Formation
From
the organization Cherokee county up to 1865, the entire territory was
considered one civil township. But, by an act of the Board of
County Supervisors, at their October session of that year, the
territory was divided into two equal civil townships. The north half of
the county still retained the name of Cherokee, while the southern half
was named Pilot. It was named Pilot on account of the largest rock
(known as Pilot Rock) in Iowa, which is found in this portion of
Cherokee County. This rock served as a land-mark to the first
settlers in going and coming across the broad prairies. This township
comprises all of congressional township 91-40, at present, but
originally the south half of the county.
Early
settlers
Robert Perry, who was the first white man to visit
Cherokee country, in May of 1856. In June, the Milford Colony arrived.
Men included with the Milford Colony were George W. Banister, John
Moore, Charles Moore, Alfred Moore, J.T. Lane, Martin Burns, N.W.
Mahffay, Jacob Miller, Marvin Allison and John Banister. Other early
settlers included George Coonley, O.S. Wight, Thomas Scurlock.
First Events
Settler: Robert Perry, 1856
Band or Colony: One headed by George W. Banister, in June, 1856.
Birth: a daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Moore in the fall of 1856.
Death: wife of John Moore in 1859.
Marriages: Jasper Spurlock to Angeline Huntley; Newton Spurlock and Anice Huntley
School: taught by Mrs. Carlton Corbett, in a log school house in 1860
Log House: Jacob Miller in 1856
Post Office: Pilot Rock, kept at Postmaster O.S. Wight's residence.
Saw mill: 1868 Ruben Rogers
Grist-mill: 1870 Fred Stiles
Churches
Methodist Episcopal
Wesleyan Methodist in December 1869 with a church built in 1882
Cemeteries
Good Hope Cemetery
West Pilot Cemetery
Geographical
Pilot Township covers an area of 35.9 square miles (93 km2)
and contains no incorporated settlements.
Pilot 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
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