USA > Minnesota > Fillmore County > History of Fillmore County, Minnesota (Volume 1) > Part 43
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
Digitized by Google
- ---- - --------
-
WILLIAM ELDER AND FAMILY
Digitized by
! I
Digitized by
401
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
and then a substantial brick edifice was completed at a cost of $825. District 101. The first school here was in the summer of 1858. H. T. Wilson conducted the school. The house was built of those logs. Each man in the district subscribed so many logs, so many nails, a window, a board or two, and so the house went up. This was the shortest way to get a school building, and imposed a lighter burden than any other method, and so it was usually adopted. A new building was put up here in 1870 in section 26. District 176 was created in the eighties. The schoolhouse is in the northwest part of section 10. District 179. The commissioners created this district March 7, 1893, out of districts 83, 100 and 176. It consists of sections 1, 2, 11 and 12, and the schoolhouse is in the northwest part of section 12.
Chatfield. The Chatfield Academy. This collegiate institute was incorporated February 25, 1856, and organized May 29, 1858. The trustees were H. B. Morse, J. H. McKenny, C. B. G. Jones, C. M. Lovell, Charles Wilson, Augustus Haven, Wm. B. Gere, E. D. Holt, T. J. Safford, J. R. Jones, R. W. Twitchell, G. W. Willis, F. G. Raymond, Isaac Day and C. G. Hawley. The officers were : President, J. R. Jones; secretary, H. B. Morse; treasurer, G. W. Willis; executive committee, Augustus Haven, J. H. McKenney and R. W. Twitchell. J. W. Bishop was the first principal and Miss Knights, assistant. It was opened on the first of September, 1858. As the academy filled up, new educational facilities were offered. Rev. G. W. Fuller was instructor in Latin and Greek. Drs. Isaac Cole and Luke Miller lectured on anatomy, physiology and hygiene. There were within a year sixty-two students. In March, 1869, Professor T. E. Thickston, of Pennsylvania, was appointed principal. This educational institution went on for some years, but was finally superseded by the public schools of the state. The Chatfield Graded School (district 81, joint) was organized about 1865. A schoolhouse was contracted for in 1864, and was of two stories, 24x33 feet, and cost $3,000. Another building was erected in 1879, at a cost of about $400. Primary No. 2 was erected in 1880, at a cost of $300. Thus started the present excellent school system of the city of Chatfield, which is described elsewhere. District 83. This is reported as the first district in town to be regularly organized, outside of the village, which was in the fall of 1858, with the following named officers : Director, Joseph Caw; clerk, Peter Johnson; treasurer, George W. Sawyer. In the spring of 1859 a log schoolhouse was built on land donated by Sabin Woodward, in section 17; it was 18x22 feet and cost $200. Miss IIill, later Mrs. Hanson Woodward, was the first teacher. This house was occupied up to 1872, when a brick building was constructed on section 18 at a cost of $1,500. District 82. In 1862 this district was intro-
Digitized by Google
402
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
duced into existence, with the following officers: Director, Pat- rick McGrand; clerk, Michael King; treasurer, Martin Breman. In the summer of 1863 the first school was gathered into the granary of Andrew Galbreath, on section 2, and Lizzie Galbreath was delegated to teach. The next winter the school was held in the house, where seventeen pupils congregated. The next spring an acre of land was procured by Thomas Parsley for $15, and a schoolhouse 18x24 feet was built on section 14. In 1876 an addi- tion to this, 10x24 feet, was made. Laura Barber was the first to handle the ferule in the schoolhouse, with twenty-five scholars. In 1877 a new district was formed from this and called district No. 128. The headquarters of this district are in section 2, where the schoolhouse is located. The first teacher was Miss Stewart. District 84. The next district to be organized was this one, on September 11, 1859. On October 21 the officers were elected as follows: Director, Daniel S. Hoit ; clerk, M. O. Camp; treasurer, R. H. Findley. A tax of $75 was levied to build a log schoolhouse, which was erected on section 27, and O. Compton was the initial teacher. In May, 1862, the number of the dis- trict was changed from a previous number to No. 84. In the spring of 1867 it was divided into two districts, the other being numbered 147. The old district built a new schoolhouse on sec- tion 25, a frame building 18x26 feet, at a cost of $600, which was completed in 1868. After the sub-division the first teacher was Mattie Shaw, in a house owned by John Jacobs. Mary King called the first school to order in the new schoolhouse. District 147 was set off as above indicated, in 1867, and the first officers were: Director, Navin Wright; clerk, D. C. Cartlich; treasurer, Thomas Sawyer. The first school was held in the house of the clerk, with D. D. Ferrall in charge. The next year a log house was built, 16x24 feet, on section 21, on land owned by George Goldsmith, and Minnie Sawyer was the teacher. District 85 was organized in 1863 with the following officers: Director, W. Brown; clerk, M. W. Rooney; treasurer, D. W. Breese. Mrs. Lucy Brown opened a school in her own house in 1860, and in 1862, the citizens rolled a few logs together, and there they laid until 1863, when a frame building went up in section 32 at a cost of $600. Here Mrs. Brown also taught. In 1878 another house was built. Harry Armstrong was the first to teach in this building. District 173 was organized February 19, 1878. The officers were: Director, I. Fay; clerk, George M. Farrington; treasurer, H. F. Douchey. A frame house was built, 16x20 feet, in 1877, on land owned by A. W. Fargo, in section 31. Maud McFaul was the first instructor, with twenty pupils. This dis- trict includes a part of the town of Jordan. District 161. This district was set off in 1868, and two terms of school were taught
Digitized by Google
- - - - - - -- - - - .
403
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
in the house of James A. Scott, Ida Barber presiding. In 1870 the schoolhouse was erected on section 4, Fountain, at an expense of $260. The school is now located in section 34, Chatfield township.
Pilot Mound. District 55. In 1856 a school was taught in the house of Frank Whitney, and his wife was the teacher. This was in section 10, and there were a dozen or more scholars. A log schoolhouse was built in 1856, on the land of H. Jones, in section 10, Mrs. Whitney, the same teacher, also was the first to officiate here. In about 1867 this building, having outlasted its usefulness, was replaced by another, which cost $1,200. District 56. The school bearing this number was organized in March, 1857, at the house of H. R. Rouse, when a site was agreed upon for the schoolhouse, which was to be within eighty-five rods of the geographical center of the district. A tax of $106 was raised to build the schoolhouse, and it was to be ready for occupancy by the first of June that year. Nelson Frost, Henry A. Spicer and Isaac Dickinson were chosen trustees. The house was of logs, in section 8, on land owned by N. Frost. The school was opened by Marietta Smith. This may have been the first schoolhouse in town. It had a dirt roof and it was not uncommon to see snakes on the top of the house which was green with grass. This edu- cational institution served its purpose until 1869, when a new one was built in section 7. Dilla J. Mann was the first teacher there. District 57. As near as can be learned the first school opened in this district was at the residence of Nels Thorson in 1857. Lewis Everson taught in the Norsk tongue. The next year a regular "bee" was held, and a log cabin put up and dig- nified by the name of schoolhouse. In 1878 or 1879 an edifice was constructed in section 31. The first teacher to teach in the English language in this district was H. H. Hayden. District 58. In the autumn of 1862 a house was bought of Peter Berg, in section 26, for a schoolhouse, and school was commenced with J. H. Burrell as teacher, with twelve or fourteen scholars. In 1871 a schoolhouse was put up in section 24, on land owned by Peter Berg. The house cost about $400. District 139 was organ- ized in 1866 at the house of Asa Smith. Mary Green first called the school to order, and kept the first term. In the summer of 1867 the first schoolhouse was built at a cost of $900. While the building was going up a school was kept in a log cabin formerly used by John Ellsbury. District 159. This district, in 1877, was organized from four other districts. The meeting for organizing was held on October 3 at the house of Charles Egge. Otto Haug was elected director; Carl Egge, treasurer ; Nels T. Borgen, clerk. The schoolhouse was built in section 21, at a cost of $350, and
Digitized by Google
404
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
the school opened on January 1, 1878, William Mckeown being the initial teacher.
Arendahl. The first school in town was in the Norsk language and was taught by A. E. Boyum, in private houses in the winter of 1857 and 1858. The first school in English was taught in District No. 36. District 35. The earliest school taught in this district was in a log church by Christina Thompson, later mar- ried to A. Anderson. In 1867 a frame building was put up. District 164. In 1872 a stone schoolhouse was built at a cost of $500, 17x23 feet. Robert W. Butler was the first to teach in the building. District 166. In this district, teaching began in the Norwegian language in 1864. The teacher was Andrew O. Olnestad. In 1871 the schoolhouse was built, L. O. Olnestad being the teacher at that time. District 36. This district was early organized, and in 1862 a log edifice, 18x22, was up and served the purpose until 1873, when a structure was erected 20x34 feet.
Rushford. Rushford Schools. This independent district was created by a charter in 1868, but was not organized until Feb- ruary 20, 1869, and in March the following persons were elected as officers: Niles Carpenter, Joseph Otis, John C. Smith, John Hobart, Joseph E. Atwater and George B. Parker. The first teacher was G. W. Kemp, a medical student, who, during the second term, was taken sick and went home to die in Indiana. In 1879 the large schoolhouse being insufficient, a new one was built for the primary department. This district was made up from the old county district No. 16 and succeeded to the property. Thus began the public school history of Rushford city, which is given elsewhere. The first school taught here was a private one by Mrs. Henry Mead, in her own house on the south side of Rushford avenue, in the winter of 1857-58. The first public school was opened by Miss Waters on Monday, February 1, 1858, in a claim shanty built by Mrs. Nims, about three-fourths of a mile north of the postoffice. District 18. The first school held here was in the basement of the house of Joshua Emery, in section 2, in the summer of 1857, and was taught by Martha Emery, who a few months afterward was married to H. Stage. The school was continued here for several years. In 1859 an attempt was made to build a schoolhouse, and those inter- ested got out some timber and hewed it, and actually commenced work on the building, which was located where the Catholic ceme- tery was later laid out, but the poverty of the settlers com- pelled them to abandon the work. In 1867, they succeeded in erecting a frame building, in section 2, at a cost of about $500. District 160. The first school in this district was a small one of logs in section 6, on the land now owned by G. Olson. In 1878 a
Digitized by Google
.---- -
Digitized by
Digitized by
405
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
large frame building was constructed in section 7, on the farm of R. Torsons, at a cost of between $400 and $500. District 146. The first school here was held in a granary belonging to Otis Batrick in section 15, and here the school was taught up to 1866, when a frame house was built. Eva Walker taught the first school. District 154 (joint). The first school was held in the granary of Hans Hanson, in section 25, in 1880, and the same year a frame house was built at a cost of about $300. The first term was taught by Tilda Oldhouse, of Rushford. District 144. The first school in this district was taught in the year 1866 by Nancy Willet, the district having been organized the previous year. The school was in a small shanty. The first board elected was composed of the following gentlemen: George A. Hayse, A. T. Benson and W. F. Gates. In the year 1870 it was decided to build a new house, which was done on lot 7, South Rushford, at a cost of $1,000. It is known as the South Rushford school. District 17. This is the Peterson district and was established in 1856. It was at first No. 42, and took six sections from this town and six from Arendahl. The earliest history of this dis- trict is rather obscure, but a school seems to have been kept in a log building built for that purpose on the land of Peter Peter- son Haslerud, where the village of Peterson now is. Here it was held until a frame house was put up in 1870, on the land of Easton and Barton, in section 29 on the west side of the river. The cost was about $500. The present Peterson school, which covers the work of the usual graded schools, and also does two years of high school work, was erected in 1900 at a cost of $5,000.
Norway. District 15. The first school inaugurated in this district was in the house of Andrew Peterson in section twenty- eight, in 1859 or 1860. The instructor was G. A. Highland. The first schoolhouse was a log structure, 16x20 feet, in section 29. District 13. The first building for school purposes was erected in 1859, and was 14x16 feet. The first teacher was Hannah Onstine. The location was in section 15. A new house, 20x36, was later erected at a cost of $850. District 12. The first shelter for the school was of logs in the center of section 17. In 1878 a new house was put up at a cost of $500. District 14. The first house was got together by subscription; it was 16x18 feet and was put up in 1861. In 1878 a new house was erected, 18x26 feet. District 157 is joint with Houston county and has its school- house in section 36. District 183 (joint). This district, which has a schoolhouse in section 12, is joint with Houston county and takes in families in Norway and Rushford. It was created by the county commissioners, March 6, 1895. District 185 takes in families in Norway, Holt, Amherst and Preble. It was created by the county commissioners, March 24, 1896. The schoolhouse
Digitized by Google
406
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
is in section 31, Norway. District 186 was created by the county commissioners January 3, 1899. The schoolhouse is in section 7, and the district is in the extreme northwestern part of the township.
Holt. At first the town was divided into four districts, each representing a quarter of the territory. In 1871 a new district was formed, and according to the county rule it became No. 167, which represented the whole number of schools in the county at that date. This new district was taken in part from No. 32 and partly from No. 33, and was located in the south part of the town. District 32. The location of the school house is on section twenty- five. The district embraces the southeast corner of the town and was the first organized. In the winter of 1857 N. A. Graves carried the petition for the establishment of the district to Preston on snow shoes. The following spring a log house was put up by voluntary subscriptions of material and work. At the first school about forty pupils got together in the 18x20 building, the first to wield authority being Helen Chambers. About ten years afterwards a frame building was constructed. District 34. The school thus designated embraces the northeast corner of the town. Late in the sixties this district was created, and Delia Adams under- took to teach in the house of Holver Kittleson. After a while a log house, 14x18 feet, was built, mostly by subscription. D. Adams was one of the first trustees. District 167. As already stated this district was ushered into existence in 1871. The school house was of logs and was sided over. Anton Cleaver was the architect and builder. The first teacher was John Quinn. District 33. The location of the schoolhouse is on section 29, and it accommodates the pupils in the southwest part of the town. The first building was a subscription one of logs. In 1877, a good frame building with a cupola, modern seats, and educational appliances was supplied, the dimensions of the building being 20x30 feet, with a front hall 10x10 feet. The cost was $800. Dis- trict 72. This is the Whalen Village School, and was commenced soon after the mill was put in operation, in a shanty just east of Dyer's store. Julia O'Brien was the earliest instructor. In 1870 a building was erected; a frame structure, 28x38 feet, with a cupola and bell, patent seats, globes, maps and other modern paraphernalia, to assist in mental development. The cost of the building was $1,200. The first teacher here was Miss P. Reppey. Whalen now has a semi-graded school with two departments.
Carrolton. District 49. This was first organized in 1858. The first officers were: J. H. Skarie, clerk ; K. O. Orton, director; R. Knudtson, treasurer. A school had previously been taught in the house of K. K. Bell in 1857 by Lars Iverson in the Norwegian language. In 1858 James Oberton taught English in the house
Digitized by Google
-
407
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
of K. C. Orton, and until the schoolhouse was built private houses were used. The schoolhouse cost about $450. Elling Gulings was the first teacher. District 50. The first school here was probably. the one opened in the house of M. Mulholland, Ellen Mulholland being the instructor. Afterwards a school was kept in N. Wal- den's residence. In 1868 a house was built in the southeast corner of section four, at a cost of about $300. The first to teach in the new schoolhouse was Lizzie Whalen. District 51. It is claimed with great plausibility in each case that the first school was kept at three different places by as many different persons. This district was probably organized about 1858, and a school- house constructed at the quarter stake between sections 7 and 8, each man bringing logs; before it was finally completed, however, it was torn down and removed to section 8, where it was finished. In 1859 the first school was opened there with Miss Mulholland wielding the rod of authority. The school continued there until a house was completed in 1875, in section 18, at a cost of $450. District 52. In 1860 a school was started in a house owned by Sheldon Eddy in section 21; Eliza Underwood handled the ferule. About the same time the organization was effected. Schools were continued in private houses up to 1869, when a schoolhouse was put up that cost $30. In 1871 a building was constructed at a cost of $300. Sarah Woodward was the first teacher in the new schoolhouse. District 53. School was taught in the house of H. Peterson in 1858, while this was a part of district No. 52. Wm. Sawyer was the teacher. The district was set off in 1861, and that winter a school was opened at the residence of Jacob Heintz. In 1862 a log house was built in section 27 on the land of O. C. Gulbrandson, who furnished the rough timber. All helped put it together, and when nearly ready for the roof Mr. Fiske was employed to finish it for about $100. In 1871 the house was moved to section 28. In 1880 a fourth of an acre of land was bought of J. C. Easton for $25, on the same section, about 450 yards north of the former site. District 54. This was formed by a subdivision of No. 53, and organized in 1867. The next year a schoolhouse was built in section 26. The first school started in the new house and the district was under the supervision of Angie McMullen. Lanesboro Schools .- Lanesboro was organized as an independent graded school and the school building erected at a cost of about $1,200. Further mention is found elsewhere.
Fountain. District 74. This is the district embracing the village of Fountain and surrounding territory. The district was organized about 1857, and a school was taught that year in a private house. Later in the same year a log house was erected in section 15, south of town, which served as a schoolhouse until 1873, having been moved several times. In 1873, a neat house
Digitized by Google
408
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
was erected at a cost of about $800 in the village. The first teacher was Carrie Wall. Fountain village now has a graded school with four departments. District 75. An organization of this district was effected in 1856, and a schoolhouse put up the second year, on H. H. Winslow's land, in section 8, which served until 1868, when another house was erected. Jane Kinney was the first teacher in the old house, while Thomas Fitch inaugu- rated the newer one. District 76. In 1861, this district was or- ganized and a building bought of Jerry O'Brien for $100. This was on section 20, but was moved to section 16 in 1866. In 1880, the new schoolhouse was constructed. This building cost $300. Lucretia Bilger was the first teacher in this district. District 77. In 1857, the district was formed, and a house built of logs fur- nished by the settlers, who arranged a "bee" and put them to- gether. John Utley started the first school and at the end of the third week Henry Lockwood took charge and finished the term. This served the district up to 1872, when the house was burned, and then a new house was built on the old site in section 20, and the school started by Lizzie J. Sharpe. District 78. This district was organized in 1857, and a log schoolhouse was put together by subscription without tax, in the summer of that year. The first school was taught immediately after the completion of the school- house by Abraham Sheldon. The house now in use by the district is located in the northeastern corner of section 33. District 79. This district was organized at an early day and a log schoolhouse erected by subscription. The first school was taught by Mrs. Gates in the log house. District 80. This district was organ- ized in 1860 and a log house put up that summer. In the winter, a school was taught by Mrs. J. S. Hanley. This building was 22x26 feet, erected by volunteer work and material, except win- dows and furniture. A new house was built in 1878, at a cost of about $700, on the old lot in section 7. Blanch Bartlich had the honor of being the first instructor in the new house.
Fillmore. It is claimed that the first school in the town was called to order by William Sackett. The school was held at Fillmore village in a little log hut in 1857, and had in attendance six or seven scholars. The teacher, Mr. Sackett, had just arrived from New York; he afterward married Catherine Splain, and moved to Lanesboro. District 94. This district comprises what is known as the Fillmore village district. Its organization was effected in 1856, being without doubt the first organized district in the town, and the first place in which school was held. A log house was put together in 1856, by subscription, which lasted until 1873, when a new house was put up in the village at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by William Sackett, and was attended by seven or eight scholars. District 63. This dis-
Digitized by Google
409
HISTORY OF FILLMORE COUNTY
trict was organized late in the fifties, being the district embrac- ing the locality southeast of Wykoff. Shortly after organizing a cheap frame structure was erected, and in 1876 a building was put up at a cost of about $600, the size being 20x30 feet. The schoolhouse was located on the southwest quarter of section 23. The house is now located farther south. District 95. The first teacher to call a school to order in this district was Mrs. Elias Mosher. Their present school building is a neat edifice on the northeast quarter of section 33. The district embraces part of the town of Wykoff. District 96. This district received its organization in the year 1860, and the first school was called to order in that year by Joseph Blanchard in the private log dwell- ing of Thomas Masteller, on section 20, thirty-three scholars being enrolled. In 1861, a log house was built by subscription. This lasted until about 1869, when a house was built at a cost of about $1,000, on section 29. District 153. This was organized about 1870, and shortly after a stone building was erected at a cost of $900. The first school was taught by Amantha Stevens. This district embraces that portion of the town lying northeast of Fillmore village, the schoolhouse being located on the southeast quarter of section 2. District 172. This district was organized in 1875, Thomas Pulford being the first director and Silva Long the first teacher after the district was set off. In 1876, a school- house was built, size 16x28, at a cost of $500. The first school was attended by twenty-seven scholars. District 104. This takes in the territory of Wykoff. It was organized in 1875, from the other contiguous districts. Messrs. Crain, Kilborn, and Bartlett were the first officers. A schoolhouse was built that year, 26x48 feet, and cost $850. The first school kept while the schoolhouse was building was in the Baptist church, by James Goodsell. The present Wykoff village school is graded with four departments. District 187 is the youngest district in Fillmore county. The schoolhouse is in section 18, Fillmore township.
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.