CHAPTER XI.
BENTON TOWNSHIP (CONT'D).

RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL.

The first church in the township was the Highland Methodist Episcopal, organized by the Rev. John Gates, at the old Highland school house, in 1864. The first members were Cornelius Deedes and wife and Henry McDermott and wife, and yupon the organization of the society the former became class leader and the latter steward. The membership of the church increased until, in the summer of 1864, it was strong enough to erect a building of its own, at the southeast corner of section 2. Henry McDermott continued as class leader for over twenty years.

Probably the first school taught in Benton township was at the residence of John McGill, on section 11, now included in District No. 1. The pioneer school house was erected in 1860 on section 12, it being constructed of native lumber, eighteen by twenty-four feet, at a cost of $410. Besides 11 and 12, School District No. 1 includes sections 1 and 2.

The pioneer school board of Benton township was elected in the spring of 1871 and was composed of the following: Hiram Patee, president; W. T. Murphy, secretary; C. W. Deeds, treasurer; W. T. Murphy, Eli Spry, G. E. Williams, C. W. Deeds, J. H. Willis, James McDermott and Hiram Patee, directors.

There are now nine school districts in the township. In 1872 a building was erected for No. 3 upon the northeast corner of section 7, for No. 4 upon the northwest corner of section 20, and for No. 7 about the center of section 36. In the same year a school house was built for District No. 5 on the southeast corner of section 15, although Mrs. J. W. Walker had already opened the pioneer institution in the spring of 1870, at her home on section 16. In 1876 District No. 8 was accommodated with a school building, erected on the southwest corner of section 27; in 1877 No. 6 followed its good example by putting up one on the southwest corner of section 12, and in 1881 No. 2 erected a school house on the southwest corner of section 4.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 147-148.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2018.