Washington Township, on the western border of Jasper County, the second from the south line, comprises nearly all of congressional township 79, range 21 west, and about two sections in its northwestern corner belonging in township 80 of the same range. Its total territory is about thirty-six sections. The South Skunk River forms its northern borderline. It is bounded on the west by Polk County, on the north by Poweshiek Township, on the east by Mound Prairie and on the south by Des Moines Township.

The Rock Island railroad crosses the township from east to west, entering the township on section 1 and leaving it from section 7.

The old Des Moines Valley Line (Des Moines & Keokuk Railroad) passes through the southwestern portion of the township, traversing sections 18, 19, 20, 21, 27, 28, 34 and 35, with a station at Prairie City on section 36 of Des Moines Township. Squaw Creek and lesser streams, all flowing into the South Skunk River, are the streams of the township, Watkins Creek takes its rise in section 20, of Washington Township, and flows to the southeast. This is a prairie township for the most part.

In the vicinity of Colfax the bituminous coal industry has come to be one of much magnitude in recent years.

The only town or city within the township is Colfax, mentioned at length in this chapter.

The population of the township in 1905, according to the state census, was eight hundred and fifty-two outside the city of Colfax, which had at that date about 2,600.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP

Washington Township was organized at the June session of the board of county supervisors, in 1861, upon a petition presented by the citizens of Mound Prairie Township. The record of such proceedings reads as follows: "Commencing at the northwest corner of section 2, township 79 north, range 21 west, and running thence south on the line dividing sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, 36 until it strikes the southwest corner of section 36, in the same township and range, so that all west of said division line may constitute and become a new township for voting and school purposes, and to do and to transact all other business as required by law in such case."

The first polling place for holding elections was fixed by the board as at the Tyler schoolhouse.

In 1877 the township paid a total tax of $6,351, on an assessed valuation of $412,348.

In 1878 the abstract of assessment shows that the personal tax at that period was $58,105, including the items of 615 head of horses, 33 head of mules and 1,570 head of taxable cattle. These figures, compared with those found in the chapter on County Government, for the various townships in 1910 will show the progress and growth made by this township.

For the educational interests, as well as the church and lodge history of the township, the reader is referred to such topics found in the general chapters under proper index headings.

THE CITY OF COLFAX

Colfax is known, far and near, as "Spring City," owing to its numerous mineral springs, which are of great, medicinal virtue in the treatment of many diseases. It is situated on high rolling land for the most part and has many fine building sites and beautiful, well-improved homes. Its abundant supply of excellent water, taken from the gravelly springs, affords one of the most delightful and healthful places in all Iowa. Its beautiful groves of native timber, its large hotels and charming public park-grounds calls thousands here annually, for both pleasure and health. They come from all the states in the Union.

Its churches and schools are something to be proud of. The denominations having comfortable, though not extravagant, edifices are the Methodist Episcopal, Baptist, Christian, Presbyterian, Catholic and Christian Science.

The public school buildings, two large, fine, modern brick structures, are centrally located. The older was erected in 1896 and the last one in 1911. For more detailed account of churches and schools the reader is referred to chapters on these special topics elsewhere in this volume. For the history of the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias orders, see Civic Society chapter.

Colfax, named in honor of Hon. Schuyler Colfax, Vice-President with President Grant during his first term, is situated in section 1 of Washington civil township and near the edge of the bottomland through which meanders the waters of the Skunk River. It was platted in 1866 by A. Kimball, almost one year before the completion of the Rock Island Railroad through Jasper County. In the autumn of 1866 Newton & Richey started in the dry goods trade at this point, while West & Kennedy opened a good sized general merchandise store. Mr. Parker opened the first grocery store in the place. In 1867 Dr. J. G. Ryan established himself in the drug business. Such was the beginning at Colfax which for many years has been well advertised and widely known as one of the fine towns of which Iowa may well boast of many, where business, society, health-giving mineral waters and harmony prevail as elements sought by those deciding to lead a quiet life. It will be remembered that Colfax is but a short run on the steam or electric cars to Des Moines, hence the place is well patronized as a summer resort, owing largely to the surroundings and the fine spring water, with ample hotel accommodations.

It is a first class market point for a large and wealthy farming section. But perhaps its greatest natural advantage is derived from its famous springs and the numerous hotels and sanitariums using the medicinal waters, which gush from the bowels of the earth at different points in and near the city proper.

The town was started solely as a railroad station of the ordinary character, but in the autumn of 1875 a mineral spring was happily discovered and samples of it were sent to James H. Blaney, a celebrated chemist of Chicago, who after testing its qualities, declared that it contained chloride of sodium, sulphate of soda, sulphate of potassa, sulphate of lime, sulphate of magnesia, bicarbonate of magnesia, bicarbonate of iron, alumina, silica, and only a small per cent of organic matter.

It should be recorded that here, as in most cases, great things are the work of accident, for the water found to be of so much value to the public at Colfax was discovered by a firm who were boring for coal, and found the flow of water greatly hindering them, and while working the uneducated workmen quenched their thirst from this water and pronounced it fine water and the attention was called to it by others who believed it more than common spring water. Invalids soon began to seek it and finally a hotel had to be erected to provide entertainment. It was not long before the medicinal qualities of this water attracted large numbers from far and near and the name of "Colfax Springs" and "Colfax Water" was known from one end of the land to the other. A hotel was erected for the accommodation of guests and invalids in 1876 and in January 1877, a three-story building was erected by Messrs. Dixon, Leighton & Gray, which was thirty-six feet by one hundred and fifteen feet in size. The main springs are a mile to the east of the city, proper, and there are a number of hotels both there and in the city, all having mineral water connected therewith. In the summer of 1901 there were seven hotels in Colfax and all well filled with people afflicted with various diseases, including rheumatism, dyspepsia, Bright's disease and other kidney complaints and digestive derangements. Immense amounts of this water are shipped to all parts of the United States in bottles, jars and casks. This is carried on largely by three bottling works, which carbonate the water for shipping purposes. Two large coal companies have their headquarters in Colfax and their pay rolls are of great value, commercially, to the city.

Another feature by which the city is known is its beautiful Chautauqua grounds, the Epworth League Park, that is situated but a short distance from the eastern city limits. Here are assembled immense throngs with the return of each season to listen to the best talent in the country.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Colfax was incorporated as a town and its first council met September 9, 1875, when J. R. Rodgers took the oath as its first mayor; J. T. West its recorder; R. Price, R. F. Fullington, William Kelsey, John Logston and W. L. West its trustees; M. B. Coe, assessor. The town's first marshal was H. Sumpter.

The first year's receipts in the incorporation was one hundred and fifty-four dollars; disbursements, one hundred and three dollars and twenty-five cents. It became a "city" in February 1901, and contains one square mile of territory.

The following have served Colfax as mayors: J. R. Rodgers, 1875-6; P. H. Cragan, 1877; L. J. Labour, 1878; T. J. Doane, 1879; M. P. Doud, 1880; B. F. Sanders, 1881; H. L. Weston, 1882; F. W. Carey, 1883 to 1886; J. A. Mattern, 1886; W. T. Dart, 1887; H. L. Weston, 1888; J. A. Mattern, 1889 to 1892; G. M. Tripp, 1892; W. M. Croft, 1893; J. A. Mattern, 1894; P. H. Cragan, 1895; W. M. Croft, 1896; G. M. Tripp, 1897; P. H. Cragan, 1898 to 1901; J. B. Weaver, 1901; J. H. Hahn, 1903 to 1909; M. E, Penquite, 1909, and is now on his second term.

The present officers are: M. E. Penquite, mayor; W. S. Cutler, clerk; E. E. Kendig, chief of police; O. Morgan, deputy police; J. E. Penquite, water and street commissioner; Harry Noble was elected treasurer, but on account of leaving for another state, the council elected another in his stead in the month of May. The present (1911) council is as follows: Ray Lyons, N. T. Weston, J. H. Hahn, F. L. Evans, C. J. Burnett. The city assessor is W. B. Wells.

In the last two or three years the city has taken up the important matter of paving and sewerage. It now has eight miles and more of cement walks and is in all ways coming to the front as a small city. It has more than two thousand dollars invested in a public library and its furniture. It had in 1910 three and one-half miles of water mains, forty-three hydrants and many other lesser improvements.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

The fire department is such as is usually found in towns and cities of this class in Iowa. It is provided with hose carts, hook-and-ladder appliances, engines, etc., and is manned by a volunteer fire company.

WATER WORKS

The city is possessed of a most excellent water works system. It derives its water supply from a series of springs seated within a bed of gravel, and the purity of the water thus obtained is appreciated by the populace and by the stranger within the gates of the city. It is forced to the high water tower and tank on a very high eminence to the east of the city, proper, by means of steam pumps. The direct pressure from this elevated tank gives one hundred and twenty pounds down in the business center of the place-ample far all fire protection. The water rates are from ten to thirty cents per thousand feet. The water works fund is sustained by a five-mill tax annually. These water works are valued at twenty-five thousand dollars.

POSTOFFICE HISTORY

The history of the Colfax post office dates from the construction of the railroad through the place. Its earliest history seems a little obscure in the minds of the present-day residents of the city. Among the postmasters who have served here are well remembered the following: William West, "Vance" Wilson, Jacob F. Weaver, Adella V. Weaver, J. M. Topper, H. W. Robinson, and the present incumbent, W. W. Hawk, who was commissioned in 1908.

In 1910 it was made a second-class office, having passed the eight thousand dollar mark of business transacted annually. It has two rural routes extending out from Colfax.

FIRST IMPORTANT EVENTS

In the month of August 1876, the town was provided with a suitable calaboose and about the same date the town voted on the saloon license question and it resulted in thirty-five votes being cast for license and thirty-two against it.

The independent school district of Colfax was organized in 1876 (see Educational chapter).

The first religious society to organize in Colfax was the Presbyterian body; their first action was taken April 6, 1868, and a church was erected in 1868 at a cost of one thousand two hundred dollars.

A steam flouring mill was built here about 1877 and this drew trade from a large farming community.

BUSINESS INTERESTS OF 1910-1911

It will be interesting in future years to look back to this page and note who was engaged in the various business and professional callings in Colfax in the years in which this history is being compiled. The list is as follows:

Agricultural Implements - Lovolleus & DeLong, A. A. Penquite Hardware Company
Banks - Citizens' State, First National
Blacksmiths - Ball & Hibbs, D. D. Briggs
Books and Stationery - H. W. Wood
Boots and Shoes - H. E. Gould & Company
Brick & Tile Co. - Colfax Brickyard Company
Clothing - The Bargain Store, Davis & Davis, H. E. Gould
Dentists - F. G. Blake, W. P. Cain
Druggists - F. A. Marquis; C. G. Weirick, H. A. Weirick, N. T. Weston
Dry Goods - Co1fax Mercantile Company
Flour and Feed - S. H. Dunton, James E. Goodman
Furniture - The Forsythe Hardware Company, A. A. Penquite Hardware Company
General Dealers - Ed. Bellehoefer, Colfax Mercantile Company, W. E. Fenner
Grain Dealer - S. M. Brown & Son
Groceries - W. L. Porter, C. E. Sullenberger, Walter Thompson, George H. York and Luther Brothers
Hardware - A. A. Penquite Hardware Company, Forsythe Hardware Company
Hotels - European, Grand Hotel, Colfax, Mason House, Mills House, Oriental, Victoria, Sanatorium House
Ice Dealer - George Myers
Jewelry - W. S. Johnson, H. W. Wood
Laundry - Colfax Steam Laundry
Lawyers - P. E. Johannsen, James B. Weaver, Trip & Trip and Cragan Brothers
Live Stock - George W. Kintz
Livery - Main & Robinson, C. C. Plummer, Star Livery
Lumber - S. M. Brown & Son, Colfax Lumber Company
Meats - Colfax Mercantile Company, Sharp & Tespstra
Millinery - Miss K. G. Mahoney, Miss Emma Wheeler
Newspapers - Colfax Tribune, Baptist Messenger (monthly) and the Clipper
Photographs - Robert Dawson
Physicians - Drs. R. G. Anspach, Frank E. Boyd, T. A. Burke, J. C. Corselius, Alex Hall, W. W. Hawk, M. M. Knowles, F. W. Stewart, J. E. Traister, Alice Turner, L. C. S. Turner, H. A. Weirick, N. T. Weston
Sanitariums -The Centropolis, Grand Hotel and Mineral Springs, Victoria, and Rest House
Undertakers - W. S. Cutler & Company

Colfax, in no large sense, can be styled a factory town. It has, how ever, three extensive bottling works, which sterilize the mineral spring waters and ship in all sorts of packages to distant points in the United States. These concerns work full time and usually ship a carload apiece each twenty-four hours.

The electric light plant has long been in operation. It is owned by private individuals and beautifully illuminates the city and environments.

The latest industry in Colfax is one of its best in many ways, for it has established a factory the product of which will certainly be in great demand as the years come and go. This is the plant that manufactures the "Close To Nature" incubator and brooder and kindred goods employed in the artificial hatching of chickens and the care of the same. Its factory is near the depots and is good sized and well regulated. It has its base in the invention patented by its manager, W. H. Monroe, who several years since invented a line of devices for the purposes already stated and then formed a stock company of chiefly Colfax men. It is known as the "Close To Nature" Manufacturing Company. In the incubator, which they make warm water, is employed for heating the machine. They also manufacture an improved "green feed" producer, by which green wheat, oats, corn, etc., may be quickly, brought forth in mid-winter and early spring for feeding poultry. These goods find ready sale in all sections of the United States and the enterprise is constantly spreading out with its increase of orders.