USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 38
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Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Norway town- ship were issued by the government in 1855. The one who obtained land that year was 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 30, John Sanderson, 2.
Those who obtained land in 1856 were as follows: January 15, Tovel Oleson, 11; March 2, Lars Estenson, 13; March 28, Tom Tounson, 6; May 6, John Oleson, 28-33; May 21, Isaac Evens, 3-4-9-10; May 30, Ole Jorgensen, 24; May 30, Wilhelm Oleson, 14; June 2, Jens Larson, 3; June 13, Austin Evenson, 3; June 13, Jeremiah Griffith, 18; June 13, Oliver Hansen, 8; June 20, Knud Johnson, 4-9; June 20, Michael Kittelson, 34-35; June 21, Gunnell Swenson, 28; July 8, Andrew Nelson, 30; July 9, Ole G. Berge, 31; July 9, Knud Nelson (Melve), 31-32; July 26, Halvor Halvorsen, 22; July 26, Halvor Swendson, 14; August 15, Kneut Tollefson, 18-19; August 27, William L. Brown, 30; Sep- tember 22, Lars Halverson, 19-30; September 23, John Jacobson, 30; December 2, Jens Larson, 3.
Early Events. The oldest house is said to be that of John Olson, which was built in April, 1854, in section 16. The first resident minister was the Rev. N. E. Jensen. The first religious service was held by Rev. Mr. Koren in 1855. The first school- house was in District No. 13. The first school teacher was Hannah Onstine. The first child was Ole Gunderson, on August 26, 1854.
The first marriage of Norway residents was performed in Iowa. The parties were Halver Erickson and Kari Olson.
Political. This town was a part of Douglas from May 11,
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1858, until April 3, 1860, when a separate organization was effected. An early history of Douglas will be found in the sketch of the township of Holt, to which the reader is referred. The first town meeting was at the house of Even Ellerston on April 3, 1860. The following officers were elected: Supervisors, Ole Johnson (chairman), John Larson and Ole Jorgenson; clerk, A. S. Byholt; assessor, Simon Thompson; justices of the peace, A. S. Byholt and E. Evenson; constables, Ole H. Wentoel and K. Kittelson-Stockland; treasurer, N. E. Ellertson ; superintend- ent of schools, Andreas Byholt. The name of the town is said to have been suggested by John Semmen in honor of the native country of almost every inhabitant of the township. The town hall is located in section 15.
Postoffice. Ole Johnson persuaded the postmaster general in 1860 that the great need of this section was a postoffice, and so a commission was duly forwarded to him. Becoming weary of the onerous duties of the position, he transferred it to Halver Jen- sen, who kept it at his brother's, Rev. N. E. Jensen, for a time, in a shanty about one-half mile north. Afterwards it was taken to the store at Bratsberg and Ole Hendrickson was postmaster. When the store changed hands O. E. Evenson became postmaster. E. J. Overland was the last postmaster, the patrons now receiving their mail by rural route from Rushford. Rud postoffice flour- ished for a while. The last postmaster was S. Sjervem. The people now receive their mail by rural route from Whalan.
PREBLE TOWNSHIP.
Preble Township is the second on the eastern boundary of the county from the Iowa line on the south. It has Norway as a neighbor on the north, Black Hammer, in Houston county, on the east, Newburg on the south and Canton on the west, and is identical with a town of government survey. Nearly the whole area of the south half of the town is gentle, rolling prairie, with occasional small clumps of timber. Some of the most beautiful farms imaginable are situated in this section of the town. The south fork of the Root river comes in by two branches into the southwest part of the township, and following its winding way, after uniting in an average northeast course, makes its exit from that corner. In its course several small branches are received. Along this little river is the valley, which varies in width from
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one-fourth to one-half a mile. The timber along the bluffs is quite plenty and consists of oak, elm, poplar and some pine, with a luxuriant growth of grass in the valley which furnishes an excellent quality of hay. The soil is not unlike other parts of the county contiguous, and is equally productive of like crops.
Early Settlement. The two first settlers in this township were Nels Johnson (Nessa) and Thore Olsen (Faae), who located in section 33 in the year 1853. The property brought with them from La Salle county, Illinois, consisted of three yoke of oxen and a few head of other horned stock, two old rickety lumber wagons (known in those days as prairie schooners), and a small amount of household goods. They at once built a double tene- ment cabin, each with a single apartment, ten by twelve, and covered it with basswood bark. The floor was what God made, and not graced with carpets. These two men and their families, seven in all, dwelt in this cabin for a few months, when they succeeded in securing better quarters. In 1853 ten acres were broken up on the Newburg side of the line, and in 1854 Nels Johnson (Nessa) commenced to cultivate his present farm in section 22 in Preble township, he being entitled to the credit of being the first man to sow and reap a crop in this township. The first year Nels Johnson (Nessa) and Thore Olsen (Faae) had no near neighbors except a band of Winnebago Indians that had located their "tepees" on the northwest quarter of section 32-102-8, within eighty rods of where the two men with their families had settled, and no doubt these "red skins" excelled at pilfering and begging, and therefore were not a very desirous class of neighbors.
In 1854 several other settlers came in and secured claims near where Nels Johnson (Nessa) and Thore Olson (Faae), had estab- lished themselves, and among them were Jacob Jacobson (Hage), Rasmus C. Spande and Christian Christopherson, and among the first settlers in the north part of the township were Ole Gjer- mundson, Bjorn Larson (Egvene) and Lars C. Tarvestad.
This township ranked among the first in the county in the manufacturing industry. The first mill built in the town was a small sawmill, built in 1855 by an early comer from Cattarangus county, New York, whose name was David Weisel. This mill was situated near the confluence of the south branch of Root river and Weisel creek and near the northeast corner of section 19. The machinery of this diminutive sawmill was, with the exception of the saw and a few castings that were necessary in its erection, made by his own hands. Later a corn cracker was added and operated by the same power. The mill stones were cut from a rock taken from a bluff near by. Immediately after this "corn cracker" (as it was called) was completed and put in
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operation the settlers began to flock there with grists of corn and wheat to be ground, and it was taxed to its utmost capacity. There were no bolting attachments to separate the bran from the flour of the grain ground so it had to be done by a hand sieve.
This mill was emphatically a home institution, and like Roe's mill, on Riceford creek in Houston county, it too "was a very industrious mill, for just as soon as it finished grinding one kernel it commenced on another." It was operated by the builder with considerable success until that terrible flood of August 6, 1866, when he and his mother were drowned and his residence, mill and all his accumulations washed away, leaving nothing as a relic to remind the coming generations where was once situated the happy home of the David Weisel family in the latter part of the fifties.
The first regular grist mill in southeastern Fillmore county was built by Collins IIall in 1857. This was a small frame struc- ture located on Weisel creek near the northeast corner of section 32 in Preble township. Mr. Hall built it according to his own plans, doing most of the work himself. His natural genius was shown by his work and ingenuity, and a successful mill was the result. The builder operated it himself and it was patronized to its utmost capacity until that eventful night of August 6, 1866. A few years later the mill was rebuilt by the proprietor, Collins Hall. This was a more substantial structure, as it was built of stone and was operated by him until his death. Today, what was formerly known as Hall's mill is simply a relic of by- gone days.
In the year 1858 the second sawmill was built on Weisel creek in Preble township by E. P. Eddy near the northwest corner of section 29. It was quite substantially built and was operated by Mr. Eddy until it was wrecked by the terrible flood of August 6, 1866. Later the property was sold to James Kelly, who rebuilt the mill and operated it only for a short time, when it again was torn out by a freshet, and has not since been rebuilt.
The next mill built in Preble township was a sawmill by Nels Johnson (Nessa). This was located on the south branch of Root river in the northern part of section 17. It shared the same fate as those higher up the stream on August 6, 1866. It was subsequently rebuilt and Mr. Johnson also added a grist mill in 1872.
Among the early settlers of Preble township whose names have been preserved are the following-the section wherein they settled being given in most cases :
1853-Nels Johnson (Nessa), 33; Thor Olsen (Faae), 33; Nub Nelson, 26; Helge Erickson; Hans Nelson, 36.
1854-Jacob Jacobson (Hage), Rasmus C. Spande, 27; Chris-
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topher Christopherson, 28; Ole Gjermundson, 1; Lars C. Tarve- stad, 2; David Weisel, 19; Walter Braden, 18; J. C. Braden, 18; W. W. Braden, 18; Bertel Christopherson, 34; Patrick Flanegan, 14; Daniel Malone, 14; Peter Peterson, 33; Peter Peterson, Jr .; Michael Peterson, 33.
1855-Bjorn Larson (Egvene), 2; Iver Thompson, 27; Nels Nelson (Kindingstad), 21; William G. Sutherland; Norman Sutherland, 18; Daniel Sutherland; Isaac Isaacson, 34.
1856-Thomas G. Hall, 29; A. C. Seelye, 31; Ole Anderson, 34; Collins Hall, 29.
1857-Aslak Housker, 36.
1858-Anders Halvorson (Nordbrovaagen), 26; Ole Housker, 36; Rasmus Housker, 36.
1859-Daniel Steeland, 22; John Danielson, 28; Gulick Olsen, 2; Gunder Anderson, 16; Johanes Steeness, 34.
1860-Arne Arneson, 26 (settled in Newburg in 1853).
The Indians. A band of Winnebago Indians encamped on section 32 as late as 1853. On one of their begging tours nine or ten Indians stopped at the cabin of Hans Arneson and asked for something to eat. Mrs. Arneson, in order to get rid of them, went to the bread box and gave them all the bread she had. It was customary for the Indians to examine everything in the house, and on looking in the bread box, saw that it was empty. After a short consultation among themselves in their own lan- guage they then gave Mrs. Arneson one of the loaves of bread back. Thus they showed their generosity and belief in the golden rule, "to do as you would wish to be done by." In the fall of 1854 after Austin Eastman had driven the Indians off his claim in section 11-101-9 they camped for the winter on the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 5-102-8, where the spring brook empties into the larger creek. In the spring of 1855 they left their camping ground and have not camped on Weisel creek since that date.
Political. The first town meeting to organize the town and elect officers was held on May 11, 1858. Thomas G. Hall, David Weisel and Iver Thompson had been appointed by the county commissioners as the judges of election. Mr. Hall being absent A. C. Seelye was appointed to fill his place. J. C. Braden and I. H. Titus were appointed as clerks. The total number of votes cast was twenty-seven, and the following officers were unani- mously elected : Supervisors, Thomas G. Hall (chairman), Iver Thompson and Walter Braden; town clerk, J. C. Braden ; assessor, David Weisel; collector, Nels Nelson; overseer of the poor, Christian Christopherson; justices of the peace, David Weisel and A. C. Seelye; constables, Wm. G. Sutherland and Iver Thomp- son. The house of Nels Nelson was designated by ballot as the
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place for holding elections. On May 22, 1858, the supervisors held a meeting, divided the town into four road districts and selected the following overseers: Lars C. Tarvestad, Ole Ander- son, Justus Sutherland and David Weisel. A tax of 21/2 mills was levied and two days' work for every man on the roads.
War Record. On September 10, 1864, a bounty fund was voted, of $3,200, one-half to be assessed in the year 1864 and one-half in 1865. On March 27, 1865, a special town meeting was held and the sum of $2,500 voted to be expended in the support of families of drafted men, but the close of the war suspended the tax. In 1864 a home guard was organized under the state law, with Norman Sutherland as captain. They drilled a few times near the schoolhouse in District No. 9.
Postoffice. At first the nearest postoffice was at Decorah, Ia., twenty miles away. After a while a postoffice was established at Lenora and later at Newburg. The office in Preble was estab- lished in 1876, the first mail arriving April 13. Samuel Gray was the postmaster. It is on a cross route, between Houston and Decorah. The last postmaster of Preble postoffice was J. W. Horihem. The patrons of this office now receive their mail from Spring Grove. Choice postoffice gave the people good service for many years. The most recent postmasters were J. J. Elep- son, Richard O. Richardson and Carl J. Hellerud, the latter being in charge when the office was discontinued. The people now receive their mail by rural route from Mabel. Tawney postoffice opened in the late nineties. The postmaster was T. E. Halvor- son. The patrons now receive their mail from Mabel.
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CHAPTER XXX.
ARENDAHL AND PILOT MOUND.
Arendahl Township-Story of the Early Days-Land Office Records-An Indian Village-Wassonia-Arendahl Village- Pilot Mound Township-Political Matters-Early Events- Pekin Village.
Arendahl Township is on the northern tier in Fillmore county, the second from the eastern boundary and separated from it by Rushford. The town of Holt is on the south, Pilot Mound on the west and Winona county on the north. In size and form it is identical with the original government survey. Root river cuts across the southeast corner of the town, involving sections 25, 26, 34 and 35. Along this river extends its valley and back at varying distances are the bluffs. The town is diversified with prairie, timber, hill and dale in picturesque variety. It is quite well settled with a thrifty class of farmers. There are two prin- cipal branches of Root river coming in from the northwest. A little stream from Winona county dips down into sections 2, 3 and 4.
Early Settlement. Asleck Anderson seems to be entitled to the distinction of being the first Caucasian to locate within the territory of Arendahl. ITis birth was in Norway and he came to Illinois in 1835, and the next year removed to within about fifteen miles southeast of Beloit, Wis. In the spring of 1854 he came to this town and secured a local habitation in section 12. A part of his farm was sold to P. P. Peterson and a part to Even Olson, his sons-in-law, and about 1873 he removed to Peterson. Knud Thorwaldson, another early settler, was born in Norway in 1828, came to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1852, and in 1854 took 160 acres in the town of Norway in this county, remaining one year, when he secured a claim in this town, in section 5.
1855-Among those who came this year may be mentioned : Andrew Olson (Olnestad), Andrew Olson (Lodahl), Lars Olson (Lodahl), Hans Augundson and Andrew Ericson, Osmund Roluf- son.
Those who came through in 1855 and came here to remain the next year were: Svend Thompson (Hustoft) and son Lars, Christian Johnson, Nels A. Gullickson and Harold Olson.
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THOS FRANKSOM
Nº DA FARMS
NHIW
THOMAS FRANKSON'S RESIDENCE
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1856-Those who came this year were: Isaac Jackson (who named the town and was first postmaster), John C. Ferguson, Thore K. Jutland, Duncan McConochie.
1857-Halvor Olson, Michael Mead, M. Olson (Olnestad), Eric E. Torsnes, Albert Anderson, Harold Olson.
Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Arendahl town- ship were issued by the government in 1855. 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: April 30, Timothy McCarthy, 34; May 2, Aslack Anderson, 12; May 8, Aslack Anderson, 12; July 3, Aslack Anderson, 12; May 2, Knud Halvorsen, 4; June 16, Knud Halvorsen, 4; June 8, Annon Olson, 3-10; June 19, Annon Olson, 10; June 11, Louis Peterson, 2; June 12, Elisa Ann Smith, 15; June 12, Rebkah Smith, 8-30; June 12, Daniel B. Smith, 17-33; June 12, Washington Wendell, 8-30; June 20, Knud Thorwaldson, 4-5; October 19, Knud Thorwaldson, 4-5; July 2, John Montgomery, 2; July 7, John Montgomery, 11-14; July 3, Aslack Anderson, 11; July 3, Peter Peterson, 13; July 7, Simeon Crittenden, 1-11-14; July 13, Bjorgen Gunder- son, 22; July 13, Lars Sorenson, 22; August 30, John Currie, 8; October 11, John W. Henry, 2; October 13, John Hodgdon, 10-15; October 13, James C. Madigan, 15; October 13, Evan Olson, 1; October 18, Evan Olson, 11; October 15, William H. Ennis, 9; October 15, Donald Ferguson, 7; October 17, Walter S. Booth, 9-21-29-31-32; October 17, Joseph A. Ennis, 4-7-9-10-30; October 17, Stark G. Thompson, -; October 19, Christian Thorenson, 2; October 20, Frederick S. Barlow, 5-6; November 5, Frederick S. Barlow, 6; November 15, Frederick S. Barlow, 6; October 20, James A. Fraser, 28-29; October 20, Samuel Hauk, 12; November 5, Eugene M. Wilson, 5-7-18; November 6, Eugene M. Wilson, 5-7-18-20; November 26, Eugene M. Wilson, 6-19-20; November 6, Nelson A. Gullick, 2-11; November 6, John Desmond, 25-26-27; November 6, Harol Olson, 3; November 6, Christopher G. Ripley, 1; November 8, John Gordon, 8; November 8, Christian Johan 13; November 8, Michael Meid, 26; November 8, Duncan McCono- chie, 18; November 8, Benjamin B. Richards, 25; November 8, Thomas Robertson, 18; November 8, John Thompson, 25-26; November 8, Lars Thompson, 14; November 8, Swend Thompson, 13; November 24, Knud Halverson, 4; November 24, Osmund Rollifson, 5; December 14, Delos Higbie, 2-10; December 10, Delos Higbie, 14-19-35; October 15, Delos Higbie, 14-35; Decem- ber 10, William Higbie, 19.
An Indian Village. When the white settlers arrived they found a deserted Indian village made up of about forty houses, quite well and comfortably constructed of elm bark and secured
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by cords made of the inner part of the same material. Some of them were as large as 60x40 feet and some 20x20 feet. It was located in section 35 on a table near the river on the north half of the southeast quarter. Some of the settlers utilized the best of the bark of which these lodges were composed to construct their own dwellings.
Political. This town started on its career as an independent organization on April 1, 1860, having previously been a part of Rushford. The meeting was at the residence of Isaac Jackson. The name of the town was given by Mr. Jackson in honor of a Norway locality. At the first meeting there were twenty-seven votes cast. Lewis Peterson was clerk of the election and Lars Thompson, Nels Gullickson and Knud Thorwaldson were the judges. Lars Thompson, Even Olson and Halver Olson were elected supervisors; Lewis Peterson was the first clerk ; D. McConochie, superintendent of schools; Isaac Jackson and Duncan McConochie, justices of the peace; Nels Gullickson and Andrew O. Olnestad, constables; Knud Thorwaldson, assessor, and Christian Johnson, treasurer. The better class of men have filled the town offices from time to time, and its affairs have been well managed.
Wassonia. During the early days of colonizing the Root river valley, when there was a steady oncoming tide of people, mostly from the East, the mania for surveying and platting cities was epidemic all along this frontier, and so a city was projected in sections 25 and 26, on the banks of the Root river. It was laid out and given the name of Wassonia. The charts that were issued to secure the sale of lots were in a high style of art, the streets and square, avenues and parks, boulevards and public grounds were magnificently portrayed. Mills, schoolhouses, churches and hotels were located at eligible points. A steamboat landing was represented with a steamer at the wharf and the concomitants of metropolitan life and splendor were exhibited. Of course the lots were sold to eastern men and the title duly conveyed, but they have long since been sold for taxes.
Arendahl Village. The first store in Arendahl was opened by John Jackson in 1865 at his father's residence. He kept a small stock of goods but had considerable patronage. In about one year the store was closed out. J. Jackson began merchandising with a small stock of goods, about $600 worth. In 1871 he took N. W. Jager as a partner and they bought out R. K. Rolefson, who had just opened a stock of goods near the Lutheran church. The building was then moved to section 9. In March, 1874, Mr. Jager sold his interest to Jackson, who sold to his father, Isaac Jackson, some time during the year. In 1881 J. Jackson again secured possession.
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The postoffice was established in March, 1861. Isaac Jackson was the postmaster and the office was opened at his house in section 10. In 1872 it was removed to the store kept by his son, J. Jackson, and N. W. Jager was appointed postmaster. In March, 1874, when Mr. Jager sold his interest in the store to his partner, Mr. Jackson became postmaster. Among more recent postmasters have been O. A. Ness and Edward E. Sandli, the latter being in charge when the office was discontinued by reason of the extension of the rural service from Rushford.
Pilot Mound adjoins the northern boundary of the county and is the third from the eastern line. Its immediate surround- ings are Winona county on the north, Arendahl on the east, Car- rolton on the south and Chatfield on the west. The town con- tains 22,995.57 acres. Pilot Mound is made up of ravines and ridges. In the northern part there is prairie land with dark rich loam, further south the ridges are more narrow and the soil is of a lighter clay, but is very productive. When first settled there was considerable fine timber in the township. There is plenty of water in the town. The north, or larger branch of the Root river goes through the lower part of the town in a tor- tuous course, working toward the east, and its course will be briefly described. It first crosses the western line of the town into section 7 and flows south and west into section 18 and back into Chatfield, returning into town in section 19, thence through section 20 it swings round into section 29 and then into 28, then into 33 and back into 28 and 27, and there forms a loop involving sections 27, 22, 23, 26 and 35, where it runs southwest through 34 into Carrolton, to re-enter the town in section 35 and doubling on itself in section 36, leaves the town. This town corresponds with a government survey, except that one-half each of sections 33, 34 and 35 are in Carrolton. It is said that some political purpose was to be subserved in transferring this territory to the latter town some years ago. The next most important stream is Trout run, which comes into town in section 5 and, with few deflections to the right or left, flows south to make a confluence with Root river in section 20. Money creek is the next largest stream. It rises in section 3 and, flowing nearly parallel with Trout run, discharges into the Root river in section 27. The elevation from which the township takes its name is in the south- western part of section 11. It is a mound containing thirty-five acres at the base and about twenty-five at the top, about twelve acres of which is tillable, the rest is limestone and ledgey. It forms a prominent and striking object in the landscape and formerly guided many a weary traveler as he wended his way toward the West.
Early Settlement. The first white man to lay claim upon the
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broad acres of Uncle Sam in Pilot Mound was Arthur B. Bowe, from the Green Mountain state, who had been living in the adjoining county of Houston and had stopped a while in Rush- ford. In 1854 he came over on this virgin soil and staked out a claim in section 7, and in fact laid claim to all the land unoccu- pied in southern Minnesota, whenever a prospector made his appearance. He would show a new comer an eligible location and offer to sell his right, title and interest for as much as he could get, and it is said that he actually sold the same lot a second time and thus got into trouble and had to leave for a more desirable county. Of course the purchaser would have to enter his land at the land office and pay $200 for every 160 acres. The next man to place himself north of Root river in this town was Nelson Frost, also from Vermont. He at first bought a claim of Bowe, consisting of 160 acres in sections 7 and 8, for which he paid $75. Afterwards he bargained for another claim of Bowe on Trout run in section 9, where he put up an unhewn timber abode, the first house in this part of the town. The same year Erick Torkelson and Elling Miller, from Norway, located in the south part of the town. They had previously lived a few years in Wisconsin. Torkelson took his land in section 32 and Miller in section 31.
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