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That geographical sub-division of Cass county which is now known as Pleasant township, was originally a part of Cass township, and was set off from it in 1870, when the county was reorganized to make its civil townships coincide with the congressional. The warrant for the election for organization purposes was issued to John W. Fuson, June 11, 1870, and the election was ordered to be held in October, 1870, at the Stetler school house.

This township is, in common with the remainder of the county, well watered and drained, and has advantages for the raising of stock and grain which offer excellent inducements to anyone looking for a location for the pursuit of either or both of those industries. Lone Tree creek has its source in the northwest part of the township in numerous little rivulets, and where these join to form the creek, it flows tortuously toward the west, and joins Baughman's creek in the southwest corner of section 1, just before the combined stream leaves the county. Baughman's creek flows into the township from Cass, at the northeast quarter of section 4, and flows sonthwestwardly till it has its confluence with Indian creek, as before mentioned. Clark's creek has its origin in several rivulets a little south of the center of the township, and flows southwest until it leaves the township and county, about the center of the west line of section 31. Besides these streams and their many branches, small tributaries of other streams have their origin in, or flow through, corners of the township; so that one of the prime factors necessary to make this section successful in an agricultural sense, is supplied by nature to begin with. This fact, taken in connection with the uniform excellence of the soil, and the proximity of the town of Griswold for a market, renders the township one of the most favored of nature's garden spots. Pleasant ridge, commencing between sections 1 and 2, and extending southward throughout the entire length of the township, seems to have been unduly favored. The road along its top passes through one of the prettiest pieces of farming country in the west. Splendid farms, large and well-kept houses, neat and tasty improvements, sleek-looking stock, and all the things that go to make glad the eye of the lover of a happy blending of nature and art, greet the gaze all along this road. The railroad line formed by the Atlantic and Southern, and the Red Oak and Atlantic, enters the township from the north between sections 5 and 6, and passes out, in its course toward Red Oak, about the middle of the west line of section 19. The shipping facilities thereby afforded supplies whatever might have otherwise been lacking for comfort and convenience. Good wagon roads intersect the township at short intervals, following, in most cases, the section lines.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, February, 2025 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 807-808.