USA > Minnesota > Douglas County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 37
USA > Minnesota > Grant County > History of Douglas and Grant counties, Minnesota : their people, industries, and institutions, Volume I > Part 37
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Before the first railroad entered Grant county, in 1871, the long trip necessary to mill and market was one of the chief difficulties of the settlers, and even this first railroad did not entirely solve the problem for those in the northern part of the county. Some of the first crops were hauled to Morris, Alexandria and even to Perham.
SETTLEMENT BY TOWNSHIPS.
Henry F. Sanford and two other bachelors were the only settlers in Sanford township in the early part of 1869. They lived principally by hunting and fishing, doing little farming until they were married a few years later. Many stories are told of Mr. Sanford's skill as a hunter. It is said that he usually had his granary decorated each winter with a long string of wild geese hung under the eaves, where they would keep during the cold weather and could be used as needed. Prairie chicken were so plen- tiful they could be shot from his dooryard.
From the very beginning of settlement in this county Mr. Sanford took a leading part in public affairs. He was a member of the first board of county commissioners, later was county auditor and was postmaster of El- bow Lake village for many years. While Sanford township was one of the first to be settled it was one of the last to be organized, being attached to other townships for election and assessment purposes until 1882. When the petition for organization was circulated that year the name was left blank and the commissioners unanimously decided to name the new town- ship "Sanford," in honor of the man who had devoted so much of his life to this county. Mr. Sanford was killed in an accident in New Mexico in 1914.
Ole Fletcher and John Olson settled in Sanford township in 1869. They were hunting companions of Mr. Sanford, and it was in the cabin of Ole Fletcher that the first school was held in the township. In 1869 Jens
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Peterson Lee, with his wife and four-month-old daughter, settled in San- ford township. For almost two years Mrs. Lee was the only white woman in the neighborhood. Mr. Lee had passed through Grant county with the Sibley expedition and in the winter of 1867 made a trip to this locality from Brandon on snow shoes. He arrived at the site of the village of Elbow Lake just at dusk in the winter evening and came suddenly upon an Indian camp. A number of dogs rushed towards him, but he was able to drive them off, after which the Chippewas invited him to share their sup- per of roast muskrat. It developed later that these Indians had cut down a number of trees in the grove which was owned by George McComber, a timber speculator, and built some sixteen rude huts near the east side of the lake. For thus despoiling the timber they were taken to Alexandria and fined a considerable amount, which they paid in furs ..
When Mr. Lee came with his family to settle in 1869 they lived for the first year in one of the Indian shacks, then located on land west of the lake on section 7. In 1870 Chris Mobraaten located in Sanford township, and that same year Ole Syverson and wife came in. Knud O. Laastuen settled on section 8, in 1873. C. S. Dahl, Ollof Otteson, Gunder Hanson and Henry Gunderson were among the settlers of an early day in Sanford township.
These settlers marketed their first crops at. Morris, then Herman, and later hauled to Ashby. When the railroad was being built the construction gangs created a considerable market and several loads of potatoes were hauled to Tintah and sold. Flour was purchased by the early settlers of Sanford township until mills were established within driving distance.
POMME DE TERRE TOWNSHIP.
Timothy Heald laid out a town-site on his claim in section 24, and named it "Pomme de Terre." The township later was given the same name. Other early settlers in this township were: C. W. Briggs, who located on section 13 in 1870; Ole Soruson, on section 13 in 1871; Nels B. Brakke, on section 1 in 1871; George W. Vaughan and his son, John S. Vaughan, on section 12 in 1870; Oliver Williams, on section 23 in 1872; Thomas E. Midbon and Halvor O. Midbon, on section 24 in 1872; John Scott, Jens Adriansen and Ole Johnson Lene, all came at an early day. Another well known early settler was J. F. Rolfson, who located on section I in 1875.
N. Q. Puntches moved his general merchandise stock from the old stockade over to the village of Pomme de Terre in 1871 and erected a two-
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story frame building, twenty-six by fifty feet in dimensions. In 1874 August Scheafer and Fred Williams built a grist-mill on the Pomme de Terre river, near the village, where they had made a mill-race which devel- oped seven head of water power. In 1875 Lage Johnson and his son-in-law, H. A. Langlie, built a store across the street from Puntches' establishment. The village seemed to be getting a good start, but the railroad did not come through there, and the early hopes of its founders were never realized. At one time, however, the village could boast of two stores, two blacksmith shops, a grist-mill, elevator, hotel and saloon.
PELICAN LAKE TOWNSHIP.
The settlement of Pelican Lake township was closely interwoven with the development just mentioned in Pomme de Terre, a number of the early claims being taken across the line from the village. There was also an early settlement made in the north part of the township, by people who had friends north of there in Otter Tail county. Among these were Iver G. Holt and Andrew J. Holt, who settled on section 2 in 1870; Peter Sorkness and John Stene, on section 2 in 1871; Thomas Gulickson and Gunder Gulick- son, on section 1 in 1872; John Houston, on section 3 in 1870; John New- man and Abner Newman, on section 5 in 1870; L. M. Phinney, Charles Phinney and Jacob Halseth, on section 4 in 1872; Martin Jacobson, on section 3, and Gunder Gunderson and Hans Kjorven, all came at an early day.
Ole Larson Sunvold settled on section 29, being one of the first in the southern part of the township. R. Beardsley, one of the most prominent early settlers, long a justice of the peace and still living at Ashby, came into the township in 1869. Ole P. Settra, who came in about the same time, is said to have built the first house in the township, on Pelican Heights, north of the lake.
Settlers in Pelican Lake got their flour at Alexandria until the mill was built at Pomme de Terre. This township was a noted region for game in the early days, all kinds of ducks. geese, cranes, grouse and deer and bear being plentiful.
ELBOW LAKE TOWNSHIP.
J. N. Sanford came to Elbow Lake township in April, 1871, and took up a homestead on section 24. In May of that same year H. P. Hansen, Tiedeman H. Burtness, Erick Norgaard and Andrew Norgaard all located
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here. Anders O. Pikop, who located here in 1872, became one of the large landowners of the township. Christopher Mobraaten, Lars Mohagen, H. I. Haugen, Andrew Olson, Erick Olson, Knut Syverson and Christopher Tor- gerson, all located here in 1871.
The first church service in Elbow Lake township was held at the house of Christopher Mobraaten in the summer of 1871, by Rev. L. Carlson, of the Synod Lutheran church. The first school was taught by Emma Gould, starting on May 10, 1875. The nearest early mill to this settlement was at Alexandria. Most of the early crops were hauled to Herman, but the nearest early store was at Pomme de Terre. J. N. Sanford, who was one of the organizers of the township and served as chairman of the first board of supervisors, was also rural postmaster for the neighborhood in the early days. The first death in the township was that of John Robinson, a settler who perished in the terrible snowstorm which raged for three days on Jan- uary 6, 7 and 8, 1873.
ELK I.AKE TOWNSHIP.
A strong settlement sprung up in Elk Lake township at an early day. Among those who came before 1872 were: Ole Gudmunson, Halvor Ander- son, William Olson, Ole Torstenson, Jens Sethney, Sam Olson, Bernt Swen- son. Tore Olson, Ole T. Ring, Iver Johnson, Kittel Johnson, Ole Anderson, Peder Gran, A. Benson, O. W. Olson, A. Hubred, Syver Ellingson and Even E. Bjerke. Ole Ostenson and Hans Ostenson were also early settlers. The first school house in the county was built in this township in the winter of 1872-73. Rev. Louis Carlson held religious services in this township also at an early day.
One of the first roads in the county was built through Elk Lake township to Herman and connected with a road to Alexandria. These two points were the early marketing places for settlers in this neighborhood. Stillman Meeker built a grist-mill on section 1, which did grinding for the settlers and was known as the "Chippewa Mills."
LIEN TOWNSHIP.
Congressional township 128, range 42, was the first to be organized as a civil township. It was named "Lien" for Ole E. Lien, who came in 1868 and took a pre-emption claim and also a homestead. Erland Anderson, Hans Hanson and Lars Larson were among the very early settlers in the township. Per Erlandson located on section 18 at a very early date. Other
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early settlers were: Jens O. Strand, Ole D. Bartness, Mons Hesjedal, Mar- tin Larson. H. Eide, Jens H. Gran, John G. Peterson, P. A. Moller, K. O. Bakke, Ole Mostad and A. Holen.
Per Erlandson was for a number of years county surveyor and is now the oldest living pioneer in Lien township. When he came here the country was all raw prairie with the exception of a few straggling thickets by the lakeside, and here he established a home, hauling the siding for his small frame house from Benson by ox-team and making the bricks himself for the foundations and chimney. With the assistance of his wife he dug a well twenty-eight feet in depth, which still serves on the old home place.
P. A. Möller was the first postmaster in Lien township. He carried the mail from Alexandria to Herman and kept the postoffice at his farm on section 22. Later R. J. Beach was postmaster until the office was moved to Barrett, where Ole K. Lee was the first postmaster in 1884. Lien town- ship settled up rapidly in the early years and the homesteads were all taken in 1878.
LOGAN TOWNSHIP.
Settlement was made in what is now Logan township in 1871, when S. S. Frogner located there and very soon after his arrival opened a small store for the convenience of the incoming settlers. As the railroad came through that same year it served to encourage settlement in this neighbor- hood and the next few years witnessed rapid development. The townsite of Herman was laid out and all lines of business necessary to a frontier town were quickly established. Herman became the leading village of the county and remained so until it was definitely decided that it would not have the county seat.
Some of the early settlers of Logan township were: E. A. Ziebarth, P. H. Clague, Lewis T. Breen, Hans Prydz, Andrias Larson, A. C. Earsley. P. A. Lamarche, G. Johnson, Ole Taneru, O. Westin. H. W. Simons, Will- iam J. Brown, L. Baker, John Ohlsson, John Galvin, Charles Tancre and C. Pullman.
STONY BROOK TOWNSHIP.
Mention has already been made of Edward Griffin, who located for a short time in Stony Brook township and then moved on. In 1870 three brothers came from northeastern Iowa and settled here. They were Hans H .. Terrace and Knute Haavig. They sent back word to their friends in Iowa about the fine land here and induced many others from that section
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to join them. In 1871 quite a little colony came from Iowa and located in Stony Brook township. Among them were: Steiner S. Skinnemoen, H. G. Lillemon, Martinus Larson, Chris Mobraaten, Tosten K. Dahlen and Peder Gulbranson. In 1872 these settlers with a number of others contributed three or four logs each and built a little cabin in which church services were held. It was also used for a school house. Rev. Torgus Vetleson, who started a number of churches in this neighborhood, was the first pastor. Hans H. Haavig led the singing in the church services and also taught the first school. Children came from long distances to attend this school, stay- ing a few weeks with neighbors and then returning home.
Other early settlers in Stony Brook township were: Knute P. Eidahl, H. Albertson, Nils N. Brevig, Ole Knudtson, Engebret Knudtson, John K. Folken, Anders Kjorven, Hans P. Heijer, Knut Olson, Jens Erickson, Christian Johnson, Kittel A. Sattra and Reier G. Baasen.
The first house erected in Stony Brook township stands on the farm of John S. Skinnemoen and is being preserved with great care. Mr. Skin- nemoen also has an extensive and interesting collection of Indian relics formerly used by the natives in this neighbohood, consisting of arrow-heads. spear-heads, stone hammers and axes.
ROSEVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Many names were suggested when Roseville township was about to be organized, but the settlers finally decided upon a name which would remind them of the appearance of the virgin prairie when they located there, beau- tiful with thousands of wild roses. At the time of organization, in 1878, the township was pretty well settled, and as most of the settlers had come in after the railroad penetrated this section, they did not have quite such a hard task as the pioneers who came a little earlier.
L. H. Patchen was one of the early settlers and had a postoffice at his farm for several years. The nearest mill was Johnson's mill at Morris, but provisions could be secured at Frogner's store at Herman. Among the early settlers were: August Endreson, Henry Boerner, H. J. Bollum, Theo- dore Shaner, C. W. Gifford, Albert Boerner, Syver Erickson, H. O. Han- son, Carl Anderson, John Brennin, P. F. McCollor, Hans Endreson, Charles Werk. Charles Shauer, John P. Molander, Charles A. Haskins, Ludvik Korner, S. R. Lerum, Ole Halvorson, John H. Kroke, Henry Bundy. Ferd Clark and John Buckman.
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ERDAHL TOWNSHIP.
Settlement was made in Erdahl township at quite an early day, and the pioneer homes were developed in all parts of the township. Perhaps the largest early settlement was along the road which connected Elbow Lake and Evansville. This was the first route established to mill and mar- ket for this neighborhood.
Gilbert Gilbertson was one of the first to locate here, and Gilbert Mun- son and Ole Munson were early settlers. Other pioneers of Erdahl town- ship were: Jacob Olson, Mikkel D. Lien, Knute A. Lien, Ole Nilson, Mar- tin O. Boe, Ole A. Boe, Nils A. Lee, Nils Olsen, Erik Nilson, Peder T. Alvstad, Thore Jensen and H. D. Downen.
LAND TOWNSHIP.
There was an early trail which later became a road running north from Morris over which many of the pioneers of Land township made their entrance to Grant county. Settlement was made here about the same time as in Elk Lake township to the north, but not so rapidly at first. This township offered many natural advantages or account of the timber and watering places along the Pomme de Terre and Chippewa rivers. A num- ber of pioneers in Land township came from Wisconsin.
Some of the early settlers in Land township were: Erik Olson, Lars O. Studlien, Sven Ausland, Christian Pederson, A. D. Ausland, Anton L. Studlien, John L. Studlien, Hans Helland, Ole Clarquist, G. P. Eklof and Ole Erikson.
MACSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Settlement in Macsville township was rapid after the railroad came through in 1871. A nearby trading point was established at Herman and the fine land around the numerous lakes was soon taken up.
Francis McNabb was one of the first settlers and was chairman of the first board of supervisors. John McQuillan, another early settler, was the first township clerk. Other early settlers were: John Gustafson, H. P. Ronell, Hans Christianson, H. H. Schram, J. W. Perry, John Sannom and Gustaf Johnson.
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DELAWARE TOWNSHIP.
One of the first roads built in Grant county connected Herman, Elbow Lake and Pomme de Terre villages, running through Delaware township. Along this road and in the eastern part of the township were the principal early settlements. Mails were carried from Herman over the road to Bar- rett, with offices at farm houses along the way.
Some of the first settlers in Delaware township were: Thomas C. Hodgson, Jacob Erlandson, Nels Helsene, Hans Channel, A. Selander, James Moses, A. Erlandson, O. Lundberg, John E. Hanson, H. C. Prescott, John Helsene, J. N. Casper, Louis Nelin, John Lundberg, A. J. Cates and J. P. Shoberg.
LAWRENCE TOWNSHIP.
The first settlers in Lawrence township were J. S. Bean, John Shaw, Horace Shaw and Frank P. Symonds, who came here in 1870 from St. Lawrence county, New York. It was they who gave the township its name in remembrance of their former home. Settlement in this township was somewhat retarded on account of the fact that every other section was railroad land, and also because at first the government was allowing only eighty acres to be taken as a homestead. Frank P. Symonds built a little cabin which was the first house erected in the township. By making what they called a "field" bed, this little cabin often sheltered eight or ten men, sleeping on their blankets and quilts spread on the floor. About the time of the first settlement this region was noted as a great place to hunt prairie chicken, cranes and geese. Many hunters came from New York and other eastern points to enjoy the sport.
M. L. Adams settled here in 1878, when the country was still in a pioneer condition. At that time the farmers were hauling their grain over poorly marked trails to Campbell, Herman and Fergus Falls. Flour was secured at the mill at Parkdale and at the old Red river mill at Fergus Falls. Oxen were used for many years for hauling and farm work.
Other early settlers in Lawrence township were: L. H. Fowler, C. W. Stickney, R. H. Fenner, D. P. Carpenter, William Carpenter, A. Fisher, E. East, S. Fisher, G. H. Adams, J. C. Marple, Joseph Marple, James W. Ash, N. S. Denton, J. C. Titus, F. J. Titus and Theodore Connell.
(25)
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DOUGLAS AND GRANT COUNTIES, MINNESOTA.
GORTON TOWNSHIP.
Gorton township lies mostly in the "flats" which characterize the west- ern portion of Grant county, and on account of lack of natural drainage did not settle up as rapidly as some other townships. The railroad passed through here in 1871, providing a convenient access to market, and a trad- ing point was established at Norcross.
Among the early settlers in Gorton township were: Frank Forstein, Samuel H. Wright, Gullik S. Moen, Abner Crawford, Ellef Ellson, Baak Iverson, Knut Hoginson, E. H. Johnson, Ole O. Hillestad, Kolben Gabriel- son, Chris C. Ness, Ole Olson, Ole Lee, Knud Oland, Agrim Baarson and Lars Knudson.
NORTH OTTAWA TOWNSHIP.
North Ottawa township also lies in the "flats" where only recently artificial drainage has made the naturally rich land fully available for agri- culture. Thomas H. Toombs, from Ottawa, Illinois, gave the township its name. He was one of the first settlers and was chairman of the first board of supervisors.
Other early settlers in North Ottawa township were: John Tripp, Nicholas Thies, Peter Schuster, David Tripp, Gustaf Johnson, A. H. Bul- lis, James M. Tucker, Anders A. Falla, J. S. Ireland, George Allen, John Matchenske, John Schuster, Henry Fay, Gustaf Hanson, Steen Steenson, W. A. Bullis, L. C. Engelson, C. Christianson, Hans Monson, Ole A. Amundson, C. Nielsen Veng and Charles Johnson.
CHAPTER IV.
ORGANIZATION OF GRANT COUNTY.
The area comprised in the present limits of Grant county was first formally organized as a separate county on March 8, 1868, when the state Legislature passed an act establishing the county, and ordered that the county seat should be located on the southwest quarter of section 31, town- ship 139, range 42. As this would have placed the county seat in Becker county, near the northeast corner of Sallie lake, it is supposed that an error was made in writing "139" instead of "129," which would have located the county seat in the geographical center of the county. This new sub-division of the state was named "Grant" in honor of Gen. U. S. Grant, who was elected that year to his first term as President of the United States.
Another step in the tentative organization of the county was taken in 1871, when the governor, Horace Austin, appointed three county commis- sioners, namely: Henry F. Sanford, K. N. Melby and S. S. Frogner.
In 1872, Peter N. Smith and Henry Secor, two lawyers from Otter Tail county, came down and induced the county commissioners to appoint a full set of officers, with Secor as auditor and Smith as county attorney. These officers evidently never held their positions legally, as they left no official record, and their presence here is known only through tradition.
When the fifteenth Legislature assembled in the second week of Jan- uary, 1873, Timothy Heald and several others went to St. Paul and re- quested that the Legislature pass a new act for the organization of the county. This was accordingly done, and on February 28, 1873, the Legis- lature approved "An act to provide for the organization of Grant county," as follows: ·
"Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Minnesota: Section I. That the county of Grant in this state be and the same is hereby declared to be an organized county, with all the rights, privileges and immunities of other organized counties within this state, and the county seat shall be located by the county commissioners hereafter to be elected as provided in this act.
"Section 2. On the day of the next annual town meeting after the
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passage of this act, the legal voters of said county may meet at the several places where the last annual election was held in said county, and after choosing judges of election shall, between the hours of nine o'clock in the forenoon and five o'clock in the afternoon, proceed to vote for three county commissioners, and after canvassing such vote said judges of election shall, within ten days thereafter, make a report of such canvass to the county auditor of Douglas county, to which said Grant county is attached for judicial purposes, who shall issue certificates of election to three having the highest number of votes; which commissioners shall within twenty days thereafter qualify and enter upon their duties, and who shall hold their offices until the next general election and until their successors are elected and qualified.
"Section 3. Immediately upon the qualification of said commissioners they shall proceed to locate the county seat of said county, and appoint qualified persons to fill all the county offices in said county, except clerk of the district court, and also to appoint two justices of the peace and two constables, which persons so appointed and having qualified shall hold their offices until the next annual town meeting, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
"Section 4. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with the provisions of this act are hereby repealed.
"Section 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage."
FIRST COMMISSIONERS ELECTED.
At an election held in the several election districts in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing act, Henry F. Sanford, K. N. Melby and S. S. Frogner were elected to the board of county commissioners of Grant county. The board held its first meeting on April 12, 1873, and as the min- utes of the meeting are given in the records of the county commissioners in such lucid style, set down in the beautiful handwriting of Henry F. San- ford, they are here given in full, as follows:
"Meeting of the board of Grant county, held at the store of N. Q. Puntches, at Pomme de Terre, in said Grant county, April 12. 1873. in pursuance of a notice issued on the 31st day of March, A. D. 1873. notify- ing the public that on the 12th day of April, 1873, there would be a meet- ing of said commissioners, for the purpose of locating the county seat and appointing the officers of said county.
"Present all the members, namely: K. N. Melby, S. S. Frogner and
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Henry F. Sanford. Henry F. Sanford was duly elected chairman. R. S. Talbot was duly appointed clerk of the board, pro tem.
"The board being duly organized the first business in order being the locating of the county seat: K. N. Melby moved to have the county seat located on the northwest quarter of section 24, township 130, range 42. Motion lost. Moved by S. S. Frogner that the county seat be located on section 8, township 129, range 42. S. S. Frogner and Henry F. Sanford voted in the affirmative; K. N. Melby in the negative. The motion was carried-and the county seat is therefore located on section 8, township 129, - range 42, in said county.
"The following named persons were unanimously appointed to fill the county offices set opposite their names: R. S. Talbot, auditor ; O. W. Olson, treasurer; N. Q. Puntches, attorney; Ole Larson, register of deeds; E. M. Heald, sheriff; John Ohlsson, surveyor; Ole Thompson, judge of probate; Hans Hanson, coroner: Josiah Smith, superintendent of schools; Ole A. Peterson and John Doherty, justices of the peace; H. P. Hansen and George Johnson, constables.
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