Very early in the history of our county, a stagecoach between Marshalltown and Webster City crossed the Skunk River at a location that is now on road D41. A small settlement grew around the crossing. The settlement took on the name Skunk Grove, named for the river which in turn was named for the skunk onions which grew in profusion along the river. This stage route started in about 1853. A hotel was built near the river, which served the traveling public.

The August 20, 1857, Hamilton Freeman reported, "W. L. Cheney, the proprietor of the Skunk Grove Hotel, has opened a new hotel in Webster City called the Cheney House. To commemorate the opening a ball will be held at the hotel on September 2, 1857." The old hotel was sold to S. B. Staples.

On October 1, 1858, the Freeman stated that "S. B. Staples, who is now keeping the well known Hotel at Skunk Grove, has now purchased a fine site for a hotel on the bank of the Skunk River, at the junction of the roads from Story City and Marietta. Mr. Staples keeps a fine hotel, and we do not doubt he will succeed in his new location."

By 1865, the Freeman reported that a number of settlers had recently come to the Skunk River, intending to make it their home. In March 4, 1865, a Freeman article reads "This is one of the best parts of the county. Persons looking for a location should look over the Skunk Valley, and they will be amply repaid."

In 1860 the top six miles across the county from east to west was called Cass Township. The next six-mile strip below Cass was called Boone Township. During this time, Samuel L. Rose, a district court judge, came to Skunk Grove and purchased 1200 acres of land. He bought up the Skunk River Hotel and moved it east to the top of the hill. This area had the last entry for the sale of government land. Judge Rose got himself elected to the Board of Supervisors. Earlier, he circulated a petition to the settlers asking that the area where he lived be named Rose Grove. It was pointed out in the Annals of Iowa that he did not receive a single signature.

On January 13^th, 1866, a meeting of the Board of Supervisors was held. J. W. Lee, George C. Cole, Washington Neese, and William V. Neeley, S. L. Rose, E. Lakin, Sumler Willson, and Lars Henryson were members of the board. The first order of business was the election of the chairman. Rose received six votes; Cole and Willson each received one vote. Willson was elected secretary.

The board next passed a resolution, introduced by Judge Rose, that the boundary of Rose Grove Township be established. The residents were appalled when the supervisors ignored their wishes and changed the name. Thus Skunk Grove passed from the scene. The hotel was henceforth called Rose Grove Hotel. Only one school retained the name Skunk Grove School.

The hotel was operated by Mary Rose, the judge's wife. This inn was located in the southeast corner of Section 30 of the new Rose Grove Township. An article in the Annals of Iowa, Volume XXVIII tells of a visit to the inn by a school teacher from Randall. She reported that the Rose household consisted of Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Rose, their daughter Emma, Mr. and Mrs. Norris, parents of Mary Rose, and Mr. and Mrs. Bicknell, brother-in-law and sister of Mary. A post office was established on June 9, 1865, with Samuel L. Rose as postmaster. It was closed on January 29, 1869. It was once again recognized on January 17, 1870, with Mary E. Rose as postmistress. The post office was finally discontinued completely on April 16, 1883.

The Rose Grove School was located a mile east at the intersection of Sections 29, 30, 31, and 32. Judge Rose became involved with the management of the schools in his township. G. A. Fairfield became the teacher. A monthly report of the Rose Grove School appeared in the January 31, 1883, Freeman which showed 20 students. Those with the best grades were Harry Decker, William Decker, and Albion Gladfelter. A later news report stated that the teacher was considering moving to the Dakotas in the spring.

Rose also served as Editor of the Freeman for a period of time. This announcement appeared in the February 26^th , 1886, Freeman. In an editorial, he extolled the virtues of planting Jerusalem Artichokes as a crop in the county. The article covered much of the front page. He compared the nutritional values in the artichokes and potatoes. The two are similar. He stated that the artichokes could be fed to hogs and cattle in place of corn.

An 1871 notice was published in the November 14 Freeman. Rose said, "I wish through the Freeman to say that the Circuit Court will probably open on the evening of November 30, 1871, but will transact no business until the next day."

According to Lee's History, Judge Rose was a colorful figure of his day, a man commanding of appearance, genial manners, and political sagacity. An able lawyer, he served as district judge, chairman of the board of supervisors, and President of the first County Fair. Lee continues, "His farming operations were extensive, expensive and not always practical."

Then things started going bad for Judge Rose. He held money not then needed for public use. He appropriated it, intending to repay when it was needed. His farming operation never brought in enough money to replace the "borrowed" money. To add to his problems, the lumber the county purchased for bridges was temporarily used to make cattle and hog pens, but Rose never found it convenient to cease that use.

Accordingly, the Rose Farm was sold at a Sheriff's Sale and the judge returned to the East, broken in spirit and ruined in property and credit. Lee further states that despite all of this, the judge really never had an enemy. In fact, he returned to the area one last time in 1908, a few years before his death, and was warmly received by all.

Today, the hotel is gone, and the schools are gone. Nothing remains with the Rose Grove name, except for the Rose Grove Lutheran Church, which stands at the southwest corner of 250^th Street and Ubben Avenue. It is ironic that the Rose Grove Church stands in Liberty Township. Rose Grove Township is located east across Ubben Avenue. The church is pictured in this article.