The extreme northeastern subdivision of Jasper County is known as Hickory Grove Township. It is six miles square and comprises township 81, range 17 west. It has but few streams of much size and is a prairie township of excellent fertility and now well improved and the abiding place of hundreds of magnificent and valuable farm homes. The only village within its borders is Newburg, on the eastern line, midway north and south, a station point on the Iowa Central Railway. This township is bounded by Marshall County on its north; by Poweshiek County on the east; by Rock Creek Township on the south; and by Mariposa Township on its west. In 1905, its population was placed by the state, authorities at six hundred and thirty-eight. It was organized in 1864 and was among the later ones to be set off from the original townships or precincts of the county.

Among the earliest land entries within this township may be named Francis Holyoke and Homer Hamlin in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 29, May 12, 1854; John Swigart, the southwest quarter of section 34, on May 15, 1854.

The amount of money apportioned from the school fund in the spring of 1851 for this township was but a few dollars; the amount for the territory now included (the township not yet having been organized) in Hickory Grove and two other precincts was only $28.10, but at that day but little was needed for schools, as settlers were very far between.

In October 1865, William R. Skiff was appointed agent to locate swamplands scrip for Jasper County, but nothing was done for a year when he was ordered to dispose of the scrip for cash, on the best possible terms.

UNUSUAL ITEMS OF INTEREST

In the middle of August 1876, Harry Ford, a lad of seven years, was bitten by a rattlesnake in this township. The fangs of the reptile struck him in the hollow of his foot and he being heated at the time, the poison was absorbed into his system and as a result he died within twenty-four hours.

In June 1875, a small child of Scott Aydelotte, of this township, was scalded to death. Its mother had placed a tub of boiling hot water in the middle of the room, and had stepped to a nearby well, leaving the child in the room alone. The child approached the tub, fell in and was so badly scalded that it yielded up its innocent young life the day following.

In 1878 Hickory Grove Township had an assessed valuation of personal property amounting to $26,625; of this was included 527 horses, 47 mules and asses and 800 cattle.

In 1877 the total valuation of all property in this township was $284,450, on which they paid into the county treasury the sum of $4,487.

The schools and churches, as well as lodges of this township, are described in general chapters on these topics elsewhere.

The Iowa Central Railroad touches the eastern sections of this township, with a station point at Newburg, a small platted place in section 24. Another branch of the same railroad runs to the northwest from Newburg, going diagonally to section 6 where it leaves the county.

The wagon roads in this township are situated, as a rule; on section lines and are well worked.

The conveniences of modern mail service, the telephone and other improvements, which are now universally enjoyed by all up-to-date farmers here obtain to a good degree. To be a land owner in this goodly portion of the "kingdom of Jasper" is indeed to be an independent citizen.

In Hickory Grove township, in the northeastern corner of Jasper county, is situated Newburg. A post office was established at this point in 1878. It was made a rural delivery station in July 1902. The amount of business transacted in 1910 was only seventeen dollars and ten cents. This office suffered the loss of fifty-three dollars by a robbery, to which no clue was ever obtained. Two mails are received here daily, except Sunday. The following persons have served as postmasters or postmistresses: E. H. Taylor, James R. Wood, O. V. Kenaston, F. J. Edelblite, Miss Sarah J. Clay, served nine years and six months, until August 23, 1893, when Mrs. Mary Crawford served until May 11, 1897, or three years and eight months, when Miss Sarah J. Clay was reappointed and is still serving.

The population is now supposed to be about one hundred and fifty. There are two church buildings in Newburg, the Church of God and the Congregational denominations. See church chapter.

The business interests of Newburg in April, 1911, are:

General dealers - G. D. Alden, Dale Livingston
Banking -T e Newburg Savings Bank
Grain - Newburg Farmers Elevator Company, doing almost half a million dollars worth of business annually
The Newburg Creamery Company, with numerous routes, doing an annual business of $30,000
Implements and lumber - A. C. Newcomer
Blacksmiths - George E. Buck, W. T. Richardson, who also runs a machine shop
Hotel - Shannon House, by John Shannon and wife

The agent for the Iowa Central Lines at this station has been for the past seventeen years, P. S. Howard.

It goes without saying that this place is situated within one of Iowa's richest farming sections.