Editor’s Note: This is the sixth in a series of articles reporting on Marshall County residents of the mid to late 1800s whose names are posted on rural avenue road signs.

“Just a clarification and correction to article about county road names,” she wrote in an email to the T-R recently: “Article stated east west roads are labeled streets and are numerical. It might have been helpful writing they begin at the north county line with 100th Street. Correction: named roads go beyond Zeller to Zola and Abbott.”

Smith: Judge

William C. Smith was a farmer in the Timber Creek area – and later a resident of Albion – who was elected county judge. As judge, he ruled on numerous efforts by county residents to move the county seat from the village of Marietta to the village of Marshall. (It would later be renamed Marshalltown in 1862. Marietta had been awarded the county seat in 1851). Initially, Smith made several decisions to keep the county seat in Marietta. However, he ruled Marshalltown as the county seat in 1863 only after a number of Marshall men stole county records from a building in Marietta on New Years Eve and transported them to Marshall.

“A significant amount of political debate preceded the incident. During the theft temperatures were reported to be 10 degrees below zero. Another key factor was the Cedar Rapids & Missouri Rail Road being awarded the east/west railroad rights across the state of Iowa under lease by the pioneer parent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway.”

Taylor: Professor

Charles J. Taylor listed as a professor in the commercial department at the Albion Seminary in Albion.

Tiffin: Farm Wife

Mary. Born in Ohio. She married Joseph Baker Nov. 6, 1864. He was a farmer in Sec. 27 of Edenville (Later renamed Rhodes). From this union were born seven children of which five were living: William, Clara, Maryette, George and Samuel.

Underwood: Wife of Bridge Builder

Eliza M. She was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1836. She married Benjamin Lewis Pyle, also a native of Columbiana Co. Ohio. Pyle was a farmer, stock raiser and bridge builder. They were married Oct. 9, 1864 and resided in the village of La Moille. From this union four children were born.

Vance: School Teacher

Jenny (nee Bradbury) was the wife of Willis Vance, according to the “History of Marshall County, Iowa, 1878.”

“The first schools in the town of State Centre (a common spelling at one time) were rather of the primitive order. The first school was taught in a little old shanty that could not be used for anything else. Bradbury taught here. This was 1865, in a building that stood near where the Presbyterian Church is at present. There were 10 pupils. In 1866 school was taught in a room (location unknown). The total population of the town as taken up to Aug. 20, 1878 is 992. The total number of residences – 256.”