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Chief Poweshiek

State of Iowa

Poweshiek County

Early Poweshiek County Courthouse

Chester	Sheridan	Madison	Jefferson
Grant	Malcom	Bear Creek	Warren
Washington	Pleasant	Scott	Lincoln
Sugar Creek	Union	Jackson	Deep River

 

Deep River Township

Deep River Township was organized March 7,1857. It was at first a part of Jackson Twp. It derived its name from the stream running through its northern part, but not because the water was so deep, but rather it was so far down to the water. The first settlers to live in Deep River Township were Robert Taylor and family from Ohio; John Sargood whose father was from England; Albert Morgan and family from Ohio; and the Lights, who came from Virginia in 1849. The first post office was established in 1852, and called Deep River. The first marriage was that of Nancy Taylor to Rev. W.H. Palmer in 1849. James Light and James Rundle settled in that same year.

The first township election was held in 1857 with the following officers: Ephraim Cox, Asa Cohoe and John Morgan, trustees; Myron Whitney, clerk; L. Mayo, C.M. Wolcott, justices of the peace; H. Armstrong and C. Barber, constables; and James Hillman, road supervisor.

In 1856 the town of Dresden, about a mile east of the present town of Deep River, was platted. The Whitney brothers operated a store there for about 20 years.  When the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad was built, the residents of Dresden moved to be near the railroad, and thus the town of Deep River was established in 1884. The Dresden Cemetery lies about a mile and a half south of the current county road, locally known as the Diamond Trail, just about a quarter mile east of Iowa Highway 21. The town of Tilton was established at the southern border of the township in 1884, as well, although largely lay in Keokuk County.

The town of Deep River was incorporated in the summer of 1887 after the Northwestern Railroad spur from Belle Plaine to Muchakinock in southern Iowa was built. Horace Phelps built a depot and gave the railroad $1500 to secure the location there. The citizens of Dresden then soon followed and the new town of Deep River grew, leaving Dresden largely uninhabited. The first town election resulted in the following officers: J.S. Potter, Mayor; S.S. Jenkins, recorder; J.C. Sanders, treasurer; C.F. Cutler, assessor; James Sargood, marshal; A.C. Converse, Charles Lacher, N.M. Valentine, J.P. Sargood, E.T. Whitney and James Light, councilmen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

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Comments or suggestions may be sent  to Webmaster Shelley Cranston  Last updated Wednesday, August 16, 2000