USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth County, Iowa > Part 94
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Numerous farms in the township have an early-settlement history and are re- garded as landmarks of the days of the early 'zos, but the tract of land that is ad- vertising the township the most is Carl J. Lenander's buffalo ranch in the south- east corner of Swea. The ranch on which this well-known herd is kept com- prises 1.000 acres, being all of section 36 and 360 adjoining acres. Mr. Lenander
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about ten years ago started the herd by first purchasing two from Lincoln Park and then eight from the Flathead ranch in Montana. During the past few years he has been killing off the older ones, and now the herd is reduced to twelve in number, and all of them are young. Although the proprietor lives at Bancroft, he finds much pleasure in frequently going to his ranch and viewing the herd that has done much to advertise that vicinity.
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CHAPTER XXXV TOWNSHIP ONE HUNDRED
HEBRON TOWNSHIP
Hebron is the name of the township in the extreme northeast corner of the county and borders, consequently, on the southern Minnesota line. In the whole township neither section 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 can be found, because it lacks the north- ern tier of sections to make it a full congressional township. The same is true of the three townships lying to the west of it-Springfield, Grant and Eagle.
More than one deed, either by mistake or with fraudulent intent, was issued in the early days, transferring what purported to be the title to land in some of those missing sections that never were surveyed. Even the county supervisors used to get tangled up in the matter and assign these sections to certain townships that they were creating. One has only to examine the records to find how fre- quently they made this mistake.
Long before Hebron received a settler there were well improved farms with groves on them close to the line on the Minnesota side. One could easily tell when passing out of Kossuth and entering that state about where the line was located on that account.
In the early days of the township, before any roads were graded, one had to know how to drive to certain points or one did not get through. There were chains of ponds and marshes that puzzled many a man to know how he could pass over or around. In attempting to pass around he encountered a job he gladly would have sub-let if possible. One man who went there to look at some land he had owned for some time, declared that he stood in the center of the township and rocked every acre in the thirty sections.
Such a condition as that was never true, although in those early days there was much wet land in that region. The greater portion of the land in 100-27, however, has always been good. The first settlers located on as high and dry land, and as productive, as can be found in the other townships.
The territory in 100-27 first belonged to Algona township and remained so until September, 1870, when it became a part of two townships. Sections (6). 7, 18, 19, 30 and 31 were set off into Greenwood and the remainder into Collar. This latter soon vanished and its territory in 100-27 went back to Algona. In June, 1872, what is now Hebron was made to constitute the north end of Wesley; but it began forming a part of Ramsey in April, 1882, by direction of the board of supervisors, and remained until January, 1889, when the board established Hebron in its present form and size.
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The township has numerous farmers who have grown wealthy while living on their land. If this statement is doubted ask Assessor Frank H. Bettcher or Clerk G. C. Persig, or for information concerning the general affairs of the town- ship go to Trustees C. J. Anderson and Geo. M. Baldwin. If it is knowledge per- taining to the schools that one seeks, ask G. C. Persig the president, William Franke the secretary, Geo. M. Baldwin the treasurer of Frank Nehring, F. Wil- mert, H. Stenberg, M. E. Smith and C. O. Hauskins the other directors.
The credit for being the first permanent settler belongs to Tom Brown, who purchased the northwest quarter of section 17, and some adjoining land, in Jan- uary, 1879, and proceeded to make a home for his family on the tract.
The Goodrich family located in 1883, Will securing the northwest quarter of 20, and Frank the southwest of 17. The parents of these two made up the other members of the family at that time. A couple of years later Ole O. Quam settled upon the north half of the northeast quarter of 14.
Sanford Rowe located upon the northwest quarter of 18 during the year 1886. When he came there appeared to be no one in the township except the Browns, the Goodrichs and the Ole O. Quam family. The first winter after coming Mr. Rowe lost eighty-three head of cattle on account of the blackleg disease. About that time the Rhody family also made their appearance and located upon section 9 on the old Hein place.
There is a difference of opinion among the early settlers in that vicinity as to the time when T. Halvorson located upon the northeast quarter of 11. In spite of the fact that several declare that he began making his home on that quarter after the Rowe family came, there are as many over on the Minnesota side that assert that he came as early as did the Brown family. They say he was a squatter in a sod house on the land in 1880, at a time when he neither knew nor cared in which state he was living. These northern neighbors also say that J. J. Coupanger was living in a sod house on the Quam tract before the latter began making his home there.
In the early '8os Erick Toquam settled upon the southeast quarter of 14, C. S. Pendleton upon the north half of 26 and L. O. Quam upon the southwest quarter of 16. Among the settlers of the latter '80s were Jacob Hein on section 9, W. A. Smith and G. H. Vrooman on the south half of 7, and H. L. Baldwin on the south- west quarter of 28. The early 'gos found several families locating. Among them were those of R. A. Richardson on the southwest quarter of 33, Frank O'Hara on the northeast quarter of 32, L. L. Ohmstad on the northeast quarter of 21, Geo. E. Sanders on section 31, and the Boettcher family, who later procured land on sections 10, 16 and 22.
In November, 1886, Hattie Chesley began a term of school upstairs in Tom Brown's house. Those attending besides the seven from that family were Katie Hein and two children from the Rhody home. Clara Krosch also taught in that building.
Soon after Qle Quam came, the first schoolhouse was erected, a short distance north of his house. As the children could only speak the Norwegian language, the teacher for awhile had a hard time making any progress.
Tom Brown in 1889 traded his fine farm to G. D. McArthur for horses, buggies, etc., and moved his large family to Armstrong, where he opened the fourth livery barn. C. S. Pendleton became the owner of much land and was
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honored by being chosen county supervisor. Tiring of his farm, he sold it and moved to California where he lost nearly all of his wealth.
R. A. Richardson, Frank Goodrich and H. L. Baldwin are now making their home at Elmore. These three with Will Goodrich, Rowe and Pendleton were live politicians in the old caucus days.
The German Lutheran church has its edifice on the northeast corner of section 27, and Rev. Meisner of Elmore, is the pastor. The incorporators of the church in September, 1895, were Emil and Herman Goltz, August and F. A. Boettcher. F. Kinne, Gustav Kause and August Madetzke.
The schools of the township during the winter 1912-13 were presided over by Edith Spear, Edith Sundstrom, Laura Rowe, Clara Hendrickson, Clara Murphy and Josie A. Hauskins.
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
The township of Springfield (100-28) is one of the four having only thirty sections. These four are generally referred to as being the short townships because they were lacking the usual north row of sections. Had these sections been there in 1870, Springfield today would be in Crocker county and Kossuth would only be twenty-four miles long. It was because Crocker did not have 432 square miles in its territory that the supreme court annulled the act of the legislature in establishing Crocker county.
The territory comprised in Springfield used to be in Algona township. In fact it belonged to that township from the spring of 1856 till October, 1869, when it was made to form the north end of Portland.
That occurred during the period when the board did things on a large scale, and when there seemed but little chance for the north end of the county to ever become very thickly populated. Nearly all the land in that region was taxed for years to "Unknown."
In September, 1870, 100-28 became a portion of Greenwood; then in June, 1879, the east third of it was incorporated into the township of Ramsey, and in January, 1884, the west two-thirds was set off into the same township. Springfield was established in its present form in June, 1891, by order of the board of supervisors.
The soil of the township is black loam and is deep enough to last for gen- erations while producing crops. The three branches of the Blue Earth river flow towards the north and give that portion of the county a natural drainage. This region was for many years an extensive hay meadow from which thou- sands of tons of hay were marketed. Gradually farm buildings made their ap- perance, and the great hay meadows were broken up and utilized for farm purposes. The great herds of cattle that once were guarded on these prairies have disappeared, and the herder's shanties and corrals exist only in the mem- ory of those who were once familiar with their presence.
Every township has had its first settler, its first house, its first grove and its first schoolhouse. There must have been a time when the first home was established on the territory now embraced in Springfield township. But where is the spot on which the house stood? And when and by whom was it built?
The house is still standing and is located upon the southeast quarter of section 10. It was built by an Algona carpenter, but no one is able to recall the
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name of that contractor. This house belonged to the owner of the land whose name was Green, but he did not take possession of it. It was the Carl Whit- tuhn family who first lived in it and who were the first settlers in the town- ship. A short time later the Hicks brothers moved in and began housekeep- ing. Still later Hilton Tinker made his home there for several years. This building was raised during the year 1875. This fact is established by the Minnesota fiddler who played for a dance in it before it was completed, and who had for his partner that night the lady who a short time later became his wife.
A couple of years later Alex S. Anderson built the second house. That was on the northeast quarter of 15. In the latter '80s, Simon Schneider lo- cated upon the west half of the northeast quarter of 14, John A. Clarke upon the northwest quarter of 24, and M. Bradburn on the southwest quarter of 26.
About the year 1890, G. H. Tinker made his home on the southwest quar- ter of 11, Mary A. Shaver, on the cast half of the northeast quarter of 14, and the C. H. Stolte family on the 80 adjoining on the south. On the north- cast quarter of 29, E. D. Farrell settled his family in 1892, and the year fol- lowing, R. E. Curtis located upon the southwest quarter of 35. The town- ship has numerous reliable and well-to-do farmers, but none more so than J. B. Worden on section 33.
"Billy" Burton was well settled in 1892, when he was chosen a member of the board of supervisors. His home was upon the northeast quarter of 22. Billy was a popular little fellow, but he left the township a few years after he retired from office.
The Tinker schoolhouse on section 11 was the first to make its appearance. Minnesota teachers for the first few years generally presided over the school. The township at present is "Rural Independent," and has for its school officers : C. H. Watts, president; B. F. Sharp, secretary; John Haas, trasurer ; M. S. Crawford, and William Poppe. The teachers doing service are Arnold Kresen- sky, Rachel Worden, Laura Powell, Azel Carpenter, and Mattie Reece.
The township officers serving at the present time are Fred Logermann, clerk ; C. H. Watts, assessor; and M. Engelbarts, John Haas and Homer Eggleston, trustees.
GRANT TOWNSHIP
Grant is the infant township of the county, having had its birth the last of the whole number. The county judge began to create civil townships in the spring of 1856, and had established four up to 1869. That year the board of supervisors began the work of setting off townships and kept at it from time to time, as the occasion seemed to demand, until finally 100-29 remained the only congressional township not comprising a civil township.
Grant township had its birth at the will of the board in April, 1894, when Harrison was divided. It had been a part of the latter township since June, 1890. The territory, 100-29, at first belonged to old Algona township, but the board made it a small part of Greenwood in June, 1869. During the month of September, 1870, it was severed from Greenwood and it practically went
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OLDEST CABIN IN GRANT TOWNSHIP
Built in 1885 and remodeled in 1887. It stands on second highest point of land in the state
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back to Algona again, and remained so until it was made to form a part of Harrison.
Grant has no streams of importance except the branch of the Blue Earth which barely clips the southeast corner. Neither does it have a railroad on any section; but it does have Bancroft lake which is located along the eastern edge of sections 10 and 15.
Before any settlements were formed, thousands of cattle were herded on the nutritious grass growing upon the hills and bottom lands in what is now Grant township. Cattle men from' the south end of the county drove their herds there to graze during the summer, and then drove them back in the late fall. About a quarter of a century ago 2,000 head from one herd stampeded, and many were lost and not recovered. There were about as many more in the great herd that did not escape.
One of the best known, as well as one of the most conspicuous buildings in the township was the Chubb herd shanty that stood upon the northeast cor- ner of section 20. It was first built in 1885 by the Chubb Bros., and then re- built two years later. The old building was a landmark of the early settle- ment-days of the township. The immense acreage enclosed later by fences made the pasture one of the best in the county of that period.
The first settlements in Grant were formed along the Minnesota line, the settlers entering from the north. The first to locate, build a shanty and form a home was Pete Strandberg, in March, 1884. This house was built in the northeast corner of section 8. S. P. Haglund, now of Swea City, located him and helped him find the corners of his land. W. E. Sifert first took the tract as a homestead and then relinquished his claim to Strandberg.
The next settlers located upon the north half of section 9, about three years after Strandberg came. Dick and Harry Paulglaze were the names of two Englishmen who settled upon that tract.
About that time a man by the name of Bruhman built a shanty on the southwest corner of section 17, and lived there with his family for a short time.
The fourth house built in the township was on the south half of the south- east quarter of 24. This was put up during the year 1891, by C. H. Keilleg who began making his home there that year.
R. R. Stockman in 1892, crossed the line from Minnesota and settled upon the southeast quarter of 7. There he remained upon the farm with his family until 1905, when he moved to Swea City and engaged in the hardware trade.
During the year 1893, L. A. Swanson located upon the southeast quarter of 8. He is now living in Swea City and the land belongs to W. L. Joslyn of Algona. About the time that Swanson settled, another man put up a shanty on the northwest corner of 29, but his name has been forgotten.
James B. Sexton moved his family to the northwest quarter of 17 in 1893, and about that time Alfred Nelson located upon section 12, W. A. Hall on section 25, and H. A. Jennings on section 33.
John Speicher, who settled upon section 21 and then upor 9, and Alex and W. H. McAninch, who lived upon 31, are ranked by the residents as having been early settlers in the township. During the time this article was being pre- pared for the press L. C. Barber, who purchased the southeast quarter of 21 in the early 'gos, died at Swea City, where he had been living for several years.
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At that place also resides L. J. Vaux, whose home was founded in 1895, on the southeast quarter of 19. N. H. Beard, who was prominent in political and other township affairs has removed, and his land on section 30 is now owned by others. Louis A. Swanson, who located in 1893, upon the southwest quar- ter of 8; N. W. Griffith in1895, upon the northeast quarter of 29; Lark Rey- nolds in 1898, upon the northwest quarter of 28, and Thomas Clendening in 1899, upon the southwest quarter of 34, are among those who settled during that period and became actively identified with the prosperity of the township.
At the organization election in 1894, after the townshp had been set off from Harrison, Peter Strandberg, John Speicher and Southerland were the judges and R. R. Stockman and W. H. McAninch, the clerk. Mr. Stockman was elected clerk of the township, a position he held as long as he was a resi- dent. The present clerk is Lark Reynolds; the assessor, N. W. Griffith; and the trustees, S. V. Carter, C. Comer and W. A. Hall.
The school officers are: W. A. Taft, president; N. W. Griffith, secretary ; S. V. Carter, treasurer ; David Farrow, C. Comer, A. Swanson, M. J. Kelley and J. A. Mayne. The teachers in the schools are Agnes Myer, Minnie Ander- son, Ida Hanson, Arthur McBan, Nancy Kelley and Eva L. Hartshorn.
Grant is in the region where flowing wells can be made with little expense. On several of the farms there are wells flowing gently the year around which are of great value to the stock raisers.
EAGLE TOWNSHIP
Township 100-30, in the northwest corner of the county, was christened Eagle by the board of supervisors when it was established in September, 1893. At the organization election which followed at the Johnson schoolhouse R. E. Jeansen, D. A. Freeman and Clarence Hand were the judges and George Twist and Robt. Gallion were the clerks.
The territory embraced in 100-30 was made a part of Greenwood in Janu- ary, 1869, and of Seneca in September, 1870. The latter township failing to organize, the territory went back to old Algona township and so remained until September, 1884. when it again became a part of Seneca, and was such until Eagle was set off in 1893.
The three principal bodies of water in the township have been Eagle lake on section 28, Goose lake on 17, and lowa lake on the northern boundary of 9 and 10. Mnd Creek is the outlet to Eagle lake and runs southeasterly, circling around Bancroft on the east and emptying into the river near the northeast corner of Burt township. This creek has been ditched by the county from its source to its mouth, at such a great cost that the land owners in the district are heavily burdened with the required taxes. Mud Creek drain was the most stupendous undertaking of any of the many drains the county supervisors es- tablished and pushed to completion. Since the great ditch was cut, the Eagle lake of old is no more and exists only in the' memory of those who were once familiar with its size and condition.
The first settler in the township built his hut on the southwest shore of lowa lake, on the northeast quarter of section 9. This man was Peter Schweig, who later operated a meat market in Algona. He homesteaded the tract, and
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BAPTIST CHURCH OF SWEA CITY The oldest church in the town
SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH OF SWEA CITY Built by the German Lutheran congrega- tion and later bought by the Swed- ish Lutheran congregation
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in April, 1875, received his deed from the government. Consequently he must have entered it and began making his home there as early as 1870.
Schweig sold his land in November, 1872, to Hiram Hurlbut before he re- ceived his patent. Wm. Cordingley became the owner in November, 1881, and he sold to Wm. and Peter Burt in May, 1888. While the place was owned by Cordingley his son Robert and wife lived on the premises. In the neighborhood there lived "Bud" Nutt and John Law at that time.
The first death, no doubt, in the township, came to the Robt. Cordingley family, when a little child of that home was taken away from the bereaved parents.
The order in which the next settlers came after the Schweigs located is hard to determine, owing to the various ways in which they reckoned the settlement years. Some claim the date to be the time when they first entered the town- ship; some the time when they bought their land; some when they built their houses; and some when they began housekeeping with their families.
There is no dispute, however, about the matter of who were the pioneers to the township of about the same period. That honor is accorded to Swen M. Johnson, Theo. Anderson, John A. Lindbloom and John E. Pherson. Mr. Johnson located during the year 1884, on the northwest quarter of the south- east quarter of 10; Mr. Anderson about that time chose for the home of his family the north half of the northeast quarter of 21; Mr. Lindbloom the east half of the southeast quarter of 17; and Mr. Pherson the west half of the south- east quarter of 34. Lindbloom and Pherson erected their houses the same year. Both, however, had been in the township before that year, and Anderson and Johnson had been there before they built their houses.
During the year 1879 Lindbloom and Anderson spent much time in chasing deer, that were plentiful on the prairie, and in trapping wild game. Others later engaged in the same line of sport.
From two of the homes above referred to came teachers annually to at- tend the institutes and summer schools at the county seat. Selma Johnson and Mamie Anderson were always on hand and represented their township with much credit to themselevs.
The early settlers who went to the township poor have long since ascended to the well-to-do class of farmers. Among others who have accumulated enough to be in comfortable circumstances may be mentioned Roal Roalson on section 35, F. A. Kesler and George Twist on 8, A. M. Huffman and David Freeman on 7, W. T. Shaw on 31, J. N. Payette on 22, Simon Severson on 11, and P. J. Cody on 35. Eric Erickson, who located in 1888, is now living in Swea township and doing well.
The best known of any of the settlers was Captain R. E. Jeansen, who came to the northwest corner of the country in 1865, as agent for the American Emi- grant Company. He operated first in what is now Swea township in bringing in colonies. During the year 1878 he established his home near Eagle lake, on the southwest corner of section 28 in what is now Eagle township. His prem- ises consisted of over 700 acres of fine land, a residence which had been con- structed with artistic design, and other substantial improvements. Around his home were gravel walks which he kept in good repair. He was the leader of the Swedish settlements and was respected as a ruler. Travelers were not Vol. 1-46
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charged for being entertained over night, but they were expected to drop into the Baptist missionary box on the table some extra change. In November, 1894, he traded his valuable farm for three residences in Des Moines and re- moved from the county. His land in the deal went in at the rate of $35 per acre.
About 8,000 acres of land in the township in the early days were procured from the government by Colonel J. D. L. Morrison of St. Louis. During the year 1886, he sold all his holdings for $45,000 to a syndicate. These lands later became the property of Wm. Larrabee, and still later to other parties. Much of the property now belongs to the Northern Land Company.
On section 31, in July, 1810, C. Burgeson fell from a stack of hay and broke his neck, death ensuing immediately. He had been a resident of Swea town- ship for several years.
The affairs of the township are entrusted to the following officials: M. L. Johnson, clerk ; Edwin C. Hovey, assessor; and A. E. Hovey, Roal Roalson and Hans Lewis, trustees. Those holding positions as school officers are R. Roalson, president; A. E. Hovey, secretary; J. E. Pherson, treasurer ; Tom Severson, T. Anderson, J. A. Lindbloom, J. S. Hanifan, G. A. Loafstrom and M. S. Johnson. The teachers in the schools are Anna and Nicholena Brones, Lillie Lofstrom, Effie Anderson, Nellie Hainfan and Minnie Lindbloon .
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