Hart Township

Hart Township

This township lies in T. 105 N., of R. 8 West. It comprises thirty-six complete sections. Its boundaries are, on the north Warren township, on the east Wiscoy, on the south Fillmore county, and on the west Fremont township. The surface is rough and broken - what is known as ''grub land." The soil, nevertheless, is very productive. The high bluffs divide the country into four valleys. Rush Creek, Diy, Pine Creek and Knapp valleys. All excepting Pine Creek valley run north and south ; the latter runs east and west. Dry valley is so called from a small stream which disappears in a subterranean channel only to reappear again in unexpected places. Rush Creek valley is the largest of the four, and is named after Rush creek ; Knapp's valley, so called from J. R. Knapp, an old resident in that vicinity ; Pine Creek valley named after Pine creek. This stream in an early day was heavily timbered with black walnut, maple, oak, basswood and scattering pine. The pine has now disappeared. Rush creek enters the township on S.W. J Sec. 6, flows southeast through Sees. T, 13, 19, 29 and 33, leaving the township on Sec. 33 ; Pine creek enters township on S.W. ^ Sec. 30, flows southeast through Sees. 31 and 32, and joins Rush creek on Sec. 33. Hart was organized May 11, 1858, under the name of Benton township ; a year after it was given its present name. The first town clerk was John Pierce, appointed at the first meeting in 1858. The first board were : J. W. Young, John Knapp, justices of the peace ; Liborius Kauphusman, Patrick Orourke, constables ; George Bisset, assessor ; Jesse Conner, collector ; M. T. Doherty, Thomas Baily, F. M. Andrews, supervisors. The town clerks in succession : John Pierce, M. T. Doherty, J. M. Hitchcock, John King, Berend Bollmann, John King, Berend BoUmann (clerk for 1882-3). Board for 1882-3: Daniel McKay, M. Degnan. George Schaupp, supervisors ; B. Bollmann, D. H. Otis, justices of the peace ; John Millman, assessor ; Herman Trester, constable.

Old Settlers

Oliver Parmelee came to this section in 1854 and took up part of Sec. 2. Laborius Kauphusman came in 1855, surveyed land, and made a claim on S.E. J Sec. 16. He then left, and returned soon afterward with his family ; he is now dead, but the farm is in the hands of his children. Thomas Heberer and M. T. Doherty came the same year (1855) ; Thomas Heberer settled on Sec. 2, while M. T. Doherty entered the N.E. J Sec. 12. The following made their appearance in 1856 : Henry Ronnenberg, Rev. A. Brand, John C. Brand, John Parmelee, Smith Thorington, Job Thorington and John Brammer. Henry Ronnenberg settled on Sec. 12 ; Rev. A. Brand came with a large herd of cattle and took up land on Sec. 24 ; John C. Brand entered part of Sec. 23 ; John Parmelee, Smith Thorington and Job Thorington settled on Sec. 10, while John Brammer made a claim of N.E. J Sec. 1. A large hotel (or tavern as it was called), named the "Benton House," was kept by O. E. Fockens in 1857 on Sec. 2. At this time there was an immense amount of travel through this section of the countr}', and the hotel did a thriving business. This soon fell off, however, at the entrance of railways, and the place was deserted in 18fi5. There is but one mill in Hart ; it is a flouring-mill built on Rush creek in 1860 (Sec. 29) by G. M. Hitchcock. It is a frame structure of medium size, and has a "custom business" only. There is but one postofftce in the township, namely. Hart postottice. It was established in 1872, with John Kiekbusch as })ostmaster. The present postmaster is Charles Wolfram, who also keeps a small country store. (This is on Sec. 26.)

The population, which is mostly composed of emigrants from lower Germany, has decreased since 1870. This is said to be caused by emigration west, and the buying up of land by a few individuals. One farm, owned by the heirs of Laborius Kauphusman, on Sec. 16, comprises an area of 1,000 acres. Since the failure of wheat of late, the population have turned their attention to stock raising. The average crop for 1882 is said to be, wheat, 12 bushels per acre ; corn, 35 bushels per acre ; barley, 25 bushels per acre ; oats, 40 bushels per acre.

Lutheran. - The present church building was erected in 1861, although meetings were held long before. It is a frame building, 48X30 feet, with a spire fifty feet high. There is a comfortable parish house connected, and also a parochial school. E. M. Buerger, one of the founders of the Missouri Synod at St. Louis, was pastor of this church from 1868 to 1880, The fii-st minister was John Reiz ; the present one, Frances Johl. The congregation, which is quite large, is composed of Germans. The school has an average attendance of fifty pupils. They teach both German and English. A cemetery of one acre is connected with the church.