History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota, Part 75

Author: Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893. Explorers and pioneers of Minnesota. 1882; Neill, Edward D. (Edward Duffield), 1823-1893. Outline history of the state of Minnesota. 1882; Bryant, Charles S., 1808-1885. Sioux massacre of 1862. 1882; Bryant, Charles S., 1808-1885. State education. 1882; Minnesota Historical Company
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Minneapolis : Minnesota Historical Co.
Number of Pages: 576

USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 75

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The township with this name is the center of the northern tier of towns in Freeborn county. Its contiguous surroundings are as follows: Waseca county on the north; Geneva township on the east; Bancroft township on the south; and Hartland township on the west. It contains thirty-six sections or square miles, comprising the territory of Town 104, Range 21.

In early days the most of the township was covered with a growth of burr oak, much of it large and heavy, enough so to have earned the name of "forest." This was interspersed with meadow or small patches of prairie land. There is a prairie of about 2,560 acres, located in the southwestern part of the township. The timber has now, to a great extent, been removed, and the rich land been converted into valuable farms. The surface is rolling, and in places the undulation is so abrupt as to be called ridges, which are not

subject to cultivation. The soil is a dark sandy loam, underlain with a subsoil of clay.

The town is not so well watered as its neigh- bors, has no stream, and only one lake wholly within its borders. An arm of Geneva Lake ex- tends from the town bearing its name into section twenty-five of Batlı, and covers a few acres of land. Lake George is the only body of water wholly within the boundaries, lying in the southern part of section twenty-two. It was named in honor of George Skinner, Jr.

The town has a large portion of its area under a high state of cultivation, and its broad rich looking fields yield a substantial income to the thrifty inhabitants, which are, in majority, Danes, with a scattering of Norwegians, Irish, and Americans.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The earliest infringement by settlers, upon the territory of this town, commenced in the spring of 1856. The first parties to arrive and secure per- manent homes were the Brooks brothers. The party consisted of Edward D., Dwight E., and Henry L. Brooks, with their sister Angusta, and

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

mother. They were originally from Massachus- etts, coming by way of Pennsylvania, and arriv- ing in the spring of 1856, with teams, and all settled in and about section twenty-four, where the brothers joined interests and erected a log eabin 14x26 feet. Edward took a claim just over the line into Geneva township, and remained until 1866, when he went to Faribault county, where he yet lives. Dwight E. remained until 1868, when he followed his brother, and they were subse- quently joined by the other brother, Henry L.

These were about all that came and settled this year; of course, a few travelers passed through, and many of them staked out elaims, but they were never improved or occupied.

In May of the following year. 1857, John Keily, a native of the old Emerald Isle who had stopped for a time in Iowa, eame with his family, in an ox cart, and settled in section eleven or fourteen, where he yet remains. He, soon after his arrival, erected a 14x18 foot log house, which he covered with sod and slabs.

Soon afterward John Harty and Martin Shee- han, of the same nationality, drifted in and se- eured places. Harty beeame satisfied with a farm in section four, where he remained until the time of his death, which oeeurred in the latter part of the sixties, and his family still occupy the old homestead. Sheehan secured a farm in the north- eastern part of the town, where he remained until he died in 1875, and his family still remain on the place.

In the summer of 1857, a party of Norwegians. consisting of Hans Peterson, Ingebret Eriekson, and Nels Nelson, eame with teams, bringing their families, and settled upon claims. The first is still in the town. The second left in 1880 for the Red River country; and the third died during the war, in defense of his country.

About the same time Riehard Fitzgerald, a na- tive of Ireland, came and first located at St. Niech- olas, where he put in a crop; but soon after made his way to Bath, and yet resides in the town.

George W. Skinner left Corning, New York, on the 24th of August, 1858, and arrived in Bath township on the 7th of September, having spent the preceding night in Geneva, where he found quite an important little settlement. On the 10th of the same month he seleeted the southeastern quarter of seetion twenty-two for his future home, and still oceupies it. Mr. Skinner has been prom-

inent in all publie movements, and has done mneh to prevent the robbery of the public purse by rail- road corporations and political fiends, and stands high in the estimation of his fellow eitizens.

Shortly after Mr. Skinner's arrival, John and George Blessing, natives of Germany, made their appearance and selected elaims in section twenty- three. where they remained for several years. Joseph Blessing eame with his family and located in seetion thirty-five, remaining four or five years.

Horace Green came about the same time from Wisconsin, and located in seetion fourteen. From the last adviee he now lives in Moscow.

Fred. W. Calkins, a native of New York State, who had for a time sojourned in Iowa, made his appearance in June, 1857, and located in section sixteen, where he remained until he died in 1863.

Jacob Bower, a German, eame in the fall of 1858 and planted his stakes in section twenty-seven; but his stay was abruptly terminated by the gov- ernment offieers. as he was discovered selling whisky to the Indians, and he made himself "abundantly scaree."

Mons Grinager came in 1859 and settled. He is at present Register of the U. S. Land office at Worthington, Minnesota.

Elland Ellingson, a Norwegian, came in 1859. and still remains in Bath.

James M. Drake, a native of Massachusetts, eame in 1856, and located in Geneva; but has since moved his residence over the line into Bath.

Others eame in rapidly and soon all the govern- ment land was taken. A few of the most promi- nent arrivals are treated under the head of "Bio- graphical."

EVENTS AND MATTERS OF INTEREST.

The first birth in the township took place on the 1st of June, 1859, and ushered John Shoalt (or Sehad), a son of Mr. and Mrs. Bernhart Schad, living in section fourteen, into existence. The second birth was a child of Mr. and Mrs. George W. Skinner, and occurred two weeks later than the above.

TRIPLE MARRIAGE .- One of these rare events occurred in Bath on the 22d of December, 1864, at the residence of the Brooks brothers, the eere- mony being performed by George W. Skinner, Esquire. The parties most interested were joined as follows: Edward D. Brooks to Miss Mary Bliss; Dwight E. Brooks to Mrs. Savanah Calkins, widow of Edward Calkins; Lient. Loren Meeker, of Com-

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pany C, Tenth Minnesota Infantry, to Augusta T. Brooks. All of the parties are alive, in varions parts of the Northwest.

FIRST DEATH .- This sad affair occurred late in November, 1858, and carried away Edward Cal- kins, son of F. W. Calkins, aged 21 years.

WAR RECORD .- On the 6th of December, 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 town was some- what embarrassed in this regard, as Capt. Mons Grinager had taken forty men from this locality, six of them being from this town, and enlisted them in Wisconsin, thus cheating the town and State out of able-bodied men who should have gone to the war under the banner of a Minnesota regiment. The names of the participants in the war from Batlı are as follows, fourteen in all: F. Drake, Dwight E. Brooks, Edward D. Brooks, O. Iverson, Ingebret Erickson, Mr. Jacobson, Michael Sheehan, E. Johnson, John Peterson, C. Johnson, Capt. Grinager, Nels Nelson. Tim Keily, and Peter Nason. Of these, Nels Nelson, Ole Iverson, and Mr. Jacobson never returned, finding the graves of martyrs in southern soil.

OFFICIAL RECORD.

When the county of Freeborn came into exist- ence, the present area of the township of Bath was merged into territory taken from Geneva and Hartland, and was known as "Porter Township." What the name originated from, or what suggested it, we are unable to imagine; but we can simply state that all through its early settlement it was known under that caption. Therefore, the town- ship of Bath proper did not come into existence as a separate organization until some time after a majority of Freeborn county's sub-divisions.

Porter township was organized for local govern- ment at a meeting held on the 15th of April, 1859, at the residence of Frederick W.Calkins. The meet- ing came to order and James M. Drake was chosen chairman; F. W. Calkins, moderator; and Harris Green, clerk pro tem. The next matter taken up was that of the town name, and finally, a short one being desired, some one 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 np, and the judges of election were appointed as follows: George W. Skinner, Andrew Black, and B. Ren- weiler. The judges were duly sworn before F. W. Calkins, Esq., and the election of officers for the ensuing year began, resulting as follows: Super- visors, 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.

The present condition of town affairs is above criticism; as public trusts have always been in honest and efficient hands, with nothing occurring out of the usual line of such business to disturb the tranquility. The present officers are as fol- lows: Supervisors, A. Erickson, Chairman, Patrick Farry, and J. P. Larson; Clerk, M. P. Peter- son; Treasurer, Hans Rasmusson; Assessor, An- drew Jensen; Constables, Mike Sheehan and E. C. Johnson; Justice of the Peace, George W. Skin- ner.

STATISTICAL.

FOR THE YEAR 1881 .- The area included in the following report, takes in the whole town, as fol- lows :

Wheat-3,987 acres; yielding 69,737 bushels. Oats-794 acres; yielding 25,482 bushels.

Corn-859 acres; yielding 19,646 bushels. Barley-46 acres; yielding 2,530 bushels.

Rye-2 acres; yielding 53 bushels.

Potatoes-5512 acres; yielding 4,080 bushels. Sugar cane-10 acres, yielding 237 gallons. Cultivated hay-17 acres; yielding 30 tons. Other products -101 acres.

Total acreage cultivated in 1881-5,854 34 acres.

Wild hay-2,515 acres.

Timothy seed-2 bushels.

Clover seed-32 bushels.

Apples: number of trees growing, 1,128; num- ber bearing, 65.

Grapes-10 vines; yielding 100 pounds.

Sheep-152 sheared; yielding 531 pounds of wool.

Dairy-375 cows; yielding 32,550 pounds of butter, and 550 pounds of cheese.

FOR THE YEAR 1882 .- It being too early in the season, at this writing, to procure the returns of

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

threshing, we can only give the acreage sown this year:

Wheat, 3,511 acres; oats, 553; corn, 801; bar- ley, 155; potatoes, 52; sugar cane, 3: cultivated hay, 83; other products, 27; total acreage culti- vated in 1882. 5,515.

Apple trees: growing, 1,132; bearing, 24. Milk cows, 416.

Sheep, 644: yielding 2,880 pounds of wool.

Whole number of farms cultivated in 1882, 101. Forest trees planted and growing, 209.

POPULATION-The census of 1870 gave Bath a population of 404. The last census, taken in 1880, reports 919 for the town; showing an in- erease of 515.

ASSOCIATIONS.

FARMERS' MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE ASSOCIA- TION OF BATH .- This was organized at a meeting held at the Danish Baptist Church on the first of January, 1878. On the 14th of the same month it was incorporated under the State law, and seven directors were elected, as follows: H. P. Jensen, N. P. Peterson, John Henderson, Peter Johnson, J. P. Larson, C. F. Peterson, and C. Nelson. They met and elected officers of the association as fol- lows: President, H. P. Jensen; Secretary, N. P. Peterson; Treasurer. C. T. Peterson.

The association has license to do business in the townships of Riceland, Bath, Albert Lea, Ban- croft, and Geneva.

In the past the corporation has been exceeding- ly fortunate, having had but two losses, which were small, one $6.66 and the other $69.15, both of which were promptly paid. According to the report of January 1st, 1882, there was $73,150 of insurance in force in the above towns, The same executive officers are yet in the same positions as mentioned above.

GRANGE .- A society under this name was or- ganized in Bath township in 1875, at a meeting ealled at the old log Baptist church, and the fol- lowing officers were elected; Master, James Law- son; Treasurer, Peter Jensen; Lecturer, Lewis Jorgerson; Secretary, G. W. Skinner: Gatekeeper, E. Nelson; Pomona, Mrs. N. P. Nelson; Flora, Hattie E. Skinner: Ceres, Mrs. L. Jorgerson. Meetings were held once each month.

BATH POST-OFFICE.

This office was established in 1876, on section thirty six, at the residence of the Postmaster. L.

P. Carlson, who was appointed and held the office for about two years when a Dane named Lingby was commissioned to handle the mails. This gentleman proved to be a defaulter, and after some trouble the matter was settled and the present Postmaster. A. H. Peterson, was appointed. Mail now arrives four times each week.

RELIGIOUS.

DANISH BAPTIST CHURCH .- This society was or- ganizad in May, 1863, and until 1865, services were held in the houses of Nels Larson and Hans Christianson, with Lewis Jorgerson as pastor, which were the first religious services held in the township. In 1865 a log elmurch was rolled together by subscription, 20x26 feet, and seated to accommodate 100 people, in section thirty-five, which was used until 1875, when it was abandoned and the present church edifice erected. A build- ing committee was appointed, consisting of Peter Johnson and Nels Clauson, which raised funds to the amount of $1.200, and the church was at once erected in the eastern part of section thirty- five, one and a half stories high, size 28x40 feet, and seated to accommodate 200 people. The first preacher was Rev. James Henderson, the elders at the time being H. P. Jenson and Peter Jolison. The present elders are, H. P. Jenson, Peter John- son, John Anderson, Nels Otterson, and Lars Sorenson. The minister is Rev. J. S. Lunn, as- sisted by A. Carlson. The society raises annually abont $1.000, for all expenses, including mission- ary fund, minister's salary, etc ..- the pastor only gets from $200 to $300 of this. The first persons married in the church were J. Nelson and Miss Mary Christenson, in 1877.

In connection with this society, and adjoining the church, is a burial ground, containing about one acre, which was laid out in 1875, under the supervision of J. P. Larson and P. C. Christen- son. The first person buied bere was Nels Otter- son, who yielded up the spirit in the spring of 1875. At present there are about sixty-five graves occupied by the last remains of the departed.

NORWEGIAN LUTHERAN CHURCH .- This society was organized years ago in the township of Ban- croft, and the membership has continually inereas- ed, until the denomination embraces a good share of this town. The church edifice wss ereeted in 1868, in the southwestern part of section twenty- one, at a cost of $2,000. The pastor who first officiated here was the Rev. Mr. Koren.

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BATII TOWNSHIP.

CATHOLIC CHURCH .- The catholie society first organized in Bath at the residence of Michael Sheehan, as early as 1865, and soon afterward a small frame building was erected for worship, in ection eight, which was used for the purpose until within the last few years, when they commenced the ereetion of a new and very fine edifice, which is at present in process of construction. The soci- ety is in good financial condition, end bas a good membership.

EDUCATIONAL.

DISTRICT No. 5 .- Effected an organization in October, 1863, at a meeting held at the cabin of James M. Drake, in section twenty-five. Several terms of school had been held prior to this, and the whole town had been partially organized as a single district, so that when this was organized it embraced the entire eastern half of the town. The first school within the limits of this district was held in the summer of 1860, and was taught by Miss Lucia Thomas. In 1864, an old log house was purchased of Torkel Ludwigson, in the northeastern part of section twenty-six, and in it school was held for five months of the same year, taught by the same teacher as is mentioned above. In 1871, the present schoolhouse was erected in the eastern part of section twenty-six, at a cost of be- tween $1,000 and $1,200. Since its original or- ganization the district has been divided, and now consists of about four and one-half sections. The last term of school was taught by Miss Julia Whalen.

DISTRICT No. 7 .- This was organized on the 14th of May, 1864, at a meeting held at the resi- dence of R. Fitzgerald, and the following were the first officers: Director, James Fitzgerald; Treasurer, G. Oleson; Clerk, R. Fitzgerald. Dur- ing the summer a small log schoolhouse was rolled together in the eastern part of seetion thirty, at a cost of about $100, which did service until 1875, when the present house was completed on the same site, size 18x28 feet, at a cost of $600. The first teacher in the district was Mrs. Reynolds, who received $20 per month. The last term was taught by Miss Anna Oleson to an attendance of forty-four scholars, for $25 per month.

DISTRICT No. 64 .- This is the educational sub- division embracing the territory in the eastern part of the township, and is among the most use- ful in this locality. The first school held in this

neighborhood was at the residenee of H. Green, in section fourteen, and was taught by Mrs. Mary Johnson, for $1.50 per week, to an attendance of fifteen pupils. This was in the summer of 1863, and the same teacher instructed the school during another term, held in the fall of the same year. The location of the schoolhouse is near the center of section fourteen, and was erected in 1873, the dis- trict having been organized in 1871.

DISTRICT NO. 82 .- This is one of the younger districts in the town. It was formerly a part of Distriet No. 5, but in 1874 it was set off, and on the 16th of October legally organized at a meet- ing held at the Baptist church, at which officers were elected as follows: Nels Larson, Director; Nels Jensen, Clerk; and J. P. Larson, Treasurer. The first school was held in the log church during the summer of 1874, with Miss Susan Kinnear as teacher. In 1875 the present schoolhouse was built near the center of section twenty-five, but it has since been remodeled and greatly improved. There are now forty-five scholars enrolled.

DISTRICT NO. 90 .- This embraces the territory just west of the center of the township, with a scoolhouse located on the eastern line of section sixteen. The district, it is claimed, was organized in 1859, at a meeting held at the house of John Sheehan, at which the following officers were elected: Director, M. S. Sheehan; Treasurer, Hans Rasmusson; Clerk, John J. Sheehan. The first school was taught in the old Catholic Church by Miss B. A. Ryan, aged twelve years. The school- honse was erected in 1860, size I4x16 feet.

DISTRICT No. 103 .- The organization of this district was effected a number of years ago, at a meeting held at the residence of Michael Sheehan in section eight, and their schoolhouse was erected shortly after in the northwestern corner of the same section. The school is in a flourishing con- dition and well attended.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

NIELS PETER PETERSON, a native of Denmark, was born on the 28th of April, 1847. His father died when our subject was six years old, and in 1867, his mother sold out and came with her son to America, directly to Minnesota, and located in Winona. In 1871, Niels came to this township and farmed with his brother for three years, then bonght land in section twenty-four and has since made it his home. He has been a member of the

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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.

board of Supervisors, and is serving his second term as Town Clerk. He has been Secretary of the Bath Mutual Fire Insurance Company since its organization.

DAVID A. PEIRCE was born in Maine on the 2d of October, 1830. His father was a farmer and David lived at home until the age of twenty-one years. He was married in 1856, to Miss Amanda M. Bailey, and the following vear moved to Mower county, Minnesota. Five years later they removed to Spring Valley, and in Marelı, 1862, Mr. Peirce enlisted in Company E, of the Seventh Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, and served two years and ten months. After his discharge he returned to Spring Valley and removed his family to Bath, locating in section eighteen, where he has a good home with commodious buillings. His two oldest danghters are school teachers in this county and he has a son editing a Marshall county paper.

MITCHELL SLATER is a native of England, born on the 29th of April. 1854. His parents emigra- ted to America when he was six weeks old, and settled in Smithville, Massachusetts. Four years later they came to Minnesota, and Mitchell remained at home until twenty-one years old, then worked in different places until buying a farm in section twelve, Bath township, and has since made it his home. He was united in marriage on the 9th of January, 1880, with Miss Dora E. Heath, and they have two children.

GEORGE W. SKINNER, one of the early residents and prominent citizens of this county. was born in the city of Warren, Massachusetts, on the 9th of August, 1815. His father was a scythe maker and he learned the same trade, after which he went to Kentucky as salesman for the firm of Blanchard & Co. ( for which his father also worked ), and traveled one year, then returned, but soon went to St. Louis. While there he met Gen. Marcy, with whom, in 1837, he went to Fort Snell-

ing, thence to the Missouri and up the Yellow- stone, and a short time after to Ohio, where he re- mained one and a half years. He then returned east and entered upon the practice of law until his health failed, when he gave up the profession and accepted a commission from Gov. Briggs, of Mas- sachusetts, as Colonel for the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment; went to Mexico and served till the close of the war, having participated in the battle of the National Bridge, and others. In 1848, he again returned to his native State and entered the office of the Rhode Island & Massachusetts Tele- graph Co., and operated the same for one year. In 1849, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Eliz- abeth A. Brooks, of Oneida county, New York. The same year he went to Mexico and erected a telegraph line between the cities of Vera Cruz and Mexico, after which he returned to Massa- chusetts and was employed in an office at Narras- burg for the Erie Railroad Company. He subse- quently built a line from Elmira, New York, to l'hiladelphia. Previous to 1857, he had aecumu- lated railroad bonds to the amount of $100,000. all of which he lost in the Ohio Life and Trust Company. Then, after settling up business , he eame to Minnesota in September, 1858, and pre- empted land on seetion twenty-two, in this town- ship. He came by water to Red Wing, where he hired a team to bring him here, and the same autumn got up a log house. In an early day he was sent to Washington by the settlers of the county, for the purpose of importuning President Buchanan to withdraw the lands from market for the benefit of settlers, and gained an extension of one year for the settlers to raise money to pay back dues on their claims. Mr. Skinner has been a prominent official since the organization of the town, and served as Justice of the Peace seventeen years. He has four children; Hattie, one of the teachers in this county; George W., Henry D., and Mand L.

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CARLSTON TOWNSIIIP.

CARLSTON.

CHAPTER LVIII.

DESCRIPTIVE-EARLY SETTLEMENT-STATISTICAL - RELIGIOUS-EDUCATIONAL-BIOGRAPHICAL.

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 town, the only places in which a show of timber is found being in the northern part. in the vicinity of the lake. The town is watered by a lake and several small streams which bisect the prairie.

Freeborn 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 eovers 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, 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 1868-9, which was very severe, the lake water froze very deep, and remained a solid mass of ice for six months. After the thaw came, thousands of dead fish washed upon the shores, and so thinned the supply that to this day the spawning has failed to replenish the ranks of the finny tribe. 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.

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