pg 85

The first establishment of townships as such was on January 7, 1841, but the county had been divided a few times before that. The first division was made by the board of supervisors in August, 1837, into five districts, presumably road districts, but not called by that name. These districts are set out in full in chapter VII in our account of the proceedings of this first board. Again, the county seems to have been divided into election precincts by the board of county commissioners at its first meeting on April 2, 1838. Five election precincts were established at this time: (1st) Upper Wapello; (2d) Florence; (3d) Grandview; (4th) Black Hawk; (5th) Fredonia. but the boundaries are not given. At this time the greater part of Columbus City township, and all of Union, Oakland and Elm Grove belonged to Slaughter county.

Judges were appointed for these various precincts as follows: Upper Wapello, Hiram Smith, Thomas England and Abram Wigant; Florence precinct, Samuel Smith, John Deighl (Deihl) and R. P. Burlingame; Fredonia, James Bedwell, T. G. Clark, Craig Black; Grandview, R. Childers, William Fowler, George Humphrey; Black Hawk, Israel Trask, Jonathan Parsons and James Guest.

On April 2, 1839, the county was again divided by the county commissioners and we set out the order in full:

"Ordered that the county of Louisa be laid out in the following districts, to wit: No. 1 shall be of the following boundaries to wit: Commencing at the Mississippi river, above the mouth of Iowa river; thence up the Iowa to the line dividing ranges 2 and 3 west; thence north on said line to the line dividing township 74 and 75 north; thence east on said line to the Mississippi river; thence down the same to the place of beginning; and that William Fleming be appointed supervisor of the same.

"Ordered that the Harrison District No. 2 be bounded as follows, to wit: On the east by District No. 1; on the south by the Iowa river; west on a line running north and south through the center of range 3 west; and on the north by a line dividing the townships 74 and 75 north ; and that William Hinkson be and is hereby appointed supervisor of the said district.

"Ordered that the Fredonia District No. 3 shall be bounded as follows, to wit: On the north by the county line; on the west and southwest by Cedar and Iowa rivers; and ...

pg 86

… on the east by a line dividing ranges 3 and 4; and that John B. Criswell be supervisor of the said district.

"Ordered that Grandview District No. 4 shall be bounded as follows, to wit: South by a line dividing township line dividing 74 and 75 north; west by District No.,3; on the east by the Mississippi river; on the north by the county line; and that Gabriel Wallen be supervisor of said district.

"Ordered that Wapello District No. 5 shall be of the following boundary, to wit : On the east by the range line dividing ranges 2 and 3 west; on the north by the Iowa river; on the west by range line dividing ranges 3 and 4 west; on the south by the county line; and that John Drake be supervisor to see to the working of roads in said district.

"Ordered that the Florence Road district No. 6 be bounded as follows, to wit: On the west on the line dividing ranges 2 and 3 west; on the east by the Mississippi river; on the south by the county line ; on the north by the Iowa river; and that Loring Howes be supervisor to oversee the working of the same.

"Ordered that Long Creek District No. 7 be bounded as follows, to wit: Embracing all that part of the township in range 4, township 74 north, laying south of the Iowa river; and township 74 north of range 5 west: and that Thomas Neel be supervisor to oversee the working of the roads therein.

"Ordered that the Virginia Grove Road District No. 8 be bounded as follows, to wit: Embracing township 73 in range 4 west, and that William Guinn be and he is hereby appointed supervisor to oversee the working of the roads in said district.

"Ordered that Iowa Road District No. 9 be bounded as follows, to wit: All that part of township 75 north of range 4 west; also all that part of township 75 in range 5 west; and all that part of township 76 north of range 5 west; all lying south of the Iowa river; and that David Dicks be and he is hereby appointed supervisor to oversee the working of the roads in said district.

"Ordered that Iowa and Ceder River Road District No. 10 be bounded as follows, to wit: All that part of township 76 north in range 5 west; also all that part of township 75 in range 4 west, laying between the Iowa and Cedar rivers; and that Hugh Calin be supervisor to oversee the working of roads in said district."

It will be noticed that the order merely says that the county shall be laid out into the following districts and that the word road district is not used until No. 6 is reached, but it is to be presumed that all of these districts were road districts.

On April 8, 1840, the board of commissioners reorganized the districts of the county and changed the names of some of them. It is evident that they were intended for voting precincts for some purposes at least, because the place of holding the election in nearly all of them is given.

On the record the word township seems to have been used in nearly every case instead of the word district and then the word township was erased and the word district is used in the place of it all the way through.

"Ordered that Jefferson District be bounded as follows: Commencing at the Mississippi river at the line dividing section 27 and 22 in fraction township 74, range 2 running west to the range line dividing 2 and 3; thence south with said range line to the township line dividing 73 and 74; thence west on said…
Photo of Page 11, Supervisor’s record.

pg 87

… line to Iowa river; thence down said river to the Mississippi; thence up the Mississippi to the place of beginning; and that Jonas Ruffner be appointed supervisor to work roads therein, and Black Hawk be the place of holding elections for said district.

"Ordered that Harrison District be bounded as follows: Commencing at the Mississippi river on the township line dividing 74 and 75; thence west on said line to the section line dividing 2 and 3, in town 74, in range 3; then south to the Iowa river; then down said river to the township line dividing 73 and 74: then east to the range line dividing 2 and 3; then north with said line; then to the corner of sections 24 and 19; then east to the Mississippi; then up said river to the place of beginning and John Ronalds be appointed supervisor to work the roads therein and Harrison be the place of holding elections for said district.

"Ordered that Warren District be bounded as follows: Commencing at the Mississippi river at the county line dividing Louisa and Muscatine counties ; thence following said line to the range line dividing 3 and 4; then south to the Iowa river; then down said river to the section line dividing 22 and 23 in township 74 of range 3: then north to the township line dividing 74 and 75; then east to the Mississippi river; then up said river to the place of beginning and that Grandview be the place of holding elections for said township; and William Thompson be appointed supervisor to work the roads therein.

"Ordered that Fredonia District be of the following boundaries to wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of township 75. range 4 west, and running thence west with the county line to Cedar river; thence down said river to the range line dividing 3 and 4; thence north to the place of beginning; the place of holding the election be at Fredonia, and James Bedwell be supervisor of said district.

"Ordered that Catteese District be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the mouth of Cedar river; thence up said river to the county line; thence west to the range line dividing 4 and 5; thence north to the township line dividing townships 76 and 77; thence west to the range line dividing 5 and 6; thence south with said line to the township line dividing 75 and 76, and continuing the same course to the center of township 75; thence east to the Iowa river; thence down said river to the place of beginning. The place for holding elections shall be at Hugh Caland's; and that John Blake be supervisor to oversee the working of roads in the same.

"Ordered that Union township be composed of the south half of township 75 and township 74 of range 5. The place for holding elections therein shall be at the house of Edward Halls, and that Elias Buel be supervisor to oversee the working of roads in the same.

"Ordered that Fayette District be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning on the Iowa river on the line dividing sections 18 and 19 of township 75 of range 4 west; and running west to the range line betwixt 4 and 5 ; thence south with said line to the township line dividing 73 and 74; thence east with said township line to the range line dividing 3 and 4; thence north to the Iowa river; thence up said river to the place of beginning. The place for holding elections therein shall be at the house of Jacob Triggs. And that Leonard Robinson be supervisor to oversee the working of roads in said district.

"Ordered that Virginia Grove District be of the following boundaries, to wit: To include the congressional township 73 north of range 4 west; And that ...

pg 88

… the place for holding elections shall be at the house of Richard W. Gwinn. And that Richard W. Gwinn be supervisor to oversee the working of roads therein.

"Ordered that Wapello District be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning on the Iowa river on the range line dividing ranges 3 and 4; thence south to the county line; thence east to the range line dividing ranges 2 and 3; thence north to the Iowa river; thence up said river to the place of beginning. Wapello to be the place for holding elections. And that for all that part of township 73, range 3 west, Garrett Garrison be supervisor to oversee the working of roads in that division; and that Nathaniel J. Ives be supervisor to oversee the working of roads in the balance of said district.

"Ordered that Florence District be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning on the Iowa river on the range line dividing ranges 2 and 3; thence south to the county line; thence east with the county line to the Mississippi river; thence up the Mississippi river to the mouth of the Iowa river; thence up said river to the place of beginning. Florence to be the place for holding elections in said district. And that P. B. Harrison be supervisor to oversee the working of roads therein.

"Ordered that part of Warren District which is embraced in the east half of congressional township 75, range 3 west, be assigned to Spencer Wilson as supervisor of the same."

At the election on October 5, 1840, the question of township organization was submitted to the people and returns were made on this question from Fredonia, Virginia Grove, Columbus City, Grandview, Wapello, Jefferson and Florence precincts, the result being 178 for township organization and 79 against, all the precincts except Columbus City casting majorities for the proposition. In pursuance of this vote the county was divided into townships on January 7, 1841, by the following order:

"Ordered that the county of Louisa be laid off into townships in the following order, to wit:

"Wapello township shall be of the following boundary, to wit: Beginning at a point on the Iowa river on the section line dividing sections 12 and 13, township 73 north, range 3 west; thence west with the section line to the west boundary of the county; thence north to the township line dividing towns 73 and 74 north; thence east with said township line to the section line dividing sections 33 and 34, in township 74 north of range 4 west; thence north with said section line to the Iowa river; thence down said river to the place of beginning. And the place of holding elections for the time being shall be at Wapello.

"Florence township shall be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of the county; thence west to the range line dividing ranges 4 and 5; thence north to the section line dividing sections 7 and 18; thence east to the Iowa river; thence down said river to the Mississippi river: thence down said river to the place of beginning. The place for holding elections for the first election shall be at the house Samuel Jamison.

"Columbus City township shall be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the Iowa river in township 75 north, range 4 on the section line dividing sections 33 and 34; thence south to the township line dividing townships 73…
Photo of Map of Louisa County, Territory of Iowa, showing Original Plan of Townships

pg 89

… and 74; thence west to the range line dividing ranges 5 and 6; thence north to the Iowa river; thence down said river to the place of beginning. The place for holding elections for the time being shall be at Columbus City.

"Jefferson township shall be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at a point on the Iowa river, in township 74 north, range 3 west, on the section line dividing sections 14 and 15; thence north to the section line dividing sections 14 and 11; thence east to the Mississippi river; thence down said Mississippi river to the mouth of the Iowa river; thence up said river to the place of beginning. And the place for holding elections for the time being shall be at Toolesboro.

"Grandview township shall be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at the northeast corner of said county; thence west to the range line dividing ranges 3 and 4 west; thence south to the Iowa river; thence down said river to the section line dividing sections 14 and 15 in township 74 north of range 3 west; thence north to the line dividing sections 10 and 15 ; thence east to the Mississippi river; thence up said river to the place of beginning. And the place for holding elections for the time being shall be at Grandview.

"Fredonia township shall be of the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at a point on the Iowa river on the line dividing ranges 3 and 4; thence north to the county line; thence west to the line dividing ranges 4 and 5; thence north to the line dividing townships 76 and 77 north; thence west to the Iowa river; thence down said river to the place of beginning. The place of elections for the time being shall be at Fredonia."

On January 4, 1842, the commissioners ordered that the fractional section No. 23, township 74 north, range 3 west, be attached to Wapello township, and on April 4, 1842, the following sections and fractional sections were added to Wapello township namely: Sections 13, 14, 23. 24, 25, 26, 35 and 36, all in township 74 north, range 3 west, and the following were added to Jefferson township: Sections 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 14 in township 73 north, range 2 west; and sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 16, 17 and 18 in township 73 north, range 1 west.

The next change seems to have been on April 2 1844, when it was ordered that all that part of Louisa county situated between the Mississippi and Iowa rivers and lying north of the Iowa slough be attached to Jefferson township.

On April 13, 1847, the subject of dividing the county into commissioners districts was taken under consideration and the county was divided into three commissioners' districts as1 follows: Wapello and Florence townships were made the first district, Grandview and Jefferson township the second district, and Columbus City and Fredonia townships the third district.

The first effort to establish what afterwards became Eliot township was on April 14, 1847, when John Hector and F. S. Burt and a number of others petitioned the county commissioners to organize a new township to be called Pleasant township, and to be composed of all that part of Jefferson on the south side of the Iowa river, and as much of Florence township as the board might think necessary. The board decided that it was inexpedient to grant the petition at that time.

On July 6, 1847, tne ^ne between Wapello and Columbus City townships was changed as follows: The south half of section 33, township 73 north, range 4 west, was taken from Columbus City and attached to Wapello township.

On October 6, 1847, Isaac Parsons and a number of others laid before the ...

pg 90

... board a petition for the enlargement of Jefferson township by attaching to it all the territory lying south of Iowa slough and between that slough and the south line of the county, and west to the line dividing sections 33 and 34 in township 73 north, range 2 west, and the board ordered the alteration to be made upon the condition that the signatures of the persons then residing in Florence township in the territory sought to be attached should first be obtained to a petition asking the change to be made. This petition was to be returned to the commissioners' clerk within thirty days. A memorandum following this entry, signed by S. M. Kirkpatrick, states that the above condition was not complied with but at the session of the commissioners in April, 1848, an order was made, attaching to Jefferson township the territory heretofore belonging to Florence township lying between the Iowa slough and the section line, dividing sections 33 and 34 in township 73 north, range 2 west, and providing that the above described section line and a continuation of the same extending from the south line of this county to the Iowa river be made the boundary line between Jefferson and Florence townships.

CONCORD TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED.

On March 4, 1853, there was presented to the county court a petition of the citizens of Fredonia township asking that it be divided and a division was ordered as follows: A hew township was established by the name of Concord, commencing at a point on the Iowa river where the township range line divides ranges 3 and 4; thence north to the line dividing the counties of Louisa and Muscatine; thence west to the Cedar river; thence down said river to its junction with the Iowa river; thence down said Iowa river to the place of beginning.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED. .

It was ordered that a township be established by the name of Oakland to include the following territory: All of township 76, range 5, and all territory in Louisa county lying in the forks of the Iowa and Cedar rivers; and it was further provided that the north boundary of Columbus City township should thereafter be a line dividing townships 75 and 76 to the point where said line intersects the Iowa river. The people of Oakland township had wanted this change made for a long time and the story is that it was brought about by the election of all the township officers of Fredonia township from the west side of the Cedar river. The plan was managed by Charles H. Abbott. He made a thorough canvass of what is now Oakland township, had the voters assemble down at Old Fort Allen rather late on the day of election and then cross over the Cedar in skiffs or boats, two or three at a time, to do their voting. Of course they had their ticket for township officers all agreed upon. The folks over at Fredonia did not suspect anything until late in the evening and they began to martial their voters but it was no use, the plan had succeeded and all the township officers of what was then Frendonia township were elected from the west side of the Cedar river—what is now Oakland township.

This brought about a change of heart on the part of the people east of the Cedar river and they were willing to have two townships made out of Fredonia...

pg 91

... township. We give this story for what it is worth. We have not looked up the records as to the election of township officers for the purpose of verifying it, as the story is good enough without this.

February 6, 1854, A. D. Hurley presented a petition to the county court signed by the citizens of Florence township asking that that portion of the township east of a line commencing at the quarter section corner of the south boundary of section 34. running due north to intersect the quarter section corner of the north boundary of section 22; thence north to the corner of sections 15 and 16 and 21 and 22 ; thence north to the corner of sections 9 and 10 and 15 and 16, all in township 73 north, range 3 west, be attached to Wapello township, and it was so ordered.

UNION TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED.

On February 6. 1854, Andrew Gamble presented a petition of the citizens of Oakland and Columbus City townships asking for the formation of a new township of the territory of Columbus City and Oakland, to be bounded as follows: Commencing at the southwest corner of section 7, township 75 north, range 5 west; thence east to the Iowa river: thence up the Iowa river to the county line; thence west to the northwest corner of township 76 north, range 5 west; thence south on the county line to the place of beginning; the new township to be called Union. Among the signers to this petition were John Albaugh, Robert Todd, Peter Rineley, W. W. Orr, Patrick Colton, Nelson Alloway, Michael McGuire, G. W. Duncan and S. S. Wilcox. There was some opposition to this petition from the east side of the Iowa river but it was granted, and Union township established.

MORNING SUN TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED.

On May 1, 1854, a petition was presented to the county court, signed by about fifty citizens of Florence township asking that the name be changed to Morning Sun township, and it was so ordered. Among the signers to the petition we note the names of Jesse Hamilton, Arch Johnson, Forgay Owens, William P. Brown, Robert Hewitt, Josiah Vertrees, James C. Brown, O. A. Taylor, B. F. Lee, J. R. Wilson, Hamilton Brown and Thomas McClurkin.

OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED.

On July 5, 1854, John Corson and others petitioned for the formation of a new township to be called Otter Creek and the court established said township with the following boundaries: Beginning at the northwest corner of section 19, township 74 north, range 4 west; thence south on the range line five miles to the southwest corner of section 7, township 73 north, range 4 west; thence east six miles to the southeast corner of section 12, township 73 north, range 4 west; thence north five miles to the northeast corner of section 24, township 74 north, range 4 west; thence west six miles to the place of beginning. And the first election was ordered to be held the first Monday in April, 1855, at Hope Farm. The petition in this case does not seem to be among the files.

On March 17, 1855, Otter Creek township was changed at the request of E. W. Siverly and others by taking from it the following territory and attaching the ...

pg 92

... same to Wapello township, namely: Sections I and 12 in township 73 north, range 4 west; and sections 24, 25 and 37 in township 74 north, range 4 west. On August 7, 1855, an order was made by which the following territory was taken from Wapello township and added to Otter Creek township, namely: the west half of sections 24, 25 and 36 of township 74 north, range 4 west; and the same of sections 1 and 12 in township 73 north, range 4 west. The petition for this change was signed by N. M. Cowles, John N. Baldrige, R. E. Benton, Olive, Benton, James Coulter, Jesse Vanhorn, Abraham Hill and a few others.

PORT LOUISA TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED.

On February 4, 1856, the county court established Port Louisa township with boundaries as follows: Commencing on the east bank of the Iowa river on the township line between townships 73 and 74; thence east to the southeast corner of section 33, township 74 north, range 2 west; thence north on the section line to Muscatine slough; thence down said slough to the Mississippi river; thence up said river to the county line; thence west on the county line to the northwest corner of township 75 north, range 2 west; thence south on the township line to the line between townships 74 and 75; thence west on said line to the northwest corner of section 3; thence south to the Iowa river; thence down the east bank of said river to the place of beginning. This petition was numerously signed by people within the newly proposed township but some of the names are not decipherable now. The petition is in the handwriting of J. C. Lockwood and signed by him. Among the other names we note the following: Joseph B. McDill, G. H. Crow, James S. Williamson, J. H. Williamson, David P. Herron, James Erwin, William Kennedy, Michael Lieberknecht and John Ronalds.

ELLIOTT TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED.

On February 4, 1856, Elliott township was established with the following boundaries: Commencing at the mouth of the Iowa river on the south side; thence south down the Mississippi river to the Des Moines county line; thence west along said county line to the southwest corner of township 73 north, range 2 west; thence north to the Iowa river; thence down said Iowa river to the place of beginning. The first election was ordered to be held at Russell's schoolhouse. The spelling of Elliott township as given in the original order is as we have it here, although in later years it has been customary to spell it Eliot, this latter spelling being the most appropriate, since the township was named in honor of Allan Eliot.

MARSHALL TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED.

On February 4, 1856, there is also an entry showing that Noah Cowles had previously presented a petition of citizens of Otter Creek township, praying that the name be changed to Marshall township and that order was made.

ELM GROVE TOWNSHIP ESTABLISHED.

On March 16, 1857, on the petition of H. S. Dodd and others that part of township 74 north, range 5 west, which is south of Long Creek, was organized into ...

pg 93

... a new township under the name of Elm Grove. There was considerable opposition to this on the part of S. K. Helmick and most of those living in that district and they filed remonstrance, and a little later, namely, on March 23, 1857, it was ordered that so much of Elm Grove township as lies north of the line dividing sections 7 and 18, 8 and 17, 9 and 16, 10 and 15, 11 and 14, and 12 and 13, be attached to Columbus City township.

On June 21st, 1858, on account of the uncertainty in regard to the township lines, County Judge Derbin made an order establishing the townships and fixing their boundaries as follows:

The township of Elliot is bounded by a line commencing at the west of the Iowa river on the section line dividing section 20 and 21, township 73, range 2 west; thence west to the northwest corner of section 29, township 73, range 2 west; thence south to the county line; thence east to the Mississippi river: thence up said Mississippi river to the line dividing sections 16 and 21, township 73, range 1 west; thence west to the Iowa river; thence on southern bank of said Iowa river to the place of beginning.

The township of Jefferson is bounded by a line commencing on the east side of the Iowa river at the section line dividing sections 23 and 26, township 74, range 3 west: thence following the east bank of said Iowa river to the section line dividing sections 20 and 21, township 73, range 2 west: thence on southern bank of said river to the section line dividing sections 14 and 23, township 73. range 2 west; thence east to the Mississippi river; thence following said Mississippi river to the Muscatine Slough; thence up the west bank of said Muscatine Slough to the section line dividing sections 20 and 29, township 74. range 2 west: thence west to place of beginning.

Port Louisa township is bounded by a line commencing at the north county line on the east side of the Muscatine Slough; thence south on the bank of said Muscatine Slough to the range line dividing township 75, range 3 and township 75, range 2, at section 30: thence south to southwest corner of section 31, township 75. range 2: thence west to southwest corner of section 34, township 75, range 3; thence south to the Iowa river; thence on east bank of said Iowa river to section line dividing sections 23 and 26, township 74, range 3 west; thence east to Muscatine Slough; thence on the west bank of said Muscatine Slough till it intersects the Mississippi river; thence up said Mississippi river to the northeast corner of the county: thence west to the place of beginning.

Grandview township is bounded by a line commencing at the northwest corner of section 6, township 75, range 3 west; thence south to the Iowa river on range line dividing township 74. range 3, township 74, range 4; thence on east bank of Iowa river to section line dividing sections 15 and 16, township 74, range 3 west: thence north to northeast corner of section 4, township 74, range 3 west; thence east to southeast corner of section 36. township 75, range 3 west; thence north to the Muscatine Slough; thence on east bank of said slough to county line; thence west to the place of beginning.

Concord township is bounded by a line commencing on the west side of Cedar river at the county line; thence following said bank to section line dividing sections 19 and 20. township 75. range 4, on the west side of the Iowa river; thence on west bank of said Iowa river to section line dividing sections 33 and ...

pg 94

... 34, township 75, range 4 west; thence north to east side of the Iowa river; thence on east bank of said river to range line dividing section 1, township 74, range 4, and section 6, township 74, range 3; thence north to northeast corner of section 1, township 75, range 4 west; thence west to place of beginning.

Oakland township is bounded by a line commencing at the northeast corner of section 1, township 76, range 5; thence south to the southeast corner of section 36, township 76, range 5 west; thence east to Cedar river; thence south to the intersection of the Iowa river; thence north on east bank of the Iowa river to county line; thence east to place of beginning.

Union township is bounded by a line commencing at the northwest corner of section 6, township 76, range 5 west; thence south to the southwest corner of section 7, township 75, range 5 west; thence east to the southeast corner of section 12, township 75, range 5, on east bank of the Iowa river; thence northwest to county line; thence west to place of beginning.

Columbus City township is bounded by a line commencing at the northwest corner of section 18, township 75, range 5 west; thence south to southwest corner of section 7, township 74, range 5 west; thence east to range line between township 74, range 5, and township 74, range 4 west; thence south to southwest corner of section 18, township 74, range 4 west; thence east to southeast corner of section 16, township 74, range 4 west; thence north to Iowa river; thence on south bank of said river to the section line dividing sections 19 and 20, township 75, range 4; thence north to north bank of Iowa river; thence following said river bank to the southwest corner of said section 7, township 75, range 4; thence west to place of beginning.

Wapello township is bounded by a line commencing at the north side of the Iowa river on section line dividing sections 33 and 34, township 75. range 4 and running south to the southwest corner of section 15, township 74, range 4 west; thence east to the southeast corner of section 14, township 74, range 4 west; thence south to the southwest corner of section 12, township 73, range 4; thence east to southeast corner of section 9, township 73, range 3 west; thence south to l/2 section line of section 22, township 73, range 3 west: thence east to center of said section; thence south to county line; thence east to southeast corner of section 31, township 73, range 2 west; thence north to the northeast corner of section 30, township 73, range 2 west; thence east to the Iowa river; thence north to the north bank of said river; thence northwest on bank of said river to the place of beginning.

Elm Grove township is bounded by a line commencing at the northwest corner of section 18, township 74, range 5 west, and running south to the southwest corner of section 36, township 74, range 5 west; thence north to section line dividing sections 12 and 13, township 74, range 5 west; thence west to place of beginning.

Marshall township is bounded by a line commencing at the northwest corner of section 19, township 74, range 4 west, and running south to southwest corner of section 7, township 73, range 4 west; thence east to the southeast corner of section 11, township 73, range 4 west; thence north to the northeast corner of section 23, township 74, range 4 west; thence west to place of beginning.

Morning Sun township is bounded by a line commencing at the northwest corner of section 18, township 73, range 4 west, and running south to the south-...

pg 95

...west corner of section 31, township 73, range 4 west; thence east to the half section line of section 22, township 73, range 3 west; thence north to the half section line of section 22, township 73, range 3 west; thence west to section line dividing sections 21 and 22, township 73, range 3 west; thence north to the northeast corner of section 16, township 73, range 3 west; thence west to place of beginning, and the same is ordered to be recorded in the book of township boundaries of said county.

On September 5, 1859, tne boundaries of Wapello and Marshall townships were changed by attaching section 36, township 74, range 4, and the north half, and the southwest quarter of section 1, township 73, range 4, to Marshall township.

The next change we note in the matter of township boundaries was made on March 9, 1860, on petition of William Harrison and others asking that the western boundary line of Eliot township be extended due north from the northwest corner of section 29, township 73 north, range 2 west, to the Iowa river, which was done.

The next change was on July 3, 1860, and affected three townships. It took all that part of section 19, township 74 north, range 4 west, which was then in Marshall township, and the south half of section 18 of the same township and range 1, which was then in Columbus City township, and added them to Elm Grove township.

The next change was on December 29, 1860, and was made on the petition of A. D. Hurley and others, and affected Jefferson and Wapello townships by attaching the following to Wapello township, namely: Commencing at the quarter section corner of the north boundary of section 26, township 74 north, range 3 west; thence east to the northeast quarter of said section; thence down to the meander corner on the Iowa river and running between sections 25 and 26 and 35 and 36 in the same township and range, and attaching all of the land lying between such line and the Iowa river to Wapello township.

On January 6, 1863, on petition of Joseph Nichols and others, the Board changed the boundary between Marshall and Columbus City townships by adding to Marshall the north half of section 22, and the northwest quarter of section 23, in township 74, range 4. June 6, 1865, on petition of Joseph Mickey, the east half of section 19, township 74, range 4, was attached to Marshall township. On November 16, 1876, the boundaries of Elm Grove township were fixed as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of section 18, township 74, range 5 ; thence south to the southwest corner of section 31 ; thence east to the southeast corner of section 36: thence north to the northeast corner of section 25, all in township 74, range 5; thence east to the quarter section corner on the south side of section 19; thence north to the south line of section 18; thence east to the southeast corner of section 18; thence north to the quarter post on the east side of said section 18; thence west to the west line of said section 18; all in township 74, range 4; thence north on the range line dividing ranges 4 and 5 to the northeast corner of section 13, township 74, range 5; thence west to the northwest corner of section 18, township 74, range 5, the place of beginning.

On January 5, 1892, all the territory lying east of the Iowa river, then in Jefferson township, was transferred to Eliot township, being fractional section 31, township 74, range 1 and fractional sections 5, 6, 8, 9 and 16, and sections 7, 17 and 18 all in township 73, range 1, and sections 12 and 13, and that part of...

pg 96

...sections II and 14 (including Cedar Island) lying east of the Iowa river in township 73, range 2.

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