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William Baughman built the first house in the township, in the winter of 1855-6, and moved into it the following spring. He was also the first settler in the township.

As is always the case in an intelligent community, much interest is manifested in the schools. The buildings are all in good condition and supplied with modern furniture, maps, etc. There are eight districts, besides the independent district of Griswold.

District No. 1.--The first school house in this district was built in 1873, on the northeast corner of section 11. It still remains in good condition and continues to serve the district for educational purposes. Lavina Underwood was the first teacher in this district.

District No. 2.--The first building erected in this district for the education of the youth of the several sections comprising it, was built on the northeast corner of section 8. George Macomber was the first to wield the birch in this house. The building was sold, in 1881, to Caleb Marshall, who now uses it for a granary. A new school edifice was then put on the northeast corner of section 9, which is now used by the district.

District No. 4.--This district comprises sections 17, 18, 19 and 20, and its first school building, which was erected in 1813, was then located on the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 17. Mattie Craig was the first teacher in this house. The building is still used for school purposes by the district, but has been removed to the southeast corner of section 18.

School district No. 5.--This district is composed of sections 15, 16, 21 and 22. Its school building was erected in 1876, on the northeast corner of section 21 The first term of school was taught by Mrs. Catherine Young.

District No. 6.--This district is made up of sections 13, 14, 23 and 24. In 1868, a school house, the first one in the district, was erected on the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 23, and the school was opened with Clara Warner as teacher. That house was in use until 1882, when it was sold to W. J. Martin, whom it now serves in the capacity of a granary. The present school edifice was built in 1882, on the southeast corner of section 14, and Emma Baughman taught its first term of school. The cost of the building was $520.

District No. 7.--Sections 25, 26, 35 and 36 go to make up the sub-division of the township known as the seventh school Its first and present school district. house was built in 1873, on the northwest corner of section 36. Sarah Donohoe, of Milford, was first to teach a term of school in this house.

School district No. 8.--This district is formed by the combination of the contiguous sections 27, 28, 33 and 34. Its school building stands on the southeast corner of section 28. It was erected in 1874, and the first teacher was Catherine Young, of Montgomery county. The building as first erected still serves the district as its school building. Mary J. Lawrence at present presides over the destinies of the scholars attending, in an educational sense.

District No. 9.---The first school house in this district, which comprises sections 29, 30, 31 and 32, was erected in 1868, and opened with Mary Collins as teacher. In 1876, it was found that the old building had outgrown its usefulness and was too small for comfort, and another and larger edifice was built. It is located on the northeast quarter of section 31. Oscar Phillips was the first teacher in the new building.

Shortly after the school house in district No. 6 was completed, in 1868, religious services were held in it, which were conducted by Rev. William Fuson, of the Baptist denomination. Ministers of other denominations also preached there.

The Methodist Episcopal church is represented in Pleasant township by a congregation numerically quite strong. It was organized in January, 1871, by Rev. W. H. W. Rees, and was the first religious organization in the township. Rev. B. A. Fassett is the present pastor. (See Ecclesiastical chapter.)

Rev. James Andrews organized a Presbyterian congregation at the school house of District No. 6 on July 11, 1871. The meetings are now held in the First district school house, with Rev. Hunter as pastor.

The Christian church society have a liandsome edifice on the southeast quarter of section 34, erected in 1883. Their first services were held in Montgomery county. Rev. E.J. Stanley is the present minister. (For full particulars, see Ecclesiastical chapter.

Ministers ofvarious denominations have at different times preached in the school bouse in District No. 8, but since the towns of Griswold and Elliott have been built, no regular meetings have been held.

This cemetery is so called because the land which it comprises, was set apart for the purpose by J. A Lowman. It was laid out in 1870, on the southwest quarter of section 34. The first interment was that of Ida Guess, daughter of Eli A. and Sarah Guess, who was buried in January, 1871. She was two years old when death called her away.

The township officers for 1884 are as follows: Clerk, Z. M. Wright; trustees, George Forsythe, J. H. Lowman and W. A. Hill; assessor, S. H. Lamborn; justice of the peace, J. M. Keel; for constable, J. P. Hill was elected, but as he did not qualify, G. S. Dirkey was appointed in his stead.

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. 820-821.