CHAPTER X.
UNION TOWNSHIP.

At the March term of the County Court, in the year 1858, a petition was presented asking for the organization of a new township to be called Lura, and to embrace the following territory: All of townships 76 and 77, range 34; the east half of township 76, range 35, and two tiers of sections off of the east half of township 77, range 35. In granting the prayer of the petitioners, the court issued the warrant to G. S. Morrison on April 5, 1858.

The township derived its name in honor of Dr. Morrison's wife, whose maiden name was Lura. He himself was the pioneer settler of what is now Grant township, and in 1853 located near the present site of Anita, where for years he kept a stage station, known to all travelers throughout the State. Although an Illinois physician, he never practiced, but hunted throughout the country, laid out roads, built bridges and was an energetic and typical pioneer, more interested in the physical development of the county than in the health of its sturdy inhabitants. (A more extended notice of this somewhat remarkable character will be foundin the sketch of Grant township.

CHANGED FROM BRECKENRIDGE TO UNION.

On the 6th of September, 1858, Peter Hedges and others petitioned the court for the organization of Breckenridge township. Their prayer was granted and the new township was made to embrace the following territory: All of township 75, range 34, and range 35 of the same township, except section 31; also section 1, township 74, range 34.

As is well known, Breckenridge township was named after John C. Breckenridge, who at the time of its organization was Vice-President of the United States. But during the Civil War he became a Major-General in the Confederate army and otherwise one of the most pronounced supporters of the Southern cause. In 1862, therefore, in conformity with the strong sentiment throughout the county, and on motion of John H. Hardenbergh, the name of the township was changed from Breckenridge to Union.

FIRST ELECTIONS IN BRECKENRIDGE AND UNION TOWNSHIPS.

The first election in Breckenridge township, in October, 1858, held at the house of Peter Hedges, resulted as follows: I. S. Rich, clerk; F. H. Whitney, assessor; Peter Hedges, John Whitney, justices of the peace; George Shannon, A. T. Whitney, constables; Peter Hedges, F. H. Whitney, L. W. Winkley, trustees, and George Shannon, supervisor.

The first election in Union township, held at the house of F. H. Whitney on October 14, 1862, resulted in the choice of John M. Scott for clerk; T. T. Rogers, assessor; James M. Hedges, constable; John Meredith, road supervisor; T. T. Rogers, F. H. Whitney, J. M. Scott, trustees.

FORMATION OF THE PRESENT TOWNSHIP.

As then organized, Union township was constituted from Lura and Breckenridge, the latter becoming extinct. When the townships of the county were reorganized, in 1870, Massena was taken from this newly formed township, being designated as township 75, range 34; the remainder of the territory, technically known as township 75, range 35, is the present township of Union. It corresponds to the Congressional division and comprises about 23,040 acres of land.

Union township is in the second tier from the south and the east of the county, being bounded north by Franklin, east by Massena, south by Edna and west by Bear Grove township. It is chiefly watered by Seven-Mile creek, which flows from the northeast to the southwest, passing through sections 1, 2, 11, 10, 15, 16, 20, 21, 29, 31 and 32. Considerable timber of natural growth is found along the banks of this stream, but elsewhere the township is mostly open and rolling prairie, with many beautiful artificial groves. The soil is rich and productive, and well developed by industrious and capable settlers.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 135-136.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, August, 2018.