USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 37
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406
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
ASSESSED VALUATIONS IN 1880 AND 1890.
The assessed valuation of real estate in Watonwan county in 1880 was $756,000; in 1890 it was $1.715.000.
The personal property valuation was in 1880, $362.000 and in 1890 it was $449,000.
NUMBER OF BUILDINGS ASSESSED IN 1894.
The number of buildings assessed in 1894 in the various precincts of this county were as follows: In Madelia township ninety-nine; Fieldon township, ninety-eight ; Antrim township, one hundred and six; South Branch, township, ninety-nine; Rosendale township, ninety-seven; Riverdale town- ship, one hundred and twenty-five; Nelson, one hundred and twenty-four; St. James, eighty-seven; Long Lake township, ninety-nine; Odin township, ninety-four; Butterfield township, sixty-eight; Adrian township, ninety; Madelia village, two hundred and twenty-five; St. James village, three hun- dred and twenty-seven. This was a total of seventeen hundred and sixty- nine buildings assessed in this county at the date named above.
ASSESSED VALUATIONS IN 1915-16.
The records in the county auditor's office show the assessed valuations in Watonwan county in 1915-16 to have been as follows by townships and corporations :
Madelia township $ 592,863
Adrian township 600,767
Fieldon township 584,207
Madelia village 461,494
Antrim township
607.726 Lewisville village 71,176
South Branch township. 655,516 Ormsby village 25.803
Rosendale township 672,131
Buterfield village 88.14I 1 I I
Riverdale township 704,297
Odin village
54.203
Nelson township 628,18I
Darfus village
28,579
St. James township 581.068
Long Lake township
597.797
Odin township
544,660
Butterfield township 630,170
St. James City
735,189
Total
$8.863.968
Out of the above total valuation. as per assessment, $1,282,845 was for personal property. Land is usually assessed at about one-third of its actual value in this county. Cash is taxed at three dollars on a thousand dollars.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
In comparison the following is appended : In 1881 the total valuation of the county was $1. 134.000; in 1885 it was $1,406,000; in 1890 it was $2.349.000; in 1894 it had reached $2.979,000; and in 1900 it was placed at $3.719,000.
TREASURY BURGLARIZED.
The county treasury was broken into in November, 1893, when the safe was kept in the old frame court house, and the sum of five dollars in small change was all that was obtained by the thief. This was under County Treasurer Mellgren's administration.
BONDS PAID OFF.
The last of the county's bonds were paid off in July, 1910, the amount being ten thousand dollars.
DRAINAGE.
Watonwan county, for the most part, is quite flat and has much wet, swampy land within its borders. This land is composed of the richest, most fertile soil of almost any in the world, when once properly drained of its surplus surface water. The soil is deep, black loam which has no superior for production of crops of any grain or grass plant that is known to this country. It is only since 1905 that much attention has been paid to the proper drainage of these lands. Owing to the thousands of lakes and hun- dreds of thousands of marshes found in the state of Minnesota, a system of state-wide systematic drainage was set on foot a few years ago by both state and county authorities. As it now stands, boards of county commis- sioners and district courts have the power to construct ditches for the pur- pose of draining swamps, or for the changing the course of any natural or other water course. In certain cases they may also drain meandered lakes and in all cases may drain the overflow water from any meandered lake. Petition is made to the board of county commissioners and district court. which together with a bond is filed with auditor of clerk of the district court, whereupon the board through the auditor of the county and the dis- trict court through the clerk thereof gives notice of the filing of a petition and of a time and a place where a hearing may be had thereon. The board or district court also appoints an engineer who gives a bond and who makes a survey of the proposed ditch and reports the same to the board. Such engineer makes an estimate of the cost of such ditch; the board or district
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
court appoints three disinterested frecholders who view the same and deter- mine benefits and damages to each person whose land is affected thereby. Notice of the same is given to all parties interested and on the hearing of the board of county commissioners or district court, determine whether such ditch shall be established. An appeal lies only by an order of the board determining the amount of benefits to any tract of land, or the amount of damages or refusing to establish such ditch. On appeal. the question of damages or benefits is tried in the district court of the county wherein the ditch lies, as actions for the recovery of money. Upon the filing of the order to establish the ditch the county auditor is required to let a contract for the construction thereof. Such contractor is required to give a bond and the cost of such ditch and expenses is assessed against the lands bene- fited thereby. In order to defray the cost of constructing the same in counties not financially able to pay for the same, each county in the state is authorized to issue bonds therefor at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent. and which become due and payable not later than twenty years from the date of their issue. A statement of benefits assessed made by the auditor is filed in the office of the register of deeds and thereby a lien is filed against each tract of land mentioned therein. Payments may be made in ten equal annual installments with six per cent. added on those deferred.
The lands of the state may be drained, and an appropriation has been made by the Legislature for paying the benefits assessed against the state thereunder.
Where a ditch will affect lands in more than one county a judicial ditch may be established. The same may be done on order of the district court after procedure similar to that provided for the establishment of county (litches. The law also provides for the establishment of town ditches in cer- tain cases.
Municipal incorporations may be assessed for drainage. but not railroad corporations. The state of Minnesota is authorized to purchase the bonds to counties issued for the construction of ditches and when sold to the state such bonds bear four per cent. interest. A board composed of the governor. secretary of state and the auditor constitute a state drainage board. This has charge of state lands. Under the law of 1915 the county commissioners are authorized to construct bridges across state ditches where they cross town wards.
There are now many large ditches in operation within this county, all
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
having been constructed on some one or other of the plans above described. When all parts of the county are drained by this system of ditches and properly tiled by the land-owners, this county will certainly present a beau- tiful appearance as one views the rural landscape. Large amounts of county and township drainage are being done at this time and miles of heavy cement tiles are taking the place of the old-fashioned wooden culverts and plank bridges.
CHAPTER V.
COUNTY AND STATE REPRESENTATION.
PRESIDENTIAL VOTE FOR WATONWAN COUNTY.
When President Lincoln ran the first time, 1860, this county had no votes, but in 1864 the county took part in the campaign, and with that elec- tion the results have been to the present time as follows, as shown by the state records :
1864-Abraham Lincoln, Republican, 38 ballots : Gen. George B. Mc- Clellan, Democrat, 5 ballots.
1868-U. S. Grant, Republican, 199; Horatio Seymour, Democrat. 57.
1872-U. S. Grant, Republican, 573; Horace Greeley, Liberal Demo- erat, 233.
1876-Rutherford B. Hayes, Republican, 549: Samuel J. Tilden, Demo- crat, 195.
1880-(No record).
1884-James G. Blaine, Republican, 626; Grover Cleveland, Democrat, 192; St. John, Prohibition, 8.
1888-Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 928; Grover Cleveland, Demo- crat, 326.
1892-Benjamin Harrison, Republican, 934; Grover Cleveland, Demo- crat, 388: James B. Weaver, Populist, 410.
1896-William McKinley, Republican, 1,622; W. J. Bryan, Democrat, 586; Joshua Levering, Prohibition, 33.
1900-William McKinley, Republican, 1.509; W. J. Bryan, Democrat. 500: John G. Woolley, Prohibition. 66.
1004 -- Theodore Roosevelt, Progressive, 1.415; Alton B. Parker. Democrat. 306.
1908-William H. Taft, Republican, I,411; W. J. Bryan, Democrat. 537: E. Chain, Prohibition, 45.
1012-William H. Taft. Republican, 524; Woodrow Wilson. Demo- crat, 618: Theodore Roosevelt, Progressive, 1,139.
4II
COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
GOVERNOR W. S. HAMMOND.
Watonwan county has furnished a governor for Minnesota, in the person of Winfield Scott Hammond, who was elected on the Democratic ticket and assumed office on January 5, 1915, and died in office the next year. His home was St. James. A biographical sketch of him appears in this work.
STATE SENATORS.
Under the apportionment of 1866-(Seventeenth district)-Lewis Por- ter, 1867; E. P. Freeman. 1868; E. P. Freeman, 1869; B. F. Smith, 1870; B. F. Smith, 1871.
Under apportionment of 1871-(Twenty-eighth district )-Jonas Lin- dall. 1872: J. Lindall, 1873: B. K. Burrows, 1874; W. H. C. Folsom, 1875; W. H. C. Folsom. 1876: F. C. Folsom, 1877; Jolin Shaleen, 1878: John Shaleen, 1879: Jolin Shaleen, 1881.
Under the apportionment of 1881-( Eighth district)-George Knud- son, 1883: George Knudson, 1885; John Clark, 1887: John Clark, 1889.
Under the apportionment of 1889-(Sixth district )-Frank A. Day, 1891; Frank A. Day, 1893: Frank A. Day, 1895: H. H. Duncan, 1897.
Under apportionment of 1897-(Thirteenth district )-William Vissel- man. 1899: William Visselman, 1901: Thomas Thorson. 1903; Thomas Thorson, 1905; W. A. Hinton, 1907; W. A. Hinton, 1909; Julius E. Ilay- craft. 1911 : Julius Haycraft, 1913.
Under apportionment of 1913-(Ninth district)-Albert L. Ward. 1915.
STATES REPRESENTATIVES.
J. A. Reed, Brown Yates, 1867; John A. Reed, O. O. Pitcher, 1868; O. O. Pitcher. W. C. Rhodes, 1869; R. Crandall, John F. Meagher, 1870; J. F. Meagher. James B. Hubbell. 1872; Adolph Munch, Joel G. Ryder, 1873: F. H. Pratt, 1874: L. J. Stark, 1875; M. A. Brawley, 1876: W. A. Bentley, 1877; F. S. Christensen, 1878; John Dean, 1879; John Dean, 1881; S. Blackman, 1883; Silas Blackman, 1885: W. R. Estes, 1887; William R. Estes, 1889; Frederick Church, 1891; Daniel C. Hopkins, 1893: Thomas Thorsen, 1895; Thomas Thorsen, 1897; Thomas Thorsen and Peter Olson, 1899; Thomas Torson, 1901; WV. A. Hinton and A. D. Palmer, 1903; W. A. Hinton and A. D. Palmer, 1905; C. J. Swendsen and John Schrooten,
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
1907: C. J. Swendsen and Joseph Davies, 1909: Joseph Davies, H. A. Saggau, 1911; H. A. Saggau and W. W. Brown, 1913; John Schrooten, H. W. Haislet, 1915.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
As nearly as can now be determined by the records, the following is a list of those who have held the office of county commissioner in and for Watonwan county from its organization to the present date, 1916:
By appointment by the governor-J. F. Furber, C. M. Pomeroy and Ole Jorgenson. These were appointed in April, 1861, and held their first meeting that month.
1861-Salvor Torgenson, Lewis Varwick and Thomas Rutledge.
1863-H. P. Gilbert, H. Schwarble and Jens Torsen.
1864-H. P. Gilbert, William Busser, J. T. Furber.
1865-H. P. Gilbert, J. F. Furber, Chandler Farnsworth. 1866-B. O. Kempfer (chairman). John C. Sprague, T. C. Levey.
1867-B. O. Kempfer, C. T. Levey, J. K. Webster.
1868-A. J. Nickerson, Ole Howe, J. K. Webster.
1869-A. J. Nickerson, Samuel V. Haycroft, W. S. Addsmond.
1870-Samuel V. Haycroft, W. S. Addmond, Morris Bradford.
1871-H. Morrill, William S. Addsmond, Morris Bradford.
1872-H. Morrill, Morris Bradford, Frank Pickler.
1873-J. N. Cheney, O. H. Howe, H. Morrill.
1874-Morrill, Lambert, Toothaker, Marvin and Pona.
1875-H. Morrill, Theo. Lambert, William Toothaker, A. S. Mellgren.
1876-S. W. Corbin, W. M. Toothaker, A. S. Mellgren, John Burns, Theo. Lambert.
1877-S. W. Corbin, George Busser, A. S. Mellgren, M. Vrooman.
1878-John Burns, M. E. Dun, A. S. Mellgren, M. Vrooman.
1879-A. S. Mellgren, M. Vrooman, H. Halvorson, John Shilletto, William R. Marvin.
1880-William C. Gleason, John Shilletto, H. Halvorson, L. O. Ulvestad, A. S. Mellgren.
1881-John Shilletto, H. H. Higgins, - Newcomb, Charles Gove, Ulvestad.
1883 -- John Shilletto, Charles Gove, Hans Olson, - Stenberg, - Ulvestad.
1884-John Shilletto, Hans Olson, Steinberg, F. W. Uhlhorn, G. W. Fanning.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
1885-Daniel Bohan, - Stenberg. G. W. Fanning, Hans Olson.
1886-Hans Olson, F. W. Uhlhorn, - Stenberg, G. W. Fanning, Daniel Bohan.
1887-Daniel Bohan, S. W. Corbin, J. W. Somers, J. H. Cheney, A. A. Nass.
1888-J. H. Cheney. Daniel Bohan, S. W. Corbin, J. W. Somers, A. A. Nass.
1889-Daniel Bohan, J. H. Cheney, S. W. Corbin, J. W. Somers, A. A. Nass.
1890-J. W. Somers, Daniel Bohan, A. A. Nass. Theodore P. Podvin. 1891-J. W. Somers, John Hammond, J. H. Cheney, Swan Beck, A. A. Nass.
1892-J. W. Somers, Charles Gove, John Hammond, A. A. Nass, Swan Beck.
1893-W. S. Crowley, Swan Beck, George Busser, Claus Melheim.
1894-W. S. Crowley, Swan Beck, John Hammond, George Busser, Claus Melheim.
1895-WV. S. Crowley. George Busser, I. C. Lindley, Alex. Swanson, Charles Milheim.
1876-WV. S. Crowley, T. N. Marsden, Alex. Swanson, Charles Mil- heim.
1897-W. S. Crowley, George Busser. T. N. Marsden, Helge Boen.
1898-George Busser, T. N. Marsden. W. S. Crowley, Alex. Swanson. Helge Boen.
1899-George Busser, J. G. Bachellor, W. S. Crowley. E. O. Haug, Helge Boen.
1900-George Busser. J. G. Bachellor, W. S. Crowley. E. O. Haug, Helge Boen.
1901-W. S. Crowley. George Busser. E. O. Haug. T. N. Marsden, John Heppner.
1902-George Busser, W. S. Crowley, F. O. Haug, John Heppner, T. N. Marsden.
1904-George Busser, T. N. Marsden, W. S. Crowley, John Heppner, Ole Kolstad.
1905-WV. S. Crowley, George Busser, Ole Kolstad, T. N. Marsden. F. O. Anderson.
1906-WV. S. Crowley, George Busser, T. N. Marsden. Ole Kolstad, F. O. Anderson.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
1907-T. N. Marsden, George Busser, W. S. Crowley, Charles G. Rask, F. O. Anderson.
1908-George Busser, T. N. Marsden, W. S. Crowley, Charles Rask, F. O. Anderson.
1909-George Busser, T. N. Marsden, W. S. Crowley, Charles Rask, John B. Erickson.
1910-George Busser, J. B. Erickson, W. S. Crowley, Charles G. Rask, T. N. Marsden.
1911-George Busser, T. N. Marsden, W. S. Crowley, Fred E. Wiborg, J. E. Erickson.
1912-W. S. Crowley, George Busser, T. N. Marsden, J. O. Erickson, F. E. Wiborg.
1913-WV. S. Crowley, T. N. Marsden, F. E. Wiborg, C. D. Brackels- berg, H. F. Horselbring.
1014-F. E. Wiborg, T. N. Marsden, C. D. Brackelsberg, W. Somers, Jacob Bragger.
1915-J. W. Somers, C. D. Brackelsberg, Frank Dewar, A. D. Peter- son.
1916-C. D. Brackelsberg, Frand Dewar, J. W. Somers, A. D. Peter- son. J. Brogger.
COUNTY AUDITORS.
This is one of the most important offices in the county, and has usually been filled by men of good ability as accountants and who have kept in close touch with the action of the board of county commissioners, of which they are the ex-officio clerks. The first auditor in Watonwan county was appointed by the county commissioners in the person of H. F. Gilbert. This was in the spring of 1861, and since then the list of auditors is: C. G. Mullen, 1862-3: J. L. Stark, Joseph Flanders, 1864 to 1876: George Knud- son, 1876 to 1803: T. Sousteby, 1893 to 1901 ; M. G. Fossum. 1901 to 1911 ; John C. Jensen, 1911 and still serving as anditor in 1916.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
B. O. Rempffer, who had been appointed as treasurer of the newly- organized county, failing to appear and legally qualify. the county com- missioners proceeded to elect one in his place. This resulted in the choice of C. G. Mullen, who had just been appointed sheriff, but he vacated this
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
office and took that of county treasurer. In the fall Thomas Rutledge was elected, and since then the list has been: 1861, Thomas Rutledge; G. W. Yates, from 1868 to 1875: Jens Torsen. 1875 to 1881; M. K. Armstrong, 1881 to 1882: M. E. Dunn, 1882 to 1883; A. S. Mellgren, appointed after the governor had suspended Dunn, served from 1883 to 1905; A. M. Han- son, 1905 to 1915, when the present treasurer, Samuel Jackson, took his seat.
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
With the passage of years it is seen that none but competent men should be allowed to handle the records of a county, wherein are recorded the deeds and mortgages of immense quantities of property. The first register of deeds in this county was L. C. Taylor. From 1868 on this office has been presided over by the following men : Charles G. Muller, 1868; Charles M. Pomeroy, 1869; C. Teigum, 1872 to 1876: Thomas Torsen. 1876 to 1896; S. M. Seekland, 1896 to 1905: Edward Bolin, 1905 to 1909; Albert Run- ning. 1909 to 1913: Frederick Church, 1913 to 1916.
SIIERIFFS OF THE COUNTY.
The first sheriff selected by the county authorities in 1861 was C. G. Mullen, who was immediately chosen as treasurer, hence never held the office of sheriff. The first active sheriff of this county was Jonathan Leavitt, who had been first selected as surveyor, but the failing of other county officers as above noted to qualify, he was chosen as sheriff. Then followed these: Oscar F. Winnerstrand, 1864-5: E. M. Sprague, 1866; Jens Torsen, 1868 to 1870; A. B. Stone, 1870 to 1874; James Glispen, 1874 to 1880; II. H. Higgins, 1880 to 1882; J. P. Stemper, 1882 to 1891; George W. Forsyth, 1891 to 1909; August E. Lindquist, 1909 to 1916.
CLERKS OF THE DISTRICT COURT.
The record is not found for the election of the first clerks of the dis- triet court, but possibly Martin E. Mullen was the first. Martin E. Mullen, 1868 to 1870; Thomas Mullen, a part of 1870; D. R. Bill. by appointment few months of 1870 and by election till 1875; W. Frizzell. 1875 to 1876; George P. Johnston. 1876 to 1894: George A. Bradford, 1894 to 1913; K. S. Thompson, 1913 to present date, 1916.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
In 1861-2 Daniel Bush was the first county attorney. Since 1871 the county attorneys have been : H. S. Wilson, appointed by the county com- missioners and paid a salary of one hundred dollars per year ; Thomas Rut- ledge, 1874 to 1876; J. J. Johnston, 1876 to 1882; Frank L. James, 1882 to 1884; J. W. Seager, 1884 to 1891 ; J. J. Thornton, 1891 to 1893; William E. Allen, 1893 to 1896; Ashley Coffman, 1896 to 1903; W. I. Hammond, 1903 to 1905 : F. F. Ellsworth, 1905 to 1909: Ed. C. Farmer, 1909 to 1915; Albert Running, 1915 and still holding the office.
COURT COMMISSIONERS.
Not until about 1874 did this office have much importance attached to it. Since then those holding the position in this county have been : Charles M. Pomeroy, 1874 to 1879; G. R. McLean, 1879 to 1889; J: H. Roberts, 1889 to 1901 ; M. W. Sandquist, 1901 to 1911 ; Fred H. Schweppe, 1911 to 1916.
CORONERS.
Caleb Leavitt was the county's first coroner. he being appointed by the board of county commissioners. The record of those who followed him, if, indeed, there were any others, does not appear until 1874, when George H. Overholt was elected; in 1878 came C. R. Bacon, who served until 1887; next was Thad. Kirk, who died and the commissioners appointed James M. Smith to succeed him; from 1891 to 1905 the office was held by Dr. W. H. Rowe; from 1905 to 1909 the coroner was W. J. McCarthy, and from 1909 to 1916, Dr. Albert Thompson has filled the office.
PROBATE JUDGES.
The first to serve as judge was Notto Jansen by appointment. John Travis was the first probate judge elected in this county, and served while the county seat was yet at Madelia. He was elected in 1861. The next was John Flanders, who held until 1865, when Hart Montgomery was seated and served until 1870, and was followed by Thomas Rutledge, who served a short time under an appointment and was succceeded by H. S. Wilson, who served from 1870 to 1873: from 1873 to 1875 S. C. Clark was
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
probate judge; from 1877 to 1891 came M. E. Mullen, who served until succeeded by F. W. Uhlhorn and he served as probate judge until 1903; the next came Fred H. Schweppe, who is still in office.
SCHOOL EXAMINERS AND COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.
In the early history of this county and state an official existed known as a "school examiner." whose duties were similar to those of the present county school superintendent. It was in 1862 that this office was first filled by C. G. Mullen, and in 1864 by J. L. Stark. The first county school super- intendent was inducted into office in 1869, in the person of George W. Yates, whose salary was only one hundred dollars a year. The next super- intendent was C. A. Barton, who left the office and the board appointed Thomas Rutledge in his place at one hundred and fifty dollars a year. In 1876 came Superintendent G. H. Overholt, and he was preceded by Miss Sargent (now Mrs. E. Z. Rasey), who was the first woman in Minnesota to hold such an office, serving two years; from 1879 to 1881 served F. D. Joy ; then came George M. Johnson, from 1881 to 1887; W. E. Allen, from 1887 to 1891; C. A. Boston, 1891 to 1901: Joseph Davies, 1901 to 1909; W. W. Brown, 1909 to 1913 ; Mabel S. Madson, 1913 to 1916.
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
P. D. Rutledge was county surveyor from 1866 to 1868 and was suc- ceeded by the following: M. E. Mullen, 1868 to 1878; S. C. Clark, 1878 to 1870: M. E. Mullen, 1879 to 1891; C. C. Milloid, 1891 to 1893; Otto Klose, 1893 to 1899: S. B. Lynch, 1899 to 1900; Otto Klose, 1900 to 1903 : E. E. Nichols, 1903 to 1916.
ANOTHER WHO REPRESENTED THIS COUNTY.
Among the men who have represented this county in honorable and important positions may be recalled the name of Hon. William Estes, of Madelia, who in the spring of 1890, was appointed to represent this govern- ment at Jamaica. Ile filled the office of constil to that country with credit to himself and his country.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
PROIIIBITION CANDIDATES.
In the campaign of 1890, the first year that the Prohibition party had a full ticket in the field, the following were the candidates on the ticket in Watonwan county: C. N. Webb, auditor; L. A. Ulvestad, treasurer ; S. W. Corbin, sheriff ; H. D. Mathews, register of deeds; F. E. Sylvester, clerk of the district court; C. A. Boston, judge of probate; J. W. Seager, county attorney; W. D. Fanning, school superintendent; C. R. Pew, surveyor; M. Bradford, coroner. All were defeated, but they have this record, that they bravely stood for what they deemed right.
CHAPTER VI.
TOWNSHIPS OF WATONWAN COUNTY.
ADRIAN TOWNSHIP.
Adrian township is the extreme northwestern sub-division in Waton- wan county, and comprises congressional township No. 107, range 33 west. It is bounded on the north by Brown county, on the east by Nelson town- ship, Watonwan county, on the south by Butterfield township and on the west by Cottonwood county. A branch of the Chicago & Northwestern sys- temi of railway enters the township in section 18 and leaves it. going south- ward from section 33. On this is situated the village and station point of Darfur. in section 20. Adrian has several good-sized lakes, including Wood Lake, in the northeastern corner of the territory, and Cottonwood Lake, along the eastern line in section 25. The north fork of the Watonwan river courses through the township from west to east, entering from the west in section 7 and leaving it from section 12 on the east line. Another branch of the same stream flows almost parallel with the one just named. but through the lower tier of sections of the township.
ORGANIZATION.
In June, 1871, the county commissioners created the civil township known as Adrian, the same being designated as the whole of the territory embraced in congressional township 107, range 33 west, and the first elec- tion was ordered to be held at the house of Volney DeWitt. The township has always been well governed by its local officers, and is today one of the well-improved sections of the county. With railroad, market town, schools and churches the people are a happy and contented lot of good citizens. The United States census for 1910 gave the population as four hundred and eighty-one, which was a decrease from the census of 1900, which gave it as having five hundred and fifty-nine.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
SETTLEMENT.
The settlement in this township was effected in about the following order : In section 2. Jonas Samuelson, Jonas Gustafson, John Wanerstrom, P. O. Swanson. In section 4, John P. Prahl, William Prahl, John Rathman and F. W. Uhlhorn. In section 6, William Arndt, Conrad Schaper, Mar- tius Rathman and John Bratchner. In section 8, Frank Rathman, Charles Krueger, August Selzman, John Krieser and Rudolph Steinke. In section 10, Swan Englin, Charles Warner, John Johnson, D. Heppner and A. Eng- lin. In section 12, Alex. Swanson, Swan Nelson. C. G. Samuelson. In section 14. P. Heppner, John Stoez and E. Lofgaren. In section 18, S. W. Burns, Gust Hagglund and Christian Hanson. In section 20. Fred Kline, Fred Schuman and John Rask. In section 22, J. L. Parker, W. Jenkins. In section 24, MI. B. Foster, Jonas Nelson, P. Malm, John Hernaman. In sec- tion 26, E. Davis, Swen Swensen, V. Lebarre and Adrian Davis. In sec- tion 28, H. Jenzen, William Stalk, D. C. Atwell, D. Simmons. In section 30, George Irving, R. Haulse, Jerry Barrett and P. Fleming. In section 32. James MeDonough, D. Anns and Ed. Sweeney. In section 34. David Ennis and M. Tarball.
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