who joined together, cut the logs and erected the building.
     Carpet, jeans and linen were woven by Mrs. Catharine Marling as early
as 1842.
     In 1844 a divorce was granted to Nathaniel McClure and wife who at that time were residents of Iowa township.
     The first election of civil officers for the township occurred in 1840; C. D. Gillam and L. W. Day were elected justices of the peace; John Traft and A. W. Davis were elected constables. Prior to the time of this election A. H. Haskell had been commissioned by the governor, justice of the peace; he was, therefore, the first justice of the peace in the township.
     Yatton post-office, the first one in the township, was established in 1841, N. P. Cooper being the first postmaster. The mail, which was carried on horseback, was received once each week.
    The present officers of the township are as follows:
Clerk-D. A. Fessler.
Assessor-George Schilling.
Justices of the Peace- W. E. Hawthorn and Henry Swift.
      Mr. Hawthorn is one among the first settlers of the township, and bas probably done more than any other one man to develop the material resources and mold the public sentiment of that section. At an early day his fellow-citizens honored him with the office of justice of the peace, which office he has filled with honor to himself' and to the satisfaction of his fellow-citizens for many years. He is an intelligent and upright man, and one whom his neighbors may well confide in.

THE TOWN OF YATTON.

     Yatton is located on the northeast quarter of section 19, township 77, range 6. It was laid out by John F. Vandyke and Nathaniel McClure, in July, 1856. It was at one time an important trading point, and among other important business interests was the location of one of the best flouring mills in the county. Upon the completion of the railroad to Riverside, in 1872, Yatton began to decline, and it was not many years till all the business of the town, with the exception of the mill; was transferred to the new town.

RIVERSIDE.

     This is a town of considerable importance. Situated as it was for a number of years at the terminus of the railroad, and being in the centre of a most beautiful, populous and productive territory, it acquired an extensive trade. During the past year the railroad has been extended into Keokuk county, but Riverside is still, and probably will continue to be, a flourishing town. It was laid out in December,1872, and is situated on sections 17 and 18. Among the principal features of Riverside is

TRADITION LODGE, NO. 359, A. F. & A, M.

     The Lodge was chartered June 7, 1876, the first officers being as follows: William Beardsley, W. M.; William H. Hardy, S. W.; D. W. Ott, J. W.;

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William Ott, secretary; C. C. Druff, treasurer; J. W. Gemmill, S. D.; J. H. Hardy, J. D.; Josiah Godlove, Tyler. The present officers are: William Ott, W. M.; Henry Hohn, S. W.; Samuel Hensley, J. W.; D. W. Ott, secretary; John Mentzer, treasurer; W. R. Hunter, S. D. There are at present about twenty members of the order.

M. E. CHURCH.

     This Church was organized in 1842 at the house of Samuel Marlin, who, in connection with his wife Catherine, John Marlin and wife, Ezra Marlin, Rhoda Guy, Mrs. Cline, J. F. Van Dyke and wife, John Forbes and wife, and others, constituted the first members. In 1873 a frame church building was erected at a cost of $3,500, which was dedicated during the winter of 1874 by Prof. N. W. Fellows. The present membership is sixty-five.

RIVERSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH

Was organized in March, 1878. The first members were: B. F. Brockway! Lydia Parker, Lillie Parker, C. S. Brink, C. Matthews and others. This Church has a membership of about thirty, and religious services are held in a rented hall.

ST. MARY'S CHURCH.

     This Catholic Church was organized in 1876. During the year 1876 a brick church building was erected at a cost of $4,500. The building committee consisted of the following-named gentlemen: Otto Schmidt, John B. Yegger, R. Beauquot, James Walsh, .I. C. Wambacker, George Welte, N. Schnabelen, H. L. Swift. The church was dedicated by Father Purcell on Palm Sunday, 1877. The membership consists of about one hundred families, or about three hundred persons, young and old. The church will cost, when completed, about $7,000. It is 40x80 feet in size, and will comfortably seat 800 persons.

ST. VINCENT CATHOLIC CHURCH.

     This Church was organized by Right Rev. Mathias 1oras, of Dubuque, in 1844. James Edelstein, John Schilling, Joseph Schnoebelen, F. J. Schnoebelen, John Conoly, Patrick Colton and others, constituted the original membership. A frame church edifice was erected in 1848; in 1858 an addition was put to it. In 1877 a new church was built. The present building is 85x35 feet, and cost $2,700. The pastors 'since 1865 have been 8S follows: Joseph Knaeple, Rev. McDermot, Joseph Harding, Peter Maly, George Heer and Peter Brammenschenkle. The present membership consists of twenty-one families.

SEVENTY-SIX TOWNSHIP.

     The civil township received its name from the congressional township of which it forms a part. Owing to the absence of timber the early settlers shunned this portion of the county, and prior to 1850 there were scarcely any improvements made. A few settlements were made much earlier; in fact Charles Patterson, from Maryland, took a claim on section 23 as early

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as 1839, and Mr. Vina, on section 24, in 1840; but this must have ,been under peculiar circumstances as this region was generally shunned by pioneers till a much later period. James Bartlenson and W. S. Hamilton came few years later and took the first prairie claims.
     The first marriage was that of William Thomas to Jane Patterson, which took place at the residence of the bride's father, Mr. Charles Patterson, in 1851; the marriage ceremony being performed by John Eyestone, J. P., the father of the present county auditor.
     The first birth was that of Charles Stewart, son of Wm. G. and Hannah Stewart, in 1848.
     The first death was that of a son of John Batterson in 1860, who was, buried in the orchard on the farm of James Batterson. The first preaching was by Rev. Mr. Janes, who was a tanner by trade; he preached at the house of Char1es Patterson as early as 1846.
     The first school was taught by Mrs. Garret Meek in her own house there were six pupils whose tuition was paid by their parents. The first school-house was built on the northeast corner of section 14, in 1860, at a cost of $50. J. O. Taylor was sub-director at the time and it was under his direction the house was built. The first weaving was done by Mrs. Jane Batterson.
     In the summer of 1859 one of Jackson Batterson's boys, aged 7 years, got lost while crossing the prairies. Tidings of the affair were carried to Martin Cochrane, then living in Cedar township, who gathered together a number of his neighbors and started in search of the lost boy. The next day the lost boy was found by his mother in front of her own home; the boy was so badly lost that he did not recognize the house nor his own parents.
     Seventy-six township was organized in 1856, the first election taking place in Apri1 at the house of John C. Taylor. The first township trustees were David M. Brooks, John S. Melvin and Samuel Mathers; James H. Sargent was the first township clerk, and James Gardner the first assessor; W. S. Hamilton was the first justice of the peace.
     Prior to the organization of the township it was a part of Dutch Creek, and also a part of Lime Creek township. At the election in July, 1856, when a vote was taken on the proposition for the county to issue bonds in aid of the Mississippi and Missouri River railroad there were twenty-six votes cast in Seventy-six township; twelve in favor of the bonds and fourteen against. In 1875 the township had, according to the census of that year a population of 914.
     The present officers of the township are as follows:
Justices of the peace-C. O. Nichols and Israel Davis.
Constables-John Flerty and N. Stevenson.
Clerk-J. W. Torrey.
Trustees-P. H. Tallman, J. M. Wilson and J. L. Banks.
Assessor-Samuel Galloway.
     This township has no town within its boundaries; however, the C. R. I. & P. railroad passes through the township, entering it near the southeast corner and running thence in a northwest direction. The best of shipping facilities are thus afforded, although the station, West Chester, is located a short distance across the line in Cedar township; Keota situated to the west just across the line in Keokuk county also affords a convenient ship-

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ping and trading point. The region of country embraced in the boundaries of this township is a most beautiful and productive one and has a prosperous future awaiting it. The people are among the most enterprising in the county.

THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

     This Church was organized in 1862, at the residence of Martin Cochrane. The names of those persons chiefly instrumental in establishing this Church and who constitute the original members are as follows: Martin Cochrane and wife, John Harnish and wife, Charles Wilson and wife, Father Darling, V. Darling and wife, and Leander Darling and wife.
     A frame church building was erected in 1873, at a cost of $1,800, one half of which sum was contributed by Mr. Martin Cochrane, who was also a member of the building committee. This church was dedicated in December, 1873, by Rev. Mr. Kephart, president of Western College, which is the leading institution of learning of this denomination in the West.
     The present membership of this Church is forty. In this connection it will be proper to state that the first Sunday-school in the township was organized at the house of Martin Cochrane in 1864.

THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

     This Church was organized in February, 1867. Robert Fisher, John Work, Daniel McLaughlin, Samuel Robb and R. L. Hammel were chiefly instrumental in bringing about this organization. In 1868 a frame church edifice was erected at a cost of $2,400. The building was dedicated the same year, since which time the Church has had but two pastors; Rev. William Tate and Rev. Mr. Lackey. The present membership numbers sixty. In connection with the church is a cemetery which was founded in 1868. It is located on section 26, and is kept in a good state of repair.

CEDAR TOWNSHIP.

     This civil township corresponds with congressional township No. 76, range 8, except in the southwest corner where a portion of the congressional township is attached to Franklin township. This township was originally a part of Lime Creek precinct.
     In 1844 Cedar township was first formed. The territory first included within the bounds of this township was somewhat different from the township as now constituted.      Its boundaries were originally defined as follows:
     Township 75, range 8, and sections from 19 to 36 of township 76 range 8. It will be seen from this that originally Cedar township was composed of what is now Franklin township, and about half of' the territory which now comprises it.
     At the election held in 1853 Cedar town ship cast fifty-nine votes; in 1857 it cast a vote of eighty-seven, and according to the census of ]875 it contained that year a population of eight hundred and eighty-three.
     One of the first white men who visited this township with a view of making a permanent settlement was Calvin Craven, who came in 1839. After prospecting the country for some time Mr. Craven departed and again returned the following year. In the meantime a man by the name

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of Duke had taken a claim and improved about three acres. Mr. Craven bought Duke's claim which consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of timber and "all the prairie he wanted" for four hundred dollars. At the time Mr., Craven bought this claim he says he could have had all the prairie around, the present city of Washington for nothing, but timber was scarce and was considered valuable, so he went farther and paid $400 for a timber claim. Among the other persons who settled within the bounds of Cedar township about the time Mr. Craven came were, William Myers, William Dusenberry, Lenox Dayton and William Hinkston.
     The first marriage was that of Newton Smith to Nancy Young, and the first child born was that of William and Elizabeth Hinkston. The first death was that of Mrs. Elizabeth Hinkston, who was buried at the Patterson graveyard. Rev. H. Johnson, a Baptist minister, did the first preaching in the neighborhood, the services usually being held at the house of Mr. Ayers.
     The first school was taught by Harvey Craven in a log cabin located on section 29. This was in 1843; the school was a subscription school and numbered fifteen pupils. The following year Calvin Graven, William Craven, John A. Young, James N. Young and A. Young joined together and erected a school-house; this was the first school-house erected in the township and stood on section 28.
     The present officers of the township are as follows;
Trustee, elected in 1879-David Benson.
Clerk-J. B. Young.
Assessor-J. E. Booth.
Justices of the peace-John Gordon, Jr., and M. D. Storey.

THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON.

     Lexington was laid out in April, 1865, by M. D. Storey; was located on section 8.

BAPTIST CHURCH

     Was organized in 1868. Calvin Craven and wife, Mrs. Rebecca Burham, Mrs., Elizabeth Dusenberry, Mrs. Julia Hites, :Mrs. Martha Craven, Jotham Ogden, Mrs, Phoebe Ogden and R. Fanney and wife were the persons who formed the first organization. They had originally been connected with the Baptist Church in Washington, but owing to the distance necessary to be passed over in attending religious services, a new organization was formed in Cedar township, and a frame church building was erected in 1868 at a cost of seven hundred dollars. Rev. John Coffman, J: H. Miller, E. B. Porter and T. H. Jones have been pastors of this Church'. The present membership numbers ninety.six.

M. E. CHURCH.
    This Church organization was formed in 1813. Samuel Brown, Martha Brown, James Daniels, Jennie Daniels, James Dick, Catharine Dick, John G. Meloin and Deborah Meloin were the persons who composed the first organization.
In 1873, a frame church edifice was erected at a cost of $2,250 which was dedicated by Rev. Mr. Kendig on the 6th of September of that year.

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     The present number of members is forty-six. Since the Church was organized there has been no deaths among the members, which fact is somewhat remarkable and worthy of mention.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

     This township consists of the larger part of congressional township 75 range 8, a small portion of range 7, of same township and about three sections in township 76 range 8. Its boundary line to the north and east is the west fork of Crooked creek, and consequently is very irregular.
     The township was originally included within the bounds of Cedar township, but in 1854, a new arrangement was ordered by the county judge. Cedar township was extended farther north, and out of that portion south of the township line 75 and 76 was organized a new township which was called Franklin. The county was well settled at the time the township was organized, as at the first election there were fifty-four votes polled.
     On Sunday, August 25, 1872, William Scranton, of Marion township, was visiting in this township at the residence of John G. Seward, and while the two families were entertaining each other in conversation a little boy of Scranton's wondered off unnoticed from the house. He was shortly afterward missed and could nowhere be found, although the whole surrounding country was diligently searched. The alarm was spread throughout the neighborhood and before night over a hundred joined in the search, but to no avail. On the following Wednesday the lost child was found about a mile from the house concealed in the tall prairie grass which grew, in an adjoining slough. It is reported that the boy was found under the following peculiar circumstances:
     The wife of Wm. Clark, who lived near by, was quite ill and had been confined to her bed for some time previously. The report of the lost child had been carried to her ears and produced quite an impression on her mind. On the Tuesday night following the Sunday when the boy strayed off, she dreamed that the child had been found in the tall grass of the slough already mentioned; the following morning the dream seemed to be so real that she would not be satisfied till some one would go to the described place, and she insisted that some one search the place, which being done the child was found, somewhat exhausted by excitement and from lack of food, but still alive and unharmed. Soon after the lost boy was found Mrs. Clark died. The boy is now a full grown and healthy lad.
The north and eastern parts of Franklin township are somewhat rough and broken, but the most of the country is productive and easily cultivated.

GRACE HILL.

     This town was laid out several years ago, and is located on section 31. It is near the west line of the township and affords postal and trading facilities for the people from the west part of Franklin and the east part of Dutch Creek townships. As to its size and pretensions not much can be said, and it is not known whether or not the projectors of the town ever had any very sanguine expectations of a grand and prosperous career. the post-office is located across the line in Dutch Creek township.

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WEST CHESTER.

     This is a railroad town, the only one in the county west of Washington on the Knoxville branch. It was laid out in December 1872, and is located on the south part of section 31, township 76, range 8. It is a very flourishing trading and shipping point; has the usual number of business houses, churches, and a very creditable school-building.

HIGHLAND TOWNSHIP.

     This township was organized and known as part of Iowa township in 1840. This was in October, and the following April the first election of officers occurred. It continued to be a part of Iowa township till 1854, when Highland township was organized. The first settlement was made by John Clark, who took a claim in section 7 in the year 1840. Mr. Clark was a native of Pennsylvania, but came to Iowa from Indiana. His family consisted of three boys: Joseph, John and David; three daughters: Katy, Mary and Martha. The oldest daughter was a widow who had three children; her name was Kiptz, and she still lives on the original claim. Mary married James Stirling and Martha died unmarried. Mrs. Clark died in 1847 and Mr. Clark died in 1865 aged eighty years. The next settler was Ahira D. Liming, who settled on section 18 in 1841. Mrs. Liming died in 1844, which is supposed to have been the first death in the township; she was buried on the south side of Grove creek, not far from the cabin in which Mr. Liming lived. John Forbes settled near where the military road crossed Grove creek, in section 17. It was in Mr. Forbes' cabin that the first sermon was preached, by F. R S. Byrd, of the United Brethren Church, in the winter of 1843 and 1844. In 1844 Isaac McGruder settled on section 22; Willam Wallace settled on section 23 arid Moses Lane on same section. John A. Brewer, Amos Brewer and Solomon Albaugh settled on section 26 about the same time. The families already mentioned were all the persons who settled in the township prior to the year 1845. Shortly afterward several new settlers came to the township, among whom were D. C. Smelser, settled on section 5; E. W. Marshall, located on section 12; also, J. F. Litsey and Lot Owen; John Tompkins bought out John Forbes.
     The first marriages in the township were those of John Parks to Elizabeth Wallace, and Eli Wallace to Margret McGruder. These marriages occurred in 1845, and were solemnized by [by] Rev. John Hayden.
     At first, the settlers without exception, made their claims near the timber, and the best of the prairie was entered by non-residents and remained unsettled until 1850. At this time settlers began to come in rapidly, and in 1854 the township was detached from Iowa and organized into a separate municipality. J. Ray and E. Supple were the first justices of the peaces, and Caleb Marston clerk. In 1848 Davis Creek post-office was established on section 5, C. G. Maynard being the first postmaster. In 1854 Dairy post-office was established on section 28, R. Prettyman being the first postmaster. Both of these offices have for a long time been discontinued. At present there is but one post-office in the township. It is called White Ash and is located on section 1.
     The first birth in the township was that of John Tompkins, son of John and Catharine Tompkins. It is not positively known where the first school

589

was taught, but Mr. Emmerson taught a very successful school at Harrisburg in 1854; he died a few years ago and was buried at the Davis Creek cemetery. The Kentucky school-house, erected on section 11 in 1845, was probably the first school-house in the township.      The first divorce decreed was that of A. D. Liming from his second wife, formerly widow Marion in 1850.
     On the 27th of March, 1844, the body of James Burch was found in the grove near the head of Goose creek. He had been at Washington and when on the way home to Richmond was lost and perished from the effects, of the cold. John Ashworth was the first person sentenced to the penitentiary from the township. He was convicted of forgery in 1855.
     At the first election, held August 1854, there were eight votes cast in Highland township; according to the census of 1875 there were at that time in the township 787 inhabitants.
     The present officers of the township are as follows:
Trustee-S. R. Love.
Clerk-O. Slotts.
Assessor-A. C. Sands.
Justices of the peace-P. B. Coan and W. S. Grecian.

HARRISBURG.

     Harrisburg was laid out by John Burris in 1855. This town was located on section 14. For a time great efforts were made to build up a town. Mr. Burris bought a large amount of land in the vicinity of the town which was located on the southwest quarter of the section. Quite a number of lots were sold and all the land in the vicinity of the proposed town was rapidly settled up. About one hundred houses were built in the town and on the land adjacent which was supposed to belong to Burris. At the full tide of prosperity Harrisburg met with a sudden collapse from which it never recovered, and ever since that time the material proportions have been gradually vanishing from mortal eye and its memory from human recollection. The cause of Harrisburg's decline and fall was the sudden failure of Burris and the financial ruin of all who had anything to do with him.

DAVIS CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH

     Was organized July 11, 1868. D. Rice, A. Owens, J. Lettry, J. Little, W. Owens, F. Green, D. Owens, Mary Lettry, Nancy Green, Eliza Marston, Jane Rice, Mary B. Green, Mary E. Little, Sarah T. Marsh, and Margaret B. Owens were the original members. In 1858 a frame church building' was erected on the northeast quarter of section 11. The present membership numbers 45.

EAST PRAIRIE M. E. CHURCH.

     This Church was organized in 1870, with a membership of about 80. In May, 1876, the organization bought the East Prairie school-house, located on section 8, and fitted it up for a place of worship at a cost of $350. The present membership numbers about fifty.

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ENGLISH RIVER TOWNSHIP.

     This was one of the first townships settled and organized in the north part of the county. It was settled chiefly by emigrants from Ohio and Indiana, and received its name from the river which flows through it. It is situated entirely within congressional township 77 and is composed of twenty-four sections in range 7 and eighteen sections in range 8. It will be seen from this that English River township is somewhat larger than a congressional township. English River precinct was first formed in 1840 at which time its boundaries were defined as follows: "All north of township line 75 and 76, except township 76, ranges 7 and 8." This was changed in April, 1841, as follows: "All lying between a line drawn north and south eight miles from the east line of the county and a similar line sixteen miles distant."
     On the first Monday of April, 1845, English River was formally organized into a township by the election of civil officers. It must not be presumed, however, that the country was unsettled prior to this time. The settlements were made fully as early as in any other part of the county, with the exception of the extreme east and south of the county; and the township in reality existed as English River precinct from the very first -organization of the county. It had its civil officers, who, though not elected by the people, held their positions and discharged the functions of their offices under the appointment and under the authority of the Governor of the Territory.
     The first real estate transfer in the county was of a parcel of land in English River township, and the conveyance was executed and acknowledged before a justice of the peace, acting under appointment of the governor. 'This instrument bears date of December 31, 1839. As it is a matter of considerable interest, being the first transfer not only of the township but of the county, it is deemed to be of sufficient importance to be reproduced at this place.
      "This indenture, made and concluded this 31st day of December, 1839, between Charles D. Haskell, of the first part, and Abraham Owens, of the second part, both of the Territory of Iowa, and county of Washington, witnesseth: That said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to me in hand paid by the party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, has bargained, sold, released and confirmed unto the party of the second part and his heirs and assigns forever, one equal, undivided third part of eighty acres of land, being heretofore known as Haskell's mill-site claim, on English river, in the county of Washington, and Territory of Iowa; and I do .hereby sell and release, and forever quitclaim, one equal third part of the above-mentioned land, together with one equal, undivided third part of the water privilege, spring, minerals and timber, and one-third part of the appurtenances thereunto belonging, reserving the express right to cut and haul off timber for my farm when required, to his heirs and assigns forever; and to warrant grant and defend the same against all other claims, the United States excepted.
     "In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and date above written.
[Seal] .
"Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of--
"A. H. HASKELL,
"CLARISSA HASKELL."

"C. D. HASKELL.

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"TERRITORY OF IOWA,

"WASHINGTON COUNTY.
     "This day personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the peace in said county of Washington, Charles D. Haskell, who is personally known to me to be the real person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing deed, and who then acknowledged that he signed, sealed and delivered the same freely and of his own accord, for the use and benefit of the: persons therein named.

"A. H. HASKELL,
"Justice of the Peace."

     The present officers of' the township are as follows:
Trustee-C. A. Elliott.
Clerk-W. E. Kerr.
Assessor-L. C. Bush. .
Justices of the peace-W. E. Kerr and T. H. Jackson.
     At the election held in 1853 there were 143 votes polled in English River township. According to the census of 1875 the population of the township at that time was 1,431, or next to the largest in the county, it being second to Washington only, in point of population.
     With regard to the first settlements of the county a tolerably full and it is hoped authentic account has already been given in another chapter.
     There are some facts however which are applicable for this particular place, .and they are accordingly given, even though it be at the risk of repeating.
     Cyrus Cox came from Michigan in 1839; he settled on section 8. Stephen Bunker and Jonathan Bunker came from Indiana in 1839; they settled on section 9; George Oloughlin, from Indiana, settled on section 29; Addison Williams, from New York, on section 10; David Bunker, from Indiana, on section 7; S. B. Cooper, from New York, on section 22; B. Creswell, from Illinois, on section 10; Paddy Connely, from Ireland, on section 7; Gideon Bear settled on section 31; W m. Shaw on section 3; Daniel Bunker on section 1; John and Joel Tyler on section 10, and Joshua Williams on section 7; all of these persons came prior to or about the beginning of 1840.
     With regard to the first marriage and the first birth there are some differences in opinion, and if the statements here given as facts differ with previous statements the reader will know that there is a difference of opinion as to early events occurring about the same time.
     Jonathan Bunker was married to Mary Randall in 1842, the ceremony being performed by C. D. Gillam, a justice of the peace, and about the same time a Mr. Gilchrist was married to Cynthia Tyler.
     Abraham Bunker, son of David and Mariam Bunker was born in 1841; Rebecca Cox, daughter of Cyrus and Jane Cox, was born in 1840. A daughter of Daniel Bunker died and was buried on section 7, on April, 1840. These births, marriages and deaths are supposed to have been the first which occurred in the township.
     Dr. Joseph Hamilton came from Ohio among the first who settled in this region, and for many years practiced medicine. He still resides in the bounds of the township, but has not practiced for a number of years.
Rev. Joseph Hamilton, of the Protestant Methodist Church, whom we suppose to be identical with Dr. Hamilton, preached good orthodox sermons at the residence of Wm. Wright, and the school-house in Snake Hollow as

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early as 1842. Allen Thompson taught a subscription school of twenty scholars, at $2.00 per scholar, in 1842; he afterwards returned to Ohio, where he died many years ago. The same year Mr. Thompson taught the first school in English river township the first school-house was built. The citizens joined together and built it without any outlay of money, except for glass, and this was furnished by David Bunker.
     When the first settlements were made in this township the land had not yet been surveyed and much trouble arose among the claim-owners. Claims were jumped causing fights, and sometimes burning claim cabins, and frequently expensive law-suits. It is said that in 1839 two men claimed the whole township, George Oloughlin claimed the part south of English river and Jonathan Bunker that part north of the river. Of course there was no authority whereby a right could be established to hold such extensive claims and these extensive domains were soon sub-divided.
     One of the most productive parcels of land, and as pleasing a location as there was in the county, fell into the hands of Thomas B. Dawson, who, in the fall of 1840, conceived the idea of building a city, and as a result of this idea there was laid out the town of

RICHMOND.

     The town was laid out in November, 1840, and is located on the south. east quarter of the northeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 30. In May, 1856, Mr. Dawson laid out an addition to the town, and in June the same year John Bull laid out another addition. In writing of Richmond twenty years ago the editor of the Washington "Democrat" said:
     "Richmond is situated in the north part of the county, in English River township; it contains a population of 300 or 400, three stores, as many groceries, and the usual number of mechanics. It has a good frame schoolhouse, and the largest Catholic Church in the county, the congregation being large enough to support a resident priest."
Those who are familiar with the present condition of Richmond, can, by comparison with the foregoing, form some opinion of its growth during a score of years.

CHURCH OF HOLY UNITY.

     This Church was organized in 1855, John Baumgartner, T. Eschee, I. Master, Joseph Critz, Joseph Edelstein, John Schilling, T. Eschee, Sr., Michael Smith, J. Reiner, Sr., John Keifer, Martin Kron and G. Hein were the original members. A brick church was erected in 1868 at a cost of $20,000. Fathers Mitchell, Emons, Fendrick, Schneider, Yonker, Maly, Hier and Brominschenkel have been pastors. The present membership is 400.

RICHMOND LODGE NO. 96, A. F. & A. M.

     Was organized in 1856. Nelson Van Patton, J. L. L. Terry, John S. Maple, W. Round, L. Beun, G. Beun, and Thomas C. Scott were some of the first members of the order. Nelson Van Patton, J. L. L. Terry, D. Bunker, W. W. Gwinn, Cyrus Cox, G. B. Richards, G. G. Gallagher, Wm. Arnold and Marion Oloughlin have held the office of W. M. The members of the order at present number thirty.

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KALONA.

     This town is situated on the north side of English river on sections 17 and 18, township 77, range 7. It was laid out August 6, 1879. On the 15th of same month S. E. Parker erected a stone building which he still occupies. Shortly after A. Boone opened a store for the sale of general merchandise, Topping & Langwell have a drug store, There is one hotel and there are two blacksmith shops. Abbott & Wolff are grain dealers. Ballenger & Co. sell lumber, and there are some other business enterprises of less importance. The population of the town is about one hundred and fifty.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

     This township is what is known as township '76, range 7, its boundaries corresponding throughout with the boundaries of the congressional township.
     This township was one of the last settled in the county, and there were few living within its bounds until the year 1852. It is located a little north-east of the centre of the county, and is composed chiefly of undulating prairies, with but few streams, and these small ones. The land is of a good quality and very productive, and, with its present improvements, is now one of the first townships of the county.
     The first settler was a party by the name of Lemon, who came in 1843 and located on Goose creek, near the east line of the township. He died some years ago.
Another of the early settlements was near the present site of the M. E. church, in the northwest corner of the township. Among the pioneers were H. Berdo, Henry Bathmell, W. J. Steadman, George Zeck, William Round, David Donaldson, J. M. Meek, and the Glasgows.
     The first official meeting of the township was held in a school-house near where the M. E. church now stands, and this school building was the first one erected in the township.
     The north part of the township is the most broken and uneven, and is settled mainly by foreigners, chiefly from Bohemia. The central and southern parts are settled by people mainly from Ohio and Pennsylvania, and many of the farms show marks of New England enterprise in the way of improvements. There are three Churches-Presbyterian, United Presbyterian and Methodist.

GRAND PRAIRIE CHURCH.

     The petition for the organization of this Church was drawn up August 22, 1859, and soon after presented to the Presbytery. The following were among the leading persons who composed the first organization: B. B. Glasgow and wife, J. M. Glasgow and wife, William M. Glasgow and wife, Robert Lytle and wife, Alexander Lytle and wife, S. B. Glasgow, S. H. Kirkpatrick, Joseph Davidson and wife, Mary Montgomery, Mrs. E. Cunningham, Miss Kate Lytle and Robert Glasgow, Jr. A frame church edifice was erected in 1867 at a cost of $3.000. The pastors have been J. R. Doig, D. D., and Rev. H. T. Ferguson. The membership at present numbers sixty-five.

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UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

     This Church was organized April 15, 1868. The persons who composed the first organization numbered forty -four, and were before that members of the U. P. Church of Washing-ton. In the same year the Church was organized a place of worship was built at a cost of $3,000. The present membership numbers about eighty-five.

PLEASANT PLAINS M. E. CHURCH

     Was organized August, 1862. The first trustees of the Church were T. M. Smith, Samuel Matters, M. S. Curtis, Warren House, George Zeck, E. Irwin and Elisha Helwick. A frame church was erected in 1863 at a cost of $2,300. The membership of this Church numbers at present about fifty-five.

LIME CREEK TOWNSHIP.

     This township includes all of township 77, range 9 and eighteen sections of range 8. It is situated in the northwest part of the county, and a small portion of it was on the Indian side of the boundary line of 1837, so that part of the lands of this township did not come into the possess ion 'of the Government till 1843. In common with the other lands along the wellwatered and well-timbered region of English river, the lands of this township presented a tempting prize to the sharp vision of the pioneer land viewer, and, as a result, the township was among the first in the county to be settled. Lime Creek precinct was formed at the time the first voting precincts were named and boundaries defined, and though the territory composing the township has frequently undergone the vicissitudes of change, there has never been a time since Washington county was, that Lime Creek township was not.
     The census of 1875 showed Lime Creek township to be the fourth in the county in point of population, the three townships of Washington, Iowa and English River being of larger population. The number of inhabitants in 1875 was 1,383.
     A few settlements were made in the southern and southeastern parts of the county before any settlements were made on English river, but it was not long till they found their way north and west. Thus it is that we find quite a number settled in Lime Creek as early as 1839, among whom were the following: William Davidson, Warthan McFarland, M. Hull and David McFarland. In 1840 the following settled: W. L. Hewet, Dr. James Waters, Benjamin Parker, and S. C. Waters. Soon after came the following: Isaac Leighton, S. A. Waters, Joseph Wasson, and others.
     Warthan McFarland was one of the first justices of the peace, and it was this official who solemnized the first marriage of the township, in 1841, the parties being Philip Hines and Susan Gillam.
     The first birth was that of Elizabeth McDowell, now deceased.
     The first death was that of Mrs. Squires, who resided on Smith creek. She died in the spring of 1842, and was buried in the graveyard near H. B. Taylor's.
     Dr. James Waters was the first physician who practiced in this part of the county. He came to the township from Indiana, and several years since emigrated to Kansas.
     The first preaching was by Rev. Mr. Nichols, a Presbyterian, who preached at the house of Joseph Wasson.

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     The first school was taught in a log cabin located in section 26, in the winter of 1843-'44, by Nancy Pinkerton. Her compensation was whatever the patrons chose to pay her.
The first house erected for specific school purposes was on section 25, near the residence of Mr. Taylor. It was erected in 1846, and cost $180.
     Lime Creek township has been peculiarly unfortunate in its towns. The first attempt was that of Wassonville, then Dayton, and now, since the extension of the Iowa City and Western Railway, Wellman, whose prosperity as well as location and name, promises to be permanent.

WASSONVILLE.

     This town was laid out March, 1848, it being one of the oldest towns in the county. It was located on section 12, township 77, range 9. For many years there was a good mill located there, and considerable trading was done. It was on the most popular route from Iowa City to Oskaloosa, and was the first station on the line of the underground railroad, laid out by Superintendent Woodin in 1856.
     Much interest having been aroused at Iowa City concerning the fate of Kansas during the slavery agitation, a public meeting was held at which several spirited speeches were made, but after the public meeting of a general character adjourned, a private meeting for special purposes met. It was at this private meeting that the following address or commission was drawn up and placed in the hands of Mr. Woodin, who seems to have been chiefly instrumental in opening up a line of communication:

"To the Friends of the Kansas Free State cause in Iowa:

     "The undersigned have been appointed a committee to act in connection with similar committees appointed in Chicago, and in other States, and with committees of like character to be appointed in the various counties of this State, and especially in those counties lying west and southwest of us.
     "The plan of operation is the establishment of a direct route and speedy communication for emigrants into Kansas. The committee have appointed Messrs. George D. Woodin, Esq., Wm. Sanders and Capt. S. N. Hartwell to visit your place for the purpose of having a committee appointed there to facilitate the general plan of operation and carry out the details. They will explain to you the minutae of this plan at greater length than we are able to do in this communication.
     "Captain Hartwell is a member of the State legislature in Kansas, and is recently from the scene of the ruffian atrocities which have been committed in that embryo State.
     "We have here pledged 'our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honors' to make Kansas a free State, and we shall expect our friends from this place westward will give us their hearty co-operation.
"Yours in the cause of Freedom,

" IOWA CITY, June 10, 1856."

"W. P. CLARK, Ch'n.
" C. W. HOBART, Sec'y.
" H. D. DOWNEY, Treas.
" I. N. JEROME.
"LYMAN ALLEN.
"J. TEESDALE.
"M. L. MORRIS."

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     As before remarked Mr. Woodin in particular was active and diligent in transacting the business delegated to him. He made a complete tour of the counties lying in the proposed route of the "emigrants" and established committees. He succeeded in enlisting in this enterprise the most active and reliable men in the various towns which he visited who were in sympathy with the movement. Most of these men are still living, and many of them have since achieved a National reputation. The following are the names of the individuals composing the committees at the various points along the route:
Wasonville-Isaac Farley, Myron Frisbee, N. G. Field. Sigourney-M. H. Keath, A. T. Page. T. S. Byers. A. O. Price. Oskaloosa- William H. Seevers, A. M. Cassiday, James A. Young, Louis Reinhart, S. A. Rice.
Knoxville-J. M. Bayley, James Mathews, Hiram W. Curtis, William M. Stone, James Sample, Joseph Brobst.
lndianola-B. S. Noble, Geo. W. Jones, Lewis Todhunter, J. T. Lacy,
G. W. Clark, H. W. Maxwell.
Osceola-J. D. Howard, G. W. Thompson, A. F. Sprague, John Butcher,
J. G. Miller, G. L. Christie.
Quincy-R. B. Lockwood, T. W. Stanley, H. B. Clark, E. G. Bengen, D. Ritchey.
Winterset-H. J. B. Cummings, W. L. McPherson, D. F. Arnold, W. W. McKnight, J. J. Hutchings.
Des Moines-A.. J. Stevens, T. H. Sypherd, W. W. Williamson, R. S. Chrystal.
Newton--H. Welker, W. Skiff, W. Springer, E. Hammer, H. J. Skiff.
     It was necessary to observe great caution and secrecy as the administration was at that time in sympathy with the pro-slavery party and United States marshals were on the lookout for armed bands on their way to Kansas from the north. The underground railroad having been put into good running order, Superintendent Woodin and his station-agents did quite a business in forwarding "emigrants" during the fall, winter and following spring and summer.
      In October, 1854, the town of Dayton was laid out in section 18, and what glory or prestige Wassonville may have been able to retain it lost all its trade and for a number of years Dayton showed signs of prosperity. The surrounding country is well settled and very productive, there being abundant resources from which a town of considerable size might draw sustenance. However, the shriek of the first engine on the railroad sounded the death knell of Dayton and what of life and vitality it once possessed has now transmigrated to the body corporate of Wellman.

WELLMAN.

     Wellman is situated on English river, section 24. It is a thriving business town, it having achieved all its growth since September, 1879. There are now four stores of general merchandise, two drug stores, two harness shops, one hardware store, two blacksmith shops, one livery stable, three hotels, and other places of business. This town will without doubt, in course of time become one of the most important trading points, outside of Washington, in the county.
     There are a number of churches in this township; Pilotsburg M. E. church, Seventh Day Adventist church, of Pilot Grove, the Daytonville M. E. church, and a Christian church a few miles west of Daytonville.

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