Clay Township County's Smallest Settlement Since 1839
Clay Township, the county's smallest by both area and population, forms from 1839 developments. Early settlers include Ellis Walters, Moses Haskins, Richard Disney, and others. first marriage, birth, and death records mark 1840s. Congregationalist and Black Hawk M. E. B. churches date to 1842 and earlier, with early pastors, a long-running Sunday school, and a notable pioneer effort shaping the township.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Skunk River
Clay Township
Yoring
Orson Kinsman
Honey Creek
Richland
Keokuk County
Brighton
Dutch Creek
Ellis Walters
Moses Haskins
Richard Disney
Moses Haskins, Jr
Robert McCarty
H. T. Pringle
Eilis Walters
Elizabeth J. Edwards
Hsg
William Disberry
Richard
Mary A. Disberry
Mr. Mitchell
Blue Point
van Pelt
Indiana
Mr. Crill
Methodist Episcopal Church
Mr. Burnham
Congregational Church
Ralph Dewey
Ohio
Washington
Robert Pringle
Clarissa Vance
Yeoman
Clay
Congregationalist Church
M B. Mills
Roswell S. Mills
John M. Waters
Margaret Waters
Samuel Cooper
Jane Cooper
Margaret Edwards
Marcellus Meacham
Charles Burnham
F. A. Armstrong
Bennett Roberts
Robert Hunter
J. R. Kennedy
T. H. Holmes
D. B. Elis
Harvey Robinson
James Barnett
William Bradford
Black Hawk M. EB
William Spencer
R. Disberry
Isaac Watson
Mr. Casey
Mr. Worthing
Isaac Dillon
Sarah Atwood
Mr. Ricker
First Real Estate Record from 1839 1840
The article notes a rare half quire book used as the county real estate record from October 1, 1839 to April 11, 1840. J. B. Davis is identified as the first custodian and likely creator of this remarkable, well preserved record kept on plain foolscap sheets with brown wrapping paper.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. B. Davis
Formation and erection of church building in 1863
In 1863 the society formed a church site was chosen and a building was erected the same year at an approximate cost of six hundred dollars.
Personal Story Viola Eyestone Young Remembers Iowa Prairie School Life
Viola Eyestone Young recalls a Midwest childhood on an Iowa prairie farm with varied teachers and scarce resources. She describes surviving early grief after becoming caretaker for siblings at 17, later teaching, finding happiness in friendship, and feeling reflective yet hopeful at 75 as she cherishes Tona birthplace and memories of late friends.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Viola Eyestone Young
45Th St
Los Angeles
California
Iowa
Tona
Mary R McCoy reminiscences of early Iowa life
Mrs Mary R McCoy of Crawfordsville Iowa recalls her family journey from Pittsburgh to Dubuque by boat with horses and farm gear. They settled near Dubuque then Washington County, describing winters with deep snow and falls when Indians camped nearby. They visited with provisions and made sorghum molasses. Father owned land where Ainsworth later began the town.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mary R. McCoy
Crawfordsville
Iowa
Jesse Pearson
Pittsburgh
Ohio
Dubuque
Washington County
Long Creek
Ainsworth
Mr. Ainsworth
Early Life Reflections from James F. Marsh in Iowa
James F. Marsh of Washington Iowa recounts arriving with his parents in 1854 and living in Washington County since. He recalls a childhood trip with his father to Bunker's Mill north of Richmond, crossing the river in a flat boat with a rope and pulley, and the family dwelling in a log house with clapboard and a snowy roof.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James F. Marsh
Washington
Iowa
Washington County
May Father
Bunker’s Mill
Richmond
Tile Factory and Quarry on Eckels Farm History
James Eckels operated the first tile factory near the Mississippi in spring 1877, three miles northwest of Washington, with a 400000 foot capacity worth 3600. He also ran a stone quarry supplying Washington buildings, employing two men and yielding limestone. The log cabin in Sunset Park was built in 1840 by Alexander Young, later moved to Sunset Park by the D A R in 1912 and restored in 1934. A factory boiler explosion occurred June 11, 1883, at Hekel's plant, with a 6000 pound boiler bursting six miles away, causing property damage but no injuries.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Eckels
J. W. Purvis
Mississippi River
Washington
Frank Pringle
Eckels
Sunset Park
Cedar Township
Alexander Young
Young
Indiana
Iowa
Louisa County
Washington County
Franklin Township
Cedar
Crooked Creek
Hekel
Early Childhood in Washington and Sunset Park
Ida V. Hough of West Chester Iowa recalls being born in 1860 near Washington. She first visited by doctor Rousseau of Washington and suffered diphtheria at age two. She recalls the old log cabin in Sunset Park owned by a neighbor and playing there as a child, and the plank sidewalks around the square in Washington.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ida V. Hough
West Chester
Iowa
Washington
Doctor Rousseau
Sunset Park
Moving to Iowa in 1870 a humble pioneer tale
Mrs RR M Hamilton recalls crossing to Keota Iowa in 1870 with two lumber wagons and two young calves in tow. She notes paying 90 cents a bushel for corn that spring, her husband buying 40 acres at 16 dollars per acre, building a two room house in November, marrying in January, and moving in February without electric lights or a bath tub.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
M. Hamilton
Keota
Iowa
Also Mentioned on This Page
Old Clay
Clay Congregational Church
Fied
Eckels Farm
Levi van Dyke
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