Sheridan Township

This township corresponds to congressional township No. 81, range 15. It is bounded on the north by Tama county, on the east by Madison township, on the south by Malcom, and on the west by Chester.

This portion of the county was but sparsely settled until recent times, and this township was among the last to be organized. It furnishes another example of the many townships organized since the War of the Rebellion named in honor of some illustrious military chieftain.

The township is subdivided into nine independent school districts and the same number of road districts. The valuation of the real estate of the township is $220,843; of personality, $40,379. The population of the township, according to the census of 1880, was 726, and the number of voters was 167.

The first house built in the township was by Jonathan Boyl, on section 24, in Hickory Grove, in the year 1854. Mr. Boyl came from the State of Indiana.

Jacob Harman was probably the first settler. He settled on section 23, in April, 1855, where he has since resided. He came from the State of Missouri.

In the year 1856 B. Kearney settled on section 26.

Other early settlers were Conrad Reidash, Henry Schultz, Hiram Winchelle, John Rabah and F. L. Orentt.

The first marriage was John Rabah to Susan Harman, in the spring of 1859.

Sheridan township was organized September 5th, 1866, and the first record in the books found with the township clerk, bears the date of January 1, 1867.

H. J, Davis was the first township clerk, and E. E. Cleveland was the first assessor. The first meeting of the township board of trustees was held at Hickory Grove school-house, located on Walnut Creek. This school-house was the first one erected in the township; it was erected by Uriah Jones during the year 1856.

The following are the present officers of the township:
Trustees—E. C. Graham, N. Shafer and Albert Mehlin.
Justices of the Peace—J. S. Brown and B. Ruff.
Clerk—J. B. Baldwin.
Assessor—John Goodfellow.

The Sheridan M. E. Church was organized in the spring of 1868, with the following members:

Samuel Snyder and wife, Morris Snyder and wife, Harry Cobun and wife, John Poster and wife, Edward Snyder, Mrs. Margaret Coulson, and Wesley Cobun.

A church building was commenced in 1875, and was dedicated on the 6th day of May, 1877. The church is a neat structure, and cost $300.

The dedicatory services were conducted by Rev. A. V. Hendrick, and Presiding Elder D. C. Smith, of Brooklyn.

The following ministers have supplied the pulpit: I. N. Busby, James Coats, J. E. Corley, W. H. Honn, E. P. Michener, A. V. Kendrick, S. R. Furgeson, and J. G. Barton, the present pastor.

There are at present about twenty-five members.

The sabbath-school meets every week, with an average attendance of thirty.

Church of The Latter-Day Saints

This religious organization, known as the Mormon Church, believes in direct revelations from God to the spiritual head of that body, but denounce polygamy and many other practices of the Utah church.

It was organized in March, 1879, with about ten members, and now numbers forty-eight. Their meetings are held in the school-house, about two miles east of the M. E. Church of Chester township. R Goreham is their president and priest.

On section 9, just across the road from the M. E. Church, was located a burying ground in the year 1875. It now contains about twenty-five graves. Rufus Congor is present sexton.

Ottawa City

This is also sometimes called "Humbug Town." It was laid out into lots and sold by a swindler from the East. The man who laid out the lots is said to have been J. M. Pattee, and George T. Perry made the transfer. The land was the west half of section 1, and north half of the northwest quarter of section 12, township 81, range 15 west, and contained 400 acres. The lots were mostly 50 feet, north and south, by 100 feet east and west. This city plat was recorded June 9, 1859. The lots were advertised and sold in Eastern States and elsewhere.

There was a cut representing the city laid out with streets, adorned with business blocks and residences, and a navigable river flowed through the midst of it, bearing steamers and other boats for trade and commerce. It was an unmitigated fraud. There is no navigable river within ninety miles, and the land had no more the appearance of a young city than any other wild prairie. J. F. Head, of Montezuma, was their attorney-in-fact.

Many persons, after having purchased lots, have written to parties there inquiring into the business prospects of the town, or probable value of the real estate. Some have actually come more than a thousand miles to personally inspect their investment. One man came from Missouri on foot, and carrying a gun, to see his property and erect a blacksmith shop thereon.

Most of the land has been sold for taxes, and farmers now till the land as their own; but in a few instances non-resident parties pay taxes and still hold a legal title to the property.

In the fall of 1854, the same year in which the first settlement was made at Grinnell, two men, Jonas Harman and Emlin Coulson, plowed a furrow from Hickory Grove to the present site of Grinnell. The furrow was to guide travelers, and was fourteen miles long.

[The History of Poweshiek County Iowa, 1880]
Transcribed and Contributed to Genealogy Trails by Barbara Ziegenmeyer