BETHEL TOWNSHIP
(Township 94, Range 10)
1878 History of Fayette County Iowa, Pages 540 - 541
"This township is mostly prairie land of unsurpassed fertility of soil. As yet there is but very little timber, though little groves of young trees dot the prairie here and there, showing that in a few years there will be plenty of sawlogs. The surface is gently undulating, affording good drainage and beautiful building sites. The first settlement in this township was made in 1852 by Mrs. Samantha Finch, but immediately following her were several others who came and began homes. Mr. McCall named the township Richland, on account of the fertility of the soil, but it was changed in accordance with the wishes of the people, to have the post office and township of the same name; hence the change from Richland* to Bethel. In the Fall of 1855, Mr. Thompson and his son were burned on the prairie, the particulars of which are given in the general history.
The first birth in the township was that of Arthur McCall, in 1856.
A Union Sabbath School was organized in the Summer of 1856, by Peter Abbott, who shortly after married Emily Palmer, being the first wedding in the township.
Rev. Mr. Brooks, a Methodist minister, began a revival effort in 1857, which resulted in the conversion of over one hundred persons; the converts adopting to the letter the old fashioned practices of the Methodists, the men cutting the back buttons off their coats and the women laying aside their jewelry.
There was something of a contest between this township and Eden for the possession of the southern tier of sections, now attached to Eden. These sections were transferred back and forth several times, the County Judge for some time granting every petition praying for a change in the southern boundary of Eden or the northern boundary of Bethel.
Educational
From the early records, which are incomplete, it appears that three schools were kept in the township in the Spring of 1859, the teachers being Anna Bursee, Mary Alexander and Helen Ward. The following Winter, the schools were conducted by Harriet Boydston, Alice Nuttall and Philinda Innis. April, 1860, District No. 1 was divided, and the territory set off erected in District No. 3. J. Burbank was President of the Township District, and A. M. Pitts, Secretary. In 1862, Henry Y. Smith became President, and J. Burbank, Secretary. The Board fixed the wages of teachers of the Summer schools at $10 per month. In March, 1868, provision was made for a new building in the southern part of District No. 1, and also in No. 4. February 28, 1870, the building in No. 5 was relocated on Section 24. In March, R. S. Niles was selected as President of the Board; E. Rogers, Secretary; Stephen Gardner, Treasurer. Provision was made for erecting a new house in No. 3 and for No. 6 as well. In 1871, the township district officers were re-elected. May 13, 1871, the house in No. 6 was inspected and accepted. March, 1872, the township voted $750 for the house in No. 3. C. M. Gazer became President; A. Rogers, Secretary; Stephen Gardner, Treasurer. A six-mill tax was voted for construction fund in Nos. 3 and 1. In 1873, A. Ives became President; E. M. Aikin, Secretary; Stephen Gardner, Treasurer. It afterward being found that Mr. Gardiner was ineligible, I. S. Dickins was chosen in his place. In December, the building in No. 3 was viewed and accepted. N. B. Searles became President in 1874; R. F. Rogers was chosen Secretary, which position he has held continuously ever since. President in 1875, J. T. Gager, and in 1877, R. Hathaway. The building in No. 2 was accepted October 20, 1877, and that in No. 8, December 29th.
Official Register
As is usually the case, the early records of Bethel Township
have disappeared. The only accessible Clerk's book begins with
1860. At the election in that year, 38 votes were cast. P. G.
Abbott, G. W. Chamberlain and Orson Ward were elected Trustees;
J. Burbank, Clerk; Elijah Ober, Assessor; J. Burbank and A. M.
Potts, Justices.
At the election in October, 1877, 105 votes were cast. The road
tax for the present year is five mills.
The southern part of Bethel is only thinly settled, as yet.
Several farmers in this part of the township raise large
quantities of flax. The northern part of the township is
somewhat sandy. The slope toward Crane Creek is very gentle, and
a more delightful drive can hardly be found in the West than the
road running westward through the northern part of Bethel. On
either hand are modest dwellings surrounded by thickly-planted
shade trees, which give the wayside homes an air of considerable
antiquity."
Richland Changed to Bethel*
(1878 History of Fayette County, Page 407)
" January 3, 1870, the petition of Norman Ives and others, praying that the name of Richland Township be changed to Bethel, was presented to the Board of Supervisors, and on the 5th, the order was passed, directing the Auditor to post the usual notices. At the next session, June 8, 1870, the following order was passed:
Whereas, It appearing to the
satisfaction of the Board that a majority of the citizens of
Richland Township are in
favor of the change of the name of said township to that of
Bethel, the Board therefore orders that said change of name be
granted."
Bethel Township Residents - 1878 History of Fayette Co. Iowa