UNION TOWNSHIP

Union township, the smallest in the county, is situated west of Jackson, east of Sugar Creek and on the north line of Mahaska county. Its territory embraces twenty-four square miles, just one-half that of Jackson, being six miles north and south by four miles east and west. Some portions are very broken, and the roads are hilly. There is much timber, especially along the breaks and creeks. The principal streams of water are Buck and Moon Creeks, which How south through the township. The central southern portion contains Union Prairie, an exceedingly fertile tract three miles north and south by two east and west. Large crops of corn and wheat are yearly harvested.

The population of the township, according to tho census of 1880, was 790, with 144 voters. It contains two churches, five school-houses and five burying grounds.

Among the early settlers were R. B. Ogden, Richard Cheeseman, Daniel Satchell, Joseph Satchell, John Moore, Stephen Moore, Joseph Hall, William Butt, Mahlon Woodward, Jacob Rivers and R. F. Steele.

R. B. Ogden came from Morgan county, Illinois, in 1842, and settled on section 29, just west of the present post-office of Forest Home. Joseph and Daniel Satchell came from Logan county, Illinois, in 1842, Joseph settling on section 28 and Daniel on section 34. The next year Stephen and John Moore came and marked out their claim.

The first marriage in the township was Jesse Shrader to Emma Newson, in 1848, the ceremony being performed by Rev. W. H. Barnes, at the house of the bride's father.

The first birth was that of Hannah A. Woodward, daughter of Mahlon Woodward, born in 1847.

Elias Dement died in 1847 or 1848, his being the first death in the township.

Dr. C. C. Terrell, the present physician at Forest Home, was the first and only regular physician in Union township, coming from Ohio in the year 1857.

Rev. J. B. Hardy, of the M. E. Church, since a Presiding Elder, was the first regular minister of the gospel.

The first school-house was the Free Will school-house, built in the year 1849, on section 8.   Some, however, think the first school-house was built on section 28, in tho year 1846. Both were built of logs by the neighbors without any pecuniary outlay.

James Mclntire was the first teacher in the former, and received $15 per month. There were about twenty scholars in attendance. Miss Sarah A. Moore was the first teacher in the one erected on section 2S, and received $10 per month, and had twelve scholars.

The farmers sometimes went to mill in Jasper county, sometimes to Whistler's mill, in Keokuk county, and sometimes to Oskaloosa, in Mahaska county.

The early incidents and experiences of the settlers were varied and interesting.

The Cumquick tragedy, of which an account is given elsewhere, is still fresh in the memory of all. The tragedy occurred about the year 1856, and the bodies of Casteel and his wife were hid in corn shocks near the residence of Thomas Beason.

Forest Home is a pretty little village of twenty-six inhabitants, situated among the trees on section 29. It formerly contained a population of seventy or eighty, and a store, with a large trade, but many of the houses have been removed to neighboring farms, and the store burned. The hamlet now contains a post-office, M. E. Church, school-house, blacksmith shop, a store, and several residences.

Union township was organized in 1848, but the township as then organized was not at all the same as it now is, either in population or geographical extent. The first election was held at the house of Mahlon Woodward, in the month of August, 1846. This was prior to the organization of the county, and, of course, prior to the formal organization of the township.   At the said election there were twenty-five votes cast. Stephen Moore was the first township clerk and Martin Snyder the first justice of the peace.  The present township officers are as follows:

Clerk—S. B. Walton.

Justices—Wm. Hudson and Jesse Hiatt.

Assessor—Thomas Beason.

The assessed valuation of real estate is $135,375.00; of personalty, $36,405.00.  The entire tax levy for 1879 amounted to $3,273.18.

The following is a list of people in Union township, Poweshiek county, who are over sixty years of age:

Martha Allen, born in Virginia, January 1, 1798; is eighty-two years old. She is the mother of twelve children and has fifty grandchildren, and fifty-six great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Her husband was a soldier in the War of 1812.

Gasper Bogard, born in Ohio, in November, 1800, and is eighty years old. His wife was born in Virginia, in May, 1S08, and is seventy-two years old. They are the parents of fourteen children, twenty-seven grand-children and five great-grandchildren.

Wm. Butt, born in Virginia, September 25,1804: is seventy-six years old. He has been married three times and is the father of seven children and has thirteen grandchildren.

Rodilla Beason, born in Ohio, in November, 1312; is sixty-eight years old, and is tho mother of eleven children, thirty-five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Thos. McCoy, born in Virginia, in May, 1806; is seventy-four years old. his wife was born in Virginia, in 1802, and is seventy-eight years old. They are the parents of nine children and have sixteen grandchildren and six great-grand children.

Joseph Hall, born in Ohio, in 1816; is sixty-four years old. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, in 1810, and is seventy years old. They are the parents of ten children and have eight grandchildren. Robert F. Steele, born in Kentucky, in 1817; is sixty-three years old.

He is father of seven children.   He was the third man to settle in Poweshiek county, coming here in 1846, and has lived under two government ___ Territory and State.

W. S. Saunders, born in Virginia, in 1808; is seventy-two years old. His wife was born in Ohio, in 1810, and is seventy years old. They had seven children, thirty-three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Joshua Jones, born in Maryland, in 1808; is seventy-two years old. His wife was born in Virginia, in 1817, and is sixty-three years old. They have traveled the journey of life together for forty years and have never known the blessing of little children.

John Farmer, born in Ohio, in 1815; is sixty-five years old. His wife was born in Ohio, in 1811, and is sixty-nine years old. She has been married twice and has nine children, twenty-six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Mr. Farmer is the father of three children but is not yet a grandfather.

HISTORY OF THE CEMETERIES IS UNION TOWNSHIP.

The first burying place was north of S. A. Allen's residence, in section 20. The next on the farm now owned by Dr. J. W. Smith, in section 28. The next near Browntown, Sherman Beverly Sheeley's farm, in section 34. Next on C. W. Terrell's land, west of Forest Home, on section 27. Next on Wm. Beason's land, on section 29.   Next on R. F. Steele's land section 8. Next on W. F. Hayes' land, in section 5. Next on Thos. McCoy's land, in section 15.

The ones in sections 15, 20 and 23, contain but few graves. The parties were among the earliest settlers and were very old. For correct information concerning them see Thos. McCoy, S. A. Allen (A. J. Binegar, of Searsboro), and R. Hoit.

The cemetery at Forest Home: This cemetery is located in section 27, one-fourth mile west of the village; was located in 1859, on land then owned by Irvin Farmer and Elias Williams. Mr. Farmer's wife was the first person buried there, which was sometime during the winter of 1859-60. Two twin boys, children of John S. Allyn, were the next, and Elias Williams the next, they being interred during the fall of '60 and winter of '61. In September, 1862, John S. Allyn was buried there. Oliver P. Maxon, M. D., C. C. Terrell, and another whose name we have forgotten, were trustees.

M. E. CHURCH OF FOREST HOME.

The church was organized in 1844, and among the original members were John Moore, Conrad Newson, Daniel Satchell, Joseph Satchell, Nicholas Moore and Stephen R. Moore. The present church edifice was built in the summer of 1870. It is a frame and cost $3,000. The building was dedicated by Bishop E. G. Andrews. There have been the following pastors over this little flock:   Rev. W. H. Barnes, Rev. Brooks and Rev. S. C. Smith, present pastor, living at Searsboro. The present membership is twenty five.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF FOREST HOME.

This church was organized February 11, 1877, with the following members: Samuel A. Allen, Sarah J. Allen, D. M. Valentine, Jasper N. Marsh, Nancy N. Marsh, Jacob Hilderbrand, Frances Hildebrand, Wm. T. Allen, Hannah E. Allen, Anna Hesloy, G. L. Hilderbrand, W. T. Walcott, Mary Walcott. The membership is now forty-seven. The meetings are at present held in the M. E. Church at Forest Home and in the school-house. There is, however, some prospect of a new church edifice. Only two members have died since the organization. The church is sometimes known as the New Light Church. They are strictly orthodox. The essentials are faith and repentance. They do not insist on any particular mode of baptism, nor do they consider it a saving ordinance. The usual mode of baptism is by immersion. Rev. J. H. Darner, and the present pastor, A. S. Culbertson, have been their spiritual advisers.

UNION TOWNSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH.

The church was organized during the summer of 1855, with the following persons as original members: Claiborne Hays and wife, Solomon Watson and wife, Joseph Applegate and wife. The first church was built in 1856, and was burned in 1863 and rebuilt in 1872. The cost of present structure was about $1,200. Those who aided in its dedication were Rev. J. M. Wood, Rev. G. M. Vallandigham and Rev. Martin Greyson. The following pastors have served the church: Revs. A. N. Atwood, M. Greyson since 1857, except a short time when Wm. Elliott supplied the pulpit, also one year by G. M. Vallandigham, and a short time by A. Reynolds. The present pastor, Rev. M. Greyson, has served in that capacity nearly all the time for twenty-four years. The present membership is seventy-live. Wm. F. Hays, Amos Greyson and Virgil Johnson and others have been very active in the interests of the church.

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