USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 32
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Early Industrial Enterprises. A tannery was started in 1859, by William Bursell, on section twenty-five. A building eighteen by twenty-two feet was first put up and quite a business was done for two years. His bark mill was placed on a large stump for a foundation and was also utilized for grinding corn. The attempt was not entirely satisfactory, and was abandoned. In 1859 or 1860, a saw-mill was constructed about twenty rods below the spring on the farm of Albert Nichols. It had an over-shot water wheel twenty feet in diameter. The building was eighteen by forty feet, with a perpendicular saw that would cut three or four hundred feet of lumber a day. This was kept in motion for about four years. About the time that Nichols' mill stopped making sawdust, Marshall Winch put up a mill about a mile and a half southwest of Lenora, which was not unlike the other, except that it had a better power. A brother, Asel, finally bought the affair and a few years after a freshet washed it out. In 1880, a mill was erected thirty by eighty-four feet, on the farm of P. Brode, near the railroad. It had a four horse-power press run by an engine of fifteen horse-power, and had a twenty-foot Cook evaporator. It turned out several hun- dred gallons of syrup in a day, which was purified by the best processes. The establishment was built and owned by six enterprising settlers: Daniel O. Brien, G. W. Sprague, S. P. Sprague, G. M. Traxler, Frank Allison and P. Brode. The enter- prise was finally abandoned.
Lenora is a hamlet in section two, Canton township. At the present time it consists of one store, a hotel, a Methodist church, a school, a blacksmith shop, a village hall, and a number of residences.
Early Settlement. The projector of this townsite was Elder
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John L. Dyer, an enthusiastic Methodist minister, who, in 1855, took the west half of the southeast and the east half of the south- west quarter of section two. In the year 1856, he set off the southwest forty for a town site, proposed to sell lots and appro- priate the avails to the building of a large Methodist church. It was to be of stone and in the basement there was to be a school or academy, which should be denominational in its teachings. Mr. Dyer devoted his energies to this object and many lots were sold, some of them realizing $60 each. In the winter of 1856 and 1857, stone was hauled for the building and work was com- menced. The walls were nearly up when the panic of 1857 struck the enterprise. When the building of the stone church was commenced, the building committee consisted of Charles B. Willford, LeRoy Streator and James M. Graham. The three signed notes to pay the contractor, McDonald, for his work, and the burden of the payment fell on Willford and Graham, a heavy calamity in those days of little money. Later a smaller church was built inside the walls of the half-completed edifice.
In 1856 the first store was put up by John L. Dyer, and man- aged by his son Joshua. John Miller soon put up a blacksmith shop, and in 1859 Charles Churchill erected a hotel.
In 1857 Lenora became a great business center, as it was centrally located in the then sparsely settled country of that locality in territorial times. Elections, political meetings, church services, singing schools, and spelling schools were held here in the first edifice built in Fillmore county for school purposes. All public gatherings invariably had a good attendance in this early period of settlement on Richland prairie, as it was then called.
During the year 1857 a literary society was organized at this place, called the Archean Society, the object of which was for the improvement of those participating in composing and ex- pressing their thoughts on paper. A paper was made up com- posed of the articles written by the members of the society, and others, and named the "Monthly Union," and read on a set time once a month, in the first log schoolhouse built in the county, by some member of the society who had been chosen at some former meeting as editor. The names of some of the members of the Archean Society were: Elias F. Dyer, W. W. Braden, William Willford, Seymour V. Kingsbury, Henry Titus, William C. Jack- son, Mrs. Sherburne Stevens, Maria Streator and Mary Symms. At this date (1911) all are deceased except William Willford, the writer of this sketch, and Maria Streator, now Mrs. Kings- bury. William Willford was the first editor of the "Monthly Union." The society kept up its organization for a number of years, which was up to the time of the "Indian Scare" in 1862, when nearly every settler "vamoosed his ranch" to get away
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from the Indians who were at that time distant at least 125 miles. When the "Union" was read there was always a crowded house to listen to the articles that were written by the home talent of Richland Prairie.
Writing articles for the "Monthly Union" proved to be a good mental and beneficial exercise for the members; the enter- tainments given by the Archean Society were well received by the people, and the articles read from the pages of the "Union" were instructive and amusing to the listeners. The early pioneer days of Lenora will long be remembered from the time of the "Monthly Union" of 1857 and later.
Lenora Postoffice. Charles B. Willford was appointed post- master in the winter of 1856, and Joshua Dyer was his deputy, who kept the office at his store. Afterward Mrs. Bennet acted as deputy, with the office at her house in the village. Then John Hobart had the office at his store, and was followed by William Smith, and on his death his wife received his commission. George Johnson held it in his store until it was burned in 1878, when A. C. Seelye had it at his hotel for a few months, when N. J. Willsie was appointed. Ile was followed by W. J. Stevens, who was serving when the office was discontined by reason of the establishment of the rural route from Canton.
Lenora Cemetery. The land for a burial place was purchased of William Smith and O. F. Holmes at a very early day. Austin Eastman's remains were the first to be deposited there, in the fall of 1856. The records in regard to the early cemetery or- ganization are lost, but another organization was effected Sep- tember 7, 1867. A driveway was purchased from George W. Parker after the incorporation. William Willford, Charles Will- ford, E. D. Washburn and William P. Stevens stood responsible for the price of the driveway until enough lots were sold to raise the amount. The cemetery is well located and well kept.
Elliota Village. In the summer of 1853, when this region was first settled, Captain Elliott, whose claim proved to be on the southwest of section thirty-two, planned to have a village here, and gave away lots to all who would improve them, and as soon as the land was in the market it was platted and recorded. A store was started, and a hotel, by the enterprising proprietor, and in 1854 he sold his stock of goods to Harvey Marsh, who managed the business up to February, 1855, when the hotel and store were both burned, but Mr. Marsh at once rebuilt. John Boone next put up a large stone store. John Cleghorn also soon put in a good stock of goods, and it is said dug the first well.
This was at one time a stage line center, Walker's Dubuque and St. Paul line being among the number. The old territorial road was east of Elliott's claim, and there was great rivalry
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between this place and Syford's, who also kept a hotel, as to the travel. It was finally brought through the new village, and prosperity seemed to be a secured promise, but today it is deserted, the business center now being at Canton.
Postoffice. A postmaster was commissioned here in 1854, Cap- tain Elliott holding the document. He was succeeded by Mr. Dickinson, Mr. Wilcox, Mr. Manuel, and finally by Dr. Sturgeon, who surrendered the pouch key in April, 1882, and closed the office.
Prosper is a small but growing village in sections thirty-five and thirty-six. It has a church, one bank, one creamery, one lumber yard, one blacksmith shop, one hardware store, a hotel, two general stores, and a grain warehouse. It is noted as a great market for live stock, its shipments being very large.
Early History. Soon after the close of the war of the rebel- lion, E. B. Clark secured a postoffice and was appointed post- master, keeping the office at his house in section thirty-five. In about one year it went over the state line, with Enoch Rollins as postmaster. In 1880, F. R. Miles succeeded to the position. A depot was erected, and gradually a village grew up around the store and depot.
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CHAPTER XXIV.
AMHERST AND HOLT.
Amherst-Location and Area Settlement-Onstine Party-Cele- brations-Richland Center-Stringtown-Henrytown-Edited by M. H. Onstine-Holt-Settlement-Organization-Early Events-Highland Village-Whalan Village-Early History- Officers-Present Advantages.
Amherst township is constituted as originally outlined 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 bounded 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 north- ward curve in the corner of section twenty-five, where it leaves Amherst township through the southeast quarter of section twenty-four. This township contains an area of 23,040 acres. The surface in the northern part is generally rolling 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 portion 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 con- tinues, gradually lowering to the level of the river. Here, in places, the prairie is covered with a growth of brush and timber, which, when removed, leaves the land in a fair condition for cultivation. The eastern tier of sections 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. The bottoms, along the river and creeks, are covered with good varieties 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
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MRS. E. L. BABCOCK
MRS. ANTHONY DUMEZ
E. L. BABCOCK
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wild and unknown region in search of a suitable spot to estab- lish a home, and, although parties 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 undertaken to gather it.
Annanias Lashmidt and his brother, John, were the first two men to commence an effort for civilization in the town of Am- herst. 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 fol- lowing spring to further their improvements. In August, 1853, they sold this claim to E. P. Eddy. The two Lashmidts lived in this and adjoining towns until 1866, when they removed to Missouri.
In the spring of 1853, Jacob Vought arrived and selected a claim in section thirty-two. Early in the spring of 1853, another hardy pioneer and adventurer wended his way to Amherst, 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 became alarmed on account of the Indians, who had been encamped throughout the township, and he sold his claim for a trifling sum to James Kelley, Jr., 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 remained but a short time and sold to Michael Onstine, 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 con- victed and sentenced to ninety-nine years and one day's imprison- ment at hard labor. After serving eight years of his sentence he was pardoned on account of good behavior, and then disap- peared. A Mr. Laird was an early settler, arriving in Amherst in the winter of 1853 and 1854; he, however, remained on his claim in section twenty-seven but a short time, selling out and removing to Missouri. With Laird came Frank Richardson, from New York State, who located upon section thirty-six.
B. F. Tillottson took a claim 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, selected another claim in sec- tion 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. William McHenry squatted on land now occupied by the poor farm. Henry Onstine
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bought it. James Kelley, Jr., also had some land which Mr. Onstine bought.
1854. Joseph W. Smith located in section twenty-seven in 1854. He sold out and moved to Missouri many years ago.
1855. Phineas Underwood, a typical Yankee, was another 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 1855. Ile came from Preston and located near "Stringtown." He and his team of horses were killed by lightning in 1871. Rev. George Kingston came in about 1855, locating in section nineteen. He was a local Methodist preacher. His son, William Kingston, en- listed and went to the war, but came home with the typhoid fever. His family were ill with the fever shortly after, and the father and one child died. George Ruggles was an early settler and a prominent man in Fillmore county. He also settled near "Stringtown," but removed to Kansas in 1871. George and Nels Phillips were early settlers at "Stringtown." They were carried away to Kansas in the stampede to that state in 1870 and 1871. The same may be said of the Lashmidt brothers, who were among the first settlers.
1856. William Barton came in 1856, from Vermont, and located in section thirty-five. He remained on the claim until 1875, when he sold out and moved to Mason City, Iowa. He was a prominent man in Fillmore county politics, holding various offices at different times. He was sent to the legislature in 1869, and was also a county commissioner.
Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Amherst township were issued by the government in 1854. Those who obtained land that year were as follows, the date of the issu- ance of the warrant being given first, then the name of the owner and then the section in which the land was largely located : January 18, Michael Onstine, 26; August 8, Benjamin F. Tillott- son, 33; August 18, Francis Richardson, 34; August 29, Peter Oleson, 34; August 29, Henry Onstine, 32; August 29, Lars Pederson, 34; September 1, Annanias Lashmet, 25-26; September 1, Levi M. Smith, 22; September 1, Jemima Streator, 25; Sep- tember 6, Robert Gilbert, 25; September 6, Thomas Gilbert, 35; September 6, James Lynn, 26-27; September 7, Knud Knudson, 27; September 8, Heluk Christopher, 11; September 8, Lars Trul- son, 1; September 8, Lars Christensen, 11; September 8, Andrew Haldersen, 2; September 8, Thomas Knudson, 11; December 23, William J. Adams, 33; December 27, Henry Hutchison, 25; De- cember 27, Levi Manning, 24.
The Onstine Party. Henry Onstine set out from Ohio, in April, 1853, in company with his son, Michael H., and his son-in-
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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 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 a while. Representatives of the colony traveled through Iowa and adjoining states in quest of a suitable loca- tion, but they returned dissatisfied. After wandering around for some time and locating 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, J. B. Onstine, a young man who had located and was practicing law in Decorah. He discouraged them in various ways and per- suaded them to come to Minnesota. They at once sent a dele- gation 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. Kelley and William McHenry, in the southern part of Amherst township, retaining one for himself and others for Eddy and Tillottson. He located in sec- tion thirty-two, where he found all his requirements, as to timber, water and prairie, satisfied.
In the fall of 1853 eight of the Onstine party rode over the prairie on horseback in a northeast direction from what is now Henrytown, in search for timber enough to maintain a farm. Where Bratsberg church now stands was a thicket of hazel and small poplar, and this party were probably the first white men to enter the ridge land grove of timber on what was later the G. J. Onstine farm, now owned by T. T. Johnson. In going over they passed near Knut Knutson's, now Stringtown, and returned by way of John Everitt's and Holver Peterson's, who settled in the spring on what proved to be section sixteen. These were all the settlers on their route.
Political. The township was organized May 11, 1858. The Messrs. Onstine, Henry and Michael H. and Caleb C., well known men, were the principal spirits in organizing and getting the gov- ernment wheels of the township running. The first town meet- ing was held May 11, 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. Marshall. The board met May 15, 1858, and made the organi- zation of the town of Amherst a substantial fact.
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Military Company. In 1862 a militia company was formed and organized in Amherst, composed of about 150 men. The following were the officers of the company: Captain, Simon Knudson (Soiney) ; lieutenants, John Peterson, Hans Gunvalson and Knud L. Olson.
Celebration. An early celebration of the anniversary of American Independence took place July 4, 1854, in the southeast corner of the town of Amherst, in a grove owned by E. P. Eddy, and this gentleman furnished lumber for seats and the like. The opening of festivities commenced about 10 o'clock in the morn- ing, by firing eight guns- shot-guns and rifles-heavily charged. After the speeches and cheers ended, a basket picnic was next in order. Conversations and chats continued during the balance of the day, and not until the sun was hidden below the western horizon did the meeting adjourn. The ground was decorated with a liberty pole, from which the stars and stripes were way- ing in the breeze, and those who attended say that nothing in the line of celebrations they ever attended could equal this.
This same day, at Henry, was held a celebration of similar character. M. H. Onstine had made a flag which was unfurled and was without doubt the first in the county of this character. Mr. Onstine still has the same flag, which he proudly raises each Independence day.
Richland Center. A prospective village was laid out in 1854, by William Barton, with the same motive in view that stimu- lated Henrytown's projectors. It was platted upon Mr. Barton's land on section thirty-five. A blacksmith shop was opened by 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 is situated in the southern part of the town upon the northwest quarter of section twenty-seven. It is upon the crossing of country roads, and is on the south branch of Root river. It was a trading and postoffice point for many years.
The postoffice was named Amherst. It was established in 1864, with William Winch as the first postmaster, and was kept in Mr. Winch's store. E. L. Babcock kept the office 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 Ole Oleson. This enterprising Norwegian managed the establishment for a short time and then went out of the mer- cantile 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. The firm of Langley & Halvorson succeeded Mr. Ward, and they in turn sold to J. D. Elliot, who, after running
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MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. SHATTUCK
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it for a short time, sold to Mr. Babcock.
The name of the hamlet 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 a town, that is, it prevents its being confounded with others because of its oddity, and by it the locality is appropri- ately 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 shortened by common consent to "Stringtown."
Henry. In 1854 an effort was made to have the two south- eastern counties in the state divided into 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.
The postoffice in this village was established in the year of 1858, with C. C. Onstine as postmaster, and it was through his efforts it was secured, it being moved from Lenora to this point. The office was first at the residence of Mr. Onstine, and remained there for about one year. In the spring of 1859, M. H. Onstine was appointed postmaster, and he held it for about five years, when E. W. Bullis succeeded him, and it was soon after discon- tinued. Still later the Henrytown postoffice was reestablished and M. H. Onstine reinstated, but a few years later it was dis- continued by reason of the rural free delivery.
HOLT TOWNSHIP.
Holt is the second township from the northern and eastern boundaries of Fillmore county, having as intervening towns, Arendahl on the north and Norway on the east, while Amherst is on the south and Carrolton on the west. The principal stream is the Root river, which enters the town in section eight, having previously touched section eighteen, meanders into the edge of section five, and returning, goes down to section sixteen, then north through section nine and across the southeast corner of section four into section three, where it works toward the east to swing around and flow northwest and leave the town in sec-
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tion two. There is a branch of this river, of considerable pre- tensions during a rainy time; it comes from the middle of the eastern part of the town, and running northwest, finally reaches the main river in the northern part of the township. Another creek from the southern part flows north and empties into the river in section nine.
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