Formation
Marcus
Township, formed by Board of Supervisors, act of September 7, 1874, is
situated in the northwestern corner of the county, west of Liberty and
north from Amherst townships, comprising all of congressional township
93-42. It originally belonged to Liberty Township.
Early Settlers
The
earliest settlers came to the township in May of 1869. They were H.W.
Bowman and his son Thomas; and W.E. Rose and his brother Lewis. Others
who followed included James Barnes, Joseph F. Shelden in 1870; James
Monier, Prentice Foster and Charles "Whisky" Smith in 1871. R.W. Heath
and "Charlie" Johnson were also early settlers.
First Events
Land broken: W.E. Rose's homestead in 1869.
House: W.E. Rose
Death: Grandpa Bird in 1874
Birth: Elsa Bowman in 1875
Marriage: George Proctor to Miss Lina Shelden, Fall 1878
School: winter of 1873-74 by Miss Lina Shelden
City of Marcus
Was
platted November 27, 1871 as a point on the railroad and was, for the
most part, comprised of Americans, Germans and some Scandinavians. It
was incorporated in June of 1882.
First Events
Building: a frame house built by I.M. Hackson in 1872
Goods handler and general merchandising: J. Hyndman. He opened a store in 1873.
Family: A.H. Dwight and family in April of 1872.
Hotel: Wilmott and Row in the spring of 1874.
Grain warehouse: Parkins Brothers, 1874
Hardware dealer: L. Kloster, 1876-77
Furniture dealer: Fred Collier
Drugs and Medicines: Dr. J. Failing
Attorney: B.H. Wilmott
Blacksmith: William Orr
Wagon-maker: Clarkson Barwick
Postmaster: William Campbell
Livery: J. P. Roe
Shoemaker: John Ernster in 1876
Agricultural implement dealer: I.M. Jackson
Jeweler: Frank Hyde
Harness-Maker: John Bawman
Bank: Bank of Marcus established by Gund and Hiltgen in June 1881
Milliners: Mrs. Wilmott and Mrs. Ruming
Photographer: F.E. Dwight in 1880
School: 1874
Church: Roman Catholic, 1876
Newspaper: Marcus News, established by J. A. Parks in August of 1882
Churches
Roman Catholic in 1876
Methodist Episcopal about 1882
Christian in 1883
Swedish Lutheran 1878
Dentists - a list of former dentists in Marcus and thier biographies
Doctors - a list of former doctors in Marcus and thier biographies
Geographical
Marcus township covers an area of 36.59 square miles (94.8
km2) and contains one incorporated settlement, Marcus.
Marcus Twp - WikiPedia
SOURCES:
The township history was excerpted from Biographical History of
Cherokee County. W. S. Dunbar & Co., 1889. The township map is from
Plat Book of Cherokee County, Iowa, W.W. Hixon & Co.,
Rockford, IL |
