This township occupies the extreme southeast corner of Worth county and comprises all of congressional township 98 north, range 19 west. It contains an area of thirty-six square miles, or 23,040 acres. It is bounded on the north by Barton township, on the east by Mitchell county, on the south by Cerro Gordo county, while Lincoln township makes the western bounds. The land is rolling, consisting chiefly of prairie. What natural timber there is to be found being mostly confined to sections 30 and 31. The soil is that rich, dark, alluvial loam, that has made this State the pride of our country. Containing as it does, every element of productiveness that goes to make a soil suitable for all kinds of cereal grains, vegetables and fruit, no better land can be found on the habitable globe. The southwestern part of the township is well watered by the Shell Rock river which enters the district about the center of the west line of section 18, and traverses in a southeasterly course, part of that section, and 19, 29 and 32. This beautiful stream, with its affluents, supplies a bountiful supply of that needful element and adds picturesqueness to a landscape that might otherwise be tiresome from monotony. The Mason City and Austin branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad crosses the entire township in a northeasterly course, making its entrance on the south line of section 32, and bisecting, in its course, that and sections 29, 28, 21, 16, 15, 10 and 3 and proves a great convenience to the general community.

EARLY SETTLERS

The greater part of the lands in this township were bought up by the land speculators of that day, and hence retarded the settlement to a great degree.

The first to settle here, however, was J. M. Molsberry, who first made his appearance in these climes, during the year 1854, when he entered the southwest quarter of section 32. He did not settle here at this time, but returned for his family, and in 1856, brought them with him. He erected the family mansion, of logs, upon the banks of the Shell Rock river, and all settled down to the hard life of a western pioneer. That first winter was one noted far and wide as an extremely hard one, the worst ever experienced in this locality and taking into consideration the illy constructed cabins and lack of the conveniences of life, the settlers suffered severely. Mr. Molsberry kept a stock of supplies at his house and the settlers, for miles around, came with hand sleds, to him for provisions. He still resides on the same piece of ground where first he pitched his tent, but not in the same house. Fortune having smiled upon his efforts, he has built a fine residence, in which he now dwells and enjoys the fruits of his earlier labors.

The next to appear upon the scene, was Darius Gardner, who in November, 1856, settled down upon section 21, out on the prairie. During that terrible winter he and his family dwelt here in their humble cabin, but not so lonely and cheerless as might be supposed Mrs. Gardner, in speaking of their experience says "There was a constant stream of travel from Bristol, in Worth county to Osage, Mitchell county all winter on the crust that had formed on the deep snow. This crust was some two inches thick. At that time, as there was only one other house on the road between these two points, a distance of forty miles, travelers made it a point to stop over night with us. Our cabin was often full to overflowing. We often hung lights on the roof and at the windows to guide the luckless traveler who was overtaken by night on these trackless and dreary prairies, to help guide him to warmth and safety. As our nearest neighbors was four miles off, the travel made life endurable, which otherwise, would have been a desolate and dreary existence." What a picture of the trials and endurances of the pioneer families arises before us as these words are scanned, given as they are, by one of that noble band of women who followed their husbands into the trackless wilderness and helped to make it blossom as the rose. Mr. Gardner, however, lived to see the country settle up and his family surrounded by friends and neighbors and reaping the just reward of indefatigable labor. The family still occupy the original homestead.

Peter Crum came into the township in 1857, from Berrien Co., Mich., and settled on section 31. He remained on ;his place until the year 1873, when he sold out and removed to Elk Point, Dak. He now lives in the State of Pennsylvania.

Charles Rose, a native of Lisbon, Conn., came west from that village in 1856, and stopped at Rock Falls for a couple of years, when he settled on section 21. He made that his residence for four or five years, when he removed to Dakota, and there died.

Elmer Sumner, a native of Maine, came to the township about 1860, and located on the southeast quarter of section 20. He continued to make this his residence until 1867, when he sold out to Joseph Hunches and returned to Winneshiek county, from which he had come here.

D. W. Chamberlain came with Mr. Sumner and settled on land near him. Some years after, he went to Elk Point, Dak., and passed from the memory of most who knew him.

Nathan Wise, a native of Bohemia, came into the township in 1861 and settled on the northeast quarter of section 30. He erected a log house, of the primitive style of architecture common to the frontier, in which he dwelt until 1871, when he built a stone dwelling, in which he spent the remainder of his days. Franklin Parker settled in this township in 1864, locating on the northwest quarter of section 18. He, too, built him a cabin of logs and dwelt therein, contented and happy, until 1877, when a large and commodious frame building took its place. In the latter Mr. Parker still resides, surrounded by all the comforts and elegances of life, he so well deserves.

In 1865 Augustus Byington, a native of Ohio, came from Cook Co., Ill., and settled on the southeast quarter of section 26. Here he built a house and improved the land, but at present does not live on it, making his residence at Plymouth, in Cerro Gordo county.

James W. Smith, a native of Niagara Co., N. Y., came to this township in 1865, and purchasing a farm from William C. Moore, on section 18, opened up the land. He still resides in the same place.

Mathias Michalek, a Bohemian, came to Union township in 1865 or 1866 and settled on section 31. He lived here for a few years, when he died. His family still reside on the old place.

H. G. Smith, a native of the State of New York, came herein 1866 and located on section 30, where he still resides.

Albert Cobeen, a native of Bohemia, came here from Wisconsin in 1867 and settled on section 20, where he still lives.

Sherman Cook, a native of the "Old Bay State," arrived in this locality during the year 1868, having come here from Illinois. He settled on the southeast quarter of section 22, where he remained some four or five years, when he returned to his native State.

The settlement of this township for many years was quite slow, and until 1870, but few located within its limits. But in that year a fresh impetus seems to have been given the flow of emigration, and the settlements have been much more rapid and the improvements great. The varied races of the earth are here more fully represented than in any other part of the county, there being Bohemians, Germans, English, Irish, Scotch, Danes, Norwegians, besides the native-born Americans. As a rule, they are thrifty, well-to-do farmers. The township was organized in October, 1863.

FIRST ITEMS

The first child born in what is now Union township, was Lena, daughter of Darius and Lucretia Gardner, whose natal day was July 28, 1857.

The first death was that of Bion Molsberry, an infant eighteen months old.

William Molsberry was the first to marry, being settled into the matrimonial harness during the year 1862.

SCHOOLS

There are, at the present writing, seven good school houses in the township, all in good repair, and some 220 scholars enrolled in the schools. The present roster of teachers who preside over their destinies, is as follows : Misses Lena Gardner, Ida Sherman, Cora Gillott, Belle Sherman and Clara Foster, Messrs. Henry Gardner, Mervin Parker and -J. W. Foster.

THE TOWN OF GRAFTON

The town of Grafton was platted in January, 1878, by Mr. White, the surveyor for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. The original owners of the town site were J. G. Frink, Mosher and Allen. The plat was filed for record the 27th of March, 1878. The town is located upon the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 3. At the time that it was surveyed and laid out, a small house belonging to Edward Mulverhill, and a warehouse, built the fall previous, were the only buildings upon the ground. August Neker, erected the first building, after this, during February, 1878, in which he opened a saloon. G. R. Brooks built the first store building, during that same spring, and J. G Frink the first dwelling house, which he moved into during the month of March, that same year. The warehouse mentioned above, as being on the town site before its survey, was built by Bassett, Huntling & Co., in 1877, and in the fall after the town was laid out, Gilchrist & Co., erected another edifice for the same purpose, storing and handling grain. J. G. Frink was the first to enter into the business of buying grain, at this point, making his first purchase of wheat the 14th of September, 1877. He is still engaged in the same business. During the year 1879, Bassett, Huntling & Co., and Gilchrist & Co., both erected elevators here, the former's having a capacity of 12,000 bushels of grain, the latter's 11,000. In both of these the machinery is operated by steam.

The town was named Grafton by the railroad company, who made it a station in the spring of 1878.

The postoffice here was established in 1878, and James K. Sherman appointed postmaster. The office is kept at his house. Mails are received twice every day, bringing the town into close connection with the outside world.

William Boland was the first blacksmith. He located and opened a shop for business in the spring of 1878, but remained but a short time, when he was succeeded by William Brederman. The business is at present represented by August Tarling, who does a good trade, in his line. George R. Brooks erected the first store building in the town, in the spring of 1878. This structure was 20x32 feet in size, and two stories high. He rented the edifice to J. K. Dows & Co., who opened on the 2d of April, 1878, a stock of general merchandise. In May, 1882, Mr. Brooks purchased the stock and fixtures of this firm and entered into trade himself. He has made an addition to his building of some twenty feet in length, with an ell, 22x22 feet. Mr. Brooks does a' fine business, and although having a monopoly of the trade, merits and receives the respect of a numerous class of customers.

Charles Swesinger opened a harness shop in 1883, and continues to operate that branch of trade at this point.

THIRTY HOURS IN A SNOW STORM.

David Duncan, of Union township, left home on the morning of Jan. 7, 1873, for Plymouth Woods, a distance of five miles, for a load of wood. The morning was pleasant and as it bid fair for a beautiful day he was about to start out as usual, not thinking it necessary to take extra wraps, but his wife, ever thoughtful, mindful of the many changes to which this climate is subject, advised him to take an extra blanket. This seeming unnecessary he refused, but she insisted upon it and as he started threw it into the sleigh. He arrived at the woods, procured his load and was about to leave, when he observed a change in the atmosphere it having the appearance of a snow squall. He now decided to lose no time in reaching home. This was about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. He had not proceeded far before he became aware it was not a squall but a severe storm that was coming, and that it was increasing with every moment. At this time the wind was partly in his favor, being in the southwest, and his course lying northeast, it was his only guide, the snow having rendered the road indiscernible.

Unfortunately the wind changed and now blew from the west, and as he did not discover the change, he still traveled with it. He had not gone far when he missed the objects that he should have found had he been moving in the right direction. He now felt that he was lost.

The storm now raged terribly as only an Iowa blizzard can. His team, as well as himself, had become blinded and all efforts to reach home proved unavailing.

Darkness had by this time set in and he found himself surrounded by the night and storm, and was obliged to surrender to the merciless severity of the wind and snow. In view of the possible consequences he detached his horses from his sleigh, turned them round, putting their blankets under their harness for greater protection, and then wrapped himself in the blanket which his good wife had so insisted upon his taking, placed himself between them and the sleigh, to prevent, if possible, freezing. In this doleful situation he passed that terrible night. The storm roared and whistled around him like a lion hungering for his prey, and the snow beat upon him to cover him up. Throughout the long, tedious hours, with no voice to cheer, no hand to help, here alone in the storm, he thought of home, of an affectionate wife and infant boy who were awaiting his lingering steps with anxiety of kind parents, brothers and sister. How their hearts would have ached in sympathy had they known his sufferings. Thus passed the dreary night, listening to the howling of the blast and trying to discern the faint rays that presage the dawn. After weary waiting at last the day broke but it brought no signs of relief, for with it came but gloom and sadness. The storm still continued, and finding that he was freezing and nearly exhausted, he made an attempt to find shelter. Nearly dead from hunger and cold and fatigue, he must reach some help. Leaving his sleigh with its load of wood where it stood, he headed his team with the wind, which was west, and followed, supporting himself by the lines, but was obliged to stop at frequent intervals. In this manner he traveled until about 3 o'clock P. M., on the 8th, when he was compelled to give up, being unable to keep up with the horses any longer. Tying up the lines with difficulty, taking out their bits, he turned them loose, fastened together by the neckyoke, trusting to their instinct that they would find something to eat. His object in leaving the neckyoke on being to give the horses a chance to relieve their nostrils from the ice which might gather oh them, thus enabling them to breathe. They were immediately swallowed up in the storm and he was alone and night coming on. Rising to his feet he once more started in a southwesterly direction as near as he could calculate, resting frequently, for he was growing hourly weaker. The extra blanket serving him as a protection from the cold while resting and as a shield while walking He wandered along in this way until about 9 o'clock, P. M., when he came to a haystack. This infused new courage into his freezing body. After resting a few minutes, he attempted to go round it, and in doing it he came in contact with what appeared to be a stable, mostly covered with an immense snowbank. He undertook to crawl to the top of it, thinking that by doing so lie might be enabled to discover something in his favor. This feat was almost too great for his benumbed limbs, and was accomplished only with great difficulty. Alas, when he reached the top and attempted to take a survey of the surroundings he found that whatever hopes he had were blasted; the storm still raged with unparalleled severity and he could not discern anything. Cold, weak and half frozen, he could not endure any longer and attempted to reach the ground again, discouraged and dismayed. In attempting this feat he slipped and fell and slid to the foot of the stable. After resting and endeavoring to collect his thoughts, he arose, and in the attempt to get upon his feet, his hand came in contact with an animal and to his surprise he found himself inside the stable. Thinking that a house was near he at once sought egress, and once more found himself exposed to the howling demon of the storm. Aware that he was freezing he determined to make one more effort He had been in every direction but one, but he now took that, facing the raging storm for what seemed to him a great distance, but was only about ten rods, when he stepped upon the blanket, his life preserver, and fell, tearing it in two. Upon rising to his feet he found himself at a house two and one half miles east of Plymouth Woods and five miles south of his own home. This was the house of William Wright, a colored man who had in former years been held in slavery in Kentucky. Here he found rest and food and shelter and was treated with great kindness by all, in the family. On the 10th Mr. Wright carried the news to Duncan's friends and family, that he was alive. He returned that same afternoon accompanied by Mr. Duncan's brothers, who took him to his home where he. received the kindest attention from sympathizing friends and neighbors. He was found to be very badly frozen, so much so that a portion of each foot had to be amputated. The operation was successfully accomplished by Dr. T. J. Hunt, of Northwood, the next week. The team, was found on the 10th of the month some nine miles east of his home, they having been without food for three days, and strange to say not frozen.

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, August 19, 2008