USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, Minnesota > Part 42
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war, in defense of his country. About the same time Richard Fitzgerald, a native of Ireland, came and first located at St. Nicholas, where he put in a crop; but soon after made his way to Bath. Fred W. Calkins came in June, 1857 and died in 1863.
George W. Skinner left Corning, New York, August 24, 1858, and arrived in Bath township September 7, having spent the preceding night in Geneva, where he found quite an important little settlement. On the tenth of the same month he selected the southeastern quarter of section 22 for his future home. Shortly after Mr. Skinner's arrival, John and George Blessing, natives of Germany, made their appearance and selected claims in sec- tion 23, where they remained for several years. Joseph Blessing came with his family and located in section 35, remaining four or five years. Horace Green came about the same time from Wisconsin, and located in section 14. Jacob Bower, a German, came in the fall of 1858 and planted his stakes in section 27; but his stay was abruptly terminated by the government officers, as he was discovered selling whiskey to the Indians, and he soon left. Mons Grinager came in 1859 and settled. He later became regis- ter of the United States land office at Worthington, Minnesota. Ellend Erickson, later a prominent citizen, came in 1859. James M. Drake, a native of Massachusetts, came in 1856, and located in Geneva; but later moved his residence over the line into Bath. Among others who were connected with the early history of this township are: David A. Pierce, who came in 1864; Niels P. Peterson, who came in 1867, and Mitchell Slater, who came in the early seventies. The settlement about Clark's Grove has already been described.
Early Events. The first birth in the township took place June 1, 1859, being that of John Schad, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernhard Schad. The second birth was that of a child to Mr. and Mrs. George W. Skinner, and occurred two weeks later than the above.
A triple marriage occurred in Bath, December 22, 1864, at the residence of the Brooks brothers, the ceremony being performed by George W. Skinner. The parties interested were as follows: Edward D. Brooks to Mary Bliss; Dwight E. Brooks to Mrs. Savanah Calkins, widow of Edward Calkins; Lieut. Loren Meeker to Augusta T. Brooks.
The first death occurred late in November, 1858, and carried away Edward Calkins. son of F. W. Calkins, aged twenty-one vears.
War Record. December 6, 1864, the sum of $1,000 was voted for the purpose of securing volunteers to fill the quota assigned the town, and to prevent the necessity of a draft. Of this amount $600 was used. The names of the participants in the
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war from Bath are as follows, fourteen in all: F. Drake, Dwight E. Brooks, Edward D. Brooks, O. Iverson, Ingebret Erickson, P. Jacobson, Michael Sheehan, E. Johnson, John Peterson, C. John- son, Mons Grinager, Nels Nelsons, Tim Kelly, and Peter Nason. Of these, Nels Nelson, Ole Iverson and P. Jacobson never returned, finding the graves of martyrs in southern soil.
Official Record. When the county of Freeborn came into existence the present area of the township of Bath was merged into territory taken from Geneva and Hartland, and was known as Porter.
Porter township was organized for local government at a meeting held April 15, 1859, at the residence of Frederick W. Calkins. The meeting came to order and James M. Drake was chosen chairman; F. W. Calkins, moderator, and Harris Green, clerk. The next matter taken up was that of the town name, and someone suggested "Bath," after the name of the county seat of Steuben county, Ohio, and the name was adopted. It was next voted that the lake near the center of the township should be known as "Lake George," in honor of the oldest son of G. W. Skinner. The matter of election next came up and the judges of election were appointed as follows: George W. Skinner, Andrew Black and B. Renweiler. The judges were duly sworn before F. W. Calkins, and the election of officers for the ensuing year began, resulting as follows: Supervisors, Harris Green, chairman, Joseph Blessing and E. Erickson ; clerk, Horace Green; assessor, Joseph Loreman; collector, E. Erickson; justices of the peace, George W. Skinner and Horace Green; constable, Jack Bower. The elections were held in early days at the residence of John Munsen, and as time went by they were held at various places as the annual meeting directed.
CARLSTON TOWNSHIP.
This is a township lying in the western tier of Freeborn county towns, and containing an area of thirty-six sections or square miles, making 23,040 acres. Its immediate surroundings are Freeborn on the north, Manchester on the east, Alden on the south, and the county of Faribault on the west. As will, of course, be imagined, this is a prairie township. The town is watered by a lake and several small streams which bisect the prairie. Free- born lake, taking its name after the same gentleman in whose honor the county received its name, is one of the largest and most beautiful bodies of water in the county, and lies mostly within the limits of this town, only extending into the town north a few rods. It is situated in the northeastern part and covers about 2,240 to 2,400 acres, or three and a half sections, being about three miles long and, to the utmost, about a mile and a half wide,
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while its depth will not exceed twelve feet. The water of the lake is soft and of rather a muddy hue. Originally it abounded with fish of all local species, but in the winter of 1868-69, which was very severe, the lake water froze very deep and remained a solid mass of ice for six months. The carp has also proved a deadly enemy to the fish. The shores are covered with a small growth of timber, mostly burr oak, this constituting the timber land of the town, the balance being prairie of a rolling nature. There are no villages in the town, except to the extent to which the village of Alden extends from the town bearing the same name into section 33 of this town.
A part of Alden village extends into this township. There are Lutheran churches in sections 22 and 34. The cemetery is in section 34.
Early Settlement. The first settler in the township was Robert Miller, who came in the spring of 1855, and settled on a claim in section 15, on the banks of Freeborn lake, where he erected the first house and did the first breaking. He did not remain long, as he was discovered selling liquor to the Indians. Theodore L. Carlston was the second settler and for him the town was named. He erected a house in the same spring that he arrived, where he lived until the time of his death in 1858. The next to arrive was Elias Stanton, who also located on the shore of Freeborn lake, in section 14. He likewise put up a log house. In 1857, during the winter, he was caught in one of the noted Minnesota snow- storms and frozen so badly that after several amputations he died. When he arrived in this county he was accompanied by a man named Huyck, who located in section 11 for a number of years.
Thomas Ford arrived in 1856 and was another of the first settlers in the town. He located in section 15 and remained until 1859, when he left. Joseph Jones also arrived at an early day. In 1856 John L. Melander, also known as John L. Melder, settled in the northern part of the township and became one of the most prominent pioneers of the county.
In 1857 Charles J. Grandy put in his appearance.
In the spring of 1858 L. T. Walker, a native of Vermont, came to the township and opened a valuable farm. He later moved to the village of Alden. Asa Walker, one of Freeborn county's distinguished citizens, arrived in 1859.
Henry Collins came in 1859 and located in section 27, where he remained, cultivating and improving the farm for about eleven years, when he removed to the village of Alden and engaged in the pursuit of his profession, that of law. David T. Colvin and family came in the spring of 1859 from Pickerel Lake, where he settled in 1858. and settled upon 160 acres in this town. He
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
brought with him horses, wagon and several head of cows, and purchased a corn crib in which he and his family made their home for some time.
Charles Sweet was born in Allegany county, New York, in 1828, and in 1863 came to Minnesota, to the township of Carlston, locating in section 32. Nathan Jackman and William Clark were also early settlers.
Early Events. The following is a sketch of the early matters in this town, published several years ago by the Old Settlers' Association, in the Albert Lea papers: "Carlston was first set- tled in 1855 by Robert Miller. Miller built of logs the first house, in 1855, and opened the first farm in the same year. John L. Melder (Melander), a blacksmith, was the first mechanic. H. B. Collins opened the practice of law in 1860. The first school was taught by Martha Taylor in 1860, and the first schoolhouse was built by District 61, in the fall of the same year. The first religious service was held by Rev. Mr. Marsh, United Brethren minister, at a schoolhouse, in 1861. The Seventh Day Baptists effected the first church organization, in November, 1863. The first parties married were David Horning and Mary Jane Elliott, December 24, 1861. In 1856 the first child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Melander. The first death was that of Elias Stanton, in the spring of 1858."
Theodore Carlston, from whom this township is named, is said by some to have spelled his name without the "t," and there are many early settlers who insist that this was the proper rendering of the name. The township name has always been spelled with a "t," but in the records the man's name is variously spelled, even appearing in some places as L. T. instead of Theodore L.
Cemeteries. Alden Union Association Cemetery. This burial ground is located near the central part of section 34. The associ- ation was organized January 17, 1877, with the following as their trustees : John A. Hazle, A. T. Briggs, J. E. N. Backus, W. A. Clark and L. M. Hall. The first burial here was of the remains of Justin, a son of Henry Ernst, who died June 27, 1871. The man- agement of this cemetery is now vested in the village council of Alden.
FREEBORN TOWNSHIP.
This township has a name identical with that of the county. Its immediate surroundings are Waseca county on the north, Faribault county on the west, Carlston county on the south, and Hartland on the east. It is constituted, as are all the townships in this county, of a full congressional township, containing 23,040 acres, known in legal parlance as township 104, range 23. Free- born is principally a prairie town, not so much inclined to be rolling as most of the towns, but level and in places marshy. The
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
lakes are surrounded by a small growth of the shrubby varieties of timber. The soil is a dark and sandy loam, with a sub-soil of clay and gravel, and almost the entire area is well adapted to agricultural purposes, and has a large cultivated acreage, yielding good crops of the cereals and other products of the latitude, and in the low lands hay is a most valuable crop. The township is well watered by numerous lakes and streams, which diversify the scenery and help make the land valuable for agricultural purposes. First in order should be mentioned the lake bearing the name of Freeborn, which extends from Carlston township, in which. a greater part of the lake lies, northward, and covers a few acres of land in section 35, just south of the village of Freeborn. Lake George lies about one mile to the north, in sections 26 and 27. Still further north, in sections 11 and 14, is located another small body of water, known as Spicer lake. Trenton lake covers quite an area in sections 2 and 3, and extends northward into Waseca county. Another body of water, known as Prairie lake, is located in the extreme southwestern part of the town. Two rivers, known as the Big and Little Cobb rivers, traverse the town from the southeast to the northwest, almost parallel, within about two miles of each other, and enter Faribault county.
Freeborn township has a flourishing village of the same name and a little farming community known as Trenton. There are cemeteries in sections 35 and 11.
Cemeteries. When Mrs. E. S. Dunn died in 1858 a place was selected for her burial. Afterward the site was donated for ceme- tery purposes by L. G. Pierce. The first plat was filed for record May 7, 1866. It was replatted in 1899, being surveyed by H. W. Fisk. The trustees at that time were George P. Lattin, Wilbur Fisk and O. S. Gilmore. The present trustees are: President, I. H. Seath; secretary, O. S. Gilmore; treasurer, F. M. Snyder; actuary, G. P. Lattin. There is also a cemetery located in the northern part of the town, in section 11, which was set apart for burial purposes in 1862. The first person buried here was Norman Olin.
Early Settlement. In the early days it was generally agreed that the first settlers in this township were T. K. Page and William Montgomery, who came from Dodge county, Wisconsin, and in July, 1856, located in section 26 and commenced improvements, the former erecting the first house, of logs. They remained sev- eral years, when they returned to their former homes. The first permanent settlers came June 13. 1856, and were H. T. Simms, who located on a tract of land in section 10; Jeremialı Davis, and son, D. C., who located in section 2, and John W. Ayars, who settled in the northern part of the township on sections 3 and 4. Another member of the party was a Mr. Heritage, who remained in the
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
township but a short time and then returned to Wisconsin. This party of pioneers came from Wisconsin in covered wagons, drawn by ox teams, and for weeks after their arrival here they camped in their wagons while rude log houses were being erected. The. locality in which these people located is still known as Seventh Day Adventists' Grove. About the same time came E. S. Dunn, long a justice of the peace, who settled in the northern part of the township. Mr. Dunn remained upon this farm until 1857, when he removed to the southern part of the town, and in June took 320 acres of land in sections 34 and 35, under the provisions of the law allowing it for townsite purposes. He lived here until 1881, when he removed to Missouri. September 10, in 1856, came Charles Giddings, Parker Page and L. T. Scott, from Dodge county, Wisconsin, who all settled upon sections 35 and 26. Mr. Giddings remained about six years, when he removed to Fari- bault, and from there to Blooming Prairie, Steele county. Mr. Page remained about eight years, when he went to Nebraska. Mr. Scott now lives in the village and is one of the most successful as well as most prominent men. This party came with ox teams, bringing also a few cows. Mr. Scott brought with him his wife, as did Parker Page. Theodore Page had a wife and boy with him, while Mr. Giddings also brought his wife and a small child. Among the pioneers of Freeborn township and vicinity may be mentioned : Stephen Fuller, Jason Goward, John G. Harrison, Henry Olin, Thomas, John B., Alexander and William Purdie, John A. Scroen, John Bostwick, Ezra Stearns, George Snyder, Nathan McQuinney, F. M. Snyder, Nathan McQuivey, W. H. Miller, D. A. Scoville, Charles Scoville, Levi W. Gilmore (in Carlston), Henry Simmons, Geo. M. Chase, E. D. Rodgers, Andrew Aughenbaugh, John Penny, Levi Stearns, C. H. Derby, Morris Stillman, John G. Harrison, George Seath, Alfred Crandall, Rus- sell D. Burdick, James Hanson, Francis Drake, Orville S. Gilmore, Ole Johnson, N. P. Stillman.
Historical Sketch. This sketch of the township, prepared by D. G. Parker, president of the Old Settlers' Association, was read by him at their annual reunion in the spring of 1877. "Freeborn was settled by T. K. Page and William Montgomery in July, 1856. The former built a house of logs and opened a farm. The same season, being in advance of any other, Clark and West opened a small store in the winter of 1857-58 in the village, but left in the following spring. E. D. Rogers, a blacksmith, was the first me- chanic. J. R. Giddings was the first lawyer, and located in 1860. In 1861 J. K. Moore offered his services as the first doctor. The first school was taught at the village in E. S. Dunn's log house by Emeline Allen, in the summer of 1857. The first schoolhouse was built by district No. 13, in the fall of 1858. In 1857 L. T. Scott
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opened the ballroom of his hotel to Rev. Isaac Ling for the first religious service. In 1859 the Methodists organized a class. and in 1867 the Baptists built the first house of worship. The first title to land, according to the land office abstracts, was acquired by Nelson Everest, on section 22, as early as January 9, 1855, but as this was eighteen months before there was any settlement, it is believed to be an error of record. John Wood and Emeline Allen were the first parties married and the ceremony was performed by E. S. Dunn, in 1858. The first child born was George F. Scott, February 14, 1857. The first death was that of Emily Dunn, in the fall of 1858. L. T. Scott opened the first hotel and was the first postmaster, the latter in the winter of 1857-58. C. D. Gid- dings, J. W. Ayars and E. D. Rogers constituted the first board of supervisors, and were elected May 11, 1858. John Wood was clerk. The first board of school officers were J. S. Rickard, L. T. Scott and C. D. Giddings."
Organization. The township of Freeborn came into existence as an official subdivision of the county at a meeting held for the purpose of organization at the house of E. S. Dunn, May 11, 1858. The meeting came to order and Charles D. Giddings was chosen moderator and John Wood clerk. After the usual preliminaries the polls were declared open for the election of officers for the ensuing year, which election resulted as follows: Supervisors, Charles D. Giddings, chairman, E. D. Rogers and John W. Avars ; clerk, John Wood ; assessor, Thomas W. Purdie ; collector. John B. Purdie ; overseer of the poor, Joseph S. Rickard; constables. John B. Purdie and S. B. McGuire ; justices of the peace. Edward Dunn and Henry Olin. In 1865, during the rebellion, a special town meeting was held, at which the sum of $1,800 was voted to pay men who should volunteer to enlist in the service and fill the quota assigned the town, the amount to be issued in bonds as directed by a committee for the purpose.
Early Events. It is claimed that the first birth in the township occurred February 12, 1857, being that of a son of Mr. and Mrs. L. T. Scott. The first marriage took place in August, 1858, and united the destinies of John Wood and Emily Allen. The first death was that of Mrs. E. S. Dunn. Another early death was that of George C. Snyder.
FREEMAN TOWNSHIP.
Freeman township is one of the southern tier towns of Free- born county. lying contiguous to Iowa on the south. and the town- ships of Albert Lea. Shell Rock and Nunda, respectively. on the north. east and west. It is a full congressional township. the greater part of which is under an admirable state of cultivation.
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The surface of the township is considerably broken and inclined in places to be very hilly, although there are no bluffs and but few places so abrupt as to be detrimental to agriculture. The soil is variable, but in the greater portion of the town is of a rich dark loam, although not unfrequently a locality is passed where the sand and clay are visible. The water courses of this town are all small, there being only one which is named upon the map. This is Goose creek, which rises west of the boundary and enters by way of section 18, then taking a southeasterly course passes through Grass lake and leaves for Iowa. Another small stream rises in the northern part and flows southeasterly across the northeast corner of the town. Several small streams flow into Grass lake, but have no names, and in the low country are liable to change their courses. Grass lake is a body of water located in the corners of the four southeastern sections in the township.
Freeman township has a small hamlet called Knatvold. There is a cemetery in the central part of section 4. Lutheran churches and cemeteries are situated in the northwestern part of section 16 and in the northeastern part of section 21.
Early Settlement. There has always been considerable ques- tion as to the actual first settlers of Freeman township. It is be- lieved that the first settlers were John Oldinghouse (variously spelled), Oliver Diamond and Jacob Hostetter, who are said to have arrived in 1855, although the latter did not secure title to land until 1856 and the two former not until 1857. Oldinghouse was a native of Germany, and after spending a time in Wisconsin he came to Freeman township in the summer of 1855 with his family and settled on section 12, where he dug a hole in the ground and covering it with poles and hay, spent the winter here. The following year he removed to section 24. Oldinghouse erected a shanty upon this new farm and made improvements, remaining there about two years, after which he with his family removed to Kansas, where he died soon after. Oliver Diamond came in the fall. He was a native of Vermont and located in the same section with Oldinghouse (24), where, among other improvements, he erected a log house, 16x22 feet. Diamond did not remain long and sold to Charles Grimm. About the same time, in 1855, Jacob Hostetter, a Pennsylvania German, who came direct from Ohio by way of Wisconsin, settled with his wife, four daughters and two boys upon section 1. He erected a log house and commenced improvements, which he continued for fifteen or sixteen years, and then sold.
The spring following the arrival of Hostetter, in March, 1856, Christian Blas, a German, arrived, and settled upon the claim he secured in section 22, where he remained for a couple of years, when he returned to Illinois. William Edwards, from England
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY
originally, but late from Beaver Dam, Wis., arrived on foot in Freeman township September 20, 1856, and took a claim in sec- tion 24, where he commenced improvements, boarding in the mean- time with Oliver Diamond. His claim was jumped shortly after- wards and he took a place in section 22, but finally, in 1857, sold that and took a place in section 3. Just before Christmas, in 1856, Charles Bessinger and Phillip Herman, from Canada, made their appearance and selected homes. Chas. Bessinger selected his domain in section 9 and lived there several years, when he sold to his brother, Morris Bessinger. Phillip Herman planted his stakes upon a fine tract of land in section 13. The year 1856 also marks the arrival of the Freemans, after whom the town is named. John Freeman was born in England, in 1805, and after coming to Amer- ica secured an entire section in Freeman township under the pre- emption laws for himself and his three sons, William, Robert and Mark. After living for a time in a tent on his claim in section 15, he erected a log house, and here lived for many years. Others who came in 1856 were Joseph Lang, Lars Nelson, John Nelson, Parton Greene, Ruben Wilsey, Joseph E. Marvin, Henry Thurston and William Edwards. Some of these had land in Shell Rock. Other prominent early settlers were Wiffing Wadsworth (who located in Albert Lea township in 1856), Charles Grimm, George Hyatt, B. H. Carter, Kaleb Hull, Louis B. Proebsting, Philip Herman and Lemuel Scoville. William Pickle came in 1859 but later moved to Nunda.
Early Events. Early births in the township were in the Dia- mond and Oldinghouse families. In 1858 Wiffing Wadsworth mar- ried Sarah Freeman. The infant son of Wiffing Wadsworth died at the age of nine months. Mrs. Wadsworth died in 1860. Louis B. Proebsting and Libbie Banning were married in 1857. In 1859 Sarah White taught school in the residence of Joseph Shaw. Joseph Lang was the first carpenter and mechanic.
Official Records. This town effected an organization as a local government at a meeting held April 2, 1861, at the house now occupied by William Freeman, by the election of the following officers : Supervisors, B. H. Carter, chairman, William H. Moore and Lars Nelson; clerk, W. Wadsworth ; treasurer, Henry Eaton; assessor, William Eaton; school superintendent, J. E. Marvin. After this meetings were held for four years in the same house, and then the schoolhouses were brought into requisition.
GENEVA TOWNSHIP.
This is on the northern tier of townships in the county, the second from Mower county on the east, Newry lying between. Steele couny is on the north, Bath on the west, and Riceland on the south. Like all the other towns in the county, the integrity of the
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original government survey has been maintained. Most of the sections from 25 to 36 were originally slough land, and covered by college and railroad scrip. The remainder is rolling prairie, with a black sandy loam, which on some of the ridges is mixed with clay and is very productive. Nearly all the timber in town, when first entered for settlement, was on sections 17 and 36. Geneva lake is the only one in town. It is in the western part and occupies parts of six sections. It has an irregular outline, with an area of perhaps three sections, and is three miles long and a little over a mile wide in its widest part.
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