Woosung Township

Woosung Township

3 OOSUNG is the youngest township of the county, being set off from Buffalo in 188r. ~ It comprises the two northern tiers of sections. of township 22, range 8, east of the Fourth Principal Meridian, and the southern tier of sections of township 22, range 8, east of the Fourth Principal Meridian, and is therefore but one-half of a Congressional township. It is bounded on the east by Grand De Tour and Pine Creek Townships, on the west by Eagle Point Township and Whiteside County, on the north by Buffalo Township, and on the south by Lee County.

The first settlement was made by Joshua W. Gees, about 1836, at a small grove in the eastern part of the township, which took the name of Gees' Grove. For a long time he was the only settler here. He sold out, and his present whereabouts, if living, is unknown.

Until the completion of the railroad through the township its broad prairies were left untouched by the hand of man, but few acres being taken up. In 1855 Captains Roundy, Brimblecom and Anderson, retired sea captains, came out and purchased 2,480 acres of land, employing men to break, fence and cultivate the land. They also laid out a village on a portion of their purchase, which they named Woosung, after a city of that name in China, each of the three men having been engaged in trade with that country.

A small frame house was at once erected by the company, in which to board the men, the first in the village. Capt. Brimblecom at the same time commenced the erection of a dwelling house, which was completed in a very short time. When the company came here the family of Mr. Peak, then living at the grove, is believed to have been the only one in the township.

A post office wes established here in 1855, with Wm. Brimblecom as Postmaster, succeeded by Wm. J. Loring, Capt. Anderson, W. J. Fuhr, J. N. Bourberger and J. M. Attley, the latter being appointed in August, 1885.

In 1858 a school building 24 x 33, was erected at acost of about $1,200. An addition was subsequently built 24x30. Miss Libbie Bonnell, now Mrs. D. D. Decker, was one of the first teachers in this house. At present Chas. L. Allen is Principal of the school. Two teachers are regularly employed, and there is an attendance of some 70 pupils. The district iseNo. 6.

The trade and business of the place is represented by the following named: McGrath & Attley, dealers in general merchandise and farm machinery;

The Township Assessor, in the spring of 1885, reported the following items: Improved land, 11,013 acres, unimproved land, none; value $175,254; town there was; Horses, 3,217; cattle 1,446; mules and asses, 9; sheep, 323 ; hogs, 1,665 ; steam engines, 1; fire and burglar proof safes 1; carriages and wagons, 190; watches and clocks, 118; sewing and knitting machines, 71; melodeons and organs. 28. Total value of personal property, $52,926.