USA > Minnesota > Meeker County > Album of history and biography of Meeker County, Minnesota > Part 59
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There was a postoffice established here m 1858, with C. G. Topping as postmaster. Ile held the office until 1861, when he was succeeded by II. J. Lasher. During the In- dian outbreak, the latter buried the official papers in the ground, and for several years there was no postofflee within the town limits. In 1870, in answer to a petition the postoflice was re-established, with Thomas Vinaeke as postmaster. He was succeeded by J. D. Baktwin, who resigned two years later. O. W. Sterns was the next to occupy that position. Following him came E. B. Comstock, Elijah Austin, L. E. Austin and the present incumbent, Mrs. Julia Anderson.
The Presbyterian Church was organized in the town in May, 1879, with Rev. J. S. Sherrell, of Litchfield, as pastor, and a mem- bership of about twenty-five. The first elder was John C. Curry, but later on S. W. Bar- riek and J. W. Topping were elected to the same position. In 1882 a neat and hand- some church edifice was erected upon a lot of four acres of ground donated by Judge Van- derburg, of Minneapolis. The building cost some $1,800. Services were kept up every alternate Sabbath until October, 1887. when
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Rev. E. Curry became the resident pastor, and services are held on every Sunday. The church has now a membership of forty-one. with the following officers : II. J. Lasher, J. W. Topping and S. W. Barrick, elders ; R. A. Wheeler, H. J. Lasher, E. B. Littell, Franklin Curry and I. N. Wheeler, trustees. The church was dedicated July 16, 1883, Rev. D. E. Wells, of Minneapolis, preaching the sermon.
The pioneer store of Cedar Mills was established in 1870, by J. D. Baldwin. For a couple of years he ran it, alone and in com- pany with a brother, and then sold out to O. W. Sterns. A short time after this gentle- man formed a partnership with E. B. Com- stock. These parties drifted into the black- smith business and their mercantile venture eame to naught, finally. and some years after they disposed of the smithy.
In the fall of 1876. Ira Williams put in a stock of goods. but after a short time in his possession and in that of E. Gillett. it was purchased by L. E. Austin, who ran it for ten years. In the fall of 1887 another store was started by Elliott & Anderson, but in March, 1888, it was sold to the present pro- prietors, Standish Bros.
There are now two blacksmith shops in the village. one run by Louis Klamm, and the other by Vigenske & Dumont.
The flouring mill at Cedar Mills was erected by George Nichols. in 1858, who run it until 1867, when it was purchased by C. B. Jor- dan. The latter employed Samuel Anderson, a miller. to run it, but some time afterward it passed into the hands of Dr. V. P. Kennedy. He took out the machinery, remodeled it, and finally sold the equipment, and it was all taken down and moved away.
The town wasorganized January 25, 1870. at a meeting held at the residence of Isaae Wheeler, some thirty voters being present. Mr. Wheeler was chosen moderator, and James A. Austin clerk of the meeting, and
the following town officers chosen: J. M. Pitman, chairman, and E. II. Halsted and E. R. AAustin, supervisors; J. A. Austin, clerk; Jolin Dyer, treasurer; E. Gillett. assessor : V. P. Kennedy and A. C. Barriek. justices.
The officers for 18SS are the following: Supervisors, E. B. Littell, chairman, F. E. Wheeler and A. G. Beekstrand ; clerk, James A. Austin : treasurer, R. D. Grindall : asses- sor, I. N. Wheeler ; constables. W. A. Curry and A. D. Cross : justice of the peaee. T. Vinacke : roadmasters, Vincent Combs. Amos Barrick, O. J. Austin. E. C. Bell, Fred Schultz. H. H. Weeks.
CHIAPTER XII.
SWEDE GROVE TOWNSHIP.
HE subdivision of Meeker eounty bearing this appellation lies upon the western border of the county, and comprises the thirty six sections of Congressional township 120. north of range 32 west, and contains 22,746.04 aeres, 22,155.18 of which are either fine farm lands. or covered with the primeval timber, the balance being water. For the most part the surface is of a gentle. rolling character. and is nearly all of it natural meadow or prairie. interpersed with native groves or mottes of timber, seemingly prepared for the plow by beneficent nature. The soil is the rich, dark, sandy loam, that has made the name of Minnesota synonymous with all that is fertile and productive.
Several beautiful lakes nestle on the bosom of the township, which all abound with vari- ous species of the finny tribe, and because of the abundance of the game in this neigh- borhood, and the fine quality of the fish, it was a favorite resort for the Indians in an early day. The lakes bear the names of
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Wilcox, Mud, Miller, Peterson, Halga, and Elofson.
Among the sturdy pioneers that made set- tlements in this township in 1857 were Hans Peterson and his family, Peter E. Hanson, then a boy, Andrew Peterson, N. E. Hanson, John Rosencranz, Bertha Elof- son, and her sons, Nels, Andrew, and Peter Elofson, Nels Thorbjörnson, Helgar Olson, Amos Olson, Nels Olson, and Nels Askelson.
With the year 1858 came others to found homes in this part of the county, prominent among whom were the following: William H. Wilcox, Christian Erickson, Halver Mick- elson, Arslag Olson and John Larson. Mr. Wilcox is one of the few native American settlers in the town, and holds the warmest esteem and respect of the entire community. Arslag Olson was the settler who was so badly wounded during the attack on the stockade at Forest City, in 1862.
Swen Nelson and a few others settled in the town during the year 1859, but from that time until the close of the war there were very few, if any, who sought homes here. and none are remembered by the old settlers.
The town was a portion of the civil town- ship of Aeton until March 15, 1868, when it was organized as a separate precinet, by Nels Elofson, Nels E. Hanson, and W. II. Wileox. The name was given on account of its having been first settled by the Swed- ish colony. At the first election among the officers chosen were the following: Nels Elofson, chairman of the town board ; Nels E. Hanson, clerk ; and W. H. Wilcox, treas- urer.
The present officers are as follows : Swan W. Olson, chairman ; Andrew Elofson and Andrew Peterson, supervisors ; Nels Oke- son, clerk ; Henry Palm, treasurer: Mr. Sily, justice ; and Nels Erickson, constable.
In 1864 a postoffice known as Swede Grove was established at the house of Nels
Elofson, then on section 33, and that gentle- man made postmaster. Ile held that office until 1870, when he resigned to make a trip to the old country, in favor of Mr. Dahlquist. The latter held it about one year, when he was succeeded by Ole J. Le- vander. It was removed to what is now Grove City, in 1870, when Mr. Dahlquist was appointed, and has continued there ever since.
The first birth in the town was that of Peter Peterson, the son of Andrew Peter- son, born January 3, 1859. The second was that of A. P. Hanson. born the 9th of June, following.
The first death was the child of Ole Nel- son, a Swede who came here in 1857, but shortly after went to Carver county. The child was buried on Nels Elofson's place.
The pioneer marriage was that between John Larson and Miss Hannah Elofson, which took place in 1858.
The first school was taught at the house of Nels Elofson, by Rev. William Baglund, a Lutheran minister, in 1859.
The first religious services were held at Nels Elofson's residence on section 33, in 1859, by the Rev. Mr. Baglund.
The pioneer to plow up the sod and sow grain was Hans Peterson, in 1859: IIe did some breaking in 1857 and 1858. but did not sow until the year mentioned above.
CHAPTER XIII.
DASSEL TOWNSHIP.
HE subdivision of Meeker county that bears this name lies in the eastern tier of townships, and em- braces all of Congressional township 119 north of range 29 west, and contains 22,967.66 acres of ground ; 3,275.66 are covered with water, leaving something like 19,692 aeres
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suitable for agricultural use. Much of the land is covered with timber and the soil is of a choice quality. The town was originally a portion of the town of Kingston, and when set off was called Swan Lake, after a body of water within its limits, of that name. In 1871, on a petition of the citizens of the town- ship its name was changed to Dassel, after the village of that name within its bound- aries.
The earliest settlers in this portion of the county were undoubtedly twosurveyors by the names of C. L. Richardson and Edwin Ayres, who located here in 1856. They came to this locality from their homes in Houston county, : this State, having come from Mexico, N. Y., originally. They built a cabin on section 14, where they lived until the Indian troubles of 1862, when they fled, and the savages burned their shanty. This was on what was after- wards termed Ayres' Prairie.
There were no other settlers who located in the town until after the Indian massacre. which depopulated the border and checked the tide of immigration in 1862. In Novem- ber, 1863, Isaac Russell and his brother Anthony W., with their families. came here and took up claims on section 10. They were natives of Vermont. They lived here some years, and combined hunting and trap- ping with their farm operations. Isaac, in 1875, went to the Black Hills, but returned here in 1882, and here died, November 13, 1883. Ilis brother died some years previous to that.
Wells Tumans, with his family, made a set- tlement in the summer of 1865, on section 14. The same year he was followed by Barney Cox. G. D. Arrowood, and Peter and William Cunningham.
The settlers of 1866 were the following named, who all took up claims and perma- nently located in the town-Thomas and James Sellards, Lewis Rudberg, John Erick- son. John Rudberg, William Maynard,
Andrew Davidson, Mrs. Gardner and her son Peter. David W. King, John McKinney, Madison Delong, John Hendrickson, Eric Runquist, B. N. Backstrom, Henry Mattson, and James Littom.
Among those who found homes in this town in 1867, were: Peter Johnson, Harlow Ames, Sr., Harlow F. Ames, Henry Ames, and others. All these now occupy quite prominent positions in the county, as will be seen on reference to the biographical depart- ment of this work.
The first school-house in the town was built in 1867, on the corners of sections 10, 11, 14 and 15. It was a small affair, built of logs with a dirt roof, and had to admit the light through two small half sash, let into the sides. Mrs. E. M. Winan was the pioneer teaeller.
The first frame house was erected by llarlow Ames on section 23, and is now a portion of the residence of that gentleman. The first chimney regularly built was also by him.
The first child born in the town was probably George Cunningham, whose birth took place late in the year 1865. The second was that of Ada Tumans, who was born May 6, 1866.
The first death was that of the child of James and Margaret Littom.
The first marriage was that of Barney Cox and Janet Davidson, which occurred in April, 1868.
The township was organized as Swan Lake, in the fall of 1866, at which time the following officers were chosen-John Smith (chairman), Frederick Spath and Wayne Russell, supervisors ; G. D. Arrowood, clerk ; Andrew Davulson and William Maynard, justices of the peace. G. A. Arrowood was appointed the first assessor. In 1871 the name of the town was changed to its present one. The present (18SS) officers of the town- ship, consist of the following named-Super-
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visors : Andrew Davidson (chairman), Nelson Tumans and John Boo; clerk, W. S. Cox : treasurer, Peter Johnson ; assessor, A. J. Waller; justices, W. Bartholomew and Isaac Vervalin.
A Methodist church was organized in 1874, by William Arrowood, in the school- house in district 21, with eighteen members, which has been kept up ever since. In 1885 the congregation erected a church edifice on the northwest corner of section 11, where they hold services every Sabbath, which are partially of a union character.
The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran was organized October 14, 1873, by Rev. F. Peter- son, with the following membership: An- drew Olson and wife ; Andrew Anderson and wife; Swen Johnson and wife; Andrew Larson and wife: E. A. Boren and wife, and Lars Nelson and wife. The first officers were the following named : A. E. Boren, secretary ; A. E. Boren, Andrew Olson and Andrew Anderson, deacons: and Andrew Larson, Lars Nelson and Swen Johnson, trustees. The congregation own some ten acres of land on section 5, where they have a frame church. The pastorate was vacant until 1881, when Rev. J. S. Ryding took charge of the church. He was succeeded in November, 1883, by the present pastor, Rev. L. A. Hocanzan, who has filled the duties ever since. The present officers are: L. A. Hocanzan, pastor; Andrew Tumans, secre- tary ; A. P. Gissle, A. Frank and John Lind- quist, deacons; and Nels Olson, Andrew Freeman and Andrew Larson, trustees. There are seventy-two communicants and 140 members connected with the church, which holds meetings every Sunday. A Sab- bath-school is held in operation during the summer months, and a parish school is held during some eight weeks in the year, with about forty scholars. The property has a value of about $250, but no debt is due on it.
DASSEL VILLAGE.
The village of Dassel, which is situated in this township, upon the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 27, and lot 6. of the same section, and upon the north- east quarter of the northwest quarter and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 34, was laid out and platted by the St. Paul & Pacific Railroad in 1869, on the advent of the road at this point, and filed for record on the 11th of October, 1870. Several additions have been added to the original town site by Horace P. Breed, Ber- nard Dassel, A. M. Bell, and Jonas Rudberg. The land whereon the original site stands was owned previons to this by Madison De- Long, who had made a claim to it, and had erected a shanty near where R. T. Elliott now lives. Parker Simons, who was a civil engineer in the employ of the St. Paul & Pacific Railway, purchased the claim and proceeded to lay out the town, the railroad company acquiring an interest subsequently.
Ile moved his family here as soon as the road was opened and made this his home, although his business called him away nearly all the time for several years.
The town was named after Bernard Dassel, who was the secretary of the St. Panl & Pacific Railroad Company, at that time. After laying out the place, in the fall of 1869 Mr. Simons put up the first frame building, and was quickly followed by Seth Nichols. Ralph Wal- ters erected a building for hotel purposes, which was opened and run as such by Mr. Phillips, and is still standing.
During the fall of 1869 there were a few other dwelling houses erected, but in the pring and summer of 1870, quite a boom for the new village set in and a number of houses and store buildings were put up, and the population largely increased until it is to-day the largest place in the county out- side of the county seat. It has now three
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MEEKER COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
elevators, a flouring mill, a woolen mill, two hotels, a public hall, engine house and pub- lic library, Congregational, Seventh-day Adventists. Swedish Lutheran and Swedish. Missionary churches, and the tile stove works. Quite a number of store buildings have been put up, and are all well filled with excellent stocks of goods, both necessaries and laxuries, and the mercantile trade is well represented by a fine class of enterprising merchants, who are doing quite a large share of the business of this section of the county.
The pioneer store was opened by James and Charles Morris in the fall of 1869, who displayed a full stock of general merchandise. This place was run by the original owners, and afterwards by Charles Morris until 1872, when it was sold to Wilson & Bunting, who continued to operate it until 1875, when the business was purchased by the Rudberg Brothers.
A steam saw mill was next erected by George Brower, William Bradford and Thomas Wilson. These gentlemen operated it but a short time, when there was a change in the copartnership, and it passed through several hands, until in 1875, when it was destroyed by fire. The following year it was rebuilt and continued in operation until about August, 1881, when it was blown down by wind and never rebuilt.
James H. Morris, now of Litchfield, built the second store building, the one now oecu- pied by Peter Johnson as an office, in which was opened a stock of general merchandise in 1872.
In 1872 the third store was commenced by Mickel Henderson, who died before finishing it. In the latter part of October, 1873, this building was occupied by O. II. Sundahl and Lewis and Jonas J. Rudberg, who opened a general stock. This they ran until 1874. Then C. A. Morris purchased Sundahl's in- terest. and in 1875 the firm purchased the business of Samuel Bunting's executors, as
above stated, and incorporated it with their business.
The fourth store building was built by Norgren & Co. in 1875, and was occupied by them until 1886, when they removed to their present quarters.
John Osborne was the first to deal in lumber and furniture, commeneing in those lines in 1874. In 1881 he sold out to the Rudberg Brothers, and this old stand is still continued by the survivor of that firm, John Rudberg.
The old Dassel House, the pioneer hotel, was built in 1872, by George Brower, and for a time was run by him. Samuel Bunting afterwards operated it, and, after his death, his widow. J. H. Remick hell the position of landlord from 1877 until February 3, 1883, when the structure burned to the ground. It was then rebuilt in its present shape.
The first hardware store in Dassel was established in 1880 by II. L. Babst, who ran it until 1882, when he sold out to A. M. Bell, who in 1886 disposed of it to W. S. Bartholomew, who sold it to Cox & Galla- gher in 1888. L. W. Leighton and J. M. Johnson, in August, 1882, opened the second store of this character and carried on the trade until January 7. 1887, when Mr. John- son bought his partner's interest, and the firm is now J. M. Johnson & Co.
The pioneer drug store was commenced in 1872, by C. A. Morris and Lewis Rud- berg. who carried it on until 1873, when Rudberg sold to his partner, who operated it. until 1580, and then disposed of it to Dr. Me- Collum and George Breed, who sold it again in 1883, to Rudberg Bros. On the death of Jonas Rudberg, in 1885. a partnership was formed by his widow and R. F. Case, which lasted for one year, when the latter purchased the business, and carries it on.
The first grain warehouse was built in 1870 by the Millers' Association, and in 1876
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the same corporation erected the pioneer ele- vator. The latter, now owned by the Minne- sota and Dakota Elevator Company, has a capacity of 30,000 bushels of wheat, and last year (1SS7) handled 7,000 bushels of that cereal alone. It is under the management of Harry Hines. The Dassel elevator was built by the citizens of the place in 1880, and has a capacity of 45,000 bushels; in 1887 shipped some 65,000 bushels of wheat. This is managed by J. Il. MeKinney. The Cargill Bros. elevator was erected in 1885, by Alexander Cofield, and this institution handled 70.000 bushels during the past year.
Weisner & Mattson, the proprietors of the machine and blacksmith shop, established their business in the fall of 1883. as a wagon, blacksmith and repair shop, which they carried on until the fall of 1886, when they put in an engine of four-horse power and some machinery. October 30, 1887, their shop was destroyed by fire, when they met with a loss of some $1,500. At once they erected their present shop, which is 40x60 feet in size and well fitted up, and where they carry on business, employing some four or five workmen.
The flouring mill of Dassel was erected as a foundry in 1883, and in 1887 E. Heglund purchased it and remodeled the edifice and put in roller machinery of the finest deserip- tion. It has a capacity of sixty barrels per day, and is valued at between $8,000 and $10,000. The building is of solid brick and substantially built, and the internal arrange- ments are of the best. The motive power is furnished by a good engine of forty horse- power. The output of the mill ranks with the best, and is made out of the famous Min- nesota hard wheat.
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The woolen mill was built about 1882 by G. B. Lewis and S. P. Breed, and is one of the leading industries of the place. It has · been improved largely of late, and is now in the hands of a stock company.
A enstom card-machine mill was built in 1876, by G. B. Lewis & Co., for the manu- facture of certain kinds of woolen varns, but it was destroyed by fire in 1880. From the ashes of this rose the present woolen mill.
The first wagon shop in the village was run by L. W. Leighton, in the spring of 1874.
The first blacksmith shop was opened by Frederick Spath, in the fall of 1869, in a log shanty. without any roof, where he carried on business for a short time, and then built another smithy. Ile remained in this business in the village until 1881, when he removed to his farm in the township where he now lives.
There is a most excellent graded school, the building in which it is located, a hand- some and substantial brick edifice. having been erected by the Independent district in 1885. It contains eight rooms, and cost some $10,000 to build and finish. Prof. R. MeKay is the present principal. The town hall and library are located in the same house with the village fire apparatus, and are each of them worthy of more than a passing notice. The library, which consists of an extensive selection of choice books, reflects great credit upon the taste and enterprise of the place in initiating so noble an institution.
The tile stove works of Peter Johnson is yet in its infancy, and is the only one of the kind in the United States. It was estab- lished by the present proprietor in 1886, and is for the manufacture of tile stoves, etc., such as have been in use in the northern part of Europe for years, but which have been, until now, unknown in America. Mr. John- son has inaugurated the enterprise at an out- lay of some 810.000, and, having already met with a merited success, anticipates greatly enlarging the plant in the summer of 1888. This is one of the greatest institutions in the county and such places as St. Paul and Minneapolis would bid high to have it brought into their limits.
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The postoffice was established here in the fall of 1869, and Isaac Atwater, the station agent of the railroad, was the first postmas- ter. He had the office in the depot, and there held it until the summer of 1877, when he was succeeded by C. A. Morris, July 1. Lewis Rudberg was the successor of Mr. Morris, and entered upon its duties July 1. 1881, and held it until January 1, 1883, when he gave way to Louis Osterlund. May 1, 1887, Henry Clay assumed the duties of the office, and is the present postmaster.
The village was duly incorporated as such March 4, 1878, and is still governed under the charter granted at that time. The first officers of the village were the following named : J. B. Smith, president : C. A. Mor- ris, recorder ; H. P. Breed, Allen Weatherby and J. J. Rudberg, trustees. Since that time II. P. Breed, J. J. Rndberg, J. H. Remick, L. W. Leighton, P. Johnson and J. H. McKenney have filled the office of president of the village board ; J. J. Rndberg, Fred Spath, C. A. Morris, August Sallberg, Lewis Rudberg, J. M. Johnson, L. W. Leighton, John Norgren, William Gallagher, A. M. Bell, John Rudberg, S. O. Lindgren, L. A. Whitmore and Alexander Cofield have served as members of the board of trustees. W. L. Van Eman, C. A. McCollum, Douglas Mar- tin and S. O. Lindgren have each in turn filled the position of recorder. The present officers are as follows: W. D. Bangs, presi- dent ; S. O. Lindgren, recorder ; J. Norgren, treasurer; W. S. Bartholomew, justice, and J. Rudberg, J. M. Johnson and J. J. Lind- quist, trustees.
The Gethsemane Swedish Evangelical Lu- theran Church was organized February 13, 1873, with the following members : Daniel Johnson and wife, Taylor Johnson and wife, Swen Johnson and wife, F. J. Peterson and wife. C. J. Johnson and wife, Olaf Dahlman and wife, and Johannes Johnson and wife. The officers at the time of its establishment
were as follows: Rev. J. G. Lagerstrom, pastor ; D. Johnson, secretary ; Daniel John- son, Swen Johnson and Taylor Johnson, dea- cons ; C. G. Johnson, Olaf Dahlman and C. G. Johnson, trustees. A log church was built the same year by the congregation, at Steelsville, in which services were held until 1878, when they purchased the school-house for $350, in the village of Dassel, and fitted it up for a church, which they occupied until 1886, when they erected the edifice where they now worship. This is a brick-veneered building, 38x62 feet on the ground, 21 feet in height. with a sacristy twenty-four fect square in addition, and a tower eighty-five feet in height, which is fourteen feet square at the base. It is handsomely frescoed and furnished within, and is a nice property. This, together with the school house and sta- bles at Steelsville, is valued at $6,000. The present officers are: Rev. L. A. Hocanzan, pastor ; D. Johnson, Taylor Johnson, O. P. Carlisledt, Matt Anderson, Alfred Soder and O. Christofferson, deacons ; D. Danielson, Aug. Sangreen and B. J. Peterson, trustees; Peter Sangreen, secretary, and Ang. San- green, treasurer. There is a membership of 350, and a list of 211 communicants. A Sunday-school of eighty scholars is held in connection with the elmirch.
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