Formation
Pitcher
Township, originally belonging to Pilot Township, was detached by act
of Board of Supervisors, September 6, 1869. Its former name was
Fairview, but later changed to Pitcher. Its location is on the east
line of the county, south of Afton and north from Diamond townships,
with Pilot on the western boarder. As now constituted it comprises all
of congressional township 91-39.
Early
settlers
Included Harvey Wamsley in 1867. He was followed by the Hon.
Horatio Pitcher, John Fletcher and J. Robinson in 1868.
By 1870,
the following men were listed in the poll-books: Hugh and William
Fraser, Ruben R. Whitney, Oscar Chase, Daniel Wightman, William Farrar,
Ed. Morgan, Daniel McMullen, Benjamin F. Jennings, Horatio Pitcher,
Calvin McMullen, John H. Gregory, Blair Severence, Harvey Wamsley,
James, N. Rice, Henry Bremer, John Fletcher, John Robinson, George
Gardner, Francis McGuire, John McGuire, Samuel Foust, Adam Lutz,
William Perkins, Jacob Foust, John J. Hitchcock, William Hitchcock,
Robert D. Russell, Davison Russell, J.B. Chapin, and E.M. Giles.
First Events
Birth: Carrie Whitney, November 1869.
School: Taught by Miss Wheeler in 1869
House: built by Horatio Pitcher in 1869
Fatal
accidents: a man was crushed by a threshing machine when the bridge he
was crossing collapsed. The second was a Mrs. Grisby, killed during the
cyclone of 1885.
Churches
Christian-earliest services were held in the school house
Dunkard (German Baptist) 1876
Mt. Zion Bretheren Church 1883
City of Aurelia
Named
after the daughter of John I. Blair of railroad fame. It was platted in
1873 as a station on the Illinois Central Railroad line.
First Events
Business: the general store of Clarkson & Simpson
Residence: built by R.R. Whitney
Hotel: W.C. Marsh in 1876 known as the Marsh House. It was destroyed by fire in 1883.
Grain warehouse: R. R. Whitney in 1871
Grain elevator: Clarkson & Simpson in 1872
Lumber dealer: R.R. Whitney
Live-stock dealers: Clarkson & Simpson in 1872
Druggist: George Enright in 1877
Agricultural implements: Chase & Davis
Hardware dealer: S.A. Frisbie in 1876
Furniture dealer: C.C. Gre in 1878
Livery: Nelson & Siglin in 1877-78
Meat market: Ed. Daniels
Jeweler: J.W. McMillen
Physician/Surgeon: Dr. W.F. Quirk in 1877
Attorney: F.R. Willis
Bank: Bank of Aurelia, 1881
Newspaper:
was printed in at Storm Lake and edited at Aurelia. G.L. Bailey
established the Clincher, which changed to the Independent.
Blacksmith: S. J. Reimstead
Wagon shop: Peter Johnson
Harness-maker: C.R. Kleeberger
Shoemaker: Henry Bischel
Postmaster: George Simpson
Waterworks: 1887
School-house: 1872
Churches
Methodist Episcopal organized 1878, church built in 1881
German Lutheran formed June 1889
Scandinavian Lutheran organized in 1876, church built in 1880
Congregational organized in 1883, church built in 1885
Cemeteries
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Geographical
Pitcher Township covers an area of 35.79 square miles (92.7
km2) and contains one incorporated settlement, Aurelia.
Pitcher 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., 1930
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