This is township 95 north,
range 4 west. It contains thirty-six sections, and is
bounded on the north by Allamakee County, on the east
by Mendon Township, on the south by Farmersburg
Township, and on the west by Monona Township. It
abounds in timber, fine springs and brooks, and is as
good a township for farming as need be found. On the
west side of the township especially the land is
unsurpassed, and many of the farms are under a high
state of cultivation.
Giard was organized in April, 1854, by order of
Elias H. Williams, Judge of the County Court. It was
so named from Basil Giard, who made his claim here in
1795. The first officers of the township were: Clerk,
B.F. Spaulding; Trustees, S.S. Phillips, Hugh Graham
and James Tapper; Constables, Isaac Matthews and
Joseph McCorkel; Road Supervisor, James McMullen and
James Stultz; Assessor, Isaac Matthews; Justice of
the Peace, Allen E. Wanzer; Supervisor, James Tapper.
The present township officers are: Clerk, James E.
Irwin; Assessor, John Geraghty; Justices, Peter
Farley and Guy Kinsley; Trustees, George Koch, John
G. Kortee and Peter Farley.
The first settler of the township was Chauncey S.
Edson, who immigrated sometime in 1836. He hailed
from Vermont, and located on section 26, where he
took a claim, and at the time of the land sales he
purchased it and made his farm there. He lived here
till his death. Among the early settlers Allen E.
Wanzer was a prominent figure, though his character
was not of the best. He was a man of some natural
ability but of little culture. He held several local
offices - was Justice of the Peace for some time, and
was once Mayor of McGregor. The place where he first
located was long called Bogus Hollow, because some
people suspected that he manaufactured spurious
money. Mr. Wanzer came from the State of New York,
and died in McGregor.
Another early settler was a man by the name of
Weatherwax, who settled on section 27. Samuel A. Goss
came in at an early date, and settled near where Mr.
Edson lived. He died in Minnesota. In 1841 William
Clement and Hugh Graham came and settled on section
28. They were from New York City. In 1841, also,
James Tapper purchased his land and settled upon it.
Another early settler was a man by the name of
Merikel. He settled on section 34, afterward removing
from the county, and nothing is now known of him. Ira
B. Briggs came in at an early date.
The first couple married were P.R. Moore and
Clarissa Brown, both living in Giard Township, but
the marriage was performed by Rev. Sidney Wood, in
Farmersburg Township. The first birth in the township
was that of Orpha Cummings, a daughter of Santon
Cummings and Hannah Cummings, who is now the wife of
P.P. Olmstead, Esq., of Monona Township. Orpha
Cummings married a man by the name of Collins, and
died in Monona Township. The first death was of a man
named Hinkley, in Bogus Hollow, who was employed as a
teamster between McGregor and Fort Atkinson.
The first school building was a log-cabin on
section 29, which had been originally built as a
dwelling. The first teacher was a lady by the name of
Mary J. Neill, who afterward married the Rev. William
McCormick. This cabin was 14 x 16. Another log-cabin
was afterward erected in place of the pioneer
school-house. In 1855 a frame school building was
erected on section 30. This was afterrward moved to
where the present school building stands in district
No.4, and sold at auction. The present school
building was then erected, at a cost of $1,000. This
is the best school building in the township.
The early school records are very imperfect,
having been at first kept on waste paper. The first
entry on the books is dated June 11, 1858. At a
meeting of the board held on that day, $400 tax on
the property in the township was voted for the
current school expenses of that year. Isaac Mathews
was at that tiime President of the board, and B.F.
Spaulding was the Secretary.
At a meeting held Oct. 23 of that same year it was
resolved to employ only male teachers, and to pay not
to exceed $16 per month. There were at this time
seven sub-districts in the township. Nov. 18, 1860,
the pay of the teachers was raised to $25 per month.
The presidency of the School Board has been held
successively by Isaac Mathews, J.C. Stulltz, W.J.
Paul, J.C. Stulltz, John Tapper, John B. Sutter, D.F.
Bickel, James Tapper and George Hazlett, the last of
whom was elected March 17, 1879. He is the present
incumbent.
The secretaryship has in turn devolved upon
B.F.Spaulding, Porter F. Dickinson, J.C. ???pel,
George Hazlett and Guy Kinsley. The last named has
held the office since March 18, 1867.
The Treasurers have been Porter F. Dickinson and
M.L. March, who has held the office since March 18,
1866. James Tapper was Treasurer before Dickinson for
several years.
A report of the district secretary to the county
superintendent, made Sept. 20, 1865, shows the number
of persons of school age to be: Males, 220; females,
198; total, 418. There were enrolled in all the
schools, in winter, 305; in summer, 283. The average
daily attendance was 189.
In 1871 there were seven schools in the township,
open eight months in the year. In these schools were
enrolled 398 pupils. The average daily attendance was
177. There was at the same time a school population
of 527. The aggregate amount paid teachers during the
year was $1,540.
In 1881 eight schools were taught eight months,
and one school four months. In these schools were
enrolled 441 pupils, and the average attendance was
213. At the same time there was a school population
of 523. The aggregate amount paid teachers during the
year was $2,326. The average compensation per month
was: For males $30.75; females, $26.18. Males taught
in the aggregate twenty-four months, and females
taught forty-four months.
After various sub-divisions of the township it now
comprises nine sub-districts, in which are located
ten school buildings, built at various times within
the last twenty-two years, for sums varying in amount
from $400 to $1,000.
The Union Baptist Church of Council Hill was
organized at the Kinsley school-house, May 20, 1862,
with a membership of thirty-six, most of whom were
baptized by Rev. John A. Pool, who was afterward
installed as pastor. He resigned in November, 1864.
The church was then for two years without a pastor,
when Rev. A.W. Hilton took charge of the work, in
connection with the church at Hardin. This
arrangement was continued until October, 1871, with
profit to the church. Elder Hilton then resigned,
moving to Cherokee County, and his place in the
church was occupied by Rev. D.P. Marryatt. He
remained until November, 1874. Rev. Joel H. Austin
commenced preaching for the church in August, 1876,
and resigned in April following. Since then the
society has had no regular services. There is a small
Sunday-school connected with the church, which still
holds meetings.
The first preacher was Rev. Mr. Knight, who held
services at private houses. He was connected with the
Methodist Episcopal church. There are four churches
in the township - the German Methodist Episcopal,
Evangelical, United Brethren and Regular Baptists.
There are three postoffices in the township -
Beulah, Giard and Council Hill.
