CHAPTER XIX.
BEAR GROVE TOWNSHIP.

In response to a petition that had been presented on the 11th of June, 1869, the Board of Supervisors of Cass county ordered the organization of Congressional township 75, range 36, into a civil township to be known as Bear Grove, and appointed C. A. Hebing as the organizing officer. The election was held at the Roselle school house, on the 12th of the following October, and these were named as the first officers of the new township: Lorenzo D. Marsh, Henry Stone and William Martin, trustees; William Farmer, clerk; Henry Stone, assessor; C. T. Summers, justice of the peace; Isaac Marsh, constable, and H. G. Van Vlack, supervisor. In the election of these seven officials of Bear Grove township eleven votes were cast -- and it is perfectly safe to assume that no candidate neglected to cast a ballot for himself.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

As now constituted, Bear Grove township is bounded north by Grove, east by Union, south by Noble and west by Cass township. It is in the second tier of townships both from the west and south, and has no incorporated town or village within its limits. It is without railroad facilities, the nearest stations to which it has access being Lewis on the west and Cumberland, on the east. The resources of the township are strictly agricultural and the appearance of the fine homes and farms in this section of the county indicate what wealth is drawn by its first-class farmers from the fundamental industry of the world.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The surface of Bear Grove township is generally undulating prairie, and the soil a rich, dark loam, of untold fertility and fecundity. It is sufficiently watered by Seven-Mile, Four-Mile and Turkey creeks, with their tributaries. Four-Mile creek has its source in section 13, and for about two miles flows nearly west until, on the line between sections 15 and 16, it makes a confluence with a small stream that comes in from the west, where the general course of the stream is turned southward, and, intersecting sections 21 and 18, empties its waters into Seven-Mile creek in the northern part of section 33. Seven-Mile creek enters the township from Union, on the east line of section 36, and meandering westward crosses sections 36, 35, 34, 33 and 32 -- in the western part of the last named inclining southward -- and thence makes its exit from Bear Grove. Two or three small branches of Turkey creek are in the northern part of the township, supplying running water to sections 1, 9, 8, 7, 6 and 17. Bear creek is one of these tributaries, and is quite a stream.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 204-205.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, October, 2017.