USGenWeb Cherokee County Iowa IAGenWeb


Cherokee County Townships
Marcus Township History

Township Map
Formation
Marcus Township, formed by Board of Supervisors, act of September 7, 1874, is situated in the northwestern corner of the county, west of Liberty and north from Amherst townships, comprising all of congressional township 93-42. It originally belonged to Liberty Township.

Early Settlers
The earliest settlers came to the township in May of 1869. They were H.W. Bowman and his son Thomas; and W.E. Rose and his brother Lewis. Others who followed included James Barnes, Joseph F. Shelden in 1870; James Monier, Prentice Foster and Charles "Whisky" Smith in 1871. R.W. Heath and "Charlie" Johnson were also early settlers.

First Events
Land broken: W.E. Rose's homestead in 1869.
House: W.E. Rose
Death: Grandpa Bird in 1874
Birth: Elsa Bowman in 1875
Marriage: George Proctor to Miss Lina Shelden, Fall 1878
School: winter of 1873-74 by Miss Lina Shelden

City of Marcus
Was platted November 27, 1871 as a point on the railroad and was, for the most part, comprised of Americans, Germans and some Scandinavians. It was incorporated in June of 1882.

First Events
Building: a frame house built by I.M. Hackson in 1872
Goods handler and general merchandising: J. Hyndman. He opened a store in 1873.
Family: A.H. Dwight and family in April of 1872.
Hotel: Wilmott and Row in the spring of 1874.
Grain warehouse: Parkins Brothers, 1874
Hardware dealer: L. Kloster, 1876-77
Furniture dealer: Fred Collier
Drugs and Medicines: Dr. J. Failing
Attorney: B.H. Wilmott
Blacksmith: William Orr
Wagon-maker: Clarkson Barwick
Postmaster: William Campbell
Livery: J. P. Roe
Shoemaker: John Ernster in 1876
Agricultural implement dealer: I.M. Jackson
Jeweler: Frank Hyde
Harness-Maker: John Bawman
Bank: Bank of Marcus established by Gund and Hiltgen in June 1881
Milliners: Mrs. Wilmott and Mrs. Ruming
Photographer: F.E. Dwight in 1880
School: 1874
Church: Roman Catholic, 1876
Newspaper: Marcus News, established by J. A. Parks in August of 1882

Churches
Roman Catholic in 1876
Methodist Episcopal about 1882
Christian in 1883
Swedish Lutheran 1878

Dentists - a list of former dentists in Marcus and thier biographies

Doctors - a list of former doctors in Marcus and thier biographies

Geographical
Marcus township covers an area of 36.59 square miles (94.8 km2) and contains one incorporated settlement, Marcus.
Marcus Twp - WikiPedia


SOURCES: The township history was excerpted from Biographical History of Cherokee County. W. S. Dunbar & Co., 1889. The township map is from Plat Book of Cherokee County, Iowa, W.W. Hixon & Co.,  Rockford, IL

Return to Township Index Page

Return to Home Page

 Page Updated 24 Apr 2024