This sub-division of Jasper County is in the southwestern part of the county, comprises about twenty-seven sections of land, for the most part situated in township 79, ranges 20 and 21 west. It is bounded on the northeast by the South fork of the Skunk River, that stream being the line between it and Sherman Township. It is of quite irregular form, owing to the meanderings of the river. A portion of Prairie City is within this township, while the remainder is situated in Des Moines Township. The north line of the township is traversed by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, which enters Washington Township at Colfax, just to the west line of Mound Prairie Township.

A half dozen or more small tributaries of the Skunk River flow from the southwest to the northeast through this township. But little native timber ever grew within this township, but the farming land on the prairies is of an excellent character and has come to be very valuable. The only village within the township, aside from a portion of Prairie City, is Metz, a small station point on the Rock Island Railroad.

Mound Prairie was organized in February 1857, under the old county judge system. The order of the court creating this township organization reads as follows: "That there be a township organized by the name of Mound Prairie, bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest corner of section 3, township 79, range 20, thence west on the township line to the northwest corner of township 79, range 21; thence west on the county line to the southwest corner of said township and range; thence east on the township line to the southeast corner of section 35, township 79, range 20; thence north on the section line to the quarter section stake on the east side of section 11, same township and range; thence west one mile; thence north to place of beginning."

It will be seen that this took in much more territory than the present township does. Washington Township was not yet cut off and made into a township organization.

Among the original land entries in this township, as first organized, were the following: Elbert Evans, on the southwest of section 2, range 20, October 28, 1848; John Rodgers, in the southwest quarter of northeast range 20, of section 2, October 21, 1848.

The state census returns for 1905 gave this township a population of 1,393.

In 1878 the township paid a personal tax on $45,867, including the items of 544 horses; 39 mules; 1,067 head of cattle over six months of age.

In 1877 the total real estate and personal tax of this township was recorded as $276,776, on which a tax was turned into the county treasurer amounting to $4,575.26. See table of present township valuations, in the chapter on County Government.

The people of Mound Prairie have ever been on the alert for the introduction of the best public school methods and have had standard Jasper County public schools from the earliest date of its history. Much concerning schools, churches, lodges, etc., in this township will be incorporated in the general chapters of this volume, under their proper and respective headings.

EARLY SETTLERS

The first settler in this township was Joseph Slaughter, of section 5, and he came in 1845 and built a log cabin, went back east and returned with his family in the spring of 1846.

Samuel K. Parker settled in 1847. He had a sawmill operated by Robert Warner.

In 1853 John Sumpter settled on section 7. He became the first justice of the peace of this township. Then there were a few settlers on the east side of the river before 1855, in what is now known as the Metz corner, and among these were the Millers, L. D. Simms, who came in 1849; James, John and G. W. Miller, of 1853, with possibly others who settled for a short time and moved on west.

At that date the facilities for home and comfort were not excellent, only for the stouthearted, brave and self-denying spirits. The nearest post office was at Tool's Point; a grist mill at Red Rock; a corn-cracker on the Indian Creek, near present Colfax; all merchandise had to be hauled on wagons from the Mississippi River; salt was seven dollars a barrel; cut nails fifteen cents per pound, and other articles in proportion.

Coal was first discovered in this county in 1846 by a young man on the Slaughter place.

Reaping with a reaper was first accomplished in this township in 1857 with an old Rugg reaper.

Following the settlers already mentioned, may also be recalled the following: E. R. Peck; on section 19 was Riley Scoyac, who remained until 1857; Daniel Shepherd; and possibly a few more in the early fifties.

The first school was taught as a private school by Mrs. Charles Kendall in the kitchen of her small house in 1856. This stood on the southwest quarter of section 8. The first schoolhouse in this township was erected on the southwest corner of the east half of the southwest quarter of section 7 and among the first teachers there was Samuel Gooden.

The fencing all had to be of rails split from the nearby forests, and if for no other reason the timber sections of the country were always occupied first, this being many years prior to barb wire inventions. Then the timber afforded better protection against the severe winter blasts. The winter season was usually put in by these pioneers at rail splitting and getting out logs, some of which went twenty miles to be sawed into floor stuff for cabin homes. The diet was usually corn bread, corn cakes and honey and plenty of prairie chicken breasts.

In 1843 a mounted company of dragoons passed through this township from Iowa City to Raccoon Forks or Fort Des Moines. They crossed the Skunk at Samuel K. Parker's place.

In 1849 set in the heavy California emigration to the faraway gold fields.

In 1856-7 the Mormons passed through on their way to Salt Lake, in colonies of from five hundred to one thousand daily, with their handcarts loaded with all their earthly possessions. Each company had a few wagons and good tents for the leaders and the sick ones. The handcarts were rough and unsafe for such a long trip.

The same road was lined from sunrise to dark in 1859 with Pike's Peak trains, and then the Skunk bottoms were next to impassable. The suffering of both man and beast will never be known.

The first railroad in this township made its advent in 1867, the Rock Island system.

In 1894 Seth W. Macy sunk the first hole for coal so far out on the prairies and struck five feet of good coal. Hanson & Naylor later opened a large bank near this point in the township. Now one of the most valuable coalmines in Iowa is situated on the R. N. Stewart farm on section 17.

The winter of 1855-6 was long to be remembered, being one of the severest on record. Snow stood thirty inches deep on a level in the timber and much suffering was experienced all over Iowa.

THE VILLAGE OF METZ

Metz is the small railroad station situated midway between Newton on the east and Colfax on the west. In 1877 it is said to have contained but a half dozen buildings, all told. It was put in here by the railroad company as an accommodation to the farming community, where stock and other farm products might be shipped and where lumber and fuel might be purchased from the local dealers. It is situated on section 11, and was platted in 1883, by William Hitchler. It now contains about eighty population. Its present business consists of a general store by Jesse B. Clement, who is also the postmaster; the grain business is carried on by D. J. Eberhart. Recently a Baptist Church has been organized and a house of worship erected, at least is now in course of erection; it is a frame building in the northern part of town.

VILLAGE OF SEVERS

This is a coalmining town and has never grown to great proportions. It is at the terminus of a coal spur extending out from Colfax. A post office was established there many years ago.