 Chief Poweshiek |
State
of Iowa |
 Poweshiek
County |
Early Poweshiek County
Courthouse |
Sheridan Madison Jefferson
Malcom Bear Creek Warren Washington Pleasant Scott Sugar Creek Union Jackson
Jefferson Township
Jefferson Township was formally incorporated April 3, 1854. Norman Parks and James Brewer were the first Justices. Eli M. Doughty, George Lukehart, E.M. Doughty, and Norman Parks were the first Constables. Eli M. Doughty was the first Supervisor; James Brewer was Assessor; H.L. Ainsworth was the Clerk.
A log schoolhouse was built on Section 2; Daniel Kennedy taught some 20 students. Rev. Jamison drove down from Marengo (Iowa County) to preach and hold services for the Methodist Episcopal Church of Jefferson. The first wedding in the Township was between J.H. Doughty and Mary Jane Winslow September 12, 1854. Andrew Wilson built the first sawmill on Walnut Creek in 1856. By 1875 the population had grown to 836.
In 1883, the Chicago and Northwestern Railway Company began construction of a railroad through eastern Poweshiek County, passing through Jefferson, Warren, Lincoln and Deep River Townships. This was known as "Branch 2" or the "Pumpkin Vine". The town of Hartwick was surveyed in August 1884, an official platting was filed in 1885, and a station on the rail line was located there. There are two cemeteries: Hartwick and Winslow.
