Historical
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 664

GOSHEN TOWNSHIP.

GOSHEN TOWNSHIP comprises all of township 78, north of range 3 west, and is bounded in the east by Moscow, on the west by Wapsinonoc, on the south by Pike and Lake Townships, and on the north by Cedar County. The Cedar River passes though the southeastern part of the township, while the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad passes through the northern portion from east to west. The township was originally a part of Wapsinonoc. It is almost exclusively prairie, the land being undulating, adapted to the raising of all cereals common to this latitude.

The village of Atalissa is located on section 11, on the line of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, and is surrounded by rich and beautiful farming country. Previous to the location of this village an attempt was made to found a town about two miles west. A side-track was there laid, a platform built, and William Pickering engaged in buying grain, which was loaded directly into the cars. The eighty acres on which the present town of Atalissa is situated, was owned by Capt. William Lundy. who sold an undivided half to John P. Cook, of the firm of Cook & Sargent,Davenport, with the intention of having it laid out in town lots. In order to secure the location of a station at this point, Mr. Lundy gave the railroad company a certain amount of money with the privilege of using the water from an immense spring, situated in the northeast corner of the village. The town was surveyed by Peter Houtz, and the town-plat filed for record by John P. Cook and William Lundy, Jan. 31, 1856. While mining in California, Capt. Lundy was near a small mining village called Atalissa, named after an Indian queen of one of the tribes. Being pleased with the name, he bestowed it upon the new village, offering at the same time to give a lot to the first female child born there, who should be called Atalissa. The post office was moved from Overman Ferry and established in this place in 1856, with N. C. Swank as Postmaster. The first building was erected by him and in it the first store was opened.

Atalissa has grown but slowly, but it is now a thriving town of some 300 inhabitants, having in it two church-buildings, the Christian and Presbyterian, a good public school-building, two general stores, one hardware and grocery store, one wagon-shop, one restaurant, a meat market, on blacksmith shop, and a hotel.

The Presbyterian Church dates its organization back to April, 1857, when the Rev. Charles Beach commenced holding services in the depot-building. A house of worship was erected the same year, the Rev. Dudley being the first to hold services therein. Preaching services are held every two weeks, and a Union Sunday-school is regularly maintained.

The Christian Church was organized by Elder J.C. Hay, formerly of West Liberty, in June, 1870, with a membership of about thirty-six. A house of worship was erected in 1871, at a cost of $ 1,200.

The public school-building was erected in 1866, and is a large two-story brick building. The school is in a prosperous condition, with Prof. J. M. Snyder as Principal.


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