Second from the north and the same from the east, in Jasper County, is Kellogg Township, which is all of congressional township No. 80, range 18 west. It is for the most part a fertile prairie section of the county. Its beautiful streams are quite numerous, and these include Alloway, Burr Oak and Coon creeks. In the central part of the township is found a good-sized body of natural timberland. The Rock Island & Pacific Railroad traverses the territory from east to west, bearing diagonally from southeast to northwest through a larger part of its course. The only town within this township is Kellogg, situated on section 23.

The township's population in 1955, as per state reports, was six hundred and eight, plus that of Kellogg town, five hundred and ninety-two, making a total of one thousand two hundred.

In 1878 it had a personal tax valuation of $64,207, including 571 head of horses; 30 mules; 1,407 cattle.

In 1877 the township paid a tax on all its property assessment into the county treasury amounting to $4,986, which had-been levied on a valuation of all property, personal and real, amounting to $329,586.

Here one finds a thrifty set of settlers who have wonderfully transformed the appearance and real value of the six-mile-square tract of Jasper County land.

This township was organized in 1868 by the board of county supervisors and had previously been attached to other territory.

THE TOWN OF KELLOGG

Kellogg was laid out by Messrs. Enos Blair and Abraham W. Adair on September 12, 1865, which was a few months before the first passenger service was perfected on what is now the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, then known as the Mississippi & Missouri Railway, to this point in Jasper County. It stands (original platting) on section 23, township 80, range 18 west.

Soon after the platting had been executed a post office was established, known as Kimball, the name of the plat having been recorded as "Jasper City." The railroad, however, had named the station at this point Kellogg; hence the place had, for a short time, three names. The track of the railroad being laid from east to west, headed for the Missouri River, reached Kellogg in the spring of 1866, and soon freight and passenger service was maintained. The terminus of the road was here for about a year. None were sure what the company proposed to do in way of extension, or improvements, hence most all the buildings were little other than mere board shanties, aside from one building owned by a Mr. Downing, which later became the Methodist parsonage.

During the summer and autumn of 1866 a tavern was started by Benjamin Manning; Blair & Adair, town site proprietors, opened up stores and Samuel Rich a blacksmith shop. Mr. Rich, aside from pounding at the glowing forge, was also the "Nasby" of the town, for he held the office of postmaster and it is related for a truth that he delivered mail from his hat around the embryo village. The beer saloon was early in the field here, for during the year last mentioned, two were started by Messrs. A. J Fish and Dick Wood.

Besides those already referred to, there were residing in Kellogg during the winter of 1866-7: William Vaughan, Robert Ludwick, J W. Maynard, Samuel Rich, an attorney named Cooney, Lewis Clark, Fred C. Downing, John Matthews, the pioneer butcher, George Laird, W. R. Reynolds, E. L. Keagy, James McCully, Thad Woods, Captain Atwater, Barney Curtis, Patrick McGuire and a few more, all, or nearly all, men of families.

In 1867 the people united in the building of a union church, which later was purchased by the Congregational Society, and in the winter of 1868-9 it was rented for schoolhouse purposes and in it was taught the first school by J H. F. Balderson.

The first sermon in the place was preached, however, by Rev. Spooner in the depot in the late months of 1866, this man being of the United Brethren faith. Next came the Universalist preacher, Rev. Eaton. Then came another United Brethren preacher, Rev. Longshore. A society of this faith was formed, but went down after a year or two.

The infant of Mr. and Mrs. William Vaughan, born in the winter of 1866-7, was doubtless the first to be born in Kellogg; it survived but a half-year.

The first marriage was that of William Patten to Mollie Winters in 1867.

In 1872 a large and costly flouring mill plant was erected at Kellogg. It was operated about three years, when it was burned and another followed in a few years.

Kellogg had a fine growth for many years. A former history of this place, compiled in 1878, speaks of it as follows: The town of Kellogg has had a rapid growth in the thirteen years of its existence. It is surrounded by a magnificent farming region and enjoys a large trade. Its population ranks third in the county and it has by no means reached its limit of growth. Its citizens are wide-awake and enterprising, and are able to hold their own in competition with the surrounding towns. Its builders are fully employed and its growth during 1878 is equal to that of the most prosperous towns in Iowa, population being considered."

MUNICIPAL HISTORY

Kellogg was legally incorporated in 1874, pursuant to a vote of its people. The first council was organized March 16, 1874, made up as follows: J. H. F. Balderson, mayor; W. J. Hayward, Philip Shoemaker, L. L. Patton, L. W. Davis, S. B. Lyday, trustees; J. B. Burton, recorder; F. Clawson, marshal and street commissioner.

The mayors have been as follows: J. H. F. Balderson, 1874 and 1875; L. W. Davis, 1876; I. L. Patton, 1877-78; H. M. Cox, 1880; A. W, Adair, 1881-2; G. J. Wright, 1883; A. G. West, 1884; G. J. Wright, 1885; C. M. Golden, 1886; John Simpson, 1887; J. R. Si11ith, 1888; D. H. Setzer, 1890; W. J. Breedon, 1893; D. K. Moberly, 1896; C. K. Irish, 1900; A. G. West, 1902; S. B. Powers, 1906; W. N. Jones, 1908; J. Boyle, 1910; F. L. Phipps, 1911.

The municipal officers in the spring of 1911 are: F. L. Phipps, mayor; R. C. Birchard, clerk; C. J. Irish, treasurer; A. L. Miller, marshal; councilmen, C. W. Richetl, F. T. Hammer, R. C. Butron, Perry Coon.

The town is not well protected against fire. The small water system of the town is not sufficient, but better things are promised another year, when a more up-to-date system will probably be voted upon. The recent year's fire has opened the eyes of the citizens and businessmen. Now the town only has small street wells and a cistern of small capacity on the hill. When these improvements go in it is thought also to erect a town hall and jail combined. These, with a suitable standpipe on the heights, will secure the citizens and property owners against the further ravages of the dread fire fiend.

Kellogg has a good gasoline gas-lighting plant owned by the town; also the advantages of a good electric lighting system by the Craven Electric Company, private. The gas plant was installed in 1905 at a cost of four thousand dollars. Bonds were floated for ten years for this purpose.

BUSINESS IN 1911

In the month of April, 191l, the following were the business factors in Kellogg:

Agricultural Implements - Craven Implement Company, Craven & Moberly
Garage - Craven Garage Company
Bank - Burton & Company's State Bank
Barbers - Hammer & Shill, Arthur Jay
Blacksmiths - A. N. Dunn
Brick and Tile - Kellogg Brick and Tile Company
Cement Blocks - R. L. West
Clothing - Moses Caminsky
Creamery - Beatrice Creamery Company
Dentist - J. C. Craven
Druggists - R. C. Birchard, Carl W. Forche
Furniture and Undertaking - B. A. Burton
General Dealers - Ed Lison, Bobzin Corner Store, Jones Bros., Galusha & Company
Grain Dealers - Farmers' Elevator Company
Hardware - B. A. Burton, Craven & Moberly
Hotel - Hotel Simpson
Lawyer - John W. Burke
Stock - Stephen A. Morris, C. W. Rowland
Livery - Harry Richeld
Lumber - Charles Bobzin
Mills - Roller, by E. A. Conrad
Meats - "Melcher's Market"
Milliner - Mrs. Lizzie Arthur
Newspaper - Enterprise
Pool Room - Mr. Nichols, of the Simpson Hotel
Physicians - Drs. J. Frank Hackett, B. Liesman, Dr. Wood
Restaurant - Olson Bros., Leslie Hill
Valve Factory - Stock company of home capitalists

The most important concerns of Kellogg at this date are the brick and tile factory and the valve factory. The former was established in 1905.

The churches of the town are the Methodist Episcopal, Congregational, Christian and German Lutheran societies.

The lodges include the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias and Woodmen and Yeoman orders. (See Lodge and Church histories else where.)

The post office at Kellogg was established in 1865, and has been of the third-class since January I, 1907. There are four mails each way daily. The first rural free delivery route was established July 1, 1902. There are now three routes. The amount of post office business transacted in 1910 was $4,300.16. The following have served this office as postmasters: Samuel Rich, B. F. Wright, William Fisher, Mrs. Phoebe Ludwick, I. L. Hammer, W. P. Coutts, J. W. Burke, E. J. Birchard, the last being the present incumbent.

Kellogg has been visited with two disastrous fires, one in September 1909, and another January 22, 1911. In the first fire the entire eastern side of the first business block was totally destroyed, aside from a residence or two. One dealer, Mr. Bobzin, lost over twenty thousand dollars in this fire. This was occasioned by a small boy burning scrap papers in the alley and this ignited with straw in a livery barn across the alley from the old bank building.

In the fire of last spring the opera hall was destroyed and with it a skating rink and part of a millinery stock. Total loss in this fire was said to have been about five thousand dollars.