The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-09-10

magnificent scenery in the shape of bluffs
may be found" The State has no noun
tains, and but few very large hills, though
our eastern friends of the 'fat belief"
would be we'll satisfied that it is not all
fat, had they to climb few of them.
OUR COUNTY.
This county is the garden of the glori-
Gus State of Iowa, and we do not say this
in braggadocia manner, or from partial
views as we shall show by figures ere we
close. Mahaska is situated in the third
tier of counties from the State line on the
south, and fourth from the Mississippi
river on the east, being fifty miles from
Missouri, and seventy-fve miles from the
river. The county is twenty-four miles
square, and well watered by the Des
Moines (the largest river in the State),
and Skunk rivers, Middle, Muchachinock,
Cedar, and multitude of smaller creeks
By the census of 1870, the population was
22,O74, and rapidly increasing. The
county is divided into sixteen townships,
each six miles square as follows:
CEDAR TOWNSHIP,
is in the southeast corner of the county
is beautiful body of land, principally
prairie, lying On the divide, and has some
Of the best farming land in the State 1t
was early settled, is well improved, and
has one village-Fremont, of about 200
inhabitants. The township is well wat
cred by Cedar and other creeks.
HARRISON TIP,
west of Cedar is one of the best townships
in the county. The eastern part of the
township is similar to Cedar, while the
western is more broken and better tim
bered. 1t has no town, but corner of
Eddyville juts over from Wapello county
Coal is plenty here, and considerably
worked. 1t is watered by Loss, Kenne-
beck, and other creeks.
DEs MONIES TIP,
is next on the west, and is similar to west
ern Harrison The Des Moines river runs
diagonally through it from northwest to
southeast; and the Central and ID. Y.
railroads cross it near the eastern bounda-
ry Some of the best coal banks in the
county are found here, and are principally
worked about Given Station, at the cross
ing of the railroads, where several heavy
capitalists known as the Iowa Central
Coal Company, have invested, and are
reaping rich harvest from the "Black
Diamond" Some of the best building
stone in the State may be found in this
township, near Given. Frank Castles
quarry near that place furnished the cut
stone for Herald Block" Exchange
Block" and nearly all the business blocks
of Oskaloosa. Next west is
JEFFERSON TIP,
settled by as thrifty and industrious farm
ers as any community can boast of. The
soil is good, fertile and yields abundantly
1t is well watered by Coal, Bluff, and 9th
er creeks, and had it the advantage of
bridge across the Des Moines, as we hope
soon it will have, would be one of the
most desirable townships in the county to
live in. Some of our heaviest cattle and
hog-raisers live here There are two post
offices in the township-Ferry, and Eve
land Grove. Crossing the Cedar which
forms the boundary between Jefferson and
Scott townships, and within half mile of
the county line, is fine iron bridge of the
King patent This completes the south
ern tier of townships. North of Jeffer-
son is
SCOTT TIP.
The Des Moines River divides the town
ship, cutting off strip on the southwest
corner. This was one of the first sections
settled, and at one time the county seat was
talked of at a point herein, but settled on
at the present location. The esouth and west
parts are well timbered, while the north is
prairie, all well settled and in high state
of cultivation. Coal and building stone
abound, but are only worked for home de-
mand owing to lack of transportation.
Bellefontaine, the only town, is on the
west side of the river, and is place of
about 200 inhabitants, with fine church,
school house, three or four stores, ETC.
The river is crossed by ferry. Next east
we find
OSKALOOSA AND SPRING CREEK TIPS.
Owing to the fact that Oskaloosa city
is situated on the dividing line, it has been
found more convenient to consider them
as one township, which is done under the
name of Oskaloosa, and is consequently
twelve miles east and west, by six miles
north and south. The Central and Keo-
kuk and Des Moines formerly Des Moines
Valley railroads run through this town.
ship, the Central from south to north
through Oskaloosa; the X. & d., from the
south line diagonally to the northwest
corner Besides the county seat is the
town of Beacon, on the K. & d., % miles
from OskalOosa 1t is one of the thrift
est little towns in the county 1t has 400
inhabitants, good church, fine brick
school house building, two steam Touring
mills, one four story brick, which has
few equals in the State; and is surround
ed by some of the best coal mines in the
State, some of the veins being ten feet in
UiliCkICoS. VI UOuo uduy
shipped from here to all coalless regions,
by the Iowa Coal Company and other
smaller shippers. The Mahaska Coal
Company, a new organization is opening
banks west of Beacon, about one mile
from the railroads, and have an ST foot
vein now; switches and side tracks will
soon be put in, and they will begin ship
ping at an early day. The country around
the towns is all in high state of cultiva-
ton, of which we shall have something
more to say hereafter East of this we
have szss.s9 sza ~ .aa 3 "A #sAt8 - ~
WHITE OAK TIP.
This is divided nearly in halves by
South Skunk river, which runs from north
west to southeast, diagonally through the
township. Some of our finest farms are
in this township. 1t is well settled by a
thrifty people, whose farms are No. 1.
Some Of the best fruit in the county is
raised here. The township is well tim
bered, well watered and withal a pleasant
place to live Charles Curriers' grist mill
is in the northwest part Of the township
on the river; and turns out some of the
best -four made. The frame bridge for