"One of the best games of ball ever played in the county or the state
came off last Saturday at Grasshopper Falls between the Red Jackets of
that place and Eagles of this place, resulting in a victory for the
latter club by a score of 18 to 11," reported J.W. Roberts, editor of
the Independent, Oskaloosa, Sept. 3, 1870.
The editor continued, "The Red Jackets, although one of the youngest,
are among the best clubs in the county and are going to make
themselves felt."
The 140 years ago issue also included Jefferson County statistics for
that time of which Grasshopper Falls reported 415 houses and 442
families. Among the 51 wealthiest men in the county, Grasshopper Falls
Township men were S.C. Gephart, G.W. May, Jo Miller, F. Ferguson, R.H.
Crosby, Cal Smith, Wm. Gragg, W. Crosby, and Geo. Van Gaasbeck.
The oldest man in the county was "Harry Nichols (colored), reported at
108 years, though there was some uncertainty at that point;" the
oldest woman was Elizabeth Conwell, 89, both resided in Oskaloosa.
The oldest persons in Grasshopper Falls Township were Curtis Howe, 98,
and Anna Bowles, 77. The largest owners of improved land: N.H. Harmon,
380 acres, Finley Ferguson, 480, E.E. Hutchins, 400, G.W. May, 300,
all in Grasshopper Falls Township.
Other township owners were J.P. Barnes, 400 acres, Rock Creek; G.
Hudson, 450, W.H. Coppinger, 700, N.A. Howard, 360, Jefferson
Township; C.A. Buck, 700 acres, J.A. Patterson, 338, Oskaloosa
Township; and R.G. Elliott, 400 acres, Sarcoxie Township. Non-
residents owned larger tracts of land than any of the Jefferson County
listings.
The Valley Falls museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Admission is free.
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