Poweshiek township was named in honor of that very intelligent and "good Indian" chieftain of the Sac tribes of Iowa Indians.

It is situated on the western line of Jasper county, second from the northern border, with Polk County to the west, Clear Creek Township to the north, Sherman Township on the east and Mound Prairie and Washington Townships on the south. Indian Creek is its eastern border most of the distance north and south, which fact caused it to be set over into another congressional township a part of one tier of sections from the one it is chiefly composed of. Its main territory is within township 80, range 21 west. However its southwestern corner is taken off from what would be a right angle, by reason of its line at that point going only to the banks of the South Skunk River, leaving two sections of township 80 on the south side of the river in Washington Township.

Poweshiek has considerable native timber within its borders and coal is found in paying mining quantities. This is said to be one of Jasper County's banner townships, and with its excellent coal lands and fertile surface it has come to be looked upon as among the most valuable realty within this section of the state.

This township was organized in January 1847, by the county commissioners, who then were the sole rulers of the county, this being prior to the establishment of the old county judge system, which obtained from 1851 to 1868, but more properly a one-man power up to 1861, when the supervisor system was established in Iowa.

The commissioners' record, relative to this township, reads:

"January 5, I847-To provide for the needs of the growing population of this county, be it ordered that there be a precinct laid off in the northwest corner of Jasper County, to be called Poweshiek Precinct, said precinct to commence as follows: On the county line, at a supposed line so as to include the Slaughter Grove, on the south side of the Skunk River, at the east end of said grove, thence north to the county line so as to include all the Indian Creek timber and its tributaries.

"Ordered, that the place for holding elections in Poweshiek Precinct be at the house of John McDonald.
"Ordered, That Lemuel Perrin, C. H. Hamlin and Joseph Kintz be appointed as judges of elections in Poweshiek Precinct."

The population of this township in 1905, according to the state census, was one thousand thirty-two.

It is now thickly settled and lands are held at high prices, but when sold or exchanged the one leaving goes much farther and fares no better than to have remained the possessor of a fine farm in Poweshiek, in which township the old Indian chieftain made his last home, as the good head of the Sac Tribe of Indians. Indeed great has been the transformation in these parts since the dusky warrior took his farewell look at the beautiful plains and hillsides, his last hunting grounds.

Among the first to enter government land in this goodly section of Jasper County were: Seth Richards, who claimed the east half of the southeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 1, June 29, 1849; Levi Plummer, the north fractional half of section 2, September 17, 1849.

The school history of this township will be found in the chapter on Education. It may be well in passing, however, to mention the fact that the school fund apportionment in this township in 1851 was but eighteen dollars and twenty-five cents.

At the 1852 presidential election the vote in Poweshiek Township resulted in giving Gen. Winfield Scott eighteen votes as against eight cast for Franklin Pierce. Pierce was elected, but Scott carried Jasper County.

When the vote on prohibition was taken in Jasper County in the spring of 1855, the vote stood, "for license eighteen, and thirty-one against" in Poweshiek Township.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES

In this township have been platted four towns, Greencastle, on section 14, Mingo, on section 3, Valeria, on section 20, and Oswalt, on section 33.

Greencastle-a name almost obsolete now-was a village nestled down in the midst of a fine farming section of this county. The first white man to settle in this vicinity was pioneer Joseph Slaughter and a few who came in about the same time in 1846. A school district was located near Slaughter's settlement in 1849, showing the character of the few who braved the new country hardships.

A successful Independence Day celebration was held, there July 4, 1859, at which the throng assembled at the schoolhouse, formed in gay procession and marched to the music of the Greencastle String Band to, seats in the western part of the village. George E. Bahr was presiding officer; Revs. Carr and E. M. H. Flemming made short addresses; also Rev. Murray. After the picnic dinner was over, short speeches were made by Rev. W. Schaffer and H. S. Winslow.

In 1866 Dr. J. H. Knox, a homeopathic doctor, located there.

In 1875 a flouring mill was erected by Fisher & Pfieffer, the same having a capacity daily of one hundred barrels.

The Methodist society, early in the field at Greencastle, built a good church building.

With the construction of the railroad-the Great Western-the village of Greencastle went down and now there is but little if any business carried on there and the mail is delivered by rural carrier.

VILLAGE OF MINGO

Mingo is situated on section 3, on the line of the Chicago Great Western Railroad, sixteen miles to the north and west of Newton. For its platting see Miscellaneous Chapter on "Village Plats." This is an enterprising little place of about two hundred and eighty people. It is an incorporated place-one of the smallest incorporations in this county. Commencing with its first mayor in 1903, the list of mayors is: L. C. Westfall, Jacob Stiers, W. W. Goodrich. R. D. Armstrong, L. C. Westfall, W. F. Hayes, L. C. Westfall.

The present town officials are: L. C. Westfall, mayor; W. E. Witmer, clerk; Charles Hansen, treasurer; councilmen, W. F. Hayes, D. McKeever, C. C. Black, D. B. Adams, F. E. Baldwin; town marshal, Martin Neal.

The town has a lively Odd Fellows' lodge and also a Woodmen of America Camp, mentioned in the Secret Society Chapter. Its churches are the Methodist and Christian denominations.

The two railroads at Mingo are the Great Western and the Newton & Northwestern routes.

Of the post office history it should here be stated that Mingo was named for the town of like name in Ohio, by the present postmaster, R. C. Everett, and the original name was derived from that noble old Indian chieftain, "The Mingo Chief," so familiar to all schoolboys. The postmasters have served in the following order: W. H. Penquite, F. W. Rumbaugh, Dr. W. W. Hawk, Ira Cummings, R. C. Everett, A. L. Rees, Jasper Watt, R. C. Everett.

About 1907 a rural route was established from this point, with C. E. Baker as carrier. There are two mails each way daily from Mingo. The office receipts in 1910 were eight hundred and fourteen dollars and seventy-five cents, including box rents.

The business interests in Mingo in April 1911, were as follows:
Banking - Mingo Savings and Trust Company
Lumber - The Adams Lumber Company
Grain Dealer - A. W. Frey
Stock - Berkley & Knotsman
Meats - Neal & Franklin
Hotel - Mingo House
Millinery - Mrs. S. E. Harter
Barbers - Joseph Pitcock and E. C. Kelley
General Dealers - W. A. Witmer, H. M. Baker, Mingo Mercantile Company
Hardware - E. C. Southern Hardware Company and G. L. Rumbaugh
Drugs - Charles Hansen
Implements - Black Brothers
Produce - Des Moines Poultry Company
Livery - Albert Kerns
Physician - Dr. D. C. Garner
Wagon Shop - David McKeever

VILLAGE OF VALERIA

This is another town created by the building of the Chicago Great Western Railroad through this township. It also became a junction point with the road named and the Colfax & Northern line. Its population in 1900 was one hundred and fifty. A bank was established there in 1901 by Benjamin Falen, but it has closed. Its present business consists of the following:
General Dealers - C. J. Ryan and J. Y. Fiddler
Restaurant-hotel - B. Stiers
Barber Shop - W. M. Keever
Hardware - J. A. Radley
Lumber - H. E. Stoke
Livery - J. C. Stanley
Millinery - Miss Dolla Vernocom
Grain Dealers - Gannon Brothers
Drugs - Charles Worrick

With the coal deposit running out by being worked many years; by the great cyclone through the township in May 1896, and several disastrous fires, the town has gone down instead of advancing. One fire in April 1894 burned on both sides of the main street, causing much damage.

The population is now less than one hundred souls. The churches of Valeria are the Catholic and Methodist Episcopal. The latter is served by the pastor at Mingo.

The following have served as postmasters at Valeria, C. A. O'Brien, J. W. Walters, Mr. Bushard, Frank Woods, F. G. Pease, B. Anderson, J. B. Hessinus, C. Jones, C. J. Bryan, who was appointed in 1910. It is a fourth class and a money order office.

It was robbed in July 1910, of four dollars and sixty-three cents. Under postmaster Anderson a fire in March 1911, visited the office, but little was lost, but in the sweeping fire of 1894 the entire, office effects were lost.

OSWALT

This is now a mere station point on the Colfax & Northern Railroad, midway between Colfax and Valeria. At one time, in the palmy coal shipping days, it had considerable local business.