MADISON TOWNSHIP

This township corresponds with congressional township No. 81, range 14 west. It is situated in the north tier of townships in Poweshiek county. It has a great variety of surface and soil. Walnut Creek, a small stream, flows from west to east through the center. Originally, there was, probably, nearly as ranch timber as in any other township in the county; much has been destroyed. The present population is 805, and at the last general election 173 votes were cast. It contains one good Methodist Church and eight school-houses. About two-thirds of the fencing is with wire. It contains no post-office or railroad, but the farms, dwellings and other buildings, show the great thrift and enterprise of its citizens. Malcom and Brooklyn are the principal trading points and railroad stations for the people living in Madison.

The present township officers are:

Clerk - William Graham,

Assessor - L. H. Cresler.

Justices of the Peace - Isaac Thompson, George McCall.

Constable - W. Z. Scott.

Trustees - Daniel Mayer, T. C. Squires, M. Carpenter.

Joseph Enochs was the first settler in tho township; he came from Louisa county, Iowa, in the year 1852, and settled on section 24.

George Estlick was the next. He came from Ohio, in 1852, and built the first house on section 24. This first house in Madison township was built of logs, and still stands near the present residence of Daniel Mayer. George Estlick went to Nebraska.

Uriah Jones was the third, and although he came in 1852, he did not make a permanent settlement till 1853. He came from Clinton county, Indiana, and settled on section 20.

Moses Kent and C. N. Fuller came in the year 1853.

The first marriage was Joseph Kent to Eliza Enochs, in the year 1853 or '54, by Judge R. B. Ogden. The couple journeyed to Montezuma together, and when they arrived found Judge Ogden on the top of a hay-stack, in ragged clothes, but as soon as he learned their important mission he immediately descended, issued the license, and performed the marriage ceremony.

The first child was born in the year 1854. His name was Bailey Kent.

The first death was that of Robert O. Jones, son of Uriah and Elizabeth

Jones. He was two years of ago and died in the spring of 1854, and was buried on section 16.

The first regular physician was Dr. Edward Barton, who resided in Brooklyn. He commenced practice here in 1854, but now lives in Kansas.

The first regular minister was a Methodist, by the name of John Hestwood. He preached at the house of Uriah Jones in the year 1854.

The first school was taught at Kent's school-house, either by Henry Heckman, of western Nebraska, or John Frazer, a respected citizen of the township. Wages paid, $8.00 per month. Tho neighbors built the school-house with logs, and its cost was just $25.00.

David Mayer was the first secretary of the school board in Madison township; he also levied and collected the first school tax before the township was organized.

The township was organized in 1855, through the instrumentality of Uriah Jones, perhaps, more than any other person.

He was one of the men who believed it was a duty to exercise the right to vote, but got tired of taking a day's journey to reach the polls, and set himself about to remedy the matter, and the result of his labors was that township 81 north, range 14 west, was organized and named Madison.

The first election was held at Joseph Enoch's, in April, in the year A. D. 1855.

The following officers were elected:

Clerk - Joseph Enochs.

Assessor - Uriah Jones.

Trustees - C. N. Fuller, Silas Frank and Stephen Young.

Justices - Daniel Mayer and Archibald Johnson.

County Supervisor - Uriah Jones.

In the early settling of the township the pioneers had their share of hardships. The nearest trading place and mill was Iowa City, consequently they were often without bread to eat, and ate potatoes and stewed pumpkins instead.

The first grist-mill in Poweshiek county was built on section 13, on "Walnut Creek, this township, in the year 1853. The mill was about sixteen feet square, and instead of the modern French bur, they used a "nigger head" rock, hauled from Anamosa, Jones county. This home-made but was fastened to the upper end of the water-wheel shaft. It would grind about one bushel in an hour. Jacob Lockhart was the accommodating miller, and although long since dead, the people hold his name in grateful remembrance as a public benefactor.

Such a thing as pork was unknown. One of the neighbors went to Iowa City, and Mr. Uriah Jones sent by him for some pork or bacon. He returned with word that he had been to every store and there was not a pound of meat in the place. Mr. Jones then sent to Rock Island and failed there, also, to get any meat to cook with his potatoes and green beans. Some days afterward Mr. Jones, happening at Dr. Barton's, saw a large meat rind, about a foot square, which the Doctor had brought to the county with him. Mr. Jones asked him what he would take for it. The Doctor told him the price, which he cheerfully paid, and with the meat skin in his coat pocket, he went home. His wife washed it, and having some green beans, it was cut in strips and boiled with them. One who partook of the repast thus provided says that it was relished far more than any beef-steak or mutton-chops. All the neighbors fared equally hard. They were all poor. Some had squatted on good land, though Mr. Jones had entered his, which is thought to be the first land entered in the township.

Money was fearfully close in the older neighborhoods (Snook's Grove, for instance), where only fifty or sixty cents a day was paid for harvesting. Deer were very plenty. Mr. J. W. Jones, while going from where Squire Mayer now lives to Jones' Grove, in 1853, counted forty-seven deer on the prairie.

As years crept by new settlers came in, until now the township is all settled, with the exception of two or three pieces of land.

BURYING GROUND.

There is a burying ground situated at Kent's Corners, on section 23, and contains about 100 graves. It was first used in 1859, and Mrs. Coulson was the first person buried there.

THE MADISON M. E. CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1850, with the following persons: Jacob Hannan, Frances Harman, Jonas Harman, Elizabeth Jones, and J. W. Jones - all of whom still live. Meetings were held at Hickory Grove school-house, Fairview school-house, Bowen school-house, and some other places. The church was reorganized in 1875, after which time meetings were hold at the church. The present church edifice was built in 1875, at a cost of $3,500, including the lot on which it stands.

The neat little frame church was dedicated on September 12, of the same year, by Rev. F. W. Evans, assisted by Rev. R. J. Kenyon. The amount subscribed on dedication day was over 81,200.

The following ministers have preached for the church: Revs. John Heetwood, Geo. Bamford, A. C. Barnhart, P. F. Brasee, Casebeer, F. M. Slusser, J. R. Carey, J. T. Simmons, E. Happy, John Armistead, J. Rankin, I. N. Busby, J. M. Coats, J. E. Corley, D. C. Bevan, R. J. Kenyon. After reorganization, came W. G. Thorn, A. V. Kendrick, J. B. Hardy. There was a large revival under direction of Rev. J. B. Hardy, in the winter of 1878-9, when many were added to the church. The Sunday-school meets every sabbath morning, with an average attendance of sixty, there being one hundred members. G. D. Wilkinson, superintendent; G. T. Stone, secretary. The first public religious services in the township were by a minister from the United Brethren Church.

INCIDENTS.

A child of John Ward fell into a slough in 1874, and was drowned.

Till the year 1865 the two political parties were about equal, but since that time the Republicans have outnumbered the Democrats.

Archie Graham's house was struck by lightning on May 23, 1880. It was considerably damaged.

Leonard Spauldin had a corn-house and considerable farm machinery burned in the spring of 1876. The loss was estimated at $1,200.

O. H. Woodruff's house was burned in April, 1871, and everything destroyed.

In 1858 George McCall, living on section 5, township 81, range 14, went to the center of township 81, range 15, to work out his poll tax, a distance of ten miles.

Source: The History Of Poweshiek County Iowa 1880
Transcribed and Contributed to Genealogy Trails by Barbara Ziegenmeyer