CHAPTER XXI.
GROVE TOWNSHIP.

ALMOST CALLED "AVOCA".

B. F. Allen, of Des Moines, a member both of the town and the railroad companies, wanted the new town called Atlantic, but Mr. Johnson, the civil engineer who made the plat at that city, favored Avoca, and accordingly placed that name on his draft. The plat accordingly came into town thus labeled. One of the first to see it was a man named Eggleston, a painter by trade, who had just come in from Grove City with a stock of goods. He at once painted signs for himself and two other merchants, which all bore the word "Avoca." His own was the first completed, and when hung up over the sidewalk it was seen to read "The Avoca Store." But before the others were displayed, Mr. Whitney had hurried down to the headquarters of the railroad company in Des Moines, and had the name of the town changed back to Atlantic, which it has ever since remained. This vital matter having been settled, a postoffice was established, with S. T. McFadden as postmaster.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 228.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2018.