This is the largest township within Jasper County. It is situated centrally east and west and is on the northern line of the county, bordering on Marshall County, with Mariposa and Kellogg Townships at its east; Newton Township on the south and Sherman and Independence on the west. It has forty-eight sections of land, and comprises township 81 and two tiers of section of township 80, range 19 west.

This township was organized in February 1857, by the then county judge. The record of its formation is as follows: "Commencing on the northeast corner of township 81, range 19; thence west on the county line to the northwest corner of section 2, in township 81, range 20; thence south on the section line to the southeast corner of section 12, township 80, range 19; thence north on the range line to the place of beginning."

According to the census reports of 1905 taken by the state authorities, this township had a population at that date of six hundred and twenty-four.

Robert H. Snyder entered government land in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 23, township 81, range 19, on November 16, 1852; Greenberry Bridges, the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 27, on the same date.

This is one of Jasper County's almost exclusive prairie townships and is now well developed into valuable, high-priced farms with a happy, prosperous and contented populace. However, it is without railroad or near-by town market places, depending upon the city of Newton largely for such accommodations.

This township became the seat of the famous Wittemberg Manual Labor College, mentioned at length in the Educational chapter.

The taxes paid on the personal property in this township in 1878 amounted to $90,680, inclusive of the items of 849 head of horses; 51 head of mules and asses and 2,333 head of cattle over six months of age. The year prior to that (1877) the total tax of the township, personal and realty, amounted to $5,760, while the total valuation was placed at $370,400.

Several other items connected with the history of this township will be found under their proper headings in the general chapters, including the churches, schools, etc.