The river is booming. Many of our citizens, particularly the young folks, indulge in boat riding. Saturday evening two of our most esteemed young ladies, Amanda Livingston and Mary Breezley, came very near being drowned, particularly Miss Livingston, who was in the water about twenty-five minutes. She was saved from a terrible death by the gallant efforts of Geo. Maxwell. Assistants did what they could, but to Mr. Maxwell the credit is due of saving her life. The cause of the accident was the upsetting of a boat. Less than a year ago one of the bright boys in Cambridge, Millard Bollard. was drowned. That sad event with 'the narrow escape of Saturday evening should be a lasting lesson. But Sunday many boys went boat riding. The boats here are small and ill shaped and not safe, and more than two persons should never go into them. One word to the young ladies: When gentlemen ask you to go boat-riding, respectfully decline. No matter how good a swimmer or oarsman, decline to go. The currents are treacherous, the boats unsafe. Again we say, don't go with any one under any circumstances, that is, if you value your life. We would like to say to the boys something that would be of benefit to them, but boys are usually so very smart that they think they know just when and how a thing should be done.—(Cambridge Reporter, April 21, 1886.)
The fire on the river bottom southeast of Cambridge last Sunday, destroyed about ten tons of hay belonging to A. Warner and about thirty tons belonging to Mr. Adams. On the same night U. L. Larson's barn and contents were burned. Seven good horses, four sets of harness, 2,000 bushels of oats, 100 bushels of wheat, one cornplanter, several corn plows and other farming utensils were entirely destroyed. Besides the above, three large ricks of hay were consumed. Mr. Larson was very badly burned, but not fatally, in attempting to get the homes out of the burning barn. No insurance except $200. The entire loss will be about $2,500. Mr. Larson, although suffering severely, keeps up courage remarkably well. He is one of our most prominent Norwegian citizens, a good financier, honest and industrious. This is a great loss to him, but with his energy and ability he will soon be all O. K. again. The origin of the fire is not known and there are no suspicions of incendiarism. —(Cambridge Reporter, Nov. 3, 1886.)
Union Township is a township of pretty fair land, although it has its wet lands mostly following down on the east or northeast side of the river. South and west of Cambridge, and southwesterly the land generally is good. Section one of this township is one of the most beautiful, naturally, sections in Story County. Section two is pretty fair.
It has several creeks running through parts of the township besides Skunk River. Skunk runs entirely through the township from the northeast quarter of section six to a point near on the east of the south quarter section corner of section 31.
There is a belt of timber all along the river through the township, but is most generally soft timber.