Clear Creek Township is situated in the extreme northwestern part of Jasper County, bounded on the north by Story County, on the east by Independence Township, on the south by Poweshiek Township, on the west by Polk County. It is six miles square and comprises congressional township 81, range 21 west. It was organized by order of the county board in the month of August 1849, and was described later as it now stands.

Indian Creek courses through this township on its southeastern course, and together with its tributaries drains and waters the township well. Considerable native timber is found in this portion of Jasper County. In 1905 the state census gave this township a population of seven hundred and eighty-seven. Its schools and churches will be treated in the general chapters on such topics. Among the first to take up government land in this township were Joseph Kintz, two tracts in sections 24, 25 and 26, July 2, 1849; Adam W. Maggart in section 25, July 9, 1849.

The school fund apportionment for this township in 1851 was nineteen dollars and ninety-seven cents. At the presidential election in 1856 General Winfield Scott received nine votes and Franklin Pierce twenty-three votes in this township.

In April 1855, the people of Jasper County voted on the ever-present intoxicating liquor problem and in this township the vote stood eleven for and forty-eight against the measure.

In 1878 the records show that there was a total assessment on personal property in this township amounting to $61,206. This included the 615 horses, 30 mules and 1,388 head of cattle in the township.

The tax levy for 1877 shows this township to have had a total valuation of property of $249,980 and on this they paid into the county treasury the sum of $3,757.26.

THE VILLAGE OF CLYDE

This little hamlet was for many years a useful adjunct to the people of this township. It is situated on section 11 of a small branch of Indian Creek, less than two miles from the north line of the county. It is about fifteen miles from Newton and twelve from Colfax, while it is but twelve miles south of Colo, Story County.

Maxwell & Company started a general store here in 1868; in the autumn of 1874 the Methodist Episcopal denomination erected a church here at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. In 1878 the hamlet had a dry goods store and three shops, with about fifteen or twenty dwelling houses.

It was at this point in February 1875, that during a fearful storm, the residence of Charles B. Maxwell caught fire and was totally destroyed, causing a loss of four thousand four hundred dollars, one half of which was covered by insurance. Clyde is still only a small trading point.