History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 92

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 92

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

OLE KETTELSON, whose family was the third to locate in this township, is a native of Norway, born on the 6th of January, 1811. He was married to Miss Sophia Sandisson in 1830. They have two children, Ann and Ole. Mr. Kittelson left Nor- way and brought his family to America in 1848, came directly to Dane county, Wisconsin, where they resided until 1854, then in Bristol township one month and came to this place. In 1861, they sold their farm here to Henry Spies and moved to Union county, Dakota, but two years later re- turned to this township. In 1877, they moved to Bristol township and purchased a farm upon which they lived two years and again returned to York, settling in section fifteen where Mr. Kittelson, wife and one son now live.

ORVILLE F. MANN was born in Watertown, New York, on the 23d of September, 1810. When nine months old he moved with his parents to Solon in the same State, there attended school and after- wards kept books for his father, who carried on a tannery, shoe shop, and also a farm. When Or- ville was sixteen years old his family removed to Livingston county. He was joined in matrimony, in 1841, to Miss Harriet Torrey, a native of Alle- gany county, New York. They had three chil- dren, two of whom died in infacy and the other at the age of seven years. Mrs. Mann died in Sep- tember, 1848. Mr. Mann resided with his parents until 1854, when he came west, was employed on a bridge in Ohio a short time and then came to Rock Island, Illinois, thence to Michigan engaged in farming and shoe-making. In the spring of 1855, he returned to his native State but came back to Michigan after a short visit, and in Aug- nst, 1856, came to this township and bought his present farm. He then went to New York and assisted his father in moving to Cattarangus county. Orville's father had five children, two

boys and three girls, only two of whom are now living. The present Mrs. Mann was formerly Ad- aline Spooner, who was born in Genesee county, New York. This latter union has been blessed with six children ; Mary M., Clara B., James L. S., Emegine, William N., and Orville E. Mr. Mann, although quite aged, is still hale.

PETER MCCRACKEN, one of the early settlers of th's place, is a native of Scotland, born in Newton Stewart, Wigtown county, on the 25th of Decem- ber, 1832. In 1846, he came to America and re- sided in Erie county, New York, about ten years. While there he was married to Miss Elmina G. Ingalls, the ceremony taking place in March, 1855. They have had five children, only two of whom are now living, Jesse L., and William P. Mr. MeCracken came west, arriving in this township in June, 1855, and took a claim in section three. In October he returned to New York for his wife. They resided in Forestville township in a log house until the autumn of 1876, then came to the farm which Mr. McCracken pre-empted on his first arrival. In 1870, he built the fine frame residence in which he now lives. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1857, and elected to the office at the first town election, holding the same sixteen consecutive terms, after which he refused to serve longer. In 1869, he was chosen a mem- ber of the board of County Commissioners, re- signing in 1871, to fill a seat in the State Legis- lature, to which he was re-elected in 1873, '78, and '80. Mr. McCracken was admitted to the bar in 1874.

M. MENSINK is a native of Holland, born on the 28th of March, 1819. He attended school until the age of thirteen, and worked on the farm till the age of eighteen years, when. he joined the army, enlisting for a period of five years. He had served two years when peace was declared, and he at- tended college the remaining three. In October, 1846, he came to America, resided in Albany, Now York, during the winter, and in the spring located in the Mohawk Valley. He was joined in marriage in 1848, with Miss Johanna Sylvester. They came to Wisconsin the following year and located in Fond du Lac county where Mr. Mensink was one of the leading men. He helped to organize a church and was sent as a delegate to the confer- ence held at Utica, New York. He resided on the farm until 1856, when he was appointed overseer of the State Prison at Waupun, and remained six years.

Digitized by Google

516

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

In 1864, he sold his farms in Wisconsin and came to this township, which has since been his home. Mr. and Mrs. Mensink have had eight children; Henry, Jacoba, Herman, Johanna, Mina, who died on the 14th of October, 1863, Emma, Man- nus, and Benjamin.

KNUD OLSON, one of the two first to settle in this township, was born in Norway on the 28th of February, 1826. He was married in his native country in 1848, to Miss Julia Owen. They came to America the following year, being on the ocean eleven weeks. Came immediately to Wisconsin, by way of the lakes, and resided on a farm in Watertown one year. They afterward lived in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and in August, 1854, came to this place, taking land in section twenty- five. In 1859, Mr. Olson started for Pike's Peak, but without stopping there went on to California and engaged in mining, remaining in that State until 1863, and returned to Minnesota. In 1866, he sold his original claim and purchased his pres- ent farm in section fourteen, and in 1873, built the house in which he now lives. Mr. and Mrs. Olson have four children; Betsey, Julia, Tilda, and Ole K.

OWEN D. OWENS was born in Wales in August, 1838. When twenty years old he emigrated to America, coming directly to Wisconsin and locating in Portage City. In 1860, he moved to Minne- sota, bought land in Bristol township, but resided with his sister in York township until purchasing land here in 1865. He was married in 1868, to Miss Jane Williams. They have had seven chil- dren, five of whom are living; Ellen J., David, Thomas, Mary A., and Price.

REV. J. W. F. ROTH, JR., was born in Cape Town, in the southern part ef Africa, where his father was stationed as a missionary. He attended school there, spending five years in the college, then continued his theological studies in Holland, and in 1875, came to America. He entered the Northwestern College of Chicago, and remained until the spring of 1878, when he moved to Bald- win, St. Croix county, Wisconsin. In September of the latter year he was joined in marriage to Miss Hermina Heiner. The union has been blessed with two children, John W. F., and Enge- lina E. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Roth re- ceived a call from the Presbyterian Church in this place, and has since made it his home, also preach- ing for the Bethel Church, at Canfield.

JOSEPH RICHARDS is a native of England, born . in Cornwall county on the 26th of January, 1828. He learned the stone-cutter's trade, at which he worked in England until 1852, when he came to America. He was engaged at his trade and bridge building in Canada for some time, then employed in a tunnel for the Ohio Central Railroad. He afterward returned to Canada, and in company with his cousin constructed a bridge for the Grand Trunk Railroad, thence to Isle La Motte, Ver- mont, in the same business. He resided at Rouse's Point, New York, and assisted in the building of Fort Montgomery, then again returned to Canada and was employed in railroad work. Mr. Rich- ards was married on the 15th of July, 1857, to Miss Elizabeth Viment, also a native of Cornwall county, England. They have had nine children, six of whom are living: Joseph, Mary, William H., Martha, John, and Ruth. Mr. and Mrs. Rich- ards came to Minnesota in the spring of 1858, bought land iu section ten of this township, built a house the following year, and have since made it their home.

G. J. SANDERSON, one of the early settlers of Fillmore county, was born in Oneida county, New York, in May, 1832. When six years old he moved with his parents to Chautauqua county, where he attended school and learned the harness maker's trade. He was married in 1855, to Miss Annie Dutton. They came to Minnesota in 1857, and resided in Forestville township four years, then bought a farm in this place, upon which they lived one season. In 1862, Mr. and Mrs. Sander- son entered the Normal School at Winona and graduated two years later. They then opened a school in Fillmore township, and in 1867 returned to their farm in this place. Mr. Sanderson has since taught in the district schools here, and also in Lime Spring, Iowa. Mrs. Sanderson was en- gaged as first assistant in the Normal School at St. Cloud two years, then held a similar position in the Winona school. She has been connected with the State Institute for some time. In 1880, she was appointed census enumerator for this township.

JESSE B. SPENCER, deceased, was a native of Allegany county, New York, where he was born on the 5th of September, 1833. He was reared on a farm, and when twenty-one years old, on account of poor health, went to Texas, where he was en- gaged in farming and carpenter work. After two

Digitized by Google

517

YORK TOWNSHIP.

years he returned to New York and married Miss Luna Lewis, of his native county. They came to this place in 1861, and purchased a farm, but Mr. Spencer's health was so poor he returned to New York, remained two and a half years, and came back to his farm, where he died in October, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer had four children, two of whom are living, Augustus and Angusta. Those dead were named William and Norman. Mrs. Spencer was married to her present husband, B. F. Chapman, in 1875.

JOHN J. THOMAS was born in Wales on the 13th of May, 1838. He resided with his parents until the age of nineteen years when he came to America. He located in York county, Pennsyl- vania, where he was employed in the slate quaries for six months, then came to Columbia county, Wisconsin, and was engaged in farming. In 1867, Mr. Thomas moved to Minnesota, first settled in Bristol township and a year later came to this place, his farm being situated in section twenty- three. In 1868, Miss Elizabeth Jones became his wife. She died in 1874, leaving three children; Lizzie, Katie, and Ida. The maiden name of his present wife was Mary Williams, whom he married in September, 1876. This union has been blessed with three children; Johnie, Mary and Robert.

AUSTEN TOSTENSEN, a native of Norway, was born in July, 1833. In May, 1854, he emigrated to America, Janded in Quebec and came directly to Wisconsin, where he was employed in farm labor until 1855; then worked in the pineries one season. In 1857, he located a farm in this township, built a log house and immediately began improving the land, which has since been his home. He was married in 1860, to Miss Isabelle Olson, who has borne him six children; Betsey, Jane, Sarah, Thomas, and Ole; one died in infancy. Mr. Tos- tenson erected a new frame residence in 1875.

to McGregor, Iowa, to get his wheat ground, it taking one week to make the trip.

JOHN D. WILLIAMS was born in Caernarvon county, Wales, in November, 1814. He was reared on a farm and attended school during his leisure time, and when eighteen years old began to learn the trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 1845, he came to this country, remained in New York a short time and came west, locating in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, but soon after moved to Beaver Dam and worked at his trade two years, then re- turned to his farm. In 1847, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Mary Hughes. They have three children, Daniel, William, and Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Williams came from Wisconsin to this place in 1866, bought a farm of James Hipes upon which they lived until 1873, when he purchased an interest in the flour-mill in Foreston, Iowa, (about one mile from the latter farm) moved his family there and has since made it his home. He is now sole proprietor of the mill.

WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS is also a native of Wales, his birth dating the 27th of July, 1829. He was employed in a slate quarry near his home and in 1852, came to America. He was engaged at Mid- dle Granville, Washington county, New York, in opening a slate quarry, which was then a new in- dustry, remaining there four years. He afterward resided in Iowa county, Wisconsin, where he mar- ried Miss Ann Williams. Their children are, Maggie, John, William, Leah, and Dinah. In 1868, they came to this township, purchased land in section twenty-three, and in 1875, built their present fine residence. Mrs. Williams' parents came to make their home with her in 1874. Her mother died in March, 1881, and her father still survives.

KNUD O. WILSON, one of the early settlers in this place, was born in Norway, on the 2d of Jan- uary, 1837. In 1853, he came with his parents to America, and settled in Rock county, Wisconsin, where they resided three years, and in 1856, moved to York township. Knud took a claim in section twenty-eight, commenced immediately to improve it and in 1860, built a house. He was married in the latter year to Miss Sarah Johnson, the cere- mony taking place on the 15th of February. The result of the union is seven children; Annie, Jane, Isabella, Ole, Allen, John, and Gertie. Mr. Wil-

JOHN R. WILLIAMS is a native of Wales, born in 1838. He came to America in 1858, directly to Wisconsin, and in 1860, to this place, taking land in section thirty-six. He built a log house in which the first religious meetings held in this part of the township were conducted. Mr. Williams was married in 1861, to Miss Jane Owens. Their children are, Robert, David, Maggie, Thomas, Wil- liam, John, Ellen, and Owen. In 1868, they built their present frame house. When first coming here Mr. Williams was obliged to drive an ox team | son is now serving his sixth term as Town Clerk.

Digitized by Google

518

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

His father, Ole Seaverson, died in 1860, and his mother resides with him.

HERMAN WESSELINK, a native of Holland, was born on the 19th of July, 1836. When young he learned the carpenter trade, and in 1866, emigrated to America. He came directly to Minnesota and

took land in this township, in section two. In 1868, Mr. Wesselink was married to the widow of William H. Kragbrink. They have three children; Gerret, Mary, and Henry, and Mrs. Wesselink had one child, Jane, by her first husband. In 1881, they built their present frame house.

BEAVER.

CHAPTER LXV.

TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES-EARLY SETTLEMENT-

EARLY EVENTS-POLITICAL-SCHOOLS -- RELIGI- OUS-BIOGRAPHICAL.

The southwest corner town of the county is named in honor of an industrious fur bearing ani- mal that was not uncommon here in the earliest periods, when the fur companies had their stations scattered at convenient intervals throughout this Northwestern region as it was then called. Iowa is on the south of the town, Mower county on the west, Bloomfield on the north and York on the east. It is emphatically a prairie town, with an inclination to flatness, that, in consequence of the want of drainage, is disposed to be rather wet, al- though there are many places where the tendency is toward rolling, but not sufficiently so to be hilly. Part of the land was at first covered with hazel brush, a few poplars, and in some places there were oak openings.

The west part of the town is particularly well watered. Beaver Creek comes down from section six in a southeastern direction to mingle its waters with the Upper Iowa in section thirty-four. Spring Creek arises not far from the center of the town and joins Beaver Creek in section thirty- three. Another little stream comes from Mower county and makes a confluence with the Beaver in section seventeen. There is quite a little pond on the farm of A. H. Barnes, in section thirty-five, from which flows quite a stream at all times, but at some seasons it sinks into the ground to again reappear on its journey to the Upper Iowa.

The soil in the east half of the township is usually a rich black muck with a clay subsoil which, in some places lays quite deep, and in other

places there is a quick sand sub-stratum. The west half of the town, and along the southern line, the soil inclines to clay with a sand mixture. On sections seven and eight there was formerly a heavy grove, but most of the primitive timber has been removed. In the northeast part of the town, especially, there is a subsoil of limestone, the soil itself being a dark loam.

This was formerly a great wheat growing town, but in this regard it has shared the experience of most of the other towns in the county, and barley, oats, corn, stock, and the dairy are now being cul- tivated and an era of prosperity is visible on all sides.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

This town being off from the regular emigrants' trail, was not settled quite so early as some of the others in the county. In 1854, H. E. Edmunds, a native of Connecticut arrived from Wisconsin in May, and having the whole town to select from, took a good slice of territory from section thirty- one, which he yet retains.

L. Abbott, of Canada, came here in August of that year, and his choice fell in section one.

Mr. Callahan, who was murdered two years afterwards, had his claim in section eight.

In 1854, there were quite a number of arrivals, and of these we mention :

Oliver Welch, who reached here in May and con- cluded to make a home in section thirty-four, which he still maintains.

Lester Bennett, in the fall of that year planted himself in section one, but a few years later trans- planted himself to Iowa, and afterwards in Michi- gan.

B. F. Holman, a native of New Hampshire, came

Digitized by

Google

519

BEAVER TOWNSHIP.

in August, and his farm was in section one, but he now lives in Illinois. A son is in Spring Valley.

Jacob Leuthold, a Swiss, secured a place in sec- tion seventeen, where he resided until 1860, and then went to Mantorville.

Henry Huney, also from Switzerland, pre-empted a place in sections seventeen and twenty. In 1866, he went to Rochester.

John Halver, of Norway, came over from Wis- consin on the 24th of June, and settled in section twenty-one, where he yet lives.

Andrew Peters of the same nationality, arrived from Wisconsin on the 21st of June, and he found an unoccupied place in section twenty-one, where his family still resides.

Turkel Timmonson came from Wisconsin and his lot fell in section sixteen, but he is now in Wa- seca county.

In 1856, there was also quite an immigration, and in this list were several who are here re- corded :

A Boynton, of Maine, came here from Wiscon- sin, and his selection was from section one.

Joseph Earl took land in section thirty-five, but in 1866, went to Michigan where he still remains.

James Sample, a Scotchman, came from Illinois and established bis home in section seven. He was afterwards found dead in the road, with indi- cations that he had been thrown from his horse with this fatal result.

Peter Clynfelton drifted around here in the fall, he remained several years and removed to Iowa.

Peter Myer, on his arrival staked out a claim in section sixteen which he improved for six or seven years and then went to Mower county, where he may still be found.

Henry Houk took his farm from section eighteen but sold out in seven or eight years and went to Mantorville.

Jacob Brandly, from the Alps, came here from New York and secured a farm in section eighteen, and afterwards went to the Pacific coast, and from thence home to Switzerland.

Jacob Gullman, of the same nationality, took a place in section seven, and the next year, 1857, sold to a countryman of his, John Myer, who im- proved the land, and enlisted in the army when the war broke out. On his return he sold out and went to Pine Island. Gullman took another claim in section seventeen.

James Beaman came from New York and set- tled in section fifteen. In 1875, he went to Kansas. Of those who came in 1857, may be recorded:

John Boynton, of Maine, who had a place in sec- tion two; he went to Iowa in 1866, and from there to Dakota, where he still lives.

D. Brainard Griffin, of Vermont, came from Ill- inois, and his place was in section fifteen. He died in the service of his country during the Re- bellion. .

Almon Griffin had a claim in section sixteen and died during the war.

E. D. Earle procured a farm in section thirty- six, and he went to Kansas in 1879.

Thomas Bogan came from Wisconsin and his land was on section twenty-eight. He died in 1878, and his widow remains on the place.

Peter Glathart, of Ohio, was temporarily in sec- tion thirty-two, but soon returned home.

Hans Christianson, a native of Wisconsin, bought a place in section five, but he is now in section sixteen.

John Balch stopped awile in section seventeen, and then went to Iowa.

Ole J. Hatlestad came and his land was in sec- tion four, but he is now on section five.

James J. Hatlestad was from Wisconsin, and he got a farm in section five. He is now the Turnkey in the county jail.

Christian Hanson, of Norway, came from Wis- consin, and his place was situated in section four. In 1881, he removed to Clay county, Iowa.

Elijah Gates located in section sixteen.

Levi Gates, of New York, from Illinois, settled on section twenty-nine, he is now on section two.

In 1858, the rush of settlers seemed to be over, but of the few who came that year, two or three will be mentioned.

Mial Nichols, a native of New York, came up from Iowa and settled on section nine. He died in 1879.

James Shepard, also of New York, came from Illinois to section ten, and in 1866, went to Mower county and is there now.

H. G. Stockham, from Wisconsin, bought the northwest quarter of section twenty-five, which he still holds.

In 1859, David Burns and Ira Baldwin put in an appearance on sections sixteen and thirty-five, respectively.

Digitized by

Google

520

HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY.

SOME EARLY EVENTS.

Lynden Christian, son of Andrew and Mary Peters, first breathed the air of this world in Beaver on the 6th of January, 1856.

Andrew, son of Turkel and Katie Timmonson, was introduced to the light of day in October, 1855, and he was taken away in March, 1858.

Mr. J. J. Hatlestad was married to Miss Catha- rine Anderson in the fall of 1859.

Mr. Christian Hanson married Miss Mary Sam- ple in the fall of 1859.

There may have been earlier cases than these, but none have been reported to us.

In June, 1856, a man named Calahan, who had a claim on section eight, was murdered in his cabin and dragged to the creek, where his body was covered with willows. A man was arrested for the murder, but was not convicted; he, however, sold out and left the country. This is related as the first deliberate murder in the county.

At an early day B. F. Holman went to feed his pigs, about elghty rods away, one snow stormy evening, got bewildered and lost his way, but suc- ceeded in reaching the house of L. Abbotts, where he spent the night, and returned home the next morning to find his family in a state of despair of ever seeing him again alive.

The first blacksmith shop was started in 1857, by John Balch, on section seventeen, he hammered away for a few years and then went away himself; and it is said that, discarding his leather apron, he is now a preacher. To finish this subject here, the only blacksmith in town is Hiram Winslow, who started a charcoal fire in 1876, on section twenty-two.

The first mass in town was in 1859, at the house of John Bogan by Father Pendergast.

POLITICAL.

The regular institution of the town as an indepen- dent municipal subdivision of the county, was on the noted 11th of May, 1858, and the meeting was at the house of Andrew Peters on section twenty-one. William Beaman had the honor of requesting the gentlemen to come to order, and Dennis Meighen and Andrew Peters were judges of election. The result of the balloting was as follows: Supervisors, Peter N. Glathart, Chairman, George W. Pillsbury, and Andrew Peters; Clerk, D. B. Griffin; Assessor, John H. Bonesteel; Collector, Jacob Leuthold; Overseer of the Poor, David S. Patten; Constables,

Norman Gates and Jacob Leuthold; Justices of the Peace, John H. Bonesteel and Elijah Gates; David S. Patten having declined to serve as Over- seer of the Poor, Toren Pasko was appointed in his stead.

Nothing can be said except in a commendatory way of the town government from that time to this.

The town officers for 1882 are: Supervisors, Torry Avery, Chairman, L. Gates, and J. Hems- ness: Clerk, A. R. Hungerford; Treasurer, F. Hall; Assessor, O. J. Hatlestad; Justice of the Peace, A. R. Hungerford; Constable, J. A. Hanson.

POST-OFFICES.

A Post-office, called Ettaville, was established in 1858, with E. D. Earle as Postmaster, and the office was opened at his place on section thirty-six. The next year Ira Baldwin was appointed, and he retained the office until it was discontinued a few years later. It was on the mail route between El- liota and Austin, and came through once a week each way.

The Post-office in Alba was established in 1859, and it was called "Alba" because the name was "short, eastern, and ancient," as pithily stated by Mr. Andrew Peters.

SCHOOLS.

The first district in the town was organized in 1857, in the southwesthern part, and the first school was taught by Mrs. H. E. Edmunds in her house; after several years, as no schoolhouse had been built, the district was merged into No. 103.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Fillmore County, Including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota, Part 92

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

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