USA > Minnesota > Freeborn County > History of Freeborn County, including explorers and pioneers of Minnesota, and outline history of the state of Minnesota > Part 76
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The Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul railway line traverses the southwestern corner of the town,
entering from the south in section thirty-three and taking a northwesterly direction leaves by way of section thirty, to enter Faribault county.
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 thirty three of this town. This village is located wrong upon the map published by Warner & Foote, in 1878, it being one mile further west than shown on said map.
The town contains many valuable and well im- proved farms and is among the best agricultural towns of the county, but then this is unnecessary, as its agricultural resources are well shown by the article upon statistics, published in another place. The inhabitants are mostly Swedes and Danish.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
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. It should be stated that the matter was all gath- ered by correspondence, and errors may, and probably have crept in.
"CARLSTON was first settled 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, 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 schoolhonse 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 the schoolhouse in District No. 15 in 1861. The Seventh Day Baptists effected the first church or ganization, in November, 1863. The first parties married, were David Horning and Mary Jane Elliott, who were united by H. Melder, Esq., on the 24th of December, 1861. In 1856 the first child was born to Mr. and Mrs Melder. The
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
first death was that of Elias Stanton, who froze his feet, suffered several amputations, and finally died in the spring of 1858. The first title to land was acquired by Robert H. Miller, on sections ten and eleven, on the 21st of April, 1856."
But setting this aside we will turn our atten- tion to the earliest comers in the township. The first settler in the township was Robert Riller. who came in the spring of 1855, and settled on a claim in section fifteen on the banks of Feeeborn 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 and was obliged to leavo to avoid tronble. The land he took is now owned by John Larson.
Shortly after the arrival of the first, the second settler put in an appearance in the person of Theodore L. Carlston, after whom the town was named. He erected a house in the same spring that he arrived, and "bachelor's hall" until the time of his death in 1858. He was drowned while crossing the lake in a boat in company with three others, one of whom, Mr. Johnson, also found a watery grave. Carlstou's body remained in the lake until the following spring.
The next to arrive was Elias Stanton, who also located on the shore of Freeborn lake, in section fourteen; he likewise put up a log house and commeneed keeping "bachelor's hall." In 1857, during the winter, he was caught in one of the noted Minnesota suow storms, and frozen so badly that after several amputaions he lost his life. His original place is now occupied by David Horuing.
Thomas Ford arrived in 1856, and was another of the first settlers in the town. He located in section fifteen; the laud as yet not being in mar- ket, and remamed until 1859, when he left for parts unknown.
Elias Stanton, upon his arrival, was accompan- ied by a gentleman named Huyck ( Honk, } who also settled in section eleven and remained for a number of years.
L. T. Walker; a native of Vermont, drifted into the township in the spring of 1858, aud located in section thirteen, where he opened and commen- eed cultivating a valuable farm. He remained here for a number of years and theu moved to the village of Alden, where he is now running a store. He is Postmaster and a prominent man.
Mr. Henry Collins came to Carlstou in 1859, and located in section twenty seven, where he
remained cultivating and improving the farm for about eleven years, when he removed to the vil- lage of Alden and engaged in the pursuit of his profession. that of law. He has recently opened a fine store, and is a most public spirited man.
David T. Calvin and family eame in the spring of 1861, and settled upon one hundred and sixty acres in this town. He brought with him horses, wagon. and several head of cows, and purchased a corn crib of Mr. Howard, in which he and his family made their home for some time. He now lives on section thirty-six, well located and com- fortable.
Charles Sweet was born in Allegany county. New York, in 1828, and in 1863, came to Minne- sota, to the township of Carlston, locating in section thirty-two. He came to his death in 1880. He was returning home from the village of Alden with a neighbor, and while crossing the railroad track a train strnek the wagon in which they were traveling, inflicting injuries upon Mr. Sweet from which he died shortly after.
SOME WHO HAVE PASSED AWAY.
Hannah Melder, wife of John Melder, was taken from this plaue of life on the 12th of January, 1879, at the age of 52. She came to Freeborn eonnty with her husband in the year 1857, thus being one of the pioneers, who was well known and beloved by all as a kind-hearted woman, an affectionate wife, and careful mother.
Mrs. J. M. Melander went to the great hereaf- ter, on the 12th of January, 1879. Her maiden name was Christ ouson, and she was born in Stock- holm, Sweden, on the 17th of July, 1825. Her father was eity collector and died when she was nine years old, and her mother two years later. On the 9th of May, 1850, she was married to John S. Melander. She landed in Boston on the 18th of October, 1855, an l remained there alone until joined by her husb ind the following spring, who had been sick in New Orleans. They left Massa- chusetts for Iowa in June of that year, and remained in the Hawkeye State until this section began to be opened up, when she came here and remained up to the time of death.
Mrs. Mary C. Walker. She was a Bruce, of Scotch desceut, born in Townsend, Vermont, on the 13th of October, 1818, and was married to Asu Walker in 1939. They rem wvel to Madison, Wis- onsin, and to Minnesota in 1859. She was always first at a sick-bed, and was full of energy
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CARLSTON TOWNSHIP.
and activity ; sadly missed and long to be remem- bered. She died on the 21st of January, 1879.
Mrs. S. Twist, a daughter of Mr. Nathan and Mrs. Sally Pierce, was born in New York State on the 29th of July, 1833. At the age of eleven vears her parents moved to Wanshara county, in the same State. Her marriage to Mr, Twist was in 1859, when she came with him to Carlston. They lived in Albert Lea for three years before her death, which was on the 1st of January, 1881. Two children preceded her a month. A husband and seven children remained. Her remains were interred in Alden. She was an exemplary woman.
STATISTICAL.
From the report of the County Auditor to the commissioner of statistics of the State, and other sources, we have compiled a few items to show the value and agricultural resources of this township, for the benefit of those who are not liable to see this report as it comes from the State department. The items represent the acreage and yield of the various crops sown, together with other matters of interest.
THE YEAR 1881 .- The area included in this report takes in the whole town, as follows:
Wheat-3,569 acres, yielding 32,915 bushels. Oats-814 acres, yielding 21.197 bushels. Corn-769 acres, yielding 26,905 bushels. Barley-110 acres, yielding 2.789 bushels. Rye-3 acres, yielding 50 bushels. Potatoes-31 acres, yielding 3,500 bushels. Beans -- 1 acre, yielding 43 bushels. Sugar cane-10 acres, yielding 1,031 gallons. Cultivated hay-113 acres, yielding 198 tons. Flax-129 acres, yielding 1,235 bushels. Total acreage cultivated in 1881-5,558. Wild hay-2,168 tons. Timothy- 269 bushels. Apples-number of trees growing, 2,044; num- ber bearing, 505, yielding 327 bushels.
Grapes-37 vines, yielding 127 pounds.
Sheep-278 sheared, yielding 1,749 pounds of wool.
Dairy-238 cows, yielding 27,450 pounds of butter and 50 pounds of cheese.
FOR THE YEAR 1882 .- It being too carly in the : season, at this writing, to procure the returns of threshing, we can only give the acreage sown this year in CarIston.
Wheat. 2,933 acres; oats, 923; corn, 1,303; bar- ley, 347; rye, one-half acre; potatoes, 70 acres; beans, 314; sugar cane, 634; cultivated hay, 186;
flax. 139; total acreage cultivated in 1882, 5,952 14.
Apple trees-growing, 2,037; bearing. 476. Milk cows -239.
Sheep- - 67, yielding 297 pounds of wool.
Wholo number of farms cnitivated in 1882-82.
Forest trees planted and growing, 165 acres. Five acres planted this year.
POPULATION .- The census of 1870 gave Carls- ton a population of 378. The last census, taken in 1880, reports 500 for this town, showing an increase of 122.
RELIGIOUS.
There is not a church edifice in the township. There is one organization, and a number of de- nominations which occasionally and irregularly hold services in the various schoolhouses.
DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH .- This society is presumed to have been organized about 1874, as one who has been living there for nearly twenty years says it was organized in 1864, and another who has been there almost as long, says 1874. There are now about fifty families in the society, and services are held in the schoolhouse of Dis- triet No. 61, in the eastern part of section twenty-two. Rev. F. M. Kristensen is the officia- ting minister of this denomination.
ALDEN UNION ASSOCIATION CEMETERY .- This burial ground is located near the central part of section thirty-four. The association was organ- ized on the 17th of January, 1877, with the fol- lowing 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 on the 27th of June, 1871. The grounds now contain the graves of many departed ones, and has been the scene of many sad and sorrowful events of parting and farewell. The cemetery contains three acres.
DANISH LUTHERAN CEMETERY .- This "village of the dead" occupies a few acres in the eastern part of section twenty-two, adjoining the schoolhouse of District No. 61, and it often goes by the name of this district. The association controll- ing it was organized in 1874, the trustees then being John Rasmusson, Christ. Johnson, and Peter Larson, and they still hold their positions. The first burial here was the interment of the remains of Hans Paulson in 1874.
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
EDUCATIONAL.
DISTRICT NO. 15 .- This educational subdivision came into existence by organization late in 1859. and the following summer. 1860. the first school was taught in a log house, by Martha Stane. with nine scholars in attendance. the teacher receiving as compensation the sum of $18 per month. The present schoolhouse was erected in 1877. at a cost of 8640, equipped with patent seats for forty scholars. The last term was taught by Lida L. Chester, who instructed the twenty scholars pres- ent, and received the salary of $20 per month. The location of the schoolhouse is the western part of section ten, and it is a credit to the dis- triet.
DISTRICT No. 16 .- Effected an organization in the year 1860, and in the following year the first school in the district was held at the residence of James Cook, taught by Mary J. Trigg, with ten scholars present; the teacher received for services the sum of $1.50 per week. and "hoarded aronnd." The school was held bere and in other residences until the fall of 1865, when a log house was erect- ed at a cost of 8800. size 22×30 feet. equipped with patent seats and the necessary apparatus. The last term of school was taught by Harte E. Jones, with twenty-three scholars present, and wages $20 per month. The schoolhouse is located in the center of section thirteen.
DISTRICT No. 61 .- The first school meeting was held at the residence of William W. Coon on the 27th of March, 1874, at which the organization of the district was effected, and on the 30th of the same month again met and elected the follow- ing officers: Director, William W. Coon: Clerk, John L. Garlack; Treasurer, David Horning; and soon after the schoolhouse was erected in the east- ern part of section twenty-two, at a cost of $600. the size of which is 20x30; supplied with patent seats for forty pupils, and all the necessary appa- ratus. The first school consisted of eighteen scholars, and was instructed by Chandler Sweet. who received $30 per month for his services. The last term was tanght by Miss Walker, with an average attendance of twenty-one.
DISTRICT NO. 67 .- Effected an organization in 1865. by the election of the following officers: Director, David Clark: Treasurer, Charles Sweet, Clerk, D. T. Clinton. A little shanty was thrown together, with no floor and a board roof, in which,
the first school was taught by Adelia Bassett, to an attendance of nineteen or twenty, receiving for her services §18 per month. The following year. 1866 .the present school edifice was constructed, a short distance from the board shanty. in the east- ern part of section thirty. at a cost of $500, size 20x26 feet, equipped with patent seats and the necessary apparatus. The last term of school was taught by Miss Sadie Pratt, who received $20 per month.
ADVENTISTS' ACADEMY. - A select school under this caption was instituted in the village of Alden. over the line in Carlston township. in the npper story or hall of Henry Ernst's house, by the gen- tleman in whose house it was kept. The school commenced on the 15th of December, 1875. with from forty to fifty students in attendance: the tuition being from $5.00 to $7.00 per term, in ac- cordance with the studies pursued. The teachers were Mr. Henry Ernst and his sister, Miss Minnie Ernst. The school was continued for several years, but was finally discontinued, as this method of education was too advanced to find its entire support in the local neighborhood in which it was founded.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
DAVID T. CALVIN. one of the earliest settlers and the one who cast the first vote in this town, is a native of New York, born on the 29th of April, 1831. The family moved to Ohio when David was three years old, and our subject remained in that State engaged in farming pursuits until 1846. He then removed with his parents to Wisconsin. settling on a farm near Southport, and after a res- idence of three years went to Chicago, and was employed in a butcher shop until the age of twenty-three years. He was married in 1853, to Miss Hulda Russell. and they have one daughter. Emma Amy, boin in Iowa. In 1858, Mr. Calvin came to Freeborn county and settled in the town of Pickerel Lake, but the following spring came to Carlston and selected land in section twenty- five. He enlisted in the First Minnesota Mounted Rangers in 1862, went west and fought the Indians under Gen. Sibley, participating in two battles. in the last of which his horse stumbled and he re- ceived injuries which necessitated his discharge. after a service of fourteen months. He returned to his home. and ten years after taking his first land here moved to his present farm in section thirty-six. He has converted this wild prairie
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CARLSTON TOWNSHIP.
into a well cultivated farm, having seven acres planted in timber, some of the trees being now two feet through. He takes great interest in fine stock, having recently sold two of the tiuest calves raised in this part of the country.
WILLIAM CLARK was born in Indiana, ou the the 18th of January, 1833, and his father, who was a cabinet maker, died when William was nine years old. When his mother married again he left home, and at the age of eighteen years learned the carpenter trade. In 1851 be located in lowa, erected the first building in Postville, and in three years came to Minnesota He was united iu marriage in 1855, with Miss Eunice Lampher, a native of New York. They located at Rice Lake, built a house and worked at his trade until 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry; went south and was under General Buell, but was discharged for disability after a year's service, and now receives a pension. In the latter part of 1862 he returned home, rented a farm for one season, then removed to Carlston, locating in section thirty-one, where he has a large farin, well improved, and a new resi- dence. Mr. Clark has a family of ten children. He has been one of the Supervisors of the town for one term. About two years ago his son met with a very narrow escape while crossing the railroad track, the engine striking the wagon aud killing one of the neighbors who was with him, and also one of the horses.
MILES W. DODD was born in New York on the 10th of October, 1824. He remained at home un- til the age of fourteen years, then engaged with Frink and Walter in stage driving, and remained in the company's employ six years. In 1846 he removed to Wisconsin, settling near Oshkosh, and was engaged in the Wolf River pineries in the winter seasons and on the farm summers for four- teen years. He was married in 1851 to Miss Har- riet Lee, daughter of Justin Lee, who was the brother of Gideon Lee, the Mayor of New York City at one time. In 1860 Mr. Dodd came to Minnesota aud farmed in Fillmore county six years, then moved to the town of Chatfield, and brought his family on the 15th of October, 1880, to his present farm in section nineteen, Carlston towuship. He owns over one thousand acres of land, with a good brick house and out buildings, and has some very fine cattle.
this place, is a native of Vermont, born on the 20th of July, 1819. When he was quite young he moved with his parents to New York, where he resided for twenty-five years and in 1846 married Miss Huldah Winters. They removed to Wiscon - siu in 1854, remained there on a farm for three years, and in June, 1857, came to this township, locating in section twelve and were the first set- tler on the east of Freeborn Lake. In 1862 Mr. Granby enlisted in the Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry where he served three years as Sergeant, then re-enlisted and served seven months as veter- an. Since his return from the army he has devot- ed his entire time to the cultivation of his farm.
NATHAN JACKMAN was born in New Hampshire in 1829. He left his home at the age of fifteen years and was employed by the month until twen- ty-five. In 1854, he married Miss Sarah Bumpus, and in July of the following year they came West to La ayette county, Wisconsin. Early in 1861, they moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, and the following May came to this township and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in section nine. . Mr. Jackman drove from Wisconsin with a horse team and brought two yoke of oxen. Upon his arrival here he built a plank shanty 10x12, in which they lived thirteen years, then erected a good house and barn which were destroy- ed by fire in 1874. He owns some good stock and his farm is well improved. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert are members of the Advent Church. They have a family of four children.
DENNIS H. ODAY was born in Ireland on the 25th of March, 1821. He was married in 1845, to Miss Catharine McGrath, and the next year came to America; landed in New York and removed thence to Fox Lake, Wisconsin. He remained there eighteen years, then went to Rochester, Minnesota, and in seven years came to Alden; thence, in 1880, to a homestead in this place in section nineteen. Mr. Oday has a family of ten children.
ASA WALKER, one of the early settlers of Carls- tou and one of the first members of the board of Supervisors after the organization of the town, was born in Vermont on the 31st of May, 1813. He resided at home untit his marriage with Miss Mary C. Bruce in 1840. For ten years they lived on a stock farm at Townsend in his native State, and in 1856, removed to Dane county. Wisconsin. In
CHABLES J. GRANDY, one of the first settlers of | the spring of 1859, they came to this township
28
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HISTORY OF FREEBORN COUNTY.
and staked out a claim upon which they still reside in sections twenty-four and twenty-five. In 1862 and '63, Mr. Walker was in the Legis- lature, has also held local offices, and during the war was enrolling officer. His wife died on the 21st of January, 1878, leaving two children.
The daughter, S. Emegene, lives at home and keeps house for her father. She taught several of the first schools in different towns in this county, with which money she bought one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining her father's.
FREEBORN.
CHAPTER LIX.
DESCRIPTIVE-FIRST SETTLEMENT - NECROLOGY- MATTERS OF INTEREST-RELIGIOUS - GOVERN- MENTAL - STATISTICS - FREEBORN VILLAGE- SCHOOLS-BIOGRAPHICAL.
This town, with a name identical with that of the county, occupies one of the four most promi- nent places-the northwestern corner. Its im- mediate surroundings are, Waseca county on the north; Faribault county on the west; Carlston township 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.
Freeborn is principally a prairie town, not so much inclined to be rolling as most of the towns, but level, and in places marshy. The lakes are surrounded by a small growth of the shrubby varieties of timber, which is all in the northwest- ern and southeastern parts of the town. 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 gool crops of the cereals and other products of the latitude; and in the low lands hay is a most valuable crop. Fruit culture is more or less successful, although, as
yet, but little attention has been paid to this de- partment of agriculture.
The soil and climate is remarkably well adap- ted to the cultivation of Amber cane, and consid- erable attention has been paid to this crop, sever- al mills being now in active operation. This in- dustry, being new to most of the settlers, but gradually receives attention, but this very fact ensures its permanency, and with the large and ever increasing demand for "sweetening" this must in time take its place in the front rank of crops raised here.
The township is well watered by numerous lakes and streams, which diversity the scenery and help make the land valuable for agricultural purposes. First in order should be mentioned the lake bear- ing the name of F'reeborn, which extends fron Carlston township, in which a greater part of the lake lies, northward, and covers a few acres of land in section thirty-five, just south of the village of Freeborn. Lake George lies about one mile to the north, in sections twenty-six and twenty - seven. Still further north, in sections eleven and fourteen, is located another small body of water, known as Spicer Lake. Trenton Lake covers quite an area in sections two and three, an.1 ex- tends northward into Waseca county. Another body of water known as Prairie Lake, is located in the extreme southwestern part of the town.
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FREEBORN TOWNSHIP.
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.
The population of the town is mostly American, with a scattering of foreign element, tess in num- ber than almost any town in Freeborn county.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
There is a preponderance of testimony 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 twenty-six and commenced improvements; the former erecting the first house, of logs. They remained several years, when they returned to their former homes.
About the same time, or possibly a little later in 1856, the next settlers, John W. Ayers and E. S. Dunn, made their appearance and secured farms in the northern part of the township, in sections two, three, and four. Mr. Ayers still resides upon his place, in prosperous circumstances, and Mr. Dunn remained upon his until 1857, when he re- moved to the southern part of the town, and in June took 320 acres of land in sections thirty- four and thirty-five, under the provisions of the law allowing it for town site purposes. He lived here until within the last year, when he removed to Missouri.
A little later in 1856, came Charles Giddings, Parker Page, and L. T. Scott, from Dodge county, Wisconsin, who all settled upon sections twenty- five and twenty-six. Mr. Giddings remained about six years, when he removed to Faribault, and from there to Blooming Prairie, Steele county, where he now lives. Mr. Page remained about eight years, when he went to his present home in Saline county, Nebraska, vin Wisconsin. Mr. Scott still lives in the township, and is one of the most successful, as well as most prominent men. This party came with ox teams, bringing also a few cows.
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