The first settler in the township was B. F. Rolfe. He settled in section 15, in 1855, and lived there until his death in 1858. He was followed by William Sabin, who located in section 8, in November, 1855, and lived there till the next spring, when he sold to George Decker, the grandfather of our present sheriff, and moved away. The next family to settle in the township was that of William Penney, Sr., June 20, 1856. This was an English family and had a remarkable experience. Six brothers came with their parents and settled in the northern part of the township at what has often been called Penneyville. They were Frank, William, Jr., John, Alfred, Henry and Charles. Some of these were married and brought their families with them. Two years later a seventh brother, Arthur, and his family, joined the Penney Colony. The Penney family multiplied greatly and most of them prospered. Many of them have been conspicuous during all our county's history. In March, 1911, it was computed that there were living 242 descendants of the original ancestors, counting the husbands and wives of the direct descendants. Daniel Wallace and wife came into the township with the Penney Colony. Mr. Gilmore came in 1856. Those, together with J. W. French and family and James Kearney and family, comprised the principal settlers in the township in the '50s.

     Henry Hill and family, John Reeves and family and others made up the early settlement. Also these were very early in the township: William Gardner, B. S. Hammond, William T. Roberts, William M. Myrick, J. M. Haun, and many others.

     The first marriage in Liberty Township was that of Mrs. Rolfe, widow of the first actual settler, to Frank Aiken.

     The first birth was Hattie, daughter of Frank and Caroline Penney, born August, 1857.

     The first death was F. B. Rolfe, in 1858.

     The first school was taught in section 5, in a log house, by Lydia White.

     The only town or village in the township above described is Little Cedar, in section 22, a station on the Chicago Great Western Railway. It was platted in 1891 and named "Wheeler" for the chief surveyor of the company. But there was another town in Iowa named Wheeler and after considerable delay the village name was changed to Little Cedar, to correspond to the name of the postoffice at that point.

     The land on which the place was platted was formerly of the Charles Wolfe Estate. In the summer and fall of 1917 the business and other interests of Little Cedar were as follows: It has a population of 108 persons.

Its bank is the Citizens Bank -- see banking chapter.
Creamery - John Christianson.
Confectionery - J. R. Pontenberg.
Elevator - Farmers Cooperative, H. G. Houghton, manager.
Feed Mill - The Evans Estate.
Garage - F W. Kruger.
Hotel - L. Mussetter.
Livery - C. H. Sweet.
Lumber - J. A. Smith Lumber Company.
Live Stock - George Wolfe.
General Dealers - Sanborn & Company, John Wolfe.
Meat Market - C. H. Penney.
Postmaster - W. T. Roberts.
Restaurant - L. A. Leeman.

     Little Cedar Postoffice was established in 1873 and the first postmaster was Levy Laughlin, who kept the office at his home, near where the present mill is situated. He was succeeded by Henry Hill and he in turn by Lester Coonradt, then Frank White and later Frank Henderson was appointed postmaster and moved the office to the newly platted village in 1891. The other postmasters named kept the office at their respective homes. The sixth postmaster was C. Hawkins, who was followed in turn by Messrs. J. J. Kindshuh and George Hammond, who was succeeded November I, 1902, by the present postmaster, W. T. Roberts. This is a fourth class office and it had a business during the year ending July I, 1917, Of $490.60. One rural route extends from the village over a route of 26 1/8 miles in length. The present carrier is F. W. Martin.

     The water feed mill and the creamery are the only manufacturing plants of the village. These do a good business in their lines.

     Mitchell, one of the central subdivisions of the county, is in the second tier from both the north and west lines of the county, and is bounded by St. Ansgar on the north, by Liberty, Burr Oak and Osage on the east, Osage and Cedar on the south, while Rock and St. Ansgar townships are at the west. Originally this township embraced a part of what is now within Rock Township, comprising parts of townships 98 and 99, in ranges 17 and 18, but now is confined to range 17, of townships 98 and 99. Here one finds. a rich, productive loam soil, well suited to the growth of all the grains, grasses and vegetables known to this climate. Tame grasses do well, hence grazing has become a profitable branch of farm industry. Many farmers here are extensive stockmen. The Cedar River flows through the southwestern portion of the township, it being the only waterway in the township of much note. Along this stream the early settlers discovered a belt of fine timber, varying from a quarter of a mile to a mile or more in width, and considerable has been preserved until the present. Stone abounds in unlimited quantities. One variety resembles the Scotch granite used so much in making monumental work. However, capital has thus far never been induced to develop these quarries, but the time will come when this formation will be worked and the vast amounts of this valuable stone be utilized.

     This township was first settled in 1852 by Josiah Cummings, a native of New York, born in 1804. He entered his land at the Des Moines Land Office and moved onto the same in 1853, remained until 1857 then moved to Kansas and from there to what was then known as Washington Territory where he died in 1879. He was a stanch whig in politics, a firm believer in the Baptist Church faith; and a strong advocate of the temperance cause, when that cause was not as popular as it is today.

     During the year 1854, the main settlement effected in Mitchell Township was by the following: J. N. Cady, Abner T. Cady, John D. Chambers, J. L. Tibbetts, George and Ellis Cummings, John D. Aller, C. C. Prime, judge A. S. Faville, Dr. D. G. Frisbie, John Wilson, David and Abraham Beckner, Charles Bell and Robert Budlong. In 1884 there were only six of these fifteen pioneers living.

     Without going into great detail, it will be well to make the following record of some of the men who first settled this goodly part of Mitchell County.

     John D. Chambers, one of the proprietors of the town site of West Mitchell, arrived in 1854. He was born in Vermont in 1820, clerked in a store in Janesville, Wis., in 1845, entered general merchandise there and remained until bout 1854 when he came west with G. E. Newman, locating in this county. In 1855 Chambers and Newman built a sawmill., He was for many years con- nected with the milling interests of West Mitchell and was also a leading hardware merchant of that place.

     J.N. Cady came to this country in 1854, and did the first blacksmithing and set up the first forge in Mitchell County. He located in section 10. He was born on a raft on the Ohio River, while his parents were en route to Indiana, in 1834. Abner T. Cady another 1854 settler claimed land in section 9, where later stood the Mitchell railway depot. He was one of the proprietors of East Mitchell. He was born in Rhode Island, in 1801, and had lived in New York, Indiana, Wisconsin and other states before settling here. He only remained a short time, but removed to Kansas in 1858 and there died the following year. Lewis Butters bought land in section 16 about1855. He was from Maine, born in 1828. During 1855 came in: John Abbott, H. I. Stacy, Asa White, Daniel Tubbs, J. P. Davis, John and Charles Sweatt, Horace Bedell, Sidney Powell. I. B. Parker and two sons, Howard and Henry, James Tobin, E.,P. Williams, C. C. Tubbs, Chester Crowell, Thomas Wardall and Lewis Butters. Daniel Sheehan came to this county in 1856 in company with Mr. Tibbetts and Samuel Coon. He bought a steam sawmill, which they ran a few months, but it burned- down and the site was abandoned. Soon afterward they rebuilt, ran a while and Mr. Sheehan sold out and bought a half section of land in this township and was ever afterward a farmer and stock raiser. Among the 1855-56 settlers are now recalled: Leroy Grout, who bought the -George Cummings farm in 1856 and became a permanent resident. He was a Vermonter. Sanford Thomas from North Carolina, born 18'7, moved to Ohio and then to Indiana, from which state he moved to Mitchell Township.

     John W. Lindley in 1856 came in and began improvements. He farmed and paid special attention to bees and produced large amounts of honey.

     Others of the 1956 influx to this township that should be named are: Levi Farnham, H. P. Nelson, Charles Wardall, E. H. Howe, Henry Chambers, J. P. Hatcb, William Senior, Jerry Hepworth, Francis Coop, W. B. Jones, J. P. Knight and I. B. Parker.

     The settlement was added to in 1857 by too many to here be noted. Then came the panic of 1857-58 and there was but little more settlement effected until after the Civil war period. The schools and churches of Mitchell Township, in common with other townships in the county, are treated in separate chapters for such subjects-see index.

     The first marriage in this township was that uniting William E. Cummings and Sarah Adams, in 1854, and it was also the first within the county.

     The first death was that of Orin Hart, son of Stephen Hart, in the autumn of 1854. The first child born in the township was a son of George Morrison, an 1853 settler. The earliest physician was Dr. D. G. Frisbie, who practiced from 1854 to 1879. Jerry N. Cady was the pioneer blacksmith in both township and county. His shop was on the east bank of-the Cedar River, where later West Mitchell stood.

     The first Fourth of July celebration in the township was that of 1854, and it may be stated that it was Mitchell County's first celebration. Judge Faville delivered the oration and C. S. Prime read the Declaration of Independence. A live eagle that had been captured in the county made itself heard midst the lusty cheers of the spectators.

     The first religious services in the county were held in this township, July 1, 1854, by Rev. John Webb, a Methodist minister, from Fayette County.

     Judge Faville taught the first school in a log house in 1855.

     Around Mitchell has been woven an early day history of the county, which must of necessity ever be cherished and valued by whoever undertakes to write a history of Mitchell County, be it now or in future years. It was here the original county seat was located; it was here that many of the first and important events of the county had their scenes located. Various chapters in this work will mention several interesting things concerning persons and events having to do with schools, churches and industries of Mitchell.

     Originally, this town was divided into two distinct villages-"Mitchell" and "West Mitchell." The railroad divided the two places and sometimes, years ago, Mitchell was styled East and West Mitchell. The original platting was at "East" Mitchell, the present site of Mitchell. It was surveyed, March 4, 1854, by C. C. Prime and Amos Cummings. It was located in the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 9, township 98, range 17. It derived its name, “Mitchell" from a friend of Mr. Prime, one of the proprietors, and who at that date resided at Lockport, N. Y.

     The shop and "glowing forge" of J. N. Cady's blacksmith shop, in 1854, was the first attempt at making a town at this point. A hotel was opened by C. C. Prime, in 1854, and Amos Cummings opened the pioneer store. John Abbott was the first shoemaker of the village. A postoffice was established in 1855 with Dr. D. G. Frisbie as postmaster. He was followed by Levi Shepard and he by Mr. Binford. John Abbott was appointed in 1861 and was still holding the office in the '80s. Since his administration the postmasters have been: John Wentworth, Mrs. Cara Graham (short term), J. H. Banford, nine years; Mrs. Lydia Tesch, from July, 1904, to the present date- 19l7. The office is now the only one in the community as the office at West Mitchell has been discontinued. One rural delivery route extends out from Mitchell a distance Of 24 7/8 miles, in its circuit. L. R. Rockerty is the carrier. The postoffice safe was blown open in l912 and $300 taken, but the burglar was never captured.

     The first money order issued from this office was payable to R. Hubbard of McGregor, Iowa, and the first paid was to Sarah Manchester.

     As one passes through the quiet Village of Mitchell on the train today, he can scarce realize the scenes taking place daily at this point in the years away back in the '50s, '60s and '70s. But few points in Iowa afforded a better waterpower than that found on the Cedar River at West Mitchell. The West Mitchell Mill was built in 1856-57, by John D. Chambers and John F. English. It was a 40 by 60 foot, two story structure, and at first had two run of buhrs, but soon another set was added for corn grinding. In 1884 the plant was owned by English, Glover & Kellogg, and had a capacity of seventy-five barrels daily. The mill cost in excess of $18,000.

     One old settler says: "It was the only flouring mill for many, many miles around. I have seen ox teams turned out and feeding that had come 100 miles with the grist to that mill." The West Mitchell Brewery was built in 1858 by Frank Coap, who ran it till 1861, when he enlisted in the Civil war cause as a Union soldier, and let his brewery stand idle. Subsequently this brewery was in the hands of William and John Wall, but later became the property of John Fey, who, in 1876, added to it largely. He increased the capacity to 1,800 barrels of beer annually. But changes in business, from small towns to large city centers, together with the growing disapproval of the use of all kinds of alcoholic drinks, caused the brewing interests to be suspended forever in West Mitchell.

     The Paragon Woolen Mills of West Mitchell were built in 1865-66, by C. C. Vanderpoel. The building was of stone and was 40 by 60 feet, four stories high. It was placed just above the flouring mill and used the same waterpower. There was produced there all kinds of woolen cloths, yarns and red blankets and in addition to using all the home-grown wool, also consumed many thousands of pounds annually from other states. This plant, in common with hundreds of like concerns, went out of business in the '80s, when such industries were either bought up by larger ones, or crowded to the wall by great capitalists.

     From the days when Mitchell was the seat of justice for Mitchell County between the years 1857 and 1870, there was a bitter rivalry between East and West Mitchell. A part of this trouble arose over county seat contests and a part was due to railway difficulties, between the two ends of the town. The population of the two places in 1884 was placed at about eight hundred. In 1890 East Mitchell had 309 and West Mitchell 232; in 1900 West Mitchell had 207 and East Mitchell 245; in 1910 West Mitchell had 126 and East Mitchell, or Mitchell proper, had 23I. West Mitchell was incorporated in about 1869. One set of officers took their seats, but no more were elected until 1879, when East Mitchell sought to become an incorporated place. The first mayor, under the original incorporation was A. Vanderpoel. Under the revived or second incorporation, W. W. Blackman was the first mayor. He was followed by C. S. Prime, and he by John F. English.

     The long-looked-for railroad finally passed through Mitchell in 1869. It was then known as the Cedar Falls & Minnesota Railroad, but later passed into the hands of the Illinois Central system, as today. Its right-of-way divided East and West Mitchell, and business naturally centered near the depot. Fourteen years later-1883-the place had six good stores, two large round grain elevators, various shops, a boarding house, a bank and a livery barn. The principal merchants were Abbott & Son, E. P. Stacy & Son and G. W. Stillman. The last named purchased the store from Cole & Prime. At that date (1883) the hardware business was in the hands of Graves & Bartle, and furniture was handled by Mrs. E. Geig.

     The first grain elevator of the place was erected in 1869, by Mr. Spalding, patentee of the round elevator, for T. C. Tyson. Its capacity was 30,000 bushels. It was burned in 1875 and another built on its site by White & Glover, at a cost Of $3,500. C. Stock erected a second elevator in 1878.

     In 1879 Mitchell became an incorporated town. The first officers were: G. W. Stillman, mayor; Wilson Martin, Samuel Nofsinger, Thomas Phillips, Howard Cady and John Z. Lewis were councilmen; W. G. Smith, recorder. The following have served as mayors: (No record before 1882) E. P. Stacy, 1882-83 J. D. Crowther, 1884; Homer P. Branch, 1889; J. A. Wentworth, 1890; J. B. Tabor, 1891; J. A. Wentworth, 1893; A. N. George, 1895; H. M. Farier, 1896; George Saalmiller, 1898-1901; Fred D. Cady, 1901-1906; George Saalmiller, 19o6-og, F. D. Cady, 1909-12; George Saalmiller, 1912-15; M. J. Godfrey, 1915-16; F. H. Chandler, 1916, and still serving as mayor.

     The business and professions at Mitchell in the autumn of 1917 are:

Postmaster - Mrs. Lydia Tesch.
Banking - Mitchell Savings Bank.
Lumber and Coal - F. D. Cady & Co.
General Store - Castle & Sanders.
Grocer - John Klinger.
Grain - Kung Grain Company.
Garage - Lincke Brothers.
Furniture - F. Lohr.
Hotel - Hans Madsen.
Restaurant - A. W. Parkhurst.
Hardware - J. T. Ross.
Livery - Lewis Sedlacek.
Meats - E. J. Stokes.

     The part of the Town of Mitchell formerly known as West Mitchell was platted by John D. Chambers and John F. English in the summer of 1857. Mr. Chambers furnished the means and Mr. Newman entered the land in 1854. Chambers, English and Newman constructed a sawmill on the Cedar River. The first store was opened here by John D. Chambers and John Sweatt. This was a very small store, and the goods were brought from Rock County, Wisconsin, by teams. Chambers sold out to Charles Sweatt, after which the firm was Sweatt & Sweatt, who continued until 1870, then sold to their brothers.

     A postoffice was established at West Mitchell in 1859, with T. M. Atherton as postmaster. This became a money-order office early in the history of such postal regulations. In the early '80s the postmaster was W. W. Blackman. Other postmasters were Charles Voigt, Louis Strouse, Mrs. Lydia Tesch and David Horner, after which it was discontinued.

     In 1883-4 the business of West Mitchell consisted of John Williams' hardware store; Shanks & Coats, dry goods store; Blackman & Peterson, drugs and general stock of goods. The present mayor of West Mitchell is George Walters and the village clerk is George Wiess.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, December 2001

Updated 1/6/2003