Here & There in Garfield History

Page 24

 
 

Garfield is the third name by which this portion of our county is known.  On September 6, 1870 the county board passed an order for the establishment of a new civil township, to be called Stanton after Secretary of War Stanton, and the first election was ordered to be held at the town Hawthorn. The very next day, however, they reconsidered this new township matter, and set the its territory back into Lincoln and West Townships. Again on January 5, 1871, the present boundaries of Garfield Township were fixed as a separate township to be known by the name Walnut.

The first township election was held at the school house near W. J. Taylors. The first trustees were George Traver, Isaac Cook and Ormond Runnels. E. L. Cook was the first clerk and J. M. Taylor, was the first

assessor. Just when the name of the township was changed from Walnut to Garfield cannot be established.

 

    B.F. Runnels told that Stephen Glanden settled on Section 33 about 1851, and that Mrs. Glenden undoubtedly did the first weaving within the territory, and they lived there nearly ten years before there were any other settlers in this township. In 1870  B. F. Runnels came to , settling at Hawthorn, and he and his family had much to do with the building up of Hawthorn.  He kept the first post Office, receiving and sending two mail sacks a week.

 

   The Methodist Episcopal church of Walnut township, school district No. 1, was organized in 1876. This church is still an active church and is served by the Red Oak circuit.

 

   Those who reminisce of early days of Garfield township tell us that Hawthorne was in those days quite a town; there were two elevators, a blacksmith shop, lumber yard, depot, boarding house, a livery stable, a saloon, two stores, a church and quite a number of residences. At this time, there is a school house, the church, elevator and seven homes in Hawthorne.

   Another landmark in Garfield township is McPherson, which is located approximately one-half mile north of Hawthorne.  This was originally called Hebron on the railroad maps, but was changed to the name of McPherson in honor of Judge Smith McPherson.  This can be called a village, as there is a store, a house and an elevator composing this town.

    At the present time, E. F. King is the oldest resident of Garfield township, having celebrated his 91st birthday on May 14, 1953.  

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EARLY LAWSUIT

 

Among the novelties of early lawsuits in the early years of the county judicial history, occurs one entitled H. H. Campbell vs. John A. Smith, April 25, 1865.  The case was called by Squire Hewitt, but the parties did not appear, and the court adjudged that the plaintiff should pay the costs, amounting to $3.55. Campbell had sued Smith for $20 due him for work he had done.  Just below the docket record of the case the Squire had made the entry: "Plaintiff notifies  the court that he has got his money from the defendant; that he, the plaintiff, made the defendant; pay him by threatening to whip him if he did not pay the debt to him then and there."

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   On December 27, 1910 at 2:30 o'clock the town of Grant ceased to be an island town, and with the driving of the silver spike by Pre. Rattenborg of the Atlantic Northern and Southern Railway, Grant became connected by steel rails

with the city of Villisca on the south, and the city of Atlantic on the north. Sciola and Lyman (Cass county) were also served by the railroad.

  

 Due to the advent of the  automobile "Aunt Nora and Sue" as the railroad was fondly called, could not compete with the new mode of transportation.  In a few short years it folded, and another chapter of history was ended.

 

 

 

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