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| Sherman Township Sherman township was established April 5, 1880. It was named after General William T Sherman. Prior to organization it belonged to Des Moines township until September 5, 1876 when it was attached to Washington township. It is township 92, range 33. The township is near the center of Pocahontas county and the land is a beautiful prarie. The county seat, Pocahontas, extends over part of section 36. The town of Ware was located in section 17 near the center of the township. Sherman township was settled at the same time as Washington township by the families of James C Strong, Jason N Russell and his brother-in-law, and Jonathon L Clark, his wife and three children. These families are expanded upon in the Washington township history. In 1871 John N Russell built the first cabin in Sherman township. It was in the NE 1/4 of section 5. He was later joined by his brother Harvey S Russell who lived with John for a year and a half. John and Harvey's brother Morah F Russell and his wife arrived in 1872 and built the first dwelling house in the sw 1/4 of section 4. In 1873 new residents of the township were Maggie Hamble, who became the bride of John N Russell and Mr and Mrs John Sic, who were from Bohemia. They built a sod shanty in the southeast part of the township. Residents of this part of the township were 18 miles from the nearest town, which was Fonda. On the trip to Fonda, the home of A T Omtvedt was usually the only one encountered by the settlers. Early Settlers and Residents Those who arrived in 1875 Barnes, Jeremiah - born in Pennsylvania in 1814, and located on section 8. The 1880 census lists the family as follows: Jeremiah age-66 born-Pennsylvania occupation-farmer Parents born-Pennsylvania Margaret age-61 born-Pennsylvania occupation-keeping house Parents born-Ireland Sarah J-daughter age 20 born-Pennslvania occupation-not noted R Milton-son age-23 born-Pennsylvania occupation-farm laborer Elizabeth M-daughter age-19 born-Pennsylvania occupation-not noted Smith, Aaron - born in New York (or Canada) 1816. He located in section 3. The 1880 census lists them as follows: Aaron age-63 born-Canada occupation-farmer Parents born-Canada Mary H age-63 born-New Jersey occupation-keeping house Parents born-not noted Mathilda-daughter age-17 born-Iowa occupation-not noted Those who arrived in 1878 Hudek, Anthony - section 25 From the 1880 US census: Anthony age-27 born-Bohemia occupation-farmer Parents born-Bohemia Mary age-17 born-Bohemia occupation-keeping house Parents born-Bohemia Hudek, Joseph - section 25 From the 1880 US Census: Joseph age-32 born-Bohemia occupation-farmer Parents born-Bohemia Helena age-19 born-Bohemia occupation-keeping house Parents born-Bohemia Josephine-daughter age-1 born-Iowa Baby Hudek-son age-1 month born-Iowa Rohls, Barney-other age-26 born-Bohemia occupation-farmer Parents born-Bohemia Kopriva, John - section 36 From the 1880 US Census: John age-28 born-Bohemia Occupation-farmer Parents born-Bohemia Annie age-20 born-Bohemia occupation-keeping house Parents born-Bohemia Mary-daughter age-1 born-Iowa Baby Kopriva-son age-1 month born-Iowa Those who arrived in 1879 Alchon, C F Carson, James W From the 1880 US Census James W age-41 born-Ohio Occupation-farmer Parents born-Pennsylvania Mary age-27 born-Pennsylvania Occupation-keeping house Parents born-Pennsylvania Hiram E-son age-16 born-Ohio Occupation-farm laborer Harriet E-daughter age-14 born-Ohio Occupation-at home Myrta M-daughter age-3 born-Iowa Robert F-son age-1 born-Iowa Those who arrived in 1880 Jones, R C Starkey, W B Stover, A J Those who arrived in 1881 Griffith, B T Mills, G W Mills, J W O'Brien, J W Those who arrived in 1882 Adams, John H Barningham, Thomas Those who arrived in 1883 Bloudel, Joseph Boyeson, Boy C Flint, C L Some of the others who followed, probably 1884-1900 Clifton, Reverend C W Coville, C M Doty, C M Eno, J H Gilchrist, Clel Gilchrist, Fred Gilchrist, James C McCaslin, R R Olson, Thomas M Stacy, Frank Stover, Jacob S Stover, Martin L Tychsen, Hans Wonderlich, A J Information transcribed, compiled and arranged by Tim Meyer, copyright 2003 - 2004 |