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Pleasant township, with its splendid farming country, lay untouched by the plow, or even untrodden by the feet of the settler, for several years after immigration had commenced in other portions of the county; so that when William Baughman took up his claim and built his log cabin, he found no neighbor in what is now the rich and populous district of Pleasant.

Mr. Baughman came in the spring of 1855 and located land on sections 4 and 5. He then went back east and brought his family to Indiantown, while he came again to the township, cutting logs for the building of a cabin. These logs he hauled to Lewis, where he had them cut. Hauling them back, he built with them the first house in the township, and his family moved into it in the spring of 1856.

William Baughman was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, June 19, 1828. His parents were Jacob and Margaret (Cort) Baughmaan, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. William was there reared to agricultural pursuits, receiving his education in the common schools. He was married March 22, 1834, to J. B. Schwartz. In the fall of 1855, they started west by the way of Pittsburg, coming from there to Keokuk on a boat, and thence overland to this county, where he has continued to reside since that time. Mr. Baughman was elected in the fall of 1881, to the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, and served two years.

Samuel Stetler came in 1862, from Illinois, and traded his farm in that State for one hundred and sixty acres on sections 24 and 25. He then went back to Illinois and got his family and household goods, and settled on his new purchase, where he still resides.

Samuel Stetler was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, December 27,1816, and is a son of Barnard and Mary Stetler, natives of the Hawkeye State. Samuel spent his early life in Columbia county, where he was brought up on a farm and attended the public schools. In 1837 he was married there, to Elizabeth Shumaker, also a native of that county, where they resided till 1855. In that year they removed to Lee county, Illinois, and there purchased unimproved land, which they settled upon and cultivated. In 1857, Mr. Stetler went to California, overland, leaving Lee county, March 1, and arriving at his destination in California, August 20. He engaged in mining, and remained in that State until September, 1859, when he returned to his home in Illinois, via Nicaragua and New York. He resumed farming, remaining in Lee county till 1862, when he traded his farm there for one hundred and sixty acres of land on sections 24 and 25, in what is now Pleasant township, this county. In September of that year they removed here, making the journey with a pair of horses and a wagon. They brought with them their household goods and provisions, camping on the way, and after their arrival here, laid in the wagon until their house was completed. His farm, which was then wild prairie, is now well improved and cultivated. He has substantial buildings, a fine grove, and a fruit orchard. A hedge fence nearly surrounds his farm. Mrs. Stetler died in 1861, leaving five children---Perry, Almira, Ellen, Clara A. and Catherine. Mr. Stetler was married the second time, in 1863, to Frances Sifford, a native of Virginia. By this union there are five children---Mary Belle, Maggie A., Carrie M., Cora E. and Emma. Mr. Stetler's eldest son, Perry, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, August 9, 1840. In 1861 he enlisted in the First Illinois Heavy Artillery, and did gallant service for three and a half years. After his discharge he was married, and settled in Lee county, where he died in 1879.

George Stedwell, from Winneshiek county, bought eighty acres of wild land on section 31, in the spring of 1866, and settled on it.

Henry A. Barton came in 1867 from Washington county, and purchased eighty acres of land on sections 23 and 26.

Josiah Merritt came first in 1868, and after a while went back to Illinois. In 1870 he returned to make a permanent settlement, and shortly afterwards bought eighty acres on section 4, Pleasant township.

Thomas B. Grennell came in 1869, and settled on section 14, on land which he had bought the fall previously.

Thomas B. Grennell was born in New York, in that part of Montgomery county now known as Hamilton county, June 24, 1832. His parents, Abram Grennell, a native of Massachusetts, and Lucinda (Dewey) Grennell, a native of Vermont, settled in New York State about 1826, where they resided in Hamilton county, until their decease. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in the town of Hope, in that county, spending his younger days in attending school, and working upon his father's farm. When in his twenty-first year, he went to work for himself, at lumbering and farming, in that county. In the fall of 1869 he started west, and went to Illinois, where he remained a short time, then coming to this State and county, where he had purchased, the previous, year, wild land on section 14 of what is now known by the name of Pleasant township. He spent the winter near Lewis, and during the time, built a house upon his land, into which he moved, April 5, 1870. Since that time he has improved all of his land and planted many fruit, shade and ornamental trees upon the place. He has erected good frame buildings and has a desirable residence. Mr. Grennell was married January 1, 1862, to Frances Morrison, a native of the town of Wells, Hamilton county, New York, and by this union had six children---Lottie L., Warren Jerome, Thomas Henry, Minnie A., Ida P. and Charles Albert. Mrs. Grennell died on the 26th of December, 1880.

Mr. Grennell has been fairly successful in business. As a citizen, he is much respected and always takes an active interest in any measure intended for the public welfare.

Joseph Harlan came from Polk county in 1869, and located in the southwest quarter of section 24.

W. T. Hughes came in 1869,and bought the southeast quarter of section 22, where he now resides.

John Ketchum also came in 1869, and located on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 35.

John H. Lowman came in 1869, and bought the southeast quarter of section 34. He was born in Cass county, Indiana, October 5, 1839. At the age of fifteen years he removed with his parents, to Iowa and settled in Camp township, Polk county, where they were early settlers. His father purchased a farm there, on which he still lives. John H. resided with his parents, until his marriage in 1861, to Lucinda McCullom, when he settled on a farm near the old homestead. In August, 1862, he enlisted in company G, of the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, and served until after the close of the war. He participated in the engagements at Thompson's Hill, Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, Milliken's Bend siege and capture of Vicksburg, Fort Blakely and Spanish Fort, also a number of minor engagements. He was discharged with the regiment, in July, 1865, and returned home. His father gave him a portion of the old homestead, which he occupied till 1868, then sold, and bought a larger tract, near by. This he sold, one year later, and went to Dakota, but not being satisfied there, he returned to Iowa and purchased unimproved land in the southeast quarter of section 34, Pleasant township, Cass county, where he now resides. He has a valuable farm, which is well improved and a desirable residence. Mr. and Mrs. Lowman have eight children---Mary J., Emily A., Frank H., Samantha J., Minnie M., Samuel Guy, Mary S. and Lucy Ethel.

Simon Proctor caine in 1869, bought two hundred and forty acres of wild land on section 14, and in the fall erected a frame house, into which the family removed, and where he lived until his death.

Simon Proctor, (deceased) was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in January 1818. When he was quite young, his parents removed to Washington county, of the same State, left Washington when a boy, went to Guernsey county where he was joined in marriage with Huldah French. After marriage he settled in Guernsey county, Ohio, where, September 4, 1853, Mrs. Proctor died, leaving five children, three of whom are now living---A. Edward, Joseph and Mary Caroline. Mr. Proctor was again married in 1855, to Mrs. Elizabeth J. (Blakely) Gordon, widow of M. H. Gordon. She was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They remained in Guernsey county, where Mr. Proctor owned a farm until 1868. They then moved to Missouri and lived upon rented land in that State until the spring of 1870, when they came to Cass county and settled in Pleasant township. He had previously traded his farm in Ohio for two hundred and forty acres of unimproved land on section 14, and in the fall of 1869, he had come here and erected a frame house, into which the family moved on their arrival. Mr. Proctor resided here until his death, in February, 1877. He had by his second marriage, seven children---Alice, Emma V., Walter C., Elmer E., Sherman, Charlie C. and John Oscar. Mrs. Proctor has one son by her former marriage---William B. Gordon.

George W. Halsey came in 1869, and bought sixty-five acres of land on section He came from New Jersey.

R. T. Donohoe came in 1868, and entered the northeast quarter of section 23, but did not remove to it till the fall of 1870.

S. W. Garvin came in 1868, and bought eighty acres of wild land in section 7, and settled in 1870.

S. W. Garvin was born in Bureau county, Illinois, January 18, 1844, and is a son of Noble and Sarah (Mercer) Garvin, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Ohio. They were early settlers in Bureau county, where S. W. grew to manhood and was educated in the public schools. He enlisted in the service of his country, in March, 1862, in Company I, of the Sixty-fourth Illinois Sharpshooters known as "Yates Sharpshooters," and served until July, 1865, when he was discharged with the regiment. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, and Island Number Ten, and with Sherman's army from Chattanooga to the sea, and through the Carolinas to Washington, where he was present at the "grand review." After the war he returned to Bureau county Illinois. In March, 1866, he started west on a prospecting tour, visiting Missouri, Minnesota and Iowa, returning in 1867. In April of that year he came to Iowa and lived in Boone county three years, then came to Cass county, and bought eighty acres of wild land in section 7, adjoining Griswold, in Pleasant township. He settled on this land in 1870, and has since made it his home. He has a well improved and desirable farm. Mr. Garvin was married in 1866, to Martha Childs, of Bureau county, Illinois. They have three children---Sarah E., Wallie and Alma. Mr. Garvin was elected to the office of county supervisor in the fall of 1883, and has filled various township offices.

D. W. Smart came in 1870, and purchased forty acres of laud on the southwest quarter of section 6.

Frank Sherwood came in 1870, and settled at first on land owned by his father, on the southeast quarter of section 13. The place was wholly unimproved at that time, but he immediately began to make improvements, building a frame house and breaking a portion of the land. He has since purchased the north half of the same quarter section, and still makes it his home.

Frank Sherwood was born in the town of Shelby, Orleans county, New York, September 10, 1842. He grew to manhood on a farm in his native county, attending, in his boyhood, the district school. He afterward attended Millville academy ten terms, then one term at Medina academy. He graduated from Eastman's National business college, at Poughkeepsie,New York in 1864. November 3, 1869, he was married to Sabra Mans, also a native of Shelby, Orleans county. They remained in that county till the spring following, coming then to Cass county, as before stated. He has, since coming to this State, taught eleven terms of school. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have three children---Jennie May, Freddie H. and Ralph Emerson.

W. J. Woodcame to Cass county in the spring of 1870, and purchased land on sections 31 and 32, Pleasant township. He is a native of Indiana, born in Putnam county, October 14, 1842. He is a son of Dobson and Mary (Tabor) Wood, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Kentucky. They were early settlers in Putnam county, and in 1850 removed to Iowa and settled in Wapello county. In the fall of 1850, Dobson Wood visited that county and entered eighty acres, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. To this he moved his family, making the trip from Indiana with teams and bringing their household furniture with them. They were on the road thirty days. Dobson Wood resided in Wapello county until his decease in 1867. W. J. Wood remained with his parents till 1863, when he was married to Ella Marshall, a native of Preble county, Ohio. He then bought forty acres of land in Wapello county, which he lived upon until 1869, when he sold out and removed to Cass caunty. In the spring of 1870, he purchased unimproved land on sections 31 and 32, which he has converted into his present valuable and highly cultivated farm. He has a good frame house, a frame barn with a stone foundation, a fine grove and also many fruit trees. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have four children---Warren E., Frederick E., Ella M. and Geneva L.

Joseph Carter came in 1871, and purchased land on section 25, locating there.

John G. Gibson came in 1871, from Johnson county, and purchased one hundred and twenty acres of wild land on section 34, which he moved on to and improved.

Samuel A. Miller bought the northwest quarter of section 11, in 1860, but did not settle on it until 1872.

Jesse Thayer located in Pleasant township in 1871, and bought eighty acres of wild land oh section 5, in 1872, which he began improving, and now has it in a good state of cultivation and well improved. It has since been, and is still, his residence. He is a native of Crawford county, Pennsylvania, born April 21, 1836. His early life was spent upon a farm in his native county. In 1858 he came to the State of Iowa, and located in Allamakee county, purchasing land in Rossville township, which he improved and lived upon until 1871, coming from there to Cass county. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in company B, of the Twelfth Iowa Infantry. He was wounded at the battle of Fort Donelson, and discharged on account of disability. In the fall of 1863 he again enlisted in the First Iowa Cavalry, company K, and was in active service until the close of the war. He was discharged at Austin, Texas, February 18, 1866, and returned to Allamakee county. In the spring of 1859 he was married to Ellen Wheeler, who was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania. By this union there were four children: Charles, Ernest, Nellie and Orpha. Mrs. Thayer died in 1875. In 1877 Mr. Thayer was married to Mary Shaffer, and by this marriage has two children---Frank and Ezra.

Rev. Henry McCullough, one of the elders of the Presbyterian church at Griswold, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, May 25, 1845. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Ling) McCullough. He grew to manhood in his native county upon a farm, obtaining his education in the public schools. In 1866 his father died, and two years later he came to Iowa and located in Poweshiek county, where he resided till March, 1871. He then came to Cass county, where a few weeks after his arrival, he was joined by his mother and sisters. His mother bought land on section 26, Pleasant township, upon which the family resided until 1881, when they removed to land that he had previously purchased and improved, on section 11, of this town. Mr. McCullough joined the Presbyterian church in Ohio in 1867, and has since that time, been a consistent member and an active and earnest Christian worker. He was one of the first members, and the first elder, of the Griswold church.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, February, 2025 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens", published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 808-813.