History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 105

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950

USA > Iowa > Kossuth County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 105
USA > Iowa > Winnebago County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 105
USA > Iowa > Hancock County > History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 105

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

B. F. Denslow died in Libby prison, of starvation.

David Stancliff fell in the seven days fight before Richmond, in July, 1862. He received seven bullets in his body and died within a few hours.

852 HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

Milton P. Goodell was wounded and captured in the battle of Pleasant ITill, La., April 9, 1864, and died just one month later.

William Lackore, Jr., died shortly after his discharge from service, from the ef-

feets of being struck on the chest by a fragment of shell.

Samuel Tennis, Jr., died June 9, 1864, while in the service, of brain fever brought on by exposure.

CHAPTER XVI.

MISCELLANEOUS.

In June, 1868, the safe in the county treasurer's office was blown open and about $500 in money and county warrants stolen. Suspicion rested on Arthur Linn, who was arrested and tried, but there be- ing no direct evidence to prove him guilty, he was discharged. The person or per- sons who committed the deed were never discovered.

On the 2d day of December, 1856, set in one of the most severe snow storms that ever visited this country. The win- ter of 1856-57 is remembered by all the old settlers as the winter of "blizzards," during which, quite a number were frozen to death. In what is now Newton town- ship, three men were frozen to death in the month above referred to. Two of the parties names are remembered-Por- ter and Snyder, the other, a stranger and traveler, is not remembered. A German and his wife were frozen in the same month, in the timber a short distance north of Forest City. They were all attempting to reach places of safety, where they could get food, got lost in the storm, and their

bodies were found the following spring. This severe winter found nearly all the settlers in straightened cireninstances, crowded in small log cabins, and with but little to subsist upon. Many went days without food or fire, and the suffering as described by early settlers, is, in many instances, almost without comparison in the history of the northwest. Such a winter has never since been experienced.

John Tinger, a young man about twenty- one years of age, committed snieide at Lake Mills on the 6th of May, 1872. It seems he had been afflicted for some time with a fever sore on his left leg, and for some months he had entertained fears that he would lose the use of the limb. A letter was found in his pocket, that he had written to a girl in Sweden, in which he accused her of being false and unfaith- ful to the promises she had made him, and told Her that she would live to regret it. He was, at the time, out of money, and, comparatively, among strangers, and get- ting down-hearted and despondent seemed rashly to decide that death was preferable

17.

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

to life. He was found lying on his back, with a fearful hole in his left breast, and a large pool of blood near him on the ground. A shot gun was lying elose by with the muzzle towards him, and near his side, an open jack knife and a piece of hazel bush about two feet long. Appear- ances indicated that he had seated himself on the ground, placed the muzzle of the gun against his breast, and discharged it by pushing the trigger with the hazel stick. Ile came to the county from Swe- den, in September, 1871.

Oct. 21, 1876, Hans Evenson, a resident of Norway township, was buried alive by the caving in of a well thirty feet deep. Help was immediately sent for, but they were unable to get him out until. the fol- lowing day. Ile left a large family to mourn his untimely death.

Aug. 30, 1877, Iver Groves was over come by damp in a well which he was digging, and before help could reach him life had become extinet. The well was forty feet deep. lle left a wife and four children to mourn his death.

Jan. 4, 1878, a sad accident occurred by which Lewis Helgeson, a resident of Cen - ter township, lost his life. He had gone to Kensett to market some grain, and on his return was thrown from the wagon, sustaining injuries that resulted in his death the same evening.

The following account of a frightful runaway is taken from the Winnebago Summit of July 29, 1880:

" The worst accident that ever ocerred in Winnebago county happened on last Sunday afternoon. A wagon containing eleven persons started to go out on the prairie, west of town. As the team started

down the hill by the gravel pit, which is quite steep, the horses started to run. Unele William Lackore and George Dun- away sat on the front seat, the latter driv- ing his own team. Mr. Laekore attempted to assist in stopping the team, and in some way they were turned to one side, which overturned the wagon, throwing all the occupants violently to the ground.

"Mrs. George Dunaway was killed out- right; Mrs. L. C. Green, daughter of Mrs. Dunaway, had her right elbow dislocated, and was badly bruised about head, face and limbs; her little daughter had her left arm jammed, and was badly shaken up. Mrs. William Laekore had both arms broken and is also cut about the head. Uncle William Lackore is bruised up con- siderably; George Dunaway is badly in- jured about the back; Mrs. Gambell was slightly hurt on right hand, and Mrs. Clark and her daughter were slightly in- jured. Jesse Lackore was the only one of the entire load who was not hurt; as the wagon upset he jumped, and fortu- nately escaped uninjured.

"Drs. Jones and Hewett were called at once, and did all that lay in their power to alleviate the wounds of the sufferers, and the injured are doing as well as could be expected.

"It was a sad accident, and one which has no parallel in this section."

The following account of a suicide is taken from the Independent Herald, dated Nov. 21, 1881:

"This morning we were startled by the news that Ena Sawyer had committed suicide by taking morphine. She has al- ways been subject to fits of melancholy, and has often made the assertion that she

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

would kill herself. On one occasion be- fore, from the same cause, she barely es- caped eternity. Yesterday she appeared downhearted, but no one took special notice of it from the fact that she has ap- peared the same so often before. She told several persons yesterday that she had taken morphine, and told Dr. Ill that he would probably be called, but did not want him to come. By talking with her for about an hour he satisfied himself that if she had taken any at all it was no unusual dose, as it should have operated within twenty minutes. After this she went to the literary society, walked home after it was ont and soon became uncon- scious. The doctors were immediately summoned and stayed with her till life vanished at about 3 o'clock this morning. Thus an unhappy life is ended. Perhaps

the last sentence she wrote was: ' Where will my soul rest?' "

The first marriage of persons who were residents of the county occurred in the fall of 1856. The contracting parties were James Redmile and Jane Adams, residents of what is now Newton town- ship. The ceremony was performed at Mason City, and the couple returned to this county and commenced matrimonial life on section 36. This match was not a substantial one, however, for within two months they separated.

The next marriage of residents of the county was between William Sutton and Tempa Decker, in the spring of 1857. They were married at Mason City, as there was no officer in the county, at the time, who had authority to officiate at marriage ceremonies.

CHAPTER XVII.

CENTER TOWNSHIP.

This township is bounded on the north i by Norway township, on the east by Worth county, on the south by Mount Valley township, and on the west by Newton township, and comprises all of congressional township 99, of range 23. The soil is rich and very productive and in this township are some of the best farms in the county. The township is mostly prairie, although there are quite a number of large groves of timber in the eastern and northeastern part. Lime '

creek enters the township on section 5, and leaves from section 19. Beaver creek rises on section 35, and leaves the township from section 36. Rice lake, quite a large body of water, lies about half in this township, and half in Worth county.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in the territory now comprising Center township was' George Thomas, who located land about one mile southeast of the present site of Lake Mills in the spring of 1855. Mr. Thomas

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

made that his home until his death which occurred in 1858. George W., son of Mr. Thomas, came to the county in 1855, with his father, remaining about three years, when he went to Pike's Peak. In 1860 he returned to Winnebago county, locating in Center township, on what was known as the Taugue place. About a year later he built where his present re- sidence now is and has made that his home ever since.

George W. Thomas was born in Can- ada, Aug. 5, 1838. He emigrated with his parents, at the age of nine years, to the States, locating in Dodge Co., Wis., where he remained till 1855, then removing to Winnebago Co., Iowa, settled on section 11, Center township, where he has sinee resided, with the exception of one year, when he was at Pike's Peak in search of gold. He has 560 acres of good land well improved. He is a member of the Forest City Masonic Lodge, No. 213. Ile was married March 14, 1866, to Hattie Gibbs, born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., March 14, 1849. This union has been blessed with four living children -Charles D., Hattie May, Maud and Myrtle, (twins). Barney Gibbs, the father of Mrs. Thomas, was born in New York in 1816, and died in Winnebago Co., Iowa, in 1879. Louisa, the mother, was born in New York in April, 1826, and is still living. They were the parents of two children-Mary, now the wife of Pulaska Williams, of Todd Co., Minn., and Hattie, now Mrs. Thomas. Joshua Thomas, the father of G. W. Thomas, was born in New York, in 1801; died in Winnebago Co., Iowa, in 1858. Matilda Borden, the mother, was born in Canada, in 1812; died in Wisconsin in

1855. They were the parents of six chil- dren, George W. being the second child.

In the spring of 1856 a man by the name of Taugue came to the county, lo- cating in this township on section 1. Ile lived there for about two years, then moved to section 12, and in the fall of 1858 went to Pike's Peak.

John Anderson also came in 1856, loca- ting on section 2. He remained two or three years then went to Kansas.

In 1857, three brothers, John, C. L. and Fred M. Porter, became residents of the territory now embraced by Center township. They located on seetion 2, where C. L. still lives. John is now in Kansas; F. M. died in abont 1880, near Wadena, Minn.

Joseph Burns came the same year and squatted on section 2, moving the follow- ing year to section 11. After a stay of four or five years he went to Illinois.

In 1858 C. D. Smith settled on section 2, where he still lives.

C. D. Smith was born in Vermont Nov. 26, 1833. Ile was reared on a farm and there resided until twenty-two years of age. He then went to Janesville, Wis., where he remained one year, removing to Worth Co., Iowa, where he resided two years, being engaged in farming. IIe then removed to Winnebago county, and purchased a claim from Joseph Burns, who had erected a log cabin on it about 1856. Mr. Smith built an additional room to this cabin in 1864, and has since made it his home. Ile has lately complet- ed a fine two-story frame dwelling near the site of the old one, in which he is now residing. In 1866, he, in company with S. D. Wadsworth, erected a steam flour-

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

ing and saw mill, to which they also add- ed a shingle cutter and carding machine. The mill was situated near the lake from which the town afterward derived its name. This mill burned down in the fall of 1871, but was re-built by the same company, and was again in running order in January, 1872. In April, 1883, the mill was sold to HI. Winslow, now of the firm of Winslow & Conley, who have put in a patent roller mill. Mr. Smith is now engaged in farming. He has 480 acres of land on sections 2, 3, 4 and 11. Ife has been county supervisor eight years, town- ship trustee several terms, and is at pres- ent mayor of Lake Mills, which position he has held ever since the city received its charter, in 1881. About 1868, he bought fifteen acres of land of E. D. Hlinman, which he laid out into town lots, and upon which the town of Lake Mills began to build. In 1880 he laid out into lots fifty acres of the Joseph Burns claim. Mr. Smith was married Feb. 26, 1863, to Janet Smith, who was born in Canada, April 26, 1835. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of five children- Walter C., born Dec. 28, 1863; Annie J., born Jan. 18, 1869; Emeline A., born Dec. 15, 1873; Charles W., born Oct. 26, 1875; and Bessie J., born June 15, 1881.

John B. Aulman also came in 1858, and entered 320 acres of land on sections 8 and 9 of Center township. He shortly after returned to his home in Philadelphia, Penn., remaining until 1860, when, with his family, he settled on his land in Cen- ter township.

John B. Aulman was born in France, Dec. 19, 1819. In 1843 he emigrated to America, landing at New Orleans, La.,

where he remained a short time, remov- ing to Philadelphia, Penn., where he re- sided for eighteen years. He then re- moved to Iowa, settling in Winnebago county, section 7, Center township, where he has since resided, with the exception of one year, while making a tour through Kansas. He has a farm of 280 acres, of good land, well improved. He was mar- ried in France, in 1848, to Mary Frates. This union has been blessed with four living children-Angustus, Joseph P., Eugene and Andrew. Mr. Autman is a republican, and is a member of the Cath- olic Church.

John E. Anderson came from Lyons, this State, in 1860, and located on section 2, of what is now Center township. He built a small house and improved his land, remaining there until his death, which occurred in 1866.

During the war, quite a number settled in the township. Prominent among them were: Patrick Malone, Elef Elefson, T. Thompson, John Johnson, J. J. Kleven, Charles Ruby and E. D. Hinman. All of these persons, excepting J. J. Kleven and Charles Ruby, are still residents of the township.

J. J. Kleven located on section 22. He died four or five years later. His family still reside on the same place.

Charles Ruby came from Bristol, this State, locating on section 4, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1868.

Thomas Thomson was born in Nor- way, in December, 1822. In 1852 he em- igrated to America, landing at Quebec. He went to Racine Co., Wis., remaining there one year, thenee to Dane county,

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

where he resided until 1865, when he came to this county. He settled on section 16, Center township, where he has 320 acres of land. He has forty acres in timber. In 1852 he was married to Harriet John- son, born in Norway, in 1822. They have six children-Mary, John, Ole, Rockstead, Thomas and Gilbert. They are all mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. He is a republican, politically.

HISTORIC ITEMS.

The first birth in the township was that of a daughter of Rev. John B. Hill. She was born in the summer of 1859, and died within the year.

The first death occurred in 1858, and carried away George Thomas, the first settler in the township.

The first resident couple to get married was C. D. Smith and Jeannette Smith, who are still living in the township.

The first cabin was built in 1855 by George Thomas, who, in the following year, broke the first piece of land, on sec- tion 12.

The first school house was built in the winter of 1859-60, on section 2. The contract was let to C. H. Day, who had the work done.

The first sermon was preached in 1862 by Rev. Saxby.

'The first school was taught in 1860 by E. D. Hinman.

ORGANIC.

Center township was organized in 1858, and comprised all of congressional town- ship 98, of range 24, excepting two tiers of sections on the south; the south half of township 98, range 23; all of the south tier of sections in township 99, ranges 24, 25 and 26; and two tiers of sections in

the extreme west of townships 99 and 100, of range 26. In 1867 the county was re-divided, and Center township was made to comprise all of congressional township 98, range 23, and the cast half of range 24, except section 34 and the northwest three-fourths of section 35; also the sonth half of township 99, ranges 23, 24 and 25. In 1875 Center township was again changed. At this time its territory was made co-extensive with township 99, of ranges 23, 24, 25 and 26; and in 1881 it became all of congressional township 99, of range 23.

The early election records of this town- ship were not preserved, and hence the names of the first officers cannot be ascer- tained.

In 1883 the officers were as follows: Trustees, Lars Tho, T. H. Twito and Ole O. Tvetine; clerk, A. O. Tobiassen; justices, A. Anderson and R. O. Haugland; consta- bles, John Bingaman and W. F. Brown; assessor, Andrew Thompson; road supervi- sors, district No. 1, Charles Ruby; district No. 2, Ole Peterson; No. 3, T. A. Brekky; No. 4, John Eiel; No. 5, Henry Thompson; No. 6, K. K. Killen; No. 7, Elling Her- manson; No. 8, Ole II. Brekky.

EDUCATIONAL.

In 1883 Center township was divided into nine sub-districts for school purposes. Number of school houses, eight, valued at $5,200; value of apparatus, $340. The total number of persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years was 458, of which were males, 258, females, 200; total number enrolled in the schools of the township, 321. Number of teachers em- ployed in the township, males six, females six; average monthly compensation, males

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

$28.88, females $25.83. Total number of months of school during the year ending Sept. 17, 1883, fifty-eight; average cost of tuition per month for each pupil, $1.13.

RELIGIOUS.

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Center township was organized on the 3d day of September, 1865, by the Rev. T. A. Torgeson, with the following original members: lejus Ganz- sied, Mary Tollaksen, Evind Jorgensen Sunderland, Halvor J. Sunderland, Sigurd 11. Sunderland and Torjus Tollefson.

The first meetings were held in private residences and in schoolhonses until 1876, when the society erected their bean- tiful house of worship on section 34. The edifice stan is on a commanding eminence and may be seen from miles away in every direction. It is 40 by 106 feet, and cost about $6,000. Too much credit cannot be given to Rev. I. M. Dahl for his per- sistent efforts in the erection of this struct- ure. Mr. Dahl became the pastor of the Church, Oct. 19, 1873, a little over one month after its organization.

Rev. I. M. Dahl was born in Norway on the 14th of December, 1836. In 1860 he went to Germany and studied theology in a mission college, located at llanover, being ordained in 1866, by the Rev. Dr. Niemann, the counsellor of the consis- tory. The same year Mr. Dahl was sent on a mission to the East Indies, where he worked faithfully for seven years in the Madras Presidency. Ilere he was mar- ried, Dec. 18, 1870, to Catharina Mour- sund. In the spring of 1873, Mr. Dahl left the Indies for Europe, where he tar- ried but a short time, then came to the United States and coming dircetly to

Iowa took charge of his present field of labor. Mr. and Mrs. Dahl have been blessed with two children-Hans Flam- inius Moursund, born Dec. 6, 1871; and Mary Olivia, born Dec. 22, 1872. Mr. Dahl stands some five feet, ten and a half inches high, weighs 235 pounds, and with his magnificent physical proportions unites a purely Greek profile. A more classical, intellectual looking man, it is hard to find, and when he enters the pul- pit to thunder forth the tenets of his faith, it seems that the great reformer of the fifteenth century, Martin Luther, stood before us. llis extensive travels and acquaintances with numerous tongues and dialects are betrayed in his every conver- sation, and the consideration in which he is held by his numerous congregations, denotes that the man is almost perfect in all the walks of life. No clergyman in all northern Iowa wields the influence or accomplishes the good that this gentle- man does. At the time of his coming here the society numbered 595. In 1880 the church was divided, and Rev. II. Strand was called to the supervision of one part while Mr. Dahl was retained for the other. At this time the church records showed a total membership of 1,976, an increase of 1,381. In 1882 the membership of both divisions was 2,397. The officers of the Church consist of seven trustees: Aslak Olson, Nils Egge, Andrew Neresen, Torris Hermandsen, Gulbrand Belsheim, Andrew Peterson and Knudt J. Fei.

The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Winnebago county is one of the most prominent organizations of north- western Iowa. The society is in a healthy, prosperous condition. The Winnebago

et M. Sahl.

L LISTARTY

SENSATIONS

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY. 861

Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran congre- gations are divided into three religious school districts, with a teacher for each district, teaching religion, song and the Norwegian language. Each distriet is again divided into three sub-districts and the whole is arranged so that the children may use both the English common, and the Norwegian religious day schools. .

LAKE MILLS.

The village of Lake Mills is beautifully situated in the edge of the timber on sec- tion 2, of Center township. The Minne- apolis & St. Louis Railroad passes through the village, connecting it with all leading markets, both north and south. The out- look for this busy little village is indeed flattering, and the energy and enterprise of its citizens, combined with the great scope of country which feeds it, will be- fore many years make Lake Mills one of the leading towns in this part of Iowa Lake Mills was laid out in 1868, although for a number of years prior to that time the village was in existence. C. D. Smith was the proprietor of the town site. The first store building on the present site of Lake Mills was built by E. D. Ilinman, in 1864, and that gentleman was the first to sell goods.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.

In 1866 S. D. Wadsworth opened a gen- eral store in an old log school house which had been built several years before. He continued the business in the old school house until 1867, then removed to his dwelling house, where he now resides, and after four years sold his stock of goods to W. B. Todd. Mr. Todd removed the stock into what is known as the old Barnett House, and continued in business

about three years. At the end of that time he closed his stock out and retired from business.

The next general store was opened in 1868, by Lewis Crowell, in the building where Southwick's store now is. Mr. Crowell continued the business about one year, then sold to Lemuel Stilson, who sold in about a year to Abel Porter. One year later, Mr. Porter sold out bis goods and quit the business.

In 1869 Larson & Co., from Osage, Iowa, opened a general store in what is now known as the old Smith building. They continued there for two years, then ereet- ed the building they now occupy.

William Larson, a native of Norway, was born April 30, 1831. Ile emigrated to America in 1854 and located in New England, where he remained eighteen months, then removing to Dane Co., Wis., at which place he resided until 1861, then removing to Iowa Co., Wis., where he re- mained until 1864. He enlisted in com- pany II, Ist Minnesota Heavy Artillery, was stationed at Chattanooga, Tenn., until he was discharged at the close of the war. He then returned to Wisconsin where he remained until 1868, and then removed to Osage, Mitchell Co., Iowa, where he re- mained till 1870. He then came to Lake Mills, Winnebago Co., Iowa, where he has since resided and been engaged in the mercantile business. He was married in Norway, in 1854, to Catharina Dalum, born in Norway, about 1810, and died April 15, 1883, at Lake Mills, Iowa. . He was again married, to Hannah Dalum, Sept. 10, 1883, who was born in Norway, March 20, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Larson are members of the Norway Lutheran Church. Mr. Larson

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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.

has been treasurer of the county, and at present is chairman of the board of super- visors. In 1875 he returned to Norway, where he remained three months. In 1880 he again visited Norway, and returned in in 1881.

The next general stock was opened in 1873 by E. L. Johnson, in the building vacated by Larson & Co. Mr. Johnson continued in business, about one year and sold out to K. H. Knudson, who closed out the stock six months later.

In 1879, Wadsworth & Knudson opened a general business. Two years and a half later, Mr. Wadsworth became sole proprietor, and in the fall of 1883 Ole Scar bought ont Mr. Wadsworth and is still in the business.

In 1883 the representatives of the gen- eral trade in Lake Mills were: Ole Scar, William Larson, Oliver Nelson and Southwiek & Olson.

In early days nearly all of the stores carried limited stocks of hardware, and it was not until 1872 that a store solely devoted to that business was established. In 1872 Lemuel Stilson engaged in the hardware trade at Lake Mills. Hle con- tinued in business for six or eight months, then removed to Forest City.

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History of Kossuth, Hancock, and Winnebago counties, Iowa; together with sketches of their cities, villages, and townships, educational, civil, military, and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, Part 105

Author: Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 950

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Springfield IL : Union Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950