USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 13
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John F. Hamilton claimed a homestead in the southeast quarter of sec- tion 10, February 10, 1879: this was also signed by President Hayes.
Addison G. Hall claimed as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 28; it was patented from the Worthington land office on December 12, 1879, and signed by President U. S. Grant.
John E. Teed homesteaded land in the northeast quarter of section 18. It was patented to him on August 15. 1876, and signed by President U. S. Grant ; it was secured at the land office at Worthington.
Elisha B. Owen homesteaded land in the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter and the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 10; it was patented by President Hayes, November 5, 1878, and was entered at the land office at Worthington.
Samuel S. Gillam claimed a homestead under the act of 1862, the same being situated in the west half of the southeast quarter of section 24. This land was patented to him by President Hayes and dated June 10, 1871. It was secured at the land office at Worthington.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
George L. Macomber homesteaded land described as being in the east half of the southwest quarter and the west half of the southeast quarter of sec- tion 34. It was patented to him on June 10, 1879, by President Hayes and entered at the land office in Worthington.
Arthur Johnston homesteaded land in the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 30; it was patented to him by President James A. Garfield, and signed on April 9, 1881.
Amos Rank homesteaded land in the south half of the southeast quar- ter of section 30; also in the east half of the northeast quarter of the same section, in this township. It was patented by President James A. Garfield and signed by him on April 9, 1881.
Oliver S. Bryant homesteaded land in the southeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 8; also the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of the same section. It was patented to him by President Hayes and dated June 5, 1880; it was entered at the land office at Worthington.
James Thompson homesteaded land in the north half of the northwest quarter of section 6; it was patented to him on November 5, 1878. and was signed by President Hayes and entered at the land office at Worthington.
Daniel Gallagher claimed land under the homestead act in the north- west quarter of the northeast quarter of section 6, township 104. range 36, and also in the same range, but in township 105, he entered land known as lot six. This was patented by President Chester A. Arthur and dated De- cember 20, 1881, and entered at the land office at Worthington.
Calvin Rank homesteaded land in the north half of the southwest quar- ter and the north half of the southeast quarter of section 30. It was pat- ented to him by President Hayes, and signed on December 30, 1880; it was entered at the land office at Worthington.
Askel K. Trefol homesteaded land in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 8; it was patented to him by President Hayes through the land office at New Uhm. February 10, 1881.
Allen Gardner, Jr., homesteaded land in the east half of of the south- east quarter and the northwest quarter of the southeast quarter and in the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 8. It was patented by President Hayes, and signed on December 30, 1880. It was entered at the land office at Worthington.
Lucius A. Knight homesteaded land in the cast half of of the north- west quarter of section 4: it was patented to him by President Chester A. Arthur, and signed on April II, 1882: it was entered at the Worthington land office.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Ethan Allen homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 6, and had same patented to him by President James A. Garfiekl. April 9, 1881.
James E. Fitch homesteaded the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 22, making the entry at the land office at Worthington, and having the patent finally issued by President Hayes, June 15. 1880.
Charles F. Warren, at the Worthington land office, entered as his home- stead the northeast quarter of section 14: the same was entered at the land office at Worthington, and the final patent was signed by President Chester A. Arthur. August 3, 883.
Arthur Johnston homesteaded the old lot in section 30. township 105. range 36, and his filing was made at the land office at Worthington, and his final patent was signed by President Chester A. Arthur. June 5, 1884.
Thomas Faucett homesteaded the west half of the southeast quarter of section 20, his filing being at the land office at Worthington, and his patent was signed by President Chester A. Arthur, June 5, 1884.
William Tryon homesteaded in the west half of the northeast quarter of section 34: his entry was made at the land office at Worthington, and his patent was issued and signed by President Chester A. Arthur, March 15. 1882.
Silas D. Allen claimed a homestead right to the north half of the north- east quarter of section 26. the same being entered at the land office at Worth- ington, and the final papers signed by President Chester A. Arthur, April 5, 1883.
Augustus Halmer homesteaded the south half of the northwest quarter of section 26; it was entered at the land office at Worthington and was patented by the signature of President Hayes, November 5, 1878.
Frank L. Jones homesteaded in the east half of the southeast quarter of section 18; the entry was made at the land office at Worthington, and his final patent was issued under signature of President Chester A. Arthur. January 10, 1885.
Ellison D. Mooers claimed under the homestead aet of 1862 the north- west quarter of section 8: it was entered at Worthington land office and finally patented to him by President Chester A. Arthur, March 10, 1883.
Charles C. Purdy claimed his homestead right to the southwest quarter of section 12, and his filing was at the land office at Jackson, while his final patent was signed by President Hayes, April 5. 1877.
Peter Devlin homesteaded the south half of the southwest quarter of section 2; it was filed at the land office at Worthington, and the patent was issued by President Chester A. Arthur, October 1. 1883.
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Diantha Clark, at the Worthington land office, filed on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 10; it was patented on August 25, 1882. by President Chester A. Arthur.
Ed Savage homesteaded the south half of the northwest quarter of section 24, at the land office at Worthington, and it was patented by Presi- dent Chester A. Arthur, May 10, 1882.
PRE-EMPTION CLAIMS.
Squire B. Stedman pre-empted the south half of the southeast quarter of section 26, at the land office at Jackson, his papers being signed by Presi- dent U. S. Grant, May 20, 1874.
George H. Young pre-empted at the Worthington land office, in this township and range, his papers being signed by President Hayes, September 4, 1879.
William Gray pre-empted land at the Jackson land office, the same being the south half of the northeast quarter of section 26; President U. S. Grant signed his papers on May 20, 1874.
David Evans, Jr., at the Jackson land office, pre-empted the north half of the northwest quarter of section 18, and his papers were signed by Presi- dent U. S. Grant, September 12, 1872.
Collins A. Ludden pre-empted the south half of the southwest quarter of section 24 at the land office at Worthington, and his final papers were signed by President Chester A. Arthur, March 30, 1882.
Hosea Fastgate pre-empted land in section 8, at the Worthington land office, and his final papers were signed by President Hayes, November 10, 1877.
Arthur Miller, at the Marshall land office, pre-empted the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 20, and his final papers were signed by President Benjamin Harrison, January 5. 1892.
John T. Smith, at the Jackson land office, pre-empted the southeast quarter of section 6, and his papers were signed by President U. S. Grant, May 20, 1874.
Joseph Devlin, at the land office at Marshall, pre-empted the north half of the southeast quarter of section 2, his papers being signed by President Grover Cleveland, June 4, 1895.
Richard K. Johnson pre-empted land at the land office at Marshall, in section 22, the same being signed by President Grover Cleveland.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Robert Devlin entered the north half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 2. the same being patented by President Hayes, April 20, 1883.
Charles W. Hamilton, at the Worthington land office, entered the north- east quarter of the northeast quarter of section 26, and it was patented to him by President U. S. Grant, May 10, 1875.
John T. Smith came to Cottonwood county in 1870 or 1871 and built a store at Big Bend, where it was supposed that the railroad would cross the river and the county seat finally located. He had about five or six him- dred dollars and began business with a very small stock of goods. The rail- road did not cross at the bend, where Charles Chamberlin had induced a preliminary survey and located the capital of the county. Windom "was born" in 1871 and with it the bright prospects and fond hopes of Big Bend were blighted. Mr. Smith's store was soon removed and no trace of Cham- berlin's city nor his papers remains. Mr. Smith built a modest little store at Heron Lake about the time the railroad reached Worthington and began business there. Possessing good business tact, he entered upon a very suc- cessful era, gradually increasing his trade. Later, he opened stores in other towns, where he was quite successful and gained considerable wealth.
HIGHWATER TOWNSIIIP.
Congressional township 108, range 37 west. is styled Highwater town- ship, and of which name further mention will be made. In this connection it may be stated that when the government surveyors came here to do their work, they found a white man named Charles Zierke, but known as "Dutch Charlie," living with an Indian woman in this township, and he is supposed to have been the first white man in the limits of the county.
Highwater township is bounded at the north by Redwood county. on the east by Germantown township, on the south by Storden township. and at its west is Ann township. Its surface is a beautiful, undulating prairie country, with frequent small prairie creeks, some of which, with the settle- ment of the country, have dried up. This has come to be one of the wealthy agricultural sections of Cottonwood county, and the land has long since all been taken up and well improved. The present owners are a prosperous people, who are enjoying life, as but few of the first settlers could do, on account of the early-day drawbacks-prairie fires, drought, grasshoppers, etc. There are no villages or railroads within the northern tier of town- (10)
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
ships, including Highwater. General farming and stock raising are the chief pursuits of the landowners of this portion of the county.
In 1895 the township had a population of 560: in 1900 it had 512 and, according to the 1910 United States census returns, there were 591 inhabi- tants in the township.
ORGANIZATION.
Highwater was organized by the board of county commissioners at the session of January, 1874, when township 108, range 37, was declared a civil township of Cottonwood county. The county commissioners called the first election to be held in the new township for January 24, 1874, the same to be held at the school house in district No. 3. The name was fixed as "Highwater," after the creek of the same name, which was thus called at an early day on account of its quick rising after a rain storm. This territory was detached from Amo township of foriner days.
PIONEER SETTLEMENT.
Some of the earliest land entries in the county were effected within Highwater township. Without regard to who might have been first, second or third, the following brief transcript from the public records show many of the early land entries. Most all of the persons who thus homesteaded or pre-empted land in this township in the seventies and eighties became per- manent settlers and reared families, and much of the land originally entered is still held by members of the family, while not a few of the settlers are still residing in the places in which they located more than a third of a century ago.
Andrew Larson claimed, as a homestead, land in the north half of the southwest quarter and the south half of the northwest quarter of section 26, of this township, at the New Ulm land office, under President U. S. Grant's administration and signed by him on January 10, 1878.
John Larson claimed land under the homestead act of 1862, in the north half of the southwest quarter and the southwest quarter of the north- west quarter of section 2, September 14. 1878, signed by President U. S. Grant, and the entry was effected at the New Ulm land office.
Jeremiah Lott homesteaded land in the east half of the southwest quar- ter of section 14; it was patented to him by President U. S. Grant and dated August 20, 1875; it was entered at the land office at New Ulmn.
Francis M. Smith claimed, under his homestead rights, land situated
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
in the southeast quarter of section 24, and it was patented to him by Presi- dent U. S. Grant, dated September 15, 1874; it was entered at the land office at Jackson.
Halvor Knudtson homesteaded land in the west half of the southeast quarter of section 18; it was patented to him on January 20, 1881, and the instrument was signed by President Hayes, the entry being made at the land office at New Ulm.
Knud Olson homesteaded land in the west half of the northiwest quar- ter of section 28, and it was patented to him by President James A. Gar- field. dated June 20, 1881. This land was entered at the land office at Tracy.
Elias Warner homesteaded land in the south half of the southwest quarter of section 18: it was patented to him on February 20, 1882, by President Chester A. Arthur ; the land was entered at the land office at New Ulm.
Frederick Jauck homesteaded land in the north half of the southwest quarter of section 10: it was patented to him by President Hayes and dated February 10, 1881 : it was entered through the land office at New Ulm.
Ole Esteson located a homestead in the west half of the southeast quar- ter of section 18, and it was patented to him by President James A. Garfield and signed on June 20, 1881 ; it was entered at the land office at Tracy.
Frithjof Riis selected a homestead in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 28, and it was patented to him by President Hayes and dated January 20. 1881 ; it was entered at the land office at New Ulm.
John Olson homesteaded land in the west half of the southwest quarter and the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 24. It was patented by President James A. Garfield and signed by him on May 3, 1881; it was entered in the land office at New Ulm.
George B. Walker homesteaded the south half of the northwest quarter of section 30, and it was patented to him by President Hayes and was signed by him on June 24, 1878.
Alse H. Ophime homesteaded land in the north half of the southeast quarter of section 28: it was entered at the land office at Tracy and was patented by President Chester A. Arthur, who signed it on November 1, 1881.
Wilhelm Jeick homesteaded land in the south half of the northeast quarter of section 10, and it was patented by President James A. Garfield, who signed same June 20, 1881.
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Hartman Loomis homesteaded land in the southwest quarter of section 6; it was entered at the land office at New Ulm and was patented by Presi- dent Chester A. Arthur, signed by him on June 20, 1882.
Svend S. Loeny had patented to him a homestead, signed by President U. S. Grant, March 1, 1876, the entry being made at the land office at New Ulm. This land is situated in the north half of the northwest quarter of section 32.
Lars Halvorson homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 14, the patent was signed by President Hayes. February 10, 1881, and the land entry was at the land office at Worthington.
Christian Oleson claimed, under the homestead act of 1862, the south half of the northeast quarter and the northeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 24; it was signed by President James A. Garfield, June 20, 1881, and was entered at the Tracy land office.
Andrew Overson homesteaded the north half of the southeast quarter of section 30; it was patented by President James A. Garfield and signed by him on June 20, 1881.
Ole Nelson Beck had patented to him the east half of the southeast quarter of section 26. the land was entered at the land office at New Ulni during President Hayes' administration and was signed by him on January 20, 1881.
Peter Pettersen, at the Tracy land office. secured land under the home- stead act. the same was described as being the south half of the northeast quarter of section 34. This homestead was signed by President James A. Garfield on June 20, 1881.
Aslask Torgerson, at the land office at Tracy, had patented to him by President James A. Garfield, the west half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 18; the instrument was signed by President Garfield on June 20, 1881.
William Geik. at the New Ulm land office. claimed under the homestead act. land in the south half of the southeast quarter and the south half of the southwest quarter of section 10: the patent was signed by the hand of Presi- dent U. S. Grant, October 5, 1873.
John Roth homesteaded land in the northeast quarter of section 22. and had it patented to him by President Chester A. Arthur and signed on February 10, 1883.
Andreas H. Rongstad, at the New Ulm land office. secured his right to a homestead in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 34; the patent was signed by President James .A. Garfield. May 3. 1881.
Andrew Pederson homesteaded the north half of the northeast quarter
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
of section 34, at the Tracy land office and had his patent finally issued by President James A. Garfield on June 20, 1881.
Ole A. Thollongbakken, at the Tracy land office, entered as his home- stead the north half of the northeast quarter of section 6, and he had the same patented to him by President Grover Cleveland, who signed it April 25, 1885.
Ollare Hanson, at the Tracy land office, entered his homestead in the north half of the southwest quarter of section 34, and had his patent issued to him by President James A. Garfiekl, June 20, 1881.
PRE-EMPTION CLAIMS.
Jens Jacobson pre-empted the land in section 2, of this township, the entry being filed at the land office at New Ulm, and the papers were signed by President U. S. Grant, May 20, 1874.
Lowitz Larson Tatdal, at the New Ulm land office, pre-empted the south half of the southwest quarter of section 32, and his papers were signed by President U. S. Grant, in May, 1874.
John A. Monson, at the land office at New Ulm, pre-empted the north- east quarter of the northwest quarter and the northwest of the northeast of section 8, his final papers being signed by President U. S. Grant, Novem- ber 10, 1875.
Martin Erickson claimed land under the pre-emption act at the land office at New Ulm, and his papers were signed by President U. S. Grant, May 20, 1874.
A. Torgerson, at the New Ulm land office, pre-empted the south half of the southwest quarter of section 18, the same being issued to him by President U. S. Grant, May 20, 1874.
Henry A. Bredli, at the New Ulm land office, pre-empted the land in this township and his papers were signed by President Hayes, January 20, 1881.
A. G. Quale pre-empted land in the west half of the southeast quarter of section 8, the papers being signed by President Hayes on January 10. 1879.
Christian Olen, at the land office at New Ulm, pre-empted land in the south half of the northwest quarter of section 22, the papers being signed by President Hayes on May 24, 1879.
Lars Larson Evanger, at the land office at New Ulm, pre-empted the
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
east half of the southeast quarter of section 24, and had his papers verified by President U. S. Grant, April 10, 1875.
Ingeborg Erickson pre-empted land at the land office at New Ulm, the same being the west half of the southeast quarter of section 20; the papers were signed by President U. S. Grant, May 20, 1874.
LAKESIDE TOWNSHIP.
Lakeside township is the second township from the eastern line of Cottonwood county, and is on the south line, comprising all of congressional township 105, range 35 west. It is bounded on the north by Carson town- ship, on the east by Mountain Lake, on the south by Jackson county and on the west by Great Bend township. In this section some of the earliest settlements in the county were effected. The village of Bingham Lake is situated within Lakeside township, the history of which appears further on in this chapter. The township is traversed by the Chicago, St. Paul, Min- neapolis & Omaha railroad. The township once had a large number of lakes, some of which have long since disappeared through drainage systems, but there are others still in existence-Bingham lake, near the village; Fish lake, in the south part of the township: Cottonwood lake, Clear lake. etc. This is an ideal farming township-good soil, near to good market towns. close to the county seat and a population of intelligent citizens, whose aim in life is to thrive and do all they can for the advancement of churches and public schools.
The population of Lakeside township in 1895 was 547; in 1900 it was 392 and according to the census returns in 1910 it had 449 population.
ORGANIZATION.
This township became a separate civil township by an act of the board of county commissioners at their meeting in the month of August. 1870, as comprising all of congressional township 105, range 35 west.
FIRST SETTLERS AND LAND ENTRIES.
The best evidence of names and dates concerning the settlement of this township is the record shown at the court house at Windom, which discloses the following entries of homesteads and pre-emption claims :
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
August L. Brown had patented to him a homestead in the southwest quarter of section 22; the filing was dated at the Worthington land office and bore the signature of President U. S. Grant.
Charles F. Sheldon claimed the east half of the southwest quarter of section 32, of this township, as a homestead, the same being patented on December 24. 1877, and signed by President U. S. Grant.
Charles Breech claimed the southwest quarter of the southeast quarter of section 32 for a homestead on December 24, 1877, the papers bearing the signature of President U. S. Grant.
Osgood H. Dinnell, on May 23, 1878, homesteaded the northwest quar- ter of section 2, at the Jackson land office, with the signature of President U. S. Grant attached thereto.
M. Mathews homesteaded the northeast quarter of the northeast quar- ter of section 4, May 29, 1878; the patent was signed by President U. S. Grant ; the transaction was made at the Worthington land office.
Samuel C. Taggert homesteaded the northeast of section 22, June 5, 187 ; the patent was signed by President U. S. Grant, from the Worthington land office.
Ebenezer A. Hatch homesteaded, at the Worthington land office, the north half of the southeast quarter of section 10, the papers being signed August 26, 1878, by President U. S. Grant.
Kirk W. Sheldon claimed the northwest quarter of section 28 and had it patented to him by President U. S. Grant, who signed it July 1, 1875. The entry was made through the land office at Worthington.
Henry W. Burbank homesteaded land in the west half of the northeast quarter of section 34, the patent being issued by President Hayes on De- cember 13. 1879, through the Worthington land office.
David P. Jaqua claimed a homestead under the act of 1862, in the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 4, the patent being signed by President Hayes, through the Worthington land office, December 12, 1877.
Myron Barr homesteaded the south half of the southeast quarter of section 10. President Hayes signing the patent on December 13, 1870.
Eber Morton claimed a homestead in the south half of the southeast quarter of section 18, the patent being signed by President Hayes, June 15. 1880, through the Worthington land office.
Jacob W. Grant homesteaded the east half of the southeast quarter of section 28, the patent being signed by President Hayes on December 13. 1880, the entry being made at the land office at Worthington.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Frank Parso homesteaded land in the northwest quarter of the south- west quarter and the south half of the southeast quarter of section 32. His patent was signed by President Hayes on June 10. 1879, and the entry was made at the Worthington land office.
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