History of Norwalk Township, 1907
NORWALK township was organized June
6, 1873, and was named Norwalk by Mr. R. Foote in
honor of Norwalk, Conn., where he formerly lived.
It is bounded on the north by Neola, east by York,
south by Hardin and west by Hazel Dell townships.
The first settlers were Mormons, but finally they
all went on with the last detachment to Utah. The
principal early settlers were Joseph Holman, Ezekiel
Downs, Asa Downs, William Cox, William Hendrix, Johnson
Lane and William Yocum. They all arrived and settled
from 1845 to 1850. William Yocum was a wreck physically.
He came from Missouri and while there joined the mob
at Horn's mill against the Mormons. During the fight
he received seven bullets in his body, from the effects
of which he never recovered. He died in Pottawattamie
county. As early as 1847, Ezekiel Downs and A. Smith
built saw and flouring mills on Mosquito Creek. They
were two-story buildings of hewed logs. In the winter
of 1863-4 the first school was taught in Norwalk township.
It was in a log cabin built by the farmers. The first
teacher was Miss Jane Davis. In March, 1882, at Downs
schoolhouse, there was organized a Society of Friends,
under the auspices of Revs. Lewis and William Smith.
The following is a list of the original members: George
F. Ward and wife, Jane Ward, Archibald N. Ward, Mary
Fleck, Catharine Whitney, her son William Whitney,
A. Mott and wife, Martha Mott, Ada Mott, Lena Vezy,
Albert Shaw, Lizzie Vezy, Drucilla Downs, Minerva
Downs and Joseph Whitney. The town of Underwood was
started simultaneous with the advent of the Rock Island
Railroad and has made steady growth since that time.
The town has two churches, German Lutheran and Latter
Day Saints. C.G. Reese is president of the board of
education; F.T.C. Johnson, secretary, and K.W. Klopping,
treasurer. The following are the township officers:
Trustees, K.W. Klopping, Henry Bensen, and William
Whitney; clerk, W.F. Schmaedicke; justices of the
peace, E.F. Schroeder and C.D. Langfeldt; constable,
George Keso; assessor, F. Lee Johnson.
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