Big Slough

A slough (slew) is a marshy wetland area, part of a "back water" system in a watershed.

Buck

C. H. Buck was the first treasurer for the city of Iowa City in 1853.

Buffalo

Named for very early four legged resident of the prairie lands, also known as "bison".

Clear Creek

Called in Indian tongue "Capi-hammet" clear water, a beautiful stream taking its rise in 
Iowa County and dividing the township in two parts in very nearly the middle. Named 
by Sheriff Trowbridge because of its clear flowing water.

Crooked

Left on its own, a creek meander’s through level land.

Deer

Another four legged resident of the area.

Deer

Two creeks in the county have this name.

Dirty Face

A family by the name of Morris lived upon it, and had so many children with frightfully dirty faces.

Hackeys Slough

Who is Hackey??

Jordan

A Mr. Clarkson fell into an unknown stream. He said laughingly that he had been "dipped in Jordan." 
The joke hitched on so well to the disputes about true Bible baptism that it was kept agoing; and that 
stream has been called Jordan creek ever since.

Knapp

Named for early settler in township (?). A Joseph Knapp was killed in a Civil War battle in 1864.

Lingle

Mr. Lingle built a flouring mill on this stream in 1849. The mill was later known as "Bohemian Mill."

McAllister

With W. M. Stewart, made the first settlement in 1839. James McAllister erected the first cabin.

Mill

The first saw mill in the townsihp was located on it in 1839. Previously known as Sells Creek after 
Anthony Sells, early settler who built a mill there. The mill was later known as "Hendricks Mill."

Muddy

Perhaps the waters were clouded from water running through the limestone deposits in the area (?)

Old Mans

The Indians called it Pa-pa-to see-po; Mr. W. F. Smith of Washinton township says this creek was 
a hiding place for the old men, women, and children when the braves went off "on the war path" 
when the Sac and Fox were ready to make a foray on their noncombatants out onto Pa pa to creek 
for concealment, in case they should be worsted in the fight and be pursued down the [Iowa] river 
by their victorious enemies.

Old Womans

Flows into Old Man's. Perhaps an even more remote sanctuary for tribal noncombatants.

Otter

Short legged, heavy-bodied, swimming mammals, otters live on fish.

Pechman

???

Picayune

Picayune was the name given in New Orleans to the old Spanish 6 1/4 cents and later to the 
American silver 5 cent piece, the charge for ferrying a man afoot across the river. Got its name 
from a business deal. A man on that creek charged his neighbor a picayune for salting his calf. 
The man was old Squire Figg, who paid the price, and out of revenge called the creek on 
which the family lived, Picayune Creek.

Prairie

The "lone tree" in this area was a large white elm, and was the only tree on the PRAIRIE, 
and could be seen for many miles... no other trees for miles around excepting for some four 
miles toward the river.

Ralston

Once of the three commissioners who were charged with selecting the site for the capitol 
building in Johnson County. From Burlington, Ralston was a member of the first territorial legislature.

Ramsey

??

Rapid

Named by Sheriff Trowbridge on account of its roaring, rushing rapid character, especially at the 
part where Henry Felkner built his saw-mill in 1839-40.

Rhine

Flowing into Clear Creek SE of Oxford, head waters in Iowa county near German settlement of 
Homestead. Sometimes called the "Raging Rhine." May have been called "Cook Creek" after 
early settlers in the Oxford area.

Richey

N. B. Richey came to Johnson County in December of 1864 where he now lives and own 
240 acres of land and has it well improved.

Sanders

Cyrus Sanders (?) was a prominent early settler of Johnson County.

Schaffer

Perhaps named for Erlis Schaffer. Flows into Deer Creek

Snyder

Wm. B. Snyder???

Swisher

Benjamin Swisher from Ohio settled in this township in 1841.

Turkey

Named by Sheriff Trowbridge, good place to hunt wild turkeys.

Wapsi

Head waters for Wapsinonoc Creek, flows to West Liberty then to the Cedar River.

West Hoosier

Settlers in the area came from Indiana, the "Hoosier State."