USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 40
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Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Fillmore 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: Novem- ber 20, Jason L. Bolles, 5; November 20, John Oleson, 6.
Those who secured land in 1855 were as follows: April 23, Levi R. Allen, 8; April 23, Robert Rea, 7; April 24, Albert S. Tedman, 8; April 30, Constant B. Beverstock, 3; April 30, Elijah B. Jones, 9; April 30, Harrold H. Jones, 10; April 30, John Mawer, 5; April 19, James Tabor, 6; April 30, Thomas Tabor, 5; May 3, Francis Miller, 8; May 12, Joseph Bowers, 8; May 17, William W. Porter, 4; May 19, William Cook, 8; June 1, Vic- tor M. Demick, 7; June 18, Asher Turner, 6; June 18, Sherman M. Turner, 6; June 26, William Triggs, 19; June 27, Francis B. Simons, 3-4; July 4, Ernst Brandt, 18; July 22, Elisha H.
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Shaw, 10; July 24, William P. Odell, 6; August 31, Simeon S. Odell, 19; September 15, Leonard Anderson, 18; October 5, Michael Freese, 2-3; October 12, Leomon W. Bisbey, 17; Octo- ber 12, John Crain, 33; October 18, Oliver Whaler, 7; October 19, John Bateman, 20; October 19, David Tobler, 17; October 30, Pascal P. Pines, 11-14; November 3, John G. Bawldin, 19; November 8, Thomas Masteller, 33-32-28-29; November 10, George R. Albro, 28; November 10, Jacob Ham, 28-33; No- vember 15, George S. Masters, 17; November 16, William Olver, 18; November 17, William H. Clarns, 6; November 20, John C. Anderson, 18; November 26, Abram Kalder, 18; December 12, Ebeneser Brown, 4; December 21, Robert C. McCord, 20; Decem- ber 21, Arlow L. How, 18.
Murder. A murder occurred in this town as early as 1856. A man named John Branski, living on section four, was mur- dered in a quarrel with a neighbor over his claim line. The murderer was arrested and tried, but finally got away. His name was Walker, and he was seen once since the crime was committed, getting on a vessel in San Francisco, to sail for a foreign port.
Political. The first town meeting was held May 11, 1858, at Fillmore village. The records of the meetings and proceedings of the board in Fillmore township for the first few years have unfortunately been lost or misplaced. The first meeting was held in Decou's "Log Hotel," Geo. Decou being the moderator. T. G. Pond was the first chairman of the board, O. T. Blood and S. Otis the first justices of the peace, and Chas. W. Crain and George Fisk, constables.
On February 26, 1864, a special meeting was held by the board of supervisors to see about voting a bounty to the volunteers, but the proposition was tabled, and at a subsequent meeting it was defeated.
Fillmore Village. The land where the hamlet stands was pre- empted in the spring of 1854, in section three, by Doctor Paul Jones. The year following, Isaac Decou came and built and opened the first store, and remained about three years. He was a prominent man and a member of the legislature, but after a time went to Michigan, and finally to Kansas. Robert Ray built a log cabin in the village in 1856, and opened a stock of general merchandise which he kept two or three years. The third store was built by Lee & Kimball and this firm also built a grist-mill and had it running in 1858. William Kimball came from Deco- rah, and Mr. Lee from McGregor. At the time Mr. Jones came, his wife was also along, and his son and a son-in-law, Mr. Bever- stock. Isaac Brinker came here from Clayton county, Iowa, and remained until 1878, when he went to Dakota. In 1856, Isaac
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Decou and D. J. Mosher came from New York, and thus the village was started. The first hotel was built and kept by Paul Jones and Mr. Beverstock. The post-office was established in 1856, with Robert Ray as postmaster. William Mosher was appointed in May, 1877. D. R. Farrington, who succeeded R. C. Farrington, was the last postmaster. Mail is now received by rural route from Wykoff.
WYKOFF VILLAGE.
Wykoff is a thriving village on the southern Minnesota divi- sion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, in Fillmore township. It has four churches, a creamery, two banks, five general stores, a drug store, a clothier, two hardware stores, a furniture store, a jewelry store, a restaurant and grocery store combined, a meat market, two saloons, a newspaper, five elevators, flour mill, two blacksmith and woodworking shops, two implement dealers, har- ness shop, a livery barn, several fraternities, a public school and a Lutheran school, a thriving business men's association, water works, street lights, post-office, and the usual business and pro- fessional activities.
Wykoff Business Men's Association. This association was organized Aug. 16, 1907, with thirty-five members. The first officers were : President, J. T. Dunn ; vice-president, W. H. Miller; treasurer, C. M. Allen ; secretary, E. P. Johnson. The organiza- tion was responsible for: The building of the creamery; the building of the ball park; the installation of hitching posts to the value of $100.00; the improvement of the roads in the vicinity; the agitation of the lighting proposition, which resulted in the village putting in a coal gas plant, costing $3,000.00; and many other improvements. The society was finally discontinued, the last meeting being held December 21, 1908, at which time there were enrolled forty-one members.
Early History. Wykoff was projected simultaneously with the coming of the railroad and was platted two years later. The land was originally pre-empted in June, 1856, by F. H. Bartlett. The first settler here was F. H. Bartlett, who came from Oneida county, New York, landed at this point in June, 1856, located on the southwest quarter of section twenty-two, within the limits of the present village, and erected a native timber residence to protect himself, wife, and two children, Elsie and Elmer. Wm. Odell came at the same time, but remained only a few days and moved to Cannon Falls. A. Clifford pre-empted 160 acres in section twenty-one. These were the original owners. The village was platted by H. W. Holley, the chief engineer of the railroad, who, with F. H. Bartlett, owned the land. The plat was recorded
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in 1871, when the depot was built. In 1875, an addition of twenty acres was made, and called Bartlett & Bank's addition. The first building was constructed as a boardinghouse for some time. The first store was by W. R. & C. G. Edwards. In December, 1871, they got in the first stock of general mer- chandise. Marvin and D. J. Egleston soon put up the store and put in a stock of goods. A. R. Brass built a warehouse, and the two elevators went up at the same time.
Municipal History. Wykoff was incorporated as a village by special act of the legislature approved March 8, 1876. Frank H. Bartlett, Charles W. Crain and L. G. Kilborn were the provisional officers to secure the organization. The principal officers of the village have been:
1876-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, M. J. Barrett, Fred Wendorf, A. Drew; recorder, L. G. Kilborn; treasurer, W. G. Banks.
1877-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees; M. J. Barrett, Fred Wendorf, Alex Stewart; recorder, J. T. Sherman; treasurer, E. M. Lockwood.
1878-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, P. R. Jorris, Fred Wendorf, Timothy Stout; recorder, L. G. Kilborn; treasurer, John Gregor.
1879-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, J. A. Rutherford, Charles Drew, Timothy Stout; recorder, L. G. Kilborn; treasurer, R. Odell.
1880-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, Jacob Rau, J. A. Rutherford, J. H. Phillips; recorder, P. R. Jorris; treasurer, R. Odell.
1881-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, P. R. Jorris, Jacob Rau, J. H. Phillips; recorder, F. C. Krueger; treasurer, R. Odell.
1882-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, P. R. Jorris, J. H. Phillips, F. V. Coelln; recorder, J. R. Murrel; treasurer, L. G. Kilborn.
1883-President, Jacob Rau; trustees, F. V. Coelln, P. R. Jorris, E. D. Bartlett; recorder, J. R. Murrel; treasurer, L. G. Kilborn.
1884-President, F. H. Bartlett ; trustees, F. V. Coelln, P. R. Jorris, James Fitzthun; recorder, J. R. Murrel; treasurer, L. G. Kilborn.
1885-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, P. R. Jorris, W. G. Banks, James Fitzthun; recorder, J. R. Murrel; treasurer, L. G. Kilborn.
1886-President, F. II. Bartlett; trustees, P. R. Jorris, C. F. Schatz, W. G. Banks; recorder, H. A. Spies; treasurer, L. G. Kilborn.
1887-President, F. II. Bartlett; trustees, James Fitzthun,
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Erdman Krueger, J. R. Murrel; recorder, W. J. Rau; treasurer, L. G. Kilborn.
1888-President, P. R. Jorris; trustees, Erdman Krueger, D. C. Green, Patrick Healy ; recorder, W. J. Rau.
1889-President, P. R. Jorris; trustees, D. C. Green, Erdman Krueger, H. A. Spies; recorder, J. R. Murrel.
1890-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, D. C. Green, Erd- man Krueger, Edward Conroy; recorder, P. R. Jorris; treasurer, Fred Wendorf.
1891-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, Erdman Krueger, Edward Conroy, D. C. Green; recorder, P. R. Jorris; treasurer, Fred Wendorf.
1892-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, D. C. Green, E. Krueger, Jacob Rau; recorder, P. R. Jorris; treasurer, Fred Wendorf.
1893-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, E. Krueger, Jacob Rau, D. C. Green; recorder, P. R. Jorris; treasurer, Fred Wen- dorf.
1894-President, F. H. Bartlett; trustees, E. D. Bartlett, C. F. Schatz, August Derenthal; recorder, P. R. Jorris; treasurer, Fred Wendorf.
1895-President, E. D. Bartlett; trustees, August Derenthal, J. M. Moore, J. R. Murrel; recorder, G. L. Rau; treasurer, Fred Wendorf.
1896-President, E. D. Bartlett; trustees, August Derenthal, J. M. Moore, J. R. Murrel; recorder, G. L. Rau; treasurer, Fred Wendorf.
1897-President, W. G. Banks; trustees, G. E. Campbell, D. N. Peshak, E. J. Flynn; recorder, M. J. Healy; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1898-President, J. R. Murrel; trustees, W. F. Lenz, P. R. Jorris, August Derenthal; recorder, G. W. Pulham; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1899-President, J. R. Murrel; trustees, W. F. Lenz, P. R. Jorris, August Derenthal; recorder, George Rau; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1900-President, E. D. Barlett; trustees, C. J. Spies, W. F. Lenz, G. E. Campbell; recorder, George Rau; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1901-President, S. Thoeni; trustees, O. M. Rowley, M. Eggle- ston, George Stuart; recorder, Edward Geske; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1902-President, S. Thoeni; trustees, M. Flanagan, Jacob Rau, A. G. Spies; recorder, Edward Geske; treasurer, John Wendorf. 1903-President, S. Thoeni; trustees, J. M. Moore, Jacob Rau, A. G. Spies; recorder, W. F. Krueger; treasurer, John Wendorf.
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1904-President, S. Thoeni; trustees, J. M. Moore, Jacob Rau, William Crowley ; recorder, D. M. Peshak; treasurer, John Wen- dorf.
1905-President, George Rau; trustees, O. M. Rowley, L. C. Kramer, William Crowley; recorder, D. M. Peshak; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1906-President, S. Thoeni; trustees, L. C. Kramer, August Derenthal, W. H. Miller; recorder, W. F. Krueger; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1907-President, August Derenthal; trustees, W. H. Miller, O. M. Rowley, John Lottes; recorder, Edward Behring; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1908-President, August Derenthal; trustees, William Crow- ley, E. H. Alberts, John Lottes; recorder, E. P. Johnson; treas- urer, A. G. Spies.
1909-President, August Derenthal; trustees, John Lottes, E. H. Alberts, T. Healy ; recorder, G. N. Sheppard; treasurer, A. G. Spies.
1910-President, August Derenthal; trustees, T. Healy, E. H. Alberts, William Crowley; recorder, E. P. Johnson; treasurer, John Wendorf.
1911-President, August Derenthal; trustees, Archie Holets, Thomas Healy, William Crowley ; recorder, E. P. Johnson; treas- urer, John Wendorf.
1912-President, August Derenthal; trustees, Thomas Healy, C. H. Devilliers, E. H. Alberts; recorder, E. P. Johnson; treas- urer, E. L. Behring; assessor, W. F. Krueger; justices, A. H. Fligge, P. Hoffman.
Wykoff Water Works. April 25, 1899, the village voted bonds to the amount of $7,000 to construct a water works system. A system of four-inch pipe was installed covering the principal streets. The pipe which was known as "spiral riveted" proved unsatisfactory, and on June 6, 1899, the village again voted bonds to the amount of $1,477.00, and a contract was awarded to Jack- son & Moss for the amount of the bonds, to complete and extend the system. At present a seven horsepower boiler supplies power to run the pumps.
Prominent Citizens. Among the prominent citizens of Wykoff may be mentioned: Marvin Eggleston, Fred Wendorf, John Wendorf, F. H. Bartlett, Jacob Rau, P. R. Jorris, S. Thoeni, E. D. Bartlett, W. G. Banks, J. R. Murrel, George Rau, August Derenthal, C. F. Schatz, A. G. Spies, D. C. Green, Edward Langan, C. M. Allen, C. J. Spies, and many others.
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CHAPTER XXXII.
JORDAN AND SUMNER.
Sumner Township-Its Early History-Hamilton Village-Wash- ington Village-Jordan Township and Village-Land Office Records-Incidents of the Early Days.
Sumner township is in the northwestern part of the county, with Olmsted county on the north, Mower county on the west, Jordan township on the cast and Spring Valley township on the south. The township is noted for its excellent springs and for its fine groves of natural timber. The western part is made up of level prairie, interspersed with a few groves, while the western and southern parts, although now, as a rule, under a high state of cultivation, at the time of first settlement was covered with hazel brush and "oak openings." The soil is generally a rich, dark loam, varying from twelve to forty inches in depth, with a subsoil of blue clay, limestone sand, or gravel. In the extreme southwestern part of the town the soil has an apparent tendency to sandiness, with a gravel subsoil, but this is confined to very few sections. The town is well watered by various brooks, creeks, and the Root river. The latter stream winds in and out along the southern line of the town, making its final exit through section thirty-six into Jordan township. The Kedron brook derives its source in section eighteen, and flowing in a south- easterly direction mingles its waters with those of Root river. Various other small brooks, arising from the numerous springs, flow into the larger branches. The southern part of the town is rolling, and in places towering bluffs rear themselves to a height of 300 feet. All this region is well adapted to stock raising. The balance of the town is composed of prairie land and oak open- ings, the soil being very fertile and suitable for all kinds of grain raising and agriculture. The town's area constitutes the full thirty-six sections of a government township, and in addition to this, one and one-half sections cut from the northwest corner of Spring Valley, making thirty-seven and one-half sections.
Early Settlement. The first settlement in this township was made by the Hayes party in 1853, and arrived about the middle of May. The entire party who settled that month consisted of three persons, H. S. H. Hayes, David Allen, and D. D. Fraser.
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H. S. H. Hayes came from New Hampshire, and arrived in Sumner May 25, 1853. He took a claim in sections twenty-seven and twenty- eight. David Allen arrived at the same time from New York, and located on sections thirty-three and thirty-four. D. D. Fraser, another of the party to arrive at the same time, came from Ohio, and located a claim in section thirty-two, where he lived for five or six years, and moved out of the township. Deacon Gulielmus Carter arrived later in the same year, landing in Sumner in October. Daniel Davis also made his appearance on the scene late in the same year, and secured himself an excellent farm on section twenty. The balance of the year was spent by the hardy pioneers without interruption and almost in solitude.
1854-Among those who arrived this year were J. O. Stout, C. O. Comstock, Philo Bradley, John E. King, Darius Comstock, S. C. Jolley and C. Millet.
1855-Among those who came this year were S. G. Keck, W. W. Parkinson and many others.
Items of Interest. Kedron postoffice was established in 1869 in the southeastern corner of section seventeen. W. D. Bradford was appointed postmaster when the office was first established, and held the office for a number of years. Geo. Hood received the appointment in 1877, and retained the office for a few months, when H. S. Smith was appointed. It was discontinued soon after. It was again opened in section sixteen in the nineties. G. H. Cleve- land was the last postmaster. A Good Templar lodge was insti- tuted at Sumner Center in 1874, but finally disbanded from lack of interest. A Grange was also instituted in 1873, and failed, donat- ing its funds, as did the Good Templars above mentioned, to a public library, which was organized in 1879. In 1857, Sumner was an election precinct, and the polls were open in Martin Ricker's house. A Friends' Society was partially organized about 1856, and the first services were held on section thirty-three. In 1874, the Quakers erected their church edifice on section thirty- four. Sumner cemetery is in the southern part of section twenty- eight, and was set apart for a burial ground in 1862. The first burials here were the remains of Ernest Gove, a child of C. B. Gove, and the wife of W. W. Beers, who died in April, 1863. The ground was purchased of G. A. Hayes. Sumner was named by the earliest settlers in the town in honor of an act of Charles Sumner. H. S. H. Hayes was the first justice of the peace in Sumner, receiving his commission from the governor in 1854. The first marriage was performed by H. S. H. Hayes on February 4, 1855, the contracting parties being David Allen and Sepha Ann Carter. The first birth in Sumner was a son of the above named parties, David and Sepha Ann Allen, and took place November 18, 1855. The son was christened Frederick Tristram
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Allen. Another early marriage was that of Caleb O. Comstock to Miss C. E. Carter, at the residence of the bride's parents on section thirty-two.
The first death was that of Mrs. Joshua Stears, who died in October, 1856.
Land Office Records. The first titles to land in Sumner 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. August. 4, Samuel Hayes, 28; September 14, Isaac Corkeeff, 21; September 14, William Jolly, 20; September 21, David Allen, 33-34; Septem- ber 22, O. Comstock, 30.
Those who obtained land in 1855 were as follows: January 25, Jonathan Williams, 12; January 29, Moses E. Flint, 2; January 29, Major Flint, 1; April 26, James Williams, 12; April 26, Nicholas Williams, 9; May 5, Andrew Donaldson, 21; May 18, Samuel J. Harrison, 27; May 18, George Terrell, 35; May 25, William Baning, 25-26; May 28, Charles F. Hardy, 34; May 30, Martin Ricker, 21; June 6, Darius Comstock, 35; June 6, Hugh Moreland, 10; June 6, David Steel, 33; June 6, Greenberry P. Steere, 34; June 6, Isaac Steere, 28-33; June 6, Johnson A. Stout, 34; June 6, Joseph B. Stout, 33; June 7, Gulielmus Carter, 29; June 7, Gulielmus Carter, 32; June 30, Thomas J. Connelly, -; July 16, Sally B. Gove, 32; July 26, Elnathan Welch, 12; August 21, Charles A. Loger, 32; October 1, Orson M. Annis, 11; October 1, Horace II. Bandle, 1; October 6, Isaac Besst, 22; October 6, Jackson Coggshall, 22; October 13, Richard Hawkins, 15; October 18, Henry Plummer, 27-34; October 18, Henry Shaw, 22; October 20; George W. Westover, 15; October 29, Hiram Sweet, 1; Nov- ember 7, Wiliam H. Barlow, 17; November 8, George W. Bradley, 13; November 9, Horatio S. H. Hayes, 21-22; November 9, Mathew Mawer, 27-28; November 9, Ethan A. Tedman, 25; November 12, Thomas Mitchell, 13; November 14, Hiram Blakeslee, 13; No- vember 15, Charles Myers, 11; November 29, Mathew Mawer, 27; December 11, Henry Startwell, 2; December 11, Ephraim Steffens, 30; December 11, John F. White, 31; December 11, Uriah Wil- liams, 14-23; December 14, Robert Overand, 3-4.
Political. The organization of the town of Sumner was ef- fected on May 11, 1858. The first town meeting was held on that day at the house of T. W. Cocorey, and the records show that William B. Melvin was made chairman, pro. tem., of the meet- ing, and C. D. Sherwood, moderator. Walter S. Booth was then elected town clerk. Henry Plummer and H. P. Sleeper were made clerks of election, and William B. Melvin, I. M. Choate and William H. Doane were judges of election. The sum of $150 was
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appropriated for town purposes, and it was voted that horses and cows could run at large, but sheep and hogs were restricted of that freedom. The following officers were then elected, all of whom served, to-wit : Supervisors, C. D. Sherwood (chairman), C. W. Knight and James H. Tedman; town clerk, D. T. Booth; assessor, John Jolley; collector, W. T. Horton; overseer of the poor, L. Chamberlain; constables, D. C. Hendershott and W. H. Clarno; justices of the peace, C. Brownell and W. S. Booth. It was decided to hold the next town meeting at the house of Martin Richer. There were 140 votes polled. The town now has a hall in section 15.
Hamilton Village. This village, which is now only a memory, was situated in the southwestern part of Sumner township, its town plat extending to the boundary line of Mower county, oc- cupying portions of sections six and thirty. Adjoining the old town site are the "Hamilton springs," that continue boiling up, fresh, clear and sparkling water, both summer and winter, at the rate of 1,500 gallons per minute. The first house erected was put up in 1853, by Adam Zedygar. In 1855, Daniel Booth, from the New England states, arrived, and had the village of Hamilton platted and recorded. Immediate steps were taken to secure a postoffice, in which they succeeded, and in 1856, an office was established under the name of "Elkhorn," and Jacob McQuillan was appointed to handle the mails. Charles Davis arrived in 1855. Booth & Randall made their appearance, and put in a $3,000 stock of goods. A blacksmith shop was started in 1856, and the town for a number of years "boomed." Several saw- mills were erected and put in operation, besides a custom grist- mill. The postoffice outlived the village, but has now been dis- continued, W. J. Briggs being the last postmaster. The patrons receive their mail by rural route from Spring Valley.
Hamilton, in the year 1858, had a gang of organized thieves. They would steal anything that could be carried off, but made horses a specialty. The gang was made up almost entirely of home talent, and it was with the utmost difficulty that the honest members of the community ridded themselves of the pest, by organizing what was termed a "vigilance committee." Upon. one occasion this last mentioned association turned out, and after collecting the population of the village together, made the an- nouncement that as they had received sufficient evidence as to those who had been committing depredations, they are now pre- pared to "lynch" those who had been implicated. At this one hundred shooting arms were brought into view. Imagine their surprise when a number of the most influential citizens broke from among the crowd and made for the woods. But this matter, as it involved not only Hamilton and the town of Sumner, but also this
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entire portion of the country, is dealt with in the county article.
Washington Village. This is a locality in section 36, Sumner township. The early settlement of the hamlet was commenced in 1855, Rider & Wolfe, of Indiana, putting up the first building. The village was laid out and recorded in 1856, by John H. Maine. In 1858, the first store building was erected by Joseph Bongard- ner, and he placed a stock of goods on the shelves. A post- office was established in 1859 with J. H. Tedman, as postmaster. The last postmaster was P. J. Palmer. The patrons now receive their mail from Spring Valley.
JORDAN TOWNSHIP.
Jordan township is on the northern tier of towns in Fillmore county, the second from the western boundary. Its neighbors are Olmsted county on the north, Chatfield on the east, Fillmore on the south and Sumner on the west. The middle branch of the Root river enters the town in section thirty-four, and runs di- agonally to leave it from section twenty-four. Lost creek runs across the northern part. In the soil there is quite a variety. The western part is a rolling prairie with a rich clay soil on a limestone foundation. The larger part of the northeast quarter is timber land, owned by a number of non-residents and so it is cut up in many small lots of five acres, with some more and some less. In the early history of the county this was the "Woods" where people came, sometimes thirty miles for supplies, and it was no uncommon thing to see one hundred teams a day on this errand. In addition to the rivers already mentioned, there is Jordan creek, with three branches converging from the south and west, to form a conference with the Root river before it leaves the town. Bear creek also sweeps around into section thirty-one. Lost creek has several branches coming from near the town of Sumner. In low stages of water this creek loses itself in the ground. There is a large spring on section seven that starts Fer- guson's creek and joins its fate in section eight with Lost creek. It will thus be seen that Jordan is a well watered town- ship. There was considerable rock maple along these creeks when the town was first settled and sugar was made to some extent and is still. The soil is inclined to be black loam and is every- where productive. This is especially so in the Root river valley.
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