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But it was not always so; everything must have a beginning, and less than thirty-five years ago, where now the city of Atlantic stands; where now are these fine farms, was a desert wilderness, and uninhabited. The honor of being the first white men to make a permanent settlement within the borders of what is now Atlantic township, belongs to R. D. McGeehon, Morris Hoblitt and George Shannon, who had come from Logan county, Illinois, crossing the State of Missouri, from Hannibal to St. Joseph by team, camping out on the way, looking around for a proper location. They came into the county on the 12th of June, 1852. Looking around for some time, they selected their claims near Turkey Grove.

As soon as Mr. McGeehon had located his claim, he set about the erection of a home on it, which was the first house is Atlantic township. It was built by R. D. McGeehon with the assistance of Morris Hoblitt and George Shannon, on section 14. It was 18x24 feet, one and a half stories high, built of hewed logs. The floor was made of split puncheons. The timber to make the door was black walnut, bought at Glenwood, Mills county, about sixty miles southwest as the road then run. It had the first twelve-light window in it that was in the county. It was raised about the middle of August, 1852, and is standing yet and used for a stable. Adam Vinnage, John Brannen, George Reeves, Jesse Marshall and and his two sons, Miles and James, helped raise it.

Robert D. McGeehon, son of William and Margaret (Geary) McGeehon, was born in Lawrence county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1827. His mother was born in Ireland, but came to America when two years of age. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and died in Lawrence county, May 12, 1829, and his mother's demise occurred September 23, 1844. His grandfather emigrated at an early day from Scotland, settling in Eastern Pennsylvania, and served for five years in the Revolutionary war. When eighteen years of age he had attained the position of captain of Light Horse Cavalry and served as body guard to Washington at Valley Forge. He lost a part of the toes of one foot from freezing and died young in consequences of exposure and suffering in the service. Grandmother McGeehon lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years, dying in Washington county Pennsylvania. Robert D. spent his early life on a farm, being brought up to hard labor and was the youngest of a family of four children. When eighteen years of age he left home and learned the blacksmith trade in Seneca county, Ohio, at which he worked about nine years. After traveling in ten different States, he stopped in Logan county, Illinois for two years. From there he set out to find a place to locate for life, his intention being to go to Missouri. His route from Logan county, Illinois was through Missouri, crossing the Mississippi river at Hannibal and from there across the State of Missouri to St. Joe, going to Indiantown, Cass county, and thence to Glenwood. From there he went to Turkey Grove and settled on section 14, Atlantic township, July 13, 1852, in company with George Shannon and Morris Hoblitt, all single men. Mr. McGeehon erected a log cabin and put up ten acres of hay, and in September, of that year, returned to Bloomington, Illinois, where he was married to Mary. J. Hoblitt, on the 26th of September, a sister of Morris. They immediately returned to the new home he had selected in Iowa. They made their home with Mr. Vinnage, at Indiantown, until he had completed his house, where they spent a very hard winter comfortably together. At one time Mr. McGeehon owned a thousand acres of land. They lived on this farm until 1862, when they removed to Grove City and in 1869 moved to Atlantic. In August, 1872, he engaged in the mill and elevator business, which was afterward burned. They had one daughter---Nellie, the wife of Ira M. Needles. Mr. McGeehon is a deacon of the Congregational church. He is now helping his son-in-law (Ira M. Needles) run the Spring Brook small fruit farm and nursery, located one mile east of public square.

George Shannon and Morris Hoblitt located claims on section 13 and 14, but did not build on them. Mr. Shannon afterwards went to Iranistan, at which place he was the first blacksmith.

Morris Hoblitt traded his land with John R. Kirk for a tract near Wiota, which he afterwards sold to Mr. Finch. Morris Hoblitt was born in Logan county, Illinois, in the spring of 1832, and was the son of Timothy B. and Barbara (Bickel) Hoblitt. He received a common school education in Logan county, and then commenced the study of medicine. He attended the medical lectures at Rush Medical college, Chicago, in 1861 and 1862 and graduated at that institution. When R. D. McGeehon and George Shannon came out to Cass county to locate in 1852, Mr. Hoblitt came with them. He first located on section 14, but afterwards traded this land with John R. Kirk, for a farm in Franklin township. He went back to Illinois to study medicine, receiving his medical education as before stated. After graduation at Rush Medical college, he returned to Grove City, and commenced the practice of his profession. He soon came into prominence there through there through his skill, and gained the reputation of being one of the most successful practitioners in the county. He was married in 1855 to Josephine Haughey, a native of Ohio. They had one child---Effie, who is now living in Hardin county. He died May 17, 1864, and his wife died a short time previously. Mr. Hoblitt was a brother-in-law of John R. Kirk and R. D. McGeehon, then and now prominent citizens of this township and county.

Transcribed by Deb Lightcap-Wagner, April, 2014 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 832-834.