CHAPTER VI.
CASS TOWNSHIP (CONT'D).

FIRST ELECTION IN THE TOWNSHIP.

When Cass county was organized as a sub-division of Pottawattamie county, in the fall of 1851, an election was held for justice of the peace and constable, at the house of Jeremiah Bradshaw in Indiantown. His son, V. M. Bradshaw, was clerk of election, and registered as voters Jeremiah Bradshaw, Victor M. Bradshaw, Jesse Hyatt, Lewis Hyatt, John Pettengill, Elihu Pettingill, James Ferran, Joseph Ferran, Jacob Ferran, John D. Campbell, W. S. Townsend, A. J. Millslagel, and Messrs. Weeks and Elliott. At the time V. M. Conrad was in Dubuque, having left his place in charge of Mr. Weeks, who was a Mormon. Otherwise the above list of voters represents the settlers than [sic then] living in Cass township.

Politically speaking, the vote stood fourteen Whigs to one Democrat (Millslagel), and John Pettengill was elected justice of the peace and Elihu Pettengill, constable, both of the successful candidates being Mormons. So far as known, no record of this election exists, but years afterward old settlers recounted how even at the time it was considered quite a joke. The event passed off without any incident of note, and after the voters had done their duty as American citizens they hung around the polling place most of the day, telling stories and having a good time generally.

DESERTED VILLAGE OF THE TOWNSHIP.

The first whites to enter the territory of Cass township and lay its foundations, as well as those of the county itself, were the Mormons, and V. M. Conrad, William S. Townsend, John D. Campbell and the Bradshaws. The part which they took in pioneer settlement, making their locations near the sites of the old and the later Indiantown, has been described in the early history of the county.

As stated, Iranistan and Indiantown were the centers of settlement and business activity--with the former in the lead--until Lewis was selected as the county seat, and founded in 1853. They then became deserted villages, and such they have remained. Although the Mormon settlement of Indiantown antedates Iranistan, the latter was the first village to be platted in Cass township and the county.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 89-90.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, August, 2018.