History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 44

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1220

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

Lake Peterson, from which a small stream taking a southeasterly course finally leaves the town via section 36 and enters Bancroft township. South of this cluster of lakes, in section 32, Spring Lake infringes upon and covers a few acres of land. A small body of water known as Gun lake is located in the eastern part of section 9. School Section lake is located in the southeastern por- tion of the town, in section 36. There is but one village in the township, Manchester, located in section 15. The surface of the town is rolling, and although in places inclined to be rather abrupt in its modulations, is not hilly or in any place broken suf- ficiently to be detrimental to agriculture. The town is well adapted to agricultural purposes and has a large cultivated area yielding good crops of the cereals.

Early Settlement. The earliest attempt at settling this town commenced in 1856, when, on June 6 of that year, S. S. Skiff, a native of New York, came from Wisconsin and took a claim in section 26, where he remained until 1858, and then returned to Wisconsin, where he stayed until 1860, after which year he again returned to this locality. He made this his home until 1880 and then removed to the town of Alden. He was probably the first settler. He had, however, been here only a week, when there arrived, June 15, 1856, a party from Iowa, who were originally from Norway, but who had lived for some time in Winneshiek county, Iowa, before coming here. In the latter part of the same month there arrived another party of Norwegians, who came here from Rock county, Wisconsin. These two parties of Norwegians consisted of the following heads of families: Gunder and Rollef Thykeson ; Tosten, Knud and Ole K. (Knudson) Morreim; Stiner Mikkel Mikkelson; Nils Wangen; Ole and Per (Peter) Fossum ; Anders (Andrew) Everson Lybeck; Thor Anderson; Ole and Halvor Slette (Peterson) ; Ole Kittleson; Ole O. Klappe; and pos- sibly others. All of these remained except two. Stiner Mikkel Mikkelson moved to Blue Earth City in 1864 or 1865, and Ole O. Klappe went to Bancroft in 1858, going south in 1864. Hans K. Kjonaas is also said to have come with this colony.

Among others who are honored as early settlers of Manchester township are: Mathias Anderson, John Johnson, Charles John- son, Lewis O. Olson, Iver A. Rodsater, S. B. Smith, E. Stanley Smith, Harrison Hord, William Young, who died in the army ; Sivert Johnson, Erick Olson Aasen, Lewis Beach, Horace M. Beach, John O. Jordahl, John Sippel, Jens O. Jenson (Johnson), Carl Gustaveson, Sivert Thoreson, Charles Bickford, Ole Jordahl, James H. Chamberlain, Peter Huber, Andrew Severson, Bennett Asleson, John Ellingson, Dennis Sippel, Frank Sippel, E. A. Skiff, George Wadsworth, E. D. Hopkins, George Chamberlain, John Hildebrand, O. J. Taylor, A. M. Johnson, A. K. Norton, F. B.

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

Fisher, Daniel Hall, John O. Hall, Mads Olson, Edmond W. Hall, Hans Christopherson, H. Gilbert Barden, Mads Madsen, Halvor Kittleson ; Ole, Gislle O. and Lewis L. Grasdalen and parents, Nels Ackland, Hanibal Bickford (owned land here), Peter Romanson, Elliott Ash, John Asleson, Claus Flindt, J. H. Converse, Lars Severson, Hans R. Ramsey, Andrew Anderson, B. N. Anderson, Cicero Carey, M. O. Whitney, Nels Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Ole H. Grotsan, Lewis Hallum, William D. Smith, Even J. Hallum, Edward Gilbertson, August Wishman, Pardon Tucker, Carl Leonard, Wolcott Allen, Charles Grandy, Andrew Moon, Nels Nelson, Jacob Baker, L. J. Spilde, Ambrosio Moen, S. S. Morley, Ole Peterson, Ole M. Olson, Ole Sveningson, Anton Rebbe, Henry Hoelscher, David and John Ames, and others. It is interesting to note that the northern four tier of sections were settled by Nor- wegians, the southern two tier by German Catholics and Ameri- cans.

Early Events. Mikkel Mikkelson was born in September, 1856, this being the first birth in the township. In December, 1858, occurred the first wedding, Mads Madson, who died in 1880, being the groom. Previous to this Manchester Norwegians had gone back to Iowa to be married. The first death was that of Peter Johnson, in August, 1858. The first religious services in the town were held in June, 1858, at the residence of Ole Peterson, in section 15, by a Lutheran clergyman. The church organization was not effected until 1876. The first house in the township was erected in June, 1856, by Gunder Thykeson, on section 9. It was a log building, 12x14 feet, and was afterward used as a stable. Stiner Mikkelson in July, 1856, the following month, erected the second house of the same material, and this was subsequently used as a blacksmith shop. At an early day a number of the pioneers in a rude way manufactured sorghum by using three wooden home-made rollers, propelled by a yoke of oxen, for a press ; but this crude machinery has long since been supplanted by the pat- ent process and new machinery. It is claimed that Mathias Anderson, who came from the town of Manchester, Boone county, Illinois, gave to this township its present name. Originally town meetings were held in private houses and anywhere that shelter could be found, and later in the schoolhouse of district 18, in sec- tion 22. The first blacksmith shop was erected in 1856 and oper- ated by Mr. Mikkelson on the northwest quarter of section 15. In 1864 and 65 he sold out and went to Blue Earth county. In 1858 the next shop was erected in section 13, size 12x14 feet, and put in operation by Lewis Olson. It was of logs, with a log and sod roof, and was operated by him until about 1873, when it changed hands.

Manchester's War Record. It cannot be denied that this town

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

did its full share during the war of the rebellion. Of those who volunteered and went into the service, nine never returned, find- ing graves in Southern soil. S. Benson was the only married man of the departed heroes; he left a wife and two children to mourn his loss. The rest were all single men and most of their parents resided in the town at the time. Manchester voted bonds to the amount of $4,000 for the purpose of securing volunteers to fill the quota assigned the town, which amount was duly paid and recruits secured. The Jensons (Johnson) had five sons in the war, three being killed.

Official Organization. The first town meeting, at which the organization was effected, was held at the house of Ole Peterson, May 11, 1858. After the usual preliminaries the meeting was called to order and the polls opened for the election of town offi- cers for the ensuing year. Upon counting the ballots the follow- ing candidates were found to have the number of votes set op- posite their names, as follows :

For chairman of supervisors, Mathias Anderson received twenty-five votes ; E. S. Smith, seven. Supervisors, Ole Peterson and Tosten Knudson, unanimously elected, thirty-two votes each. Clerk, James E. Smith, thirty-two. Assessor, Bennett Asleson, twenty-five; Mathias Anderson, seven. Collector, Thomas Ander- son, thirty-two. Overseer of the poor, John Ellingson, thirty- two. Constables, Charles Olson and David Ames, each thirty-two votes. Justices of the peace, James E. Smith and T. Olson, thirty- two votes each. Overseer of roads, Charles Olson, twenty-five ; Ole Peterson, seven. There were in all thirty-two votes cast.

Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Manchester. This corporation, instituted for the protection of the farmers from fire and lightning, is growing rapidly each year. The company was organized at the Central church of the Freeborn Norwegian Luth- eran Congregation on the seventh of December, 1876, on which day the following officers were elected: President, O. Peterson ; secretary, I. A. Rodsater ; treasurer, O. Narveson ; directors, E. C. Johnson, K. Ingebrigtson, A. N. Teslow, I. Hammer, H. Stensrud and John Madson. It commenced business on the tenth of Feb- ruary, 1877, and consisted at that time of 102 members, and the capital insured was $135,172. Since then there has been a con- stant increase. H. C. Nelson, of Hartland, is president ; Gunder O. Myran, of Manchester, is secretary, and B. E. Bottolfson is treas- urer.

MANSFIELD TOWNSHIP.

The township bearing this name is a full congressional town- ship, embracing the territory of town 101, range 23. It is the southwestern subdivision of Freeborn county, its contiguous sur-

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roundings being Alden on the north, Nunda on the east, Faribault county on the west and the state of Iowa on the south. As to the surface and physical features, not much can be said of this that would not readily apply to almost any other prairie town, and this is one in the full sense of the word. The northwestern part of the town is high and rolling, furnishing some of the finest farming land imaginable; but toward the south and east it be- comes more level and low. In the extreme southeastern corner a ridge of high land abruptly pushes its way through the surface of the prairie, which inaugurates the area of the tableland, com- mencing here and extending eastward through Nunda and other towns. The soil is a dark loam, with a subsoil of sand and gravel, as a rule; but this is not invariable, for in places a marked tendency to a lighter nature is visible with a clay subsoil. Mans- field has no lakes within its borders, nor has it any streams of much importance. The largest in the township is Steward's creek, which rises in Alden and, crossing a corner of section 2, passes through the center of sections 1 and 12, forming a minia- ture lake in section 1, touches a corner of 13 and leaves the town on its way to Bear lake, in Nunda. Lime creek crosses the south- eastern corner of the township. Another small stream rises in sec- tion 8 and, flowing northward through section 5, leaves the town and enters Alden. The geological and natural history survey of the county of Freeborn, by N. H. Winchell, state geologist, pub- lished in 1875, says of Mansfield : "This town is nearly all prairie, a small patch of oak openings occurring in sections 3, 10 and 15. The northwestern part of the township is rolling, and the south- eastern is level and wet with marshes."

Mansfield township has one small hamlet, also known as Mans- field, situated in the northern part of section 9. There is a cemetery located in the northeastern part of section 16. The United Brethren church and cemetery are located in the southern part of section 7. The German Lutheran church and cemetery are in the northeastern part of section 8. The Swedish Lutheran church and cemetery are in the southern part of section 20. The Norwegian Lutheran church and cemetery are in the southeastern part of section 36.

Early Settlement. The earliest steps leading to the founding and subsequent development of this thriving township commenced early in 1856. The first settlers in Mansfield were the Tunell brothers, John and Henry, who came from Illinois by the way of Iowa with their families and with teams, arriving June 23, 1856. and locating on section 8. Here John remained until 1873, when he went to Oregon, while Henry remained on the farm which he originally secured in section 8. These brothers brought with them about one hundred head of cattle, and shortly after their

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

arrival commenced putting up hay, securing enough to carry them safely through the winter; but a prairie fire destroyed it. For a time the prospect looked dubious, but they finally managed to purchase enough hay from parties in Iowa to tide them over the winter, without a loss of more than half their stock. Shortly after these parties made their appearance Henry Schmidt and Henry Jahnke arrived and secured tracts of the government domain ; Henry Schmidt located on section 10; Mr. Jahnke located in section 10. After this there were no arrivals for some time, but gradually the attention of incomers was turned this way and. the government land began to disappear. Messrs. Stenaldson and Kittleson, natives of Norway, came in and located on valuable farms in section 15. Shortly after this H. Knutson, Nels Nelson, and John Kraus Haar arrived and located in the township.

Among others of the early settlers in this township were: William Jost and Hiram Pettit, who came in 1864; Alexander Peterson came in 1867; David La Valle, in 1868; Hiram J. Stew- ard, in 1869; Benjamin H. Dillingham, in 1870; John Niebuhr, in 1872; Ole I. Opdahl, in 1874; Rev. P. G. Ostby, in 1878.

Early Events. It is said that the first birth in the township was that of Louisa Schmidt, on October 10, 1856. Among the first marriages in the township was one which occurred in 1864 and united August Heintz and Louisa Yost in the bonds of matrimony. The first death of a matured person was that of Mrs. Henry Schmidt, December 20, 1862. She was first buried on the farm, but her remains were subsequently removed to the Mansfield cemetery. The first religious services in the township were held in 1859 by Rev. Smith, an itinerant preacher from New Ulm.

Political. In earlier days Mansfield was merged into sur- rounding towns for local government, and the records of it as a separate organization do not commence until 1866, when they state that the first meeting was held in Henry Schmidt's house, The first officers elected were : Supervisors, Henry Tunell (chair- man), John Kraus Haar and John B. Oleson; clerk, John Tunell ; assessor, Nicholas Stenoldson ; treasurer, John Tunell.

Cemeteries. German cemetery in Mansfield is located in sec- tion 16, township 101, range 23. The first trustees were: Henry Tunell, William Yost, August Hintz, Henry Seedorf. It was sur- veyed by John M. Marty and the plat was filed for record Feb- ruary 20, 1886, The various churches are also provided with cemeteries.

MOSCOW TOWNSHIP. Schmiderlam South of Schult

This is one of the eastern towns in Freeborn county, one lying between it and the northern boundary. Its contiguous surround- ings are as follows : Mower county on the east, Oakland on the

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

south, Riceland on the west, and Newry on the north. Moscow is a full congressional township of thirty-six sections or square miles, containing 23,040 acres. Turtle creek is the principal water course in the town, entering from Riceland by way of sections 7 and 18, and taking a southeasterly course crosses the town and leaves through section 36 to enter Mower county. This stream furnishes an excellent water-power in section 22, which has been improved to some extent. Deer creek is a small stream which rises in Newry, and taking a southerly course makes a confluence with the Turtle in section 18. The soil is a clay loam, dark in places and again of a lighter nature, with a tendency to sandiness in many places. It is well adapted to agricultural purposes.

Moscow village is located in section 22. Oakland is located in section 35. Corning, in Mower county, also corners in the north- eastern part of this township. There is a Baptist church in the eastern part of section 34. Cemeteries are located in sections 13, 23 and 29.

Early Settlement. It has been stated that the first claim in the township was taken in May, 1855, by a man named Nathan Hunt, who located in section 26 and remained for about one year and sold to Alexander Schutt, who in turn sold to Henry Fero. The next to put in an appearance after Hunt was a party com- posed of various nationalities : Robert Speer, a native of New York state, Thomas R. Morgan and Thomas Ellis, natives of Wales, who came from Wisconsin, where they had been for a few years, and accomplished the journey with ox teams by camping on the way. They arrived here on the first of June, 1855. It should be chronicled to the credit of the parties, as it is unusual to such journeys, that they did not travel on Sunday, and made the trip in one month. Mr. Speer took a claim in section 22. where he pitched a tent, in which he lived for some time. Mr. Morgan drove his stakes upon a place in section 28. Mr. Ellis also took a tract of land in section 28, where he lived in comfortable circum- stances up to the time of his death, which occurrred in 1874. James Bush, John G. and James Dunning soon after arrived, all being natives of New York state, having stopped for a time in Wisconsin and secured homes. Bush took his farm in section 27, where he erected a log house covered with bark. but he soon built a better one. James Dunning settled in section 27, where he lived until 1876, and then removed to Kansas. John G. Dunning took a claim in sections 22 and 27, where he resided until 1872, when he removed to Oregon. Evan Morgan was another of the fifty- fivers. He was a native of Wales, having become Americanized in Wisconsin, and after his arrival in Moscow tarried a while in section 21. but soon sold that place and removed to section 22. Seymour Saxon and Hanibal Bickford were here a short time.

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY

In 1856 there were many arrivals. Stephen N. Frisbie, a native of Connecticut, came from Wisconsin early this year and secured a farm in section 35. Nathan S. Hardy, a school teacher from the Empire state, arrived and located on section 35. William Pace, an Englishman, who had been naturalized in Wisconsin, joined this little settlement by taking a place in section 34, where he remained until the time of his death in September, 1882. Henry Fero, a native of New York, came and located in section 26. George W. Dearmin and Benjamin Martin originally from North Carolina, extended the neighborhood above treated westward by securing and subduing claims in sections 28 and 29. Ashabel Barnhart, from the Buckeye state, pushed the neighborhood north- ward and selected his territory in section 21, where he remained until his death in 1872. Israel Pace and William Pace also came this year. Rufus K. Crum, a native of Pennsylvania, came from Indiana and took a claim in section 28. He remained for a num- bers of years, laid out a townsite and finally removed to Iowa. With Crum came George W. Davis, of the Buckeye state, who took land in section 28. A. A. Webster, of the Empire state, came and settled in section 23, lived there awhile and then sold and removed to section 14, where he remained until 1879. About the same time David Gates, of the same descent, made his appear- ance, coming direct from Wisconsin, and located upon a place in section 33, but in 1875 he removed to Austin. Hiram C. Porter, a native of Vermont, came from Iowa this year and settled just north of Gates in section 28, and lived here up to the time of his death, which occurrred in 1868. Another of the arrivals this year was George Watson, a native of Pennsylvania, who selected his portion of government land in section 30. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, was elected a senator to the first Minnesota legislature, was the first postmaster of the Sumner postoffice, and in 1863 received a government appoint- ment at St. Paul. Soon after his arrival to Minnesota he was joined by Josiah W. Hardy, a native of New York state, who came from Iowa and located on a farm in section 25. He lived here about one year, when he returned to Iowa, and in May. 1864, gave up his life in St. Louis in defense of his country. The Vander- wurkers, father and son, natives of Michigan, arrived and com- menced pioneer life upon claims in Moscow, but both have re- moved. Robert A. Dearmin located in section 28. Four Eng- lishmen came in about this time, in the persons of Messrs. Bridle, Prey, Hallenback and Galpin, who all took claims. A. B. Lizer, George Balton and Leonard Webster were also among the arrivals of 1856 and took farms. Lizer came from Wisconsin and located in section 35, remaining until 1879, when he went to Kansas; Balton established himself in section 33. Webster first settled

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upon a farm in section 23 and remained in the town until 1880, when he went to Dakota. Tollef Oleson and Ole Tollefson arrived late in this year and squatted in section 12, where they lived for a number of years. Michael Murphy, an Irishman, also arrived that year and took a place in section 25. John Stage also came this year.

In 1857 we note the arrival of several pioneers. Among them were Francis Hardy, father of N. S. and J. W. Hardy, Hiram Rice, Daniel S. Ingraham, Samuel Degood, Samuel G. Lowry, and soon after, his son, Theophus Lowry, David M. Farr and Leonard Ware.

Among other early settlers were: J. T. Harris and William Bliss, who came in 1859; Michael McCourt, in 1868; John Guy, in 1869; Edward Lugg, in 1874.

Early Events. On December 26, 1855, the first birth in the township occurred, being that of Sophia Matilda, daughter of Evan and Sarah Morgan. The little girl grew to womanhood, and May 12, 1879, married A. M. Lee. The next birth was that of Eva Maria, daughter of Robert and Mary Speer. She was mar- ried in 1875 to DeForest Lincoln, and in 1881 died at Alexandria, leaving one . child. Alfred Silas, a son of Henry and Mary A. Fero, was also among the early births in Moscow, dating October 29, 1856. The first marriage in the township was that of George Bridle and Miss Galpin, which took place in October, 1856, Rev. Stephen Cook, of Austin, officiating. Another of the early mar- riages was that of George W. Dearmin and Lucia Campbell, May 17, 1859, Rev. Theopholis Lowry officiating. Nathan S. Hardy and Amanda A. Pace were married August 10, 1859, by the Rev. Stephen Cook. A child of an Englishman, named Gilpin, died in 1856, this being the first death recorded in the township. Har- riet, wife of James Bush, died December 25, 1859. In 1856 El- bridge Gerry, of New York, opened a store in a log house in sec- tion 28, where he sold dry goods, boots and shoes, and groceries. After about a year Mr. Gerry returned to New York. This was the first store in the township.

Moscow is one of the towns of distinguished prominence in the settlement, organization and early political history of the county. S. N. Frisbie was one of the three first commissioners. Dr. Watson, also a citizen of this town, was not only one of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in 1857, but enjoyed the honor of a seat in the state senate for the first three terms. The Rev. S. G. Lowry, also of this town, may be regarded as the pioneer clergyman and for years answered calls, picking his trackless way to all parts of the county. A heavy body of timber, on section 17, was long previous known as the Moscow woods, and this suggested to the early settlers the name of the town.

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Early Interests. In 1857 Messrs. Lindsey & Owens put up a steam sawmill in section 21, equipping it with a circular saw and power sufficient to cut 3,500 feet per day. In 1858 a burr for the purpose of grinding feed was attached and the mill run for both a sawmill and feed grinding. Thus the industry continued until about 1866, when the machinery was removed to Wisconsin. The first blacksmith shop originated through the energy of Robert Speer, who in the fall of 1855 erected a small shanty, put in tools and during the winter following did considerable blacksmithing. In 1856 he put up a substantial log building in which to carry on his business, and the pioneers came all the way from Blue Earth county for plow-sharpening. Mr. Speer carried on the business until 1877. J. H. McIntire in 1877 put in machinery and com- menced operating a sorghum mill for the manufacture of syrup.

Fair View Cemetery is situated in section 29, township 103, range 19. The first trustees were: J. S. Harris, T. R. Morgan, S. W. Pitts, N. F. Earl, W. Mann, N. B. Van House, N. N. Earl. It was surveyed by A. C. Spicer. It was filed for record March 28, 1876.

NUNDA TOWNSHIP.

The subdivision of Freeborn county bearing this name lies in the southern tier of towns and within one of the western bound- ary of the county. Its contiguous surroundings are Pickerel lake on the north, Freeman on the east, Mansfield on the west and the state of Iowa on the south. It is constituted as originally sur- veyed, of thirty-six sections, or 23,040 acres. Nunda is, locally speaking, a prairie township, although the eastern part was for- merly what is called "oak opening" land, and there were some fine groves of maple, butternut, bass, iron wood and occasionally walnut about the lakes. The north and west parts of the town are made up of rolling prairie, with a soil of dark loam, underlaid with a subsoil of clay. The southern and eastern part of the township is more given to soil of clayey nature and quite rocky in places. In an early day B. H. Carter burned limestone boulders to a certain extent. This town is well watered by numerous brooks, rivers and lakes, which diversify the scenery and make of Nunda a picturesque and beautiful township. Bear lake, the largest in the township, is a beautiful sheet of water, covering about 1,500 acres in the western portion of the town, while a stream known as Lime creek is its outlet, and takes a south- westerly course to finally empty into the Shell Rock river. Lower Twin lake is a body of water lying in the northwestern part of the town, containing several islands of a few acres each. This is connected by a stream called "The Inlet," with the Upper Twin lake, which infringes on this township to the extent of about

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History of Freeborn County, Minnesota, Part 44

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper Number of Pages: 1220

Author: Curtiss-Wedge, Franklyn. 4n
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Chicago : H. C. Cooper
Number of Pages: 1220