Townships of Boone County in 1880
| Amaqua | Colfax | Garden | Marcy | Union |
| Beaver | Des Moines | Grant | Moingona | Worth |
| Cass | Dodge | Harrison | Peoples | Yell |
| Coal Valley | Douglas | Jackson | Quincy |
Source: Boone Co History. Publishers and authors: Des Moines Union Historical Co, Birdsall-Williams and Company. Copyright: 1880
The first subdivision of the county info precincts was made shortly after the first election in 1849. The county was at the time divided into three precincts or civil townships by the board of supervisors. These townships were steps of equal width extending east and west across the entire length of the county. The south precinct or township was called Pleasant, the north was called Boone River and the one in the middle was called Boone. While this arrangement was an economical one, during the time that the county was sparsely settled except along the Des Moines river was sufficiently convenient for election purposes, time soon came when it became necessary to subdivide the township already existing and it was wise to conclude to have none of the civil townships extend across the river. In changing the territory comprising these original townships, there was a disposition manifested on the part of the authorities whose duty it was to order the changes, and to adopt a new class of names. The name Boone, although a good one, was thought to be altogether too general. There was Boone County, Boonesboro, Boone township and Boone River township, and it was suggested that this name be released on part of its application. The official who was to order this was the county judge. S B McCall was filling this office in 1852, when these changes occurred, to him, probable more than to any person is a large number of townships indebted for their names. McCall was an ardent Democrat and sympathy with the Democratic measure, the Mexican War. It is from this cause that a large number of townships of Boone county are named after the generals of the Mexican War and Democratic politicians. March 1852, old boundaries of Boone township were changed. Boone township as first constituted embraced 1/3 of the county, and was a strip 8 miles wide lying midway of the county extending from the east to the west boundary. Of the townships as now constituted, it embraced the south halves of Jackson, Des Moines, Yell and Amaqua and the north halves of Beaver, Marcy, Worth and Colfax. After the change of the boundaries of Boone township in March 1852, it included all of Des Moines township, as now constituted, except the north tier of sections. It included the large part of Worth township, also a large section of country on the west side of the river. The townships were ill-shaped and had it been the studied attempt of the authorities to promote the inconvenience of the people, they are supposed to have had just the opposite ends in view. Boone township existed in this shape till march 1858, it was subdivided and a new township called Des Moines was formed.
Des Moines township is very near the same as that designated by the foregoing order of 1858. It included then a small strip on the east, which now belongs to Jackson township, also a strip on the south which now belongs to Worth, these subsequent changes, were unimportant and were made gradually as other townships were created. So it will be seen that Des Moines township was practically organized in March 1858. This township from the first has been the most important part of the county. It has almost invariably been the case in the various counties of the State that the county that absorbs to a very large extent the wealth and political, as well as social, influence of the county. Aside from the fact that Des Moines township contains the county seat and the metropolis of the county, it was wealth, population and resources which have no connection with the county seat. Des Moines township with its 2 towns Boonesboro and Boone contains about 1/3 of the population of the entire county, more than that proportion of the wealth of the county is here, and the influence which radiates from this township, both by reason of its favorable point of emanation and owning to its penetrating force, is by reason of its favorable point of emanation and owing to penetrating force is more than enough to balance the rest of the county in agitation and determination of all questions of civil polity and political policy. Owing its well improved farms, and fine farm houses and important mineral resources this township rank 1st in the county, while the population outside of the towns of Boone and Boonesboro amounts to over 15 hundred, being the second township in the county. Owing to the large extend of railway tracks and the vast amount of mining capital invested in this revenues for road and school purposes are ample. Boonesboro was located and laid out early in the summer of 1851 and the 1st house was erected by Wesley C Hull. It was situated east of the public square and was not only a private house but a business house and post office. The first general mercantile in Boonesboro was put up by J A McFarland in December and was located directly east of where the present courthouse is. In 1854 Boonesboro consisted of 11 log homes, and one frame building. The 1st school house was of hewed logs, and stood on the same ground where the west ward school stood. It was taught by C W Hamilton. It also served as a church and a courtroom. One of the 1st preachers was Mr Montgomery a local Methodist preacher.
Boonesboro was laid out in 1851, town plat bearing date of September 1, 1851. Boone was once called Montana. Boone was laid out by John I Blair March 4, 1865. The 1st auction sale of lots 29, 1865 over 50 lots were sold on the 1st day, prices ranged from 50 to 500 each, at the time the town was laid out there was one building. The 1st building was a 2 story from house that had been there for sometime and was used as a tavern. It stood in the center of Story street a short distance south of the railroad track. The town at this time and for several years was called Montana and the post office was called Boone Station. The first post office was located 1 1/2 miles south of Boonesboro and was known as Boonesville. It was established in 1850. Samuel H Bowers was the postmaster. The 1st school was opened after sometime in 1865. For sometime it was used as a manufacturing company. Two teachers were employed. During the summer of 1865, the 1st religious service was held outside under some cottonwood trees in front of the St James Hotel by Rev. Snodgrass a Methodist preacher. The roundhouse was started but was not completed for over a year. Sometime after its incorporation of the name of the town was changed to Montana, and in 1872 it was changed to Boone.
This is west of the Des Moines River. It was organized in 1852 and at 1st included the entire northwest part of the county, Amaqua, Grant and Pilot Mound having been detached from the original territory of Yell township. The township was christened by Mr. McCall, and received its name in honor of Colonel Yell of the Ark Cavarly who was killed at the battle of Buena Vista. It began to be settled in 1851. Theodore Crawford was probably the 1st known person born in the bounds of the township. 1st death was that of a person by the name of Kerg, who was buried in the Spickelmier graveyard.
In 1855 Jacob Daily laid out a town in the north part of Yell township. It was called Daily city. It didn't succeed. On a beautiful bluff overlooking the valley of the Des Moines river, and overlooked by the towers of various coal shafts of the region was laid out a town in 1855 which was named Centerville. Henry Fisher and James Corbin were the proprietors and hoped to make their town the center of attraction to the people of that section. Here they expected they would center trade and traffic of the whole surrounding county. This town also disappeared. Ogden in its infancy was destined to pass through strange vicissitudes in which was determined a question of no less importance to said infant than its parentage. It was twice laid out, as two different corporations claimed the land upon which the town site is located it was for awhile with out an owner or rather owners. The river land company claimed it under the provisions of a grant and the railroad company claimed it by virtue of the provisions of another grant. When the railroad was built through this section John I Blair believing that the title of the railroad to the land was equally as good as if not better than that of the River Co, having the 9 points of law supposed to consist in possession, he secured the location of a depot and proceeded to lay out a town. The town plat of this survey was recorded June 6, 1866. The town grew slowly for the 1st few years as the land upon went immediately into litigation and it was uncertain to whom it belonged to. The courts however in a course of years decided that the title of the lands was rested in the River Co, or in other words belonged to Mr. Litchfield who proceeded through his agent Mr. Brown to resurvey and lay out the town. Mr. Litchfield (River Co) took part in taking every odd land plat away, out from under property that was being bought or was bought with the help of the US government. To this day there are many acres of land that still belong to Litchfield or are under the name Litchfield in plat books. The town plat of the survey together with Brown's addition was dated May 6, 1870. It was named after W B Ogden a distinguished railroad man and capitalist. 1st residents were William Patterson, John Regan, George Stanley railroad laborers. About the beginning of 1870 Patterson and Stanley had a fight, Patterson went to Ames, Stanley followed him in pursuit, the fight continued and as a result one of them was killed and the other sentenced to life in prison at the State penitentiary.
Dr J H Noyes was the 1st physician maybe the 1st on the west side of the Des Moines river. A W Bloomberg had the 1st general store, were he ran it until 1872 when it failed and afterward he left for California. During the early history of Ogden, J C Soward & Co bought a large tract of land near the town and opened a general store and rented the land. The company failed and they left for Nebraska. The 1st drug store and the 2nd business house of the town were stated by Dr J H Noyes. He disposed of his drug business in 1875 and devoted his entire attention to his practice. After the failure of Soward & Co a firm of the name Heath & Shaw succeeded them. This succession of failures was unfortunate for the town in its infancy, and not much calculated to inspire confidence in its future. A certain number of reckless adventurers come in, spread themselves around, make great noise, quiet down and in a few months fail and move on. The reliable man of business comes in with the 2nd wave and founds the permanent prosperity of the little town of Ogden. The town incorporated May 1878. Here we have a town, not stimulated by the accidental convergence of numerous railroads, or the excitement aroused by the discovery of mineral wealth, expanding its limits from a few shanties to present day population.
A W Bathrick had the 1st child born in Ogden, 1st couple married was Charles Soward and Jennie VanCuren. In 1877 a brick schoolhouse was completed. It contained 5 well lit rooms. 3 teachers were employed. For sometime after Ogden was laid out the post office was at Wesley Williams, 3 miles north of town, and was called Yough post office. William Lee was the 1st postmaster in Ogden. When the post office was moved into Ogden from Williams. The Scandinavian Farmers Society was incorporated May 1879 and commenced business the following August.
In common with several other townships this was organized during the time S B McCall was incumbent of the office of county judge and was named by him after a Democratic politician, William Learned Marcy whom was a farmer, graduated from Brown, was a lawyer, Soldier of 1812, editor of Democratic newspaper, "Troy Budget:", associated justice of NY supreme court, resigned US Senator 1831, 1832, elected governor NY, appointed secretary of War by Polk, 1853 appointed secretary of state by Pierce.
Among the 1st settlers was David Noah was settled in the region at a very early day. He disposed of his claim and removed to Oregon. One of the most beautiful parcels of land bordering the river was named in his honor " Noah's Bottom", 1849 Colonel John Rose settled in the locality and renamed the area the "Rose's Bottom". One of the most influential men who settled in the region was W P Berry. He was a man of restless activity, good business, and possessed of more than one ordinary force of character. He raised a company and served with distinction throughout the Civil War. He was regarded as the most influential citizen on the west side of the river, in his honor a large section of county was organized into a civil township and called Berry township. It was organized 1852. From the following order it will be seen that Berry township included nearly 1/4 of the county.
William Sparks, the Shaws, J Enfield and G Allen were also early settlers of the township.
William McCall and Sarah Rose were probably the 1st couple married in the township, J R Rose was the 1st born June 4, 1850, 1st death was that of an Irishman belonging to a party of surveyors and was a favorite with the settlers by reason of settlers whom he showed favors to. Certain romantic stories were rehearsed concerning the life and death of this amiable foreigner by the early settlers, who profited by his amiability. The 1st school house stood in Section 2. It was erected by Messrs, Noah, Rose, Turner, and Barkhurst, was constructed of hard maple logs. Samuel B McCall taught the 1st school. He had 10 pupils and received $10 per month wages and skirmished through the county for his board and lodging. By reasons of the diversity of its natural resources and especially its mines of mineral wealth, this township has always taken the lead in population with the exception of Des Moines township, which contains the cities of Boone and Boonesboro this is the most densely populated township in the county. According to the census of 1875. Marcy township at this time contained a population of 1,225.
The town on Quincy was laid out Sept 1854 by Jerome Gordon and Thomas Shaw. Located in the east 1/2 of the northeast quarter of Section 14, township 83, range 27.
This town was laid out by Amos Elliott, September 1867. It was located on the west side of Section 4, east side of Section 2, township 84, range 27. This was intended for a mining town and when the coal trade of this section was in a more flourishing condition than that of today.
Was laid out by the railroad company June 1866. It was located on the northeast quarter of Section 12, township 83, range 27. It was on account of the natural recourses of the county, rich in coal, timber, and building stone that the railroad changed the direction of the road and ran considerably south of the proposed line.
The 1st settlement in Union township was made in the fall of 1849. Oct 1849 John Moore and family arrived and located on Section 35. Two of his sons John D Moore and Charles R Moore also located with him. Previous to the settlement by the Moores, others had visited the township among whom was Carson Wood, who came to the township in 1848, selected a location and broke up about 8 acres of land with the intention of returning in a few months but did not do so. He was the 1st to furrow in Union township. It was in Section 35. Within the next 5 yes James Carnes, Larsord Mills, John Carnes, George Burgett, John H Moore, Isaac Moore and Abel Lum came to the area. Previous to the year 1856 the territory comprising Union township was included in Berry township. March 17, 1856 was ordered the name change to Union township.
April 7, 1856 the 1st election to elect township officers was held at the house of James Carnes. There were 28 votes cast at this election. The population of the township at the time of organization was 75 people divided into 17 families. In 1872 the township was reduced to its present size of 6 miles square. About the year 1858 a town was laid out by Ed P Vail and Calvin Brown, but no improvement was made and it failed. Its name was Unionville.
The 1st marriage was that of Samuel Weeks and Matilda Johnson in 1858. The 1st birth was Hannah Moore daughter of Charles Moore 1853. 1st death was Sarah Moore wife of John Moore, she died in 1852. 1st physician was John Moore. 1st lawsuit in 1856 Frances Johnson plaintiff, and Jesse Petts defendant. Campbellite in spring 1854. 1st person baptized in the township was Mary McKean in 1854.
July 14, 1855 a meeting was held at the home of James Carnes for the election of school officers in district #5, Berry township and resulted in the election of Isaac Crable, James Longridge and James Carnes as board of school directors. Early in the spring of 1856 a log school house was erected on James Carnes land (Section 27). It was 16 ft square, each man interested in helping was asked to contribute 2/3 logs. The 1st school day commenced May 5, 1856 and was taught by Miss Caroline Palmer at $1.75 per week for 12 weeks, board included, the number of pupils in attendance was 15, the number in the township was 20. Aug 22, 1856 the district was changed to the township of Union and district #1 was elected A L Sperry school fund commissioner at a meeting June 14, 1859. The district was divided into two school districts and on June 17, 1861 the board of directors decided to build 2 new school houses. One in each district. July 1, 1861 the contract was sold at $700. The house in district #1 was named Lincoln and #2 Douglas, the number of pupils in 1861 was 50, an increase of 30 pupils since 1856, and 85 pupils in 1865. In 1866 Jefferson school house in Peoples township was built and in 1873, 3 more were erected. In 1872 the district was reduced to the township proper and contained 5 school houses, the number of children between 5 and 21 years of age (from the census of 1875) was 159. In 1875 the district township was divided into 9 independent districts. this township being the only one in the county traversed by the Des Moines and Fort Dodge railroad and a large majority of the people doing their trading in Des Moines and Dallas counties, it somewhat less interacted with the rest of the county than those of any other township.
Was organized a civil township May 12, 1871 and comprised the congressional township #82 north or range 27, west of the 5th principal meridian prior to which time the west 1/3 of it was joined to Union township and the east 2-3 to Cass township for civil purposes. It received its name in honor of one of the 1st permanent settlers of the township. David Peoples who with his son in law Hon. Levi Colvin entered portions of Sections 17/18 of said township in 1855. The first settler within limit of the township as one Dart, on Section 33 in 1854.
The 1st wedding was the marriage of Enos Rhods and Henrietta Peoples by Rev William Sparks March 26, 1860. The 1st birth was that of Albert B Wade and Alfred B Wade, twin sons of W W Wade and Lucy Jan 12, 1857. The 1st death was Albert B Wade son of W W Wade and his wife Lucy, Nov 2, 1857. The 1st sermon was preached by William Sparks, Baptist minister in school house #1. the 1st school was built on the southeast quarter of the southwest 1/2 of Section 12 in the spring of 1857. The 1st post office was called Prairie Hill and was established in 1867. Alonzo Bettis being the 1st postmaster. W W Wade was justice of the peace and Seneca Needham 1st constable of the township. The 1st church edifice was the M E Church erected on the southwest corner of Section 15, in 1875. The 1st general election was held at the Elkhorn school house Oct 10, 1871. There were 82 votes cast with the population being that of 300. The Methodist church was the 1st organized in the township. The 1st Sunday school was at the Union school, organized on Section 24 during the year 1866. William Hutchings was the superintendent. The 1st celebration of Independence Day as held a the Peoples school house July 4, 1868. The 1st office meeting of township officers was held at the house of J B Swain on Section 16, Feb 3, 1872. The 1st school house was built in 1856 on Section 12. IN 1871 a cemetery was laid out on the southeast quarter of Section 8. There were 9 sub districts in the township, there being no independent districts.
At first included in its borders the present were the townships of Cass and Peoples. It embraced that part of the congressional township 82, range 26, which lies west of the Des Moines River. The township was organized at the time of the administration of Judge McCall and was named after Lewis Cass a distinguished statesman and politician. For a long time after this county was 1st settled the people had to endure many privations and undergo many hardships. The nearest post office was at Des Moines, where they also had to go for groceries and other supplies. The nearest mill was at the mouth of Middle River in Warren Co and was frequently overcrowded with work, the people had to go as far as Eddyville and Oskaloosa.
The 1st settlements were made in this township in 1848. Jonathan Bowles, John Woods, V Preston, Crawford Coles and Jacob Rhoades having settled in this region in 1849. I H Rhoades and William Noland settled there in 1850, George Spurrier, Landa Hurst, Jesse Williams and Preston Berry also in 1850. The 1st birth was that of Samuel son of Mr and Mrs V Preston on Nov 27, 1849 who died in Dec of the same year and was buried on Section 32 this being also the 1st death of the township. The 1st school was a log structure and was located on Sec 32. The 1st public religious services were conducted by Rev John DeMass at the home of Jonathan Bowles during the fall of 1850. The 1st school was taught by Clayborn Wright in a log house situated where Orlow Oviatt's barn was located.
The western part of the county almost parallel with the Des Moines river flows a beautiful stream of water known to the Indians as Amaqua creek. The Indian name Amaqua means Beaver, the early settlers changed the name of the stream to Beaver creek. When the western part of the county through which this stream flows was organized into civil townships, two of them were named after the creek. The Indian name Amaqua being applied to one and the English name Beaver being applied to the other.
The 1st settlers were Patrick and John Vaughn, Cornelius and Patrick Cronin. They settled in Sec 10 in May 1867. They were originally form Ireland more recently form Ogden of this county. The 1st marriage was that of Dennis Vaughn and Mary Mahoney on April 28, 1869. The 1st male child born was William Vaughn born Sept 15, 1869 and died Aug 25, 1870 also being the 1st death in the township. The 1st school was in district #2 taught by Patrick Coil who later went to California. The 1st school house was erected in 1871. Located on the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Sec 10. The 1st board of township trustees consisted of Enos Barrot, Patrick Mahoney and John Garlic. John T S Williams was the 1st township clerk, Patrick Cronon was the 1st township assessor. Amaqua township was organized Jan 1871. The 1st board of trustees was composed of George Wood, D M Girard, D B Carrey. John Smith was the 1st township clerk and Gilbert H Pardell was the 1st assessor. The official meeting of the township board was held in the Center school house. Pleasant Hill cemetery is located on the southwest quarter of Sec 16. The M C Church of Center school house was organized in 1869. Rev Snodgrass was the 1st pastor of this congregation. The membership of this church was about 25. The town of Beaver is located on the south 1/2 of the southwest quarter Sec 32, township 84, range 28. It was laid out June 30, 1879. This town through quite young, became quite a trading point and is the only shipping place for the people of the west part of Boone and Green counties.
This township is situated in the extreme northwest of the county. It was exclusively prairie and the last in the county to be settled. It had a population of 411 in 1875 a large portion of whom were foreign born.
Pilot Mound was organized Sept 1858. The 1st board of trustees consisted of Bethel Owen, A. Abercrombie and Peter Runyan. The 1st school house was built on the east part of Sec 16. In 1858 a cemetery was laid out in Sec 4. There were 6 subdistricts for school purposes and the same for road districts. The sum of $850 was raised of school purpose and a tax of 5 miles on the dollar was levied for road purposes. The 1st settlement in the township was made in 1847 by M White who came from Indiana and took a claim on Sec 15. Solomon Tomlison came form Ohio the same year and took a claim in Sec 10. The 1st marriage as far as known was John Akson who was married to a lady by the name of Peterson, by Samuel B McCall. Rev William Sparks of the Baptist church preached the 1st sermon at the house of Mr. Carson. Sarah Scott taught the 1st school in a little log house on Sec 3. The 1st school house was erected on Sec 3 and cost $50. The 1st settlers of the region were subjected to many hardships and privations. Des Moines was the nearest trading point and there was nothing but an Indian trail for a road to this place. One of the 1st settlers was Pleasant Chitwood. He employed Thomas Sparks to do his first breaking of ground in the summer of 1848. The only means they had of reaching the place was a small boat in which the persons rowed themselves across the stream after compelling the teams to swim across. During the summer of 1848 Mr. Chitwood undertook to remove his family and a few household effects to his claim across the river. His goods and family were placed on a wagon drawn by a yoke and oxen. When he reached the banks of the steam he unloaded his goods, while endeavoring to turn the team near the bank form some cause the oxen were precipitated into the river carrying Mr Chitwood with them. He could not swim, but succeeded in clinging to the ox yoke and was borne down the stream by the current, which was very strong, the river being very swollen by recent rains. After floating down the stream some distance, he came to a tree that had fallen into the river and the top projected some distance across. He caught hold of the branches and succeeded in reaching the bank. In the meantime his wife who was terrified almost to the point of desperation jumped in the boat in order to rescue her husband and not knowing how to handle the boat was borne rapidly down the current. By the time Chitwood reached dry land he saw to his horror his wife carried past him down the river. He immediately started in pursuit and by means of a long pole succeeded in bringing the boat with his wife to land. The oxen were drowned and the wagon became embedded in some drift, it was nearly a year before it could be brought out. Pilot Mound is located on Sec 20, township 85, range 27. This is the highest elevation along the entire length of Mineral Ridge, and is claimed that in early days a bloody battle was fought here between the Sioux and Sac and Fox Indians. A post office is located there. The post office and the township take its name from the mound. In 1875 the population was some 700.
The portion of Boone Co known as Worth township was the 1st to be settled and was for many years the center of activity and influence. One or two settlements had been previously made further south but the claims were taken and homes established and the society formed which took the lead and directed the movements which formed the basis of the counties prosperity and constituted the beginning of history.
Here the 1st school house was erected, the 1st religious services were conducted and the 1st official meetings of the county were held. Although no seat of justice was formally selected until 1851, there was practically a county seat located during the years 1849 and 1850. When the county was 1st subdivided into precincts it was partly in Pleasant and Boone precincts. It continued until 1852, when part of Pleasant township west of the river was taken off. In 1858 Worth township was 1st organized but its boundaries were somewhat different than they are now. The township was named in honor of William J Worth one of the soldiers of the Mexican War and a new at Monterey.
The 1st settlement was made by John Pea May 16, 1846 on Sec 2 and this settlement was known for years as Pea's Point. James Hull came at the same time and soon after two other Hull's, Uriah and William. Shortly after them, came Jacob Crook, Henry Hoffman, William Dickinson, 2 brothers by the name of Smith, Richard Green, William Holson, John Dobson and Samuel Luther were among the 1st settlers. Dr James Hull was the 1st physician of the county, he 1st settled in Worth township where he lived for many years and carried hope and consolation into many a homes afflicted with those malarial diseases so common during the early settlements. He died 1872. The 1st marriages, births, deaths and 1st schools taught and sermons preached were in this township.
Fully 1/2 of the township was covered with timber an although a lot had been used for fuel, building and railroad purposes there is still a bountiful supply. April 1853, David Parker laid out a town on Sec 2 and was named Parkersburg. This is believed to be the only attempt made to build up a town in Worth township. The township was well established with roads which were kept in good condition, there being four road districts. The school houses were the best in the county.
At the same time Worth township was formed out of the old territory of Pleasant township, Douglas township was formed. The part of the township along the river was somewhat broken and well supplied with both wood and coal. The eastern portion being fertile, undulating bottom prairie and very productive. It is one of the earliest settled portions of the county, In Jan 1846 Chas W Gaston located in Sec 34 was recorded as the 1st settler and in Sept of the same year Mrs. Anna Delander came direct form Sweden with a family of 4 sons, and 2 daughters and located and settled upon the location of Swede Point. During the following year 1847 there were quite a number of permanent settlers coming in including Jesse Hull, Ben Williams, John Hull, William Sawyer, John Dobson, Richard Green, William and William Helston. They came during May and June of that year.
The 1st death was Mrs. Elsie A, wife of Ben Williams June 10, 1847. She was buried on Sec 34, where a portion of ground afterwards set aside for burial purposes and was the 1st in the township. As to marriage we record that Henry Holcomb wed to Mary J Hull in 1848. The 1st birth was Henry son of John and Sophia Hull, which was not only the 1st in the township but in Boone Co. the 1st regular doctor was Dr Rice who came form Washington. Judge Montgomery was the 1st regular minister. The township is mostly populated with Swede. They are an enterprising class of citizens, most of them having well improved farms. Indiana, North Carolina and East Tenn. are also well represented among the settlers. There were 3 churches. Christian, Free Will Baptist, and Evangelical Lutheran St John. The latter was organized in 1859 with about 15 families of Swedes. The 1st 2 towns in the county were located in this township. They were Elk Rapids and Swede Point. Elk Rapids never amounted to much, the mill located there, being the chief feature of the place. Swede Point has not been characterized by rapid growth but has enjoyed a fair degree of prosperity. It was sort of a trading post.
Was formed out of the territory of Boone River township in 1852. Received its name form General A C Dodge. A gentleman whom 1st became known to the settlers of the west for his connection with the Black Hawk War. In 1857 Jackson township was formed and it extended north to the county line which was now Harrison township and what was 1st a part of Dodge. The curious formation of Mineral Ridge was through the northern portion of it and was very uneven and along the river there was heavy bodies of timber. This part of the township was the 1st to be settled. Among those first settlers were M White, J Richardson, Joel Baker, W L Defore, W R Cole, Daniel Knight, M Leininger, C Casine, J Crim, Orliz Hinman, H Friendly, A Swighart, J C James, Levi Emerson, J Landon, T J Johnson, C Manpin, I C Hull, J B Godwin, Alman Stinson, C Stotts, and J M Stotts. It was one of the best settled in the county and was well adapted to agriculture.
The 1st supposed marriage was John Baker to Elizabeth Lent by W L Defore in 1852. J W Lewis was the 1st regular doctor. Rev Rathburn a Portugee who 1st settled on a claim was the 1st minister. The 1st school was taught in a house near the home of M R Cole by Z J Vontrees. The 1st building built for school purposes was erected in District #1. Ridgeport was laid out by John Radpath and Absolom Kelly in May 1854. The 1st post office was also located there in 1854. A T Silvers was engaged in general merchandise in 1856. The post office is named Mineral Ridge. The town had a general store, drug store, black smith shop, 2 doctors and 2 churches.
It remained unsettled for many years. It is comprised mostly of prairie. There is a creek there which the Indians called Ewqua better known as Squaw creek. This stream is tributary of skunk river. This is the only creek that does not reach the Des Moines river. There is a German Lutheran Church located in the township on the farm of Mr. Lewis Ahrens. A building was erected in the summer of 1876.
It was organized in 1857. March 1858 the boundaries were changed. The 1st official meetings were held at the house of Thomas Eads. A cemetery was laid out in 1854 which is called Mitchell Grove. The 1st school house was built in Nov 1858. The township was almost level and is the highest point of land in the county. There is scarcely timber except in the northeast corner. Much of the land was originally set aside as swamp land. The marshes were drained and went under cultivation. It contains less wasteland than any other township. There is no station or depot along the road in the bounds of the township.
Among the 1st settlers were Milan Zenor, who settled in Sec 12, he came in the spring of 1851. The following year J Mitchell and Thomas Eads settled and William Zenor came in 1854. In 1855 Michael Zenor was married at the house of William Zenor, judge Montgomery officiating. This was probably the 1st marriage of the township. The 1st death was Mary J Zenor in 1854. She was 11 yrs old and was buried in Ontario cemetery. Sarah Patterson daughter of Milan and Amanda Zenor was born in 1853. The 1st religious services held in the township was at the home of Milan Zenor, they were conducted by Rev Willis Reynolds a United Brethren minister. The 1st doctor was Dr Mathers from Polk City. The 1st school was taught by William Bell, there were 11 students in attendance, the school continued for 3 months and salary for the teacher was $55 a term. The 1st school house was erected in 1856 by Mr. Bell and Milan Zenor the school cost was $25 to erect. The 1st settlers experienced all the hardships and endured all the privatations incident to pioneer life.
It was formally part of Des Moines township and was organized into a separate township in 1871. Thomas A Duckworth and Samuel A Croy were the 1st settlers, the later having come form Ohio in the spring of 1860 and settled on Sec 13. The 1st religious services were held in a log school house by Samuel A Croy a Christian minister. The 1st school was taught by John T Croy in the house of S A Croy, 16 pupils were in attendance. When Mr. Croy 1st settled in the county his was snowbound and for about 6 weeks and was compelled to use the fence rails for fuel.
Among the last settled portions of the county was Garden township. It was originally part of Douglas township and embraced the county in township 82 east of the Des Moines river to the line of Story county. It was not until 1872 that the subdivision was made. In 1873 the 1st election took place for the township. It was held at the school house in district #8. Among the settlers were Holcraft Kiegly, Bagwel Irwin, and Thrapp, but the main settlers came in 1867 and are of foreign descent mostly Swedes. Most of the land was in the hands of non residents and cultivated by renters. A portion of the soil is very fertile and well cultivated some of the area is very flat and marshy but as it gradually comes into the possession of permanent settlers it rapidly began to improve and became a very desirable farming district.
Garden Prairie post office was located on Sec 4. A small creek transverses the township from north and south through the middle of the township which in places is skirted with small belts of timber.