ness houses and residences and was very active in building up the town. He platted Borst's addition to the village.

Joseph Gilchrist was an early settler of Ross township. He learned the trade of shoemaking, which he followed a number of years. In the year 1861 Mr. Gilchrist removed to Franklin county and in 1862 located on section 10, Clinton township.

W. S. Bowen, the first postmaster and first mayor of Sheffield, and also one of the early editors of the Sheffield Press, removed from Clayton county, Iowa, to Franklin county, in 1867, and located on section 5, Clinton township. When the town of Sheffield was laid out he removed to the village. He was elected mayor in 1876, at the first election held in the incorporated town of Sheffield, and remained in office several years. His successors as near as can be gathered from the records remaining after the fire of 1894 were as follows: S. B. Elder, Thomas Thomas, L. B. Carhart, Thomas Thomas, C. F. Johnston, H. D. Hockings, G. A. Johnston, John Treganza, G. A. Johnston, G. R. Miner, L. S. Sullivan and the present incumbent, A. J. Froning.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE COUNTY SEAT-LAID OUT AND PLATTED IN 1856-JOB GARNER AND GEORGE RYAN, FOUNDERS GROWTH OF THE VILLAGE-INCORPORATED AS A TOWN IN 1871-INCORPORATED AS A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS IN 1893-THE BUILDERS OF HAMPTON-PUBLIC UTILITIES-MODERN IMPROVEMENTS-BUSINESS HOUSES, ETC.

In writing the history of Washington township, the historian's scope is limited to and embraces that which pertains to Hampton. As has been heretofore related, Washington was one of the first three townships created by the county court, from which, from time to time other townships were separated and organized, namely: Ingham, Mott, Marion, West Fork, Clinton, Ross and Richland. By the disintegration process all left to Washington township are sections 27, 28, 29, 32, 33 and 34, all of which are coextensive with the corporate limits of the city of Hampton.

Hampton is situated two miles east of the center of the county, is surrounded by as good farming land as lies out of doors, with well kept thoroughfares leading into it and having railroad facilities that should attract manufacturing enterprises to her doors. The business buildings are many and substantial and the residences are splendidly built and attractive. Hampton people have an eye to the beautiful, numerous evidences of which lie in the homes, lawns, paved streets, boulevard lamps, modern churches and school buildings, parks and a general appearance of thrift and thoroughness.

Job Garner and George Ryan were the founders of Hampton, platting the land on which the city now stands in 1856, and giving to the county forty acres, that by the sale of lots the new subdivision of the state might have the means of building a courthouse and make other necessary improvements. In March, 1856, Hampton was made the seat of government for Franklin county. On the 2d day of June, 1856, H. P. Allen, county surveyor, finished his survey and platting of the village of Hampton, and on that day the plat was recorded, thus carrying out a contract made by the county with the town's