USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 73
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
ent is a mystery, to the satisfaction of all who knew him.
ALDEN FLOURING MILL .- This enterprise origi- nated in 1875, having been erected that year by Wm Wilson. The building is 28x50 feet,a story and half high, containing four sets of burrs, which are driven by sufficient force, by steam power, to grind fifty-five barrels of flour per day. The mill is located near the lake and cost about $12,000. The present proprietor is William Wilson, Jr., son of the original owner.
A large grain elevator has been put up at this point by a LaCrosse firm.
PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY .- This Grange was in- stituted on the 28th of March, 1873. The initial otlicers were: A. H. Stearns, M. O .; F. Peck, Tr .; E. H. Clark, Sec .; Mrs. S. P. Dromer, Ch .; Mrs. A. W. Clark, G. K .; Mrs. J. A. Burdick, Ceres; Mrs. O. S. Peck, Flora; Mrs. E. A. Hall, Pomona; Mrs. A. W. Clark, L. S.
This is said to have been the first grange in this county.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ELI B. CLARK is a native of New York, born on the 12th of April, 1818. He resided at home until the age of twenty-one years, then carried on a farm for two years. In 1810, he married Miss Joan A. Strope and in the autumn of that year they went to Ohio, where Mr. Clark was engaged at the blacksmith trade. In 1848, he moved to Portage county, Wisconsin, and in the fall of 1849, was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court; resigned the following year and engaged in the mercantile business at Plover in the same county. In 1858, he sold out and was chosen under Sheriff. In the fall of 1860, lie moved to Ohio and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1864, when he returned to Portage county. Mr. Clark came to Canton, in Fillmore connty, in 1865, and while there estab- lished a Post-otlice called Prosper: was appointed its first Postmaster and also dealt in real estate. He subsequently bought and conducted a hotel in Hokah, Houston county, until 1869. In the latter year his wife died. He then sold his hotel and was traveling salesman for three years. In 1872, he married a second time and then purchased a hotel in Freeboru. He also owns an interest in the coal and gypsum mines and is secretary of the company. He bas three daughters; Rosaline, the eldest, married L. Rossiter, a Captain in the late war: the second
married W. S. Prentiss, now a passenger condue- tor on the C. R. 1. & P. railroad; the youngest married H. L. MaGee, now train master on the central branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad in Kansas.
SEYMOUR F. CARY was born in Michigan in 1850. In 1860, he removed to Vernon, Wau- shara county, Wisconsin, and remained ten years. He then came to Manchester, in this county, stak- ed out a claim in section nineteen but soon moved to Alden, erected a wagon shop on Main street, and is now of the firm of Cary Bros. He was married in 1875, the ceremony taking place on the 24th of June. His younger brother, Frank R., was born on the 21st of April, 1860, and learn- ed the wheelwright trade in 1879. The older brother bas run a thresher in this State for many years.
IIENRY B. COLLINS was born in New York, on the 30th of March, 1832, and grew to manhood on a farm. He finished his education at Milton College, and after leaving school taught during the winter seasons. In 1843, the family removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, where our subject continued to teach school. In 1854, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Almeda L. Main, and in 1859, removed to Carlston, Freeborn conuty, pre-empting land in sections twenty-two and twenty-seven, and buying in section twenty- eight. He commenced the study of law; was admitted to the bar in 1862, and has followed the practice of his profession ever since. He has been Justice of the Peace for eighteen years; Town Clerk twelve years, and District Attorney in 1864, '66, and '68. He is how located in Alden, has a law office and condnets a dry goods store, in which he formerly kept drugs. He is a Notary Public and collection agent; has two hundred acres of land in this State and four hundred in Nebraska. He was appointed Chairman of the Congressional convention held at Rochester in July, 1882.
N. S. CROMETT was born in Sebec, Maine, on the Ist of January, 1823, and when nineteen years old learned the blacksmith trade of John J. Lovejoy, with whom he worked four years. He then purchased the stock, and conducted the busi- ness twenty-five years. He was joined in marriage in 1845, with Miss Emily F. Gliden, who has borne him three children. In March, 1865, he removed to Davis, and in a short time to Bangor
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ALDEN TOWNSHIP.
where he conducted a music store; remaining in his native State until 1866, when he came to Iowa, and engaged at his trade. In 1870, he came to this State, located on a homestead of three hun- dred acres in Mansfield township, where he was a member of the board of Supervisors during his residence there. After farming there five years, he removed to this place, engaged at his trade on Main street, and in 1875, purchased a house and lot on Washington street, and now has a large shop connected with his business. He also owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section six, the greater part of which is improved. He has been Chairman of the board of Supervisors, and is at present a prominent member of the village council.
MRS. FLORETTA DAVIS was born in New York in 1845. She moved with her father to Illinois, where the family resided seven years, and in 1862, came to Carlston, in this county. Mrs. Davis married her husband, Elmer E. Davis, in 1864, and moved to his farm in section six, Alden town- ship. He came to Wisconsin in an early day, and moved from there to this place in 1863. He died in 1873, of consumption, leaving a family of four small children, the youngest of whom died soon after. Mr. Davis was a member of the Baptist Church, to which she also belongs.
W. S. Fost was born in Germany on the 12th of April, 1852, and learned the blacksmith trade when sixteen years old. In 1870, he emigrated to America, came directly to Albert Lea, and in a short time removed to Mansfield. After working at his trade in that place one year, he went to Winnebago City, engaged in farming and the next fall removed to Wells, working in the rail- road shops one year. He then was employed at his trade in different parts of the State until 1874, coming to this village in that year. He has a blacksmith shop on Main street. Miss Mary E. Jonky became his wife on the 18th of May, 1877, and they have three children.
HENRY C. FRIELY is a native of Germany, born in 1841, and when sixteen years old emigrated to America. He came directly to Chicago, Illinois; was conductor on a street car until 1862, when he enlisted in the One hundred and thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being Orderly Sergeant two years, then was promoted to First Lieutenant; served till the close of the war and returned to Chicago. He clerked in the retail store of Field,
Leiter & Co. eight years, an 1 later took charge of Mandell Bros'. dry goods store one year, at the end of which time he went into business for himself, selling out in 1875 and coming to Alden. In 1876, Mr. Friely removed to Albert Lea, where he clerked for C. M. Hewitt; afterward rented a farm near Pickerel Lake, which he conducted three years and returned to this place. He was married in 1879, to Miss Clara Bethker, and built his present house, in connection with which he has a billiard hall.
A. G. HALL was born in Clinton county, New York, on the 16th of August. 1824, and made his home in that county until 1865, when he came to this place; locating in section one. He was mar- in his native State in 1849 to Miss Susan A. Good- sell. and they have three children. In the autumn of 1869 they removed to what is now the village of Alden, building the first house in that vicinity, and two years after, an addition to it, which he uses for store purposes, having a stock of dry goods and groceries on Main street. He was chairman of the board of Supervisors three suc- cessive terms, and kept the first Post-office in town, known as the Buckeye Post-office.
JOHN A. HAZLE was born in Canada on the 22d of February, 1847. His father was a merchant tailor, and John remained at home until 1859, when he came to Michigan. He was Captain of a boat on the lake for some time, then learned tha carpenter trade and moved to Missouri, return- ing to Michgan in four years. He was married in 1873 to Miss Ella M. Wilbur, and the next year they came to Alden, Mr. Hazle purchasing the Alden House, a large hotel on the corner of Main and Broadway streets, near the depot. He has been a member of the board of Supervisors two years and is at present village marshal. He has a livery stable near his hotel.
WILLIAM B. HUMES was born in New Jersey, on the 25th of May, 1839, and while young removed with his parents to Illinois, and to Minnesota in the fall of 1854. In 1862 he enlisted in the Sixth Minne- sota Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged the next year for disability. In 1864 he was joined in marriage with Miss Rachel M. Harrington, a na- tive of Illinois, and they have two children. On the 25th of May, 1864, he removed from Pleasant Grove, where they had first located, to Alden, amit erected a log house 14x16 feet. The next spring he assisted in the organization of the town, and
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
was appointed first Town Treasurer; has been Justice of the Peace, and a member of the board of Supervisors one year. He has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in seetion one, seventy acres of which is improved, and a three acre grove.
REV. F. M. KRISTENSEN is a native of Denmark, born on the 3Ist of March, 1846, and graduated from Yelling Seminary, having been a student there three years. After teaching school seven years he attended a high school two years, then, in 1877, came to America. He remained in Mich- igan two years, and on the 5th of June, 1879. was married to Miss J. Nelson. They removed to Iowa and in the fall he came to Alden, and he preaches for the Danish Lutherans here and in Carlston, having about fifty followers. Mr. and Mrs. Kristensen have two children.
MRS. CLARISA NORTON, deceased. the wife of Nelson R. Norton, and mother of Charles, William, and Adrian Norton, of this county, a lady who was universally beloved and respected. Her maiden name was Derling, and she was born in Woodstock, Vermont. She afterwards lived in Hampton, New York, and there was married, re- maining six years. In 1833, they got west as far as Chicago, and remained there six years. and then located in Burlington, Racine county, Wisconsin. In 1872, came to Minnesota and located near Alden, where the remainder of her life of varied experiences was passed. She had been married fifty-four years and had nine children. She was a woman of many virtues. After an experience of seventy-three years in this world, on the 17th of September, 1881, she quietly passed to the other shore.
county, New York, on the 26th of September, 1849. He moved with his parents to Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and in 1859, came to Min- nesota, where he learned the carpenter trade, and for eleven years was engaged in farming and at his trade. In 1870, he removed to Wells, where he was engaged in a machine shop, thence to Minneapolis, returning, in a short time, to Albert Lea, and was employed at his trade and wagon- making. He next located in Alden, where he has a wagon and paint shop in the business portion of the village and also a jewelry store. He was mar- ried in 1870, to Miss Jennie Comstock. They have two children.
GUSTAV A. SCHWAUDKE was born in Prus- sia in. 1854. His father kept a hotel and con- ducted a farm, and when fourteen years old our subject learned the butcher business. In 1876, he eame to America and directly to Owatonna, Min- nesota, where for sixteen months he was engaged in a meat market, then removed to Minneapolis and eight months later to Alden. In 1879, he opened a meat market and packing house on Broadway, and is doing an excellent business. Ile was joined in marriage on the 26th of May, 1879, with Miss Matilda Hammell.
JOHN N. WIESNER is a native of Germany, born on the 25th of July, 1854, and when fifteen years old emigrated to America. In 1869, he came to New Ulm, Minnesota, worked on a farm eight years, then came to Alden and opened a saloon on Main Street. In 1881, he left his business in charge of a clerk and was agent for the John Gund brewery company one year. He now has a billiard hall and is doing a prosperons business. He was married on the 7th of January, 1880. to Miss
CORNELIUS N. OSTRANDER was born in Clinton : Barbara Hoffman.
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BANCROFT TOWNSHIP.
BANCROFT.
CHAPTER LVI.
DESCRIPTIVE - EARLY SETTLEMENT - RELIGIOUS SERVICES-OAK HILL GRANGE -- OFFICIAL REC- ORD-BANCROFT VILLAGE -- IT ASCA VILLAGE- EDUCATIONAL-BIOGRAPHICAL.
This township is one of the center subdivisions of Freeborn county, being separated by one tier from the north, and an equal distance from east and west county lines. Its contiguous neighbors are, Bath township on the north: Riceland on the east; Albert Lea on the south, and Manchester on the west, embracing the territory of town 103, range 21, containing thirty-six sections, or 23,040 acres, of which there are very few unsuita- ble for agricultural purposes, and the greater part is already under a high state of cultivation.
The town has no lakes, and no streams of im- portance. Bancroft Creek is the principal one; rising in the northwestern part of the town it takes a southerly course, and finally enters Fountain Lake. A small body of water, dignified with the appellation of Itaska Lake, covers a few acres of land in the southwestern portion of section thirty- one.
The general make-up of the locality would be called prairie and oak openings. The early set- tlers say that originally, at least three-fourths of the area of the town was covered with a growth of burr and jack oak and other timber of the smaller varieties, interspersed with natural mead- ows and prairie. The greater part of the former growth of timber has been removed, and the rich country transformed into beautiful and productive farms. There are, however, a number of groves left, one upon section nineteen, another in section five, and in a number of other localities small groves mark the remains of former miniature forests. A strip of valuable prairie, known as the Paradise Prairie, enters the town in the southwest- ern corner and extends northeasterly almost across
the entire town, gradually disappearing towards Clark's Grove, in the northeast corner.
The locality known as Oak Hill is the most ele- vated tract of land in the township, taking its name from the variety of timber with which it was formerly covered. It makes itself visible on the surface in the northwestern extremity of the town, and extends easterly across the entire township, embracing the northern tier of sections.
The farmers here, as a rule, are in comfortable circumstances, and the average appearance of the farm buildings indicate their thrift and energy, the town having the reputation of being one of the most valuable farming localities in the county.
The willow hedge is used to a considerable ex- tent for fencing purposes, and is an excellent me- dium for giving the prairie a picturesque and pleasant appearance. J. C. Frost has four miles of this hedge, and has also cultivated fruit with success, having at this writing an orchard of 400 hearing and thrifty apple trees, of nearly twenty years growth. His brother, M. L. Frost, also has about three miles of this beautiful and useful hedge.
The soil on the prairie is mostly a rich dark loam, underlain with a rich sub-soil of clay ; while in the timber, or oak opening, it is of a lighter nature, with a marked tendency, in places, to clayeyness and a sub-soil of sand and gravel.
The township has no railroad through it, and therefore has not been the scene of the usual rail- road assistance bond issue. It has had two vil- lages, or hamlets, the rise and decline of each of which will be treated under proper heads.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
Early in the spring of 1855, a party of Eastern people left Wisconsin, where they had stopped for some time, and headed toward the prairie and timber land of Southern Minnesota. They con- sisted of Mr. Bethuel Lilly and wife, and the
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
Colby family, John and his wife Hannah and six children. They arrived at Caledonia, Houston "county, on the 18th of May, 1855, and here part of the little colony decided to remain, while the balance should push on toward the West in scarchi of future homes. The lots fell upon Charles C. and Sarah Jane Colby, a son and daughter of John, mentioned above, and Bethmel Lilly and wife. They took the ox teams, and in July pushed on toward the setting sun. They made their way direet to Baneroft, and selected farms in the southwestern part of the town, about the future site of Itasea village. C. C. Colby took the place on which the village was afterwards platted, and also selected a farm for his father, John Colby, who was yet in Caledonia. He remained until after the war, and finally found his way to New York City, where he is agent for the Musical Art Journal. Mr. Lilly remained upon his place for about one year; finally went to Kansas, enlisted and sacrificed his life for his country during the rebellion.
The following spring, in Mareh, of 1856, the balance of the party made their appearance, and settled upon the place which the son had selected, just over the line in Albert Lea township, now . occupied by Daniel Gibson. The party consisted of John Colby, his wife, and several children. The old gentleman lived upon his place until June, 1876, when he peacefully yielded np the burdens of life to enter upon eternity, and his widow still lives with her son-in-law, Mr. Leander J. Thomas, of Albert Lca.
Guttorm Bottelson, a native of Norway, who had remained for a time in Wisconsin, arrived a few weeks after John Colby, in 1856, and com- menced a sojourn which he still continues, upon a place near Ttasea. He came with ox teams, bringing his family and considerable stock.
The Frost family were also among the most prominent and active pioneers, and still remain in the town; but they are treated at length under the bead of "Biographical."
Others who were also early pioneers in this part of the town, were Andrew Boitelson, who is yet living upon his place in the southwestern part of the town; John and Andrew Hermanson, Dr. Burubam, and others whose names have been forgotten.
In the meantime the northern part of the town began to receive the attention of the early
comers; but ere this claims were getting to be scarce, except second hand, and in the same ratio that they were scarce, so they became valuable. The settlement north of the center of the town is more universally known as the "Oak Hill neighborhood."
A. C. Hall, a native of Maine, was the first to make his appearance, and he selected lis domain in sections five and eight, in the middle of September, 1856, where he put up a shanty and made some improvements; but was not really an actual settler, as he soon sold out and removed to lowa.
Andrew Barlow was the next to arrive, mak- ing his appearance in September. He "footed it" all the way from McGregor, leaving his family, and after taking a claim, left for Iowa in search of work. While gone, the weather seemed to be antagonistie to his best interests, as the snow was very deep, and he was couse- mnently unable to return to his proposed home, so his place was jumped; and when he finally returned in the spring of 1859, he purchased the farm back for $20. He still lives upon the place in comfortable circumstances.
HI. R. Loomis, from Erie county, Pennsylvania, came by stage from Dubuque to near Merry's Ford, on the Cedar River, Iowa, which is near the southeastern corner of the county, and from there walked to Baneroft, arriving and seleeting his place on the first day of November, 1856. He erected a small shanty and made some improve- ments, and, as it was a lonely sojourn, bought a yoke of oxen, as he says, "to talk to."
At one time during the winter he went four miles for a load of hay, a job which engaged him from early morn till late at night, and upon his return could take the object and fruits of his entire day's labor in his arms and feed it ere another day should dawn. On the 26th of December, he started with his oxen to Delawaro county, Iowa, and remained there until February, 1857. when he returned, bringing with him his sister, Louisa Loomis, and Oscar and Fannie Ward, the latter is now Mrs. George H. Prescott. The last two named were aged twenty and fifteen years, respeet- ively. The entire party eame in a sleigh, eamp- ing ont on the way, finally arriving at Benjamin Frost's house, in the sontheastern part of the town, where the manager of the party, Mr. Loom- is, left them and proceeded to his selected home in
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BANCROFT TOWNSHIP.
section eight; prepared a fire and set matters in shape for his gnests. The balance of the party, whom he had left at Frost's, followed on foot, on the top of the snow, there being a heavy crust.
They arrived and got settled in safety, and William Oscar Ward selected a farm for his father. Louisa Loomis is now Mrs. Caswell, living in lowa. H. R. Loomis still lives upon the farm he first selected, a most prominent and popular man.
Early in the fall of 1857, Jeremialı Ward, a native of New York, father of Oscar and Fannie, arrived and located upon the place selected for him, and lived upon it until 1879, when he was called upon to cross the dark river from earthly to eternal exist- ence, and his loss was severely felt by the many friends who honored him. His widow still lives in the town.
Early in the spring of 1857, Albert Loomis, from Erie county, Pennsylvania, came to the "Hole- in-the-ground" of H. R. Loomis, and immediately took a claim adjoining, in section nine, where he made his home for about ten years, when he went. back to Pennsylvania.
About a week later, Cyrus Prescott, a native of Maine, who had made his home from childhood in Ohio, made his appearance in the town, coming by way of Hastings; and making a claim in sec- tion five took up his abode with IT. R. Loomis' people, while he made improvements sutlicient to live upon his place. He resided here until 1876, when he moved to Albert Lea, and now lives in Dakota Territory.
Later in the season Cyrus' father, Daniel. joined his son, and made bim a habitation and a home in section four, where he remained until a few years ago, and now, at the ripe old age of eighty, lives npon the farm of H. R. Loomis.
In June, 1857, the next pioneer drifted in, in the person of William H. Long, a native of New- ark, New Jersey, and commenced a sojourn upon a farm in sections five and eight, which he still owns; but in the spring of 1882, he removed to city of Albert Lea.
In the spring of- 1858, Charles Dills, a native of the Empire State, came and purchased a place in section nine, of Charles E. Teneycke, who had previously secured it. Mr. Dills still lives there.
Ere this time nearly two-thirds of the land in this locality was taken up by actual settlers, and already a stride in the advance of civilization was perceptible. Among those who had arrived,
whose names and actions have not been dotted upon the pages of memory, a few more will be chronicled. George H. Prescott, who still lives in section four. G. Thompson, who took land in section eight and is now in the West. Andrew Knudson took land in section nine, and is also in the West. Messrs. Wells and Clark took land, but soon left.
Jeremiah Ward is mentioned elsewhere. He was a carpenter and stone mason by trade; but could do a good job at almost anything, and his famous old "turn keys" are yet remembered as ferocious instruments in his hands, with a shud- der, by many of the old pioneers; as they were the means of extracting all the poor teeth in the neighborhood. It is said in the winter of 1857-58, he pulled a tooth for David Blakely, and after the "turnkeys" were set, either head or tooth had to come, and for a time it was doubtful which.
VARIOUS MATTERS OF INTEREST,
The first marriage of parties from this place, occurred on the 13th of January, 1857, and united the destinies of two couples, at the residence of John Colby, just over the line in Albert Lea. An account of this is found in the article on the town of Albert Lea, to which we refer the reader.
The first marriage within the boundaries of Bancroft took place the spring of 1858, the high contracting parties being Mr. John Raiser and Miss Margaret Baker. The event took place in the "old-time" village of Bancroft, where the Poor Farm now is, the ceremony being performed by Rev. S. G. Lowry, a Presbyterian minister. The parties now reside in Austin.
The first death in the township occurred in the spring of 1857, and was a one day old child of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Mickleson.
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