USA > Minnesota > Cottonwood County > History of Cottonwood and Watonwan counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 41
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The population of Odin township for the last three United States cen- sus enumeration periods has been : In 1890. 543; in 1900, 594, and in 1910, 604.
ORGANIZATION.
This township was organized by the board of county commissioners at their session in January, 1872, and was described as congressional township
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105, range 33 west. Butterfield township was also made at the same meet- ing of the board of commissioners.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
E. Z. Rasey, a veteran of the Civil War, a member of the Thirty- second Wisconsin Regiment. who participated in twenty-one battles and skirmishes, but was fortunate in never being wounded, took a homestead in the east half of the northwest quarter and the east half of the southwest quarter of section 4, this township, in 1871. He has served as vice-com- mander of the Minnesota department of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1896 he sold his farm in Odin township and later moved to St. James, where he still resides. He was one of three to establish the present Farm- ers' Grain Company of St. James.
When interviewed concerning the early pioneers of Odin township, Mr. E. 7. Rasey gave the following as about the first to locate in the township:
Two brothers, Engbert and Sylvester Sulem, from Sweden, located here in 1868 in lots about the lake, and on lands in section 6. Sylvester was a well-educated man and was never married. He soon returned to his native country, while his brother remained.
John Arneson, a Norwegian, settled in 1869-70 in this township, and died many years ago in the township. Halvor Halvorson located in section 8, taking as a homestead the southwest quarter of that section. Later he moved from the county.
Ole Ormbeck settled on a homestead in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 8. Later he sold and removed to the state of Washing- ton. Hans Munson settled in the north half of the northwest quarter of section 20 in 1868. He was from Norway and later retired at Butterfield.
John A. Johnson, a Swede, located in the west half of the southwest quarter of section 2. John Swanson located in the northwest quarter of section 2. John Olson, a Swede, settled in section 2.
Alfred Eckstrom located in the east half of the southwest quarter of section 2. John Lantz settled in the west half of the southeast quarter of section 2; he was from Sweden.
In 1870 came Eben Newell, located in the west half of the northwest quarter of section 1, and had land also in the west half of the southwest quarter of that section. He came from York state and moved to the state of Washington, where he subsequently died.
Another son of Norway located in Odin township in 1871-Andrew
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Gilbertson, in the southwest quarter of section IS. Ira W. Bowen claimed a homestead in 1870, in the northwest quarter of section 18. He came from Wisconsin, remained until about 1885, then moved to the state of Washing- ton, locating near Spokane. Samuel Rasey claimed the south half of the northeast quarter of section 4. He came from Wisconsin and later re- moved to Washington.
HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN ODIN TOWNSHIP.
August Erickson, certificate No. 8,571, at the Worthington land office, the north half of the northwest quarter of section 22, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on May 20, 1884.
Hans Ameson, certificate No. 6.531, at the Worthington land office, on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 14, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on August 1, 1883.
Martin Siverson, certificate No. 5.373, at the Worthington land office, on the east half of the southwest quarter of section 34, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on June 15, 1878.
Kasen Bentsen, certificate No. 8,656, on the south half of the north- east quarter of section 30, township 105. range 33, issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.
H. Olson, certificate No. 6.678, at the Worthington land office, the north half of the northeast quarter of section 30, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.
Torkel Torkelson, at the Worthington land office, the south half of the northeast quarter of section 22, township 105, range 33 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on March 1, 1877.
A. A. Nass. certificate No. 5,802, at the Worthington land office, the west half of the northeast quarter of section 8. township 105, range 33 west, issued by President James A. Garfield. signed on April 9. 1881.
ITEMS OF INTEREST.
The first school house in Odin township was erected in 1873 in the center of section 8, and the first teacher was a Miss Josephine Doolittle, who later became the wife of Arthur Iliggins, who lived on land purchased in the southeast quarter of section 4.
So great was the number of wild geese and cranes near the lakes of this
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and adjoining townships at an early day that at times it was safely esti- mated that tens of thousands of these birds of passage, made their way from the south in springtime to the northern lakes and in the autumn time wended their way southward, stopping in fields of grain in the stack and in fields of ripening corn, both of which in many instances they totally de- stroyed. At early dawn it was an easy matter for the farmer to stand in his door yard and shoot several geese as they passed over the claim shanty. In the season of geese the farmers had all the game they could make use of, and that at little trouble or expense.
The sand-hill cranes were so thick that at times in their flight over a farm house, the noise they made with their wings reminded one of rolling thunders in the far distance. These birds were also eaten when geese could not be easily shot. The meat is good but has a stronger wild game taste than the goose or duck. Mr. Rasey relates of an incident where he prided himself on having the finest five acres of corn in the township. He was absent threshing in the neighborhood for almost a week, and upon his re- turn, he found the cranes devouring his corn crop. He repeatedly tried to drive and frighten them away, but did not succeed and as a result his entire choice field was devoured, save a part of a wagon-box full of nubbins and half-eaten corn. He would frighten them in one part of the field and they would alight at a distant spot and commence eating again. In some in- stances they showed fight and would not yield to him.
Geese, cranes and ducks were in immense flocks in this part of the country for many years after the first settlers came in. One seldom sees any of these birds or prairie chickens. The burning of the prairies and plowing of the land resulted in their extinction.
THE VILLAGE OF ODIN.
This village was platted by the Western Town Lot Company, March 29, 1899, in section 25, township 105, range 33 west .. It now has a poput- lation of about one hundred and fifty. and was incorporated in 1902. The records fail to show the first officers, so only the present ones are given. They are as follow: President, C. L. Olson; trustees, John H. Berdell. Lars Larson, P. M. Olson; recorder, G. Krogen; treasurer, P. T. Laingen.
In 1900 a town hall was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. This hall is used not only for town meetings, but lodge purposes and all public gatherings. In the way of fire protection the town has a public cis-
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tern, a hand pump and two hundred feet of fire hose. The present indebted- ness is approximately one thousand dollars.
POSTOFFICE AND BUSINESS HISTORY TODAY.
The postoffice history of Odin is rather brief. The office was started about 1900, since which time the following postmasters have served : Will- iam Oleson, J. O. Querna, O. A. Call and O. A. Kabrick. The receipts of the office for the last fiscal year were approximately four hundred dollars.
The business interests of the village in 1916 were in the hands of the following :
Auto Garage-P. M. Olson.
Bank-Odin State Bank.
Barber-Otto Rohn.
Blacksmith-Edward H. Bott.
Creamery-Odin Co-operative Creamery Association.
Druggist-Dr. O. A. Kabrick.
Elevator-Bingham Brothers, Great Western Grain Company.
General Dealers-P. C. Hanson, Peak & Company.
Harness and Furniture-O. . A. Call.
Hardware-Edward W. Thompson.
Jeweler-O. A. Kabrick.
Lumber-J. H. Queal and Company, John 11. Bardell, manager. Livery --- N. S. Nixon. Meat Market-Nixon & Son.
Opera House-Odin Opera House.
Restaurant-Ole Hanson.
Real Estate-Odin Real Estate Company.
Stock Buyers-S. H. Nixon, Farmers' Stock Buyers' Association.
Telephone-Odin Farmers' Telephone Company.
Woodmaker-Lars Larson.
Every town or village has some distinctive feature, and Odin is no exception. The village is beautifully laid out and everyone seems to take pride in keeping the streets and business houses spotlessly clean. It is doubtful if any village in the county of its size can proudly boast of as many up-to-date and modern homes. The Odin Farmers' Creamery Asso- ciation has just moved into their new brick building, constructed at a cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars. This is one of the most
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thriving institutions of its kind in the county, having over one hundred patrons and a capacity of over fifteen thousand pounds of butter per month.
RIVERDALE TOWNSIIIP.
Riverdale township is on the north line of Watonwan county and the second sub-division from the eastern line of the county. It is south of Brown county, west of Madelia township, north of Rosendale township and to the east of Nelson township. It comprises all of congressional township No. 107, range 31 west, hence is six miles square and contains thirty-two full sections and four over-size sections-these being to the west. The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad line runs from northeast to southwest dia- gonally through the township, entering the township and county in section 3, and leaving the township from section 31. It has for a station in this township the little hamlet of LaSalle, situated in sections 16 and 17. The main line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway runs through the southeastern corner of Riverdale township, entering it in sec- tion 36 and leaving it from section 35, en route between St. Paul and Sioux City and Omaha.
The population of Riverdale township in 1890 was 509; in 1900 it was placed at 716, and in 1910, it is given by the United States census books as being 727.
ORGANIZATION.
Originally, this civil township belonged to a much larger territory than it now embraces. It included what is now Riverdale, Nelson and Adrian townships. In November, 1869, the county commissioners made it into a civil township on the petition of George A. Bradford and others. This, like all of the townships in Watonwan county, is purely a prairie country, and is now well settled and has many handsome farms with artificial groves scat- tered here and there over its surface.
HOMESTEAD ENTRIES IN RIVERDALE TOWNSHIP.
Under the congressional act approved on May 20, 1862, the following homesteads were granted in this township :
Thomas George, No. 2,347. New Ulm land office, the south half of the northwest quarter of section 26, township 107. range 31 west, issued by U. S. Grant. President of the United States, signed on September 15, 1874.
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Jens Johannesen. certificate No. 3,083. at the New Ulm land office, the west half of the southwest quarter of section 4, township 107, range 31. issued by President U. S. Grant. February 12, 1877.
Nils B. Johansan. certificate No. 2.831, at the New Uhn land office, the west half of the northwest quarter of section 2, township 107, range 31 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on March 1. 1876.
John Doolittle, Tracy land office, the northwest quarter of section 20, township 107, range 31, issued by President Chester A. Arthur, signed on December 10, 1883.
Military warrant No. 10,835, issued to Private Willis Baker, in Captain Clark's company of New York militiamen in the War of 1812. This land is situated in the southeast quarter of section 23, township 107, range 31, is signed by President Abraham Lincoln, and was laid in the St. Peter land office. This is in Riverdale township.
TIIE VILLAGE OF LASALLE.
LaSalle was platted on October 12, 1899, by Harry L. and Anna L. Jenkins as a part of section 17, township 107, range 31. It is a station on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad and had the following business inter- ests in 1916:
Bank-State Bank.
Blacksmith-L. C. Carlson.
Creamery -- LaSalle Co-operative Creamery Association.
Elevator-Eagle Roller Milling Company, Great Western Grain Com- pany.
General Dealers-Alfred Sletta, Watonwan County Co-operative As- sociation.
Hardware and Implements-LaSalle Hardware and Implement Com- pany.
Hotel-The LaSalle, J. Benson, proprietor.
Lumber-S. Hage Lumber Company.
Although the village is not incorporated, yet there seems to be the same public spirit among its citizens that is found in most incorporated towns. No greater evidence of this fact is necessary than to mention the construc- tion of the town hall, which was built entirely by donation, but under the auspices of the LaSalle Band. The hall is used for all public gatherings and has thus become the center of community life.
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The postoffice at the village of LaSalle has had postmasters as follow : J. E. Sundt, Anon Halvorson and Alfred Slotta. The office transacted busi- ness during the last fiscal year to the sum of four hundred and thirty-eight dollars and fifty-four cents. This postoffice has been twice robbed-once on April 3. 1904, when there was a loss of postal funds of one hundred and thirty-six dollars, and in money order funds, forty dollars and three cents. and again on November 13. 1909, with a loss of thirty dollars and five cents postal stamps, etc., and one hundred and nineteen dollars and forty-seven cents, money order funds.
The bank at LaSalle was blown open Sunday, January 12, 1908; the loss was not heavy. however.
ROSENDALE TOWNSHIP.
Rosendale township, comprising congressional township 106, range 31 west, is one of the central sub-divisions in Watonwan county, and is south of Riverdale, west of Fieldon, north of South Branch and east of St. James township. The western sections overrun, hence the township is a little over regular size. The City of St. James, the county seat, comes up to the western line of this township. The only hamlet within Rosendale is Grogan, a station on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railway line, in section 3. The township was named from a town in Wisconsin, by Mrs. S. W. Sar- geant, that being her old home.
The railroad just named enters this township in section 18, and crosses parts of 8. 9, 4. 3 and leaves the township from section 2 over into River- dale township. The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad touches the north- west corner of the township.
There are a number of pretty lakes and lakelets in the township, includ- ing these: One in section 3. section 5. sections 19 and 20 and in sections 28 and 20. There are a few small streams running to the north and east. Bullhead is the largest lake in this township.
The population of Rosendale township in 1890 was 369: in 1900 it was placed at 516, and in the last census it was placed at 571. It is within a rich agricultural district and land sells as high as one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
ORGANIZATION.
In March. 1871. the county commissioners' board then consisting of Morrill, Addsmond and Bradford, made a new civil township out of con-
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gressional township 106. range 31, west, and gave it the name of Springfield, but at their meeting in April of the same year, changed it to Rosendale, as it is known today.
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
AAmong the earliest to locate here was Michael Gall, a native of Austria, born in 1822. came to America and settled in this township in 1868; was township treasurer for eight years and died in 1906.
A STORY OF PIONEER DAYS.
The following is from the pen of George .\. Bradford. who wrote in the St. James Plaindcaler a few years since, after the following fashion :
The following account of the settlement of Rosendale township is trans- lated from the archives of the Rosendale Norwegian Lutheran church, which were compiled by George Herbitz, secretary of the congregation. Mr. Herbitz is himself one of the oldest settlers of this township, and his infor- mation is undoubtedly accurate. Of course these notes refer entirely to the early Norwegian settlers and members of the Rosendale congregation, and comprise the period from 1856 to 1864, inclusive.
In 1854 Notto Jensen, then a boy of eighteen years, came from the parish of Evje Tordilen, in the bishopric of Christiansand, Norway, to America. He lived for a time in Manitowoc. Wisconsin, and afterward worked for two winters in the lumber camp along the Wisconsin river. In the spring of 1856, he started for Minnesota, riding by stage coach to La Crosse. When they reached the highlands of Dividing Ridge, both he and the driver were forced to make the rest of the journey on foot, as the horses were not able to pull more than the empty wagon over the long grades. He made the journey from La Crosse to St. Paul on a Mississippi steamboat. There was not sufficient water in the Minnesota river for steamboat navi- gation, so he took passage in a freight boat, which was propelled up stream by means of long poles by which the crew of six men punted the craft, one steering. In this manner they reached Mankato. From there Mr. Jensen traveled in a southwesterly direction to look for land, which had timber, water and prairie, and finally settled on the south branch of the Watonwan river, in the region now known as Rosendale township, where he was the first white settler. His first dwelling was a sod house. Provisions had to be brought from Mankato. Wishing to get some butter, he went around among the neighbors to buy some. There was very little to be had, but he
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succeeded in obtaining four and a half pounds, paying therefor forty cents a pound.
In 1856 there arrived in Rosendale township Palme Olsen and his wife; Running and his wife and three children, Helge, Cecil and Gari. Mr. Olsen took a homestead on the north branch. This family emigrated in 1852 from Viker Annex in Odalen. Norway, and settled in Rock county, Wis- consin, coming from there to Minnesota. Upon a trip to Mankato for the purpose of making various purchases Mr. Jensen fell in with a party of homeseekers from Pierce county, Wisconsin. They were intent upon getting homesteads along the South Branch river. The party consisted of Knud Larson Overing, his wife, Inger, and grown up daughter. Maren; Ole Jor- genson and wife Maren, and four children, Knud, Joegen. Maria and Lise ; Halvor Knudson Barland and wife, Tarau, and five children, Maria, Gun- hild. Knud, Jorgen and Asper: Eli Aadne and wife and their son and Nils Torson Overig, and Ole Jostesen. All of these took lands along South Branch, with the exception of Ole Jostesen, who returned to Wisconsin, and enlisted in the army. Upon his return to this county he bought land.
In 1857 Hans Johnson Berdal, with his wife, Synneve, and five children, Sivert, Ole, A., Jorgen and Ingeborg, arrived here. Mr. Berdal built a sod house on some land which he intended to file on but the government had already granted the right thereto to Bedo and Tip Nelson as payment for carrying the mails, so he took a claim further to the southwest, in the settle- ment later known as Long Lake.
VILLAGE OF GROGAN.
Grogan was platted by B. R. Grogan and Moses K. Armstrong, in section 3. township 106. range 31 west, September 6, 1891. It is five miles east of St. James on the line of the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha rail- road, in the center of a flourishing farming section. A number of years ago it had stores, elevators, lumber yards, creamery, hotel and many pleasant homes.
SOUTH BRANCH TOWNSHIP.
South Branch township was formed out of congressional township 105. range 31 west. It is bounded on the north by Rosendale township, on the
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east by Antrim township. on the south by Martin county and on the west by Long Lake township. It contains thirty-four full and four overrim sec- tions of prairie land. It has no towns or villages, nor any railroad through its borders. There are a few small lakes, the larger of which is the one situated in section 20. The South Branch of the Watonwan river courses through this township flowing toward the northeast. The land here is the equal of other Watonwan townships, rich. black soil of the most productive quality.
The population of the township at the last three census periods of the United States have been as follows: In 1890 it was 380; in 1900 it was only 552 and in 1910 it was placed at 617.
ORGANIZATION.
South Branch was formed by the board of county commissioners at their meeting in March, 1869, when the members of the county board were Messrs. Nickerson, Haycroft and Addsmond. It was to constitute con- gressional township 105, range 31 west. It was named Drewsville, but soon changed to South Branch.
PIONEER SETTLERS.
It is uncertain who the first actual settlers in this township were. It is known that Charles H. Locke was among the pioneers here.
Under the Homestead act approved on May 20. 1862, the following homesteads were taken up in this township and proved up on in the required time-five years :
Robert Sexaner, certificate No. 8,192, at the Worthington land office, the northeast quarter of section 2, township 105, range 31 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, and signed on November 3. 1876.
David Clark, certificate No. 8,414, at the Worthington land office, the west half of the northeast quarter of section 34, township 105, range 31 west. issued by President Rutherford B. Hayes, signed on November 5, 1878.
Edwin Fuller, certificate No. 2.511, at the Jackson land office, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 4, township 105, range 31 west, issued by President U. S. Grant, signed on April 10. 1873.
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ST. JAMES TOWNSHIP.
St. James township comprises all of congressional township 106, range 32 west. It is bounded on the north by Nelson township, on the east by Rosendale, on the south by Long Lake and on the west by Butterfield town- ship. Its only municipality, town or village is the county seat of Watonwan county-St. James. The railroads that cross the township are the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha and the Minneapolis & St. Louis. the one crossing the other at the city of St. James. The former bears to the south- west and the latter to the south of the city.
The lakes and ponds of this township are numerous, but of recent years many of these lakelets are being drained and utilized for agricultural pur- poses. The larger of these lakes is St. James Lake, to the southwest of the city of St. James. The others are mere ponds, where water stands in wet seasons of the year and are gradually lowering and being drained.
The population of the township according to the United States census returns of 1800 was 473; in 1900 it was 614 and in 1910, it was placed at 575.
For the most part this six-mile square tract of land is flat prairie, with a few prairie creeks to break the otherwise flat appearance. The soil is a rich, black loam of the real drift deposit type and very productive of all the grains and grasses common to this latitude.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
St. James township was organized by the board of county commission- ers at their meeting in March, 1870, when congressional township 106, ranges 32 and 33, was set off as a separate civil township of the county. This so remained until the board session in January, 1872, when the com- missioners through a well-signed petition, formed a new township known as Butterfield, out of the western half of St. James. of that portion within congressional township 106, range 33 west.
PIONEERS OF THE TOWNSHIP.
The first actual settler in this township was Hans Olson. in section 14. at the north side of the lake. He pre-empted a quarter section in October, 1868, and is still living in St. James, engaged in the farm implement busi- ness.
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FARM RESIDENCE NEAR ST. JAMES.
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Hans Olson was the first man to settle in the vicinity of St. James. Ile came to this county in the spring of 1869. About a month or two later John W. Somers, at present one of the county commissioners, settled in the same vicinity. Among the other early settlers were, George Spetzler, Joseph Parsh, Henry Baranson, Abraham Strommen, M. Strommen, John and Andrew Swanson. The latter two men settled in section four. At present all the above mentioned live in St. James. Most of them took homesteads or pre-emptions. or both. The land cost them on an average of two and one- half dollars per acre, but at these figures the land was very high priced, not in terms of money but in hard times. Every fall their crops were in danger of the deadly prairie fires, which continued annually until the land became broken up. Then the grasshoppers remained with them for nearly five years, hardly leaving enough grain each year to winter what little stock they had. It is rather interesting to know that the grasshoppers had an unusual liking for onions, but cared little for potatoes.
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