Joliet Township
In the early development of this farming area, communities were known by their heritage, German, Irish, Swedish, Polish, Welsh and etc. This Welsh community was made up of people from other parts of the state, other communities, from Wisconsin and from the Mother Land of Wales.
Originally organized as Looking Glass Precinct, on August 5, 1873, the name of this western-border precinct of Platte County was later changed to Joliet Township. The Joliet Township is bordered by Monroe Township on the South, Burrows on the East, St. Bernard on the North and Walker and Woodville on the West. The land in Joliet Township is about one-half rolling and about one-half level upland. The soil is rich loam and is nicely drained by the Shell Creek and it’s tributaries. This township is devoid of any trading post.
The first election was held at the home of Robert Jones and the township was located on the petition of a group headed by B.J.H.Yerion. Yerion was an early settler in that part of the country.
Michael Clark, who was born in Dublin, Ireland and came to Platte County in 1875, was another leader in the community at that time. Clark homesteaded a claim in Joliet Township, which he continued to augment with other property until he became the owner of 556 acres of farm land. He retired in 1913 and moved to Cornlea, in Granville Township. He was the husband of Miss Mary Sheedy of Columbus Township, who died in 1881. He was later married to Miss Bridget Whalen, who died in 1917.
Officers elected by the township in the vote of 1887 were:
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Supervisor -
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Treasurer -
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Clerk -
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Assessor -
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The Welsh community grew to a record 45 population in 1910 of Welsh families of Williams, Jones, Davies, Joseph, Parry, Evans, Hughes, James, Lewis, Lloyd, Owens, Thomas, Roberts, Miles and Edwards. Seven years after it was established, Joliet Township had a population of 305. It was about that time that an inhabitant of the region wrote a letter to a Columbus newspaper, entitled "Palestine Valley." The actual Palestine Valley is a tributary of the Looking Glass, about five miles long.
"I know when you read the heading of this," he wrote, "you will wipe your glasses and pull down that old reliable map of yours, and after looking in vain will say, "Where in blazes in Palestine Valley?"
The name referred to the new post office established in township 19, range 4 west, and called Palestine Valley. Joseph E. Jacobs was the first Postmaster.
Joliet Township School Districts:
There were five school districts, as reported by the 1894 census; Its area is six miles by six miles, for a total area of thirty-six square miles. The township is divided into four equal parts, giving each of its four school districts; 31, 42, 51 and 64, a three mile by three mile or a total of nine square miles.
There were five school districts, as reported by the 1894 census; Its area is six miles by six miles, for a total area of thirty-
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District 31 -
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District 42 -
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District 51 -
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District 64 -
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District 81 -
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