This subdivision of Adair County is one of the best to be found within its borders. It is well watered with Middle river, Grand river, Turkey creek and numerous smaller branches throughout the township. It is what might be termed a prairie township, there being but little timber of natural growth, which is found in small quantities along the streams. Grove township is bounded upon the north by Jefferson, on the east by Harrison, on the south by Lee, and on the west by Prussia. The soil is of a rich, dark, sandy loam, very productive, and is tilled by a thrifty and prosperous class of farmers. It is a full congressional township, comprising about twenty-three thousand and forty acres. When this territory was set off and organized in 1860, the name Grove was suggested by Jacob Bruce, one of the pioneers of Jefferson township, and adopted by the people. ORGANIC, The official organization of Grove Township occurred in 1860. At the first election in November of that year the following officers were elected: P. C. Barrows, clerk; S. Barrows, justice of the peace; John Bruce, member of board of supervisors; J. M. Witt, Jacob Bruce, S. Barrows, trustees; J. M.Witt, P. 0. Barrows, constables; Jacob Bruce,’ road supervisor; S. Barrows, assessor. The present township officials are as follows: S. Wilson, clerk; P. 0. Swisher, assessor; John McCrea, 0. M. Tarr, A. R. Oldham, trustees; E. 0. Crawford, Benjamin Barker, justices of the peace; Charles Sackett, constable; D. W. Young, president of school board.
CEMETERY. In June, 1877, five acres in the southeast corner of section 9 were purchased from the heirs of H. N. Peck, at a consideration of forty-five dollars, for a cemetery. The first interment was the body of a man by the name of Aiken.
POST-OFFICE. Groveland post-office was established in 1870, with Frederick Hodges as postmaster. He held the office until April, 1872, when Asa Wilson was appointed, who continued as postmaster for seven years, when Hugh Gray was appointed. In July, 1880, the office was removed to a more central part of the township, on section 21. M. Howell was then appointed, who served in that capacity until the spring of 1884, when the present incumbent— a Mr. Walbridge—was appointed.
EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first steps taken toward the settlement of Grove township, were by J. R. Pierce, who entered land in 1856. He resided here about four years when he removed to Kansas, where he still lives.
A gentleman by the name of W. H. Brainard entered land in Grove township, in 1857.
James McMaster, a pioneer settler of Grove township, located a claim on section 4 in an early day. He remained here a number of years, after which he removed to Creston, where he died.
John Wagner, one of the pioneer settlers of Grove township, came in the spring of 1869 and settled upon section 29. He remained here until 1875, when he removed to Guthrie County.
James Merritt also came in the spring of 1869, and settled upon section 29. In 1875 he emigrated with his family to Kansas, where they now reside.
In April, 1869, Fred Schutze entered land on section 29, being among the first settlers of Grove township.
P. 0. Swisher came in March, 1870, and entered land on section 20, where he still resides.
F. M. Swisher came in 1869, and settled upon section 20. He resided in Guthrie County several years previous to his residence in this county. His present residence is now in the state of Kansas.
Gordon Shanklin was also among the early settlers of Grove. He located on section 4, where he remained until 1882, when he removed to Guthrie county.
PROMINENT CITIZENS. In this connection we present the sketches of the personal history of some of the prominent settlers of Grove, who are among the later settlers of the township, but prominent in its citizenship of to-day. Although space forbids a personal mention of all, enough are given to make it both complete and interesting, while on the contrary it would be both cumbersome and monotonous.
John McCrea, one of the most prominent men of Grove township, is a native of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and was born December 12, 1832, and was there reared. His parents, Thompson and Anna (McKessen) McCrea, were also born in that county. From the time he was eleven years of age he was on the tow-path until he was fifteen years of age, when he took charge of a boat, and then learned the carpenter trade. The only education Mr. McCrea received was from a book which he got hold of on the tow-path and studied. In 1855 he went to Davenport, Iowa, where he followed the trade of carpenter and joiner till 1860, when he married and went to farming, and has continued the same ever since. When he arrived in Davenport he had only about six dollars and fifteen cents with him, having worked his way on a steamboat from Pittsburgh. In February, 1880, he came to Grove township, Adair county, to his present location on section 33. He was married February 14, 1860, to Ann G. Skiles, a native of Pennsylvania. They have six children living—James T., Clara B., Porter T., Harvey C, Roy E. and Nettie L. There are two dead—Maggie and Robert. Mr. McCrea is a republican in politics, and has been honored by offices a number of times, being now a member of the county board of supervisors, and is the nominee of the same party for the next term. He is also a trustee of Grove township, and has been school director, and is a member of the Presbyterian church. He has a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, and all in a good state of cultivation.
Samuel Wilson, son of Asa and Hannah (Hopkins) Wilson, natives of New York, was born in Washington county, New York. When six years of age he went with his parents to Ohio, where he received an education in the common schools and at Auburn seminary. In 1871 he came to Iowa, locating on section 28, where he still lives, and owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in a good state of cultivation, on which is an orchard of five acres. He is a member and also an elder of the Presbyterian church, and has held the offices of township clerk and treasurer. He was married November 1, 1855, to Mary W. Hawley, of Lawrence county, Ohio, and have three children living—Alice M., Robert M., Wallace.
Charles D. Sackett, who resides on section 29, is a native of Delaware county, Ohio, and was born December 17, 1840. He came with his parents to McLean county, Illinois, then twelve years of age, and in August, 1861, enlisted in Company I, 3d Illinois cavalry, as a private, and was discharged as second lieutenant in September, 1865, He was in the Sherman Vicksburg campaign, Arkansas Post, Pea Ridge, with General A. J. Smith, at Cupola, and with General Thomas at Nashville, Tennessee, and was sent to Devil’s Lake to keep the Indians in check in 1865. He then returned to Illinois, where he remained until 1874, when he came to Iowa, locating where he now resides. He has a farm of eighty acres, and owns an interest in eighty acres on section 10. April 25, 1864, he was married to Mary Gordon, of Franklin county, Ohio. They have ten children— George G., Lucy L., Arthur, Mabel, Gertrude, Abe, Charles E., Bertha, Ella, and Jessie. Mr. Sackett was assessor and secretary of the school board for two terms, and is the present constable of the township. He is also a member of the G. A. R.
A. G. Hoadley was one of the first settlers of the township. He was born in Chittenden county, Vermont, July 26, 1836, and was the son of Enoch and Samantha (Flag) Hoadley. When eighteen years of age, he went to Ogle county, Illinois, where he remained until 1860, when he came to Madison county, Iowa, and in 1865 purchased his present farm, which was then prairie, where he has since lived. The farm consists of two hundred and ninety acres. He was married January 14, 1858, to Patience G. Ten Broeke, a native of New Jersey. They have ten children living—Willard C., Harry T., Albert N., Jennie E,, Jessie M., Nelson V., Verne B., Frank, Arthur B., Eddie 0. There is an orchard on the place of about two acres.
Hiram Sackett, a native of Delaware county, Ohio, was born February 22, 1832. He is the son of Elijah and Malinda (Lee) Sackett, and was the second child of a family of thirteen. He spent most of his life in Ohio at farming. In September, 1874, he emigrated to Iowa, settling on section 24 in this township, but subsequently came to section 26, where he resides at present, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which are a natural grove and an orchard of about an acre. He was married October 7, 1861, to Mary E. Brown, a native of Delaware county, Ohio, and the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Hedges) Brown. They have seven children—Lyman E., Frank, Dudley, Harry, Orville, Clark, Lillian, the latter dying January 17, 1869, at the age of four years. He is a member of the First Presbyterian church, and is republican in politics.
Jacob Rush, of Grove township, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, May 31, 1853. When five years of age, his parents removed to Whitley county, but the location not suiting them they went to Wayne county, Iowa. From there Jacob came to Adair county, and has since remained, pursuing the life of a farmer and stock-raiser, having attended the county schools and acquired a common school education. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, all of which is under cultivation, and five acres of natural grove. He is a democrat in politics, though he has never sought for office.
J. P. Irish was born in Erie county, New York, August 25, 1837, and is the son of Jeduthun and Phoebe (Harrington) Irish. He came with his parents to De- Kalb county, Illinois, when three years of age, where he resided until eighteen years of age, when they removed to Cedar county, Iowa, and in 1874 he came to his present location in this township, where he owns three hundred and seventy-live acres of land, all under cultivation and finely improved. He was married February 17, 1858, to Mary A. Craig, daughter of William Craig, of Scott county, Iowa, and have had five children—Olinda E., Ametta J., Roscoe E., Cora M. and Arthur 0., deceased.
Alexander Montgomery, deceased, was born near Toronto, February 12, 1825, and was the son of Alexander and Rebecca (Wilson) Montgomery. He was married February 23, 1846, to Jane Chapman, daughter of William and Ellen (White) Chapman, natives of Canada. She was the eldest of a family of eleven children. They resided in Canada until 1870, when they came to Adair county, settling near Stuart, and in 1880 came to their present farm in this township. They had nine children—J. T., Joseph,. Rebecca, George, Frank, Eleanor, Fred, William and Ernest. July 3, 1875, Mr. Montgomery was at Greenfield attending a celebration. He started home in company with his wife and two children— Eleanor and Fred, and his eldest son’s wife and her three children, and Mr. Baker, and while attempting to ford the Middle river five of the number were drowned—Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Baker, Mrs. J. T. Montgomery and her two children. Mrs. Montgomery is at present pleasantly situated on a fine farm of four hundred acres, with a nice residence and good improvements. Her two sons, William and Ernest, manage the farm.
W. E. Walbridge is a native of Vermont. He was born in Bennington, March 8, 1856, and was the fifth child of a family of eight children. At the age of twenty-one he went to New York city, and was engaged in a wholesale establishment. He enlisted in Company A, 4th Vermont regiment, in September, 1861, and after his discharge returned to Vermont. In the spring of 1873 he came to Des Moines, Iowa, and engaged in the gardening business, and in the spring of 1884 exchanged his property there for his present farm. He was married June 14, 1860, to Anna Rice, of Bennington, Vermont. They have three children—Charles S., William E., and Eugene H.
E. C. Dorsey was born in Baltimore, Maryland, January 18, 1825, and was the son of William H. and Catharine A. Dorsey, When seven years of age he went with his parents to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and when eighteen years old learned the carpenter’s trade. After a residence in Ohio and Illinois he came to Johnson county, Iowa, and in March, 1877, came to this township, and in 1883 purchased his present place. He was married January 16, 1845, to. May A. Bryson, of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and has eleven children living and two dead; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and republican in politics.
Wash Carl, a native of Cedar county, Iowa, was born October 2, 1838. He was the son of Daniel and Sarah (Iman) Carl, natives of Indiana, and one of the first settlers of Cedar county. The subject of this sketch enlisted in August, 1861, in Company E, 11th Iowa infantry. He was in the battles of Shiloh, Atlanta, Vicksburg and Champion Hill, serving three years and eleven months in all. In 1871 he came to Adair county, settling on his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres which is well improved. He was married April 10, 1863, to Margaret J. Dwigans, of Cedar county. They have five children—Sarah F., Edward S., John, Alma B. and Ernest.
Jonathan W. Brown, a resident of Grove township, was born in Ulster county, New York, December 31, 1828, and was the son of Obadiah and Phoebe L. (Buchanan) Brown, He came with his parents to Monroe county, New York, where he resided until 1855, when he went to Illinois. He spent several years in the South and just before the war broke out returned to New York, where he enlisted in the spring of 1861 in the 3d New York cavalry, under Colonel Lewis, and served three years. After his discharge he returned to his home in Rochester, New York, soon after which he emigrated to Illinois, where he resided ten years. He then came to Adair county, settling on his present farm, which was at that time wild land, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres, one hundred and forty of which is under cultivation and finely improved with bearing orchard of fifty-five trees besides other small fruit. June 12, 1867, he was-married to Margaret A. McClarey, who are the parents of one son—James H., born December 26, 1868. He has held the office of township trustee and is an independent republican in politics.
E. R. Smith, farmer and stock-dealer, of Grove township, is a native of Franklin county, Kentucky, and was born March 23, 1837. His parents were John and Rebecca (Duel) Smith, and he was their eighth child. When eleven years of age the family moved to Muscatine, Iowa, and after remaining there some four years, went to Marengo, Iowa. Mr. Smith remained in Marengo about two years, then spent six years in Keokuk county, and from there went to Madison county, locating near Winterset in 1857. After spending .about eight years at that place, he went to Teuton, Clay county, Dakota, and engaged in farming and the stock business. He then returned to Winterset, and after staying four years, removed to Adair county, locating in Grove township. He took possession of his present farm in September, 1881. He has one hundred and sixty acres of good land, all well adapted for grain or stock-raising. He was married January 27,1859, to Miss Sarah Dill, a native of Trimble county, Ohio. Her parents’ names were John and Margaret. Eight children have blessed their union—Rebecca D., A. M., F. D., 0. W., Samuel P., Ida May, Ada J. and Elmer. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the M. E. church. He is a member of the school board, and in politics is a republican.
E. C. Crawford, a resident of section 29, and a son of William and Matilda (Churchman) Crawford, was born in Knox county, Tennessee, November 20, 1824. When fourteen years of age, he went with his parents to Jefferson county, Tennessee, after which they removed to Hendricks county, Indiana, and in 1854 they came to Henry county, Iowa, where they resided until 1875, when he- came to this county and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 29, where he still resides. There is also an orchard of four acres, and other small fruit. He was married February 14, 1848, to Margaret Farland, in Hendricks county, Illinois. They have four children living—William A., Alvin H., Maud E., Mary P. He has held nearly all the township offices, and has. been justice of the peace for four years.
SUNDAY-SCHOOL. In 1873 the Groveland Sunday-school was organized with J. B. Dunn superintendent, and P. 0, Swisher assistant superintendent. The school is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of about sixty. k Samuel Wilson is the superintendent at present,
EDUCATIONAL. The first teacher in Grove township was Mrs. Lank, nee Addie Lawson, who taught a term of school in a private house on section 33, in 1862. At present she resides in Guthrie county. Further school information is at this link.
HISTORICAL ITEMS.
The first birth in Grove township was a child to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Smith, who now resides in Washington territory. The first death in the township was that of a man by the name of Taylor. The first minister to hold services in Grove was Rev. J. B. McGinnis now a resident of Jefferson township. The first marriage was that of William Sproul to Elizabeth Stuart, in 1864. They afterward removed to Kansas. A gentleman by the name of Brainard broke the first ground in Grove township in 1857. He also sowed the first wheat and oats, and planted the first corn. The first house erected in Grove was built by J. R. Pierce, in 1856. J. R. Pierce set out the first orchard in the township.
Taken from "History of Guthrie and Adair County Iowa, 1884", transcribed by Carlyss Noland
