USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 38
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HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN ADRIAN TOWNSHIP.
Under the Homestead act, approved by Congress on May 20, 1862, the following homesteads were taken up in what is now Adrian township:
P. A. Gustafson, on certificate No. 4,237. at the land office at Tracy, lot No. 4, in section 2. township 107, range 33 west ; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, November 1, 1881.
M. Heppner, certificate No. 5,081, at Tracy land office, on the south- east quarter of section 22, township 107, range 33 west ; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, May 15, 1884.
Ellen Bohman, certificate No. 2,667. at the New Ulm land office, the northeast half of the southeast quarter of section 12, township 107, range 33 west ; issued by President U. S. Grant.
Certificate No. 5.568. to Gustaf Ilaglund, at the Tracy land office, the southeast quarter of section 18, township 107. range 33 west, by President Grover Cleveland, April 10, 1886.
Margareta Swanson, at the Tracy land office, the north half of the northwest quarter of section 10, township 107, range 33 west, by Grover Cleveland, President of the United States, signed January 9, 1886.
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S. J. Wannerstram, on certificate No. 3.756, at the New Ulm land office, the north half of the northeast quarter of section 2, township 107, range 33 west, was homesteaded by President Rutherford B. Hayes, and by him signed on January 20, 1881.
Charles Hull, certificate No. 2,428, at the New Ulm land office, the southeast quarter of section 10, township 107, range 33 west, by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on June 20, 1882.
Gotleib Schade, certificate No. 4,469. at the Tracy land office, the south- west quarter of section 8, township 107, range 33 west, by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on February 10, 1883.
Jacob Jacobson, by certificate No. 2,405, at the New Ulm land office, the southwest half of the northwest quarter of section 34, township 107. range 33 west : issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed by him on February 20, 1880.
Hans Marquirson, certificate No. 2,404. on the north half of the northwest quarter of section 34, range 33 west; issued by President Ruther- ford B. Hayes, signed on February 12, 1880.
Peter Newfeldt. No. 348, Tracy land office, the cast half of the south- west quarter of section 20, township 107, range 33 west ; issued by Presi- dent Chester A. Arthur, November 1, 1881.
Joel Parker, certificate No. 3,929, at the New Ulm land office; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on February 10, 1881; land in section 26. township 107, range 33 west.
Peter Falk, certificate No. 5.133, at the Tracy land office: issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on January 15. 1885; land in section 6, township 107, range 33 west.
Eugen Salzman, certificate No. 3.776, at the New Ulm land office; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on January 20, 1881; land-the south half of the northwest quarter of section 8, township 107, range 33 west.
P. F. Malm, certificate No. 2,501, at the New Ulm land office, the south half of the southeast quarter of section 24, township 107, range 33 west ; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed November 23. 1875.
Wesley D. Pond, south half of the southeast quarter, section 26, town- ship 107, range 33 west ; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on October 15, 1873.
Jerry Barrett, the south half of the southeast quarter of section 30, township 107, range 33 west: issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed September 10, 1880.
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Ephraim Lofgren, New Ulm land office, east half of the northeast quarter of section 14, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President James A. Garfield, signed on May 3, 1881.
August Schade, New Ulm land office, the north half of the northwest quatre of section 14, township 107, range 33 west; issued by President Arthur, signed February 10, 1883.
THIE VILLAGE OF DARFUR.
This village was platted in section 20, township 107, range 33 west, by the officers of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, April 20, 1899. The platting was signed by Marvin Huhgett, president of the rail- road company.
INCORPORATION.
Darfur was incorporated as a village in 1904. Its first village officers were : E. J. Wilson, president ; C. F. Klein, treasurer; W. H. Hochert, recorder. The officers now serving are as follow: Thomas Englin, presi- dent : John A. Gustafson, Ed. A. Goring and A. J. Samuelson, trustees ; W. Schulte, clerk.
The village now has a half mile of cement sidewalks; a fire engine and a volunteer fire company of eighteen men. So far it has needed no jail or police. The corporation has debts only to the amount of three hundred dollars. The following have served as presidents of the village: E. J. Wilson, 1904 to 1907; Theo. Kintzi, 1907 to 1910; A. Jaeger, 1910 to 1914; O. F. Langhoff. 1014-15; Theo. Englin, 1915, and present president of Darfur village.
PRESENT BUSINESS INTERESTS.
Very little can be said of the postoffice history of the village. The amount of business is about the average of all fourth-class offices. To date there have been only two postmasters, Jacob Heppner and A. A. Jaeger, the present incumbent.
The following business interests were represented in 1916:
Auto garage-John Gustafson.
Bank-State Bank.
Barber-L. Stoutenberg.
Blacksmith-W. Buche.
Creamery-Darfur Co-operative Creamery Company.
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Dray-S. Weast.
Elevator-Farmers' Co-operative Elevator Company.
General Dealer-Edward Goring. A. Jaeger.
Hardware and Implements-Englin & Samuelson. Hotel Darfur-S. Weast, proprietor.
Lumber-C. M. Youngman Lumber Company. Livery-S. Weast. Stock Buyer-Darfur Stock Buyers' Association.
ANTRIM TOWNSHIP.
Antrim township is the southeastern civil township of Watonwan county. At its north is Fieldon township, at the east is Blue Earth county, at its south is Martin county and at the west is South Branch township. It is a full congressional township and hence is six miles square with thirty-six full sections. There are a few small streams, or prairie "runs" and very few lakes or ponds as compared to other sub-divisions of this county. The Min- neapolis & St. Louis railroad runs on the half-section line from section 33 to section 4, and has for a station point in the township the little hamlet of Lewisville. located in section 4.
The population of the township in 1890 was 573; in 1900 it was 591, and in 1910 it was 582.
TOWNSHIP'S ORGANIZATION.
Antrim township was formed by the county commissioners in January, 1867. when the commissioners were Messrs. Kempfer, Levey and Webster. There was a petition and also a remonstrance presented the board-one asking that a new township be formed and the other in opposition thereto. It was asked in the petition for the new township that it be named "Bloom- ington." It was finally agreed to form the new township and the matter of naming it was left to Joseph Flanders and B. O. Kempfer, who called it "York," but the records show that in the spring of 1868 it was being called Antrim.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
There were several settlers in this part of the county before the days of "homesteaders." Some remained, and many more left at the date of the
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Indian troubles in August. 1862, never to return. The following is a true transcript of many of the early land entries :
William S. Jones, certificate No. 4.985, at the Worthington land office, was laid on the northwest quarter of section 6, township 195, range 30 west; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on June 15, 1880.
Alva Curtis, certificate No. 2,992, at the Jackson land office, was for a homestead in the south half of the northeast quarter of section 14, town- ship 105, range 30 west; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on April 15, 1874.
David Davies, certificate No. 7,272, at the Worthington land office, on the northeast quarter of section 14, township 105, range 30 west ; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on September 20, 1870.
Abbie Paine, certificate No. 6.187, at the Worthington land office, on the north half of the southwest quarter and the north half of the southeast quarter of section 4, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on March 10, 1883.
A. D. Carnwell, certificate No. 7.427. at the Jackson land office, on the south half of the northwest quarter of section 20, township 105, range 30 west : issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on February 1. 1872.
G. A. Manston, certificate No. 4,867. at the Worthington land office. on the north half of the southeast quarter of section 6, township 105. range 30 west; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.
W. Zinke, certificate No. 5.611, at the Worthingon land office, on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 34, township 105, range 30 west : issued by President Chester A. Arthur. signed on December 20, 1881.
W. Davis, certificate No. 2,265, at the Jackson land office, on the north- west quarter of section 14. township 105. range 30 west; issued by Presi- lent U. S. Grant, signed on February 1, 1873.
Karl Sexaner, certificate No. 5,616, at the Worthington land office, on the north half of the northeast quarter of section 2. township 105, range 30 west ; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on December 12, 1881.
K. Comstock, certificate No. 3.908, at the Worthington land office, on the west half of the northwest quarter of section 22, township 105. range 30 west : issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on March 12, 1876.
Stephen I. Comstock, certificate No. 7.781, at the Worthington land office, on the southwest quarter of section 22, township 105, range 30 west ; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on January 12, 1885.
Charles C. Waste, certificate No. 4,330, at the Worthington land office,
١
C., ST. P., M. & O. DEPOT, LEWISVILLE.
PUBLIC SCHOOL, LEWISVILLE.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 6. township 105, range 30 west ; issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on March 1, 1877.
Carl Brasinske, certificate No. 4,620, at the Worthington land office, on the south half of the southeast quarter of section 28, township 105. range 30 west ; issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on Decem- ber 12, 1877.
Eli H. Richwood, No. 6,109, at the Worthington land office, the south half of the northeast quarter of section 6, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on March 15. 1882.
Marshall Donley, certificate No. 6,202, at the Worthrington land office, the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the northwest of the northeast quarter of section 18, township 105, range 30 west; issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on June 5, 1884.
Tobert Dewars. certificate No. 6.965, on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 10, township 105, range 30 west ; issued by President Grover Cleveland, signed on June 31, 1885.
VILLAGE OF LEWISVILLE.
Lewisville was platted by the Interstate Land Company, May 3. 1899, in section 4, township 105. range 30 west, through the company's president, P. H. Peavey. It is situated on the north and south branch of the Omaha railroad, and is among the later villages within the county. Lewisville be- came an incorporated village in 1902. The presidents of the village, in order of serving, are as follow : C. O. Nicholson, Adolph Sucker, John Mutsch, John E. Moore and C. E. Anderson.
The first officers were as follow: President, C. O. Nicholson; trustees, R. Lewis, Charles Johns, A. J. Mclain; recorder, S. Taylor; treasurer, Adolph Sucker. The present officers are: President, C. AAnderson ; trustees, Gustav Bethke, E. G. Betlike, A. R. Grieger; recorder, A. W. Alb; treas- urer, Adolph Sucker.
The town has about twenty-three blocks of cement sidewalks, a small fire engine and hose, a small jail, which is seldom used. In laying out the town an eight-acre park was arranged for, but little use has ever been made of it.
The receipts of this postoffice are double and even treble those of some other postoffices of the county, where the population of the village is ap- proximately the same. The past year's business amounted to one thousand one hundred fifty-five dollars and eighty-two cents, exclusive of money
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
orders. The postmasters to date are as follow: Richard Lewis, Ethel H. Moore and John E. Moore. There is one rural free delivery route.
In the summer of 1916 the business interests were represented by the following :
Auto Garage-Henry Ikier.
Bank-Merchants' State Bank.
Blacksmith-A. Albaugh, Robert Schoneck.
Barber-Elmer Olson.
Clothing-Hodapp-Nelson.
Drugs and Jewelry-John E. Moore, Lewisville Drug & Jewelry Com- pany.
Elevator-Farmers' Elevator Company.
Furniture-Gust Bethke.
Grocer-E. E. Anderson.
General Dealer-Hillesheim & Company.
Hardware and Implements-H. C. Flitter, Greiger & Reiter.
Harness-Lewis Nagel.
Hotel-Mrs. B. Mueller.
Livery-August Sonnabend.
Lumber-Weyerhaeuser & Company.
Meat Market-Henry Keehn.
Millinery-May E. Ross Dewar.
Restaurant -- Mrs. R. Albaugh.
Stock Dealers-Lewis & Dewar.
Telephone-Tri-State. Variety Store-F. B. Mellen.
Lewisville has a population of only three hundred and fifty and is one . of the real progressive towns of the county. Every citizen is in the true sense of the word a "booster." There is complete harmony among its busi- ness men and all work to make Lewisville a real commercial center. The town is perhaps the only one in the entire county that is free from debt. a fact which does credit to the town officers.
BUTTERFIELD TOWNSHIP.
Butterfield township is on the west line of Watonwan county and is the second from the northern line of the county, with Adrian at the north, St.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
James at the east and Odin township at the south. It comprises congres- sional township 106, range 33 west. It is a well-settled township and in it is the sprightly village of Butterfield, a station on the main line of the Omaha line and the crossing of that road and the branch of the Chicago & North- western line. The township is an even congressional township of thirty-six sections of land, of most excellent quality. The central branch of the Watonwan river flows to the eastward through this township, and there are a few pretty little lakes within the township, notably the ones in section I. the one in section 28, and one in section 7. There are many beautiful farms in Butterfield township and stockraising and other branches of farming are carried on extensively.
The population of the township, exclusive of the village of Butterfield. in 1890 was 366; in 1900 it was 489 and in 1910 it was 602. according to the United States census returns.
ORGANIZATION.
Butterfield township was formed by the county commissioners at their regular meeting held in January, 1872, out of congressional township 106. range 33. and another on the same date called Odin, formed to the south of Butterfield township.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Many of the early settlers of the central-west part of Watonwan county located on government and railroad lands in what is now Butterfield town- ship. No memorandum has been left of the first few who claimed land in this township, but the following will give the reader a partial account of the homesteaders there :
Abraham Friesen, on the north half of the northeast quarter of section 2. township 106, range 33 west; the certificate was signed by President Chester A. Arthur. January 15, 1885.
George Bland homesteaded by certificate No. 2.310 at the New Ulm land office, the northwest of section 6, township 106, range 33 west, the same being signed by President U. S. Grant. September 15, 1874.
From the land office at Tracy the east half of the northeast quarter of section 10, township 106, range 33 west, was homesteaded on March IO. 1883. signed by President Chester A. Arthur.
Certificate No. 4,558, to Henry Bartel, was homesteaded for the south-
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
east quarter of section 8, township 106, range 33 west, was signed by Presi- dent Chester A. Arthur, February 10, 1883.
Peter Rempel, on his certificate No. 5,392. homesteaded at the Tracy land office, the southeast half of the northeast quarter of section 2, township 106, range 33 west. It was issued by President Grover Cleveland, April 27, 1885.
VILLAGE OF BUTTERFIELD.
Butterfield was platted in section 27, township 106. range 33 west, on September 13, 1880. by E. F. Drake, president of the railroad company, then styled the St. Paul & Sioux City, now the Omaha system.
The postoffice at Butterfield is the third largest in the county. The postal receipts for the last fiscal year amounted to two thousand dollars. Four rural routes serve the community from this office. The following is a list of all postmasters to date: John Remple, Ed. Woenike, John F. Enns, Alice M. Anderson and J. P. Anderson.
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN 1916.
The business interests of Butterfield at June, 1916, were in the hands of the following :
AAuto Garage-Butterfield Auto Company.
Banks-Peoples State Bank, State Bank.
Barber-John O. Ness.
Blacksmith-Ole A. Ulvestad.
Creamery-Butterfield Creamery Company. N. C. Norensen, manager. Drugs-J. W. Hollenitsch.
Dentist-V. V. Bele. Elevator-Hubbard & Palmer Company, Farmers Elevator Company.
Furniture-Kintzi & Ewy.
General Dealers-Gust Miller, S. J. Sulen, P. W. Rempel.
Hotel-Butterfield.
Harness-Frank Loews.
Hardware-Kintzi & Ewy, Friesen & Holte, W. W. Rempel.
Implements- Claus Melheim. Farmers Elevator Company.
Jeweler-J. W. Hollenitsch.
lumber-J. 11. Queal and Company.
Livery-Hans E. Staaling, Carl Kramer.
Mills-St. James Milling Company, Halberson & Skjie.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Millinery-Mrs. P. W. Rempel.
Meat Market-Otto F. Langhoff.
Newspaper-The Butterfield Advocate, John W. Hubin, proprietor. Opera House-The Butterfield.
Physician-Dr. Ole E. Hagen.
Produce Dealer -- Butterfield Mercantile Company.
Restaurants-S. C. Johnston, Mrs. W. Abel.
Wagonmaker-Aug. B. Schwietert.
Although Butterfield has a population of only four hundred and twenty- five, yet her progress and volume of business are equal to that of towns several times her size. Credit for these things belong almost entirely to the Commercial Club, organized in 1907 for civic and industrial purposes. Per- haps one of the most important things accomplished by the club is the secur- ing of electric lights for the town. The present officers of the Commercial Club are as follow: President, D. E. Raney; vice-president, J. Brogger ; secretary, J. O. Ness ; treasurer, S. J. Sulein.
In November, 1903, Butterfield had a fire which destroyed over twenty thousand dollars worth of village property.
In 1904 there was a fire in the village which destroyed a hardware and furniture store belonging to Kintzi Brothers, and a confectionery belonging to Edw. Bergthold.
In 1916 the house of E. Brogger was partly burned and the loss was assessed at seven hundred dollars.
INCORPORATION HISTORY.
Butterfield was incorporated as a village on April 5, 1895. The follow- ing have served as presidents of the board: B. Rempel, G. A. Kintzi, J. J. Harder. A. Syverson, R. M. Kintzi, O. A. Ulvestad. S. J. Sulem.
The first village officers were as follow: B. Rempel, president; G. A. Kintzi, recorder. Those of 1916 are: S. J. Sulem, president ; J. W. Hubin, recorder; E. Brogger, Frank Toews and P. W. Rempel, trustees; John Kintzi, treasurer.
The village has four miles of cement walks, two fire engines, two hose cars, a volunteer fire company of nineteen men, two cells for jail purposes in village hall, which building was erected in 1905. In 1916 there was installed by the Northern States Power Company, under a twenty-five year franchise, a complete electric lighting system for both light and power.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
FIELDON TOWNSIIIP.
Fieldon civil township is comprised of congressional township 106, range 30 west, and is on the castern line of the county with Madelia town- ship at the north, Blue Earth county at the east, Antrim township at the south and Rosendale township at the west. There are no towns or hamlets within its borders. The Fairmont and Madelia branch of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad runs through sections 4, 9, 15, 21, 28 and 33, the same running directly on the half section line from north to south. The surface is mostly a level prairie plane, with a few small streams, but void of any lakes of any considerable size.
This township had a population in 1890 of 487; in 1900 it had 547 and according to the census in 1910 it had a population of 535-
ORGANIZATION HISTORY.
In September, 1868, at the meeting of the board of county commission- ers that body changed the name of Wakefield township to that of Fieldon. Wakefield had been organized by the commissioners at the March, 1868. meeting from township 106, range 30 west, but for some reason was in September of that year changed to Fieldon, by which it is still known.
FIRST SETTLERS.
Among the very earliest settlers in this township were these: Nick McNamara. Dan Griffen, Charles Mclaughlin. Martin Burk, Herman Mad- son, John Madson, Thomas Yeagen, who was burned to death in a prairie fire.
HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN FIELDON TOWNSIIIP.
Charles Clawman, by certificate held by him and presented at the land office in New Ulm, homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 28, town- ship 100, range 30 west, the same being signed by President U. S. Grant July 10, 1871.
Joseph Lehner, at the New Ulm land office, homesteaded the east half of the southwest quarter of section 8, township 106, range 30 west. the same being issued by U. S. Grant, President of the United States, March I, 1876.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
Peter Hoffelt, by certificate No. 1,932, at the New Ulm land office, secured a homestead right to the west half of the northwest quarter of sec- tion 4. township 106, range 30 west, the same being signed by President Grover Cleveland, April 27, 1885.
Under the same act of Congress, warrant No. 94,881, for a quarter of section 14, township 106, range 30, was received at St. Peter land office and signed by President Abraham Lincoln. It was issued to Josephus Weter, private in Captain Davis's company. New York militiamen, in the War of 1812. This land is in Fieldon township.
LONG LAKE TOWNSHIP.
Long Lake township is comprised of congressional township 105, range 32 west. It is on the southern border line of the county, with Odin town- ship at the west, St. James at the north and South Branch township at the east. It is six miles square and contains thirty-six full sections. It is a prairie township, but has three good-sized lakes and several smaller water sheets, or prairie ponds, which, with the cultivation and improvement of the country, are fast disappearing from view. The lakes referred to are Kansas Lake, Long Lake, Mary Lake. These are all in the northern half of the township. the former being situated in the northwest part, while the other two are in the northeastern portion. These prairie lakes abound in fish and have considerable improvement around their shores and afford a nice. sum- mer resort for the citizens of St. James and surrounding country. In the exact center of the township is found a good town hall. The villages of the township are Echols and Ormsby, the former in the northern part and the latter on the county line south and extends over into Martin county.
The population of the township in 1890 was 538: in 1900 it was 650 and in the United States census reports for 1910 it was given as 583.
The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad traverses the township from north to south, through sections 3. 9. 10, 16, 21. 28 and 33, with stations at Ormsby and Echols.
ORGANIZATION.
Long Lake township was organized in March, 1868, from township 105, ranges 32 and 33 west. . \t the same meeting old "Wakefield" township was created at the same meeting, but is now known as Fieldon.
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COTTONWOOD AND WATONWAN COUNTIES, MINN.
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement here was effected by Hans Johnson, who was born in 1821 in Norway, and settled in this township in 1858. Another very carly settler was George Johnson.
In 1857 Gabriel Ellingson and Iver Sole settled in Long Lake. Hans Olson Hegg also took a claim, but left soon after, selling to Hans Thompson. Mr. Hegg returned after the close of the Indian troubles.
In 1857 arrived Jacob Tharal and wife. Jens and Thor Torsen, with their mother, Marie Torsen Overig; Hans Pedersen and wife, Rand; Sivert Nicolai and Nils Fjelstad. Salra Torgenson and wife; Lars Havlorson Longmeyer came in 1861; John and Simon Poland came in 1862.
HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN LONG LAKE TOWNSHIP.
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