USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 10
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TOWNSHIP BOUNDARIES.
On April 7, 1858, the county board created twenty town- ships, the lines corresponding with the Congressional survey. Names were given as follows: In range 19, township 101, Asher
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
(now London) ; township 102, Oakland; township 103, Guildford (now Moscow) ; township 104, Seward, also spelled Steward in the records (now Newry). In range 18, township 104, Geneva ; township 103, Beardsley (now Riceland) ; township 102, Hay- ward; township 101, Shellrock (new spelled as two words). In range 21, township 101, Freeman; township 102, Albert Lea; township 103, Bancroft; township 104, Porter (now Bath). In range 22, township 104, Hartland; township 103, Buckeye (now Manchester) ; township 102, Pickeral Lake (now spelled correctly Pickerel) ; township 101, Nunda. In range 23, township 101, Mansfield; township 102, Alden; township 103, Stanton (now Carlston) ; township 104, Freeborn.
Twelve townships were authorized to perfect an organization on May 11, 1858. They were: Asher (now London), Guildford (now Moscow), Geneva, Beardsley (now Riceland), Shell Rock, Albert Lea, Hartland, Bancroft, Buckeye (now Manchester), Pick- erel Lake, Nunda and Freeborn. The other eight were attached to these twelve townships as follows: The south half of Oakland to Asher (now London), the north half of Oakland to Guildford (now Moscow), Seward (now Newry) and the east half of Porter (now Bath) to Geneva, the northeast quarter of Hayward to Beardsley (now Riceland), the south half of Hay- ward and the east half of Freeman to Shell Rock, the northwest quarter of Hayward to Albert Lea, the west half of Porter (now Bath) to Hartland, Alden to Pickerel Lake, Mansfield to Nunda, Stanton (now Carlston) to Freeborn. This seems to have left the west half of Freeman unattached.
June 7, 1858, the board recognized the organization of Stanton as perfected by the election of May 11, 1858. The name of Stanton (now Carlston) was changed to Springfield and that of Guildford to Moscow. Asher was attached to Shell Rock and the south half of Oakland to Moscow. At this time the board ap- proved the action of the citizens of Buckeye (now Manchester) in changing the name of the township to Liberty.
September 16, 1858, Pickerel Lake was attached to Albert Lea. Oakland was granted an organization. Porter (now Bath) was also granted an organization, as was also Hayward, the name of the latter being changed to Douglass, and sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 attached to Shell Rock. On October 28, township 101, range 19, was granted an organization as Lindon and it was many years before the name London appears as the correct title. At the same meeting Steward (also spelled Seward in the records) was granted an organization and the name changed to Union. The name is now Newry. At the same meeting the name of Beardsley was changed to Riceland and Liberty to Manchester. January 5, 1859, after receiving a communication
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from the secretary of state, Union (now Newry) was changed to Dover : Springfield (now Carlston) to Groton, and Douglass to Hayward. On the same day a petition to renew the town of Asher as at first organized by the board, was rejected.
September 13, 1859, the board changed the name of Dover to Newry. The name of Groton, formerly Springfield, was changed to Carlston. Pickerel Lake was again voted a separate organ- ization, but did not accept it. Certain sections of township 102, range 20, were detached from Shell Rock, and restored to Hayward.
January 4, 1860, a petition was received to have sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 in Hayward set back into Shell Rock township, but this was rejected by reason that the request had not been signed by a majority of the voters. October 20, 1860, Pick- erel Lake was attached to Manchester and Alden to Carlston. December 17, the town of Freeman was granted an organization as Green.
September 3, 1861, Alden was detached from Albert Lea and attached to Carlston. April 10, 1861, an effort was made to have eighty acres owned by Oliver Andrews in Hayward, set off, and attached to Shell Rock, but this petition was rejected by the board on the ground that it had not been balloted upon by the voters of the town.
September 5, 1865, Pickerel Lake was separated from Albert Lea and granted an organization.
January 2, 1866, the towns of Mansfield and Alden were granted organization.
London was created as Asher April 7, 1858, and was granted a separate organization. To it was attached the south half of Oakland. There were too few people to organize, however, and the south half of Oakland was attached to Moscow and Asher to Shell Rock, June 7, 1858. October 27, 1858, Asher was granted an organization as Lindon and this name appears in the records for some years. Later it was changed to London.
Shell Rock appears in the early records 'as one word. It was created April 7, 1858, and to it was attached the south half of Hayward, and the east half of Freeman. January 7. 1858, Asher (now London) was also attached to it. September 16, 1858, all of Hayward was cut off except sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33. September 13, 1859, these sections were also cut off. Freeman was granted an organization December, 1860, and Asher was granted an organization as Lindon (now London) October 28th of that year. Shell Rock was organized May 11, 1858. January 4, 1860, an attempt was made to again attach sections 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 in Hayward township to Shell Rock. This attempt failed as did also that effort made April 10, 1861,
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to have eighty acres of land in Hayward upon which the Andrews house was situated attached to Shell Rock.
Freeman was created June 7, 1858, the east half being at- tached to Shell Rock. Early settlers declare that the west half was attached to Nunda, but of this no record appears. It was . named in honor of the Freeman family, who were the first to move into the central portion of the town. December 17, 1860, it was granted a separate organization, and the name changed to Green, but it nevertheless continued to be called by its first title and has ever been known as Freeman.
Nunda was granted a separate organization in April 7, 1858, and to it was attached Mansfield. It was organized May 11, 1858. The town was named Nunda, Ill., the town from whence came Patrick Fitzsimmons. Before township days this vicinity was known as Bear Lake. Mansfield was cut off and granted an organization January 2, 1866.
Mansfield. Mansfield was created April 7, 1858, and attached to Nunda for township purposes. It was granted a separate or- ganization January 2, 1866.
Alden. April 7, 1858, Alden was attached to Pickerel Lake. As a part of Pickerel Lake, it was attached to Albert Lea, September 16, 1858. October 20, 1860, Alden was attached to Carlston. This act evidently did not go into effect, as on Sep- tember 3, 1861, another act attached Alden to Carlston, thus leading to the conclusion that the previous act had not been effective. January 2, 1866, Alden was granted a separate or- ganization.
Pickerel Lake. At the meeting of the county board of April 7, 1858, Pickerel Lake was voted an independent government and to it was attached the township of Alden. There were too few people for organization, however, and September 16, 1858, it was attached to Albert Lea. September 13, 1859, it was again granted a separate organization, but did not perfect an organ- ization. October 20, 1860, Pickerel Lake was attached to Man- chester. Although the records are silent on the subject, it would appear that after being attached to Manchester about a year, it was again attached to Albert Lea until September 5, 1865, when it was granted a separate organization.
Albert Lea. This township was created by the meeting of the county board held April 7, 1858. To it was attached the north- western quarter of Hayward. This was cut off and Hayward organized September 16, 1858. September 16, 1858, Pickerel Lake was attached to Albert Lea. The relation of Pickerel Lake and Alden to Albert Lea is discussed elsewhere. Alden, having been attached to Pickerel Lake, was with that town attached to Albert Lea until September 3, 1861, when it was attached to
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
Carlston ; while Pickerel Lake was attached to Albert Lea with the exception of one year until its organization was authorized September 5, 1865.
Hayward. This town takes its name from Geo. Hayward the prominent citizen of the early days. April 7, 1858, the northeast quarter was attached to Beardsley (now Riceland), the north- west quarter was attached to Albert Lea, and the south half to Shell Rock. September 16, 1858, Hayward was granted an or- ganization and the name changed to Douglass. January 5, 1859, the county board changed the name to the original designation of Hayward. At the time of organization by the county board, September 16, 1858, sections, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and 33 were cut off and attached to Shell Rock, but these sections were again placed in Hayward one year later. Various efforts, all unsuccessful, were afterward made to again place these sections in Shell Rock.
Oakland. This township was created by the county board April 7, 1857, under its present name. The designation is doubt- less derived from the burr oak openings which prevailed from that locality. The north half of the township was attached to Guildford (now Moscow) and the south half to Asher (now Lon- don). June 7, 1858, the south half of Oakland was also attached to Moscow. September 16, 1858, the board authorized its organization.
Moscow. This name has been borne by this township since the earliest days and is due to a fancied resemblance of an early forest fire to the appearance of Moscow in Russia when burned by Napoleon during his ill-fated Russian campaign. However, at the creation April 7, 1858, the name of Guildford was given at the suggestion of the Rev. Theophilus Lowry. In the county records this name appears spelled Guildford although the Connecticut town is spelled Guilford without the "d." To this town was attached the north half of Oakland. The name of Guildford was changed to Moscow June 7. 1858. At the same time the southern half of Oakland was attached to it. Oakland was cut off and its organization authorized September 16, 1858.
Riceland. This township was created by the county board April 7, 1858, under the name of Beardsley in honor of Samuel A. Beardsley who had platted the village of Fairfield. To it was attached the northwest corner of Hayward. On October 28. 1858, the name was changed to Riceland. The northwest quarter of Hayward was cut off September 16, 1858. when the latter township was authorized to organize. The township of Beardsley was granted an organization May 11, 1858.
Bancroft. This is the only town which has remained un- changed both in name and area of town government since its
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creation by the county board April 7, 1858. It was named from the village of Bancroft, which in turn was named from the his- torian Bancroft. The organization was perfected May 11, 1858.
Manchester. This town is one of the two townships in Free- born county whose areas of town government have remained unchanged since the creation of the towns by the county board April 7, 1858. In the earliest days this town was known as Olborg, in honor of the Norwegian postoffice from whence Ole Peterson came. At its creation by the county board it was given the name of Buckeye. This name had been applied to a postoffice established in 1857, and was given in honor of S. B. Smith who was a native of Ohio, the "Buckeye" state. At the election May 11, 1858, the name of Liberty was agreed upon. September 16 of the same year the state auditor notified the county board that the name must be changed. October 20, 1858, the designation of Manchester was agreed upon and that has since remained its title. The town was organized May 11, 1858. Manchester was the name of a town in Illinois from whence came Mathias Anderson.
Carlston. April 7, 1858, the county board created this town- ship and gave it the name of Stanton, in honor of Elias Stanton who was frozen to death November 1, 1857. The town was at- tached to Freeborn, but the voters met on May 11, 1858, and perfected an organization of their own. This organization was recognized by the board June 7, 1858, and on that same date, the name was changed to Springfield, but this name had already been chosen by another township in the state, so on Jonuary 5, 1859, the name was changed to Groton. On September 13, 1859, the voters of that town petitioned the county board for a change of name from Groton to Carlston and a separate organization. The petition was granted. L. J. Carlston, after whom the town was named, was a genial, well-educated gentleman who exerted considerable political influence in the northwest part of the county in the early days. He and a man named Johnson were accidentally drowned in Freeborn lake in the fall of 1858. It is generally supposed that the proper spelling of the name is Carlson and that "t" was added by mistake.
Freeborn. On April 7, 1858, the county board authorized Freeborn to perfect a township organization. To it, Stanton (now Carlston), was attached. Carlston was organized Septem- ber 13, 1859. Freeborn was named from the lake and village, which in turn had taken their name from the county. The county was named from William Freeborn, an early settler of Minnesota and a prominent citizen of Red Wing.
Hartland. This town was authorized by the county board April 7, 1858, to perfect an organization May 11, of the same
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year. To it was attached the western half of Porter, now Bath. Bath was granted an organization September 16, 1858.
Bath. This town was originally called Porter in honor of E. D. Porter, who settled near Clark's Grove at an early day. At the meeting of the county board April 7, 1858, the east half of Porter was attached to Geneva and the west half to Hart- land. September 16, 1858, Porter was granted an organization. The name Bath, which was adopted by the voters April 15, 1859, was given in honor of the former home of F. W. Calkins, who had lived at the county seat of Steuben county, Ohio.
Geneva. This township was authorized April 7, 1858, to perfect a town government May 11, 1858. To it were attached Seward (now Newry) and the east half of Porter (now Bath). It was named from the village which had been platted and which in turn was named from Geneva, New York. Newry was cut off and granted an organization October 28, 1858. Bath was granted an organization September 16, 1858.
Newry. This township was originally called Seward in honor of William H. Seward, the great Republican leader. In the commissioners' records, however, it is several times spelled Stew- ard. The board authorized its organization April 7, 1858. It was attached to Geneva for township purposes. October 29, 1858, it was granted a separate organization and its name changed to Union. January 5, 1859, the name was changed to Dover. September 13, 1859, it was given the name of Newry.
Steward. This is the spelling which appears in one or two places in the county records for Seward, an early name of what is now Newry township.
Union. This was one of the early names of the present Newry township.
Dover. Dover is a name at one time borne by the present township of Newry.
Guildford. This is the spelling given by the county record to the name borne for a short time by what is now the town of Moscow.
Guilford. This is doubtless the correct spelling of the name borne for a short period by what is now the town of Moscow.
Beardsley. This was the name originally given to what is now Riceland.
Oldburg. This was the name originally given to what is now Manchester.
Buckeye. This was one of the names applied to Manchester in the early days.
Liberty. This is the name borne at one time by what is now the town of Manchester.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
Stanton. This was the name originally given to what is now Carlston.
Springfield. This was one of the names applied to Carlston in the early days.
Groton. This is the name borne at one time by what is now . the town of Carlston.
Porter. This was an early name given to what is now the township of Bath.
Asher was the original name of what is now London.
Shellrock is an early manner of writing Shell Rock.
Bear Lake is an early name applied to what is now Nunda ..
Groten. Doubtless, through mistake, this spelling appears several times in the county records in place of Groton.
CHAPTER X.
COUNTY REPRESENTATION.
Freeborn County in Seventh, Sixth and Fourth Council Districts -Constitution Convention-Freeborn and Faribault Counties Become the Fourteenth Senatorial District-Freeborn, Steele and Waseca Become the Sixteenth District-Freeborn County Becomes the Fifth District-Changed to the Fourth and Then to Ninth-Congressional Representative.
On July 7, 1849, Gov. Alexander Ramsey, by proclamation, di- vided the territory of Minnesota into council districts ; Freeborn county, with the rest of southern Minnesota (exclusive of the settlements on the banks of the Mississippi), coming within the limits of the seventh district.
1849 .- The first territorial legislature met on September 3, and adjourned November 1. The seventh district was repre- sented in the council by Martin McLeod, of Lac qui Parle, and in the house by Alexis Bailly, of Mendota and Gideon H. Pond, of Oak Grove. Although Freeborn county was included in the seventh district, no settlers had at that time located within the present limits of the county.
1851 .- The second territorial legislature assembled January 1, and adjourned March 31. The seventh district was repre- sented in the council by Martin McLeod, of Lac qui Parle, and in the house by B. H. Randall, of Ft. Snelling, and Alexander Faribault, of Faribault. Freeborn county was still without settlers. By the apportionment of this legislature, the territory having been divided into counties, Dakota county, which in- cluded Freeborn county, was constituted the sixth council district.
1852 .- The third territorial legislature assembled January 7 and adjourned March 6. The sixth district was represented in the council by Martin McLeod, and in the house by James McC. Boal and Benjamin H. Randall.
1853 .- The fourth territorial legislature assembled January 5 and adjourned March 5. At this session the boundary lines of many of the counties were changed, and practically all of Free- born county, except the four townships on the west was included in Rice county. The boundaries of the legislative districts, how-
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
ever, remained the same, and the present Freeborn county re- mained in the district which comprised the area included in Dakota county by the act of 1851. At the session of 1853 the sixth district was represented by Martin McLeod in the council and A. E. Ames and B. H. Randall in the house.
1854 .- The fifth territorial legislature assembled January 4 and adjourned March 4. The sixth district was represented in the council by Joseph R. Brown and in the house by Hezekiah Fletcher and William H. Nobles.
1855 .- The sixth territorial legislature assembled January 3 and adjourned March 3. The sixth district was represented in the council by Joseph R. Brown and in the house by H. H. Sibley and D. M. Hanson. At this session Freeborn county was created with its present boundaries. By the apportionment Goodhue, Dodge and Freeborn counties were constituted the fourth dis- trict, although Freeborn was not contingent to the others.
1856 .- The seventh territorial legislature assembled January 2 and adjourned March 1. William Freeborn, from whom the county is named, represented the fourth district in the council, and Charles Gardner and J. B. Hubbell in the house.
1857 .- The eighth territorial legislature assembled January 7 and adjourned March 7. An extra session assembled April 27 and adjourned May 23. The fourth district was represented in the council by William Freeborn and in the house by Nelson Payne and W. W. Sweeney.
March 3, 1857, congress passed an act authorizing the people to form a state constitution. Each council district was to be represented in this convention by two members for each council- man and representative to which it was entitled. The fourth district, consisting of Goodhue, Dodge and Freeborn counties, was to have six delegates. In the spring a convention was held at Mantorville to nominate delegates, and to agree upon the proper division of representation among the three counties. For some cause, Freeborn county was not represented at that con- vention and was awarded but one of the nominations. But at the election Isaac Turtlott, of Dodge county, was defeated, and Freeborn sent two delegates, George Watson and E. C. Stacy.
The constitutional convention, consisting of 108 members, was authorized to meet at the capital on the second Monday in July to frame a state constitution, and to submit it to the people of the territory. The election, already mentioned, was held on the first Monday in June, 1857. July 13 the delegates met, but a disagreement arising in the organization, the Republican mem- bers organized one body and the Democrats organized separately. Each of these bodies, claiming to be the legally constituted con- vention, proceeded with the work of forming an instrument to
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be submitted to the people. After some days an understanding was effected between them, and by means of a committee of con- ference, the same constitution was framed and adopted by both bodies. On being submitted to the people, October 13, it was ratified. In the Republican wing the fourth district was repre- sented by Charles McClure, Aaron C. Hudson, George Watson, Frank Mantor, Joseph Peckham. Edwin C. Stacy was the only one from this district sitting on the Democratic side. By the apportionment of 1857, set forth in the state constitution adopted March 13, Freeborn and Faribault counties were constituted the fourteenth senatorial district with one senator and three representatives.
1857-58 .- The first state legislature assembled December 2, 1857. On March 25, 1858, it took a recess until June 2, and finally adjourned August 12. The fourteenth district was repre- sented in the senate by George Watson and in the house by James B. Wakefield, George B. Kingsley and A. H. Barlett. Watson and Barlett lived in Freeborn county.
1859-60 .- The second state legislature assembled December 7, 1859, and adjourned March 12, 1860. George Watson repre- sented the fourteenth district in the senate and G. K. Cleveland, Allen Shultis and T. W. Purdie in the house. Watson and Purdie were from Freeborn county. A. B. Webber appears to have been elected to the house in 1860, but there was no session of the legislature during the few months he was supposed to serve. By the apportionment of 1860, Freeborn, Steele and Waseca were constituted the sixteenth district with one senator and two representatives.
1861 .- The third state legislature assembled January 8 and adjourned March 8. The sixteenth district was represented in the senate by George Watson, of Freeborn county, and in the house by James E. Child, of Waseca, and W. F. Pettit, of Steele.
1862 .- The fourth state legislature assembled January 7 and adjourned March 7. The sixteenth district was represented in the senate by A. B. Webber, of Freeborn county, and in the house by H. G. Magoon, of Steele, and P. C. Bailey, of Waseca. On account of the Indian outbreak an extra session was called by the governor, and it assembled September 9 and adjourned September 29.
1863 .- The fifth state legislature assembled January 6 and adjourned March 6. The sixteenth district was represented in the senate by M. A. Dailey and in the house by Asa Walker, of Carlston, and Philo Woodruff.
1864 .- The sixth state legislature assembled January 5 and adjourned March 4. The sixteenth district was represented in
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
the senate by F. J. Stevens and in the house by Philo Woodruff and J. L. Gibbs. Gibbs lived in Geneva.
1865 .-- The seventh state legislature assembled January 3 and adjourned March 3. The representatives from the sixteenth dis- trict were B. A. Lowell in the senate and J. L. Gibbs and J. B. . Crooker in the house.
1866 .- The eighth state legislature assembled January 2 and adjourned March 2. The sixteenth district was represented in the senate by B. A. Lovell and in the house by J. B. Crooker and Augustus Armstrong. Armstrong was from Albert Lea. This legislature re-apportioned the districts, but Freeborn, Steele and Waseca remained the sixteenth.
1867 .- The ninth state legislature assembled January 8 and adjourned March 8. The representatives from the sixteenth dis- trict were Aug. Armstrong in the senate and W. H. Twiford, William Brisbane and James E. Smith in the house. Armstrong, Twiford and Smith were from Freeborn county.
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