Madison Township; Mahaska County; Iowa

Madison Township; Mahaska County; Iowa

Madison Township in Mahaska County can be found to the north and northwest of Lincoln Township. Farmersville was the only community that really had any significance in this township, but it was short-lived. Farmersville started off under the name of "Chandlier", named after the first postmaster of the community, Chandlier W. Ellsworth, on February 8, 1866. On April 10 of that same year, the name "Farmersville" was adopted, but the post office in Farmersville was discontinued after October 20, 1871, as service there was no longer needed. Perhaps the best story that sums up Madison Township can be found at the Madison Cemetery, where one of the bravest individuals in county history gave her life to help others. Lois Benson, a sixteen year old maid for a Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schoemake, decided to watch the Schoemake's two children on Saturday, October 17, 1891 while Mr. and Mrs. Schoemake attended a church meeting. Around 7 P.M. a lamp caught an apron on fire, igniting the home furniture and carpeting. Lois successfully evacuated the two children in the home, but when she returned to fight the fire, her clothes caught fire. In a desperate attempt to save her life, she ran outside and rolled in the grass to put the fire out, but by the time the flames were gone, they had claimed all of her hair, a finger, and a lot of her skin. She passed away at 2 A.M. the following morning. Money was raised for a respectable memorial for the heroic deed Lois performed. Undoubtedly, Lois Benson is the biggest heroine ever to come from Madison Township.

Mahaska County Historical Society

Mahaska County Collection

Curtis Media Corporation: Dallas, Texas

2008-07-18

www.wmpenn.edu/library/library/about.html

still image/jpeg

image

Wilcox Library

http://cdm16125.contentdm.oclc.org/u?/p270701coll6,55