USA > Iowa > Winneshiek County > Past and present of Winneshiek county, Iowa; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 19
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Clark & Company then moved their stock into the new building, and the store on Main street was torn down and moved off the street. Clark was the first postmaster of the village and after him came P. M. Stanberg, D. S. Lovejoy, John Scott, W. L. Bass, S. V. Potter, John T. Ahern and E. C. Walker, the present incumbent, in the order named.
In 1855 Landin had so thrived that he put up a frame building on a part of the ground now covered by the Anderson & Landin block, the old building being torn down to make room for the new block in 1873. In this old building Landin opened up a store, and sold groceries, both wet and dry, as was common in those days, and soon became well-to-do.
The year 1868 saw the beginning of the building of the I. & D. branch of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, with Calmar as its eastern terminus and junction with the main line, which latter had been built as far as Conover in 1865-6. The I. & D. division was built as far as New Hampton that year (1868), and added importance and brought business to Calmar as it was continued westward into the interior.
In 1869 the village of Calmar became an incorporated town by proper legal proceedings, and in organization as such was completed by the election of munic- ipal officers in March, 1870. John Scott, who had settled here about the close of the Civil war, was chosen mayor and was re-elected in 1871. The mayors since then have been John W. Tower, 1872; S. V. Potter, 1873-4; A. E. Manchester, 1875: E. Pennington, Sr., 1876; John Scott, 1877; V. E. Strayer, 1878; Tim Ahern, 1879; V. E. Strayer, 1880; A. Dostal, 1881; C. W. Giesen, 1882; A. L. Kittlesby, 1883; T. Ahern, 1884; John B. Kaye, 1885-6; John Scott, 1887; A. McRobert, 1888, 1889 and 1890; J. S. Roome, 1891-2; H. Miller, Jr., 1893-4; E. M. Heflen, 1895-6; Geo. H. Belding, 1897-8-9; S. R. Yager, 1900-1 ; Jacob Meyer, 1902-3-4-5-6, resigned in 1907. Dr. J. F. Conover elected to fill vacancy and re- eleeted in 1908, serving until April 1, 1910. Jacob Meyer was again elected in 1910 and re-elected in 1912.
The years as here indicated, up to 1898, commenced on the second Monday in March. In 1898 they began one week after the third Monday in March.
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Calmar has an excellent and efficient waterworks plant with several miles of mains reaching in their circuit every building in the original forty-eight blocks, besides every building but one on the north side of North street. The town has a water tank of 2,000 barrels capacity, with an elevation of 100 feet. It has its own well and pumping house and apparatus complete, has hose, hooks and ladders and truck, and a regular organized fire company. In IQUI the first steps toward a sewage system were taken and last year ( 1912) a municipal gas plant for street lighting was installed.
The public school building of the town, which was erected in 1898 at a cost of $12,000, is a model for ventilation, heating and convenience. The high school department for many years past has annually turned out its class of graduates. These have been in constant demand as teachers, as well as in other lines where mental discipline and painstaking effort are the requirements needed.
The church organizations are the Norwegian Lutheran. the German Lutheran, the Catholic and the Methodist Episcopal, each of which, save the German Lu- theran, owns its own edifice, while the latter, which has but few members, wor- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church building.
All of these religious institutions are well attended and liberally patronized, and are exercising continued and successful efforts for good.
The fraternal spirit of the times is represented by the Free Masons, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Royal Neighbors and Catholic For- esters.
The business interests of the town are well and fully represented, and the professions are by no means in the background among communities of the same size. The Calmar Manufacturing Company and the Henry Miller, Jr., Wagon and Plow Works are institutions whose product and reputation reach beyond the borders of the state.
The object of this sketch, however, is not to advertise the things and institu- tions that to-day are, nor those who are in the active operation of them, but to preserve in outline and characteristics some of the things and people that are slip- ping away from present human contact and memory ; and more especially of the men, and no less their life partners, who shared their names, their hardships and privations in the beginning of civilization in this one township and its towns- this little square plot of ground in the counterpane of a great state.
These are they who learned :
The virtues which take root in poverty- Careful economy and seasoning toil, Brave self-reliance, cheerful industry, llope, never vain when builded on the soil- Patience to overcome, courage to meet The border trials and forestall defeat. These blessings had they, which by changeless laws Grown into habits and becoming fixed, Removed the only evil of their cause And left the sure resultant, good, unmixed.
...
CATHOLIC SCHOOL, CALMAR
HIGH SCHOOL, CALMAR
一
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Sleep soundly in sweet peace, dead pioneers ! Your rugged worth in a wild, stranger land Endears you to its soil, and coming years Add strength and growth to all that you have planned ; Your labor made the wilderness to laugh To-day's abundance-your best epitaph. The Town, the County, and the crowning State- A pyramid that Cheops may not peer Is your sure monument ; and you who wait Will join the van without regret or fear But with tired satisfaction as doth one. Take to his couch when the day's toil is done.
CHAPTER XXII
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER NORWEGIANS By Hon. A. Jacobson*
[Under the head of Settlements by Foreign Born Citizens the chapter written by Hon. A. Jacobson for Anderson & Goodwin's Atlas is referred to. We quote it entire.]
INTRODUCTION
Inasmuch as this township was settled by Norwegians, and furthermore from the fact that people of this nationality have from the earliest times formed an important part of the population of Winneshiek county, it will not be out of place here to give a brief history of Norwegian immigration to America and to Iowa.
The discovery of America by the Norwegian, Leif Ericksen, in the year 1,000 is a conceded fact acknowledged by all prominent historians of our day, but as it brought no immediate results to the world at large, only preparing the way for the later discovery of Christopher Columbus, no further notice of it will be taken in this connection.
What may be termed as the first beginning of Norwegian immigration to this country took place in 1825, when a sloop of forty-five tons from Stavanger brought fifty-three passengers who landed in New York. This vanguard settled in Kendall, Orleans county, New York, where they remained until the most of them later on moved out West and settled in Illinois.
From that time up to 1840 emigrant vessels from Norway were few and far between. From 1840 to 1850 they became more numerous, but from 1850 up to the present time a constant stream of immigration has steadily been bringing hun- dreds of thousands of emigrants from Norway into the United States.
The first Norwegian settlement in Iowa was evidently that formed at Sugar Creek in Lee county, not far above the mouth of the Des Moines river, a few miles west of Keokuk. About 1840 Story county and other central portions of the state were next settled by Norwegians and later on the northern and western borders.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
The Norwegian that first visited Winneshiek county who afterwards also found a home on its soil, is undoubtedly Ole Halvorson Valle. At the age of twenty he came to America from his native land in 1841.
Stopping in Wisconsin one year he then, in 1842, came to Iowa, where he was engaged in the service of the government as teamster, hanling provisions from Fort Crawford at Prairie du Chien to Fort Atkinson and the Old Mission. He was also employed in breaking up pieces of bottom land on the Upper Iowa river. One of the largest fields thus prepared for the Indians to plant their corn was situated just below the outlet of Tront Run, now best known as the Peter Roney farm.
Mr. Valle died at his home in Canoe township a few years ago. Some mem- bers of his family survive him.
This township is bounded on the north by Decorah township and in the gov- ernment survey is designated as range 8 and township 97; hence it is situated seventeen miles south from the Minnesota line and a distance of thirty miles west of the Mississippi river. The town is diversified with prairie, timber, hill and dale, in picturesque variety. The various branches of Trout creek are nearly all within its limits, making the surface uneven, yet the greatest part consists of a rich and tillable soil. On account of its many springs and streams of clear water it is well adapted for raising stock as well as for general farming.
The first settlement of the township found place in 1850. There were two parties, one led by Erick Anderson and with him were Ole Tostenson (Ilangen) and his brother Staale, Ole A. Lomen, A. O. Lomen, Ole Gullikson (Jevne), Knut Anderson ( Bakken), Andres Hauge, John Johnson ( Qvale). H. Halvorson (Groven) and Mikkel Omli. All of these made permanent homes in the town- ship the latter part of June, 1850. Another party from Wisconsin, headed by Nels Johnson, arrived in the county July 2d, and of these the following selected claims in what is now Springfield township: Tollef Simonson (Nac), Knud G. Opdahl. Jacob Abrahamson and Iver Peterson (Qvale). The rest of the Nels Johnson party settled in Decorah and Glenwood townships.
The first list of landed assessments in Winneshiek county has among others these names: Jacob Abrahamson, Knud Guldbrandson ( Opdahl). Ole Gullikson (Jevne). Egbert Guldbrandson ( Solland). Erick Clement ( Skaali), Halvor Hal- vorson ( Groven ), O. A. Lomen, Ole Larsen Bergan, Mikkel Omli. Tollef Simon- son (.Nae). T. Hulverson and Ole Tostenson.
This list must have been for 1852. The writer has a tax receipt from that date, showing that his father, Jacob Abrahamson, was among the first tax payers.
The heads of all these families above enumerated died many years ago, with the exception of the Hon. A. O. Lomen * and ex-sheriff Erick Anderson, both residing in Decorah. In most cases the descendants of the old settlers are now occupying the farms where their ancestors lived and died. Some of them have moved to other parts of the country, mostly northwestward.
In the year 1851 quite a number of new settlers came in and in the next suc- ceeding few years the influx was large, far beyond all expectations, so that all the public lands were taken in a very short time. This was quite contrary to what the first settlers had imagined possible. When they arrived in what was then a wilderness, they thought large portions of the country would never be settled,
* Both Mr. Lomen and Mr. Anderson are now dead.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
but would remain as a common, that could be used for pasture. The large strips of prairie without wood and water were supposed to belong to this class of land.
The first birth in the township was that of Ole A. Lomen, who now resides in the State of Oregon. He is the son of Hon. A. O. Lomen.
The first death that occurred in our midst was that of Mrs. Christine Aae, the wife of Tollef Simonson Aae. She died of consumption and would have been buried on her husband's farm (northeast quarter of section 1, Springfield town- ship), if it had not been that the land on the opposite side of the township line was considered a better site for a burying ground. This was on the southeast quarter of section 36, Decorah township, and belonged to Tollef's brother, Aslak Simonson Aae.
The first public schoolhouse in the county was erected in the southwest cor- ner of Glenwood township. These corners were at that time the central point of the settlement. An old settlers' monument was erected here in 1887, consisting of a marble shaft of large size, placed on a limestone base four feet high and six feet square. The inscriptions on the monument are these :
IN MEMORY OF
EARLY NORWEGIAN SETTLERS,
who to the number of fifty or more lie buried here.
ERECTED BY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES A. D. 1887.
"The wages of sin is death ; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."-Rom. 6, 23.
On the monument are carved names of the following pioneers :
EAST SIDE
Kristine E. Aae. 1831-August, 1850.
Marit O. Rue. April, 1850-March, 1852.
Anne H. Anderson Rude. December, 1833-April, 1852.
Aslak Simonson Aae. 1819-November, 1852.
Thora P. Wik. 1826-August, 1853.
Nels E. Ramsey. August, 1853-September, 1853.
Nels H. Bakke. August, 1791-March, 1854.
Anna Margarette Wigesland. June, 1853-June, 1854. Ole A. Aakre. 1813-July, 1854.
NORTII SIDE
Carl A. Aarnes. March, 1826-October, 1854. Anne J. Busnes. 1819-1854. Martin H. Hakloa. March. 1826-November, 1854.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
JIalvor Olson Lien. October, 1854-March, 1855.
Peter E. Ramsey. October, 1854-June, 1855.
Berthe Helene Voldeng. Augut, 1852-August, 1855.
Gjermond G. Hoyme. 1805-October, 1855.
Thorgrim Bjortuft. May, 1853-November, 1855.
Sigrid E. Tostenson Haugen. September, 1834-October, 1856.
Marken Qualley. Born November 8, 1871. Entered into rest April 29, 187 -. "I shall rise again."
WEST SIDE
Gurine T. Busnes. August, 1848-October, 1857.
Ingeborg E. Nefstad. 1813-1858.
Christine A. Estrem. June, 1856-March, 1858.
Ole N. Brakestad. January, 1858-April, 1858.
Anne O. Abrahamson. 1822-May, 1858.
Anders II. Estrem. February, 1825-December, 1858.
Helga G. Bakhus. 1854-March, 1861.
Nels Ostrem. March, 1862-March, 1862.
Ole Johannes T. Haugen. May, 1851-August, 1863.
Joseph T. Haugen. March, 1859-August, 1863. John G. Johnson. December, 1834-April, 1864.
The names are placed in chronological order as to time of death. The first (lates of course express the time of birth. It will be noticed that the death list numbers very few names among the early settlers.
The sifting process to which they had been subjected before reaching the western frontier left, as a rule, only a strong and sturdy set of people to found the new communities in the West.
The honor of having taught the first district school in Winneshiek county can in a way be divided between the two daughters of Nels Hanson Katterud. Mary, the younger, had attended a normal school at Platteville, Wisconsin, and after being examined by John McKay, who acted as county superintendent, she re- ceived a certificate and entered upon the work of teaching. Being only some fifteen years of age, inexperienced and timid, she prevailed on her elder sister Larine to help the first few days until the school was fairly started. She afterward taught many terms at various places.
The first Norwegian Lutheran congregation for this and adjoining townships was organized in the summer of 1852, and ever since 1853 it has been served by its present pastor, the Rev. Dr. V. Koren .* This gentleman deserves more than a passing notice. He was born in 1826 and came to this country in the autumn of 1853. Ilis field of labor for many years included not only the adjacent counties in lowa, but likewise those of Minnesota. Of all Norwegian Lutheran clergymen now living he is the most widely known by his countrymen in America. For many years he has served as president of the Norwegian synod, the functions of which office about equal those of a bishop in all but in name. In 1903 he was created a doctor of divinity and, by the King of Norway and Sweden, Oscar II, he was
· Rev. Koren died in 1911.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
in the same year decorated with the cross of St. Olaf, as knight of that order in recognition of his long and faithful service in his calling. The second Lutheran church organized was that which now is connected with the United Lutheran church and is served by Rev. K. E. Bakken.+
The Norwegian Methodists organized a congregation in 1851 under the leader- ship of O. P. Peterson, then a missionary, later called the father of Methodism among the Norwegians. Their church is situated on section 12. The member- ship, however, is so depleted by deaths and removals in later years that they have no settled pastor.
The Americans, Germans and Bohemians in the southern and western por- tions of the township are members of Catholic or Protestant churches in Ossian and Calmar. It can be truthfully said that the people are all church members and law-abiding citizens.
REMINISCENCES BY A. JACOBSON
In the spring of 1850 my parents left Muskego, Racine county, Wisconsin, joining company with a number of other families, intending to move out west. The leader of the party was Nels Johnson, the father of M. N. Johnson, then an infant and later Congressman from North Dakota. Ile had a large military wagon drawn by six oxen. This had a big box on, filled with household goods and cov- ered with white canvas. On the outside was placed, lengthwise of the wagon box, several joints of stovepipe, so the outfit with a little stretch of imagination looked like a man of war. No wonder these rigs received the name of "prairie schooners." The rest of the vehicles were of all sizes and shapes, from truck wagons, the wheels of which were made of solid sections of oak logs, down to our own cart on two wheels. Our progress west was slow and tedious. At Kosh- konong, Dane county, Wisconsin, we received large additions to our company, so that it comprised in all more than a hundred souls, two hundred head of cat- tle, with a few hogs and sheep, one mare and a colt. Madison was only a small village; the "state house" was a two-story frame structure situated where the massive capitol building now stands.
Up to this time our point of destination had been Coon Prairie, Vernon county, Wisconsin, but near Wingville we met a man by the name of Wm. Painter, who had settled in Iowa, where Decorah aferwards was built. He was going to Mineral Point for machinery in order to put up a gristmill at his new home. He gave such a glowing description of the country west of the Mississippi in general and of the locality in which he was settled in particular, that our com- pany when we came to the Wisconsin river resolved to send out a deputation of its wisest men to cross the river, explore the country and report. In conse- quence of this, the company, when arriving at Prairie du Chien, divided, one-half going to Vernon county. Wisconsin, near where Viroqua and Westby are situated, the other half crossing over into Iowa. The Wisconsin river had to be crossed on a small ferry boat, the propelling power being furnished by a horse placed on a tread-power which worked the paddle wheels. Only one wagon and a team at a time could be taken aboard. The herd of loose cattle had to swim over the
+ Rev. Bakken now resides in Minnesota.
Vol. 1-12
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHJEK COUNTY
river, all of which was accomplished without any accident worthy of note. The ferry boat at Prairie du Chien was larger and propelled by a four-mule power, but the water being high, the Mississippi river was nearly two miles wide and much time was taken to get all to the western bank. Thirteen miles northwest from McGregor at Poverty Point, since called Monona, another halt of a week was made. The scouting party before alluded to had visited several localities and opinions were divided as to which was the best point to settle down. The com- pany was now divided into three divisions, we going with the original leader to the vicinity of Decorah, landing on our claims on the 3d of July. The journey had taken five weeks, counting from the time of starting. Those who had room enough slept under the wagon covers. The others slept on the bare ground under the wagons.
lf time and subsistence are taken into account, then our journey was quite expensive. It was indeed a fine country where we settled. Rolling prairies with fertile soil, interspersed with groves of timber and springs of pure water. For miles there were no houses nor roads or other traces of civilization to be seen. Indian trails, well marked, crossed the country in various directions, and with little deviation continued to be the roads of the carly settlers, until the fencing in of the fields pushed the roads into the worst places, where they now remain. It was high time to break up prairie so as to be able to plant and sow next year, also to put up hay for the cattle for the coming winter. This occupied the time at first so the building of log houses was put off until late in autumn. Many of us were not under roof from the middle of May until September or October. yet all were in good health.
The question of subsistence, that is, something to eat and to wear, was for many of us the most difficult to answer. The small stores brought could not last long. The nearest trading place on the Mississippi was fifty miles away, where a barrel of flour cost $12 and a bushel of corn seventy-five cents, other things in proportion. My father worked what time he could spare from his own home for fifty cents a day, while all of my time was put in at driving a breaking team of eight oxen for twenty-five cents a day. At this rate it was hard to make ends meet. Hunting and fishing were resorted to, and gave some help. Men who could be away from their homes spent the first winters up in the Wisconsin pineries or down along the Mississippi cutting cordwood. My father took me along on an expedition of this last named description two weeks before Christmas, 1850. A heavy fall of snow knee deep set in just as we started from home. Walking some twenty-eight miles to where we stopped over night was no easy task. Up- stairs in a log cabin covered by clapboards was the place given us to sleep. Dur- ing the night a high wind made the snow fly through all the cracks and crevices, so in the morning our bed and the clothes we had laid off were covered with no less than eight inches of snow.
Arriving the next day to where we had heard employment was to be had, we found the terms so niggardly hard that we could not consent to take up work there. This was four miles up the river from MeGregor. It was late in the day, but we thought a walk along the edge of the river to the last named place would not be dangerous, even after dark. Having proceeded half way to where North McGregor is now situated. we saw our mistake. A stream, the Bloody Run, enters into the river at this point and we could not cross this stream before trudg-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF WINNESHIEK COUNTY
ing up along its banks ever so far. Then by felling a tree that reached over it, we concluded to take a short cut over the bluffs to reach McGregor instead of fol- lowing the water's edge. In this we made a terrible mistake. The steep hills cov- ered with timber and brush, together with the deep snow, impeded our progress so that we did not reach our destination before long after midnight. Fortunately for us a dancing party at the little hotel was using the small hours in merry- making. This gave us access to a warm room for the rest of the night. When called to breakfast the next morning my appetite was keen enough, having had nothing to eat since the previous morning, but my stiff and sore limbs could hardly be made to carry me to the table. We took a job of cutting wood at 50 cents a cord, boarding ourselves. No cheap place for us to stay could be found, so we had to board at the hotel. The only high-toned part of the hotel was the bill.
In the matter of clothing, we were put to about the same straits as mentioned in the way of food. I remember distinctly that during the first two winters neither underclothing nor overcoats were worn, for the good reason that there were none to wear, and overshoes were a thing scarcely heard of, much less seen. Neverthe- less good health was always enjoyed by young and old.
The land on which we settled did not come into market the first year, but the settlers agreed upon a plan by which they could defend each other in the posses- sion of their homes against unwelcome intruders. "Club claim" expressed this method exactly, both because it indicated a joining or clubbing together, and at the same time reminded one of clubs and cudgels as the most ready weapons of de- fense, if need be. When the Government proclaimed the lands in market, $200 in gold was the price of a quarter section. Land warrants given to soldiers of the Mexican war were used extensively for the entering of land, as they were sold and bought at a less price per acre than that demanded by the Government. To get the necessary funds with which to pay for the lands was, for many, a difficult thing to do. Those who had money would not lend it for less than three or four per cent per month on good security. Generally the owner of the money bought the land in his own name and gave the possessor a bond for the deed. Fortunately for the poor, land was not supposed to be worth much, there being so much of it and no reasonable prospect of its becoming settled for a long time to come. Hence there was at first no great rush at the land office in Dubuque, to which our district be- longed. This state of things did not, however, last very long. People poured into the country much faster than anticipated. The consequence was that a scrambling for getting good land ensued which defies description. In our midst no bloody en- counters found place, but some ludicrous scenes were enacted to the merriment of the lookers on, though serious enough to the actors.
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