Colfax township was named after Schuyler Colfax. It formed part of Lizard township until September 6, 1870, when it was annexed to Cedar township. On September 4, 1881, Colfax township was established as a separate township.
When first platted the township had large marshes, some of which consumed hundreds of acres. It has since been drained for cultivation and the soil was of very good quality. There was not a tree in the township when the first settlers located there.
Most of the settlers in Colfax township were homesteaders. It is noted that George Wallace and "a few others" were purchasers.

Early Residents

Those who arrived in 1869
Clark, Edward B - brother in law of Gad Lowry, arrived with him and his son.
Jents, Fred - and his family arrived about June or July 1869 and located in section 14.
Johnson, Gus - arrived with John Johnson, Charles Peterson and Harry and John Nelson from Sweden. They walked from Des Moines carrying their luggage with them. They all entered homesteads on the same day-March 3, 1969, in section 12.
Johnson, John - arrived with Gus Johnson, Charles Peterson and Harry and John Nelson from Sweden. They walked from Des Moines carrying their luggage with them. They all entered homesteads on the same day-March 3, 1969, in section 12. He built a sod house in the spring of 1870 and he lived in it with Charles and John Peterson and John Carlson. John married Christina Anderson on October 12, 1872. She was born in Sweden on September 17, 1852 and came to America in 1870. Their children were Jennie, Oscar, Edward, Minnie, Alfred, Victor and Ida.
Long, Andrew O - arrived in 1869 and located in section 34, but a few months later moved to Bellville township, section 2.
Lowrey, Gad C - arrived in June 1869 in section 28. Gad was born May 6, 1827, in Connecticut, the son of Ira F and Jane (nee Jacobs) Lowrey. His house was the first in section 28 and the largest in the township for several years. He married Emeline F Snell on August 30, 1849 in Illinois. She was born in Indiana on December 28, 1830. While in Illinois they moved to Layafette, where he engaged in the manufacture of wagons and carriages with his brother in law, Abraham Smith. He also served in the civil war. In 1899 Gad and Emeline celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. His house was blown away by a cyclone on April 21, 1878. They later removed to Pomeroy, and their home there was destroyed by the great Pomeroy cyclone of 1893.
They had seven children:
Jason - arrived with his father. He was the first to break land in the township. He was born in Illinois on June 29, 1850. He removed to Pomeroy, Calhoun county, in 1878. In Pomeroy he worked at the post office and later, in the insurance business. He was instrumental in organzing the State Bank of Pomeroy in 1892, and later became president of the bank. On November 6, 1876, he married Elizabeth Garlock of Cedar township. She died on July 21, 1892 leaving one child. That child died soon after her. On July 16, 1893, he married Hattie Wells, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Wells of Calhoun county. Their children were Genevieve and Vivian.
Ida - born in Illinois on March 11, 1854. She married Samuel H Gill on February 21, 1872. She was a teacher. She died on April 25, 1878, from injuries received when a tornado destroyed their home on April 21, 1878.
Charles F - was born in Illinois on January 11, 1856. He married Laura Lockey on May 2, 1881. She is the daughter of Alexander and Ella Lockey. They removed to Fort Dodge and raised seven children - Clara, Jay, Frances, Lyle, Wayne, Ava and Ross.
Emma - who was born July 19, 1858. She was a teacher when she married R M Wilbur on June 16, 1878. He was a travelling salesman. They resided in Pomeroy, where she taught school. They eventually lived St Paul Minnesota, where she died on March 15, 1886.
Mary E - who died in childhood.
Judd - who was born on January 24, 1862. He married Emily Wego who was born in Minnesota in 1890. They removed to Escanaba, Michigan, where he worked as a train dispatcher. They had a daughter, Madge.
Smith G - who was born January 13, 1865. He married Mary Miller on October 23, 1888, and they lived in Pomeroy. Their children were Clyde and Bernice.
Matheis, Fred - arrived March 1, 1869 (see also Fred Smith)
Murphy, Patrick - visted the township in September, 1869 and purchased his land. He moved onto his property in 1873. He was living in Bureau county, Illinois. Patrick was born in Ireland in 1836. In 1851 he came with his family to America and settled in LaSalle county, Illinois. Here, he married Ellen Cunnon, a native of Pennsylvania. Patrick and Ellen had nine children: (1) John - born in Illinois is 1864. He married Elizabeth Taylor in 1894. they lieved on the NW 1/4 of section 15 in Grant township. (2) Patrick - who was born in Illinois in 1866. He married Mary Kennedy of Calhoun county in 1890. They lived on the SW 1/4 of section 3 in Grant township. Their children were Mary Agnes and Maude. (3) Michael - born 1873. (4) Mary (5) Ambrose (6) Elizabeth (7) Philip (8) Agnes and (9) James.
Nelson, Harry August - arrived with Gus and John Johnson, Charles Peterson and John Nelson from Sweden. They walked from Des Moines carrying their luggage with them. They all entered homesteads on the same day-March 3, 1969, in section 12. Harry died in 1870.
Nelson, John A - arrived with Gus and John Johnson, Charles Peterson and Harry Nelson from Sweden. They walked from Des Moines carrying their luggage with them. They all entered homesteads on the same day-March 3, 1969, in section 12.
Peterson, Charles - arrived in from Sweden with his personal friends John A Johnson, Gust H Johnson, Harry August Nelson (who died in 1870) and John A Nelson. They walked from Des Moines carrying their luggage with them. They all entered homesteads on the same day-March 3, 1869 in section 12. As there were no houses nearby, they all had to have their land surveyed three times until they got a satisfactory result. Each built a sod house on their claim and worked on the railroad when not needed on their homesteads. In 1879 he married Hilda Nelson. She was a native of Sweden, born there in 1857. From the source - "His family consisted of five children, Alfred, Frank, Henry, Melvin and Amy, four having died in childhood".
Prange, August - arrived in 1869 and located in section 20 with Rudolph and Amandus Zieman.They worked on the railroad. He was born in Prussia in 1835. He ran a blacksmith shop on his homestead until 1883, when he established a large shop in Pomeroy. From the source - "in 1875 he married Augusta Zimmerman, relict of a brother killed in the Prussian Army". It is noted his brother had a son, Frank Prange, who married Rose Randall and lived in Pomeroy with their children Bertha and Charles. The childredn of August and Augusta were Albert, Alma, William, August and Emma.
Smith (Schmidt), Fred C - who was born in Germany on June 7, 1837 and was one of the first men to live in Colfax township.
Both Fred Smith and Fred Matheis located on adjoining homesteads in section 28 on March 1, 1869. They built a shanty on the line between the two properties and lived in the shanty together. They jointly purchased two yoke of oxen, and Fred Smith broke the first furrow in the township. The each broke about 50 acres on their homesteads. They also plowed for other settlers who arrived later on. In the fall of 1869 Fred Smith built a house. He also married Eliza Briggs, who lived in Calhoun county and was a native of England. Their children were Louie, who died at the age of 26 in 1896 and Emma.
Speik, Herman - arrived about July 1869 and location on section 22.
Zieman, Amandus - arrived with Rudolph Zieman and August Prange in 1869. They lived in section 20 and worked for the railroad. He was born in 1851. He later lived in Matlock, Minnesota.
Zieman, Rudolph - arrived with Amandus Zieman and August Prange in 1869. They lived in section 20 and worked for the railroad. He was born in 1844. Later, Rudolph sold his homestead to his sister, Luzetta Valentine. They lived on the farm until about 1900, when they also moved to Matlock, Minnesota.
Zieman, William - father of Amandus and Rudolph, and their sister Luzetta who married Mr Valetine. The Ziemans' were natives of Germany. Their mother (not named) died shortly after their arrival in Pocahontas county. William died there in 1895.
Those who arrived in 1870. Many people located and entered homesteads near the end of 1869 but did not move onto them until 1870, and they are noted here.
Brown, Devlin - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Brownell, Ray - son of Thomas J (see bio, 1872). Lived on 120 acres in section 34 which his father had purchased in 1858. He bought his fathers farm in 1890.
Chapin, James B - the first election in the township was held at his home on October 10, 1871. He lived in the NW 1/2 of section 15. This land was later owned by Daniel N Boyd.
Dunn, Theodore - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Fells, Joseph - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Gearhart, George W
Hillstrom, Carl - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Hite, James
Hoppy, Christopher - secured his homestead in section 20. He was married to Margaret, and he died on his land in 1881. His wife lived on it until 1895 when she removed to Fonda. They had three children.
Grace - who married Andrew Anderson and lived in Fonda
Adelia - who lived with her mother
Mary - who married William Gezer and lived in Section 4.
Johnson, Charles - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870. Arrived with John Johnson
Johnson, John A - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870. Arrived with Charles Johnson
Johnson, Julia - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Little, James
Malmburg, August - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Morien, John E - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Murphy, John
Perkins, Charles Gustavus - was born March 17, 1841. He was born in Woodstock, Oxford county, Maine. His parents were Rev. Charles and Amazina (nee Cushman) Perkins. He elinisted in the civil war for 4 years. In 1870, in Winthrop, Bucanan county, Iowa he married Sarah J Pierce on March 28. He held many civic positions in the township. Their daughter was Grace A.
Perkins, Reverend Charles - father of Gustavus, lived in the township from 1870 until 1887. He lived in Fonda from 1874-1876. He was ordained a minister in 1852 at Androscoggin. He served in North Paris, Bridgeton and Hartford Maine, and Randolph, New Hampshire. His wife was Amazina Cushman, and she was born in 1817. She was of Puritan descent. She arrived in the county in March, 1872 and died in December. In 1874 Reverend Charles married Mrs Elizabeth Bicknell of Pomeroy. About 1877 he returned to Paris, Maine, where he died on July 6, 1892.
Peterson, John (brother of Peter) - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870. He was born in Sweden in 1845. In 1881 he married Catherine Larson and lived on sectino 24. Catherine died in 1887 leaving children Anna S and Minnie M. In 1889 John remarried, this time to Martha Johnson. Their children were Esther W and Arvard.
Peterson, Peter (brother of John)- with Charles, homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870. He was born in Sweden in 1842. His homestead was in section 24. He married Christine Welander. They removed to Pomeroy in 1901. He was a farmer and a mason.
Reimer, John - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Russell, Henry (brother of John) - was born in Yorkshire, England on December 31, 1834. Henry, his wife, their five children and his brother John all arrived in Pocahontas county in 1870. John lived on an adjoining homestead. In 1899 Henry moved to Oklahoma. His family consisted of 13 children:
James - the eldest died at the age of 20 in 1883.
William
Nellie - married Claude Kay and they lived in Rockwell City. Their children were Ernest, Guy, Rose and Paul
Mary - who married Charles Brown and removed to Grant Township
Lizzie - who married Wesley Ellison, and also lived in Grant township
Hattie - who married David Shippen and removed to Kansas
Christopher
John - who married Mary Coykendall and lived in Grant township
Harry
Rose - who married Fred Coykendall and lives in Colfax
Effie - who married Hartley Roberts and removed to Fonda
Alice
Carrie
Russell, John (brother of Henry) - built his sod house in 1870 and lived there alone for several years. In 1876 he built a frame house and married Sarah Lovering. Their children were Arthur, William, Elijah, John and Mary. John died in 1883. About 1885 Sarah Lovering Russell married Henry Bentz and they "lived in the southern part of the state."
Samuelson, August - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870. He was born in Sweden on August 22, 1843. In 1876 he married Hilda Munson, daughter of Swan P Munson. Their children were Selma, Minnie, Otella, Esther, Mabel, twins Emil and Freda, Genie and Lorence.
August Samuelson had an older brother, Peter Otto Samuelson, who came to the county in 1884 with his wife and six children. Peter's wife was Caroline Albertina.
Sanborn, William
Soder, John - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Stewart, Robert Charles - was born in Glasgow, Scotland on September 10, 1829. His parents were William M and Mary Stewart. He lived a while in Maine. In 1855 he married Lucy Ann Lander in Massachusetts. In order to make some more money, he started a shoe shop in a corner of of the general store in Pomeroy owned by Nicholas Kiefer. When not working in the shoe shop he sometimes walked to his homestead to check in on things. He sold it in 1883 when he removed to Pomeroy. He died there on April 17, 1899. He was active in the organization of the township and held many offices. His children were:
Charles Edwin - who married Relief B Mackey in September, 1883. He then died 1 month later at the age of 25.
Herman William - who was a druggist. He married Elizabeth V Gould in 1884 and removed to Omaha, Nebraska. His children were Ray and Genie.
George - a painter and paper hanger who married Mary J Frost in 1888. The lived in Pomeroy and their children are Irwin W and Ray Frost.
Elizabeth - who died in 1883 at age 15
Synstelien, N C
Turner, Ludwig D - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870. He was born in 1841, a native of Warren county New York. While in New York he married Eliza J Russell in 1868. She was born in New York in 1845. Ludwig, Eliza and Mrs Julia A (nee Turner) Johnson joined them. She was a widow of Marshall Johnson. He died from paralysis on his land in 1877. Their children were (1) Gertrude - who died at age 14 from diptheria in 1886 (2) John - who died at age 13 from diptheria in 1886 (3) Matie L, who married Frank E Bailey and removed to Fonda where her mother resided.
From the source material, it is believed that Julia Turner is a sister of Ludwig. He also had four brothers, Andrew, George, Joseph and John. All five brothers enlisted in the civil war.
Julia A Turner Johnson was married Marshall Johnson, who died in Andersonville Prison. Their children were George, william, Lourinda and Lillias. Julia Turner Johnson married Robert Russell, a brother Henry Russell. George Johnson - married Ida Willard and lived in Laurens. William - married Eunice Pierce and lived in Laurens. Lourinda lived in New York State and Lillias in Jones County, Iowa.
Walker, Thomas - was born in England in 1820. While there he married Elizabeth May in 1842. She was born in 1820 also. In 1844 they came to America and lived in Ohio and other states until 1870. Thomas died in 1889. They had one daughter and she died in Ohio. In 1895 Mrs Walker sold the farm and removed to Pomeroy.
Williams, Jacob L
Yohnke, Fred
Zieman, William - homesteaded in 1869, moved on the land in 1870
Those who arrived in 1871
Allen, W C B
Carlson, John
Gustafsen, Peter J
Guy, George
Hagg, Gustave
Harris, William B
Holmes, John A - purchased his land in 1871 but did not live on it until 1876. He was born in Sweden on October 1, 1848 to Peter and Mary (nee Burke) Holmes. In 1867 at the age of 18 he came to America. On January 11, 1876, he married Matilda Peterson, the sister of Alexander Peterson. His land was located in the SW 1/4 of section 15. He was a prosperous farmer. He was an official memeber of the Colfax Swedish Mission church, clerk of the township, and a trustee of the township. They had three children: (1) Mable, who married Peter Morrision in 1899 and they had a child (2) Juvey Eldora (3) Alexander. John died on August 9, 1901, at the home of his friends in Henry county.
Johnson, August - arrived with John and Charles
Johnson, Charles - arrived with August and John
Johnson, John - arrived with August and Charles
Krutchen (Crookten), John - was born Germany in 1837. He homesteaded on section 28. When he came to America he lived in New York State, where, in 1867, he married Helen Holtzmeyer. He was in the civil war. John and Helen had nine children.
Annie - who married Henry Kreul in 1884.
Mary - who married John Doyle in 1894 and removed to Pomeroy.
Lucy - who married Charles Drummer (Drommer) in 1892 and removed to Calhoun County.
John W - who lived in section 22. He married Helen Tennies in 1897.
Elizabeth - who married James Wood and removed to Grant township.
Sylvester
James
Edward
Louisa H
Lindell, Augusta
Lory, Richard
Munson, Swan Peter - is noted as arriving in 1870 and 1871. He was born on August 27, 1831, a native of Sweden. In 1858, while living in Sweden, he married Lena Johnson. They came to America about 1868 with their three children and lived in Illinois and Indiana before moving to Iowa. He was a well built man who enjoyed the reputation of being the strongest man in the township. They had five children:
Hilda - who married August Samuelson in 1880.
Charles August - who was born in Sweden in 1863. He married Selma Johnson in 1894. She was born in 1875. Their children were Esther and Ellen.
Christina - who was born in 1866. In 1889 she married Andrew Gilbert. They had two children, Ada and Arthur, and then they divorced. She remarried in 1892, to Peter Palmer. They lieved on her fathers' farm and their children were Elizabeth, Rosa and August Walter.
Anna - who was born in 1877. She married Gustave Palmer in 1888. They had a child, Frederick. Gustave died in 1890. In 1901 Anna remarried Albert Johnson.
Emily - who married Peter E Backstrom in 1898. Their children were Alfred and Helen.
Murphy, Torrence
Stigney, Archibald
Waas, Andrew
Wallace, George - was born July 29, 1836 in Summit County, Ohio. His parents were James Waugh Wallace and Adaline (nee Hancher) Wallace. He was educated in Northfield, Ohio. It was there that he married Cassandra McKesson in 1861. He held several county offices in his lifetime. His last position was county recorder, until he died on August 20, 1880. After his death his wife removed to Pomeroy, later to Oberlin, Ohio to the home of her son James.
They had four children, one of which died in childhood
James Waugh - an instructor of music at Oberlin, Ohio. In 1891 he married Lenora Mershon, of Des Moines.
Evalina - Foster E Blackinton, first living in Pomeroy and later in Ogden, Utah.
William R - was a carpenter. His wife was Martha Hank. They removed to Platteville, Wisconsin.
Those who arrived in 1872
Barrett, John - located in section 11. He was born in Ireland in 1833. He came to Illinois in 1848, and while there married Hannah Mullen. They had three children. Hannah died in 1871. Their children were:
Jennie - who married John Sanquist. He died soon and left one child, Edward. Jennie later married Edward Hogan and removed to Pomeroy, Calhoun county.
Edward - married Anna Samuelson and resided in Manson.
Joseph - married Mary O'Brien of Pocahontas. They were married in 1899. They live on the home place and have a child, John.
Brownell, Thomas - was born in 1818, a native of Bennington county, Vermont. He lived on the SW 1/4 of section 23 from 1872 until 1890. While in Vermont he married Mary Ann Carpenter in 1843. Mary Ann died in 1887. In 1890 Thomas sold his farm to his son Ray (see bio, 1870). Thomas removed to Pomeroy and was in the great Pomeroy cyclone of 1893, and the injuries received eventually led to his demise.
Thomas and Mary Ann had four children:
Ray - who was born in Vermont on January 18, 1845. Ray married Ella Blackinton, who was from Rockford, Illinois. They later removed to Pomeroy where he worked in the mercatile business and later the banking business. He bought his fathers farm in 1890 to farm again, but sold it two years later. Their children were Madge and Meade.
Morrell - who died at age 22 while living in Illinois.
Sarah - who was born in Vermont on July 20, 1852. She married R A Horton in 1873. They moved to Colfax township about 1875. In 1878 they removed to Manson. She died there in 1895. They had four children, of which three lived-Arthur, Mary and Margie.
Niles - who was born in Illinois on December 1, 1854. He lived in Colfax township from 1872 until 1890. He married Mary Palmer in 1895, and their children were William and Donald.
Johnson, Gust F - arrived in 1872 with his wife Helen Sophia Gustason. They were married in 1872 near Rockford, Illinois. Her parents were Andrew and Christina Gustason, and they lived on the farm when Gust moved in with his wife Helen. Their children were Ida, Alma, Ernest, Amanda, Joseph and Hannah.
Those who arrived in 1873
Bischoff, Charles August - was born in Statten, Prussia on June 23, 1839. He spent a good deal of time as a seaman in Prussia. He left his homeland in 1856 and located in Westchester county, New York. In 1862 he moved from there. He married Louisa Brinker on January 15, 1866. She was born in 1848 and died in December, 1870, and is the daughter of Joseph Brinker, who lived in Grant township. She died, leaving a daughter, Annie, who was born in 1868. In November, 1893, Annie married John Wart. They lived in Buena Vista county and had a daughter, Annie Myrtle.
Charles remarried, this time to Sarah M Beekman on December 23, 1871. Sarah was born in New York state on October 1, 1842. Sarah's grandfather was Gerard Beekman. Sarah's great grand parents on her father's side were Catherine Van Courtland and Philip Van Courtland.
They had seven children:
Irwin
Theresa - who married Anton Sohmer on July 8, 1891. They removed to Des Moines and their children were Rosa and Elizabeth
Wilhelmina - who married Adolph Timan in 1898. He purchased her fathers home place in November, 1900, and they lived on it.
Augusta
Ophelia
Frederick
Carl
Boyd, Daniel N - School was taught in his home in 1873, and that is the earliest reference found as to when he arrived. It is noted he is one of the early residents of the township. He is a brother of Simon Pratt, who arrived later. He was probably born in Washington county, New York. His brother was born there. He was a justice, a trustee and secretary of the school board. About 1882 he left the county and removed to the State of Washington where he lives with his eldest son, William. William's mother, Daniels first wife died. Her name is not mentioned. Daniel then remarried Mrs (Matthew) Margaret (nee Darling) Wallace, who had a child, Elizabeth Wallace. Elizabeth Wallace later became Mrs A. G. Maxwell. Two other children are mentioned, Thomas and Nettie, but it is not clear if they are Daniel and Margarets' children or Maxwell children.
Johnson, August - a native of Sweden was born in 1840. His homestead was in section 12. While in Sweden he married Micheis Munson in 1864. They had a son Authur. In 1899 they sold their homestead and returned to Sweden where they spent the rest of their lives.
Johnson, John E - was born 1820 in Sweden. He homesteaded in section 10. He came to America with his wife Christiana. His wife died in 1895 and the age of 72 years. After his wife died, his nephew John Blumber and family have lived on the homestead with John.
Those who arrived in 1875
Swawson, Joseph Reverend - Was a native of Sweden. He came to America in his youth, living in Illinois. It was there he married Betty (Elizabeth) Anderson. In 1875 the removed to section 13 in Colfax township. That year he received his license to preach the gospel. He was pastor of the Colfax and Manson Swedish Lutheran churchs' from 1876 until 1880. In 1885 he located in section 14. It was there that he died at the age of 58 in 1895. His children were Elmer, Martin, Elizabeth, Justus, Richard, David, Mary, Hannah and Esther.
Those who arrived in 1877
Peterson, Alexander - was born January 16, 1850 to Andrew Peter Peterson (b. 5-15-1818) and Charlotte (nee Kauntson) Peterson (b. 9-8-1823). He had a sister, Matilda (see John Holmes). His parents were married in 1848. They came to America in 1867 settling first in Illinois. Three years later they moved to Henry county, Iowa, where Alexander married Sophia Swanson. She was the only person in her family to come to America, and she was born in Sweden on August 27, 1858. Andrew Peter Peterson died at the age of 82 on December 22, 1900. Alexander Peterson held many county offices. Alexander and Sophia had four children: Melvin O, Alice M, Emma C, Elmer A.
Peterson, Frank - who was born in Sweden in 1851. He secured his homestead in 1873, in section 12. He lived there until 1892, when he bought 160 acres on the NW 1/4 of section 23. In 1875 he married Turina Henricks, a step-daughter of Nels Anderson. Their children were Hilda C, Ida, Ina, Amanda, Verner, Carl, Lawrence and Nellie. Turina died on May 2, 1899.
Those who arrived in 1878
Maxwell, Alexander - was born near Albany, New York on January 11, 1852. He moved to Colfax township on February 27, 1878. That same day he married Martha Elizabeth Wallace, the daughter of Matthew and Margaret (nee Darling) Wallace. (see Boyd, Daniel N). She was the first teacher in the Colfax Center school house and taught for several years. In 1890 they removed the Pomeroy, and later to Storm Lake where Alexander worked at Buena Vista College as a custodian. Their children were Genevieve E, Wallace G and Margaret A.
Those who arrived in 1879
Parker, Frank J - arrived in April, 1879 on section 28. By 1896, when he moved to Pomeroy, he had acquired 240 acres of land. He then worked in life insurance and as a constable. His wifes name is not mentioned. Their children were Carrie, Frederic, Roy, Niles, Howard and Pearl.