USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 31
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
Early Settlement. The immigration to Chatfield commenced in 1853, along the Sugar creek valley, and this went on increas- ing until all the land was taken, and of course, new comers could then only purchase of the pre-emptors. R. H. Findley built the first house on section twenty-seven in the Sugar creek valley in 1853, it was of logs, fourteen by sixteen feet. In 1853, Hugh Paisley pre-empted a claim in section ten, and he, it is claimed, was the first settler in town to commence improvements on a claim, who came there with the intention of securing a home. He put up a little log hut and spent the winter of 1853-54.
One of the first frame houses was put up in the spring of 1854, on section twenty-four, by J. S. Edwards, bringing the lumber from Winona, and his family came in the fall. In 1854, D. W. Breese came and was the first to settle on section thirty- three. On first coming here there was an Indian village or encampment near, which varied from twenty, at times, up to
Digitized by Google
283
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
perhaps a hundred, and of course Mr. Breese and his family were the subjects of never tiring curiosity to the untutored children of the forest. They would come up in squads to the house, and sit and examine everything, and beg for food by pointing into their mouths. They were always amused to see Mrs. Breese wash and dress the children, the ablutions of course were considered a religious rite. Thomas Holmes, James Lynch, James Gardiner, Thomas Goldsmith, and Ole Christianson also came and secured places in this year.
Fannie Mcclellan was the first child, as it is supposed, born in the town, outside of the village. She was a daughter of James and Mary McClellan, and arrived in the spring of 1854. The father, James McClellan, was one of the earliest to die, his demise occurring in the summer of 1854.
In 1855, William Bailey, H. Brown, Urbin Wright, Patrick Lynch, Patrick McGraw, George Follinsbee, Trulo Erickson, Ole Jacobson, and Nels Nelson came to procure homes here.
In 1856, there were several accessions, among them, Martin Brannan, Michael King, M. Murphy, Patrick Williams, Thomas Larvin, John Conley, D. D. Frink, and Joseph Caw.
In 1857, Michael Rice and George Goldsmith arrived.
In 1858, James Power, Patrick Doyle, and Alfred Crosby put in an appearance. And after these the following persons settled in various parts of the town : Patrick Brennan, Ole Olson, D. C. Cartlich, M. W. Rooney, H. Hanson, and others have been coming, one by one, to take the place of those who have moved on.
Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Chatfield township were issued by the government in 1854. Those who obtained land that year were as follows, the date of the issuance of the warrant being given first, then the name of the owner and then the section in which the land was largely located. August 8, Thomas B. Twiford, six; August 16, Grove W. Willis, five; September 1, Alpheus W. Fargo, five; September 1, Harley B. Morse, five; September 5, Daniel W. Breese, twenty-eight; Sep- tember 5, William C. H. Gardinnier, twenty-seven; September 5, Luke McMaster, thirty-three; September 7, William Sauer, nine; September 8, Edwin B. Gere, six; September 9, Columbia French, four; September 9, Richard Freeman, five; September 9, Hugh Parsley, ten; September 9, Thomas Parsley, eleven; Sep- tember 9, Henry C. Wheeler, six ; September 9, Hirman K. Wilder, four; September 28, Simeon Crittenden, six; September 28, Wil- liam Shimer, five-six; October 12, Joseph Gold, seven; November 1, George W. Ross, eight; November 1, William K. Tribew, eight- nine; November 13, James Kinnely, twenty-eight; November 13, William Lynch, eleven.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER XXIII.
CANTON VILLAGE AND TOWNSHIP.
Canton Village-Advantages-Early History-Municipal History -Canton Township-Early Records-Organization-Railroad Bonds-Early Industrial Enterprises-Lenora-A Literary and Social Center-Elliota-Prosper-Edited by William Willford.
Canton village is a flourishing hamlet on the line of the Pres- ton-Reno division of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul. It contains three churches, Methodist, Presbyterian and Catho- lic, Masonic and Odd Fellows halls and a large brick school building; and all kinds of business are represented. The village enjoys a very good trade in a commercial way and is quite a grain and stock center. The citizens are progressive, and the Commercial Club is just now rebuilding and very much im- proving the hotel which is the property of the club. The Opera House is also being enlarged. The thrift of the farmers adjacent to the town is resulting in in- creased trade and Canton is growing and larger stocks are car- ried by her merchants. Canton is noted for her "Day Off," a recreation day given every year in August, when people gather for a general good time, from all over this section of the country.
Early History. Frank Adams, of Dubuque, the engineer of the railroad when building, perceiving the eligibility of the loca- tion for a village, bought thirty-two acres of land of Charles Willford in section twenty-one, the same amount from John Olson in section twenty, five acres from J. Sullivan in section twenty-eight, and five acres from G. B. Hudson in section twenty- nine. It is so situated that the water from one part of the village runs into Root river and on the other into the state of Iowa. It will thus be seen that the village occupies parts of four sections.
This was in the fall of 1879, and Mr. Adams immediately had the site surveyed and platted, and duly recorded with the name of Canton. The next spring 800 shade trees were set out, and about this time Charles Willford purchased a half interest in the property. In the spring of 1882, William Willford bought
284
Digitized by Google
MR. AND MRS. CHARLES WILLFORD
Digitized by
.
Digitized by Google
285
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
out Frank Adams, the other half interest remaining in the pos- session of Charles Willford. William Willford sold a half of his half interest to B. E. Edwards and R. E. Osborne. Many lots were sold. After a time Edwards & Osborne purchased Charles Willford's interest. None of the original owners now own property in the village except Charles Willford, who still has a residence here.
The building of the village was commenced in a small way when it was first laid out, by John Meyers, a man with an itinerating proclivity, who put up a board shanty for a board- ing house. In a few days Abraham Wiltse put up a shanty which he also dignified by calling it a boarding house. The first store was erected by David Donald, who at once put in a fine stock of goods, and took Joseph Ernest in as a partner. The business was continued but a short time. During the first part of the winter, John Manuel, who had a store in Elliota, com- menced moving his store and goods, and January, 1880, he had a good stock of general merchandise for sale. In a few weeks he moved up a larger building, twenty-two by sixty feet, and transferred his goods into this. James Young commenced his store about the same time that the moving was going on. The structure was the first substantial building erected in town, and was twenty-four by sixty feet, and in point of time it is the third store in the village. This store is still the leading store in the village and is rented from James Young by Web- ster & Hellickson. The boarding house above mentioned, after a time gave place to the "Commercial," a large building moved up from Elliota by L. D. Fay. The depot was first located about three quarters of a mile east of the present village, on the farm of Charles Willford. This was in fulfillment of the conditions under which the bonds were voted, to wit: "that the depot should be the nearest to the east line of section twenty-one" the west line of which is in the center of the present village. It remained there until the fall of 1881, when it was moved to the village. Coincident with the building of the railroad, the elevator built by the railroad company went up. From the first it was operated by A. & T. McMichael, of McGregor, Iowa. It was opened on December 1, 1879, and received about 21,000 bushels of grain the first month. It is twenty-four by twenty- eight feet with a warehouse of like size attached. The elevator has a capacity of 11,000 bushels. It is still in operation. About the same time another elevator was erected by McCormick & Co., of Lansing, Iowa. It has a capacity of 12,000 bushels. It is twenty-four by twenty-four feet, and a flat warehouse sixteen by twenty-four feet is attached. S. G. Sands, the first winter of the village, got a shop built and started a fire in his forge.
Digitized by Google
286
HISTORY OF FIJ.LMORE COUNTY
Day Brothers started a lumber yard in the fall of 1879 with Lyman Seelye in charge. Edwards & Osborne, of La Crosse also started a yard the same fall. Elias Johnson operated this yard until June, 1880, when he was succeeded by William Willford, who served for many years.
December 25 and 26, 1899, the main business district of Canton was swept by fire, entailing a loss of some $25,000.00.
Municipal History. March 22, 1887, the county commis- sioners granted a petition of the people of Canton village, look- ing toward incorporation. The election was to be held at the Desmond Hotel, April 29, 1887, and the inspectors of election were to be C. Abbott, H. P. Mitson and A. C. Blair. The elec- tion was duly held, and the village incorporated. The first presi- dent of the village was HI. H. Haskins and the first recorder was C. Abbott. In 1888 S. Boyd was president and C. Abbott recorder. In 1889, S. Boyd was president and H. P. Mitson was recorder. In 1890, Ira Hubbard was president and J. Dun- ford recorder. In 1891 Ira Hubbard was president and J. W. Funk recorder. In 1892 James Manuel was president and J. W. Funk recorder.
The present village records date from 1895, the previous records having been destroyed by fire. The records show the officers since 1895 to have been as follows:
1895-President, J. Dunford; trustees, C. E. Mckinney, Frank Hudson, Frank Wickett; treasurer, H. O. Helgeson; recorder, O. Larson; justices, S. Boyd and Thomas Rich.
1896-President, Ole Larson; trustees, C. E. McKinney, M. C. Willford and William Edmister; treasurer, M. T. Tollefson; recorder, J. W. Funk ; constables, David McMasters and George Patterson.
1897-President, Ole Larson; trustees, C. E. Mckinney, W. M. Edmister, M .. C. Willford; trasurer, R. J. Sturgeon; recorder, J. W. Funk; justices, S. Boyd and H. P. Mitson; constables, F. M. Boynton.
1898-President, J. Dunford; trustees, A. L. Hudson, F. Wickett, H. Tollefson; recorder, R. J. Sturgeon; constable, George Patterson.
1899-President, L. D. Shipman; trustees, H. T. Tollefson, C. E. Mckinney, W. A. Snyder; treasurer, O. Larson; recorder, George J. Kohle; justices, E. J. Eames, E. McMasters; constable, F. M. Boynton.
1900-President, J. Dunford; trusteees, F. Corless, V. J. Beach, H. P. Mitson; treasurer, James Manuel; recorder, J. Lar- son; justices, H. Iverson, A. Kimball; constable, George Pat- terson.
Digitized by Google
-
287
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
1901-President, J. Dunford; trustees, J. Larson, J. Dalley, H. P. Mitson ; recorder, R. W. Bostworth.
1902-President, James Daley ; trustees, C. E. Mckinney, H. P. Mitson, James Manuel; treasurer, James Dunford; recorder, A. J. Fife; justices, II. Iverson and A. Kimball.
1903-President, H. P. Mitson; trustees, James Manuel, Frank Wickett, A. J. Fife; treasurer, J. Dunford; recorder, F. M. Boynton; constables, A. A. Truman, George Spyier.
1904-President, H. P. Mitson; trustees, James Manuel, C. H. Pierce, H. Marotz; treasurer, D. B. Norton; recorder, F. M. Boynton; justices, H. Iverson and A. Kimball; constable, W. H. Kimball.
1905-President, John Emster; trustees, B. M. Wicks, P. W. Young, James Manuel; recorder, F. M. Boynton; treasurer, D. B. Norton.
1906-President, H. P. Mitson ; trustees, R. J. Sturgeon, James Manuel, Clarence Carrier; treasurer, D. B. Norton; recorder, H. H. Wheeler; justices, A. Kimball, A. Wheeler; constable, W. H. Kimball.
1907-President, H. P. Mitson ; trustees, C. A. Webster, C. H. Pierce, A. L. Hudson; treasurer, F. A. Masters; recorder, D. B. Norton; justice, John S. Norton; constable, P. S. Boyd.
1908-President, H. P. Mitson; trustees, E. T. Soland, Thomas Rice, C. H. Pierce; treasurer, F. A. Masters; recorder, D. B. Norton; justices Albert Kimball, J. S. Norton; constables, W. H. Kimball, L. E. Smith.
1909-President, H. P. Mitson ; trustees, C. H. Pierce, Thomas Rice, E. T. Soland; treasurer, F. A. Masters; recorder, J. Dun- ford; justice, A. L. Hudson; constable, M. Armstrong.
1910-President, J. Dunford; trustees, C. H. Pierce, H. H. Vail, E. Stead; treasurer, F. A. Masters; recorder, H. Boyd; justices, A. Kimball, A. L. Hudson; constables, W. H. Kimball, D. McMasters.
1911-President, H. H. Vail; trustees, C. H. Pierce, E. Stead, S. Domrud; treasurer, F. A. McMasters; recorder, J. Dunford; constable, Alonzo Woodle.
1912-President, H. H. Vail; trustees, E. B. Webster, W. H. Sturgeon, C. H. Pierce; treasurer, F. A. Masters; recorder, W. H. Reed; justices, J. S. Hatlestad, Max Krause; constables, W. H. Kimball and George Patterson.
CANTON TOWNSHIP.
Canton township, the second on the southern tier from Hous- ton county, with Newburg on the east, Iowa on the south, Har- mony on the west, and Amherst on the north. It has the reg-
Digitized by Google
288
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
ular thirty-six sections of a government township. The town- ship is particularly adapted to tillage purposes and stock rais- ing, as it is well watered with springs, yielding water of great purity, and in abundance. The soil is varied and of superior quality. In the northeast part Richland Prairie comes down into the town to the vicinity of Lenora, while in the extreme southern part, a narrow strip of Looking Glass Prairie is found. North of this the first settler found burr oak openings, with a scattering but fair growth. Along the central part of the eastern town line it is more broken, with occasional stony points, and with some timber. The northern and southern parts of the town have a dark loam, while the remainder is of a clayish nature and very productive. The "sink holes" in this town are quite numerous.
A stranger coming into the town would not fail to notice the fine buildings and well kept farms which give such an air of thrift and prosperity to the inhabitants, who maintain the front rank in modes of farming.
Early Settlement. The first settler in Canton was Albert Nichols who staked out a claim March 7, 1851. This was the first claim taken in the county. The complete story of this early settlement is told in the chapter on the first settlement of the county.
In 1852, Archibald Donald took quite a tract of land in the eastern part of section thirty-six. He came from Scotland and remained awhile in Milwaukee, but in 1852, came to this town and remained until death, which was by drowning, at Preston, in 1865.
In 1853, there were quite a number of accessions to the town, among them Nelson Darling arrived in the spring and went on to section twelve, but after a year or two removed. He died became a prominent man. His farm finally became the county - in Brownsville. B. F. Tillotson came with the Onstine party and took land in Amherst, but his house was south of the town line, and in Canton. Tillotson married Hannah Onstine, and poor farm. Elijah Austin came here from Monroe county, Wis- consin, in 1853. Ilis land was in sections eleven and fifteen. He was county commissioner and was the first postmaster in town (Richland postoffice), and in all respects a prominent man. In about 1856 he removed to the vicinity of Faribault, and after- wards farther west. T. J. Eames took land in section ten, in 1853, and finally went to Texas.
In the southwestern part of the town another settlement was commenced in 1853, coming from Moline, Ill., headed by Captain Julius Elliott, the founder of Elliota village. The year before he had come up the Mississippi to Wild Cat Bluff, and thence west
Digitized by Google
-..
289
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
as far as this region, which pleased him so much that he returned, and was instrumental in bringing quite a colony, among them Matthew Williams and Mr. Syford, who came with a team, bring- ing lumber from Iowa. Elliott took the southwest quarter of section thirty-two. Williams quarreled with the others and went to Houston county. Syford remained on section thirty-three for about seven years, when he went to Kansas. Captain Elliott brought his family here in May. Robert Armstrong took the southwest quarter of section thirty-three, where he lived for many years.
Several claims were made this summer, and there was rather serious trouble in adjusting the ownership question that arose.
Elder William Bly planted himself in the southeast quarter of section thirty-two. He was a preacher, but not a member of this colony. He soon sold to Charles B. Kimball, and went to section six, Newburg, going from there to Bloomfield township, where he died. E. P. Eddy also arrived in 1853, and secured a foothold in section one. He was one of the famous Onstine party. Godfrey Wolford was a character who put in an appearance in the summer of 1853, from Ohio, with his wife and children, and stuck his stakes in section twenty-three, in the southeast quarter. Here he lived and worked and fished and hunted, and told his stories for eight or ten years, and then went to Martin county, where he died in 1881.
John Willford came from Wisconsin in 1853 and settled on section fourteen. He stayed until the sixties, when he moved to Cottonwood county, this state, later going to Pueblo, Colo., where he died. James Kelley and stepsons, the Livingood boys, also came in 1853. Kelley's habitation was just south of where Lenora now is, and in addition to the 160 acres around his cabin, he claimed thousands of acres and proceeded to stand guard over it with a shot gun, threatening to shoot any man who should presume to drive a stake anywhere in his vast domain. He was a regular "bulldozer," although this was long before the coining of that graphic word. His pretensions were based upon the right of conquest or discovery, as he declared that he had hunted all over this region before the advent of other white men. In humble imitation of the civilized nations of the globe, he succeeded in making his claims so far respected that he real- ized quite handsomely from his methods. He sold 400 acres to Elijah Austin, besides many others to the new comers. He was a married man, coming from Wisconsin, and had raised a family, and after some years he left. The Kingsburys also took claims in 1853. Four brothers-John, Charles, Martin and Sey- mour V .- came to the county in 1852 and settled in the vicinity of Waukokee, in Carimona township. Martin remained in Wau-
Digitized by Google
290
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
kokee, but some years later went to Kansas. Charles later in life went to Oregon. Seymour V. and John, in 1853, took claims in section thirteen, Canton. Seymour V. went to South Dakota, and then to Mason City, Iowa, where he died. John moved to Preston and died.
W. McHenry also settled in Canton in 1853, but relinquished his claim to B. F. Tillotson and moved to section sixteen, Preble township. In 1854 came Charles B. Willford and settled in section fourteen. With him were his sons, William, Charles, Wesley and Sanford S. There was also one daughter, Sidnia Jane. The mother also came. With this party came James M. Graham. Graham brought his wife and family. The party left Hancock county, Ohio, September 11, 1854, and reached Canton October 7, of the same year.
Among others who came in 1854 were Sylvanus Allen, W. J. Howell, Silas Pennock, John Jacobson, L. L. Streator, James C. Rice.
William Marley and Mathias Heard in 1855 came from Moline with six yoke of oxen, some cows and other stock. They had been river men on the lower Mississippi. Heard secured a place in section thirty-one, but afterwards sold and went to Harmony, and finally to Kansas. Marley located in section thirty-one, and afterwards in section twenty-nine. Among others who came in 1855 were Dr. J. M. Wheat, George McMaster, Elder John L. Dyer, Lyman Seelye, William Smith, O. F. Holmes.
In 1856 came D. L. Bryant, Horace and William Wheeler, Patrick McKenney, Joseph Woodle and many others, this being the year of the principal influx, when the larger part of the land in the township was taken up.
Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Canton town- ship were issued by the government in 1854. Those who obtained land that year were as follows, the date of the issuance of the warrant being given first, then the name of the owner and then the section in which the land was largely located: June 16, Henry Kelley, Jr., 28; August 8, John Graham, 25; August 8, George R. Miller, 1; August 8, Albert Nichols, 25; August 8, Benjamin F. Tillotson, 4; August 10, Elijah Austin, 11; August 11, Julius W. Elliot, 32; August 11, John Kingsbury, 13; August 16, Enoch H. Miller, 25; August 18, Aaron Ludden, 12; August 25, Giles L. Reynolds, 14-15; August 25, Nelson Darling, 11; August 28, John Willford, 23; August 29, Theodore J. Eames, 9; August 29, Earl F. Emmons, 4; August 29, Austen Eastman, 11; August 29, John Jacobson, 3; August 29, Hans Johnson, 10; Au- gust 29, Peter Oleson (Peterson), 3; August 31, Christopher Hellikson, 24; September 2, Robert Armstrong, 33; September 2, Andrew Cheney, 31; September 2, Amos A. Mooney, 31; Sep-
Digitized by Google
1
--
REV. DANIEL JONES
Digitized by
Digitized by Google
291
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
tember 5, Joshua McAllister, 34; September 5, Samuel Winch, 34; September 6, Greenleaf Ackerman, 25; September 6, Jona- than Meyers, 14; September 6, Godfrey Willford, 23-24; Septem- ber 7, Edwin Thayer, 22; September 7, Sylvannus Allen, 35; September 7, Ruel Thayer, 35; September 7, Madison Vincent, 35; September 9, Henry Baker, 1-2; September 9, Abner U. Harden, 1; September 14, Charles B. Kimball, 32; September 15, James L. Willford, 23; September 20, Silas Pennock, 15; October 3, William Armstrong, 33; October 10, George L. Chapin, 31; October 10, John S. Marsh, 30; October 13, Thomas Armstrong, 28; October 19, Charles B. Kingsbury, 13; October 20, Andrew Rankin, 33; October 21, Charles B. Willford, 14; October 30, Asel Winch, 34; November 3, John Kiser, 32; November 29, Hiram J. Willsey, 12; December 13, Elijah Winslow, 5; Decem- ber 14, George Mann, 35; December 16, William Leach, 15; December 23, James M. Graham, 12; December 23, Amos Newell, 15.
Early Events. David Donald, son of Archibald and Elizabeth Donald, was born on January 7, 1853. The first girl born here must have been Eliza A. Armstrong, daughter of Robert and Eliza Armstrong, who was born July 25, 1853. Aaron Ludden and Miss Nelson were married August 24, 1853, by Rev. William Bly (a Baptist minister). Miss Nelson was a sister of Mrs. Will- iam Loomis, of Mabel, Minn. From the most reliable informa- tion obtainable, John M. Kingsbury and Cordelia West were united in the bonds of wedlock by Elder William Bly, July, 1854. A step-child of Nelson Darling was taken away in the summer of 1853, and was buried on section twelve.
Political. At the meeting to organize the town, on May 11, 1858, there was a spirited contest over the name, and quite a number were suggested, but the struggle was finally narrowed down to two names, "Elyria," suggested by E. P. Eddy, and that of "Canton," proposed by Fred Flohr. The vote declared in favor of Canton, but the Elyria party gave up reluctantly, and the first town book ordered had this name on it. At this election E. P. Eddy and William S. Marsh were sworn in as judges, and William Willford and S. V. Kingsbury as clerks. The meeting was at the log schoolhouse in Lenora, the first edifice built in the county for school purposes. According to the record, the following persons were elected: Supervisors, Joseph Woodle (chairman), O. Holmes and William Marley ; justices of the peace, Silas Pennock and John Cleghorn; con- stables, G. R. Miller and William Wilkinson; clerk, E. F. Dyer; assessor, S. V. Kingsbury ; collector, C. B. Kimball; overseer of the poor, Reese Rush. The town was divided into nine road dis- tricts, and a tax of two days' work levied for each person not
Digitized by Google
292
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
exempt by law. On the records up to 1860, the name Elyria is carried along in the town books, when it is dropped out of sight.
Railroad Bonds. In 1879, a proposition was made to bond the town, to assist in the construction of the Narrow Gauge railroad. At the first election the proposition was rejected by a good round majority, but a second town meeting was held. The officers of the road were deeply interested, particularly the citizens living in Preston, and the citizens of the county seat generally were anxious as to the result, and were well repre- sented at the polls. Carriages were procured to convey the voters to the polls, and the point was carried. The second elec- tion came in harvest time, and those who were opposed to the bonds claimed that an unfair advantage was taken. In the fall of 1879, the town issued bonds to the amount of $12,000, to assist in building the Narrow Gauge railroad.
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.