Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-07-13
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
Historical Sketch Geography --Agri-
cultural, Horticultural and
Mineral Resources. Etc.
rMarysyille Miner.


Liberty township occupies the
southeast corner of Marion county
and corresponds precisely with town.
ship "a, north Of range Is. 1t Is
bounded on the north by Clay, on the
west by Indiana township, on the
south by Monroe and on the east by
Muhaska county The surface OF
the country is somewhat diversified,
being composed partly of what was
once beautiful level and gently undu-
lating prairie, but which Is now In
high state of cultivation, but the
greater part WAS originally covered
with a fine growth of timber and Is
more broken, much of this has also
been cleared away and the land
brought into cultivation, and In fact
there are few acres of land In the
township but may be cultivated sue
cessfulIy. The principal water courses
running through the township are
North and South Cedar. They now
from the southwest (entering the
township near its southwest corner
towards the northeast and unite not
far from the center OF the township
from which point the stream puisues
ing the township near It's northeasl
corner.
These streams drain large scope OF
country, each having a length OF
at least thirty miles before entering
the township. They were formerly
much used for milling purposes, but
at present there is not single Dam 70
Interrupt the onward flow OF their
waters. The banks of these streams
are lined with heavy growth OF tim
Der which in places extends entirely
across the bottoms which vary IN
width from only few feet TO mile
and often the timber extends 10 the
uplands, this being the case especially
between the two cedars, as also In the
entire western and southern portions
of the township. The timber on the
bottom land Is mottly elm, cotton
woodf bass wood, bur oak and red oak.
That on the upland Is principally
white oak, red oak, elm and hickory.
Though there are many other kinds
growing both OH the upland and bot
toms. II Is the general opinion OF
those who have given the matter at
teption, that until the recent raids on
our timber for railroad ties that its
growth has been quite equal to Its
destruction. That the ravages of the
white mans AK have been no more
detrimental to its growth and in
crease than were those Of the Indians,
| fires, etc.
The greater portion OF the soil can
not be surpassed for its fertility, es-
pecially the bottom lands and that
which was formerly prairie. The
upland, especially the white oak tim
Der land, Is not so good, yet 1t Is very
| productive and Is perhaps the best
grass and wheat land that we have.
The crops usually cultivated are
| corn, winter and spring wheat, rye
and oats. The grasses do well, umo-
| thy and clover producing beautiful
crops, in fact almost anything will
grow In our soil that grows elsewhere
i'm the same latitude. Corn ordina-
| rily Yields about SO or 60 bushels per
acre, but has often been made TO yield
over 100 bushels per acre.
| The opinion pretty generally pre-
vailed with the early settlers that this
| would be poor fruit country on &C.
count of the severity Of the winters,
and consequently many Of them
| failed to plant trees as early as they
| might have done. But experience il
| proving TO us that we have an excel
lent fruit country. Apples, plums,
| apricots, cherries, raspberries, cur
rants, gooseberries and grapes all
| flourish In our soil and climate, and
| there is already bountiful supply OF
| most Of these fruits raised for home
| consumption. Peaches do well most
| of the time but they frequently win
ter kill.
Perhaps the greatest natural advan-
| tage possessed by the township con-
| sists I'm the wealth underlying its
surface In it's coal beds. These under
| lie almost the entire township and
range In thickness from three to
twelve feet; 1t Ia of the bituminous
variety and is pronounced ms good as
any i'm the State. Although there has
| been little or no demand as yet for
| our coal except for home use. There
| are about thirty banks opened, this
| being more than any entire county In
the State, except Marion, many OF
these. however, are only worked CO.
casionaliy during the year, and that
| simply to furnish the owner and per-
! haps few neighbors with fuel, and
| only three or four Of them are worked
| the whole year-at these banks the
coal is sold ut or 6 cents per bnshel.
The chief occupation of the inhab-
itants is farming, and the principal
exports are hogs, cattle and flour.