History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 78

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages:

USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota > Part 78

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DISTRICT No. 64 was taken from Nos. 5 and 6, and in the seventies was organized and a school- house, 18x24 feet, erected on section seventeen, It has been known as the "White Schoolhouse" and is a prominent landmark.

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DISTICT NO. 168 .- A schoolhouse was erected in 1873, and the first school taught by Mrs. Rob- ert Benedict. The present officers are: Clerk, Mrs. Taber; Treasurer, B. J. Taber; Director, Robert Benedict.

CHURCHES.

THE NEWBURG NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CON- GREGATION .- This was organized about the year 1856, by Rev. F. C. Clausen, of Spring Grove, the first to officiate here as the minister, although Rev. V. Koren had held services at the residence of Osten Golberg prior to this time. For about eight years Mr. Clausen kept up the services, usually at the house of Bjorn Olesen-"Garnaas." In 1868, a frame church was completed, the con- gregation having been consolidated with a like society in Hesper, Iowa, but a disagreement aris- ing as to the location of a church edifice, the union was dissolved after continuing for three years, so that alone the congregation put up their house of worship. The prominent men in church matters were, Iver Gulbrandson "Ellestad" and Ole B. "Garnaas."

Rev. H. A. Stub was a prominent minister at this time. There was an effort made to transform the society into a Methodist one, but it was not accomplished. The congregation was afterwards in charge of Rev. K. Magelssen, of Highland Prairie. In 1880, he surrendered the charge to Rev. E. P. Jensen, of Spring Grove, who is the present pastor. It is located on section eight.

NEWBURG VILLAGE.

In the summer of 1853, Hans Valder and fam- ily, with six other men and their families, came to this place from La Salle county, Illinois. Mr. Valder located on section eight, the site of the village. At first a log structure, 14x16 feet, afforded his family a shelter. Basswood bark was peeled off to form a roof, and some boards were obtained from Decorah for a floor. He named the place Newburg, which became the Post-office and the town name.

The Post-office was secured in 1854, with Mr. Valder as Postmaster. On the 18th of December, 1855, the village having been platted, was recorded. Three days after Mr. Valder established himself, Hans Arneson came and began the build- ing of a blacksmith shop of poplar poles, 10x12 feet, which was the first shop of this kind within a circuit of fifteen miles.

Mr. Valder soon made an addition to his cabin home and put in a few groceries, and a short time afterwards Mr. G. Gabrielson came, and in Sep- tember. 1855, began business in Mr. Valder's shanty. Three months later he built a log building, 16x20 feet, which was the first regular store in the village. His first stock of goods was procured in Brownsville of J. H. Smith, and con- sisted of fifty pounds of coffee, two pieces of cotton sheeting, two pieces of denims, several pieces of calico, and a few yankee notions, the whole bill footing up about $100. Afterwards he began buying goods in Dubuque. He has been in business ever since, except a vacation of four years spent on a trip to Norway.

In 1859, Mr. Valder was in business with O. Duland. He gol.l to Thomas Madland, but after two years or so they left.

Mr. H. Harvey started a mercantile business in 1868, which he managed until the fall of 1881.

On the 22d of November, 1880, Messrs. Shirven & Spande succeeded Mr. Gabrielson, and Mr. Shirven alone now has the business, the only store in the village.

HOTEL .- Mr. Valder's house, from the very first, was used as a tavern, but in 1858, he built a more commodious house, with a barn, and called it the "Newburg House." He continued to keep hotel until early in the seventies, when his son conducted it, and afterwards Mr. N. Philips, and lastly Dr. George Nye, who, about 1879, moved away, and since that time no public house has been kept here.

THE NEWBURG METHODIST EPISCOPAL CON- GREGATION .-- The organization of this society was on the 20th of May, 1860, under the super - vision of Rev. H. H. Haaland, in whose charge a church was built the same year, and he remained through the following year. He was succeeded by Rev. N. Christopherson. Rev. Halverson Knud- son succeeded him, then came Rev. Halverson A. Johnson and Rev. Mr. Lindquist. Following the latter were Rev A. Olson, Rev. O. L. Hanson, Rev. Mr. Knudson, and Rev. A. Olson again, who is the present pastor.

Religious services by adherents to this faith were early held in Mr. Valder's barn, and in his house. The size of the church is 28x36 feet. Mr. Andrew Hanson, of Spring Grove, had the con- tract for building the edifice, which was done from

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plans drawn by Mr. Valder. The total cost was $800.

BELLVILLE.

This is a name that has been familiar to people in this region for twenty-five years, but a stranger, having read the numerous guide boards on his journey hitherward, might pass through the city without knowing it; but an inqury into its history may not be uninteresting.

In the spring of 1853, two brothers, Edmund and Henry Bell, started from Mercer county, Ohio, with teams of horses and mules, and a stock of about $500 worth of goods. Stopping in Lansing they procured some lumber, and after a journey of twenty-one days arrived at this point, put up their shanty, and opened their goods which they began immediately to sell. They also began to break up and cultivate some land. The lumber cost them, laid down at their door, $58 per 1,000 feet. Lansing, which was thirty miles away, was the nearest from which to replenish their stock of goods. Their building was 20x24 feet, with a shingle roof, which was considered a great luxury at that time. After the first season the goods were procured from Brownsville, and one occasion it took one of the Bells and Mr. Selfridge, of Brownsville, with another man seven days to make the trip in one direction with a wagon. The mercantile business was continued up to 1861. In 1862, Mr. Edmund Bell, securing the kindly offices of Hon. H. M. Rice, who repre- sented in part the new State in Congress, procured the establishment of a Post-office, and he held the appointment of Postmaster for about nine years. C. B. Reynolds was his successor. The name of the office was Bellville. When "Mabel" was cre- ated it was changed to that. A schoolhouse was erected here to accommodate the sixth district at an early day, and with a hotel and two or three residences, constituted the village of Bellville, which, like many other places, is larger on the map than when visited in person. And this is the history of the village.

MABEL.

This is emphatically a railroad village, spring- ing into existence on the advent of the "Narrow Gauge," like the fabled cities in mythological times. It was platted by Frank Adams, the Chief Engineer of the railroad, and in memory of a little daughter of his, who had been taken away, gave

the place the name of Mabel. The land was bought of Mr. William Loomis and Charles Taber, who had already given forty feet in width as a right of way.

Business started at once, as it was a point where there must be shipping to and from the railroad, and it must become an entrepot as well as a depot for the accommodation of quite an area of good farming country. Jones Brothers, of Hesper, Iowa, and E. L. Tollefson, of Riceford, were among the first to go into general merchandising.

MABEL CREAMERY .- In October, 1881, Mr. W. E. Stanton came here, and at once commenced the erection of a creamery, and in November it was completed at a cost of $1,500. In January, 1882, a feed-mill was also put in. At first cream was ob- tained for only about fifty pounds a day, but now it turns off 600 pounds of butter daily. It is in contemplation to double the size of the building. Cream is collected by twelve teams over an area equal to about six townships. Its product com- mands the highest price, as it is considered every way equal to the Elgin or any other first quality butter. The value of such an institution to the whole community can hardly be overestimated.

The amount of freight received and shipped from January 1st, 1881, to January 1st, 1882, was: received, 2,216,302 pounds; shipped, 5,250,805 pounds, as shown by the courtesy of Mr. O. B. Wilson, the agent at this place.

There is a large amount of business here, and perhaps a dozen dealers in the various lines. There is no doubt as to the steady and continuous pros- perity of the village, which will be enhanced by the constant increase in the variety of the produc- tions of this region. The shipment of stock is already large, and the change from a sole depend- ance on wheat as a remunerating crop, to corn, to stock, and dairy products, is increasing trade in almost every direction, except that of expensive agricultural machinery, which has ruined so many.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .- Meetings have been held by this denomination since the village first started, and a new frame church is now in process of construction.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

ENOK ANDERSON was born near Trondhjem, Nor- way, on the 10th of March, 1843. He resided at home until the age of thirteen, and four years later began learning the blacksmith trade in the latter city, serving an apprenticeship of three years, and

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theu working for himself two years. In 1865, he came to America, resided in Rock county, Wiscon- sin, a short time, and then removed to Spring Grove, Houston county, where he built the first blacksmith shop in the place, and continued there seven years. He was joined in the holy bonds of matrimony on the 25th of January, 1866, his wife being Miss Ingebor Johnson. Their union was blessed with six children; Andreas, Anna S., Sophie, Johan, Edward, and Bernhard. They moved to this place in 1872, and purchased a farm in section twenty. His companion departed this life on the 25th of June, 1881. Her remains are interred in the churchyard near his residence. A fine marble monument (the best in the cemetery) marks the spot of her resting place.

ERASMUS M. ADAMS is a native of Erie county, New York, born on the 30th of September, 1834. In 1855, he took a trip to Wisconsin and Iowa, re- turning home in about six months. On the 1st of June, 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Adams, and resided on a farm until 1870. Mr. Adams then sold his land, and again visited Wisconsin and also Kansas, but came to Rushford, Fillmore county, the same year, and the following January purchased a farm in section six, Newburg township, which has since been their home. Mr. and Mrs. Adams have three children; Ella C., Ada M., and Silas R.

GUNDER AUSTENSON is a native of Norway, born on the 4th of November, 1836. At the age of six- teen he was engaged on a merchant vessel, trading on the coast of Norway, Sweden, and Prussia, and can tell many interesting incidents in connection with a seafaring life. He came to America in 1857, locating in La Salle county, Illinois. On the 11th of September, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha O. Christopherson. They came to Fillmore county in 1861, and bought a farm near Lanesboro, where they resided for a time and still own. Mr. and Mrs. Anstenson have had ten children, nine of whom are living, six boys and three girls. They moved to this place in 1877, and their farm is located in sections five and eight.

ALFRED BUCK was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 9th of November, 1843. The family moved to De Kalb county, Illinois, where Alfred remained until the age of twenty-one, then removed to Fayette county, Iowa. There he bought an interest in a mill, but five years later

sold his share and moved to Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and built a mill. On the 27th of December, 1868, ' he was joined in marriage with Miss Mary J. Sea- mons. Six children have been born of this union, four of whom are living; Sarah E., Daniel T., Cora E. and Flora B. Mr. Buck traded his mill in the latter place for his present mill property in 1875, moved his family, and has since lived here.

EDMUND BELL, the founder of Bellville, is a na- tive of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, born on the 5th of June, 1821. His father, John Bell, was born in Belfast, Ireland, and came to America when twenty-one years old. He soon after mar- ried, in New Jersey, Miss Betsey Palmer. They moved to Pennsylvania and resided until their death, some thirty years ago. Edmund left home at the age of fourteen years, and was employed on the canal between Pittsburg and Philadelphia about seven years, later in the iron business, and finally engaged in buying horses and mules in Ohio and shipping them to his native State. He was joined in marriage, on the 27th of January, 1848, to Miss Mary Allen, also of Pennsylvania. . They came to Minnesota in 1853. About two years after locating here Mr. Bell had a Post-office and mail route established, the route being from Brownsville, by way of Bellville, to Elliota, and he was appointed Postmaster, the office being named Bellville. By the aid of the Territorial Legisla- ture he succeeded in having a territorial road from this place to Lake Albert Lea. He had the first stock of goods in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have had nine children, eight of whom are living; John, Charles, Frank, Walter, James, Harvey, Ed- mund, and Evalynne.

LEONARD BACON is a son of Leonard Bacon who was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut; was married when quite young and moved to Oneida county, New York, where they were among the early settlers. Leonard, the subject of this sketch, was born in the latter county on the 24th of April, 1816. He came to this town in 1864, and purchased a farm in section twenty-one, where he has since lived. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors and held other local offices. Mr. Bacon has three sons and two daughters; Carrie, the wife of J K. Strout; David and Dexter, living at home; Willis C., and Hattie B., who is now Mrs. Cecil Steward.

WILLIS C. BACON, whose nativity is Oneida county, New York, dates his birth the 30th of Sep-

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. tember, 1852. When he was eleven years old he came with his parents to Minnesota, and was en- gaged in farm labor when not attending school. In 1872, he commenced teaching, and has taught nine terms. On the 28th of April, 1880, Miss Irene Thomas became his wife. They resided on a farm one year, and then Mr. Bacon purchased a store in the village of Mabel, where he has since done business and holds the office of Postmaster; he was also a member of the board of Supervisors two years.

SILAS C. BRACE was born on the 25th of August, 1851, in Cattaraugus county, New York. His parents moved to Iowa when he was two years old, but six years later his father died and the family returned to New York. In 1865, his mother mar- ried William Loomis, and the same year came to Minnesota, settling in this township. Silas worked on the farm summers and attended school during the winter months until 1872, when he commenced teaching. On the 6th of July, 1873, his marriage with Miss Ella M. Dibble was solemnized. They removed to Martin county the same year, but soon returned, and has since been engaged in teaching and farming. He is now located in Mabel, where his wife has a millinery store. Mr. Brace was elected Town Clerk at the last annual election.

JONAH CADWALDER, an early settler of this place, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 15th of August, 1815. His father was the owner of an extensive manufacturing establishment in that county, and Jonah was engaged with him until his death on the 22d of June, 1844. He remained at home with his mother until 1855, when he came west, traveled by water to Dubuque, Iowa, from which place he walked here and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in sections twenty- nine and thirty. On the 3d of July, 1859, he was united in matrimony with Mrs. Sarah Stroud. Mr. Cadwalder sold his farm in 1867, with the inten- tion of moving to Missouri, but soon after bought his present place in section thirty-four.

CHRISTIAN O. ENGER, a son of Ole J. and Mari Enger, dates his birth at Christiania, Norway, on the 14th of November, 1846. His father was a blacksmith, and this trade Christian learned at an early age. When he was seventeen years old he left home and was engaged at his trade in and near his native city until 1869, when he sailed for America. He came directly to Iowa, and was en- gaged at his trade in Waukon until the shop was

destroyed by fire, after which, in company with his brother, he started a shop in De Soto, Wiscon- sin. He was joined in wedlock with Miss Mathea Geline Ulshus on the 12th of August, 1869. In 1873, he built a shop in Bergen, Iowa, and three years later sold and bought a farm in Preble township, but soon after moved to Spring Grove, Houston county, and bought a farm which he traded for his present place in this township. In 1880, he built a blacksmith shop in the village of Mabel, the first in the place, and is operating the same in company with M. L. Potter. Mr. Enger is considered the most competent mechanic in this section. He has had seven children, five of whom are living: Serine Maria, Sophie Ollie, Hans Otto, Johan Anton, and Andrias.

EVEN H. EVENSON, a son of one of the pioneers of Spring Grove, Houston county, was born in that town on the 4th of January, 1855. He re- sided with his parents until 1873, when his father died. He then commenced learning photography, and when he became proficient in the art, opened a gallery in Spring Grove, then moved to Cale- donia, and thence to Riceford. He was joined in marriage with Miss Christi Gullingsrud on the 27th of December, 1875. Three daughters have been born to the union; Barbara Evada, Inger Sophia, and Annie Caroline. Mr. Evenson was engaged in business in Kensett, Iowa, eight months, then in Riceford until the village of Mabel was organized, when he came here and opened a gallery. He is a fair artist and is well patronized.

JOSEPH R. GRISWOLD, a native of Jackson county, Vermont, was born on the 27th of Jannary, 1830. His father died in Chicago when Joseph was an infant, and when ten years old, Mr. E. M. Rider was appointed his guardian with whom he lived seven year -. He then commenced learning the carpenter trade, which he followed until the age of twenty-four. On the 7th of December, 1852, he was married to Miss Nancy L. Goodrich. Mr. Griswold soon after bought a door, sash, and blind factory in Middlebury, Vermont, which he operated four years, then worked at carpentering one year. In 1856, he came west, settled near Hesper, Iowa, and three years later bought his present farm in this township. In sickness Mrs. Griswold became insane, and had to be taken to the hospital at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where she died on the 27th of January, 1870. In 1877, Mr. Gris- wold met with a loss of about $1,200, his barn with

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contents burning to the ground. His children are Isabella A., now Mrs. Charles Wilde, living in Boomer; Edmund A., married and living in Hesper, Iowa, and Winfield M., who is still at home.

HANS BJORNSON "GARNAAS" was born in Hall- ingdahl, Norway, in December, 1834. He came with his parents to America in 1853, resided for a short time in Pine Creek, Iowa, and in the winter of 1854, came to this township where his father bought land in section seventeen. In 1860, Hans purchased a farm in section fifteen, and the same year married Miss Live Olson. Twelve children have been born of this union, only five of whom are living; Bottolf, Ole, Samuel, Julia, and Ida. Three daughters, Ida, Secelia, and Lizzie M., died in one week of diptheria. In 1865, the subject of this sketch sold his former farm and moved to sec- tion two where he owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land, upon which are commodious buildings of superior taste and design. He also has a fine orchard.

ALONZO GUSTAVOUS GRAY, one of the early set- tlers and representative business men of this place, was born in Chenango county, New York, on the 12th of January, 1822. He located in section seven in this township in 1855, built a log house, 16x20 feet, and many times would wake up in the morning and find his bed covered with snow. He now owns two hundred acres of land, most of which is cultivated, and adorned with good farm buildings. His parents lived with him until their death. Mr. Gray was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Ann Murch on the 26th of January, 1845. The issue of the union was five children, three of whom are living; Archibald D., Clerk of the District Court of Fillmore county; Andrew, a farmer in this county, and Mary, living at home.

OLE B. GARNAAS was born in Norway in De- cember, 1826. He came with his parents to America in 1853, and the following year settled in this township, Ole residing with his parents until 1858, when he bought his present farm in section seventeen. In December of the same year he was married to Miss Bergitt Nelsdatter, who dates her birth the 27th of July, 1842. The result of the union is eleven children, nine of whom are living; Sesil, Bernt, Nels, Henry, Olais, Annie, Bertha, Maria, and Martin Julius. Mr. Garnaas was one of the organizers of the church in this place.

NELS B. GARNAAS, a brother of the subject of our last sketch, was born in Norway in 1828, and

came to America with the family in 1853. He lived at home until his marriage in November, 1860, to Miss Gunhild Knudson, daughter of Em- brick Knudson, one of the early settlers of Spring Grove, Houston county. They have had ten child- ren, seven of whom are living; Sesil, Bernt, Em- brick, Henry, Caroline, Johan and Mr. Garnaas owns over three hundred acres of good land, the greater portion of which is cultivated, having good substantial buildings.

GABRIEL GABRIELSON, the first merchant in this place, was born in Norway on the 15th of Septem- ber, 1825. He lived with his parents on a farm until the age of fifteen years, when he went to the city of Stavanger and entered on a mercantile career. He emigrated to America in 1854, resided one year in La Salle county, Illinois, where he clerked in a store, then came here and opened the first store in the place. On the 15th of August, 1857, Miss Isabell Eastman became his wife. Mr. Gabrielson was one of the first officers and organ- izers of the town, was Assessor two terms, has been a member of the board of County Commissioners, Postmaster, etc. In 1880, he retired from business, having continued, with the exception of four years on a visit in Norway, since first starting.

WALCOT N. GILMORE is a native of Geauga county, Ohio, and dates his birth the 18th of April, 1830. When he was ten years old his parents moved to Racine county, Wisconsin, which was the home of Walcot until the age of twenty-two years. He had then accumulated, from sundry earnings, about $100, and started on foot for Lan- sing, Iowa, where he engaged in cutting and ship- ping cord wood. He afterward, in company with his brother-in-law, E. Wait, opened a grocery and butcher shop and two years later (1855) they came to Minnesota and purchased land in Spring Grove, Houston county. Mr. Gilmore came to Newburg and bought a farm, and four years later sold and purchased a portion of his present land, three hundred and twenty acres in sections thir- teen and twenty-four. He commenced farming on a large scale, and with constant labor and energy added from time to time, and is now one of the most extensive land owners in this section, the greater portion of his farms being under cultiva- tion. On the 8th of September, 1858, he married Miss Mahala E. Rowe, who bore him three children; Addison H., Vernon H., and Mary Phoebe. She died on the 22d of March, 1871. His present wife

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was formerly Miss Lucy L. Van Doren. The re- sult of the latter union has been three children; Wolcot N., William Oscar, and Richard Anson. In 1873, Mr. Gilmore was elected to the State Legis- lature and has been Assessor and Supervisor in this town several terms. He made a trip to California in 1873, and in 1876 visited the Centennial Expo- sition. His son Addison now has charge of his real estate, he having recently 'retired from farm- ing and is devoting his time to buying and ship- ping stock.

OLE HENDRICKSON is a native of Norway, born in Stavanger in 1826. He lived at home until twenty-one years old when he married Miss Malin Nelson, and soon after began farming for himself. In 1860, they came to America and remained a short time in La Salle county, Illinois, from whence they came to this county. Mr. Hendrickson bought land in Preble township, where they lived until 1880, when they moved to the village of Newburg. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson have & family of eight children, two of whom live in the Red River Valley.

OLE HELGESON, a native of Norway, was born on the 29th of January, 1829, and came with his parents to America in 1850. They resided in Rock county, Wisconsin, and later in Iowa, until 1857. In 1856, Ole was united in marriage with Miss Isabell Olsen. The year following they came to Newburg township and bought land in section twenty-one, which has since been their home. Mr. Helgeson has for some time been one of the offi- cers of his school district. He is the father of seven children.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 78

Author: Edward D. Neill Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages:

Author: Edward D. Neill
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: