This township was named by
J.C. Rounds, after a severe struggle with Judge
Price, who first named it Morasser, but assented to a
change if the township would vote for a change of the
county seat (the Judge was in favor of Guttenberg,
and he hoped to get the Marion vote for his favorite
location); the name was changed and the election
held, but not one vote was given for Guttenberg, and
Judge Price was disgusted. This is the fourth
township in as many different States that Mr. Rounds
has named Marion, viz: Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin
and Iowa.
Marion Township is in the western tier of Clayton
County, and is township 94 north, range 6 west of the
fifth principal meridian. It is bounded on the north
by Grand Meadow Township, on the east by Wagner, on
the south by Highland, and on the west by Fayette
County. It contains both timber and prairie areas,
much of which is now in a good state of cultivation.
The township is watered by Turkey River, which flows
through its southern half, and numerous small
tributaries.
The township was organized in 1855. It had
previously formed a part of Wagner Township, and was
in this year detached and organized independently.
The first election was held soon after, at the house
of Ole Oleson, section 15, northeast one-quarter, in
the month of April. Notices for this election had
been posted by J.C. Rounds. At this election nineteen
votes were polled. The officers elected were: Clerk,
J.C. Rounds; Justices of the Peace, J.C. Rounds and
Thomas J. Butcher; Assessor, J.C. Rounds; Constable,
Jacob Light; Trustees, Willard Robbins and William
Connor.
The present officers are: Clerk, H.S. Holstensen;
Assessor, Thomas Oleson; Justices of the Peace, A.L.
Peterson and E.E. Lein; Trustees, William C. Barber,
Ole Johnson and B. Frieden; Constables, Ascrim Oleson
and Jacob Paulson.
Before the present school law came in force, there
was but one school in the township, and this was held
on section 36. Who the first teacher was is unknown.
At the present time there are nine school-houses,
with an average value of $300 each. The number of
children in the township of school age is 390.
J.C. Rounds solemnized the first marriage, but no
record was kept of their names.
The first death known was that of a daughter of
William Conner.
The first postoffice was established in 1857. It
is now the only east quarter of section 2, at J.C.
Rounds' house, he is the Postmaster, and has been for
some nine years. The first Postmaster was Benjamin
Worthing. The annual receipts average about $100 per
year.
Religious
The Marion Norwegian Lutheran Church is situated
on section 11, and was built in 1873. It is 44 x 94
feet, 20 feet high, and cost $5,600. The first sermon
was preached May 27, 1873, by Rev. Ole Valdeland, who
has continued as pastor ever since. The present
membership is about 360.
The Apostolic Christian Dunkard Church is located
on section 20. They believe in immersion, and have
several peculiar tenets. The first meeting was held
in Michael Garber's house, in the northeast quarter
of section 30. Meetings were held in private houses
until 1854, when they procured a preacher from the
old country, Christian Bowman. He served until
January, 1870, when he died. The congregation have
built a substantial stone church, 28 x 40 feet, at a
cost of $1,600. The membership includes thirty
families. The present pastor is Rev. Jacob Raugg.
