SCOTT TOWNSHIP

Township 79 north, range 14 west. The surface is more rolling than that of Pleasant and considerably less so than Lincoln. The principal streams are: North English, flowing east through the center, and Deep River, through the southern tier of sections. Between these two flows of water the divide furnishes the very best of farming land, and it is evident that the owners of this rich domain have prospered, for they live in good homes and have attained Independent circumstances. The farm improvements, in this township, show that the people are not at all behind, but in many particulars far ahead, of even earlier settled sections. The general character of the citizens is such that it becomes a desirable community in which to build a home.

The clerk's records show the following in reference to the organization of Scott township:

"This is to certify that Scott township, Poweshiek county, Iowa, was organized October the 8th, A. D. 1861. Whereas, Malvin Wigton was appointed chairman; Eli Shook, Addison Bone, W. B. Harden, judges; L.V. Torrey, J. K. Rayburn, clerks of election. The following township officers were elected: Assessor, Addison Bone; Clerk, L. V. Torrey; Supervisor, N. B. Tilton; Justice of the Peace, Malvin Wigton; Trustees, Dennis Bryan, Eli Shook, John Early."

At the general election on the 13th day of October, 1863, there were only twenty-three votes cast, but from that time population increased rapidly.

The township is of the best prairie with scarcely an acre of waste land. Many of the settlers on "Irish Ridge," in the southeast, are of Irish descent. The population of the township in 1880 was eight hundred and twenty-two, and there were one hundred and fifty-four votes cast at the general election in 1879.

The Grinnell and Montezuma Railroad runs through the northwest corner a distance of half a mile. There is no post-office in the township, but situated as it is, with Montezuma close at hand on the south, Brooklyn on the north, and Malcom on the northwest, no township in the county is so favorably located which has no depot or post-office. It has good schools, and although it has no church there are churches in easy reach on all sides.

The present township officers are:

Assessor - Charles Bramer.

Township Clerk - Charles Arthur.

Trustees - D. 0. Strong, Neri Bryan, Wm. R. Johnson.

Constables - Frank Torry, John Hutchinson, Jr.

Justices - Charley Arthur, Joseph Hunter.

Scott township cemetery is located at tho center of section 16, and contains just 126 square rods, and has ninety-six lots 12x16. It was surveyed and laid out on the first day of September, 1879, and in just one year there were eight new graves.

Charles Arthur is treasurer and trustee for the association.

There is a society of United Presbyterians who meet every two weeks, in the Fitzsimmon's school-house, No. 3, in section 26. Rev. J. B. Gowdy, of the Lincoln township U. P. Church, fills the appointment

Once a month several families of Episcopalians, who belong to the Brooklyn Church, meet in the same school-house, and Rev. Judd, of Brooklyn, conducts the services.

The teachers in the different schools are as follows: No. 1, Miss Jennie Gordon; No. 2, Miss Ella Cale; No. 8, Mr. J. A. Bruce; No. 4, Mr. R. S. Willett; No. 5, Miss Maggie Wallace; No. 6, Miss Sarah Morrison; No. 7, Mrs. Laura A. Willett; No. 8, Miss Hattie Burch; No. 9, Miss Pauline Arthur.

SCOTT TOWNSHIP ORANGE LODGE.

The " Enniskillin True Blue," Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 146. -

This order meets in its own hall, at Summer Hill, once each month. It was organized October 24, 1876, at the house of Thomas C. Johnson, on section 22, and the names of the charter members are as follows: Thos. L. Johnson, W. M.; Samuel Jordan, D. M.; John Beird, Secretary; William Armstrong, Treasurer; Edward Downey. From the above five they have increased to twenty-five members. They now own a convenient hall, built for their own use, twenty-four feet long and sixteen feet wide, and situated in section 27. The present officers of the lodge are: Thos. L. Johnson, W. M.; William Glass, D. M.; John Hutchinson, Jr., Secretary; William Armstrong, Treasurer.

INCIDENTS

The house of William Armstrong was burned in June, 1880, when the family, left entirely destitute of home, were compelled to go to the neighbors for shelter.   All their household goods were completely destroyed. A granary belonging to Mr. Henry Fitzsimmons, and standing near his house, burned in March, 1879, consuming one hundred bushels of oats, twenty-five bushels of wheat, all his carpenter tools, farm utensils, and a harvester, for which he paid $215.

Ezra M. Dunn's house burned in September, 1879.

Only one divorce granted to a citizen of the township. This husband and wife could not agree, but quarreled incessantly. After they had been divorced a twelve-month they again married; but an evil influence seemed to destroy their happiness, and after a second six months' trial again separated.

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