CHAPTER XII.
GRANT TOWNSHIP.

The territory now known as Grant township constituted a part of what was called Lura township, one of the seven original subdivisions of the county, named after the wife of the pioneer settler, Dr. Gershom S. Morrison. Lura township was organized by order of the County Court, in March, 1858, and the warrant for the first election was issued to Dr. Morrison, as organizing officers were chosen: David Glasgow, Meredith Rowland and Henry McDermott, trustees; J. B. McDermott, clerk.

THE LAST OF LURA TOWNSHIP.

Technically, Lura township embraced all of townships 76 and 77, range 34 (now Lincoln and Grant), the east half of township 76, range 35 (now Franklin), and two tiers of sections from the east side of township 77, range 35 (Benton). Mr. Glasgow, noted above as having been chosen one of the trustees, represented the township in the newly organized Board of Supervisors, in 1861, and thus continued nearly throughout the Civil War period. The last supervisors from Lura were J. B. McDermott and James Turner.

GRANT TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.

In the latter part of 1865 Grant township was organized, its territory being described as township 77, range 34, and Lewis Beason, who had been a resident for four years on section 28, was its representative on the Board of Supervisors. He continued to serve until 1869, when J. C. Morrison succeeded him and filled the position until the following year, after which the county government was reorganized so as to have three general representatives.

In 1870 Grant township had an election at Morrison's school house, under the act making the civil and Congressional townships uniform, at which Thomas Burns was the organizing constable, and the following officers were chosen as township representatives: J. C. Morrison, Edward Griffith and William Peters, trustees; William L. Cole, clerk; A. J. Everett, assessor; R. W. Calkins, and C. D. Bartlett, justices of the peace; I. A. McKinley and P. Albee, constables; William Wallace, C. J. Decker and I. A. McKinley, road supervisors.

LOCATION AND NATURAL FEATURES.

The civil and Congressional township of Grant lies in the extreme northeastern corner of Cass county, and contains about 24,000 acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Audubon county, on the east by Adair county, on the south by Lincoln township and on the west by Benton township.

The soil is generally of a rich, black, sandy loam, although some of the light colored bluff deposit comes to the surface; but both of these varieties are of the quick, productive class, and nearly everything planted yields abundantly, as well as promptly. Small grains do finely, and corn superbly. The native grasses grow luxuriantly on the prairies, and furnish rich pasturage for live-stock, and the land is abundantly watered by numerous streams.

Both Turkey and Crooked creeks traverse the territory of Grant township, and, with numerous smaller streams, drain and water it most thoroughly. Turkey creek has its headwaters in Adair county and enters Grant on the southwest quarter of section 13, and crossing that and sections 22, 23, 28, 29 and 31, in its southwesterly course toward its parent stream, makes its exit in the southwest of section 31. Crooked creek enters from Audubon county in the northwest corner of section 4 and bisects sections 5 and 7, passing into Benton township on the west line of the southwest quarter of the latter.

The surface of the township is a gently rolling prairie in most parts, only a little of it being hilly, but not sufficiently so as to injure it for agricultural purposes. The only considerable body of timber is what is known as Morrison's Grove, south of Turkey creek, on sections 29, 31, 32 and 33. Another natural grove is also found south of Anita, on section 28. Many of the settlers, however, with admirable foresight have planted and cultivated artificial groves near their dwellings, which serve as wind-breaks, conservators of moisture and most attractive features of the landscape.

The main line of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad crosses the township in a somewhat diagonal line, entering on the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 13, and crossing to the southwest corner of that section, thence west along the south line of section 14, thence southwesterly intersecting sections 22,28, 29 and 31, and leaving Grant on the west line of the latter. There is one station on this line in the township, at Anita, on sections 21 and 28. Grant has been settled by a thrifty and intelligent class, mostly Americans and Germans, and the comfortable homesteads scattered through it indicate not only these desirable traits, but qualities of enterprise and good taste.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 149-151.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2018.