 Chief Poweshiek |
State
of Iowa |
 Poweshiek
County |
Early Poweshiek County
Courthouse |
Sheridan Madison Malcom Bear Creek Warren Washington Pleasant Scott Sugar Creek Union Jackson
Union Township
The first settlements in Poweshiek County were made from the south rather than from the east, probably because of the presence of timber in the southern part of the county. Union Township was the home of the earliest settler in the county in 1843, Richard B. Ogden, in Section 29 just a little southwest of the Forest Home post office site.
Two brothers, Daniel and Joseph W. Satchell brought the first cattle, sheep and hogs to the county. The first horses were brought in by Cheeseman brothers from Maryland. Other early settlers were Elias Williams, John McVey, William Butt, John Moore, Elias Brown, Peter Morgan, William H. Palmer, John McIntire, Robert Steele and Jacob Rivers.
The first marriage was Jesse Shrader to Emma Newson in 1848. The first birth was Hanna A. Woodward in 1847. Dr. C.C. Terrell was the first regular physician in Union Township. The Methodist Church was organized by Rev. J. B. Hardy in 1844. A Baptist Church was organized in 1854. A Christian Church was organized in 1877. The first school was the Free Will School built in 1849 on Section 8, although others claim a school was built earlier in 1846 in Section 26.
