Iowa Township - Towns Histories
Last updated 04 March 2021
Mount Jackson
In work
Riverside
A few settlements had been made on English River in the north part of the county prior to 1840. The first in that section was probably made by Joseph Edelstein. This man was originally from Switzerland. He first located in Ohio, and then in 1838 came to Iowa to search for a new location. He took a claim on the English River, not far from the present site of Riverside. Here he built a cabin and made arrangements to bring his family from Ohio.
From some cause the cabin burned down before the arrival of his family in 1839, and he was compelled to live with his family in a cave near the English River until he could build another dwelling. After the completion of the new cabin he moved into it and prospered. Besides farming he did considerable work at his trade of wagon making.
He was a zealous Catholic and in the course of time quite a community was established in that neighborhood composed of persons of like religious faith. One of the first church buildings of the county was erected in that locality.
Families by the names of Diehl, Teeple, and Duvall had claims on the land which is the present site of Riverside.
In the spring of 1939 Reuben B. Davis settled on section 32, township 77, range 6. The settlement which he began was near a creek which was named in honor of him, Davis Creek, and still bears his name.
In 1840 he erected what in those days passed for a frame house and was probably the first of the kind erected in that section of the county. It was 16 x 36 feet, weather boarded with shaved clapboard, floored with split puncheons, covered with shingles, a stone chimney in the center, and two fire places. The house (was) originally intended for a tavern, as the military road leading north was laid out about this time. It passed near the dwelling and the owner anticipated quite a run of custom from the travelers who were to throng this thoroughfare. Although the military road did not prove to be as much thronged as was anticipated, the tavern did a fair business during the following years, as it was popular resort for travelers and claim hunters.
Source: WCGS Fall/Winter 2005 newsletter and Atlas of Keokuk and Washington Counties, Iowa (1971). This page was prepared and posted by Norma Jennings Dec 2012
Sheffield
Sheffield was projected in a dream by Nathaniel McClure, August 16, 1845. He probably awoke before the dream was fairly under way. However, he, with John F. Van Dyke, got in his work at Yatton in July 1856. That was a lively milling place until 1879, when the railway sapped it to build at Riverside.
Source: WCGS Fall/Winter 2005 newsletter and Atlas of Keokuk and Washington Counties, Iowa (1971). This page was prepared and posted by Norma Jennings Dec 2012
St. Vincent (Strassburg)
In work
Walhaven
In work
Yatton
Yatton was located on the northeast quarter of section 19, township 77, range 6. It was laid out by John F. Vandyke and Nathaniel McClure, in July 1856. It was at one time an important trading point, and among other important business interests was the location of the best flouring mill in the county. Upon completions of the railroad to Riverside in 1872, Yatton began to decline, and it was not many years till all business of the town, with the exception of the mill, was transferred to the new town.
Source: WCGS Fall/Winter 2005 newsletter and Atlas of Keokuk and Washington Counties, Iowa (1971). This page was prepared and posted by Norma Jennings Dec 2012
Washington Co. Home
Or hit back arrow to return to previous page