History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 80

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

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LEWIS L. TOLLEFSON, the first white child born in Fillmore county, dates his birth at Newburg on the 6th of July, 1852. He is the youngest son of Lars and Mary Tollefson who came to this place just before his birth. As soon as large enough he commenced work on his father's farm attending school during the winter terms. On the 27th of June, 1877, he was married to Miss Julia A. Ras- musen, a daughter of one of the pioneers of this county. One child is the issue of the union. Until the village of Mabel was organized Mr. Tollefson was engaged in agricultural pursuits, since which time he has built, and now carries on, the "Mabel House."

DAVID C. TABER, one of the early settlers and enterprising men of this town, is a native of the "Green Mountain State," where his birth occurred on the 15th of March, 1822, in the town of Lin- coln, Addison county. His grandfather, Thomas Taber, came from New Bedford, Massachusetts, and settled in Montpelier about 1776. Bnjamin Taber, the father of our subject, moved from the latter place to Starksborough, Addison county, where, in 1808, he married Miss Phebe Carpenter, a native of Dutchess county, New York. He was a physician and also a minister of the Society of Friends, which pursuits he followed until his death. David C. resided at home until twenty- three years of age. On the 8th of October, 1845, he was married to Miss Harriet Heading of that

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place. The following spring he sold his farming interest and engaged with an elder brother in the plow business. Two years later they removed their business to Bristol in the same county where, with greatly increased facilities, they continued to manufacture the widely circulated "Taber" plow. After a few years he sold out this business, and in 1855, came to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and com- menced to build up the village of Hesper. He erected a saw and grist-mill, the first in that county, supplying the country with flour for many miles around. He was the first mail carrier on the route between Burr Oak and Hesper. In the fall of 1860, he built a house on a new farm pre- viously secured in section twenty-seven, Amherst township, where he has since lived. Poor health and high taxes at that time prevented many im- provements and he, as well as other new settlers, was compelled to suffer many inconveniences. Like most "New Englanders" he became dissatis- fied with a treeless prairie farm, aud soon began setting out shelter and shade trees and planting hedge fences, all of which have proved very bene- ficial in many ways. Poles forty feet in length may now be cut from these groves. He also turned his attention to fruit culture, which was then thought impractical, and after a second trial succeeded in securing a good orchard. It is sur- roanded by a grove and bears from 100 to 150 bush- els annually. From the first lot of trees, however, originated the well known "Minnesota Crab" which has taken the premium at the State and County fairs for several years. The old tree can now be seen, a handsome tree, not prolific, but bearing fruit every season for the last fifteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Taber have three grown children: Eunice M., now Mrs. J. L. Hall, of Kansas; Ella A., the wife of E. M. Sncll, residing in Mabel; and . Charles D., who owns a farm near his father's, a part of which he donated to the proprietors of the town of Mabel for depot grounds.

CHARLES D. TABER, a son of the subject of the last sketch, was born in Hesper, Iowa, on the 5th of October, 1857. When two years old, his parents moved to this place, where Charles lived and worked on his father's farm until the age of twenty years. On the 6th of March, 1880, Miss Laura Johnson became his wife. One daughter, Gracie, is their offspring. He owns a good farm.

PETER P. THOMPSON was born in Norway, in September, 1848, and came with his parents to

America in 1850. They resided in Rock county, Wisconsin, until 1857, then came to this township where his father died in 1870. The mother resides with her son Lars. Mr. Thompson was married in March, 1870, to Miss Betsey Tollefson.

IVER THOMPSON, one of the early settlers of this place, is a native of Norway, born in Stavanger, on the 24th of June, 1829. He learned the car- penter's trade, at which he was engaged nntil coming to America in 1848. Mr. Thompson first located in Chicago, where he remained two years, and there married Miss Celia Walder, the cere- mory taking place on the 4th of July, 1850. They came to this county three years later and settled in Newburg township, where he was one of the organizers and first officers. In 1858, he moved to his present farm in the town of New- burg, where in 1862 his wife died, leaving six children. He then married Miss Rachel Walder, on the 2d of November, 1862. Mr. Thompson has had thirteen children, nine of whom are living; Edward R., a physician in Minneapolis; Charles A., real estate broker in Colorado; Richard E., attor- ney at law in Preston; Andrew W., Deputy Regis- ter of Deeds of Fillmore county; Joseph S., Alfred T., Reuben C., Clarence R., and Anzonette J., living at home.

ANDERS THOMPSON was born in Stavanger, Norway, on the 3d of February, 1826. His mother died when he was six years old, and three years later he was obliged to go among strangers to seek his own livelihood. His father came to America in 1848, and settled in Wisconsin, where he died in 1856. Anders was married in 1853, to Miss Anne Gabrielson. They emigrated to Amer- ica in 1862, directly to this place, and bought their present farm in section twenty-one. Of nine children born to them, seven are living; Gabriel, Anna, Thomas, Andrias, Jacob, G. Valdemar, and Ed. Mrs. Thompson died on the 15th of Octo- ber, 1872. The maiden name of his present wife was Johanna Jokumsdatter. Mr. Thompson owns a well cultivated farm, with a good frame resi- dence.

HANS VALDER, the organizer of the village of Newburg, was born in Stavanger, Norway, on the 18th of October, 1813. He lived with his parents on a farm until his marriage to Miss Bertha Gulhraug on the 22d of November, in 1835. Two years later they came to America, first to Michigan, and then to LaSalle county,

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Illinois. His wife died in the latter State on the 9th of June, 1844, leaving four children. He was again married on the 10th of April, 1845, to Miss Betsey. Ager, who bore him nine children. In the spring of 1853. Mr Valder formed a small colony of emigrants and came to Minnesota, and located on the present site of the village of New- burg, ( for description of which see Town History. ) Mrs. Valder died in 1860. His present wife was formerly Ellen Olsen. the marriage ceremony tak-

ing place on the 15th of December, 1861. The fruit of this union is four children. Mr. Valder was one of the first officers of the town, and has ever since continued to serve the village in some capacity. He represented this district in the Legislature one term, ond is now Chairman of the board of Supervisors, which position he has held several terms, having executed the $12,000 railroad bonds voted by the town in 1880. Although well advanced in years he is still hale and hearty.

AMHERST.

CHAPTER LVIII.

DESCRIPTIVE - EARLY SETTLEMENT - POLITICAL- EDUCATIONAL - VILLAGES - RELIGIOUS - POST- OFFICES-FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION -- MILI- TARY COMPANY-BIOGRAPHICAL.

This township is constituted as originally out- lined by the United States surveyors, and has Preble between it and Houston county on the east, and Canton between it and Iowa on the south. It is hemmed in by Preston on the west and Holt on the north.

The South Fork of Root River traverses the southern part of the town, coming from the west and entering the township through the northwest quarter of section thirty-one, and wending its course eastward through sections twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-seven, and twenty-six, finally making an abrupt northward curve in the corner of section twenty-five, where it leaves Am- herst township through the southeast quarter of section twenty-four, and mingles its waters with those of the south branch of Root River in the western part of Preble.

This township contains an area of 23,040 acres. The surface in the northern part is generally roll- ing prairie, interspersed with timber sufficient to make the land valuable. While the northern part of the town cannot be called rugged in the full sense of the word, yet it is the most broken por- tion of the township, the undulations and rolling portions of the prairie being more abrupt and marked than in any other part of the town.

Toward the southern boundary the rolling prairie continues, gradually lowering to the level of the river. Here, in places, the prairie is covered with a growth of brush and timber, which, when re- moved, leaves the land in a fair, if not excellent, condition for cultivation. The eastern tier of sec- tions is partially covered with heavy timber, and may be considered as among the best timber lands in the county.

The soil is mostly a dark loam, mixed with clay, although in some portions of the town it has a marked tendency to sandiness. It is capable of producing wheat and other cereals. But a very small portion of the town is unfit for cultivation by the processes and for the crops of to-day, and that part unsuitable for cultivation is useful for grazing and raising timber. The bottoms, along the river and creeks, are covered with good varie- ties of indigenous grasses, supplying hay and grazing for stock.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

There is always manifest an absorbing interest as to who was the very first pioneer to cast his lot in a wild and unknown region in search of a suit- able spot to establish a home, and, although par- ties are living who were connected and associated with the pioneer, there is much more uncertainty in regard to who it really was than is supposed by those who have never uudertaken to gather it. We resist the temptation to state the cause.

Ancanias Lashmidt and his brother, John, were the two first men to commence an effort for civil-

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ization in the town of Amherst. They arrived here in the summer of 1852, and took a claim in section thirty-six, where they broke about sixteen acres, and in the fall they went back to Illinois, but returned the following spring to further their improvements. In August, 1853, they sold this claim to Mr. E. P. Eddy, who has lived there since. The two Lashmidts lived in this and ad- joining towns until 1866, when they removed to Missouri.

In the spring of 1853, Jacob Vought, the oldest settler now living in the town, arrived and selected a claim in section thirty-two. He still lives on the same farm, and has added many valuable im- provements. He owns two hundred acres.

Early in the spring of 1853, another hardy pioneer and adventurer wended his way to Am- herst, a Mr. Woodruff. He took a claim in section thirty-two, where Henry Onstine afterward lived. After living on the claim a short time his wife be- came alarmed on account of the Indians, which had been encamped throughout the township, and he sold his claim for a trifling sum to a party who afterward turned it over to Mr. Onstine, and he with his family and effects fled the country.

John Livingood came from Iowa in 1853, and located a claim in section thirty-five. He re- maincd but a short time and sold to Michael On- stine, removing to Winneshiek county, Iowa. He was suspected of the murder of a Mr. Tellyer, whose body had been found in Pine Creek, and was arrested in Winneshiek county, and brought back. Upon trial, he was convicted and sentenced to ninety-nine years and one day's imprisonment at hard Inbor. After serving eight years of his sen- tence he was pardoned out on account of good be- havior, and then disappeared and has been lost to the pages of history.

THE ONSTINE PARTY .-- As this party had much to do with the early settlement of Amherst town- ship they deserve more than passing mention.

Henry Onstine was born on the 15th of Septem- ber, 1793, in Canada. When hostilities began in the war of 1812, his family were suspected of be- ing in sympathy with the States, and on this ac- count his elder brothers left Canada and came to the United States. After the older boys had left, the British authorities arrested Henry and his father, and held them for some time. Prior to im- prisonment some of the family had the forethought to suggest that they bury a considerable sum of

money in the woods so as to be provided for in case of an emergency. This suggestion was acted upon, and Henry, after his release, found the spot and secured it. At the same time a large tract of land was confiscated, which could now be recovered, except that the old deeds of the same have been carelessly destroyed, as they were supposed to be useless.

After the war Henry married, and when twenty- four years old, in 1817, he emigrated to Lorain county, Ohio, where he remained until his wife died in February, 1836, leaving him with a family of six girls, and a baby boy. His love of adventure prompted him to make a number of trips to the center of Wisconsin, and in 1847, he extended his trip to Fort Snelling and the Falls of St. Anthony. In 1852, he married Mrs. Tillottson, mother of B. F. Tillottson, who afterward became a prominent man in Fillmore county. Mr. On- stine soou decided to emigrate to the far west, de- signing to locate in southern Iowa or Missouri. With this intent he set out from Ohio, in April, 1853, in company with his son, Michael H., and his son-in-law, B. F. Tillottson. Henry and his companions pushed their way west into Wisconsin where he was joined by his brother, Michael, and family, and next into Iowa, where they were joined by another son-in-law, E. P. Eddy, who had pre- previously settled in the West. This made quite a settlement of the pioneers and the entire party pushed on to Buchanan county, Iowa, where they stopped awhile. Representatives of the colony traveled through Iowa and adjoining States in quest of a suitable location, but they returned dis- satisfied.

After wandering around for some time and lo- cating at St. Charles, Iowa, and Bradford, they selected claims on the Little Wapsipinicon River and commenced the erection of log cabins and put up several tons of hay. Here they were accidentally found by a nephew of Henry Onstine, Mr. J. B. Onstine, a young man who had located and was practicing law in Decorah. He discouraged them in various ways and persuaded them to come to Minnesota. They at once sent a delegation to Amherst who selected claims, and then returned for the families, who arrived in August. Henry Onstine bought the right of some claims held by J. Kelly and William McHenry, in the southern part of Amherst township, retaining one for him- self and others for Eddy and Tillottson. He lo-

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cated in section thirty-two where he found all his requirements, as to timber, water, and prairie, satis- fied.

B. F. Tillottson took a claim just east of where the County Poor Farm is now situated.

E. P. Eddy, not being satisfied with the claim which had been selected for him, and not being able to get water within a reasonable depth, se- lected another claim in section thirty-six, upon the northeast quarter. Mr. Eddy named the town Amherst, shortly after his arrival, in honor of the place in which his wife was born.

Henry Onstine took an active part in all public enterprises and was one of the first town officers. His wife died in 1862, and he some years later married Mrs. Nelson, mother of the County Treas- urer, W. A. Nelson. He was called upon by the Ruler of the universe to pass through the valley of death on the 10th of February, 1873.

A Mr. Laird was an early settler, arriving in Amherst in the winter of 1853 and '54, he, how- ever, remained on his claim in section twenty- seven but a short time, selling out and removing to Missouri. With Laird came Mr. Frank Rich- ardson, from New York State, who located upon section thirty-six. He made his last earthly re- port a number of years ago, and his dust lies buried in Canton.

Mr. Wm. Barton, came in 1856, from Vermont, and located in section thirty-five. He remained on the claim until 1875, when he sold out aud moved to Mason City, Iowa, where he still lives. He was a prominent man in Fillmore county poli- tics, holding various offices at different times. He was sent to the legislature in 1869, and was also a County Commissioner.

Joseph W. Smith located in section twenty- seven in 1854. He sold out and moved to Mis- sonri some years since.

Asel Winch moved into Amherst in 1858, and located in section twenty-five. He also asssisted in the early settlement of Canton township, having lived there and built a saw-mill, before coming into this town. He removed to Dakota in 1881.

Phineas Underwood, a typical Yankee, was an- other of the pioneers, coming from Vermont and locating in section thirty, in 1855. He sold out several years later and moved to Missouri.

Robert Wilson was also one of the comers of 1355. He came from Preston and located near

"Stringtown." He and his team of horses were killed by lightning in 1871.

Geo. Ruggles was an early settler and a promi- nent man in Fillmore county. He also settled near "Stringtown," but removed to Kansas in 1871.

Geo. and Nels Phillips were early settlers at "Stringtown." They were carried away to Kan- sas in the stampede to that State in 1870 and '71. The same may be said of the Lashmidt brothers, who were among the first settlers.

Rev. Geo. Kingston came in about 1855, locat- ing in section nineteen. . He was a local Methodist preacher. His son, Wm. Kingston, enlisted and went to the war, but came home with the typhoid fever. His family were down with the fever shortly after, and the father and one child died. William now runs a store in Preston.

POLITICAL.

The township was organized on the 11th of May, 1858. The Messrs. Onstine, Henry and Michael H. and Caleb C., father and son, were the principal spirits in organizing and getting the government wheels of the then "back woods" township running. The first town meeting was held on the 11th of May, 1858, at the cabin of Caleb C. Onstine, and the first election resulted as follows: Supervisors, C. C. Onstine, Chairman, J. W.Smith, and H. Gunvalson; Clerk, M. H. Onstine; Assessor, D. C. Phillips; Collector, Andrew Thompson; Overseer of the Poor, Knud Knudson; Justices of the Peace, John Everett and William Kimber; Constables, J. Durkin and G. R. Mar- shall.

The board met on the 15th of May, 1858, and made the organization of the town of Amherst a substantial fact, successfully starting the town government, and it has since run with little jarring and no interruption up to this writing. The pres- ent officers of the town are: Supervisors, M. H. Onstine, Chairman, T. Tousley, and H. Gunvalson; Clerk, E. L. Babcock; Assessor, T. Tousley; Con- stables, Ole M. Blogsvet and O. Dibble; Justices of the Peace, D. Danchey and Ole Allen.

EDUCATIONAL.

Amherst township township is divided into eight school districts, and all are in flourishing condition. The first school to be attended by Amherst pupils was in Canton township, the dis- triet comprising part of both towns and was known

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as district No. 11. The log schoolhouse was built by subscription in the spring of 1857, stand- ing just over the line in Canton township. The first teacher was Miss H. A. Churchill. The sec- ond was Mrs. M. H. Onstine. It was afterwards changed to No. 138.

DISTICT NO. 133 .- Previous to the organization of this district, three terms of school had been taught in the house of Norman Botton, by Miss Hattie Dauchey. In 1863, the organization of the district was effected under the caption of No. 133, and one year later their schoolhouse was erected in the center of section thirty-five. Mrs. Black- burn first called the school to order.

DISTRICT No. 43 .- This district was formerly blended into other surrounding districts, but in 1868, a petition was made to the County Commis- sioners for a separate district, which was granted, and the district was at once organized. They soon after erected a neat frame structure on the east line of section sixteen, at a cost of about $300, size 18x26 feet. The first teacher was Emerilla Sutherland.

DISTRICT No. 28 .- Was organized late in the fifties, and a log house put up by contribution of labor. Some years later this was torn down and a neat and substantial schoolhouse erected on section four, in the southwestern part.

DISTRICT No. 29 .- Was one of the first districts organized in the town, being organized in 1857, and a log house, 18x20 feet, erected for school purposes. This served as a schoolhouse until in 1876, when the present substantial building was erected in the northern part of section nineteen, at a cost of $1,000, size 21x36 feet. It is supplied with a full set of school room apparatus, patent desks, etc.

DISTRICT NO. 8 .- This district was organized in 1857, and a house put up of hewn logs. In 1869, a neat structure of stone, 24x30 feet, was built a short distance north of where the old one stood, and this still serves the purpose for which it was built. It stands in the northeast corner of section thirteen.

DISTRICT No. 27 .- This district was organized in March, 1857, and a little log cabin put up for school purposes at a cost of $50, size 14x16 feet, and stood where the present schoolhouse stands, the first school being taught by Mr. Kennedy, of Preston. In 1870, the present house was erected at a cost of $650, size 20x30 feet, and was sup-

plied with apparatus worth $66. It stands in the northwest corner of section eleven.

DISTRICT No. 138 .- This district was formerly known as No. 11, and the schoolhouse was in Canton. The present house was erected in 1870, at a cost of $800. The first teacher was N. I. Wilson. It now enrolls fifty-five scholars. M. H. Onstine has been Clerk for twenty-six years.

DISTRICT No. 30 .- Was organized in 1857, and in 1858, a frame building was erected, but after- ward sold and used for a blacksmith shop. In 1867, their present building was put up in section twenty-seven, in the northern part, at a cost of $350. It is 20x30 feet with an addition. This was at one time the largest district in town.

RICHLAND CENTER.

A prospective village was laid out in 1854, by William Barton, with the same motive in view that stimulated Henrytown's projectors. It was platted upon Mr. Barton's land on section thirty-five. A blacksmith shop was opened by Mr. Jesse Miller, and continued in operation for about one year, but the glory of the prospective city died out with the fire of his forge.

STRINGTOWN VILLAGE.

This village, if such it may be called, is sit- uated in the southern part of the town upon the northwest quarter of section twenty-seven. It is upon the crossing of county roads, and is on the south branch of Root River. There is nothing there to indicate that the place is a village, except one store, a blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, and the Post-office.

The Post-office is named Amherst. It was es- tablished in 1864, with Wm. Winch as the first Postmaster, and was kept in Mr. Winch's store. Mr. E. L. Babcock is the present incumbent, the office being kept in the store which is known as the "Stringtown Store." This was started in 1860 by William Winch, who ran it for a number of years, and sold to Mr. Ole Oleson. This enterprising Norwegian managed the establishment for a short time and then went out of the mercantile business, using the building for various other purposes. The store was again started a few years later by Mr. Ward, who ran it for a short time. He subsequently removed to Whalan, where he died some years ago. The firm of Langley & Halvorson succeeded Mr. Ward, and they in turn sold to Mr. J. D. Elliot, who, after running it for a short time, sold

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to the present proprietor, Mr. Babcock. The store now has the Post-office in connection with it, and carries a fair stock of general merchandise.

The name of the village is so singular, that a few words as to how it came by it, will not be out of place here. The name it bears, "Stringtown," serves the very purpose to be sought in naming & town, i. e., prevents its being confounded with others because of its oddity, and by it the town is appropriately characterized. The name came from the fact that all the settlers built their houses along the road in the ravine in which the would be village is located, thus stringing it out for some distance. For this reason the settlers commenced calling it a "Strung out town." This was short- ened by common consent to "Stringtown."

HENRY.

In 1854, an effort was made to have the two southeastern counties in the State divided in- to three counties. It was at this time that Henrytown was projected, and it was platted with the intent that in such an emergency it might, on account of its central locality, become the county seat of the new county. It was laid out on the farm of M. H. Onstine, on sections thirty-two and thirty-three, at the crossing of the county roads. The boom lasted but a short time, however, as the prospects of the little settlement were blighted by the non-division of the counties. The town was named in honor of M. H. Onstine's father, Henry Onstine, who is mentioned elsewhere in the history of Amherst. It now contains a Lutheran church, a schoolhouse, four or five residences, and a sorghum mill.

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History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 80

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

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