JESSE ELLER.

The first to make a settlement within the borders of Franklin township was Jesse Eller, who, early in the spring of 1854, took up a claim on section 18 and commenced to open up a farm. First he broke forty or fifty acres and built a round log house. He lived on this place until about 1874, when he removed to Mills county, and thence to Pottawattamie county, where he died June 18, 1884. Mr. Eller was born in Wilkes county, N. C., and was of German extraction, although he was reared in Indiana. He was quite a hunter and trapper during the winter, but when spring came he laid aside his gun and took hold of the plow with a will, so that in a few years he had a good farm opened on the northeast corner of Turkey Grove. During the Civil War, times were very hard, money scarce and the comforts of life very high, and during this period Mr. Eller made more money than any man in the vicinity, trapping and hunting mink, otter, wolves and other fur animals. In his day a good mink skin was worth from $3 to $5, and other furs in proportion.

In the summer of 1854, soon after Mr. Eller had finished his log cabin and fairly established himself on section 20, a daughter was born to this pioneer of Franklin township--the first birth to occur within its limits. In the following year he also broke the first ground and raised the first wheat in the township. In the summer of 1857 William Judd taught a few scholars in his log cabin; and this was the pioneer school.

From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 164-165.