Monroe Township, Johnson County, Iowa

Monroe Township is a township in Johnson County, Iowa, United States. ^[1] It is one of the townships on the northern edge of Johnson County, bordering Linn County.

History

Prior to the 1840s, the area was known as "Dupont's Precinct" because William Dupont kept a whisky cabin there, which became a way-mark for which the settlement became known ^[2] . Monroe Township was organized in 1846. ^[3] In the following decades two post offices, Danforth and Gregg, were established ^[4] .

During the latter half of the 19th century, the township was heavily settled by Czech immigrants. The Czech population included a number of Czech protestant families who in 1893 built a chapel on property donated by George Chadima. The chapel was called "The Evangelical Bohemian Moravian Brothers" and was a satellite of the mother church, which was near Ely in Linn County. ^{[5] [6]} The church functioned until 1936 when it burnded down after being struck by lightning.

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Monroe Township, Johnson County, Iowa
2. History of Johnson County, Iowa, p. 734
3. History of Johnson County, Iowa, Containing a History of the County, and Its Townships, Cities and Villages from 1836 to 1882. 1883. p. 185.
4. History of Johnson County, Iowa, p. 734
5. Our first 100 Years of Server our Lord. First Presbyterian Church near Ely, Iowa., Reprinted Oct 2015, page 9.
6. Simek, P. Bohemians in Johnson County https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/9375833/the-bohemians-in-johnson-county-city-of-ely-iowa page 10

41°49′13″N91°46′19″W / 41.8203°N 91.7719°W / 41.8203; -91.7719