CHAPTER XIV.
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP (CONT'D).

THE TOWNSHIP PIONEER.

The first to make a settlement within the borders of Franklin township was Jesse Eller, who, early in the spring of 1854, took up a claim on section 18 and commenced to open up a farm. First he broke forty or fifty acres and built a round log house. He lived on this place until about 1874, when he removed to Mills county, and thence to Pottawattamie county, where he died June 18, 1884. Mr. Eller was born in Wilkes county, N. C., and was of German extraction, although he was reared in Indiana. He was quite a hunter and trapper during the winter, but when spring came he laid aside his gun and took hold of the plow with a will, so that in a few years he had a good farm opened on the northeast corner of Turkey Grove. During the Civil War, times were very hard, money scarce and the comforts of life very high, and during this period Mr. Eller made more money than any man in the vicinity, trapping and hunting mink, otter, wolves and other fur animals. In his day a good mink skin was worth from $3 to $5, and other furs in proportion.

In the summer of 1854, soon after Mr. Eller had finished his log cabin and fairly established himself on section 20, a daughter was born to this pioneer of Franklin township--the first birth to occur within its limits. In the following year he also broke the first ground and raised the first wheat in the township. In the summer of 1857 William Judd taught a few scholars in his log cabin; and this was the pioneer school.

SETTLERS OF '54 AND '55.

Tipton Marion, who resided near Fairfield, Iowa, came to Franklin township soon after Mr. Eller, and located on an adjoining section (19) near the Jim branch and Turkey Grove. After a residence of about two years he removed to Nebraska.

In the fall of 1854 Peter Kanawyer settled on the northwest quarter of section 3, where he opened up a farm and resided until 1862, when he migrated to the California gold fields.

Another settler who came about the same time as Mr. Kanawyer was Zadoc Stewart, who entered land on a portion of section 9 at what was called Middle Turkey Grove, where he built a cabin, and in the spring and summer of 1855 broke a little piece of ground and put in a crop. He had a family of one son and four or five young unmarried daughters--and was very popular. Mr. Stewart remained here until 1865, when he sold his property and removed to Fremont county, this State, where he died.

John Eller, a son of David and a brother of Jesse Eller, pre-empted a farm (also on section 20) in March, 1855. After remaining here two years he returned to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he had previously resided for eighteen years, and in 1862 commenced a three years' service in the Civil War, with the Thirtieth Iowa Infantry. He participated in the campaigns of the Southwest, from the siege of Vicksburg, and in all of the famous operations of Sherman's army. After the war he returned to Jefferson county, where he remained until September, 1866, when he returned to his farm in Franklin township.

On the 4th of May, 1855, R. L. and W. W. Jameson, brothers, and D. D. Morris, came from Polk county, Iowa, and located on government land which they had entered on the west half of section 7, near the present township boundary. Mr. Morris lived there until 1868, when he removed to the vicinity of Grove City.

R. L. Jameson remained on the farm until his decease in 1873, and his family afterward occupied the homestead. The death of his daughter Evaline occurred May 19, 1855, and was the first in the township.

Daniel Bryant made a settlement, in the summer of 1855, on a portion of section 19. He was a Pennsylvanian, but came from Ohio; was a good mechanic and carpenter; was in the Civil War; afterward lost all his property and in 1880 went to Kansas, but finally died in Woodbury county, this State, in 1882.

Charles Jackson, who locatedon section 7, in the fall of that year, remained only a year, wold his claim to Frederick Stoodt, and removed to Fremont county, this State.

William Judd also located in the township during 1855, settling on section 18, and died on his homestead in April, 1881. His widow afterward resided there.

THE JAMESON CEMETERY.

W. W. Jameson lived for many years upon the land which he entered in 1855, and reared a large family of children, nearly all of whom remained in the township. Two of his brothers served in the Civil War with the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, one (Reed) dying as a prisoner at Belle Island, Miss., on November 14, 1864. It was W. W. Jameson who laid out the cemetery, on section 7, still known by his name, and in which the remains of his niece (heretofore noted) had been deposited five years before while it was his private property.

"Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 164-166.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, July, 2018.